http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/Oc9s0B7kUp0OJNnSo7tv

RULES:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

And here you have it:

1.

2. I was in pre-med for 2 years in college, but I dropped out after I was forced to pith a frog's brain and dissect it WHILE its heart was beating. I left the lab crying and ended up a Lit/Theatre major. I know-bit of a jump.

3. I have had stitches 8 times, broken two bones, and have chipped my front teeth twice---yeah, I was VERY rambunctious child!

4. In high school I ran a 6:02 mile my senior year, which was one of my happiest moments of my life! But I'm lucky to run a 7 something now.

5. I've belly danced for 7 years, but have never belly danced for anyone other than my husband, close family, and international groups that my troupe was paid to dance for. I stick to salsa, tango, swing and folk dance.

6. I had coffee with Sufjan Stevens and band mates when I was in College, but didn't know he became famous because I knew him as "Sue fee on" and people called him "Suefuh John". My friend Shannon was actually the singer of his first band called MARZUKI (I've got the CD for those who are curious). Sufjan played the flute and various stringed instruments.

7. I have a weird thing with my twin sister. We often call each other at the same time. Like to the minute, and at REALLY random times.

I don't know who to tag that hasn't already been tagged! So I'm tagging my favorite blogs to read in St. Louis: Angela, Heidi H., Kirk, Nate G., Neil, Sarah W., and Tanya Mark,

The thing is, I just joined this writing/reading group, and I decided this was a fine time to bring new work to the table while polishing old stuff. So here I go. The next step for the free write below is creating a more coherent structure that I can flesh out. I'm kind of excited see what I can do with it.

Oh. Happy Memorial Day or is Labor Day? Happy whichever. No Happy Memorial Day. Jake just said it's Memorial Day...NOT Labor Day. Funny, not one of my neighbors corrected me this morning-bet they didn't know either. ;)

"Celestial Garden" Free write before I polish it:

Sculpted in this soft but cold celestial garden
We nearly scattered like powdered chalk statues
Spooky in the white world of salt, sugar, diamonds, and glass

In the stillness we watched, enchanted by the obscured color we see
Where liquid crystal oozes over lush leaves
and blood red berries appear like rubies locked in glass

At this moment I feel paralyzed and breakable
I want to be let out into the world I knew before
The world built of dirt, coffee, gravel, and ash
Maybe there in the coal shadows I can move freely-not dissipate
Then you remind me…The Gate
We can’t make in through its thick bound vines or endure the slice of sharp chlorophyll fans skirting spruced-needle warriors

For now we stay
Stay to see if one day the walls will melt into green.
Stay to see if the Keeper keeps promises not fully understood.

Until then, while invisible hands shape ivory dreams into pearls
I’ll be scattering frost with the hope that some will travel over these walls
To the land we chose to leave

Maybe then this flurry can melt and bloom something more constant than snow
But for now we wait out the frost in this soft but cold celestial garden.

http://www.mitest.com/o7inte~1.htm

You may be a bit surprised by your results—I was. I expected to be Intrapersonal to be higher, and I was SURE Linguistic would be my highest. I was wrong. Perhaps my low intrapersonalness is to blame.
My Results:

The Seven Intelligence Areas
Linguistic: 7
Logical-Mathematical: 2
Spatial: 6
Bodily-Kinesthetic: 7
Musical: 8
Interpersonal: 7
Intrapersonal: 5

This is the link explaining what the categories mean: http://www.businessballs.com/howardgardnermultipleintelligences.htm

Isn’t that incredible?

Everybody on the radio’s talking about newness and breaking from the past as we usher in 2008, and here I am feeling more ancient and connected to the past than ever before.

Happy new year you atoms of old! May God use each of us fearfully and wonderfully made creatures to do great things this year!

Merry, Cheery, Wonderful Christmas to all!

Jacob's grandmother fell down the stairs a few days ago and is in the ICU at Barnes; because his grandfather is recovering from a recent heart attack he is unable to visit her. Actually, he's frustrated because he, himself, requires 24 hour care which prevents him from assuming an active roll in comforting the rest of the family.

Also, a dear woman from my church, Donna, lost her son. He was shot thorough the head a few days ago for unknown reasons. I CAN”T imagine the pain she’s going through. All of it just makes me want to cry, but I feel so focused on staying strong and supportive that I’ve kind of turned off my emotions.

So prayer requests:
Prayer that Jacob's grandmother would regain full brain function and full mobility (the two main complications are bleeding/swelling of the brain and a spinal fracture).
Prayer that the stress wouldn't bring on another heat attack as grandfather processes what's happened to grandmother. Although, the paramedics were able to zap his heart back, they pointed out that his health is poor.
Prayer for Jacob and family because everybody is exhausted.
Prayer for me to know what God would have me do…what needs to meet when it seems the needs are endless.

