Personality test

Last week, I took the personality test that Jennifer and Becky blogged about. So here are my results...they were pretty accurate!

You are exceptional and unique. Your quest in life is to identify exactly who you are and why you’re here. What’s important to you is the journey of self discovery, determining who you are today is not the same as who you’ll be tomorrow.
(Pretty true)


You resist being categorized and are quick to question any social standard that you sense someone imposing on you. Stereotypical gender roles always interest you and, in your mind, connect to issues that most other people would never even consider related.
(True)



You can “connect” with any individual person and practically read their mind, but you have a natural tendency to match your actions to the expectations you read from their mind and yearn for company that lets you truly, naturally be yourself. You struggle between letting yourself naturally match the sentiment of the group (which feels like putting on a façade) or letting your individuality shine, which may allow people to see how different you are.
(Yes, this is pretty much me.)


You are particularly accepting of other people and have a special talent for seeing people’s true selves instinctively. It takes time for you to trust your gut instinct about people because even you don’t believe that someone could be so right about another person’s nature so quickly. This intuitive sense about what people are thinking (which is actually your hyper-attention to nonverbal cues) is your special talent. You may think it is available to everyone and that others just ignore it, but in truth others could never develop the skill to the level which comes naturally to you.
(Absolutely.)



To you everything happens on a personal level. Your friends come to you for advice because they know that you’ll love them for who they are and put yourself in their shoes to look at the world. Your advice, although varied in delivery, usually boils down to “be true to yourself” and “listen to your heart.” You are also an excellent confidant because things told to you never return to anyone through the grapevine. You exude this quality so strongly that even strangers will sometimes spontaneously begin confiding their deepest secrets in you.
(Yes, this is me.)



Despite all of that, you are not much of a talker. In fact, words sometimes trip you up because you prefer nonverbal communication. Unfortunately, most of the world is not as attuned to nonverbal communication the way you are, so your opinion can get overshadowed if a more outspoken person is part of the decision.
(Well, sometimes, I am quite talkative.)


You focus more on nurturing other’s self esteem than any other type. As a result of this naturally caring nature your close friends often turn to you for moral support.
(I think this is true.)


You are by far the most talented of all types at reading nonverbal cues. In your admirable attempts to convey a message diplomatically, those who aren't sensitive to inflection, tone, insinuations or body language sometimes simply do not get your message because they only receive the verbal half of what you said.
(Interesting.)



In the same way that you're the best at reading nonverbal cues, you're also the best at sending them. When you speak they miss the nonverbal half of your message, then they speak and transmit twice the message (verbal + nonverbal) which often gives away more than they intended but is sometimes carelessly inaccurate since they don’t send nonverbal cues as well as you do. When you're tempted to assign bias based on someone’s tone or other nonverbal cues it is wise to have them restate what they said and see if ignoring the careless, unintentional nonverbal half of their message lets the true meaning through.




If you have children your focus is making sure that your child has a strong self-image and high self-esteem. More than other parents it is important for you to be friends with your children.
(Well, i hope this will be true when I have children!)



You are more philosophical than most and passionately think about ethics and justice more than other types. It is when ethical issues come up in conversation that you most strongly sense that you are fundamentally different from other people. You become visually emotionally focused when these issues arise, while others easily laugh them off and switch topics to something trivial. To you, it seems that everyone should be passionate about ending racism, sexism and other social ills.
(YES!)



You go by the book and are suspicious of anyone suggesting that rules or laws should be ignored. You think constantly about improving laws, and see that at a major avenue for advancing social change because you see legislation and rule creation as the consensus opinion of the group working together. For you the focus is seeing everyone working together in harmony.
(hmmm...)



You are a healer and probably give great massages and know what foods will make people happy again. You prefer to surround yourself with direct, honest, authentic people who let you reinvent yourself every time you meet. You want nothing more than for there to be peace and harmony in the world, and your actions clearly reflect that vision.
(I guess so.)



You are more strongly moved by poetry and artistic expression than any other type. You are interested in the finer points of different artistic mediums, having many complete and incomplete poems and stories in your head if not on paper.
(I always have incomplete poems and novels running through my brain.)

Cool Stuff

Last week, I went to PBS's website for the first time to discover that they have a lot of really cool features!


1. An online independent film festival! I really liked Chickens in the City!

2. Create your own backyard paradise! This one is fun and is incredibly addictive!

Truly Yummy!

