… not be allowed to use email. 
I have little attention to detail (re-read my personality profile several posts below if you have any doubt), and people are going to start wondering if Ambien is really to blame for those odd emails in the middle of the night.
I am laughing at myself. Too funny.
Good thing we have two spaces free in our doghouse. 
Jen mentioned this personality test, and I’m curious to see how people come out.
This is how I came out: INFJ (this site was a little kinder in explaining “rare” INFJ’s than others.)
I’m always hesitant to categorise myself. I’d just rather be “me” than a category someone figures I belong in, although, hypocritically speaking, I do fit nicely into my sun sign.
This is what I made for dinner last night. It was a spaghetti squash, which I stabbed a few times and stuffed into the microwave for 20 minutes. There WAS no explosion (thank goodness).
After the buzzer went off, I let it sit for 5 or 10 minutes to cool down. I sliced it in half and used a spoon to dig out the few seeds that were there. Then I scooped the inside with a fork.
I tasted the squash and it was really good plain, but I happen to have bought this salad dressing, so I dribbled about 2 tablespoons on it, and topped it with a little shredded mozzarella.
Alternatively, you could put any red pasta sauce on this, or diced tomatoes from a can (or fresh) and it would be wonderful, too.
Off to the side, tomatoes from the vine fresh from some farmer in Nebraska. They are in-season and very good right now.
side note: Spaghetti squash provides a significant source of calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, E, and C.
Remember those USB cables you had to have to hook up between your camera and your PC or laptop? You don’t need those anymore. You just need this card reader instead.
I never saw much of a use for card readers until I had a work laptop with one built in. I had to trade out laptops during the week, and when I wanted to transfer photos, I had no idea where my USB cable might be.
Wal-Mart had this particular one for around $9. It’s small and I can toss it in my purse without having to deal with another lose cable (believe me, I have a few!)
I went to a Tastefully Simple party tonight, given by one of my workmates. I’m glad I just had a vegie burger before I went. The concept is to sell seasoning, drink mixes (like frozen sangria) and bread/dessert mixes by making these things, putting them on a plate (or in a glass) and passing them around to sample.
The best part was the sangria mix, which was mixed with two bottles of really cheap sangria and frozen. I did not buy this. I am not sure if I trust myself with it, to be honest. The second best thing was this garlic dipping stuff.. I think it was part sour cream and part mayo and a lifetime supply of garlic (which is saying a lot, because I don’t mind tasting raw garlic here and there). It keeps people away, you know?
Just kidding.
I am sort of quiet around groups of people sometimes. I have to be comfortable with the situation; I watch and assess, and ensure no one is going to bite before I join in. Once I join in, I have a lot of fun. This was one of those times. Six of my workmates were at the party, my workmate’s mother, and several of her neighbors.
I was sure my workmates were thinking, “Hmm… we never see Lisa at anything like this.” I joined in the conversation with them and it was fun. Of course, the sangria sort of helped. They even “went on” about someone I work with at work and didn’t worry about me being there to hear it. It was a display of trust, really, and that felt good.
The lady sitting next to me, who I didn’t know, leaned over and asked me if I’d ever been to one of these parties before and if I knew what was good to buy. I never had, and I had no idea. As the plates circled around (and around!), we mentioned which ones we liked, she asked about the new office we’re moving into, and I talked about how icky the old office is. I was waiting for her to tell me what she did for a living, but I worried that she would say, “Oh I stay at home with my kids”, and if she had.. the worst thing that could happen is that she would assume I thought that wasn’t a valid job, and I would have said, “That’s probably the most challenging job there is.”
And it would have been true. There are moms who would actually go insane staying home all day, and I am one of them. I love my child, btw. Just like all people are not cut out to be computer programmers, not all people who love their kids are designed to spend all day with them.
During the party, I thought, “Why can’t I just carry on conversations with strangers without watching and assessing first?” I think most of it is because I’m worried that I will say something wrong and insult someone (the reason I sometimes wish for an “unsend” email button in Gmail), or someone will secretly be wondering what the heck I am talking about. But I need to get over that. I am capable of carrying on a meaningful conversation. I can dig my way out of a perceived insult, I’m sure.
Luckily, I get a chance to practice public speech when I am required to train a group of people at work. Lately, I have only had one trainee at a time, which is also helpful. I’ve had groups of 12 or 15 people, and I do ok with those. My boss seems to think it’s “my thing”. I’m not sure I agree, but at least in training, I know what I’m talking about, and I have some confidence about what I am saying. I need to apply that outward to personal situations, and I can.
Think of all the people you will meet or pass by on the street in your lifetime. How many will you talk to or engage with? What might you have to learn or what might you contribute?
Do you have trouble joining in with a group of people? Why or why not?
.. and putting it in the fridge.
There was a little slip off the platform, evidently, but it looks quite yummy!
Obviously, I am feeling quite spoiled by now, but you haven’t quite gotten to the emotional part yet.*
My driver’s license expired today (welcome to the US, where you have to get one of these every 5 or 6 years). I walked in and was out within 1/2 hour. My picture turned out nicely. I retained my motorcycle riding designation without having to test for it. Actually, they even let me out of the DMV without testing, which is surprising, considering my antics on the road over the last 8-12 months.
I went to Walmart and bought a few frames to put things* in. TLK picked out one that ended up not fitting one of them, so I put one of pictures in that frame and put another picture* in a different frame.
I called my parents on the way home from the restaurant. I asked my dad if any of his kids had ever been unruly whilst tired and mid-restaurant. He said, “Yes, all 3 of them… well, except for C who just laid his head on the table and went to sleep.” Ahhh!
*I am tired and it’s too late for my Ambien, but I had lots to do when I got home from dinner and shopping … like frame a handwritten Tornado poem, hang up a nice-smelling t-shirt in the closet (hoping it doesn’t lose its scent), look through the gifts and cards I received, even from surprise people (ok, Ian’s dad) and think about how I could possibly ever match his giving the most touching gift he had to give…. something from his heart.
Today is my birthday. I was born 40-some-odd years ago in Peoria, Illinois, to my mother, of course, and this man, who is my dad. I was an easy labor and a beautiful baby from what I remember.
Have a wonderful day, a beer, a piece of cake.. and whatever else you like in celebration thereof. You have my permission to call in sick to work. hehe
I’m making a list today:
Lisa
punctuation
