Pray for me.

Do you think it’s possible for your personality to change over time? I’ve been mulling it over lately as I’ve been working on a new manuscript. The main character is a lot me now. She’s also a lot like I was as a teenager. Which makes sense–I feel like I’m exactly the same now as I was ten or even twenty years ago.

I’m just happier. Healthier. And I have more friends. But does that change a personality? Would my friends now even recognize the me of days gone by?

When I was taking a psychology class in high school, we took a field trip to a nearby university and each filled out a questionnaire determining where we fell on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The MBTI determines where you fall on  four spectrums:

This means there are sixteen personality types, depending on which four traits you prefer (this is a super-shortened, not-that-great summary).

I was an INFJ.   A quick look on Wikipedia shows that only 1-3% of the U.S Population is INFJ, making it the rarest personality type.  Which figures.  INFJ is often called “The Sage,” personality type, which is kind of cool, but not really.  It’s especially heavy on the “not really” when you’re seventeen years old and your personality type is represented by this:

I memorized my friends’ personality types (because I had so few friends, this was easy).  For a time, I took to referring to them as, “My favorite ENFJ,” or “My favorite ESTP.”

A week or so ago, I was reading the Shrinking Violets website and found that in this day and age, you can actually find the Myers-Briggs Type for your blog!  Of course, I immediately typed in my url and got this:  ESTP.

My blog’s personality is the opposite of mine!  On each one of the  four spectrums!  Crazy, no?   The best part is that ESTP is often called “The Doer” as is represented by:

Doesn’t she look kick-a?  And unlike me  in every way?

I would love to be this girl.  But I am not.  I don’t try to hide that on my blog, do I?  I keep it real, don’t I?  Or has my personality changed?  Will I soon wake to find myself wearing knee-socks and casually holding a ball of some sort?

So the next day I was sending a message to a friend via facebook when I saw that she’d taken a facebook-app version of the MBTI.  So of course, I had to take it, too.

I know there’s been much controversy surrounding facebook of late.  I haven’t shown much interest because facebook doesn’t really do that much for me (or I for it).  But seriously, love orr hate it, the MyType app is awesome.  It gave me a quick but comprehensive eval which determined I was…yep.  An INFJ.

Can I represent myself with this, instead?

In other news, I am leaving for St. George basically as soon as I finish typing this (in other words, next year) (no, really, I have to be there tonight).  Why?  Because I’ll be on a panel for the Utah Library Association Conference tomorrow, and I’m speaking bright and early with  YA writer friends Bree Despain, Sydney Salter, and Bobbie Pyron.  If you’re a librarian and will be there, come say hey!  If you’ll be in St. George because, for example, you live there, let me know and we can figure out a way to still say hey.  Because I don’t discriminate.  Although I do love librarians…

Then, on Saturday, I’ll be speaking on another panel.  This time the venue will be the historic Provo Library, for the Provo Children’s Book Festival.   We’ll have Utah authors and illustrators galore, plus Jenni and Matthew Holms of BabyMouse  fame, and the event is FREE.  So there’s really no excuse not to be there.

Most importantly, one of my girls will be in her school’s  Broadway-style musical revue Friday night, and there’s no way I’m missing it.  Break a leg, Mariah!

What are your weekend plans?  If you don’t have any as of yet, I’d love to see you.  And if you’re some crazy-A stalker-type…I’d probably still love to see you.

Truly, he is my kin.  I’m all over emergency preparedness kits.  For the house.  Because, well, I’m not in my car that often.  And I tend to forget that other people are.   So the other day, Dan came home from work with this:

This was once part of our car emergency kit.  By once, I mean however long ago it was I assembled these kits.  I’m guessing it was a long, long, time ago, back when the purple thing was still a candle, the pack of Big Red was still chewable and the change…well, I don’t really know what that’s all about.

I’m thinking that with these kits, we’d survive all of 7 seconds in a disaster.

Now, for the good news!

1) I’ve since updated the kits.  In case an emergency strikes and we happen to be in the car, I’ve upped our survival time to 3 1/2 hours.

2)  Physical Therapist Amanda retested me and yes!  When I walk, I am no longer in the “fall risk” zone.   So in an emergency, if I am required to walk, don’t worry about me falling.  I can go all night, baby.  Oh yeah.