I received some free samples of this new product called True Lemon in the mail a couple days ago. This product consists of small packets (looks like packets of sweetener)of a crystallized lemon substitute! I have fallen in love with both flavors--True Lemon and True Lime! Add them to water and you have instant water with lemon or lime! You can use these packets in any way that you would use fresh lemons! Check out the website for free samples and coupons!

Good News for the Bears!

Today after many days of non-blogging, I have some good news to report!!! There will be no New Jersey bear hunt this year! It has been rejected by DEP commissioner Lisa Jackson. It infuriates me to no end to think that all these innocent bears are hunted every year...and why? Because WE have infringed upon THEIR habitat to build some more McMansions on the land that was theirs first? But anyway, victory for now. Check out this link if you're interested.

Friday

Glorious Rays of Sunshine warm my skin
Golden coppery leaves furiously skitter and skip across the soaken roadway
Shiny and damp is the Parkway today
Raindrops danced a caliente salsa number!
Now the wind gusts rustle the trees with a fury
Cerulean blue is the sky
dotted with brilliant grey and white clouds
The bright sun burns my eyes!
Traffic is stopped.
Everyone has a place to be, Friday afternoon.
Driving, splashing, through puddles reminds me of childhood.
Jumping in the muddy new pools of fresh rainfall.
Some things change but some stay ever the same.
Wait in line, take your turn but please don't cut.
Friday afternoon
Smile :)

Happy Fall!!!

Monkeys Run Amuck!

The other day, I heard the most hilarious story on the radio. New Delhi, India is infested with monkeys. Rhesus macaques, to be exact. These monkeys cause plenty of real-life mischief! They knock people off mopeds, ransack government buildings, pick pockets, steal lunches. The monkeys ride the buses and subways. They steal cigarettes and smoke them! On a more serious note, a man was killed because one of the monkeys dropped a flower pot on his head. So the government has tried to contain these monkeys. Larger monkeys, called langurs, are hired to patrol the streets of New Delhi and to scare away the macaques. Well, this tactic apparently wasn't doing much for the people of New Delhi. So according to the radio story, the government paid $54,000 to move all of these monkeys thousands of miles away. I did some research on the Internet. Here's an older story about the monkey situation in New Delhi. I've been trying to find video of the story but to no avail.

Update: I found a recent story about the banishment of the monkeys here.

Friday the 13th

In honor of Friday the 13th, here's a hilarious spoof of The Shining I found. Its a 30 second animation reenacted with bunnies!

New Music

My brother and sister-in-law gave me an itunes giftcard for my birthday so lately, I've been listening to a lot of the new music I'd been dying to check out. I have to rave, rave, rave about the new Gomez album How We Operate. Its an amazing cd which I can't stop listening to. I'd say something like Barenaked Ladies meets Oasis. They are an awesome band. Check them out if you haven't already and let me know what you think of the album.

Newness

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in way too long! However, one of my Jewish New Year's resolutions is to post more often! Today in between services and while I was fasting in honor of Yom Kippur, I bought myself a new digital camera. Thanks to Mom and Dad who are chipping in as part of my (upcoming) birthday gift. The camera I bought myself is a Canon Powershot a630. Its a great camera full of options and all kinds of modes. It shoots awesome photos even at night! I took a lot of photos in which I played around with the colors. Here's one from today.

Movies, Movies, and more Movies!

I spent most of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday home with strep throat! It was not too fun but I did catch up on watching some movies I'd been wanting to watch for a while. I've also been taking advantage of my libary's dvd borrowing priviliges!

On Sunday, I watched...

1. Taxi with Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah. It was pretty funny though I probably wouldn't want to see it again.

2. Breakfast at Tiffany's. Third time watching it--although probably only the first watching it in full without falling asleep. Wonderful, wonderful movies. One of my new favorites.

3. Madagascar. Disney-Pixar flick about the animals that escape from Central Park Zoo. Very cute!

On Monday, I watched...

4. Elizabethtown with Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Wonderful story and great music too. Go see it, go see it! Another new favorite!


On Tuesday, I watched...

5. (Not quite a movie but) The Office, Season one. Funny, funny, funny! If you've never seen it, its an office comedy about pretty much nothing!

6. Madea's Family Reunion. I thought this would be a really stupid-funny type comedy. Yes, it was funny, but equally touching. I can't wait to see the rest of Tyler Perry's movies now.

Fresh Bread

Today I decided to make some Challah bread from scratch! I have to say this is the first time I've made any bread that involved kneading and rising since 8th grade Cooking class! Although it came out a bit too cakey--it was quite delicious indeed!

