MBTI = ENFJ

For one of my classes, they required us to take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and then, today in class, we had a professional come and explain the results to us. Not that they're that hard to understand...just that it's nice to have someone explain them anyway.

So our professional is explaining things, and she's describing the different categories. Then she makes us write each letter, and then draw a line between them to show how far along the line we think we are. As she's describing them, this is what my paper looks like:

Then she hands back our results, and I was right on. My actual points were E: 14, N: 12, F: 5, J: 2. It made me pretty excited--after all..."To thine own self be true" right? I also happen to like the description of potential strengths and weaknesses, partially because, at least on the weaknesses, they're pretty dead on. I also liked how it described one of the leisure activities of an ENFJ as "collecting and telling stories." Lastly, there's a description of characteristics frequently associated with each type. ENFJ says: "Responsive and responsible. Feel real concern for what others think or want, and try to handle things with due regard for the other's feelings. Can present a proposal or lead a group discussion with ease and tact. Sociable, popular, sympathetic. Responsive to praise and criticism. Like to facilitate other and enable people to achieve their potential."

Hooray! I hope that I really can be this ENFJ--they sound like people who make the world better.

"Oh...you're...you're YOU!"

Have you ever had that experience? You live your life with a certain group of people, and they tell you about some of their friends, or people they've heard about, or random stories or something, and then you go to a party, class, or work and, completely independent of the certain group of people, you end up meeting one of the individuals who is either a friend, person they've heard about, or individual from said random story?

That was probably one of the longest run-on sentences I've ever written...anyway.

I had that experience yesterday. My Best Friend, and another good friend (we'll call him "Second in Command") used to tell me about these two girls that they knew. They were referred to as simply "The Ali's." Well...I happen to work with one of the Alis, and as she started telling me a story involving Best Friend and Second in Command, I suddenly realized that she, was, in fact, not just a title, but honestly really and truly a person, who also happened to be the individual from our past discussions. She's going to read this and think, "You're weird" as will many others, but lets see if I can explain it a little better.

Do you ever have times in your life when things just suddenly become real to you? I had a lot of experiences like this a couple of summers ago, when we went to Palmyra, and then Gettysburg. Suddenly, things like the Sacred Grove were not just happy little pictures in my mind, they were real places where incredible things happened that began the restoration of the Church. The people who died at Gettysburg are real, and their graves in the cemetery at Gettysburg just made me cry. I walked along the rows of different headstones from various wars, and it just hit me--these are PEOPLE, well...were.

Other things have started to hit me for real too lately. Things like the fact that my family actually lives within driving distance of me, that the semester is only 2 months from being over, and that this is going to be a really awesome year. It's just...wow.

Life is real, life is earnest
And the grave is not the goal
Dust thou art, to dust returneth
Wast not spoken of the soul.
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Olympic Commediantary

Two of my favorite quotes from Women's Figure Skating tonight (the long program).

"Now, there's a difference in the short and the long program, and that difference is time."

Really?!? :)

"That's a lady."

Alright, now I know that he was referring to the winner of the gold medal in a way that stated that she possessed grace and refinement...but it's just funny to hear, especially after he said the first quote.

My Sister Is Hilarious...

Biv·ou·ac

There's a board question right now that will post in a few days, that reminded me to remember one of my favorite poems. I guess I could have answered it on there, but I'm currently on hiatus from the Board, due to serious lack of time. This is the first time in about a month that I've actually checked more than messages. Anyway-- I read this in about the the 7th grade, and it's kinda been one of my life mantras...or something like that. A lot of mostly, I just really like the thing. For your pleasure, and my own personal being able to continually find it:

A Psalm of Life
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

II
Life is real--life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal:
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

III
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destin'd end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

IV
Art is long, and time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

V
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

VI
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act--act in the glorious Present!
Heart within, and God o'er head!

VII
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footsteps on the sands of time.

