My Personality

My Personality

Neuroticism	20
Extraversion	29
Openness To Experience	16
Agreeableness	68
Conscientiousness	79

You are introverted, reserved, and quiet with a preference for solitude and solitary activities. Your socializing tends to be restricted to a few close friends. You are generally calm and composed, reacting moderately well to situations that most people would describe as stressful. As a practical person you like to think in plain and simple terms. Others describe you as down-to-earth, practical, and conservative. You have a strong interest in others' needs and well-being. You are pleasant, sympathetic, and cooperative. You set clear goals and pursue them with determination. People regard you as reliable and hard-working.

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Snack

Do you like granola bars? I've got to tell you about this granola bar someone told me about. I don't want you to think I'm endorsing a product or anything. But I tried it and I really liked it, and I thought you would to.

FiberOne Chewy Bars (oats & chocolate) are only 2 points on Weight Watchers. They are much more filling than the Quaker granola Bars I usually eat. They're wonderful and contain 9g of dietary fiber. I'm not saying they will replace a meal. (Who would replace a meal with a bar anyway?) But as a snack to tie you over from lunch to supper they fit the bill. There are only 5 in a box, though, so you pay a bit more. But I think they are worth it.

Thursday Thirteen

As a twist on the Thursday Thirteen I decided to participate in Thankful Thursday. My Mother over at Bears in Exile has been doing this for some weeks.

I am thankful for:

1) The wonderful treatment I received at the doctor's office yesterday

2) Feeling Better today

3) B sitting in the bed with me last night reading One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

4) Hubby taking the time away from work to take me to the doctor

5) J actually answering with "Yes, Ma'am" yesterday

6) Schwann's man delivering unexpectedly Tuesday night

7) White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookies from 6)

8) 301 Useless Facts that my husband is using to entertain us

9) My job where I actually had the option of calling in sick

10) Much needed Rain

11) Hot showers when you feel bad

12) The Hallmark Channel

13) Having another 3 day weekend.

Books

I finished reading The Grapes of Wrath this weekend. I know that a lot of people read this one in high school but I missed it somehow. I read East of Eden back in January and really enjoyed it, so I thought I would give this one a try. I'm still trying to strike off more books from that ridiculous top 100 list someone put out.

Grapes of Wrath is the story of the Joad family. The Joad's are forced off the land they had been sharecropping when the big land owners realize they can farm the land cheaper without them. The story is set during the depression in the great dust bowl of Oklahoma. The Joads are enticed to pack up all they own and venture out to California for the promise of work. When they reach California they realize that thousands of people have come west with the same idea. There is very little work and the people are unwelcome. The Joads had always been poor but now they face possible starvation. They are hard-working people who only want a chance to earn a decent wage. They are harrassed by law-enforcers and cheated by everyone. Their story is of survival and hardship and the kindness of strangers.

The book drags a bit in the beginning but then begins to roll along. Steinbeck's writing style sometimes goes off on tangents of narratives not part of the story. The book will remind you of how tough things have gotten in the past making today's troubles seem trivial. The book does seem to end without any resolution. The reader is left wondering if the Joad's will survive. Overall, it was a very good book. I recommend it to anyone who has not yet read it.

Strange Minds?

I got this interesting tidbit from Old Horsetail Snake. I am not sure where he got it but I found it very itnernetsig.

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too:

I cdnulo't blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. Pniotnig to the phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to rsceearh at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are; the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteers be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig, huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

(Did you know that olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can raed taht?)

Diet

Well, I gained a little weight this week. This was to be expected after I got a little carried away this week. Nothing like a good loss to inspire you to eat. And also, I skipped a couple of days exercising. Anyway, I got myself back under control yesterday. I ended up with only a 0.4lb gain. Yesterday, after I decided to get back on track I went to the new Fresh Market in South Huntsville. There were lots of wonderful things in there to eat. I was regretting that I decided to behave. I got out with just some fresh fruit and bread. Also, they had roses for $7.99/dozen so I treated myself. At any rate this weekend I am back on schedule and back to points tracking.

