This is a fun site. Time took the Social Security data base and created a program to tell you, based on your name and the year you were born, if you were born today - what would your name be?
So my name was the 16th most popular name the year I was born.
If born today I would be Avery.
You can find your name for each decade.
http://time.com/3856405/baby-name-popularity/
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Quiet by Susan Cain
I just finished reading Quiet by Susan Cain for our Book Club. I was excited to read it because I was hoping for some insight into my own personality. I was extremely shy as a child. I never raised my hand in school. I know I hid behind my mother when introduced to others. I didn't like new situations. Yet, at home I was quite boisterous.
When I graduated from high school I made a vow to myself that I would overcome the shyness that had labeled and plagued me my entire school years. When you grow up in a small town and go to school with the same kids year after year, labeling happens rather quickly and permanently.
So my freshman year of college I said hello to everyone I passed on campus. The cute boys, the nerd boys, the cheerleader girls, the goth girls. I said hello to them all. what I was really practicing was rejection. When the other person did not say hello I worked on handling that rejection. It may appear to be nothing, but to a shy individual it was a big deal.
I overcame that shyness and those who have known me as an adult would never believe my past. And in Cain's book I discovered why.
We are genetically predisposed to being introvert or extrovert and our personalities are like rubber bands and can expand to specific situations. However they can only expand so far and when they reach that breaking point they do crack.
For example an introvert can be a salesperson or work with people all day long, but when she comes home she wants quiet and space and not have to carry on or lead a conversation with a spouse or neighbor.
So I had learned to expand my personality. And even though I may appear social I do like and crave my quiet time.
The book was 270 pages and probably could have been summarized in about 50. But basically I learned that we need to recognize the importance of introverts. Society seems to value the extrovert personality, but possibly our best and most creative ideas come from the introverts. (Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak)
As parents, as teachers, as spouses, as friends, we need to acknowledge and value that someone may be an introvert and not push for an extrovert behavior. Colleagues may need alone time vs team building brainstorming. A child may not want to be involved in an activity every night. The spouse may need alone time. A student may choose to work alone.
I can't say that anything Cain related was profound, she did have a great deal of research to back her writing, but most importantly it was comforting. We need to recognize who we are and create that space for our personality type.
When I graduated from high school I made a vow to myself that I would overcome the shyness that had labeled and plagued me my entire school years. When you grow up in a small town and go to school with the same kids year after year, labeling happens rather quickly and permanently.
So my freshman year of college I said hello to everyone I passed on campus. The cute boys, the nerd boys, the cheerleader girls, the goth girls. I said hello to them all. what I was really practicing was rejection. When the other person did not say hello I worked on handling that rejection. It may appear to be nothing, but to a shy individual it was a big deal.
I overcame that shyness and those who have known me as an adult would never believe my past. And in Cain's book I discovered why.
We are genetically predisposed to being introvert or extrovert and our personalities are like rubber bands and can expand to specific situations. However they can only expand so far and when they reach that breaking point they do crack.
For example an introvert can be a salesperson or work with people all day long, but when she comes home she wants quiet and space and not have to carry on or lead a conversation with a spouse or neighbor.
So I had learned to expand my personality. And even though I may appear social I do like and crave my quiet time.
The book was 270 pages and probably could have been summarized in about 50. But basically I learned that we need to recognize the importance of introverts. Society seems to value the extrovert personality, but possibly our best and most creative ideas come from the introverts. (Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak)
As parents, as teachers, as spouses, as friends, we need to acknowledge and value that someone may be an introvert and not push for an extrovert behavior. Colleagues may need alone time vs team building brainstorming. A child may not want to be involved in an activity every night. The spouse may need alone time. A student may choose to work alone.
I can't say that anything Cain related was profound, she did have a great deal of research to back her writing, but most importantly it was comforting. We need to recognize who we are and create that space for our personality type.
Monday, April 9, 2018
Iowa
I am heading back to Iowa to see my dad. It's been a few months and I feel a little guilty about not getting there sooner, but only two airlines fly direct from Denver to IA. And one of them is three times the cost of the other. Yikes, that's a huge difference. And the cheaper airline does not fly to IA Jan-March, which is understandable considering the weather, but I know there would be occupancy. However who checks with me?
So I always head back in April when the flights open up again. I hope the weather is good. It's the 60s and 70s here.
So I always head back in April when the flights open up again. I hope the weather is good. It's the 60s and 70s here.
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Saturday, April 7, 2018
A Night Out
We went out for dinner one night, managed to get the girls away from the pool, and after dinner we walked to a small ice cream place.
Right next door was a hotel that you have some respite on their lounge chairs and watch a movie. Even though we didn't stay long, the ice cream was melting faster than tongues could lick, we did enjoy the ambiance.
Right next door was a hotel that you have some respite on their lounge chairs and watch a movie. Even though we didn't stay long, the ice cream was melting faster than tongues could lick, we did enjoy the ambiance.
Friday, April 6, 2018
How Often
in life do you get to spend time with your adult children and their children for one solid week?
Not often I'd say. Or for those families who live apart you recognize the importance and joy of such a week. For those who have the luxury of seeing each other frequently, it may be harder to understand the resounding pleasure this week brings.
Surprisingly we all meshed quite well to three different households becoming one. Our son-in-law is a fantastic chef and he bore the brunt of that skill. Many others filled in on KP duty. Grandpa did a lot of running to the store.
The five year olds played together and were often trying to isolate themselves from The "Littles". However the majority of the time when you are three you really don't care what someone else is doing, only what YOU can do. So the Littles often found their own play time.
The house had a tv in every room and that was the big thrill. None of the grandchildren have tv in their rooms nor that much access to tv, so this was a big highlight, right after the pool.
We all seemed to find joy in our stay in different ways. The moms got an opportunity to read in quiet by the pool (for a few minutes) and quite ironically they both brought the same book to read.
The ladies all had a spa day. The men a golf day. And the young adults had a dinner night out as well as the grandparents. A week was just right to fit it all in.
Not often I'd say. Or for those families who live apart you recognize the importance and joy of such a week. For those who have the luxury of seeing each other frequently, it may be harder to understand the resounding pleasure this week brings.
Surprisingly we all meshed quite well to three different households becoming one. Our son-in-law is a fantastic chef and he bore the brunt of that skill. Many others filled in on KP duty. Grandpa did a lot of running to the store.
The five year olds played together and were often trying to isolate themselves from The "Littles". However the majority of the time when you are three you really don't care what someone else is doing, only what YOU can do. So the Littles often found their own play time.
The house had a tv in every room and that was the big thrill. None of the grandchildren have tv in their rooms nor that much access to tv, so this was a big highlight, right after the pool.
We all seemed to find joy in our stay in different ways. The moms got an opportunity to read in quiet by the pool (for a few minutes) and quite ironically they both brought the same book to read.
The ladies all had a spa day. The men a golf day. And the young adults had a dinner night out as well as the grandparents. A week was just right to fit it all in.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
The House
As I indicated the house we rented was valued at 1.5 million. A tad more than I would want to spend for a second home, but oh so sweet to spend time in for a week and pretend...
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| The view of the back of the house from the deck chairs. |
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| Who needs a spa when this is in your Master Bath? |
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| The kitchen had plenty of room for several cooks. |
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