VIII
Footsteps, that, perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwreck'd brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

IX
Let us then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

So, yeah--just a really good poem. I loved learning the word bivouac (A temporary encampment often in an unsheltered area.), and the upbeat tone that it held. Basically, I think it says that life is going to be real--but it's not the end, and we should live in the moments of this life, in order to gain the goods of the next. Not that the goods of this life aren't worth getting a bit of too... :)

Theme Song of the Day

"Almost Like Being in Love"
Nat King Cole

What a day this has been
What a rare mood I'm in
Why it's almost like being in love

There's a smile on my face
For the whole human race
Why it's almost like being in love

All the music of life seems to be
Like a bell that is ringing for me

And from the way that I feel
When that bell starts to peal
I could swear I was fallen
Swear I was fallen
Well, it's almost like being in love

All the music of life seems to be
Like a bell that is ringing for me

And from the way that I feel
When that bell starts to peel
I would swear I was fallen
Swear I was fallen
Why, it's almost like being in love.


Today has been an excellent day. You know why? Yeah...Me neither. It's just been a really great day. I started out with breakfast, went running, read my textbook, read some of the New York Times, and then went to class. Once I got into class, my teacher went through the analysis papers that we recently turned in. Each one of them is worth 10 points, and only 3 students in the class got full credit. I was totally one of those students. Not only that, but he read my paper to the class. He then stuck it randomly in the pile so that people wouldn't have to know whose paper it was. He did the same thing with a couple of other papers. I felt so stinkin' good at school again for the first time in a little while. I got my paper back with all kinds of compliments and words like 'exemplary' and 'good!' all over it. If I had a large fridge, that paper would so be on it. This is my way of doing the same thing I guess. I wrote a letter, well...card, that's hilarious, then it was off to RA class, where I was really friendly due to my excellent mood, and then dinner with the RA's in my hall, which is always tons of fun. I came back to a great note from Uffish, and an even more artistic card (Which I loved, by the way--thanks a million:D) And now here I am back in my room, putting away the laundry that I washed yesterday and getting ready to do my CS homework.

Ordinary, ordinary things, but I am so happy right now because I've gotten so much accomplished. I'm starting to think that I should eat breakfast and go running every morning, solely for the sake of feeling great about life every day. Heck, maybe I'll even make a habit out of reading my textbooks and the newspaper, not to mention doing well on papers and writing letters and eating dinner... What's the good life? The good life is actually doing all the ordinary things I'm supposed to do anyway. Here's to actually livin' the good life. Hope you're all doing the same.

One Year Older and Wiser Too

Birthdays have an amazing ability to make me realize just how awesome...I mean, er...grateful I am.

OK, just kidding, I promise I'm not actually that conceited. If I feel awesome, it's because I have all these people who care about me. As the commercials say "_____ people can't be wrong," right? As my best friend once put it, "guess there's something to me after all." I've felt very special today, and life is good.

For a lot of my birthdays I've grown up expecting to feel some sort of magical difference the morning I woke up. When I turned 16 I though that I'd feel somehow less awkward, more attractive, and suddenly dateable.

That didn't really happen.

Then at 18, I thought I'd wake up and feel like a grown up--I mean, the world says with that birthday that I'm entitled to certain rights and privileges, I should certainly wake up feeling righted and privileged, right?

That didn't really happen either...

And now I'm 21. "Legal" as many of my friends have reminded me. You know what though? I do feel different. It's not something that's come on all of a sudden, and I didn't wake up with the feeling this morning, but I just feel like I'm older, wiser, and more grown up somehow then I was about a year ago. Having to deal with things like finances and 2 jobs and time management has an amazing way of turning you grown up. I feel like I've got a pretty good idea of what I'm doing, where I think I'm going and how it is that I'm going to get there. And even if plans change, God still knows me, and he still knows where it is that I really need to end up.

So I guess that what I really am this Birthday is honestly grateful. I'm grateful for friends who care about me, I'm grateful for a family that loves me, and I'm grateful that people took time out of their ordinary days to make mine extraordinary. Thanks to all of you, for everything.

