Saturday, September 11, 2010

Graham David

After a month and 4 days of living the half life that is dogless life, we adopted Graham David the Missouri Born Cavapoo now I can blog happy things again.




Why Graham David?
Though it might seem that he is named after a member of Monty Python, that really isn't the whole truth. In the grand tradition of naming dogs after rockstars (people do it all the time- Neal Tiemann's Dog his Mr Sixx after Nikki Sixx of Motley Crew and I've heard of an Amos after Amos Lee) I wanted soething David Cook themed but the songs don't lend well for a boy. Barbasol isn't exactly the name for a Cavapoo (maybe a BullDog) and Skibblett didn't seem to fit him. I don't like common people's names for animals so no David, Kyle, Andy, or Neal and he is too cute for a Montster. The obvious answer was Cookie but he doesn't look like a cookie (and it is too feminine) he is more of a Cracker. So what do we name a dog who looks like a cracker? Animal (too cute) or Graham? Well he did sort of look British and his red eyes make him look like a drunk so Graham it is. And David, well Cook is born in Missouri so while he doesn't know he has a middle name, I like that.

Our First Picture as a couple



We Love Hugs!


Baby Graham loves Aunt Lauren too


Graham's First Walk


There is a tiny issue, he is scared of Cars.


We'll work on it


Exploring his new home

Friday, September 10, 2010

A Little Friday Fun

I haven't been blogging much lately because I don't want to be a downer and I've been in a bit of a funk. Summer is over and I have no dog which leads me to be a bit Depressed whimpery. I feel a bit like King Arthur in Spamalot "All my knights have fled and I'm lost in this dark and very expensive forest."

And speaking of Spamalot, I've been watching as much Monty Python as possible so that I can laugh hard and long to forget about the less than perfect Summer which leads to, not a lot of things to write about.

Then there is David Cook. It's been a year since I saw him live, last and there is nothing new to report on his new record except that there is nothing to report. He is in New York but there is no (announced) show to attend so I have convinced myself out of desperation that there will be a last minute or secret show announce. At this point I will drop whatever I am doing and go to the show. Think I'm kidding? Tonight, coming home on the Subway, I was checking Twitter for any announcement and had David said, "Surprise I'm going on stage tonight," I would've gotten off the uptown train and gone right back down town (or come home to change depending on how late the show would be.)

If this sounds needy, it isn't. It's desperate because, when I reached the stop where I get service I realized that I had no battery power so I took my friend's battery (which doesn't fit in my phone) and physically held the smaller battery in place by jaming my knuckle in the gap (yes really.) So, it is clear I have gone insane but there is still one shining joy that hasn't changed and that is the little girl I nanny. I find her fascinating!


Feeding me her leftovers



Finding her Dinosaur


Hair clip? No this is a duck!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Beach Reading: Graham Crackers**



King Arthur, The Colonel, and Brian Cohen all have one thing in common. The three vastly different characters from three completely unique time periods were all brought to life by Monty Python's Graham Chapman. However, while those characters might be pure Chapman, Chapman himself wasn't simply Python. He was an actor, a writer, and a daredevil who managed to beat alcoholism and almost cancer; and while he didn't quite survive that battle, he did make it through a friendship with late Who drummer Keith Moon. This Graham, the complete Graham, is the man you meet when you read Graham Crackers: fuzzy memories, sully bits and outright lies.


Crackers, which is compiled by author and friend (Chapman’s not mine) Jim Yoakum with help from Chapman’s longtime partner David Sherlock, is a portrait of the man painted (mostly) by Chapman’s speaking tours. He speaks candidly about his time in Python as well as his battle with alcoholism and the intricate relationship the two had with each other. He recounts trips he made with the Dangerous Spots Club and how, in spite of knowing these men who would hang-glide off of volcanoes and sit in a bus on skies, he considered Moon the world’s most dangerous man. Along with the anecdotes, there are also the "silly bits," sketches that until the book’s release in 1997, had never seen the light of day.


