Nathalie's Notes

Off the cuff psych profiles

Matt doesn't read my blog but I told him I was hoping for comments on this and he says: Oh, I don't have to read your blog to have comments. What's the question and I'll give you comments. He surprised me with the following super-detailed pseudo psychological profiles on my characters.

• Nicholas: He goes by Nicholas instead of Nick? Hmm. Kinda uptight, tall, thin, maybe balding a little bit, wire rimmed glasses, decent looking guy – kinda prissy, comes off a a little prissy but actually pretty down to earth. Sober, likes to laugh but doesn’t do it just at the drop of a hat. Professional but kind of hippy dippy, kinda granola. Matt has started saying "hippy dippy" more since he read my first couple drafts. It is funny to me to hear him unintentionally quoting one of my characters.

• Vanessa – urban, very curly hair, pretty but maybe a little bit on the trashy side – like she wears a leather skirt when it’s maybe not appropriate. Probably pretty volatile. Acts sweet but she can turn on you. Probably not a professional, checkered past. Vanessa’s the girl who offends your mom when they first meet and you marry her anyway. And then you pay for it.  
• Virginia – how old? 40s? Okay: A professional, probably has a couple kids either teenagers or out of the house, successful career she went back to – dresses professionally maybe more formally then the environment requires but not over the top. The least casual in the office probably. Doesn’t wear much makeup, not because she’s granola but because it’s not something she values. When she thinks of herself she doesn’t see her own face. Very friendly, almost flamboyant when she’s in a good mood but her relationships are either professional or casual and always fairly superficial.
• Emma:16, blond, kind of an airhead, so light a blond that you almost question if it’s a platinum bleach, very happy and positive to the point where some people take it as unprofessional or too familiar maybe. She deals with nervousness or fear through laughing even at inappropriate moments, like her grandma’s funeral when she was six. And not just laughing but laughing uncontrollably at some random stimulus that strikes her funny.
• Ginny -  Jenny, like a female donkey? Oh my gosh, honey. Well, Ginny is … wow what is Ginny? Ginny is an over achiever, would be called a workaholic except that a great deal of her overachieving is spent in her own garden or something … she’s most comfortable in denim button up shirts and overalls or pinstriped button up shirt … what she feels most herself in. Really energetic. One of those people who seems to have a ton of momentum already going when other people are just showing up for work, she happily stays until other people leave without ever drawing attention the fact that she’s staying and then goes home and does her thing with her goats and her garden.
• Isabella – (Vanessa's daughter, right?) looks up to Vanessa and attempts to model herself after her but recognizes qualities she doesn’t like and doesn’t want to embrace. She’s really pretty but doesn’t think she’s as pretty as her mom because she doesn’t dress like her mom but she doesn’t like how it feels to dress like her mom so she always feels like she’s the ugly duckling or something. And because of that she works really hard to win approval from her mom.  Pretty smart and talented, she musical, and maybe even a really pretty voice. She’s kind of shy doesn’t make friends really easily maybe has some other family members that she’s really close to, she gives the impression of feeling out of place wherever she is, even by herself.

 

What's in a name?

One of my favorite posts asked you guys for your first impressions based on a character's name. It was fun to read how similar (and how different) some of the impressions were to the characters. Here are a few more from Pants on Fire. If you want to play, same deal:

For each name, tell me what kind of a person you picture in terms of appearance, personality, quirks and habits. And, of course, there are no wrong answers. If you're not into posting online, email me your impressions.

• Nicholas
• Vanessa
• Virginia
• Emma
• Ginny
• Isabella

What would you clip?

I'm putting finishing touches on my Nathalie's Notes: Mom about town; Adventures with Baby Chi Chi column pitch and I'm just wondering if you can help me answer this:

What (if anything) is missing in your local paper that would be helpful to you in terms of identifying with your community and using it (the paper) as a helpful resource? What would make you take scissors to the paper and clip something for your fridge, purse or to mail to a friend?

For me, I enjoy reading the op-ed pieces and letters to connect with what other people around town are thinking/feeling. I also just like reading the local personality feature stories and the Greens & Beans column to get new ideas.

Free Chinook Book for your reviews

You might be a rebel if ... you've considered hanging your clothes out to dry. Here's the link to my post featuring this controversial activity :)

If you're into sharing your experiences and getting something cool for free - check this out: the editors at ecometro.com are looking for some good merchant reviews and are offering a free Chinook Book to anyone who writes 5 reviews. I know some of you would be into this, so let me know right away. I need to submit your names to my editor Monday before noon.

Saboteur Quiz

I was in a TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) group last year that really helped me work toward some of my health goals. One of my favorite things about the group was when I got to do the lesson of the week. For my first one, we addressed the issue of "saboteurs." Anyone who has ever publicly announced their intentions to loose weight or get in shape has dealt with at least one person who seems to be subtly sabotaging your efforts. It could be well-meaning, misguided friends, or it could be people with jealousy issues who can't stand the thought of you being successful. Either way, it's an issue to deal with regardless of what personal goal you're trying to accomplish. I'm working on turning this lesson into an article. It'll include this quiz. I'm curious to get your thoughts on it. Actually, what I need to know is if it comes across the way I intend it to. As always, if you'd rather not comment on the blog, email me your thoughts. I'll post the "answers" and the consensus later. Promise.