The Higher the Ponytail....

...The dumber the behavior of the guys around you?

I certainly didn't think that this was an adage that had been proven, but work tonight, and any night I've worn my hair up in a high ponytail has proven differently. Every single time I have my hair up higher, I get guys who act like we're suddenly back in the 4th grade and they're trying to get my attention. Servers who don't notice I'm back there stocking their glasses for them on a low ponytail day are suddenly throwing napkins at me, standing in my way in the doors, and flirtaciously hitting me in the arm while trying to sound witty. A guy at the pasta bar tonight started to strike up a conversation with me about Fettacini, apparently assuming that since I worked there, I must be all kinds of knowledgeable about it...

..again, not the case. At least he realized that he was sounding silly, because he stopped mid sentence and said, "Wow, now I'm just rambling." At that point I came back with a witty and well placed comment:

"Would you like a sausage or meatball?"

The poetry of it all.

Anyway, I guess I've learned that a high ponytail is another feminine wile...either that, or it just evokes thoughts of cheerleaders and school spirit, which puts some guys into a football jock mind set, which causes them to try and impress you? I really don't know, but the reactions are amusing, though hardly impressive.

On a different note, I turned in like, 24 books 1 day late to the library after break, and I was expecting the massive fine of 24 dollars to be my very own. I checked my account today though, and they apparently decided to forgive the whole thing. Hooray for a benevolent and kind library staff! Yay for the HBLL!

And now, back to physics and computer science homework, and then onto working on something much more exciting and fun...but I'll have to talk about that later.

"But My Lips Hurt Real Bad..."

This cold weather is causing my lips to bleed, I should get some intensive care chapstick.

Classes are off to a good start. I'm excited in particular about taking French and Italian Cinema. I really contemplated taking the History of Jazz, but I think it was more expensive...and my best friend has already taken it. I figure we can compare notes on both classes and become doubly cultured and intelligent. It'll be all kinds of cool.

I'm in History 220 right now, and the professor is really funny. He's going through the syllabus, and he gets to the University Cheating Policy, which I'm almost certain is required to be in every syllabus written at BYU. Anyway, he said the following:

"Don't cheat, because if you do, things will heat up for you later...like when the flames are burning you in Hell."

He then goes on for about 2 minutes about how he doesn't to have to come down and relieve your suffering if you do choose to cheat, so you should probably just not do it. He gets off topic a lot, but it's entertaining, and that's more than I was expecting for my tuition, so it can't be all bad, right?

I'm also taking Computer Science classes, for my computer science teaching minor, which is now replacing physics teaching. Turns out, I'm just not that good at physics. Anyway, I walk into the class on the first day of school, and there are about 80 guys in there, in varying stages of relationships (single--->married). There are a whopping 4 girls. One of these girls is a continuing education student, so she's had a few kids, and she's definitely married. The other two girls who are there aren't white. Turns out, at least on Monday in this class, I am the only single white female. Since when does that happen at BYU...or most anywhere else? I can't really recall ever having been in the minority before...unless being LDS is what we're judging by. Anyway, I thought it was funny.

School is looking good, Summer isn't far away, and things are looking good for the next few semesters. As long as I do this right, I should be able to graduate in December of 2007. Then it's hopefully into a real job, and life will be terribly and incredibly good...

...as if it weren't already!

Everlasting Goldfishers

I seem to have had incredible luck with certain things that many people can't help but kill--plants...relationships...and recently, goldfish.

I got back to my room today after being gone for about 10 days. Before leaving, I fished a goldfish out of a toilet on one of the other floors. We're technically just supposed to flush them...but he was so cute and, well, shiny, that I decided he deserved a fighting chance. I filled up a bowl that I have with clean water, stuck some marbles in the bottom, grabbed a few baby spider plants off a plant that I got from my best friend's mom...you know, for oxygen! I then crumbled up a few pieces of stale cheerio into the bottom, and wished the fish a happy life, and a Merry Christmas.

