Amused.

Please visit www. theblondephilosophy.blogspot.com for a more updated blog. Thanks!


I've been doing some research lately on personality types, and applying the different types to people I know either personally or professionally.

Rather than go through a simple site that explained all of them, I gathered all of the types and went through a few of them via google.* Why? Because this doesn't narrow the results to just personality types; instead, searching for them individually includes articles, blogs, professional development, and biographies. Have you ever taken a personality test to determine which one you are? Feel free to leave your personality type in the comments section... I'd love to see if I'm right about you :)

This site needs to be updated, but the information is sound and it gives a basic, general idea of the 16 personality types.

It's pretty interesting to look through the different types and see your friends, family, or acquaintances in each one of them. It really changes conversational dynamics when you can communicate to someone who is vastly different by becoming familiar with how they think. One can actually learn to speak and empathize with others on a deeper level by "saying what they can hear." I think Gary Chapman brings a Christian emphasis to this in his Love Languages series.

I found it amusing when I arrived at the ENFP type in my google* search. One researcher calls them "global learners," "story tellers," "very bright," and yet.... "intellectuals with at 'silly switch.'" ENFPs are probably the most communicative of the personality types, but with a twist: almost everything is deeply meaningful to them and very personal. I found blog posts titled "I'm an ENFP!" and "So I took a personality test, and I'm an ENFP!" Hello, world!

One researcher even went so far as to say that some ENFPs will spend time convincing others that he/she (the ENFP) is a wonderful and fascinating person. Which may partially explain the blog posts- although what I found is that the blog writers were actually trying to convince the readers of something that was wonderful or fascinating to them, even if it appeared small or trivial. So very different from, say, the ENTJ, described as "I don't care to sit by the window on the airplane. If can't control it, why look?" (How sad for him. Sir, trade seats with me so I can look out the window at all the fascinating things down there?)

ENFP/Champions are a sub-category of ENFPs; sort of like ENFPs on a triple-shot-latte. They make up about 3% of the population, and the main difference is that they tend to be a little more effective (publicly, anyway) in their causes and efforts they "champion" for. Emily Yoffe speculates that Obama is an ENFP/Champion in her article.

Very interesting stuff!

So what do you think? Which one are you?

_______

*at-her-risk (ha, ha)

I refuse to capitalize the "g" in google from now on, because it just doesn't seem right.

TheBlondePhilosophy: Update.

TheBlondePhilosophy: Update.

http://theblondephilosophy.blogspot.com/2008/11/please.html

Update.

Dad went to the ankle doctor today, and the doctor says he can loosen the boot once in awhile! This is great news, because that pesky boot has been so uncomfortable for him. It probably doesn't help that he tried to do yard work last weekend, and maybe got some sawdust in it... hmmm....

Unfortunately, the ankle break is such that he may have to wear it another 6 weeks. Initially, the boot and crutches were supposed to be used for 6 weeks total, but as we all know science isn't perfect and our bodies all heal at different paces.

No further news on the Other Obstacle, but I assure you I will keep you all updated, even if it is through the email... I may not post every detail here, as I am sure you understand. Thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement. I took my laptop over to the living room tonight and read him the latest support emails. They really mean a lot to us all, but especially my dad.

:)

Chelsea & Co.

(Notes of encouragement, kudos, "We're praying for you! notes to Mike, send to chelseas.blog@gmail.com)

One In Each Color, Please.

Ok, so how amazing is this? It's a pen/highlighter that holds those little Post-It Flags!!!!
And, it is refillable!
Is there no end to the madness?!?
(You know you want one.)

In Tampa, We Call These "Robes."

Have you heard of the "Snuggie"? No? Well, if you think the idea is painful, try watching the infomercial. Who knew that being cold was so darn frustrating that someone had to go and cut a hole in a perfectly fine blanket, add "sleeves," and then make us feel guilty for turning up the heat...?

The Getaway.

Tampa is starting to get chilly these days, especially after the sun goes down. I took a drive down to one of my favorite places: St. Armands' Circle, near Sarasota. There is just something enchanting about the place, where the words "economic turmoil" or "times like these" just don't exist and shoppers hold up handbags or shoes that just might purchase a Democrat's haircut. And, it is usually quiet on Sundays- a perfect place to stroll and shop and contemplate a myriad of things. I figured it would be a great place to get away to, even just for the afternoon. I'd do a little shopping, get a latte, and then kick off my shoes and go for a walk on the beach and clear my head.

Well, it wasn't so quiet today. There was a classic/current Mustang show going on in the circle, and there were people everywhere. I parked myself on a sunny little bench and finished my peppermint-mocha-decaf-latte and did one of my favorite things to do: think and people-watch. I was soon approached* by a nice looking man who introduced himself as Phil.

Phil seemed undeterred by my obvious leave-me-alone stature.

"You here for the show?"

"No."

"You from around here?"

"No."

"I just talked to my brother! He is married and has two kids and he lives in London!"

"That must keep him busy."

"Are you here with friends?"

"No."

"Ah, an independent girl! I like that!"

"Um, my boyfriend is over there in the port-a-john. [Wave in general direction of the blue pod with the long line.] I'm getting a little bit concerned because he's been in there for like an hour, and the people in line are giving me dirty looks. Maybe you could go check on him?"

"Um, yeah, well, enjoy the rest of the show..."

Crisis Adverted!!!!!!!!!

(Ok, so I didn't really say that last part to him, because he eventually gave up on trying to create a conversation with me. This was, however, going to be a last resort line.)*

______________________

So anyways I drove all the way down there and I got some sunshine on my face and shoulders and I saw some really pretty things to get for Christmas presents (maybe next weekend) and I had a really, really good cup of coffee and saw a lot of sweet old people talking about their good old days in their Mustangs, and I wasn't cold until it got late and the sun started to set, and then I took a slice of pepperoni pizza down the beach and I found that bench we sat on that one time and the sun started to set and it felt great to have some sand on my feet and to watch the sunset and I felt like I had a little getaway but it didn't clear my head like I thought it would, so goodnight and sweet dreams, and thankfully I can count on time to help with that.

*I tend to get approached, a lot, by all types of people: old, young happy, sad, questionable.... My friend pointed this out to me tonight as I recounted this story. I just wanted to note that I love, love meeting new people and I love, love that people feel comfortable coming up and talking to me. I normally don't discourage this. I think if you had been there today, though, you'd understand. Thanks.

Thank You.

Thank you so much to those who have emailed notes to my dad and who promise to pray for him. You guys brought tears to my eyes and I know it will mean so much to him when I print them for him this weekend. 

-Chelsea

See also www.theblondephilosophy.blogspot.com

See posts labeled "Mike" for the story- email notes of encouragement and let him know he is in your prayers to chelseas.blog@gmail.com

:)

Does anyone know how to...

Hey fellow bloggers, 

does anyone know who to contact if we want to make blog changes? Since we are a Regent Blog Team blogger won't let me add some things...

Any ideas?

chelseas.blog@gmail.com

Please.

I've never asked my readers for anything before. 

Tonight I am asking for prayers, please. 

My daddy's diagnosis is cancer. 

We don't know the extent yet. 

He broke his ankle right before the diagnosis so please pray for that, too. 

 He is a strong believer. He (and my family) would greatly appreciate your prayers. 

Would you please take a moment to pray for healing for him?

His name is Mike, and he is my hero.

If you can commit to praying for him, would you drop him a note?

You can send it to me* and I'll print it to show him. 

-thank you-

:)

*I created an email account just for support/prayer notes, which I will print and give to him. You can send to:

Mike M. 

chelseas.blog@gmail.com

A hundred thank you's. 

 

___________________________________________________
Co-posted to www.theblondephilosophy.blogspot.com

Thank You.

A

simple

heartfelt

grateful

-thank you-

to all who served

and continue to serve

The United States of America

and her people.

-Happy Veteran's Day-

Photo: Lipizzan Stallion 

Copyright 2006: Chelsea J. McNabb

Intangibles.

I wish I could be your sunshine

Until it rains

Your umbrella until the

Cold chases us inside

Your sweater until you were warm

Enough

To see the sunshine again

I wish I could give you

That fleeting moment

To keep in a honey jar to

Shelve for times devoid of

Feeling and wrapped in a second hand

Pushed to hourly swelling

To shorten the moments between distances

We wish were not so generous with our time

I wish I could box life's colors

Like crayons to carry with you to

Scribble on the walls of darkness and

Entire cans of paint that never fade

Spread with brushes that would become wet

With all of the promises of tomorrow

I wish I could hang a mirror on the wall for you

That becomes a window

Because looking inward becomes too painful

Entire walls of glass that overlook the

Promises of God's love for you

His green pastures of rest

Blue seas of victory and

The changing of the guard

Between the sunset and sun rise

I wish these intangibles could remind you

Without words to crowd their purposes

That He is there

And He's never leaving you...

Caveat.

I browsed around Borders tonight, trying to find something I never did find. Nevertheless, I did find a shortened version of the novel ShopGirl by Steve Martin. (Yes, that Steve Martin). I've had few movies take my breath away; this is one of them. I knew I had to have the book. Sadly, all Borders had was the "novella," a shortened version. This will not do. In the meantime, I found one of the quotes from the movie.

Ray and Mirabelle run into each other at an art gallery; Mirabelle is a featured up-and-coming artist in this particular art gallery. Each is on the arm of a new love. Ray and Mirabelle catch a moment alone, and exchange pleasantries. Ray apologizes for the way he treated Mirabelle, and she acknowledges his apology. They wish each other the best, and Mirabelle walks towards the waiting arms of her boyfriend, Jeremy. And Ray watches them. And the viewer sees this flicker come across his face as he gazes at Mirabelle...

As Ray Porter watches his Mirabelle walk away he feels a loss. How is it possible, he thinks, to miss a woman whom he kept at a distance so that when she was gone he would not miss her. Only then does he realize that wanting part of her and not all of her had hurt them both and how he cannot justify his actions except that... well... it was life....

This scene is potentially heartbreaking, and, I am afraid, the great, deep, gaping caveat; we cannot truly love in pieces. We cannot (or should not, rather) only take that which satisfies us, and leave the rest out there wandering around, and then wonder boldly why our decision hurt so badly. Because, you see, weaknesses and vulnerability long for love, too. It is so, so very easy to take in our minds that which we desire to see, and so very tempting to give up on the rest... isn't it?

_________________________

co-posted to www.theblondephilosophy.blogspot.com

Closer.

It is Sunday night, and those in this house have gone to their rooms early, heavy and bent under the news we received only on Friday. It was not what we hoped to hear, and time will tell its story. I've retired somewhat early myself, only to find that I am not tired, and I have nothing put together to wear tomorrow. I pulled out a black suit, eyed the black patent leather heels, and, reminded that it is now November, figured then that a pair of black stockings would be appropriate as well. And while I was at it, why not accessorize with a black scarf? It might match my dark mood right now.

It was then that I realized that pulling out The Black Suit means I have officially hit fashion rock bottom. Not that it looks bad, mind you- it fits me well and is certainly appropriate for my office. It's just that once I've decided that it will suffice, I know that I need to get to the root of the problem; namely, fix this that which is so absent of color inside me right now. So I am writing and reading and pretty much stretched out in my hammock, trying desperately to sort through the thousand pieces that I find still manage to beat even while I sleep.

I wonder sometimes at God's timing. And I wonder at the complexity of two wills, two ideas, two different paths. Does God bless one, and not another? What if blessings are actually pain, and what would happen if we could look back at all the heartache and from there choose what we are to do? Would I do the right thing? If I knew that going out on a limb, one more time, would instead hand me the fruit that stings and is not sweet, would I climb the tree anyways? The truth is I've always been somewhat content to let others climb the trees; I preferred to watch and then have lemonade waiting for everyone once they came down, content to feel the grass under my feet. I guess I hoped there would be someone else who liked the grass and the yard and the bugs and was content to be there with me, too.

________________

Co-posted to www.theblondephilosophy.blogspot.com

They're Ok- But I Can't Wait To Get My Contacts Back.

.

Fridays With Jeff

My eyes have been bothering me for a couple of weeks, so I went to the eye doctor to see what was up. I was having very strange, blurry vision and generally they were very irritated. Apparently, my eyes are "swollen." He says this condition is brought on by a variety of things, including forgetting to change contact lenses, eye strain, stress, and "excessive watering." (Sigh). The only thing that can be done about this is to give them a break; namely, avoid everything above, and go sans contact lenses for at least a week, and put in eye drops every hour to moisturize. I found my old pair of glasses and wore them for the remainder of the day. The only problem is, they were the cheapest pair I could buy when I got them last year; I only wear them from my room to the kitchen in the middle of the night to get water. Any other time I wear my contacts. They're not entirely uncomfortable, but not necessarily what I would pick if I had to wear them all the time. This will not do if I have to wear them for the next week, or longer.

So anyways Jeff and I went over to Westshore Mall to see if there were any frames that might be more comfortable. All I can say is, thank you, Sarah Palin. Because of you, there are beautiful, chic eyeglasses, and they are now considered an accessory. The girl helping me says she, herself, owns 6 pairs of her prescription in different colors and shapes to match her outfits. Long story short, I found some.

Jeff and I thought we'd commemorate the moment by capturing some "before" pictures, and now that glasses are cool I get to show off the new ones tomorrow. :)

Take Two Pairs And Call Me In The Morning...

I conducted a very scientific study on the effects of crocodile patent-leather shoes and women. My findings conclude that the mood-boosting power of these shoes is equivalent to that of a two- week vacation.

I've been waiting for these particular shoes to go on sale. Why? Because they are fantastic.

It's The Little Things...

So I bring a mint mocha latte home, and a gingerbread latte for Jeff. And what did we find peering up at us under that sweet domed lid? A little gingerbread man!!!
AWWWWWW!

Fair Warning.

Tonight J. and I went to see Dr. Lennox at Eckerd College, where he was presenting a lecture on his unique experiences as a debater, professor, and, most importantly (eternally, anyways) a Christian at Oxford University.

Most of his quantum physics points were somewhat over my head, but the question and answer session at the end was very engaging. We went for coffee before our trip over to St. Pete, so that helped... I did not order my latte's espresso shots in decaf, and J. didn't stop me. (Thanks- I needed it!)

Of course we had our own debate, held later at Starbucks, but as long as friends are respectful of each other, I see no harm in bantering about some of these current issues. :)

_______________

So I have a few things turning over in my mind from events as of late, and two events in particular that happened over this weekend that are troubling. I won't elaborate further, but I am thinking that perhaps readers should not expect things from me for awhile.

I cannot, I confess, continue writing with the conviction that I held before, because I just cannot seem to find it as easily as I used to. I want to make sure that I am convinced of things I am passionate about, believe in, write about, and champion for. I am frankly so full of questions that cannot be answered that I am afraid that I would not be an encouragement, nor could I in good conscience portray something that doesn't align with my heart right now.

And with that, as Jim Carrey says: "Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good night, and go vote on Tuesday." (I added the last part.)

Oh, and take the "I voted" sticker off your shirt before you toss it into the washer...

The Challenge

I had a wonderful opportunity to attend a dinner hosted by the C.S. Lewis Society.*  If you have not heard about this wonderful ministry, I encourage you to check out www.apologetics.org, which further explains the Society's mission:
"The mission of the C.S. Lewis Society is to empower believers and engage skeptics with Biblical truth and evidences for faith."

Originating from Princeton in 1975, the C.S. Lewis Society is currently based out of Florida's Trinity College. The Society hosts various events and outreach ministries, and maintains a blog and an extensive array of articles. 

Cameron was able to join me at the last minute. I figured she would enjoy the event and the nod to literary and scholarly discussion. The dinner was held in Clearwater, and we were able to enjoy the most beautiful, melting sunset as we crossed the bridge. I would have liked to have gone a little bit early, and perhaps stopped along the water to watch the sky for awhile, but we didn't have time... I had a clothing challenge because my biopsy sites are still unsightly. It all worked out, though, because the dining room was freezing, so my long sleeved top was a good idea after all.

Anyways, I titled this "The Challenge" because I had the opportunity to hear Dr. John Lennox share his thoughts on current academia's challenges and triumphs in the Creation vs. Darwinism teaching philosophy. Dr. Lennox is probably best known for his recent debate with the author of The God Delusion, a best-selling book by Richard Dawkins. Dr. Lennox is Irish, and has that thick,rolling accent that not only draws you into his words, but actually commands attention. He shared with us his testimony, his affiliation with the C.S. Lewis Society, and war stories from his debates with some of current society's experts on mathematics, science, and philosophy.

We were captivated. Although the catering staff was laughing through the swinging doors, and you could hear dishes and silverware clinking, the round tables in the banquet hall were silent. Dr. Lennox ended with the following statement:

"I told my wife of forty years that when I get to heaven, I will put my arm around her, look around us, and say, 'If I knew it [heaven] was going be like this, I would have spent more time investing in it.' "

Then he took a long look at all of us, paused for a moment in the silence, and exited his podium to growing, thunderous applause. In case I have not communicated through my writing, this was the challenge for all of us. 

His statement kind of puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

:)

Dr. Lennox was kind enough to chat with me for a few minutes after the event. What a fun night!

__________________________________

Cameron and I decided to ponder this stuff over some coffee. On our way to dinner, we passed this huge, brightly lit building that appeared to be a coffee haven. Naturally, we decided to drive by on our way back to check it out.

"Bay Coast Coffee Market" is a jaw dropping, espresso-dessert-soup-sandwich bar, and a market for coffee stuff! There were beautiful, gleaming espresso machines, thick, colorful mugs, and bins to scoop your own coffee beans. There was free wifi, small squatty chairs, corner booths, and high-top stools around marble tables. It is 11,000 square feet.

Sounds such as "oooh, ahhhh," "shiny," and "I love this" were heard throughout. Someone, who shall remain anonymous, did indeed clap her hands and squeal when she saw the glass panel above the bar that held probably 20 feet of draped newspapers. ("Cam! News! Look! News!)

Our mocha (decaf) lattes were amazing. What a cool place! Too bad it's all the way in Clearwater! :)

________________________________

John Lennox MA MA (Bioethics), Ph.D D.Phil D. Sc, is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science, and Pastoral Advisor at Green College. He is also Lecturer at Wycliffe-Hall, University of Oxford and a Senior Fellow with the Trinity Forum. He has debated Professor Richard Dawkins in the “God Delusion Debate” organized by the Fixed-Point Foundation in Birmingham Alabama in 2007. He also debated Christopher Hitchens at the Edinburgh Festival and Dr Michael Shermer of Sceptic Magazine in Sydney, both in 2008. His most recent book is God’s Undertaker—Has Science buried God? (Lion-Hudson, Kregel 2007).

(Biography credit: The Trinity Forum; http://www.ttf.org/index/about/lennox/)

_____________________________________
*
In error, I originally posted that the dinner was sponsored by the C.S. Lewis Foundation. As you can see from the comment posted by the Director of Communications, the C.S. Lewis Society and the C.S. Lewis Foundation are different.

 Nevertheless, I have included the mission statement for the Foundation because I think it is so very eloquent and a worthy challenge for all of us in the academic environment:
"From its very inception until now, the C.S. Lewis Foundation has been devoted to one primary mission: namely that of enabling a genuine renaissance of Christian scholarship and artistic expression within the mainstream of the contemporary university." (Dr. J. Stanley Mattson, President)
www.cslewis.org