Wanderings Around

Today I took the eight minute ride to Metuchen, one of my favorite small towns in New Jersey. I enjoy going to Metuchen quite often. Whether its for ice cream, coffee or perusing one of my favorite local bookshops. Well, today I decided to venture to some different Metuchen sites, one of them being the Old Colonial Cemetary. This cemetary is so old that there are Revolutionary War soldiers buried here. Certainly, an interesting place indeed!

Feelin' Good Now!

Last night, I went out to dinner with Katie, Karen, and Katie's sister Lauren. Well I ended up drinking 1 beer and 3/4 bottle of wine by the time we had ice cream at Emach and Bolio's. Another beer at Katie and Mike's house and I was feeling pretty damn good! What toothache? We had breakfast at Atlanta Bread Co and then I stopped at the Metuchen Farmers Market on the way home. I just made an awesome fresh zucchini and tomato soup from scratch and now I'll get a few things done before deciding on a plan for the rest of the weekend.

Diagnosis of Toothache

So after 3 phone calls to the dentist and one round of antibiotics, he finally let me come in at 8:30 this morning. Bright and early. I could have been sleeping instead. Doc found the problem--a crack in my wisdom tooth. It had to be pulled of course. The worst was the giant sized needles of novocaine. And the waiting. And then it was over with rather quickly. I was given direct instructions though for the rest of the day. No drinking out of a straw. Don't eat anything too hot. No smoking. But liquor is okay. Yes, I asked.

My Growing Garden

Well, every year I say I am going to grow a vegetable garden. And, alas, every year, I get too lazy to do it. I say to myself, too much work. Well this year, I decided to grow a potted vegetable garden. It was easier than finding a place in my yard to prep. So I have been growing 2 kinds of tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, artichokes, thyme and rosemary. The herbs have been wonderful in salads! And I finally have some ripe tomatoes! Yum yum! This morning, when I went to check on the other veggies, I found baby zucchinis growing! Yay! Here's a pic of some of my ripe tomotoes. I'll keep y'all posted on the rest of my garden.

Nervesawreck

Mynervesareawreck. Last night, I could hardly breathe. I was hyperventilating. I've been bitten up by many mosquitos--or maybe its one mosquito that just really liked me. I had a rash on my face. My mouth has been in pain since my root canal last week. When I called the dentist, he prescribed an antibiotic. On a daily basis, I'm drugged up on Aleve with an ice pack on my face. I'm too much of a wuss (or too big of a drinker this week) to take the prescription painkillers. Sometimes I cannot deal with making decisions. I think I want to run off to Montana. I take money orders and Paypal if anyone wants to help me out there.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Fourth of July, Everybody! I've had a busy weekend. I hope everybody is enjoying their holiday weekend.

Friday night, I had the rehearsal and dinner for (my cousin) Andrea and Frank's wedding. It was fun and I drank a lot of wine!

Saturday, I ran errands and got a pedicure and manicure, which took me all of 2 seconds to mess it up. Also, I had a date Saturday night! It went well--we had dinner and saw the Lake House, which I really enjoyed. After the movie, I took him back to his car, which he left at the restaurant. Unfortunately, while we were at the movie, his car was broken into and his navigational system was stolen! He had an hour and a half drive back to New York without a driver's side window. I felt really bad for him--but it sure made for an interesting end to a first date.

Sunday, I had Andrea and Frank's wedding, which I was in. It was a lot of fun and I partied hard til 3 am. Good, good times.

Monday, I went to a bbq at Steve's. I hung out with some friends and we had a good time, followed by Jenn sleeping over.

Today I'm looking forward to doing nothing. Enjoy!

Fun in the Sun

I am composing this blog entry from seat 17F on Contintal Flight 455 West Palm Beach to Newark. I enjoyed four lovely days down here for my cousin Andrea's bachelorette party. My aunt and uncle were gracious enough to "lend" us their Port Saint Lucie vacation home (complete with screened-in pool). There were ten of us and we enjoyed a limosuined night out on the town in West Palm--a lot of relaxing and chilling, eating and drinking, along with a mean game of Taboo. (Ahh...as I type this, I'm back home in New Jersey...I sort of miss the palm trees and lizards scampering about!)

Yay, its Summer!

At 12 noon, I'll be free for the rest of the summer! Yippee! I have an interview later today which will hopefully pan out to some summer tutoring. On a side note, a couple days ago, I made a decision which I had been pondering for some time. I am happy to say that I made the right move and am feeling light and free like a million pounds have been unburdened from my shoulders. I am now ready to enjoy myself this summer with friends and family!