Emotional IQ

I found this on Monica's blog...

Your EQ is 167

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick!51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese.71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely.91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that.111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin.150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's" Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Preview of September 11

Check it out -- and come back here on 9/11 as I'll be honoring Peter Milano.

Monday

New pictures of Connor's first day of kindergarten are up on the photo blog! My mother-in-law is here visiting, so I haven't had much time to blog. I have six straight hours of meetings today, right through lunch, so I should be exhausted tonite.

Everyone has been so complimentary about how handsome Dexter is. I got asked "how" we know he's a boy, as apparently it's unusual for males to be tri-colored. Here's our "proof" -- we determined it from his anatomy!

First Day of School

Wow, are we there already?! I put Duncan on the bus at 7:16 am -- I drive Connor to school today as there is a kindergarten assembly at 8:30 am. I was rushing this morning so the pictures are lousy so far, but there ya go:

Quickie

The computer is doing something funky, I can't get my pictures to upload of the kitten. He's still nameless, but definitely not void of personality. He seems to be settling in quite nicely.

Charles has been sick the last four or five days, I've had a miserable headache all day, so I'm not very chatty. But I didn't want anyone to feel neglected.

Thursday Thirteen for 8/17

Thirteen Things Carolyn needs to be better about 1. Teaching my kids how to l-i-v-e. It's a silly example, but I was touched at how much they don't know when my kids brought toys to the new kitten to play with, but didn't understand that he'd best like to play WITH them. 2. Budgeting my money -- I'm getting better at it, but temptation is a powerful force -- I'd really love to have a savings account so when new tires surprise me it doesn't wreck my budget! 3. Going to church services on Sunday. We've come a long way in the last year in getting involved in our church, but we need to be more consistent about attending services. 4. Investing time in my friends. Stephen Covey talks about your emotional bank account, and how your interactions are either deposits or withdrawals. I need to deposit more with my friends. 5. Keeping up my blog -- I've been so busy this summer, and I do miss taking the time to journal about what's going on, and what I'm thinking. 6. Exercise -- tonite was the first time in TWO WEEKS we had been to the "Y" to do our strength workout. That needs to become a scheduled priority again. 7. Scrapbooking -- I have barely touched my stuff this year so far, definitely barely since May. Memories are slipping away and I need to make time for that. This is also some of my "me" time, so it's important for that reason too. 8. Better health -- since we started to go to the gym I've lost five pounds, and I'm proud of that. Since I've slacked off the last month or so, I've started to feel some of the blah symptoms again. I need to make my health a PRIORITY. 9. Visiting other bloggers -- I love when I get comments, and yet I've been terrible lately about leaving them for others. I know how good it feels, why can't I "deposit" more??!! 10. Kid time -- Connor always behaves better when Duncan isn't here. I am hoping getting him into soccer this fall, and spending some quality time with him will help him realize how special he is to us, and improve his overall behavior. 11. Christmas planning -- ACK -- it's like four months away. I am MAKING some gifts -- I need to get on this! 12. Visit my parents -- it's a really long story for another blog entry, no "drama", it just doesn't seem to ever be easy to plan time to get up there. We need to go more often. 13. Take more pictures -- as I looked through what I've taken so far this year, I see that I really need to get back to taking photos every day. Some months I took hardly any -- and my kids have grown SOOO much this year! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Family of Five

Well, after seven years of no pets, we took the plunge tonite and took in a stray a coworker found. We think he's about 4-5 months old. He doesn't have a name yet, but he sure seems to be fitting right in. Whaddya think?

Sunday Blahs

I'm such a lazy blogger lately. Let's see... when last we "chatted", my Gatlinburg trip was sacrificed to fund new tires for my car. I cried Monday night, and then the pity party was over, and I moved on. Wednesday we took Connor to meet the Morton family at Tanglewood pool -- it wasn't as sunny as Fourth of July, but we had a good time. Judi and I both thanked each other for getting us out and moving. Thursday I just hung around the house, and didn't do much except watch TV. Friday Duncan came home from Dot's house, and then Friday night I went to a crop at Scrapbook Traditions. They are having a quickutz contest so I spent a good portion of my evening working on my double page summer layout. Prize is a quickutz alpha and a year long free crop pass, so we'll see how it goes.

