choke hold / strangle hold

Sunday, December 31, 2006

new kind of kick

resolutions? goals? same thing....

things that i intend to make happen in 2007, both big and small:
- start learning American Sign Language
- make a design plan for renovating my bathroom
- find a new ‘home’ pool and gym (goodbye cameron rec centre and city centre aquatic centre ::sniffle::)
- decide on education plan (masters? tech training? eeep!)
- see mike and christina get married in hawaii
- take a class in vegetarian indian cooking
- go cross country skiing
- start my BCRPA certification
- launch my button pressing company
- buy an additional button press (either 1 + 1/4 or 1 + 1/2 inch diameter buttons)
- max out my RRSP contributions (oh yeah!)
- have fun with the new book club
- get more sleep
- learn more about public policy on the issues of both literacy and dis/ability in BC/ Canada
- sew some retro-inspired change purse thingies
- knit the hells out of some things... and remember to actually document it
- remember how much i love my rocky mountain and actually take it out of its resting place at least once this year
- learn things about wine from sarah and jules
- aquafit! shallow and deep water... bring it on!
- make concrete plans for visiting iceland

...to be continued.

hope everyone has a lovely new years. i look forward to rocking the hells outta stuff with you in 2007.

johnny rad





don't you wish this was going in *your* pinstriping portfolio!?!

strangle hold pinstriped the hell out of a gator. john deere, eat your heart out.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

john cusack, dennis hopper, and me

it turns out that i am a myers briggs ENFJ

anyone surprised by that? i thought not.

- choke_hold



Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
by Joe Butt
Profile: ENFJ
Revision: 3.0
Date of Revision: 23 Feb 2005


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ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.

ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.

ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.

ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.

TRADEMARK: "The first shall be last"
This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs. One ENFJ colleague always welcomes me into his office regardless of his own circumstances. If another person comes to the door, he allows them to interrupt our conversation with their need. While discussing that need, the phone rings and he stops to answer it. Others drop in with a 'quick question.' I finally get up, go to my office and use the call waiting feature on the telephone. When he hangs up, I have his undivided attention!

Functional Analysis:

Extraverted Feeling
Extraverted Feeling rules the ENFJ's psyche. In the sway of this rational function, these folks are predisposed to closure in matters pertaining to people, and especially on behalf of their beloved. As extraverts, their contacts are wide ranging. Face-to-face relationships are intense, personable and warm, though they may be so infrequently achieved that intimate friendships are rare.

Introverted iNtuition

Like their INFJ cousins, ENFJs are blessed through introverted intuition with clarity of perception in the inner, unconscious world. Dominant Feeling prefers to find the silver lining in even the most beggarly perceptions of those in their expanding circle of friends and, of course, in themselves. In less balanced individuals, such mitigation of the unseemly eventually undermines the ENFJ's integrity and frequently their good name. In healthier individuals, deft use of this awareness of the inner needs and desires of others enables this astute type to win friends, influence people, and avoid compromising entanglements.
The dynamic nature of their intuition moves ENFJs from one project to another with the assurance that the next one will be perfect, or much more nearly so than the last. ENFJs are continually looking for newer and better solutions to benefit their extensive family, staff, or organization.

Extraverted Sensing
Sensing is extraverted. ENFJs can manage details, particularly those necessary to implement the prevailing vision. These data have, however, a magical flexible quality. Something to be bought can be had for a song; the same something is invaluable when it's time to sell. (We are not certain, but we suspect that such is the influence of the primary function.) This wavering of sensory perception is made possible by the weaker and less mature status with which the tertiary is endowed.

Introverted Thinking
Introverted Thinking is least apparent and most enigmatic in this type. In fact, it often appears only when summoned by Feeling. At times only in jest, but in earnest if need be, Thinking entertains as logical only those conclusions which support Feeling's values. Other scenarios can be shown invalid or at best significantly inferior. Such "Thinking in the service of Feeling" has the appearance of logic, but somehow it never quite adds up.

Introverted Thinking is frequently the focus of the spiritual quest of ENFJs.

Monday, December 18, 2006

uno, dos, tres, quatro

oh yes, a year goes by fast.

happy anniversary, lief.

if anyone is wondering where we are, we are enjoying the human-soup that is harrison hot springs.

see you in a couple days. hasta luego.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

bootylicious

The jury is still out on whether or not our neighbors are as happy as we are about our new window coverings in the bedroom. Thanks to amazing donations received at the house-swarming party last week, Lief and I had more than half the money that we needed to purchase some lovely chocolate-brown blinds for the bedroom.

Last night Lief put them up. They look fabulous. For reals. Come over and see them for yourself if you don’t believe me.

Not only did we collect cash for the bedroom blinds, but we also collected about 40 pairs of socks to give out to INSITE participants. I was totally overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of sock-wear that you guys brought. From what I understand, socks can actually be a life-saver (and a blessing) on really bad/ cold/ damp days here in Vancouver. I am sure that these socks were distributed within less than half a day at INSITE. That gives you a small indication of the need of these types of goods in the east side. Thank you.

To top it all off, Lief and I now have a heap of booze at our house. *Everyone* brought more booze than they drank. Subsequently, we now have a liquor cabinet that is rock and rolla, outta controlla. The only thing that we don’t have is whiskey (which I discovered upon inquiring about a whiskey sour last night). Most of the alcohol comes in the form of hard liquor. C’mon over and mix yourself up something good. A special thank you, of course, goes to Sarah – who mixed drinks for even the most vague drinkers at the party (“Yeah, sure. I would like a drink. Um, I dunno what I want... Surprise me!”). Thanks Sarah! We couldn’t have gotten tipsy without you.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

ship building

As many of you know, I have been going through training to become a one-on-one literacy tutor for adults who are trying to gain literacy skills. The training has been intensive, sometimes intimidating, and certainly enlightening.

Wrapping one’s mind around the meta-processes of ‘how one learns to read’ and ‘how one learns to comprehend’ is boggling.

Phonetics? Sight words? There are so many different ways to go about *reading*.

As many of you also know, I was surprised to find out that the day class for literacy students is made up mainly of adults who have mental disabilities and brain injuries, etc.

One of the students in the day class who does not have any cognitive disabilities is a younger girl. I would guess that she is about 18 or 19 years old. She comes to class with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter who both relays what the teacher/ classmates say during class and also verbally speaks her words for her and responds to questions for her during class.

I have been thinking for many years about learning ASL. It sounds silly, but watching the literacy student and her interpreter speak just looked so engaging and *fun*. I want to talk with my hands too!

So, I have started the process of looking around for ASL classes. I know that both Vancouver Community College and Douglas College have actual *programs* (you have to do the VCC one first, before you are eligible for the Douglas one). But the problem is that you have to have your basic ASL levels before you can apply to VCC. Complicated!

I have started looking around online and also asking friends who might have info in this area. So far, I have learned that I know pretty much nothing about hearing impairments/ challenges and also know pretty much nothing about deaf culture. I have a lot to learn. And hopefully, I’m going to!