I walked into my room fully expecting him to be dead in the bowl. Sad as it might be, I could at least feel alright flushing a dead fish...I mean, at least he wasn't alive, right? Well, my little fishy friend was and is alive as ever. He was stuck in a bowl with less than half the water that I originally put in there, and no more cheerio, but he's alive and kickin'.

That's where my story continues. The thing is, all the fish I've ever had are hearty fish. I went to a fair with a guy named Alex when I was living in California, and we managed to win one of those silly little goldfish from the game where you have to toss a ping pong ball into the fish bowl. Well, that fish lived in my house for about 5 months, and then we had to move, so I gave the fish to his little sister. I talked to her again about a year later, and the fish was still alive..swimming in the fish tank with all her other fish, just as not-dead as ever.

Last year, I swiped a fish from the big dance they do here. They put them on the tables, and then they just flush them all afterwards, so I decided just to take one. I took the whole little bowl, snuck it home, transplanted the fish into a cup of my own, and then returned the rest of the stuff to where I'd gotten it...just sans fish. This fish lived in the office of our building, and bore the name of the general manager of housing for our area...after all, you can't flush the manager, right? After a little while, my Hall Advisor said we should probably get rid of it, and she gave it to a brother nearby. At last word, which was about 7-9 months later, that fish too was also alive and kickin'.

So now I've created a problem for myself. Not only did the fish live, now I'm attached. He's managed to survive 10 days on his own in a little bowl in my room with nothing but plants for oxygen and stale cheerio for food, and he survived for a few days in a Dorm Toilet. Can I really just end this guy's life with a singular non-caring trip down the porcelain basin?

I just don't think I have it in me. If you want a fish, let me know, this one is apparently hearty.

"...Be Good, for Goodness' Sake..."

I've been listening to about a hundred different singers sing the same songs at work lately. I've been picking out my favorites--like the Boy Band that sang the whole of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer as a ballad...or the song that's chorus goes, "Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus, it's Christmas Eve." and has a section where Santa cheers on reindeer like Pedro, and says, "Ole! Ole! Ole!" instead of "Ho! Ho! Ho!" So funny, I laugh every single time.

Anyway. Santa Claus is coming to town plays at least twice an hour, and I always listen to the words. First, because they're vaguely stalker-esque (he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows if you're awake...creepy.), but the phrase that struck me in particular was the phrase, "He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good, for goodness sake."

What an interesting concept. Being good, solely for the sake of goodness...Now, the song isn't about that at all. It's about being good so that you get presents and not coal, but it brings up an interesting idea, even unintentionally. Being good just because it's good, and not because you're afraid of consequences--immediate or long term, but just because it's good to be good. Someday I'll get there...and do the right things simply because they are just that--the right things. Not because they're a more appealing option in the long run, or because they're just what I'm supposed to do, but because they're good...

Oh for goodness sake... :D

Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy New Year too, in case I don't write anything on here in the meantime. I've got a lot of stuff to get done, and only about a week at home with my family before some of us move out to Utah, to be followed later by the rest. Merry Christmas to all, Happy Holidays to the rest, and to all, a very good night.

A Beautiful Mind?

I'm taking a quick break from all my studying to let the world know that I still exist, and that I haven't forgotten that they too exist.

I'm sitting next to my window, which moments ago was covered with a physics problem that I'd worked out on it. I came up with the idea earlier today because I have to be on duty tonight, and it's been the best way I've ever done my homework. Right now, I'm looking forward to my classes next semester, because I can do more of my homework this way...It's gonna be amazing.

Anyway, I'm also laughing at the way I look today. Took a shower, and didn't do anything to my hair, which means it's down, for once. That honestly almost never happens. I'm also wearing glasses, because I can't remember the last time that I took my contacts out, and they were kind of glued to my eyeballs this morning. Needless to say, it's about time I got some new ones.

