6 posts tagged “mensa”

Irish and I got to spend Sunday afternoon doing something kind of fun and unusual: we judged an essay contest.

Our Mensa chapter (and I think all Mensa chapters, as well as the regional and national organizations) gives out scholarship money, and every year there is an essay contest.  We set aside $4,000 for scholarships to be given out, but only advised that there was a top prize of $1,000.

After judging the (only) 16 essays we received, we determined a top prize winner.  That winner scored 274 out of a possible 300 points.  The second place winner, with 260 points, will receive $500.  No other prizes were awarded since the pool of applicants was so small, and the depth of essays was so shallow.

Some notes to future essay contestants:

• Read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter.  The second place finisher would have been closer in points to the first place finisher had he or she double spaced the essay.  The only reason the essay was even considered was because of the lack of entries.
• Proofread your copy.  Check for misspelled words and weird grammar choices.  Read it aloud, if you have to.  Errors become more apparent when spoken.
• Learn proper semicolon usage.  I cannot tell you the amount of people who would just randomly throw in a semicolon.  It was perplexing.
• After you proofread let someone else read it.  Not your grandma, or your little brother.  Choose a trusted friend with good grades in English, or a teacher or adviser.  This is imperative.
• Be sure to have a strong thesis statement.  Many of the essays we read were well written and grammatically correct, they just weren't clear in their statement.
• The opening is key.  Don't be cliche.  Really think about what you're writing.  One of the essays I judged started out "I have always believed that my future was very important."  Um, duh?  I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit when I read that.
• Enter! Enter! Enter!  Even if it's a small amount of money to the winner, every little bit helps.  The winner of our contest can do anything he or she wants with the money: buy books, pay tuition, have a big party, whatever.

It was fun.  The lady of the house where we judged the essays prepared an Italian feast and we all had a great time.  Plus, we gave out some cash to a couple of deserving students.

Irish told me that he got an e-mail from the proctor of the last Mensa exam - 7 of our 8 testers passed.  That's pretty amazing!

I love love love the car.  Seriously.  I took my boss, a coworker and a vendor to lunch in it the other day and they were all very impressed.

My last car impressed people with it's high mileage and obvious lack of style. 

It's been a long week.  I'm glad it's finally the weekend, and we're that much closer to Thanksgiving.

Kinda feels like Thanksgiving isn't coming here, eh?  What with all the Christmas decorations and all.

I really should NaNoWriMo.  I guess it's not too late.  We'll see.

Saturday was National Testing Day for Mensa.  Nearly every chapter in the US was having testing on the same day, with supposedly lots of publicity.

Irish and I went to help out with testing.  We had 12 people signed up, but only 8 showed, and one of those didn't pre-register.  I worked the desk, taking money and registrations.  Irish helped out in the testing area.

One of the nicest things about the whole day was that our publications officer showed up to help out.  She and I have been communicating by e-mail for several months now, and we've talked on the phone once.  We finally got to meet in person and she is really just so nice.

In Oklahoma people are very warm and friendly.  Generally after just a couple of meetings you can feel like family with someone else.  There are always lots of hugs.  I've missed that.

She came up and hugged me first thing, and we chatted like old friends the whole time we were there.  It felt good to meet someone so genuinely nice.  Quite a few of my experiences with people in this Mensa chapter have been not-so-nice.

Another thing I am doing to improve my mood is taking vitamins.  I have them around, I just forget to take them, so I filled up my pill organizer and put it by the alarm clock.  I've also added St. John's Wort to my regimen.  We'll see how that works.

Anyway, time to get dressed for work (what? naked blogging again??).  Have a nice day! 

I forgot to mention another thing about Sunday that was good...

I finished not one, but two articles for the local Mensa newsletter.  I've been asked to do movie reviews.  I did one way back in May, but none since.  I finally did one for Little Miss Sunshine yesterday morning after my swim.

I also had been thinking for a week or two about an article relating to my profession.  I had written most of it longhand at work a couple of weeks ago, and had been carrying the scribbles in my dayplanner.  I got it all typed in and formatted, added a few last minute details (like a beginning and an end) and submitted it for review.

It feels good to write.  Writing is my ultimate goal.  I'd like to stay at home and homeschool my kids, and still be able to make the money I'm making now (or better yet - more) by freelance writing.  It is completely doable, I just need to do it.  The Mensa newsletter is a volunteer gig, but at least I have something published, which is a good first step.

The other good news is the Dallas Cowboys won last night.  It's not as sweet a victory as when the Sooners win, but it's a good step in the healing process from Saturday.

This week is jam-packed with activity, culminating in a plane trip on Saturday morning to finally see some of my family after 7 months, especially my nephew (who doubles as my Godson).  If I can't go back to Oklahoma, I'll settle for Texas.  The midwest calls to my heart in the fall. 

I was meant to be up this early to go swim.  I managed to get up, but the pool held no appeal.  This little blinking box did, though.  I'm working out my brain.  Do we get activity points for that?

What was the last game you played?

I played a game called "Palabra" at the Mensa World Gathering.  It's way fun.  You can check it out here: http://www.palabragame.com/

I liked it so much I even bought it while I was there!  I haven't unwrapped it since, because Irish doesn't have any use for card games in good weather, so... who wants to come play with me?

What magazines do you subscribe to, and why?

Jane.  It used to be Sassy, and then it wasn't anymore.  I still like it.

Allure.  I am a makeup fanatic and this is a good magazine for it.

Mensa Bulletin.  It comes with the membership.

Weight Watchers Magazine.  I'm a Weight Watchers girl.

Magazines I read regularly:

Mademoiselle

Cosmopolitan

Glamour