Although the book had me laughing out loud, literally and in public, it is a very serious story of struggle and redemption that Chapman recounts with candor. When speaking about a documentary in which each member of Python was asked to speak about the remaining five, Chapman says how he was rather scared to know what his collaborators would say about him. He remembered at the end of the film all six men believed one truth, "I know you. I know your good points; I know your bad points, but, the hell with all that anyway, because I like you." I truly love that description because I feel that is the truest definition of real friendship. He said that he thought that was a feeling that would always be there and, when you read the Forward by John Cleese (along with the Backward by Eric idle and Sideways by Terry Jones) that was written almost twenty years after Chapman’s death you realize how accurate that statement really was.

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this on the beach using Lauren's IPod (thank you Lauren) which was good because I had just finished the book but bad due to AutoCorrect. Furthermore, when I edited it, it was after having a Margarita with dinner so, there maybe some errors that i missed.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

More beach pictures

In honor of the end of beach season, here are some pictures of the (story) ocean from late August












look how windy it was in our hair


Hope Everyone is enjoying their Labor Day Weekend

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Tranquilizing

When it came time to go back to the shore for my father's court appearance, I still had yet to be in a car driven by my father since the accident. This, coupled with the fact that I was still having flashbacks, led to my doctor prescribing a "mild" tranquilizer to help me survive. The night before we left I took one, slept like a baby and then slept in the car right until we got to the intersection where I sat in the back shaking and crying.

Because of that (and several heart palpitations over the course of the weekend) I decided that I absolutely had to take the tranquilizer for the journey home or I might die. I took it, had a Wawa shake and then passed out in the car. I don’t mean like your normal travel sleep where you are kind of unable to respond but know where you are. I was out until we hit a rest stop where I am told I went to the bathroom and had to hold on to my mother’s hand so I knew which of the eight of her I saw was leading me. I then returned to my coma until we reached home where I saw DJ who had been dead for two weeks.

After vegging out on the couch and having some coffee, I was finally not high as a kite but truth be told, I don't think I was very functional and can't remember much about that day. It was fine for getting through one day but these so called "mild" tranquilizers are only going to be a last resort thing from now on. I'd rather silently panic while being a passenger then live my life in oblivion until the panic stops.

Today was a big a step. I sat in the front passenger seat while my father drove (seating arrangement from the accident) for the first time and the anxiety wasn't so bad. I didn't close my eyes too many times and never felt tightness in my stomach. I did hold my breath a few times but baby steps, healing takes time.

So I did a personality test...

Here are my results. IF you know me, I would like your opinions on if this is me.


Extraversion


Domain/Facet............ Score

Extraversion...............83

Friendliness.............68

Gregariousness...........89

Assertiveness............57

Activity Level...........90

Excitement-Seeking.......41

Cheerfulness.............88

Your score on Extraversion is high, indicating you are sociable, outgoing, energetic, and lively. You prefer to be around people much of the time.

Extraversion Facets

* Friendliness. Friendly people genuinely like other people and openly demonstrate positive feelings toward others. They make friends quickly and it is easy for them to form close, intimate relationships. Low scorers on Friendliness are not necessarily cold and hostile, but they do not reach out to others and are perceived as distant and reserved. Your level of friendliness is high.

* Gregariousness. Gregarious people find the company of others pleasantly stimulating and rewarding. They enjoy the excitement of crowds. Low scorers tend to feel overwhelmed by, and therefore actively avoid, large crowds. They do not necessarily dislike being with people sometimes, but their need for privacy and time to themselves is much greater than for individuals who score high on this scale. Your level of gregariousness is high.

* Assertiveness. High scorers Assertiveness like to speak out, take charge, and direct the activities of others. They tend to be leaders in groups. Low scorers tend not to talk much and let others control the activities of groups. Your level of assertiveness is average.

* Activity Level. Active individuals lead fast-paced, busy lives. They move about quickly, energetically, and vigorously, and they are involved in many activities. People who score low on this scale follow a slower and more leisurely, relaxed pace. Your activity level is high.

* Excitement-Seeking. High scorers on this scale are easily bored without high levels of stimulation. They love bright lights and hustle and bustle. They are likely to take risks and seek thrills. Low scorers are overwhelmed by noise and commotion and are adverse to thrill-seeking. Your level of excitement-seeking is average.

* Cheerfulness. This scale measures positive mood and feelings, not negative emotions (which are a part of the Neuroticism domain). Persons who score high on this scale typically experience a range of positive feelings, including happiness, enthusiasm, optimism, and joy. Low scorers are not as prone to such energetic, high spirits. Your level of positive emotions is high.

