after more than 13 months

I'm back. I'm a year older. I'm slightly less intent on procrastinating. I've also been locked up in my apartment for the last two days, sick with strep throat (which fully ballooned on my 27th birthday). But now I'm about to leave to check out a new restaurant a couple blocks from me (Forage). I am also now an insane foodie, chasing food trucks and everything else. So now I suspect I will be blogging about food more than anything else.* I haven't decided if I'm going to become that person that takes photos of everything she eats yet, however.


* Who knows, but Al's been telling me to blog about food (mostly so I don't have to talk about it so much with her) and figure let's just reactive Ridiculous Authenticity.

i'm 8, what number are you?

Probably about a year ago I found out about enneagrams. It's one of those personality trait things. Now, I thought you were supposed to figure out what number you were by looking at shapes and colors or something, but the OkCupid test I took was purely based on reading written descriptions and choosing the ones that best describe you. So I did it. And it's totally spot on. I'm only posting this as a self-explanation of how I work. I already know all this about myself, but sometimes it's good to advertise this to other people. It's also a good tool for dating. I've come to realize that I scare away a lot of people I want to attract, and those that are curious enough to find out about this hyperbolic asserter are usually my polar opposite. Of course there's nothing wrong with that, but unfortunately, I want someone more like myself in personality and worldview than opposite it. Otherwise I go a little insane, as this explains...

Your Score: 8 - the Asserter

you chose AY - your Enneagram type is EIGHT (aka "The Challenger").

"I must be strong"

Asserters are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me

* Stand up for yourself... and me.
* Be confident, strong, and direct.
* Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.
* Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.
* Give me space to be alone.
* Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.
* I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack.
* When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am.

What I Like About Being a EIGHT

* being independent and self-reliant
* being able to take charge and meet challenges head on
* being courageous, straightforward, and honest
* getting all the enjoyment I can out of life
* supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me
* upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a EIGHT

* overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to
* being restless and impatient with others' incompetence
* sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it
* never forgetting injuries or injustices
* putting too much pressure on myself
* getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things don't go right

EIGHTs as Children Often

* are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit
* are sometimes loners
* seize control so they won't be controlled
* fugure out others' weaknesses
* attack verbally or physically when provoked
* take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

EIGHTs as Parents

* are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted
* are sometimes overprotective
* can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy
Discover the 9 Types of People
Harper SanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages


P.S. Link added by request. I hope it works.