15.8lbs

Princess Confessions

Mom101 wrote a post on April 16 about Barbie Confessions (I can't seem to link to the actual post). I thought about how I didn't want my daughter playing with Barbie's either. ( I wrongly assumed with my infant daughter that I would have some say in the matter.) I think I was really disillusioned as a child by the whole Cinderella myth. I mean I really did keep waiting for my Prince in college. He finally did come around but not til I was 23. But I digress.

I grew up a tomboy. I have an older brother but I don't think that he is entirely to blame. I grew up in the country in a rural area. I proudly wore my brother's hand-me-downs until I was old enough to know better. I climbed trees and played a lot in the woods. I was a Girl Scout. I wore jeans everywhere but to church. I was a tomboy. When other girls started carrying purses and wearing lipstick in 5th grade I was like, "Why?" I still wear jeans most of the places I go. I carry a small pocketbook. I wear sneaker's everywhere too. See this post for more details.

So imagine my surprise when instead of another tomboy I beget a "girlie girl". Sometimes I don't know what to do with her. I think though that it must skip a generation. My mother paints B's nails because I don't own any nail polish. B loves dresses. She loves to shop. I remember when we were looking for a Halloween costume a few years ago she asked if she could have new shoes to go along with it.

I had some pretty naive ideas about the differences in the sexes and how much of their environment influences a child's personality. I wanted my children to be intellectuals. To grow up believing women could do anything and men could, too. My son started to play with cars at age 2 and I believe it is still (at age 8) one of his favorites. My daughter loves dolls, and dress-up, and barbies, and Lord Please Forgive me - Princesses. All this despite any environmental influences I tried to make.

But I hope that instead of finding out that the dream of Cinderella is just a dream and being somehow negatively influenced by the body image of Barbie, my daughter will take away other lessons. I hope she will see that her mother is a strong independent woman who balances career and family. I hope my son will see how much his father respects and loves his wife and how much he contributes to raising a family.

And so if my daughter wants to grow up and be a stay-at-home mother like her grandmother I think I can accept that. (Of course she will still be required to complete her degree first.) Just as long as she doesn't want to grow up and be a princess.

Books

I finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha last week. I know, I know most of you read this book last year. I am late to the party again. I don't usually go for books listed on the best seller list. I usually want someone I trust to recommend the book first. Anyway, this was a really good book. It was well researched and written. It was very descriptive. I really felt transported to Japan and to the life these girls led. I saw the movie on Friday night. I was dissapointed as usual. The movie mostly followed the book but a lot was left out or condensed. If I had seen the movie first I probably would not have read the book. So if you haven't yet seen this movie, read the book instead.

I also read Catcher in the Rye. I am trying to go back and read some classics that I've missed. I was dissapointed when someone published a list of 100 greatest books that I had not even read half. Well I've read two of Salinger's books now (Frannie and Zooey). I am at a loss as to why this author is considered such a genius or why Cacher in the Rye is considered such a classic. The book is a first person chronicle of a couple of days in the life of a rich, discontented prep school student in 1950's New York. The language alone is a big turn off. It seems every other phrase out of this kid's mind is riddled with cursing. I've read it is a story of teen angst but I've read better. It was only 200 pages but I had to read another book along with it to keep from giving it up. (I was somewhat determined to cross it off the list, once I had purchased the darn thing.) I wonder if Salinger had not become such a recluse and had continued to write if this book would still be held as a classic. Does anyone else out there have an opinion on this?

I am back to a good murder mystery now.

Five Things Meme

I got this one from my SIL at Road Rage.

1. What are five things that give you physical pleasure?
a. hubby
b. my hot tub
c. chocolate
d. holding my children
e naps

2. What are five things that immediately make you angry?
a. people driving while on the phone
b. people who write out checks in the check-out line
c. cashiers who do not greet you
d. when my children lie
e. being woken up unnecessarily from a nap

3. What are five things that make you automatically happy?
a. holding my hubby's hand
b. relaxing in my hot tub
c. reading a good book
d. seeing my children smile
e. a beautiful fall day

4. What are five things that make you instantly sad?
a. hearing about suicide bombers
b. my children's dissapointment
c. hearing of the death of a child
d. seeing my house a mess
e. a sad book or movie

Just for fun I added number 5. Cause shouldn't it have 5?
5. What are five things that make you gag?
a. celery
b. liver
c. smell of skunk
d. snails
e. road kill

I'm not tagging anyone. If you are interested than put it on your blog! If not, just don't.