Agreeableness



Domain/Facet............ Score

Agreeableness..............92

Trust....................58

Morality.................71

Altruism.................89

Cooperation..............73

Modesty..................92

Sympathy.................88

Your high level of Agreeableness indicates a strong interest in others' needs and well-being. You are pleasant, sympathetic, and cooperative.

Agreeableness Facets

* Trust. A person with high trust assumes that most people are fair, honest, and have good intentions. Persons low in trust see others as selfish, devious, and potentially dangerous. Your level of trust is average.

* Morality. High scorers on this scale see no need for pretense or manipulation when dealing with others and are therefore candid, frank, and sincere. Low scorers believe that a certain amount of deception in social relationships is necessary. People find it relatively easy to relate to the straightforward high-scorers on this scale. They generally find it more difficult to relate to the unstraightforward low-scorers on this scale. It should be made clear that low scorers are not unprincipled or immoral; they are simply more guarded and less willing to openly reveal the whole truth. Your level of morality is high.

* Altruism. Altruistic people find helping other people genuinely rewarding. Consequently, they are generally willing to assist those who are in need. Altruistic people find that doing things for others is a form of self-fulfillment rather than self-sacrifice. Low scorers on this scale do not particularly like helping those in need. Requests for help feel like an imposition rather than an opportunity for self-fulfillment. Your level of altruism is high.

* Cooperation. Individuals who score high on this scale dislike confrontations. They are perfectly willing to compromise or to deny their own needs in order to get along with others. Those who score low on this scale are more likely to intimidate others to get their way. Your level of compliance is high.

* Modesty. High scorers on this scale do not like to claim that they are better than other people. In some cases this attitude may derive from low self-confidence or self-esteem. Nonetheless, some people with high self-esteem find immodesty unseemly. Those who are willing to describe themselves as superior tend to be seen as disagreeably arrogant by other people. Your level of modesty is high.

* Sympathy. People who score high on this scale are tenderhearted and compassionate. They feel the pain of others vicariously and are easily moved to pity. Low scorers are not affected strongly by human suffering. They pride themselves on making objective judgments based on reason. They are more concerned with truth and impartial justice than with mercy. Your level of tender-mindedness is high.

Conscientiousness



Domain/Facet............ Score

Conscientiousness..........89

Self-Efficacy............97

Orderliness..............44

Dutifulness..............93

Achievement-Striving.....81

Self-Discipline..........91

Cautiousness.............75

Your score on Conscientiousness is high. This means you set clear goals and pursue them with determination. People regard you as reliable and hard-working.

Conscientiousness Facets

* Self-Efficacy. Self-Efficacy describes confidence in one's ability to accomplish things. High scorers believe they have the intelligence (common sense), drive, and self-control necessary for achieving success. Low scorers do not feel effective, and may have a sense that they are not in control of their lives. Your level of self-efficacy is high.

* Orderliness. Persons with high scores on orderliness are well-organized. They like to live according to routines and schedules. They keep lists and make plans. Low scorers tend to be disorganized and scattered. Your level of orderliness is average.

* Dutifulness. This scale reflects the strength of a person's sense of duty and obligation. Those who score high on this scale have a strong sense of moral obligation. Low scorers find contracts, rules, and regulations overly confining. They are likely to be seen as unreliable or even irresponsible. Your level of dutifulness is high.

* Achievement-Striving. Individuals who score high on this scale strive hard to achieve excellence. Their drive to be recognized as successful keeps them on track toward their lofty goals. They often have a strong sense of direction in life, but extremely high scores may be too single-minded and obsessed with their work. Low scorers are content to get by with a minimal amount of work, and might be seen by others as lazy. Your level of achievement striving is high.

* Self-Discipline. Self-discipline-what many people call will-power-refers to the ability to persist at difficult or unpleasant tasks until they are completed. People who possess high self-discipline are able to overcome reluctance to begin tasks and stay on track despite distractions. Those with low self-discipline procrastinate and show poor follow-through, often failing to complete tasks-even tasks they want very much to complete. Your level of self-discipline is high.