Anyway, back into my world of numbers and letters...And then onto Argentina. I'm doing all kinds of traveling in this little imaginative world of mine. Let's just hope that when Finals Week is over and done, I don't emerge with friends from those places that no one else can see....

Chronicles of Narnia

The movie was truly amazing, I highly reccomend it, and I won't go into it in too great of detail now, because I don't want you to get your hopes up too high and then see it and be dissapointed. Just know that I, Novel Concept, found it entirely worth my $8.25 to see it at 12:15 this morning...it was really really good.

I also really love the books. I'm not feeling particularly eloquent at the moment...though that could have a great something to do with the lateness of the hour. Regardless, C.S. Lewis is an incredible author, and I should probably try and get into one of the classes about him sometime whilest at BYU.

Happy Finals Everyone.

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Extreme
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Very Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Very Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Very Low
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Low
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Happy Thanksgiving!

You know what? I really am very thankful for everything I've got. The other day (today in fact) I was walking around campus singing that song from Mr. Holland's Opus (and other things...I just haven't seen them)

I've got daisies in green pastures, I've got my man, who could ask for anything more?

I've even got the more, and life is just plain great. I've been in an amazing mood, and I really don't know that I could ask for anything more.

Hope your turkey is good, and your blessing counting goes even better.

"I'm Glad You're Here!"

Hey Everyone!

Wisdom teeth surgery went well...really well in fact, and I have no complaints. I'm not swollen much anymore...I didn't swell much in the first place, and apart from being tired, I'm back to regular old me. Maybe even better.

For some reason, I feel more like myself in the past couple of days than I have in a little bit of awhile--I feel just plain happy. I have friends and family who love me, I have people who care about me, and I just saved 120% on my wisdom tooth extraction!

I think part of it comes from a general change of attitude that has accompanied my new job at Brick Oven--I work there and as an RA still, and despite the lack of sleep that working full time while going to school full time facilitates, I feel happier. I'm more financially secure, and that's always a good feeling, and work is also pretty fun. I just work the salad bar, but I really do enjoy it. It goes by pretty quickly, and it's not bad work.

Something else about work is interesting, and I thought that I would dislike it--it's a rule that you're supposed to smile. At first, the sassy little inner voice that I posses wanted to revolt against this particular rule, thinking things like, "yeah, whatever. I'll smile if I feel like smiling." (insert sassy head wiggle here). The more intelligent and socially conscious part of me agreed to the rule, and so I walked around work the first night smiling, while wearing a nametag that tells everyone that I'm glad that they chose to frequent Brick Oven that evening.

The odd thing about it is this. Wearing that nametag, and forcing myself to smile in the beginning eventually makes it so that I genuinely feel like smiling a little while later. I feel more like I'm serving people, and that they probably appreciate having a clean, well-stocked salad bar to come to. I end up feeling, in fact, that I really am glad that they chose to come to Brick Oven that night.

I've started to try the same approach in some of my other areas of life. When doing thing as an RA, I try to look at what I'm doing as service, and realize, that though no one might say anything, I bet they really do appreciate it. When I'm doing my schoolwork, I try to think of things as a service both to myself, and to my teachers, who likely appreciate not having to grade terrible papers, and would rather look at good ones.

It's been great! I'm excited about my school stuff again, I'm not feeling nearly as burned out, and I don't really want to just drop out of school and start trying my backup plans. I'm getting excited about applying for my major in January, I'm looking forward to more school and eventually even to graduation, and I'm feeling happier with myself and what I'm doing than I have in a little while.

It's marvelous folks, what a little dose of pretended happiness and excitement can do--try it, if you're clever enough, or a good enough actor/actress, maybe you'll even manage to fool yourself.

Wisdom Teeth

I go in tomorrow to get my wisdom teeth taken out, and then I take an experimental drug afterwards...or no drug at all...for about 24 hours. In return for this, I will get the knowledge that I have no wisdom teeth, and $160...I also don't pay a penny for them...other than the money I've already paid in bus fares.

