Let me tell you something about you that you don’t know!

A few weeks ago our office participated in Insights Discovery. It begins with a word-association rating test that most of us sort of blew off and found irrelevant. Turns out it’s relevant and is based on Psychiatrist Carl Jung’s many years of Analytical Psychology. It is rather interesting and involved yet simple in presentation. This would have been handy information to have before participating. Basically, for the rest of us, it boils down to a personality test.

Mine was funny. Accurate, but true stuff is the funniest stuff! Rules are important to me as shown by their reappearance throughout my profile. True. I get antsy when someone breaks the rules; I hate being in trouble. Painstaking was another attribute that came up. True. When trying to solve a problem I don’t give up until it is solved. This is why I have begun to avoid problems in the first place – brilliant! Painstaking = exhausting. I am quizzical and probing, their description, not mine. Poor Patrick! I ask him question after question after question – and then follow that up immediately with “ANSWER ME!”….how lovely it must be on the receiving end of that!

The strengths are great – a real self-esteem booster. The weaknesses are much more noteworthy! ‘Can resist by being passive yet stubborn simultaneously’ What?! Personally, I think being passive yet stubborn simultaneously makes the conversation more interesting!

Strategies for communicating with me are hysterical and totally true! ‘Ensure she sees and agrees with the benefit of change before implementation’ ‘Do not touch her if you can avoid it’ ‘Do not hug her unexpectedly or at an inappropriate moment’ This is great stuff because I find myself often saying “why are you touching me!?!” ‘Do not give lengthy verbal instructions’ Correct. I will stop paying attention and then ask you to repeat yourself; that’s where I find the synopsis of what you meant to begin with.

I did learn something quite handy ‘Allison will benefit from assuming permission rather than seeking it’. Lightbulb! I just felt my Williams-Sonoma and Sur la Table budget grow by leaps and bounds!! Something not handy: ‘Allison may benefit from wearing something outrageous to work when it is least expected!’ My interpretation: ‘put on some whore-clothes and join the rest of downtown’!

The profile, even the things that are not flattering, is presented in a way that lessens the blow and doesn’t make you out to be the world’s leading asshole….or, um, the foremost overly-conservative rule-follower for that matter. This is a multi-page spiral-bound booklet of personality traits and I didn’t disagree with any of it. Patrick didn’t either, which I found funny. And, really, not so funny at the same time. It is, by far, one thing to be a certain way at work. To apply those same personality traits at home and ask, “why are you touching me!?!” may not be a relationship builder. I know, SHOCKER, right!?

I loved the Insights and wish I had them earlier - would have made dating easier. I'd like the family version....my goofball sister, if-you-don’t-know-I’m-not-telling-you dad and I-don’t-proof-read-my-texts mother would be a lot easier to handle if it was spelled out on paper!

Off to further expand my kitchen gadgetry and hoping nobody hugs me unexpectedly while I’m shopping!

Memorial Week Recap....

With our work schedules, Patrick and I were able to take 10 days away from the city and use only 3 days of vacation – it was fantastic! We spent Memorial week in Buena Vista – my parents own a house there on the Arkansas.

We drove up the Friday and it was gorgeous! Blue skies, a little snow left on the peaks and the mountain ranches all turning green! The river seemed like it was raging when we got there from the beginning of runoff. Little did we know, it would change daily and become even higher and run faster. They kayakers and rafters come down throughout the day; watching them navigate (or fail to) through the rocks can be scary! Some of the kayakers flip over and take what feels like forever for them to resurface! The rafters are like lemmings and when one falls out, there are usually others that follow suit – talk about a yard sale down the river. Bodies and paddles dispersed everywhere – especially after the raft has bounced off of a rock!

Patrick wants to start kayaking….does this make me Mrs. Kayaker? I’m already Mrs. The Hulk, and that seems sufficient. Looks cold – and like a lot of work. And how do you hold your beer when you’re paddling? I see no cup holder on the kayak either. Seems like poor planning – just saying! And the helmet will smoosh my hair….doesn’t matter that I always wear it up, it would still be smooshed. Rafting is no different – still looks cold and everyone on the raft has a job…and none of them seem to include sitting and enjoying a beer. I could, however get used to the endless woo-hooing and hi-paddles after completing an obstacle…I happen to be a Grade-A excellent woo-hooer!  

We took Independence Pass into Aspen one day – there is still SO much snow! Quite amazing actually and would be absolutely breathtaking to see how it looked with full accumulation this winter! There are fresh tracks from skiers and boarders. Again, WAY too much work for this girl. Hiking in ski boots is out of the question. And anything called “skins” for my skis can stay at the store. Hiking those ridges in snowshoes would still be out of the question.  Hauling skis, gear, avalanche beacons, shovels and whatever other necessities, um, not going to happen! And how do you get the cooler up there? I suppose the beer keeps itself plenty cold in the backpack next to the shovel.

Aspen = not impressed. Everything there is market price and there are not many address markers. Ok, fine. My reasoning was if you are in Aspen, you can afford Aspen and don’t need to know (nor do you probably care) what things cost.  $4.57/gallon gas is interesting. I’ll leave it at that (we work for oil and gas companies, I’m very well aware of the fact that there’s only so much mentioning, complaining, noticing or bitching we’re allowed to do publicly at the cost of all things oil and gas related before the hypocrisy is highlighted).  

There’s 1 Starbucks in Aspen. Yes – 1. I have the Starbucks locater and it located 1. O-N-E!! Not only is it hidden and Google Maps couldn’t even find it, but they are open from 7-12. Seriously, 5 whole hours. Why bother? By the way – INK! Coffee is a poor substitute for Starbucks, and they’re open all damn day, of course. Patrick, at first, thought perhaps this was because Ink! is local to Colorado.  He threw this idea out the window immediately while we walked past Prada, Ralph Lauren, Burberry (LOVE them!), Ermenegildo Zegna and Louis Vuitton to name a few. Basically, everything I can also find in Cherry Creek or a much desired trip to LA.

In Buena there is an Alco. This is hands down the best garage sale/$4 store EVER! Everything you've never needed and instantly want is contained in this place! Next to the beauty products are the outdoor supplies. Yes, I need saline solution, sunblock annnnnd....oh wait, what's this!?!? A trampoline, pellet guns AND neon tikki torches! SOLD! You get to the checkout line to find an assortment of gummy candy and gaudy watches...YAY! Sadly, the Alco employees take things too seriously do not participate in the "look what I found" game, nor do they help you beat your opponent in the "who can find the most ridiculous crap" game. Fine. I'll do it myself!

By the time we got back to Buena from Aspen, I was happy to be in down to earth company.  We picked up a few property fliers and went to dinner. I had the fliers on the table, the restaurant manager/owner seemed more than excited at the prospect of new people in town – very cool! Buena people are very outgoing, friendly and absolutely welcoming to visitors…..

Patrick and I are talking about leaving the city behind for a much different lifestyle in the mountains, and we have found a place to begin our search. Amazing what can change in just 1 week - happy house hunting!