Diet Update

16.2 lbs and probably the lowest I've weighed in at least 7 years. Add to that, I tried on those Levi's or "skinny jeans" this morning. They fit!! I'm feeling pretty good about all that.

No-Bake Banana Pudding

This is the recipe as it appears at allrecipes.com.

INGREDIENTS
8 ounces sour cream
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups whole milk
1 (16 ounce) package vanilla wafer cookies
4 bananas, peeled and sliced
DIRECTIONS
In large bowl combine sour cream, whipped topping, pudding mix and milk. Stir well. In the bottom of a trifle bowl or other glass serving dish, put a layer of cookies, then a layer of pudding mixture, then a layer of bananas. Repeat until all ingredients are used. Refrigerate until serving.

I actually make this using the Pepperidge Farm Chessman cookies as a user suggested. I will also tell you that you should mix the milk and pudding first and then add cool whip and sour cream. I always use Skim Milk, light sour cream and lite cool whip because this is what I have and it works fine.

If you like bananas and creamy goodness, you will love this dessert. It is so easy! I usually make it the night before so the cookies will soften some. I bet it is good with pineapple but I haven't yet tried it.

Thursday Thirteen

I wanted to do a Thursday Thirteen but couldn't think of an idea. I read all my favorite blogs and no one has posted one yet. So I'm gonna wing it. My hubby is going camping this weekend and perhaps because of poor planning my kids are spending Friday night at Grandma's. So I have all day Friday and Saturday to myself. I have had some time coming up with what to do, so here are some ideas.

13 Things To Do on My 3 Day Weekend

1. Watch a movie - Memoirs of a Geisha - done. It wasn't as good as the book.
2. Prepare my SS lesson - done.
3. Go visit Joy who just had a baby girl -done.
4. Get a haircut - done.
5. Go to my cousin Shane's wedding reception - done.
6. Eat - done.
7. Play StarWars II while kids are gone to Grandmas - done, done.
8. Exercise - done.
9. Nap - done.
10. Take kids out to brunch on Sunday - done, Cracker Barrell, very good.
11. Enjoy my clean house while kids are gone - done. House stayed clean until Sunday.
12. Do laundry (you just can't escape it!) done. Finished it all on Friday.
13. Eat some more - done.

Concentrate

Getting bored there at work reading blogs? Try this. Be careful, it is somewhat addictive.

Landscaper - Rant

I am still upset this morning over a conversation I had last night. I thought I would share it with you to get it off my chest. Maybe you can console me.

In the past we have hired a certain man to do some landscaping work for us. This man is somewhat of a rural fellow with a small operation. He layed some sod in our backyard and this winter planted some trees. He did some work for our neighbor and we recommended him to a friend. This spring I asked him to come by and give me an estimate on some landscaping I wanted to have done. He said he would call back that evening. Instead he called at 6:30am and left a message with my husband (rather than talking to me directly) with some numbers. I looked the numbers over and decided on some but not all the work and gave him a call. I tried to get him twice before I left a message. I then called and left another message a week later. Meanwhile, the trees are leafing out and I am getting anxious to get planting. I had pretty much given up on him calling back.

He calls last night and I told him what I wanted done and could he review the numbers he gave me because I no longer had the paper with the quotes. My husband then got on the phone to talk to him about the trees he had planted. One of the trees was apparently partly buried in dirt and was suffering accordingly. He had not staked the trees when they were planted. Hed didn't seem to think it was his responsibility if they died. He agreed to stake them for us for an additional $20 per tree.

When I got back on the phone I told him I could not find the message with the estimate. He apparently did not record his estimates in anyway and could not give me them again. He then said that he normally liked to get on a job right away following an estimate and not wait a month like I did. I reminded him that it took two messages and 3 weeks for him to call me back. He said he had been busy on other jobs and didn't see the point in calling me until he had time to do the job. He became very agitated with me. I told him we had not had problems with him in the past but I had know way of knowing what to pay him. I gave him a number that I thought was what he quoted and he said that was too low. I asked him if when he got out here would he give me another estimate and he said, no. He was not coming out to my house unless it was to do the work. I said I wanted him to do the work but wanted to know what to write the check for. He said to call him if I found the estimate and hung up.