* Cautiousness. Cautiousness describes the disposition to think through possibilities before acting. High scorers on the Cautiousness scale take their time when making decisions. Low scorers often say or do first thing that comes to mind without deliberating alternatives and the probable consequences of those alternatives. Your level of cautiousness is high.

Neuroticism



Domain/Facet............ Score

Neuroticism................49

Anxiety..................49

Anger....................69

Depression...............60

Self-Consciousness.......75

Immoderation.............16

Vulnerability............24

Your score on Neuroticism is average, indicating that your level of emotional reactivity is typical of the general population. Stressful and frustrating situations are somewhat upsetting to you, but you are generally able to get over these feelings and cope with these situations.

Neuroticism Facets

* Anxiety. The "fight-or-flight" system of the brain of anxious individuals is too easily and too often engaged. Therefore, people who are high in anxiety often feel like something dangerous is about to happen. They may be afraid of specific situations or be just generally fearful. They feel tense, jittery, and nervous. Persons low in Anxiety are generally calm and fearless. Your level of anxiety is average.

* Anger. Persons who score high in Anger feel enraged when things do not go their way. They are sensitive about being treated fairly and feel resentful and bitter when they feel they are being cheated. This scale measures the tendency to feel angry; whether or not the person expresses annoyance and hostility depends on the individual's level on Agreeableness. Low scorers do not get angry often or easily. Your level of anger is high.

* Depression. This scale measures the tendency to feel sad, dejected, and discouraged. High scorers lack energy and have difficult initiating activities. Low scorers tend to be free from these depressive feelings. Your level of depression is average.

* Self-Consciousness. Self-conscious individuals are sensitive about what others think of them. Their concern about rejection and ridicule cause them to feel shy and uncomfortable abound others. They are easily embarrassed and often feel ashamed. Their fears that others will criticize or make fun of them are exaggerated and unrealistic, but their awkwardness and discomfort may make these fears a self-fulfilling prophecy. Low scorers, in contrast, do not suffer from the mistaken impression that everyone is watching and judging them. They do not feel nervous in social situations. Your level or self-consciousness is high.

* Immoderation. Immoderate individuals feel strong cravings and urges that they have difficulty resisting. They tend to be oriented toward short-term pleasures and rewards rather than long- term consequences. Low scorers do not experience strong, irresistible cravings and consequently do not find themselves tempted to overindulge. Your level of immoderation is low.

* Vulnerability. High scorers on Vulnerability experience panic, confusion, and helplessness when under pressure or stress. Low scorers feel more poised, confident, and clear-thinking when stressed. Your level of vulnerability is low.

Openness to Experience

Domain/Facet............ Score

Openess to experience.....88

Imagination..............43

Artistic Interests.......88

Emotionality.............81

Adventurousness..........41

Intellect................91

Liberalism...............92

Your score on Openness to Experience is high, indicating you enjoy novelty, variety, and change. You are curious, imaginative, and creative.

Openess Facets

* Imagination. To imaginative individuals, the real world is often too plain and ordinary. High scorers on this scale use fantasy as a way of creating a richer, more interesting world. Low scorers are on this scale are more oriented to facts than fantasy. Your level of imagination is average.

* Artistic Interests. High scorers on this scale love beauty, both in art and in nature. They become easily involved and absorbed in artistic and natural events. They are not necessarily artistically trained nor talented, although many will be. The defining features of this scale are interest in, and appreciation of natural and artificial beauty. Low scorers lack aesthetic sensitivity and interest in the arts. Your level of artistic interests is high.

* Emotionality. Persons high on Emotionality have good access to and awareness of their own feelings. Low scorers are less aware of their feelings and tend not to express their emotions openly. Your level of emotionality is high.

* Adventurousness. High scorers on adventurousness are eager to try new activities, travel to foreign lands, and experience different things. They find familiarity and routine boring, and will take a new route home just because it is different. Low scorers tend to feel uncomfortable with change and prefer familiar routines. Your level of adventurousness is average.

* Intellect. Intellect and artistic interests are the two most important, central aspects of openness to experience. High scorers on Intellect love to play with ideas. They are open-minded to new and unusual ideas, and like to debate intellectual issues. They enjoy riddles, puzzles, and brain teasers. Low scorers on Intellect prefer dealing with either people or things rather than ideas. They regard intellectual exercises as a waste of time. Intellect should not be equated with intelligence. Intellect is an intellectual style, not an intellectual ability, although high scorers on Intellect score slightly higher than low-Intellect individuals on standardized intelligence tests. Your level of intellect is high.