Unfortunately, I did something to my neck on Friday, and spent Saturday with a kink in it -- very uncomfortable. This morning I am up and working on Christmas gifts and trying to get motivated to do something. Connor is about to bust a gut for me to play toontown with him, so I guess I should go do that. More later!

Brief Catch-Up

It's been an eventful week or so. Duncan turned ten last Wednesday -- I can't believe my baby is 10!! He's had a really good birthday week, spending it at Dot Dot's house. Last Friday and Saturday I attended the CK Scrapbook Convention in Charlotte, taking classes and wandering around the vendor faire. Sunday we moved a 14' truck of hand-me-down furniture from Charlotte to Winston-Salem in blistering heat, but we have a new couch and chair, along with several wood pieces.

Then yesterday my Gatlinburg trip went up in smoke when the car suddenly demanded repairs -- it's not in the shape to drive without the repairs, and if I pay for the repairs no $$ to go to Gatlinburg. Needless to say I'm not in good humor today -- I'd planned that trip for eight months. However, I'm a hard nose about our budget, and if I don't keep us on it there will be hell to pay, so there's not much I can do.

Salute to a Young Hero

I found out Tuesday that one of my friends online, Laura, lost her nephew Dennis in Iraq this week. Please hold Dennis' family in your prayers -- as Americans we should all be proud of the sacrifice these young men and women make to defend our way of life. If you don't like the war, elect different politicians -- but support our soldiers who defend US.

Laura, I'm so very sorry for your loss.

Twilight Camp

Duncan has cub scout twilight camp this week from Tuesday to Thursday. Being the scrapbooker that I am, I took the camera with me so I could get a few pictures while I dropped him off. The camp director saw my camera and said "I need a photographer, interested?" I said, sure I could take some pictures while I'm here... she says "No, I need one like the whole time, every night..."

So since I can't say no... I took 140 pictures last night, my ankles are sore, and I think I sweated off a pound. On the bright side, I have some GREAT pictures of Duncan from last night.

Needless to say, I won't be around much til late Friday!

Weekend Jibberish

It's good to know most of you had the same reaction to our friendly copperhead in the water that I did -- {{UGH}}. I'm still thinking about it...

We got home on Monday, and I managed to step on a hornet IN MY BEDROOM. I get bad local reactions so I was pretty miserable Monday night. Tuesday, 4th of July, was a gorgeous day, so we packed up the kids and headed to meet Comfort's family at a local pool. We stayed five hours, and the kids played, played and PLAYED. Unfortunately, despite rigorous sunscreen applications, both Connor and I became "crispy critters". He is now a brown little berry, and I'm red and itchy. Lucky me!

I hereby promise not to go a month without updating my blog. Please continue to visit!

Why I Don't Like Creek Swimming

Anyone give me some help on what kind of sss-nake he is? {{shudder}}

I do still exist...

I'm so sorry to be so out of it... our June schedule just really exhausted me. On a plus note, go look at the photo blog to see what the kids got to do on Sunday...

SA Blog Challenge #4

For Sale: Slightly Used Female, 41. Guaranteed income producer. Skills include cooking, computer skills, talking (top of class here!), scrapbooking. Has certification in driving, college education. Comes with current year memberships in Sam's Club, AAA, Scrap Addict Kits, YMCA. Optional accessories (available al la carte) include two LOUD small boys, cluttered house, stay at home husband. Preferred environment is urban, with yearly beach trips. Began recent refurbishment at the gym, condition will only continue to improve.

Price negotiable. Serious inquiries only!

SA Blog Challenge #3

SPLURGES ... what do you splurge on? What is your secret (or not so secret) way you spend money on yourself. No, I'm not talking about scrapbook supplies. I'm talking about something you do for YOU ... expensive haircuts, tons of shoes, massages, what?!? What do you splurge on???