3) Lately I’ve been working on a set of goals with the young women who I will, in only a few months, be taking on yet another camping adventure. One of these goals is to learn a new skill.  As my new skill I decided to learn to  refinish our bedroom dressers.  These dressers, while super-functional, are really, really ugly.  And I have a pretty high tolerance for ugly.

Oh vanity, thy name is Em Dawg.   I get out of the “fall risk” zone and think I can do anything.  Including refinish a dresser.  All I can say is that my accomplishment today was changing the sheet of paper in the power sander.

Okay, this is not the power sander.  I’m still not sure why.  I took another picture, one of me next to the power sander, but taking photos of myself is another New Skill I Must Learn because it was so bad I stuck with a power sander still-life.  Only now, instead of the still life, I have a Mac battery.  Why is there even a picture of a Mac battery on my camera?

If we had our Mac with us in case of an emergency, our odds of surviving unscathed would be through the roof.  As long as the battery was charged.

My Flex Spending Year was winding down, yet money remained.  A lot of money.  Which begged the question, which part of me to fix?  I made a list of what was wrong with me and then played MASH until one thing remained.  Which is how I ended up in physical therapy.

My first day of PT I filled out a  questionnaire and I swear, it’s like they were reading my mind:

Do everyday activities make you dizzy?

Do you find yourself walking into walls, furniture, and and other large objects?

Have  others mistakenly thought you to be inebriated?

Amanda, my physical therapist, rocks.  Her assistant, Adam, not so much (ha!  That’s just a joke in case any of the fine people at Performance West read this).  After a few visits, I realized I was bringing down the house with my mad skillz, yo.  Never before had I felt so coordinated.  Then I spied this brochure in the office:

If you’ll note the couple in the above picture , then multiply it by 10, you’ll get an idea of Amanda’s clientele.

And me.  So the rock star.

In other rock-star-but-not-really news, I am featured in the latest issue of the ALAN Review, a journal for the Assembly on Adolescent Literature of the National Council for Teachers of English.  The article, titled “An Intersection of Meaning:  A Conversation with Emily Wing Smith,” is by the lovely and talented April Brannon.  April is an English  professor at Cal State Fullerton who chilled with me at my first ALAN conference two years ago.  Thanks, April.  Enjoy your month.

And you enjoy it, too.

In case you wondered how the winners were “generated” it was by a complex algorithm in which I wrote down everyone’s name as many times as they entered and then played MASH until only three names remained.  This provided some quality entertainment during the less interesting portions of church yesterday.

In Friends Reading My Mind News:

I recently inherited my grandmother’s china.  Inherited is the wrong word, I guess, as my grandmother is still alive.  So that’s good, but it did raise the question why give it to me now?  I mean, it should have raised that question.  Of course  I didn’t actually think about it until my husband asked me:  “Why did she give it to you now?”

Um, because she loves me?

But whatever the reason, I am now the proud owner of a lovely tea service, and as I removed each delicate piece from its bubble-wrap I thought what a shame it is I don’t give tea parties.

What should happen the next week, however, but some of my writer friends and I decide to get together and I offer to host.  And Sara Z. says, “how about a tea?”

Bingo!

Right-side-up photo courtesy of Sara’s iPhone.

The top photo features our original writing posse of me, Anne Bowen, James Dashner and the lovely Sara Zarr (who is, in this picture as in life, head and shoulders above the rest of us).

But wait, there’s more!  Who should grace us with her presence that day but terrific writer and local celebrity Ann E. Cannon.  In fact, she’s head and shoulders above the rest of us, too.

I need a bigger couch.

So, remember how I want to be a TV extra?  This is actually not a totally random whim (of which I have many) and it’s not for my love of the spotlight (which is a lukewarm love at best).   It’s for a writing project I’m working on and have been planning for awhile.  Then, luck of luck:  I discovered that the show I wanted to be an extra for was actually filming an episode in Utah the very NEXT WEEK!

Then the luck ran dry. My husband, who is rarely sick, fell victim to a nasty flu.  Determined not to let it affect me, I avoided this flu by getting 12 hours of sleep a night, drinking plenty of fluids,  bathing in hot water with Epsom salts, and getting close to Daniel only to give him my miracle-cure apple cider.

Unfortunately, I avoided this flu until the day BFF Brodi and I were heading up to Park City to be part of the action.   After a prolonged, boring exchange with the Film Commission and our various “contacts” we learned that the show already had more than enough extras.  Which was good, because although I deluded myself into thinking I was healthy that day, when I washed my hands at Brodi’s and saw myself in the mirror, I said (not just to myself, but audibly) “I look sick.”