Now, I didn't like the way this man had talked to me on the phone. Up until now, I had found him friendly and accomodating. I am not accustomed to dealing with business in this manner, however. If he had returned my call, maybe I would have hung on to the paper. Or perhaps, if he had called and talked to me with the estimate I could have given him the go ahead then. I could hardly sleep last time I was so upset. I don't think I will do business with him again but would like to hear your input. I need to go calm down now. Too bad, I can't have a glass of wine at work.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I just finished reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. This book met a very important criteria for a good book. I became totally immersed. I was there with the characters and they became my friends.

The book is told from the perspective of an 80 year old woman looking back on her life. She grew up in rural China during the 1800's. The book is the story of two women's friendship that began when they were children and continued throughout their lives. The book gives very good descriptions of Chinese life including the practice of foot-binding, marrying-in, and the position of women in society. It is a short book but it is filled with intense emotion. I highly recommend it.

Easter Sunday

We had a pleasant Easter Sunday. My Daddy was not feeling well on Friday and decided not to make the trip to Alabama. His presence was missed.

We had a good service Sunday at our home church, Whitesburg Baptist. After church, we had the usual ham/potato salad/baked bean dinner. I had created a treasure/Easter egg hunt for the kids. The Easter Bunny (or his nemesis Santa Claus) does not visit our house. Instead I prepared a bucket of goodies for the kids and hid it in the house. I made up some clues and hid them in plastic eggs. The kids had to find each egg until it led to their surprise. They were more excited by the hunt then the treasure at the end.

We woke up to a cold morning. The temperature had dipped below freezing Saturday night. Very unusual for April. Just last Sunday, the daytime temp had been in the 80's. We had to wear coats over our new Easter attire. The kids were not interested in going outside to hunt eggs. I think they got this out of their system a few weeks ago.

Sunday afternoon was restful. Nobody wanted to eat leftovers that evening. We ordered from China Dragon. We are starting to be regular customers. Everyone wanted some of the banan pudding I made, though.

This morning I am feeling unusually tired. Too much sugar? Maybe just having to go to work when the kids get another day off. I hope I have a good week.

He is Alive!

He is Risen, He is risen indeed.

1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.

Luke 24:1-8

Spring Projects

1. Clean Out Garage - done
2. Clean Curtains - done
3. Clean Refrigerator -done
4. Clean off Porch/Furniture - done
5. Organize SS supplies/crafts - done

Books

I just finished reading Queen of the Broken Hearts by Cassandra King. I had already read several of her books and had enjoyed them immensley. This new novel was good but not the thought-provoking, fully immersing novel that The Sunday Wife and The Same Sweet Girls were. Do you know how most novels (especially mysteries) have a story with a definite beginning and an ending where hopefully there is resolution of a problem (or solving of a crime)? Occasionally, I read a novel where the entire book is the chronicles of someone's life and maybe the character comes to a conclusion and a story is worked out or maybe not. East of Eden, although a really good book, is a good example of that. The story is the story, in otherwords. This book falls under that category.

I also recently read another Minette Walters novel, The Scold's Bridle. It was a murder mystery like most of her other novels. This one drug a bit and didn't really keep my attention well. It had a good mystery and I did not figure out 'Whodunnit' but it was not as compelling as what I have previously read including: The Dark Room, Acid Row, & The Scuptress.

I also read another Kinsey Milhone novel by Sue Grafton, D is for Deadbeat. I am really starting to enjoy these alphabet mysteries and look forward to reading through the entire alphabet. I believe she is already up to S.

I've got quite a few books to read on my shelf courtesy of Amazon.com. I am going to try and read some classics that I have previously overlooked. I just started Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and so far it is really good. I'll tell you more later.

Friday

I had a good couple of days off, though we were very busy. Wednesday. Mother and I took a long walk then went to WM to buy groceries. After returning the groceries to my house we went to eat lunch at Terranova's. In order to stay true to our dieting we each had a side salad and split the cannelloni. It was very good. After lunch we shopped for a while at Kohl's and then drove around looking at real estate.

Thursday I had a meeting with the insurance man at 8:45 followed by a VBS meeting at 9:30. Following those meetings we drove to Arab to take my foster sister, Jackie, out to lunch. We ate lunch at a little restaraunt in Arab. I had potato soup and a half sandwich. We were both tired after we drove back to my house and we had a little nap.

SIL showed up around 4pm and spent several hours playing with the kids. We ordered pizza and mom, SIL, and I spent an hour at the table talking. We then watched a movie.

I pulled something in my back yesterday and I was feeling quite sore. I did not do my exercise and was feeling a little guilty about that. I weighed in this morning 0.4lbs lighter, though. Isn't it funny how if you work really hard you might not lose and other weeks you over indulge and losse 0.4lbs?

At 7am this morning I remembered I didn't have to leave the house as early to be at work because a) kids are out of school and b) it is a federal holiday so I slept an extra 20 minutes. I left work and went by Publix to pick up some bananas for the pudding I'm making for Sunday. Traffic was very light.

Everyone who is off work or school today have a great holiday! Everyone enjoy your Easter!

Good Friday

Today is good friday or Good Friday depending on your perspective. Today is the day we recognize in history as the day Our Lord, Jesus Christ was crucified. Today I am thankful that Jesus died for my sins so that I might have eternal life.

Please see this link for an obituary.

Bloggers in the House!

My mother (Bears in Exile) and SIL (Road Rage - Little Trucker) are visiting. My Daddy is coming on Friday. Can you count to five? That's right. Five adults = five laptops.

Tuesday

We had a really good restful weekend. Friday I cleaned off the porch and washed the outside furniture. I washed sheets and curtains. I am feeling really good about all that. Friday night we had Chinese because we recently learned there is a decent place that delivers to our door.

Saturday, B had a birthday party at Jump Zone. While she was at the party I went to pick up trash. My homemaker's club has adopted a mile of residential road on Eastview in Madison. I decided with the large hill I had to climb and the repeated bending over this would count as my exercise for the day. I walked the mile picking up trash in both directions. It was a good day for this, warm with a nice breeze. Near the end of my second mile a resident of the street came out and brought me a bottle of water and said, "Thanks". After my shower and nap I went out and bought 2 new sofas and got J's haircut.

Saturday night we went to dinner at Greenbriar Restaraunt (the original location next to the old gin) not to be confused with Greenbriar Barbecue. As a family we really like Greenbriar. The wait for a table is short, the service is quick, the food is good. It is a family, slightly rustic place and priced right. They have good barbecue and catfish. The hushpuppies are never-ending.

Sunday after church I did my workout and then took a nap. It was a good nap. Sunday evening I even cooked supper.

Monday I had to work at that other job of mine. It was a long day. I dreamed about it all night long. I am thankful to have a nice restful day at my regular job today to make up for it.

Of course, I got off my diet on the weekend. Friday morning, though I was weighing in at my alltime low of 14.8lbs net loss. I was feeling really good about that. This morning I snuck a peak at the scale and I had lost another 0.5lb. Feeling really great about that!

Mom is on her way to vist for a week or so and SIL will be spending Thurs & Fri at our house. Easter is coming up this weekend. Let the eating begin.

Birthday Meme

I got this from AllyBean at Crazy Dust in My Coffee.

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday, month and day only.
• December 3
2. List 3 events that occurred on that day.•
• 1818 - Illinois becomes the 21st US state
• 1925 - George Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F is premiered at Carnegie Hall,
• 1947 - Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire opens on Broadway.
3. List 3 important birthdays.
• 1937 - Bobby Allison - famous race car driver
• 1947 - Ozzie Osbourne - singer
• 1965 - Katarina Wit - figure skater
4. List 1 death.
• 1894 - Robert Louis Stevenson
5. List a holiday or observance. (if any)
• International Day of Disabled Persons
6. Tag 5 other bloggers.
• I am tagging my SIL, my MOM, and AtHomeDaddy