I've realized my own humanity, in part...and in so realizing it, and the possibility(however small) that something could go wrong, and I could end up not only losing my wisdom teeth, but also my mental faculties...I figure I should make a will now, whilst I am still of 'sound mind' (guess everything really is relative).

To the RA's which I am pleased to work with--I give you my ID card, the powers of my Dining Plus, and the paycheck that should be coming from my second job in about two weeks--just pretend that I'm not gone...I'm sure no one will ever pick up on it.

To the Writers of the Board--You can have any aliases or reputation I might have acquired in the internet world...though that's not much. You're also welcome to my two assigned questions right now--I'd love for you to explain copyright laws and the history of the Oklahoma Sooners... ;)

To my Friends--You're welcome to take some of my other stuff--books, future road trips, good meals, etc. You just can't have my pillows...those are for Wafflewitz and LEB. I think Uffish gets my music collection too, all 17.5 gigs of it.

To My Best Friend--You can have all the pictures, and everything that the pictures might remind you of...you can also have the promise that I'll try not to be too drooling of an idiot...

To My Family...I think if I lost ALL my mental faculties, you'd be saddled with the burden of taking care of me...I probably should figure out some way to compensate you for that--I'll work on that.

Anyway...here's to free Wisdom Tooth Extraction, and the hope that I don't actually end up losing anything besides teeth. If I do...here's to hoping that someone else benefits from it :)

The Perils of Having No Doorstep

Let me explain the setting to you. See, I live in DT. We have elevators in our buildings, and in my particular building, there is one elevator that shows no mercy. The doors close and they sensor doesn't pick up the fact that there's someone in it, well...at least not until the doors are pushing on something in the middle and finally open up. There's a couple who were saying goodnight. She's standing in the elevator, and he's standing right outside of it.

I'm sitting in the office reading my book, and the curtains are drawn, this is so that I don't watch these scenes, because they make us all equally uncomfortable. I can't help but listen to their conversation though.

"Well...call me tomorrow, ok?"
"Yeah. Love you."

These sentiments are followed by a few smacking noises...actually, it was about 6--I counted after a little while. Suddenly, I hear the elevator doors closing with their usual avengence. I'm assuming this is because she's stepped inside the elevator....

You know what happens when you assume...

Anyway, Suddenly I hear her say "Ouch!" and he clamors saying, "Oh my goodness! Are you ok?"

Apparently, they'd been having a longer, less smacking goodnight kiss, I'm assuming their eyes were closed, and the elevator doors had closed on her. Finally, they actually parted, after getting over the shock of having their kiss cut short by the elevator. I sat in the office trying my hardest not to laugh out loud, as the glass on that window is not very thick, and they would have been completely embarassed.

I've decided to nickname the elevator though. I think it should become the Chastity 2000.

Holy Moley!

Friends, Neighbors, Romans, Countrymen, and Fellow Science Friends, and especially our Dear Avagadro

Stop the Clock: it's MOLE DAY!

Yes friends, that's right! Today, October 23, (or 10/23) is our very favorite atomic buddy's very own day. Hope you all celebrated in one way or another.

Happy Mole Day!!

Funny Mental Connections

Today I went with Uffish to her favorite little used book store--it's a lot of fun. I love the smell of old books, and new books, and all those sorts of things, so it was a pleasant visit for me. The smell and all the stacks remind me of home, and unpacking. My mom has tons of books. I haven't read them all, but I'm almost certain that she has. The smell makes me feel at home.

Another funny thing, they were playing this great Jazz music that was kind of slow and it made me want to dance. Not dance all by myself, but to sway quietly with someone else. Maybe I've just had dancing on my mind lately. In my Argentine history class we've been studying the Tango and it's cultural significance. We've been watching different people who do the tango, and it's such a passionate dance, and so full of life and expression--it makes me wish I actually knew how to dance with some real steps. Guess it's another thing to add to the "To-Do" list...eventually.