I just started splurging on a more expensive haircut -- I've been twice now and love my new stylist. My most regular splurge is eating out for lunch on work days... I just don't like packing leftovers. I've got to cut back on that though... I really don't splurge on myself that often, with a tight budget it usually seems I'm always cutting back so others don't have to. I'll have to ponder this one...

SA Blog Challenge #2

I've been challenge to list 3 obscure things about me...

1. I was mugged in 1991 coming out of a local grocery store -- I had 14 stitches in my eyebrow. Not the greatest moment of my life (the black eye was the size of a softball, and swollen shut for 3 days), but a growth experience.

2. I used to be the scorekeeper for my college's swim team, and for the softball team, volleyball team, and the 45 second clock person for the basketball team.

3. I took bellydancing lessons in high school.

Thursday Thirteen for 6/1

Thirteen Things about My Week Since my week has not gone as I planned, and I haven't had time to blog and tell you about it, here ya go! 1…. Monday was a bank holiday. You always pay for holidays by twice as much work the day you get back. 2. I have Friday off to attend Connor's end-of-preschool picnic, and to squeeze in a hair appointment in the afternoon. 3. As of lunch time today I have to call in to a last minute meeting Friday morning. 4. My kids had their 2nd swim lesson on Tuesday. 5. Since the kids started swimming lessons I'm having trouble getting the cardio portion of my workout done. 6. No scouts OR church fellowship this week (or until end of summer) -- it feels w-e-i-r-d. 7. We visited my mother-in-law, and my sister-in-law over the holiday weekend. 8. Connor has new, more masculine sheets etc for his bed, courtesy of his Aunt Susan, who upgraded to a king-size this week. 9. Duncan completed his end-of-grade tests this past week, and since he did his best according to his teacher, he earned a box of yu-gi-oh cards from us. 10. We got to see "X Men: The Last Stand" at the movies over the holiday weekend. 11. I assured my hairdresser (also a friend) that if she called in sick Friday I was going to cut my own hair... it's been seven weeks and I'm SHAGGY (UGH!) 12. My boss is selling her old convertible, so I went by her house tonite and took pictures of it so she'll have them to send potential buyers. 13. My oldest niece turned 10 this week -- I can't believe how fast time has gone! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Scrap Addict Blog Challenge #1

ABOUT ME

favorite color: pink
word I most liked to be described as: friendly
best meal I cook: spaghetti
favorite dessert: chocolate mousse
favorite book: Mists of Avalon
favorite outfit: an oversized tshirt & capri pants
usually in bed by: 11:00 p.m.
favorite sounds: laughter, breeze, moving water
I wish: my hubby could find a medication to better treat his bipolar disease
What I crave: peace and quiet
Surround me with: love

Thursday Thirteen for 5/25

Thirteen Things about Susan Susan is my sister-in-law, and she teased me a few Thursdays ago about how she wasn't on my list of things to do. Susan is a great lady, so I thought it would be worth SHOWING her. 1. From the first day I spoke to her, she has always made me feel welcome in the family. She reminds me of my Aunt Betts in that regard! 2. Susan has a hilarious sense of humor. 3. Even though she's one of my mother-in-law's two "sorry children", she treats my MIL very well. 4. Susan has four nephews, my two and two on her husband's side. She treats these boys better than some people treat their children. 5. Susan is an animal lover -- she has two dogs and two cats. 6. If anything ever happens to my hubby and I, Susan will take our kids. 7. She's very photogenic. Really -- go check out her website http://www.shadowknight.com. 8. She got tired of her registered domain name, and is letting me use it currently. It's a shame I haven't updated it in a year.... 9. She was one of the happiest brides I can remember. 10. One of her favorite lebanese dishes is juddreh. 11. She married a really nice guy. 12. Her birthday was May 16 -- Happy Birthday again Susan 13. She got me an awesome birthday cake last year since she hosted Thanksgiving dinner and it was my birthday... it was WONDERFUL! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants