KO: Hobbies

Racing through the Glass Ceiling

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:09:57 GMT

It wasn't all that long ago when I dreamt of racing Indy Cars in the bigs, or at the very least, being a big shot pit mechanic to my very own Paul Newman Racing Team. I loved Robert Redford more, but Paul Newman was okay by me, and was just coming onto the racing circuit. Yes, it was grade 10. It was a year of transition, a year of hope, and the year that we would finally get our driver's license!! We had the chance to launch our new found adolescent selves out into the community, and to be all that we could be while doing it.

I had always had this strange fascination with mechanics, both the verb and the noun (especially with 'Cute', as a prefix) and thought what better 'work experience' could there be, than that of learning to work on, and around, car engines. Off I went to the friendliest service station of which I knew, only to be accepted as a Gas Jockey - the first female one that I had ever seen in our neighbourhood (circa 1980).

For six months I peered over the chief mechanics shoulder and listened to all of their non-stop cat calls as a hot driver drove up to the pumps in a hot car. Soon, I was doing flat repairs, and oil changes, and tire rotations, and while those things were interesting, I wanted to take apart an engine from top to bottom, just to understand how the whole damn thing worked. I had this inate need to know how it all worked together!

Enter my brother's 20 year-old girlfriend, who happened to have a 1968 Toyota Corona that she would sell to me for 200 dollars. Even if it didn't run, this was a steal, as it would soon provide an extra room in the driveway where I would install the best sound system known to a 15 year-old (probably from London Drugs), followed by stapling black diamond-tec fabric to all of the door panels and interior roof. The bonus in the whole deal, was that I could easily take apart the engine and be no worse for wear. Hell, I wasn't even legal to drive yet!

I had had the car about a week, when the sound system was completed, and the whole neighbourhood grew to embrace my favourite rock - Journey's Don't stop Believing rocked on for hours on end, as I carefully removed each delicate part from under the hood. The car was the perfect size for me and the little four cylinder engine housed all the pieces that I could easily reach, unscrew, and dismantle. I was just a small town girl, living in a lonely world, and this car was quickly becoming my obsession.

That was until my Dad arrived into my 'shop' (allocated mine by the lack of any other car currently in it), and began chanting, "What in the hell are you doing? How are you going to get all those parts back together? What is the matter with you?" It seemed to go on for hours, this incessant berating, maybe because I was only 15, maybe because I was a girl, or maybe just because he didn't have an inkling toward any of it, therefore no one else could. Maybe he was right. Maybe I couldn't do it. It wasn't long after that when I traded my little project in, all broken yet sort of still running. I gave up. I stopped believing.

This past weekend, Danica Patrick won the Japanese Indy 300- the first woman ever to win a professional race. After the race, she spoke of what she had to endure as a female, mentored by her racing father, where the whole family believed in her and supported her, and where she was constantly taunted by the men in the racing circles. She was only 16 years old, when she began her racing career in England; another lonely adolescent, listening to all of the boorish cat calls, and hoping that she would one day prove her critics wrong, 'living just to find emotion'. Finally she would arrive on the Indy stage as a 23 year old, and have to wait 49 Professional Indy starts before she could finally say that she had made it. "I wanted to be a race car driver so badly that everything I had to go through was just part of the process," she told the Chicago Tribune. Some will win, some will lose. Some are born to sing the blues....but you ain't one of them. Don't stop believing, and I will keep you on my 'shop' wall for inspiration!!

Devil's Bridge

Thu, 24 May 2007 19:08:52 GMT

One of the great tendencies in life is the fact that people are driven to move. Call it nomadic. Call it restless. Call it what you will. People, by their very nature, love to move, to explore, to discover, even when a piece of them just wants to lay by the pool.

It was such a time, recently, in Sedona, when the crazy notion of hiking up a mountain took hold while searching for shade in a 105 degree heat. The plan was concocted that if we would start early enough, the heat would just be reaching the untennable mark when the hike was completed.

Off we went, 10 liters of water and Gatorade in hand, 4 people crammed in to our rented 2 door Mustang with a 4" chassis clearance, up and over the bumpiest dirt road never to be used by a 4 by 4. After bottoming out on almost every crevice the foresty path had to offer, we landed at the trailhead, backed into a rock while parking, marking with authority our exit from the cramped quarters that our pseudo all wheel drive offered.

The start of the hike was meandering amid a large trail, almost a road, displaying various forms of cacti and lizards for our touring enjoyment. As we approached Devil's Bridge, we were cast into a refrigerated cavern prior to embarking the steep, rock layden stairs that would continue up for several hundred meters. We paused in the cavern, marveling at how the temperature could change so dramatically in only a recess of 10 or 12 feet. The shade felt good; the cool rock enveloped us, helping us quickly recharge for the huge ascent that lay ahead. As we emerged from the cooler to begin our descent, the sun hit our backs with knife like shards, one by one, the stabbing heat sucked the energy from our balancing, spf 45 protected, legs as we climbed rock by rock, hand hold by hand hold.