Indeed I did.  In every sense of the word.

Worse still, once in Park City my ears clogged up, my hearing not to return until the end of the day.  Oh, and it was FREEZING.  Brodi noted my lack of  usual “sidling skills.”

B:  So what do we do first?”

ME:  Well, first we should…you know…wait, what did you just say?

But the day wasn’t a total waste.  We chatted with an actual extra, and managed to get close to the filming due to our “contacts.”  Of course, I didn’t take a picture then.  No, I waited until we were walking away.

Awesome pic, right?  In case you were wondering, yes, I did take this literally as I was walking away.  I figured it couldn’t be worse than the blurry photos I take while standing still.

The best part was when we stopped for lunch and a hot beverage:

Besides it being a fun time, lunch was also where I met Stephanie, waiting for a pick-up order.  I knew she worked for the show immediately because of her accent specific to the region where the show filmed.  Not, of course, by the puffy vest she was wearing with SHOW’S NAME embroidered on the back.  Stephanie was the tutor for the little boy in the above picture (not Brodi.  The one above that).  This struck me as the COOLEST JOB EVER.

Which is probably why I will never be famous.

This wasn’t just a cruel joke.  She had FORGOTTEN about the party and by the time we got there, it was over.  Oh, the humanity!  Emily P. opened my present even though the other guests had left.  I hesitate to go into details, lest my mother read this and have one of those “I’m-a terrible-mother” moments mothers are prone to, but let’s just say it was somewhat of a let down.

But all is not lost!   Because on Saturday afternoon, nearly twenty five years after the fact, the universe corrected itself and I was able to attend the best princess party ever.

Imagine me living vicariously through one of these  happy kiddos, enjoying candy necklaces, tiaras, and other goodie bag shwag at the amazing Lindsey Leavitt’s PRINCESS FOR HIRE  book launch at fave indie bookstore the King’s English.  Her book is fresh, funny, and the first in a series.  What more could you want?

Lindsey and I have been tight since we bonded over a quick lunch together one of the last times she was in the SLC, and kept it up in LA at the SCBWI conference where we cried like babies over Richard Peck and strutted our stuff at the Blue Moon Ball .  Our next plan is to rock the Vegas at Barrypalooza ’10.  But back to Lindsey’s special day.

Here we are holding uber-princessy copies of PRINCESS FOR HIRE.  I’m holding two, because I bought one copy for me and another as a prize for my terrif  WIFYR contest!

I’m holding the contest to get the word out about the fabulous Writing for Young Readers Conference this summer at its new venue in Sandy, Utah.  You can sign up for it or just help spread the word and win free books!  But you must hurry, because this contest ENDS!

Yep, people have asked if there’s an actual end to this contest.  I was like, “why bother?” but then I realized it had to end sometime, or else no one could win.   So the LAST day to enter is THIS FRIDAY March 26.  And although I should be using all my typing-time this week to finish the edits on my forthcoming novel (!) I will be rockin’ the time management skills and blogging, too!  To remind the world of this contest, and to share some hilarious stories that have made March a Month to Remember.

As if the princess party wasn’t enough.

I hate myself sometimes.

Especially times like this, when I had something really, really important to blog about.

I’ll be teaching a beginning novel workshop at the annual Writing for Young Readers conference this summer.  This is one of the premier  writing conferences for writers/illustrators of kids/YA books.  PREMIER!

The thing is, this year instead of being held at the traditional location (BYU in Provo, Utah) WIFYR will be held at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah.  And this change in venue has led to a lot of people thinking the event’s been canceled.  Not so!  So  The Six, my writers group/BFFs/misc., who  are all  WIFYR fans, determined to spread word of its greatness to writers far and wide.

And YES, aspiring writers count as writers!  So if you are one of those people who just think of yourself as a “wannabe” writer, this is for you!  Especially my morning workshop.  I don’t mean to shamelessly self-promote…no, really, I don’t…but my class is aimed at “wanna-be” writers.  The ones I meet at book signings, and when I ask if they’re a writer, they pause, turn red, and say, “not really.”  I have found that in 100% of cases I’ve seen, not really means, “I’m not a real writer because I don’t have anything published, so if I say I’m a writer you will probably yell at/scoff at/laugh at me.”

I do NONE OF THE ABOVE, because I too was an unpublished writer once.  Guess what?  All “real” writers have been unpublished!  Then, we went to conferences like this one, learned more about our craft, made connections, and here we are.

Anyway, The SIXers are holding giveaways in order to spread the word about this conference.  This is where my shame comes in, because technically, Kim’s contest is already over.  She was the one to come up with the idea, which is this:  sign up for the WIFYR Conference ( June 14-18 )and be entered to win one of many book-related prizes!  Now, if you sign up for the conference, enter Kim’s contest and tell her it’s my fault you’re late.  She will let you enter anyway…I will make it my business to see she lets you enter you anyway.

Meanwhile, Valynne’s contest is still open, and she’s (surprise!) giving away books too!  And if by chance you can’t personally attend the conference, all is not lost!  You can still enter in myriad ways (not radio-contest ways, like sitting on a block of ice or swimming in Jello.  Much easier ways).

And, of course, Brodi’s contest.  Sign up for the conference, and you will likely win one of five…wait for it…free books!

Now, to add to the fun, I am also having a contest!  This is my first official contest/giveaway on this blog.  Not that I’ve ever unofficially given anything away on this blog.  Truth be told, I’m pretty cheap, so giving away awesome things like brand-new books?  Um, why would I do that?

For WIFYR, of course.  I’m doing it all for WIFYR.

I bet you can’t guess that my prizes are…

An autographed copy of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES.   I bought this copy at the Salt Lake City BEAUTIFUL CREATURES  launch party and had authors Kami Garcia and Margy Stohl sign it to NO ONE lest I ever hold a contest.  Now the day has come.

An autographed copy of THE DARK DIVINE by fellow member of  The SIX Bree Despain.

An autographed copy of PRINCESS FOR HIRE by Lindsey Leavitt, which isn’t even officially out yet.  I know a guy.

Of course, winners can also choose an autographed copy of my own THE WAY HE LIVED, if they so desire.  And, you know, it’s cheaper for me.

To be one of the FOUR winners in this very generous contest (with equally generous prizes):

–Leave a comment showing your support (of WIFYR, The SIX, me personally–it doesn’t much matter) +1

–Blog, Facebook, Tweet about this contest and conference +2 each

–Register for the full conference and tell me in the comments +10

–Register for the full conference AND register for Emily Wing Smith’s workshop (again, NOT shameless self-promotion; I saw Valynne was doing it and wanted to be like her)  +15

Ticket to Ride, or “Train” as it is affectionately known by the Friday-night Train group consisting of me, Daniel, my sister Juliana and bro-in-law Reo.

The best part of Train is when two players build on parallel tracks and call out “Train Buddies!”

As you might have guessed, this is not actually a rule.  In fact, I doubt anyone else does it.  But in our group it’s a long standing tradition.

I was reminded of Train Buddies when a picture surfaced from YA writer extraordinaire  and French-fry sharing-BFF Sarah Ockler.

This photo was taken at lunch one day during last year’s National Council for Teachers of English convention in Philadelphia, and it is full-color proof that I am, indeed, BFFs with Rebecca Stead, this year’s Newbery medalist.  If you’ll direct your eyes to the back row, from left to right, you will see famous authors Rebecca Stead, Sarah Ockler, and then ME!  On the bottom row, David Macinnis Gill, Jo Knowles, and of course, Sara Zarr (who is my friend in real life, so she doesn’t really count.   Let’s get back to the imaginary friends, shall we?)

Now, you might think that we were all eating lunch on a train, because, you know, why else would this picture of buddies remind me of  Train Buddies?  Alas, this picture was taken at one of those boring stationary restaurants.

The picture reminded me of Train Buddies because I took the train from my hotel to the conference every day, and it ended up being one of the best parts of the trip.   Unlike my imaginary buddies at this table, who likely don’t remember my name, my buddies from the train…well, they probably don’t remember my name either.  But we did get to bond over  our jaunt into the city.

I met two English-teachers from Arizona who taught at an almost entirely Spanish speaking school.  I met a girl from SoCal who was following Phish on their comeback tour.  I met a local who worked for the fine state of PA, who was one of the most gracious, caring women I’ve ever known.  I met a teacher from Ohio who knew all about Mormonism–because of what she had learned in a scrapbooking magazine!

Too bad it’s so abnormal to take pictures of the inside of a train car.  I’d love a picture of those buddies most of all.