* Liberalism. Psychological liberalism refers to a readiness to challenge authority, convention, and traditional values. In its most extreme form, psychological liberalism can even represent outright hostility toward rules, sympathy for law-breakers, and love of ambiguity, chaos, and disorder. Psychological conservatives prefer the security and stability brought by conformity to tradition. Psychological liberalism and conservatism are not identical to political affiliation, but certainly incline individuals toward certain political parties. Your level of liberalism is high.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Paintball

I HAVEN’T BLOGGED ALL WEEK BECAUSE I WAS BUSY AND ALSO I REALLY CAN’T THINK OF ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT, SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO SHARE THIS.


A FEW YEARS AGO I WROTE A FICTIONALIZED ACCOUNT OF A FAMILY PAINTBALL GAME FOR A CLASS. BASICALLY THE ONLY THINGS THAT WERE CHANGED WERE THE NAMES (OBVIOUSLY) AND THAT, AFTER MY SECOND HIT I, NOT ONLY SAT THE REST OF THE DAY OUT BUT ALSO, MY COUSIN TOOK ME TO THE LOCAL MALL TO GO SHOPPING TO CALM ME DOWN. I WROTE IN THE GONZO JOURNALISM STYLE SO THAT I APPEAR AS A NARRATOR TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON’S (PORTER-AN IDEALIZED VERSION OF MYSELF) FAMILY WHEN IN ACTUALITY, THE FAMILY WAS MINE.

-----Warning Strong Language----
After a brief summary of what a paint ball game is like and a collection of waivers, the head of the place asks for the third time if they would like anyone else on their team. Jason and his relatives add up to about 15 while the other group totals about 21. “Teeny” and Jason both answer no. When we get to the lining up point, I’m asked to take a before picture of the family at “war”.

There they stood, an entire family holding hands, ages ranging from 20 to 65. In the middle of the group “Teeny” and Jason stand next to each other laughing at how stupid they look in the Army Fatigues, Krista and Porter smile nervously and are clutching each other’s hands as if they were about to enter an actual war zone, and Davey holds Jenna in a tight embrace- it’s almost as if he’s scared she’s not real.

“Okay everyone one, two, three,” I call out. The camera clicks and it’s time for us to go out onto the field.

Seconds after the referee blows the whistle, things start to go downhill. Davey falls right to the ground, injuring his foot and ripping open his hand skin. He runs behind a tree and we begin to hide together.

“I made an ass of myself trying to show off for Jenna,” he chastises himself.

“I know, I saw that,” I laugh as paint bullets fly pass our hiding spot. I’m beginning to feel invincible.

“If I can just stay behind this tree for the next three hours...,” my train of thought is interrupted by a tremendous pain in my right arm. It’s a minute before I realize I’m on the ground.
“Stay down,” Davey warns.

“What are you talking about,” I scream at the top of my lungs, partly because of the pain. Jenna and Porter come running over.

“Jason and “Teeny” are both out,” Jenna informs us.

“Is she ok?” Porter asks.

“My arm, I think it’s broken. It hurts so bad,” I squeal.

“Your arm’s not broken, you so lucky,” Davey says, excitedly. Lucky is the last thing I’m thinking as I get up from the ground. Apparently the reason my arm hurts so much is because the paint bullet didn’t break. “It hurts like a mother fucker, I know, but since it didn’t break you get to stay in the game.”

“Oh goodie,” I say as sarcastic as I can. I hate this.

I begin to look around for the rest of the team. Davey ventures about 15 feet away and gets shot. Almost all of the team is gone; if we are going to win I’m going to have to stop hiding. I get my gun ready to shoot, I’m out for vengeance. Unfortunately, the second I start to shoot, I get shot again. This time the bullet breaks but it’s a sensitive area and I begin to cry. By the time I get to the “prisoners” zone I’m rather hysterical and everyone agrees it’ll be best if I sit the rest of the day out.

Three hours later, it’s all over. Everyone is covered in paint and it’s obvious the other team won. “So,” Jason began, as he wrapped his arm around Porter. “How does whitewater rafting sound guys?”

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...