I thank God that my own father is on the road to recovery! AND that GOD used that tragedy to grow my faith greatly! With that said, please pray that God would use these tragedies to grow Donna’s and Jacob’s families as he did in my case.
Thank you for your prayers.

P.S. The photo is of Jacob's grandparents. I love them SO much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_JmNIU0pLY

Thanks,
Heidi

P.S. I'm fighting everything in me that wants to just breakdown and fall apart. Please, Jesus, help me to trust you! Pressed but not crushed...right? 2Cor 4:8

Fire
Keys To Understanding Fire:
• relishes excitement and delights in intimacy
• keenly intuitive and passionately empathetic
• believes in the power of charisma and desire
• loves sensation, drama, and sentiment
• likes to be hot, bright, and vibrant

Typical Problems:
• anxiety, agitation, and frenzy
• bizarre perceptions
• nervous exhaustion and insomnia
• palpitations, sweating, hypoglycemia, rashes, palsy
nerve inflammations, migratory pain
• abuse of stimulants and sedatives

A Friendly Reminder:
The power of Fire comes from the capacity to liberate heat and light and realize joy and fulfillment. Fire types need to temper their chemistry and contain their fervor, conserving as well as sharing their resources, withdrawing and separating as well as embracing and merging.

THANKS HEIDI H. THIS IS MUCH BETTER

O.K. NOW YOUR TURN!
http://www.longevity-center.com/five_element.html

Here was mine:
"The fire element appears in angular designs with sharp edges and points as well as in structural features like fireplaces and barbeques. Buildings in the fire shape excite the mind and emotions and are good places to generate ideas. Many libraries and churches have these shapes.

Fire people are usually willowy with bright eyes, big smiles, and reddish coloring on the neck and chest. They are charming, fun, mischievous, easily excitable, and change emotional states rapidly. They love change, bright colors, and environments that stimulate.

The colors of fire are red and orange as well as pastel pink, purple, and peach, the direction is south, and the organs are the heart, eyes, and hands. Fun and variety are the values associated with fire."

Here's the quiz

http://www.lotusinstitute.com/5ElementsQuiz.html

P.S. Being fire’s not SO bad…as a kid my sister and I used to love setting them, but, I need to come to terms with how destructive fire can be before embracing it.

value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VCn6CZ4d24k">

The vantage point of the teacher, Robin Williams, is quite freeing…although I don't know how I feel about totally bashing the notion that poetry cannot be ranked. After all, even the film shamelessly tips its hat to Shakespeare and Walt Whitman rather than unschooled, obscure poets.

With that said, I would love for you to join my unschooled self this Saturday, 6:30 in Forest Park, under Saint Louis and his valiant steed (aka “Art Hill” over looking the fountains). Jacob and I are going to pack a picnic dinner along with some munchies to share, so feel free to join us with a blanket, your favorite piece of poetry (your own or somebody else's work-I may bring an anthology).

P.S. There is no pressure to read your own writing, or read at all for that matter, but if you would like to, I'd love to hear it!
P.S.S. Jacob is planning to read a poem or two, so that should be neat!

When I was in college I took two career aptitude tests and got suggestions to pursue “speech pathology,” “culinary artistry,” and “counseling”. Mind you, I wasn’t offered the career test, until my senior year and by that time was already an English Literature Major specializing in theatre with two years of biology under my belt (what we will do to emulate our loved ones). In any case, I entered the workforce a little discouraged but excited to try new things: I became a very friendly but clumsy waitress, an If-I-have-to-give-one-more-insulin-injection-to someone-who-punches-me-I’m-going-to-punch-back-Group Home Assistant, a you-want-me-to-clean-what-with-a-what-maintenance worker, and an uncertified-number-despising accountant. Needless to say, I have NOT found my “nitch”. It makes me wonder, should I have become the counselor my parents think I was created to be, or the speech pathologist that the career test suggests. I dunno know.

I should mention that I DO have a few weak leads at the moment. For example, last week when were having coffee I met another English/Theatre major who said he has, and I quote, “the BEST” job at The Science Center. He does educational skits, which sounded great, and I was quite excited-that is-till it dawned on me that he was telling me all about “the BEST” job while he was brewing me my coffee. I assume “BEST” is how the Science Center job falls in relation to the OTHER jobs he’s is required to work. Slump. More promising is the possibility of working for a photographer from my church who needs an administrative assistant. That could work, but I really need benefits so I’m not sure yet.

In any case, if any of you dear friends know of possible leads PLEASE let me know!
Jacob agreed that if there were a job out there that entails; dancing, singing, doing coworker impersonations then I’d be set.

P.S. The jobsite must have a chocolate jar, and the jar must be filled with chocolate ONLY (no starlight mints mixed in because it makes the chocolate taste like the smell of vending machine perfume)!

P.S.S. I have already looked into being an art or history museum tour guide but those positions are usually volunteer. Figures :(