At the top of the nature made staircase, we saw the bridge and the precarious way that it balanced between two larger more formidable rocks. The crack down the middle of it served as a reminder, that while it looked cool, you may want to think twice about crossing.

The heat, the thirst, the unbelievable red view served as a reminder that we are only mortal, insignificant specs in the universe, and every chance where we can take a glimpse, and a feel, at splendor, we should.

More ENTP

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:34:46 GMT

The Day of Magical Thinking

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 17:14:20 GMT

Positive energy seems to flow through all of us, at different times, within various circumstances, with the ultimate goal of actually binding us closer to each other. At the time of occurrence, we scratch our collective heads, and question the meanings and the purpose of the lesson, but when all is said and done, it is the journey - with EACH other - that is the lesson.

If we channel our own positive energy, realizing that all energy is capable of changing, we may just find enough magic to transpose our day into something mystical; something bigger and better than we were expecting.

Keeping with the theme

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:59:47 GMT

The Enneagram is another popular personality typer, if you are so inclined.

http://www.authenticenneagram.com/determine_your_type.html

I am a 7 with an 8 Wing....Of course these descriptions show healthy and not so healthy examples. Stress and hardship can turn many a great attribute into a bad one!!

SEVEN on the Enneagram:

When healthy, Sevens with an 8 wing are often generous, gregarious and expansive. Tend to be exceptionally loyal to their friends, especially when social subtype. Leap aggressively to the defense of those they care for. Might seem loud or boisterous although some are urbane and witty. Enjoy social celebrations, storytelling, jokes, food and travel. Generally have a strong self-confidence for worldly matters and getting what they want. Talent for making something out of nothing - entrepreneurial. Usually share what they have when healthy, want everyone to enjoy their sense of bounty and wide range of interests. When more entranced, they may be demanding, displaying a selfish impatience and a self-justifying narcissism. May want what they want right now. Aggressive, hasty drive to acquire money and material options and recognition. Can demand that the people in their lives say only what the Seven wants to hear - sugarcoated truth. Lash out angrily if reality doesn't meet their expectations; sometimes vengeful. Often perfectionistic as parents (low side of 1). Moralize to others and then are themselves irresponsible. Amnesia for promises made in an expansive moment. Particular difficulty with sexual fidelity. <not sure about that last one!! K >

ENTP to the Core!

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:21:17 GMT

What can I say? I have a hobby. It has actually lasted 6 or 7 years now, probably only because of the fact, I can do it at leisure wherever I am with whomever I want, as long as I am around people. AND because I am an ENTP, chances are that I will be mostly with people. :)

It is Myers Briggs Personality Typing. Coined over 100 years by Isabelle Myers, it is a way to 'type' people. While I find this fun and interesting to do with others, I find it even more 'revealing' when analyzing myself. In 90% of the cases, one can actually start to predict actions. The quickest and easiest (and free) 'test' to find out your own personality type is to go to: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp .

ENTPs are pretty rare (go figure). Especially in females.

Extraverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Perceiving

"Clever describes ENTPs best. They deal imaginatively with social relationships as well as physical and mechanical relationships. They are alert to what is apt to occur next, and sensitive to possibilities. ENTPs are the engineers of human relationships and human systems.

Verbally as well as cerebrally quick, ENTPs enjoy arguing: for its own sake, and to show off their impressive verbal skills. They often have a perverse sense of humour, and play devil's advocate regardless of consequence. They sometimes confuse, even hurt, those who cannot understand the concept of argument as a sport.

Innovative and ingenious at problem-solving, they sometimes manage to outsmart themselves. ENTPs have been known to cut corners without regard to the rules if it's expedient - or it might be the collapse of an over-ambitious juggling act.

ENTPs are optimists. They tend to regard problems as personal challenges, and have little patience with those they consider wrong or unintelligent. However, they are often extremely genial and quite charming, when not being harassed by life in general.

Good at analysis, especially functional analysis, ENTPs have a tolerance for, and enjoyment of the complex. Enthusiastic, ENTPs are apt to express interest in everything, and thus unwittingly inspire others who find themselves caught up in an ENTP idea. The ENTP is the most reluctant of all types to do things in a traditional manner.

Non-conformists, ENTPs enjoy outwitting the system and use rules and regulations within the system to win the game - whatever it may be. ENTPs are good at innovative projects and can administer them well if dull routine is not involved. For ENTPs to be manipulated by another is humiliating.

During youth, the ENTP may be diagnosed with a variety of ailments and conditions which often emerge as a lack of intellectual engagement. Boredom is the bane of the junior ENTP. Generally immature until their late 30s or early 40s, the young ENTP is a socially awkward animal since they rarely fit in with the herd, and require 40 years to comprehend why this is and what to do about it.

Great friends or silent adversary; Court jester or Builder of bridges, the ENTP is difficult to overlook."