Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Typealyzer


Tonight I entered my blog into this randomly cool site called the Typealyzer and these are the results. Apparently my blog type is ISTP, short for Introversion, Sensing, Thinking, Perception. Hmmm. The note at the top of the site page says, "Note: writing style on a blog may have little or nothing to do with a person´s self-perceived personality." Okay...so here is the short analysis of my blog:

ISTP - The Mechanics
The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts. The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

You can read a more in depth explanation of ISTP from Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISTP_(personality_type)) Apparently the ISTP personality type is likened to the Crafter role variant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crafter_(Role_Variant)) and the Artisan temperment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artisan_temperament). When I read about the Artisan tempermant it really got me. It was pretty darn accurate, actually. Here's what it said:

Description
The Artisan temperament comprises the following role variants: Composer, Crafter, Performer, and Promoter. Artisans are observant and pragmatic, and their greatest strength is tactical variation. Their most developed intelligence role is either as an Operator (Promoters and Crafters) or an Entertainer (Performers and Composers). Artisans take pride in their ability to be graceful, are confident in their ability to adapt, and respect their ability to be daring. In education, they want to learn arts, crafts, and techniques that they can use in a career. In careers, they tend to seek operations work. [1]
Artisans have sensation-seeking personalities. They are often spontaneous pleasure-seekers who prefer to live one day at a time. They tend to be cynical about the past and optimistic about the future. They are concerned with their ability to make an impact on others and are usually playful in their interpersonal relationships. They are play oriented as children and spouses, and they tend to be permissive parents. [1]

Learning
Artisans want teachers who are interesting, active, and playful. They will avoid sedentary forms of learning and uninteresting learning assignments. They will also avoid reading assignments that are not succinct, practical and relevant. Artisans want to demonstrate their learning through actions.

Stress
As a defense mechanism, Artisans may respond with denial, insisting that a fact is untrue despite overwhelming evidence.[2] Since artisans feel a need to make an impact and to be spontaneous, they become stressed when their ability to do these things becomes constrained. Boredom is another source of stress for artisans. When under stress, artisans can become reckless, and they may retaliate against the source of the stress. Providing artisans with options such as new ways to make an impact and new activities can relieve the stress.[1]

Traits in common with other temperaments
Keirsey identified the following traits of the Artisan temperament:[1]
Concrete in communication (like Guardians)
Pragmatic in pursuing their goals (like Rationals)

I thought this was very interesting and wonder how random it actually is. If you know me well then you are probably laughing at some of the descriptions right now. I know I did. Especially at the section on stress. lol Pretty close. Here is Typealyzer's analysis that shows what parts of the brain were dominant during writing. I find this chart rather amusing! Not sure how accurate this is, though. I would say about 50%. And no, that doesn't mean I only use half my brain!



Wanna try it? Here's the link, try it out and share the results: http://www.typealyzer.com/

Monday, February 16, 2009

Love Day

One of my favorite things about any holiday is the opportunity that comes to show those around you what they mean to you. And of course Valentine's Day is the ultimate holiday to show love. I'm not sure why, but this week I simply felt overflowing with love and affection....it could have been that Valentine's Day was coming, it could have been hormones. :) But whatever it was, it was great. At the the beginning of the week I sent love notes to all those special to me but far away. I would have posted a picture of one here but ended up mailing them all. Hopefully they brought happiness throughout the week.

Thursday evening I stayed up much later than I should have putting together treat bags for Katie and Josiah's school parties. This was one of those things that just kept getting put off until the last minute. Usually for school parties we do treat bags and I recruit the kids to help me in an assembly line fashion. They always enjoy this activity, but this year I had to put them together myself since the time did not just fall into my lap. Darn.

I also try to do something special for their teachers during the holidays as well, even the little ones (not the little teachers...the little holidays! lol). This year, as well as last, we have been really blessed with just great teachers. Last year it was Mrs. Fazio for Katie (love her!) and this year it's Mrs. Johnson for Katie, and Mrs. Lomica for Josiah. They are wonderful, and I love that my kids enjoy their time in class each day. So one way I try to show our appreciation is doing a little something special during these times. Below are some photos of Love Day treats:













Friday was a lot of fun. I surprised the kids as they woke with a special treat for each of them. The sweet look on my daughter's face was so worth it. It was obvious she was very surprised and just felt so special. It was great! That afternoon I went to the school to join Josiah's Valentine's Day party. It consisted of eating pizza, playing musical chairs, opening treats from their friends, and listening to Mrs. Lomica read a few books about love. It was a lot of fun. Here are a few photos from the day at school:












Later that day after school Katie sat down and used one of the empty candy boxes from her gift to enclose a poem she'd written for me. It went like this: "roses are red. vilits are blue. I love you so much, doan't you think so to my speshle purson in blue. Whith love and care I will go eneaware on a speshle day with you. xxxx oooo. my true frend in blue." Below the poem she'd drawn a picture of a rose and a violet beneath a smiling happy sun. Hands down that was the most precious Valentine's gift I've received, maybe ever! It brought tears to my eyes. Josiah also had to share in the giving, choosing his most special piece of candy from his gift and giving it to me. I truly have two of the sweetest kids. I am so blessed.


Saturday Matt and I went skiing with our friends Sara and Landy at Willamette Pass Ski Resort. It'd been years since any of us had gone skiing, and we all really enjoyed ourselves. Of course, I was the slowest skier in the group, but the rest were all patient and we just took our time taking in the day. It was great fun. For lunch we ate this delicious pizza in the lodge that could quite possible be the best pizza I've ever eaten! It was half pesto chicken and half pepperoni & tomato. So good, and even better with a large pitcher of Hefeweizen. Yum yum. After lunch we went a few more times down the slopes, then headed home. Hopefully we will be able to go again before the season ends. Here are some of my favorite photos from the day:

























Monday, February 9, 2009

Whether or Not...

Learn how to carry a friendship greatly, whether or not it is returned. Why should one regret if the receiver is not equally generous? It never troubles the sun that some of his rays fall wide and vain into ungrateful space, and only a small part on the reflecting planet. Let your greatness educate the crude and cold companion. If he is unequal, he will presently pass away; but thou art enlarged by thy own shining.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson