Friday Five

Posted on March 19, 2004 by Heather

How did it get to be Friday already? I feel like I haven’t got much done this week other then have a couple of good cries. Looking over my list of goals for the week, I accomplished three of the five. Not bad, I guess. Shame it was the big ones that I didn’t get to.

Anyway, it is time again for this week’s Friday Five.

If you…

1. …owned a restaurant, what kind of food would you serve?

I think I would serve a little of this and a little of that. Probably a lot of dishes with chicken and pasta, since that is what I like. Some good salads too, and a lot of potato. There are some things I really enjoy making, like Beef International and a creamy homemade chicken soup, so I would put them on my menu too.

2. …owned a small store, what kind of merchandise would you sell?

quanta and I have joked about this before. It would feature cross stitch, fantasy novels, and “occult” supplies (Tarot decks, incense, books, etc.). How’s that for an interesting mix?

3. …wrote a book, what genre would it be?

This is a tough one. I’m feeling the call to write a book, and honestly I don’t care if it is ever published. But I am not sure if I want to write a fiction book set in a fantasy world or a non-fiction book about Wicca and Paganism. I’ve got a lot to say, and some of it is quite different then the typical stuff you find out there.

4. …ran a school, what would you teach?

I would teach Ancient History, since that is what I love.

5. …recorded an album, what kind of music would be on it?

I’m not a big fan of music, so I’m not really sure. I think it would be classical though, since that is what I most enjoy listening to. And I used to play the violin, many moons ago. Really, it is something I’d like to take up again. Or maybe the lap harp.

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IQ

Posted on March 18, 2004 by Heather

I took an interesting and fun IQ test yesterday. (Link found via Rilana.) I scored a 133, which apparently puts me in the top 3% of the population (info here). I generally score somewhere in the mid-130s when I take IQ tests, but I don’t feel all that smart. Sure, I know IQ tests are inaccurate. If you do enough puzzles and brainteasers, you can easily raise your score, and I do love a good puzzle. So, I won’t go around claiming I’m a genius or anything. Hmmm… I wonder if Mensa is accepting new members? 😉 (Blah! It turns out that Mensa requires one to be in the top 2%, which is an IQ score of approximately 135. *sigh*)

I have some issues regarding my intelligence though. I don’t like to let people know how smart I really am. I’m very observant, yet I will often pretend I didn’t hear or see something or didn’t understand what was said, mostly to make the other person feel better. I also learned pretty quickly in school that no one likes the smart kids, especially when they are not too bad looking. And there are some jobs I wouldn’t have got hired for, because the manager would have likely thought that I would be bored (which I always am). After so many years of covering up what I really know, it is hard now to remember that I really am smart. And, well, it is a little scary too. Because, if people know that I am intelligent, maybe they will expect more from me.

Oh yeah, I am apparently a Visionary Philosopher according to the IQ test. The test says: “This means you are highly intelligent and have a powerful mix of skills and insight that can be applied in a variety of different ways. Like Plato, your exceptional math and verbal skills make you very adept at explaining things to others

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GUI Linky Linky

Posted on March 17, 2004 by Heather

Have fond memories of Windows 3.1, but can’t remember what it looked like? Recurring nightmares of that old Mac System 1.1 you used to have at school? Check out GUIdebook: Graphical User Interface gallery. It is a walk doing a GUI memory lane.

I miss Cardfile. I wonder why MS took it out of Windows. And where did Reversi go after Windows 2.03?

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Mad, Mad TV (1)

Posted on March 15, 2004 by Heather

I finally got a chance to watch the second episode of Mad, Mad House. The first episode wasn’t so bad, but I did wish that the Wiccan “Alt”, Fiona Horne, would have been shown a bit more. This episode, she performed a sort of modified ritual. It was actually quite nice, even though a couple of the guest didn’t really get it. One in particular, Kelly, seemed to release her fear, but in her case it seemed to be something that she used to define herself and, so, she wasn’t able to let it go in any degree.

The person eliminated at the end was Kelly. Her comments showed exactly why she wasn’t suited for the house. She referred to the “Alts” as freaks, etc. Obviously she didn’t have a very open mind, which is quite sad. There is a great deal that one can learn from people who are different from themselves. But, when you are so afraid of yourself and the opinions of others, it is nearly impossible to grow. And believe me, I would know. 🙁

Earlier tonight, quanta and I were having a bit of a discussion about the “Alts” on Mad, Mad House. We were talking about just how normal they really are. I think that is kind of the point of the show. Sure, it features so-called freaks that are different then the average middle-American (which I’m guessing the show is aimed at). But, at the same time, it shows just how normal they are. quanta commented about how ordinary Fiona is. I laughed and said he should know that Wiccans are just like anyone else. It is only our rituals that set us apart (and the pounds of jewelry that some choose to wear). I haven’t exposed quanta to any rituals yet, only the occasional meal that ties in with the current Sabbat.

Although Mad, Mad House is simple entertainment, I think it is doing a relatively good job of showing how normal “Alts” are, and how close-minded “ordinary” people can be.

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Respecting Myself

Posted on March 15, 2004 by Heather

quanta said something very eye-opening to me last night. I was, as usually, putting myself down for some reason. He said “Are you sure you don’t want to be a Christian?” Confused, I asked what he meant. He’s Catholic, so I really didn’t understand what he was getting at. Then it dawned on me. He said something like “You say so many bad things about yourself,” and I said “I’m carrying around guilt like a Catholic, eh?”

One of the reasons I left Christianity was because I didn’t like the focus on sin and punishment and feeling bad about yourself and your actions. Yet, I haven’t really moved away from it. quanta sure did a good job of getting his point across last night. I am a good person, and I am pretty, and smart, and nice. I need to stop beating up on myself just because I don’t meet some self-imposed, ridiculous standard. Wicca is a joyful religion. I am not honouring the Lord and Lady or myself by being so down and self-critical all the time.

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Dreaming

Posted on March 14, 2004 by Heather

So I think I figured out what is wrong, that nagging thing at the back of my brain that I can’t figure. And it was pretty easy really:

What should I do with my life?

Easy question to answer, eh? Do I follow my dreams at the risk of being broke and alienating friends and family? Or do I do the “normal thing,” and make everyone, except me, happy? And what are my dreams? I’m not sure I ever stopped to ask myself.

The quick answer would be to write. I’d love to write a wonderful fantasy novel that takes place in a magical world that I would want to live in. But, I don’t have any idea what the plot would be beyond that, nor do I think I would ever really want to publish a novel.

I used to dream of being an Egyptologist, or a teacher, or even a nun. (Funny, since I’m not nor have I ever been Catholic.) Now I’m not sure what I dream of. It has been so long since I’ve felt really free to dream.

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Unconscious Mutterings

Posted on March 14, 2004 by Heather

Another Unconscious Mutterings.

  1. Old Navy::cloths
  2. Out::In
  3. Indecent::Exposure (isn’t that a movie?)
  4. UPN::American TV?
  5. Pupil::Student
  6. Toothpaste::Crest
  7. 1999:: Party (Prince!)
  8. Passion::Fruit
  9. Social security::money (this is American too?)
  10. Cliff::Roadrunner

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