1) Your husband brings home an extra large, pepperoni and sausage pizza. Assuming you're not a vegetarian, what do you say to him?

a) Thanks for picking up dinner, but I’ve already prepared a tofu stir fry with organic vegetables.

b) Enjoy one slice of pizza and load the rest of your plate with salad or other vegetables stocked in your crisper. Ask him to get a ½ veggie pizza with less cheese next time.

c) Why? Why do you hate me? There you go again trying to ruin my diet! You could stand to loose a little weight too you know.

2) Your best friend, who you secretly think should consider putting on a few pounds, invites you out to your favorite restaurant for lunch to celebrate your weight loss success.

a) You suggest going to the newest juice bar in town and drink juice for lunch.

b) You tell her you’d love to but you’re trying to stay out of temptation’s path and offer to meet her to shop for a new outfit instead.

c) You tell her she’s too skinny and selfish and doesn’t understand anything. And that you thought she was a better friend than that.

3) Your co-worker makes comments about your new diet that make you feel bad.

a) You barely notice because you are the most serene and are impervious to having your feelings hurt. Your morning mediations make you feel so grounded you’re just certain everybody loves you and you love everyone.

b) You talk to another, neutral, friend about it and discuss a strategy for letting your co-worker know she is hurting your feelings.

c) You read the want-ads at lunch, muttering to yourself that the universe is unfair and everybody is against you.

4) A well-meaning parent brings cupcakes in to the office for her child’s birthday. They are chocolate fudge, your very favorite.

a) You pass on the cupcake, there will be others. Instead you munch on the essential fatty acid balls you have stashed in your drawer for just such occasions.

b) You take it graciously and eat half of it, it is your favorite after all. You throw the rest away, burying it under something gross because you know you’re not above pulling something back out of the garbage in a moment of weakness.

c) You tell the parent you are damn sick and tired of people pawning their calorie-laden treats on you.

Shades of Green

I've been working on this column pitch for a website Chinook Book is launching next month. I was intrigued by the idea and really exited to apply but hesitated at this part of the application: "the most knowledgeable, most thoughtful and most irreverent citizens to produce original columns on living the green lifestyle in Portland." But hey, I'm thoughtful and irreverent, and while I'm certainly no expert on living green, it's a desire of mine to be more so and that created the inspiration for my column idea which is essentially "Green on Green: Confessions of a wannabe" because I agree with you guys in the comments and emails I got that you can "lean green and mean well" (Rose) but still not feel worthy of the green merit badge. Your replies were a huge help to me because they confirmed my suspicion that I'm not alone in feeling that because there is more that I could or should to, I'm not green enough. I love the shades of green idea! In every single response I got, written and verbal, not one person said "yes." Everyone ticked off ways they try to be and ways they could do more. Everyone. It was really interesting. If the column doesn't get accepted I'll share the ones I pitched, otherwise, I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get to link to my new column!

Is it easy being green?

Would you consider yourself a 'green' person?

Everyone I've asked pauses for a long time before answering. I'm really curious to get your replies on this: are you a green person? If you say yes, but hesitated, why? What do you think "being green" means?

I'm working on some column pitches on this subject and will share parts of them shortly but am needing your feedback to see if my suspicions are accurate. As always, if you're not into posting online, please email me your replies. Thanks for your help!

Should cheaters tell?

"Bad news. There's only one left. I could run into town and pick up another..." I start to suggest, trailing off as Matt rolls his eyes.

"It's not heroin, honey." We're talking about Six Feet Under, an HBO show we recently started watching on DVD (and are already nearly through with Season Two because Matt is right, I do jones for the next episode before the one I'm watching ends). I've always heard good things about the show but with my whole fear of death issue, I didn't think I could hack it. I love it! It's one of the best written shows I've ever enjoyed. Last night's episode, titled "The Liar and The Whore" reminded me of a part I'm wrestling with in my book.

Should cheaters tell? I don't think there is a right answer, actually. And that surprises me because I am usually all about full disclosure. I've seen several of my friends go through the damage wrought by affairs, some of it self-inflicted but painful nevertheless. In the book, Nicholas has an affair and chooses not to tell his wife. I think it's appropriate for him to have to suffer the guilt himself. But, then later in the book, when Vanessa reveals a secret of her own, is he obligated to narc himself out? What are the consequences for having waited so long? Has everything between point A for Affair and B for Busted been a lie?

Survey Says?

I need your help with a little experiment. I am working on an essay that depends on your honest replies. I am writing under an assumption I'm pretty sure is true but want to double check it with your thoughts. Please respond to these questions if you feel at all compelled. If you would prefer not to comment online, please email me your replies.

(I'll post my theory even if I end up being wrong after I get a good collection of responses).

1) How often is your house ready for company? (percentage)

2) How do you feel about your answer to #1?

3) How often to you think other people's homes are ready for company? (percentage)

4) How do you personally define "company ready"?

5) What are some of the first things you say when people come over?  Is it different if they just drop by? What are you thinking when you are saying, "oh, hi! Come on in?"

5) Any comments on this theme?

No Wrong Answers

I'm working on some character development and I'm curious what comes to mind when you hear these names ... For each name, I'd love to know what kind of a person you picture in terms of appearance, personality, quirks and habits ...

• Silas
• Vanessa
• Ethan

Remember though that everyone looks a little stupid and self-conscious in "Hello My Name is ..." tags. And there are no wrong answers ... if you're not into posting online, I'd love for you to email me your first impressions and thoughts when you hear these names.