MEIN KLEIN SHREKHUND

Which, is to say, my sweet little dog, aka Ol Wheezy, aka Chubbers, aka Bear, aka Piggy, aka Little Bitch, aka Mein Klein Shrekhund, otherwise known as Attila.

Attila came into my life by pure happenstance, also by a mother who could not knowingly leave a tiny four-week old 1/2 chihuahua 1/2 poodle mix with a family that would most certainly destroy it within two months (and if they didn't, the busy highway feet from their front stoop most surely would have).

I came home one day (not too long after moving back from new york) to find my mother sitting on a chair, saying, "well, I've either done a very wonderful thing or a really terrible thing...either way, you've got a dog now b/c [your father] will kill me if I bring a new dog into this house."

The next day she and I went to pick up this adorable little puppy dog.* This tiny black bundle of fur fit snuggly into the palm of my hand (literally) and I lost my heart to him. All sorts of motherly-type instincts kicked in while caring for this too-small to be believed puppy. Of course, with good comes bad, and I spent several months not going too far from home and countless times cleaning up my puppy's waste, and all the little things he'd chew on, and listening for him to see if he was either A: using the bathroom somewhere in the house or B: chewing up something he shouldn't be. (Needless to say, all the bad re-confirmed my decision to [hopefully] remain childless.)

Attila remained nameless for a few weeks while I tried to come up with something clever that suited his personality. One night I took him to a bonfire-gathering my friends were having to celebrate their graduation/going away from our tiny close-minded town and one of them picked him up after hearing me tell about how this five pound dog is somehow managing to knock over his little gate in the hallway and said, "well, you're just like Attila-the-Hun is all!" And preceded to inform me that the all-conquering Hun was a fairly small-sized man. (I want to say around 4'5'' but it could be 5'2''....I don't remember anymore) and the name stuck to my sweet and yet very destructive puppy-dog.


Attila is a wonderful little doggie. He's really not all the bright, but he's so sweet, it makes up for it. The dog has no concept of stranger, it's simply "FRIEND!!!" or "POTENTIAL FRIEND!!!" he even likes other dogs too, but if there's too many of them he'll go far away from the rough play and just watch them (to be fair, most of my friend's dogs are larger-sized breeds) and occasionally run into the fray to chase and be chased and then run back to his little spot and continue watching.

He's traveled from my parent's house to the shitty apartment complex I lived in while I finished college, back to my parent's house, and now to the house SO and I live in. He such a great little dog that wants nothing more than to have his belly rubbed all day long. His favourite words are, "want a bellyrub?" (and he'll fall onto his back and spread his legs, the little whore) and "alright, let's get a treat!" (to which, he'll make a beeline for the kitchen and sit in front of the shelf where he knows his treats are kept).

I could write so much on my little Attila, how his fur grows out until he's just this black cottonball that runs around my house, or how he loves to "talk" to us in the morning, or how whenever he's playing "rope" he'll growl as he pulls. . . . .so much about mein klein shrekhund, but I must quit here for now.

*I SWEAR! As soon as I get my computer, I plan on posting lots and lots of superfluous pictures of everything around me. (I feel like a terrible photographer, to have a blog and not a single picture posted).

The Shining, Fahrenheit 451, and Siddhartha

Due to lack of my own computer (hopefully, not for long!) and SO having no desire as yet to posess one, my blogging is lacking. Also, I meant this to be a blog with an occasional book review to keep up with my readings; however it's seemed to turn into a book review with occasional spurts of life-blogging. I promise to write a non-book-related blog very soon.
With the short amount of time I've got, here are three books in one post that I've read over the past couple of weeks:


The Shining by Stephen King
I admit, that I'm not a willing fan of Stephen King's work...but it's like a friend of mine says, "he writes so much, that he's bound to write some truly great books...and some really awful pieces of shit as well." This book was surprisingly very good, and also very scary.
I love the movie, LOVE IT. One of my favourites. The book doesn't even come close to the movie. Cannot even conceive of the movie. You learn so much more about the Torrance family, about little Danny and about the history of the hotel. There are parts in it that are very Stephen King-y, which is to say a bit....unbelievable; but overall, it is an extremely good book. And unlike most book-movie combinations this one did not affect my opinion of the other. They are so similar, and yet still so very different, that there is nothing for me to be upset about (surprising, huh?).


Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This is one of those books that everybody is supposed to have read, and yet I somehow managed to go through my entire school and college career without ever picking it up.
I've read a lot of distopias, and even more general fiction novels. And quite honestly, I thought this book was mediocre. I can see why it is required literature for middle and high schoolers, the whole point being that nobody reads any more and it becomes the law for no one to own any books. But to me, this book was on par with a creative essay from a college student about the ignorance of society. Plus, I have a hard time labeling a book as a distopia when it ends with hope. The man character's name is Guy, which I consider a throwback to Everyman--which also equals great amounts of cheese to me. Everything about this book just seemed so very corny to me, with the exception of the title (if it's true), I love that the title of the book is the temperature at which books will burn.
As a side note, there was a movie made in 1966, but I've not watched it and there are rumors that a new Fahrenheit movie will begin filming sometime next year. (Which, a movie about a book, that is about how people watch tv/movies instead of reading is terribly ironic.)


Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Also, this is one of those books that people just assume that I've read--especially after I tell someone a little bit about my beliefs. I've never read a damn word of the thing until a few days ago. This is a book about eastern philosophies during the time of the Buddha written by a Swiss (some say German) poet in the 1950s. Although very simplistic in its writing style, the book presents a pretty good overview of the eastern way of religious thought--kind of like an Eastern Doctrines for Dummies. Or it's perhaps mine and my sister's fascination with all religions that make the explanations seem so simplistic to me.
The book follows Sidhartha (the main character) throughout his adult life as he tries to find an explanation for why we are on earth. He studies and learns from everybody he meets and eventually realizes that the Self he is trying to escape in order to find the bigger meaning, is actually what life is all about.
Overall, I thought it was a pretty decent little book (a novella? perhaps it could be called) and would definitely recommend it for anybody trying to find some sort of faith to follow.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

After reading two pretty serious books, I decided to go with something significantly lighter. Now, I've read this book before, but it was a long time ago and it is so very funny.
Two famous sci-fi authors collaborated for this hilarious account of the end of times. There are many points of view narration throughout the book. The characters in the book are really magnificent. There is the demon Crowley who also happens to have started out as the tempter-snake at the beginning of times, his enemy/friend-if-you-can-call-it-that-since-they've-been-together-since-the-beginning-of-time is the flaming sword wielding (or did until he gave it to the first two humans) angel Aziraphale. There is the antichrist, whose misplacement is what the plot is set around, a phophetess and a few witch-hunters. The story is takes place in mondern-day England (or rather, by some dated references, mid-90s England). There are so very many funny quips throughout the who book, that I'd really hate to give it away by giving any examples. The book is also full of footnotes, about the character's past or in one case, "for any Americans who happen to be reading this" to explain some English traits.
One of my favourite parts is how they managed to modernize the Biblical apocalypse. The four horsemen of the apocalypse are actually, two men, one woman, and Death, and pestilance has been replaced by the significantly younger and quipier (word?) Pollution; oh yes, and they ride motorcycles instead of horses.
Without giving away all the funny bits, or the end of the book. Suffice to say that it is a wonderfully funny little book.
(oh, yes, and for nearly a decade, Terry Gilliam [wonderful work!] has shown great interest in directing the movie)

BLINDESS by JOSE SARAMAGO

I finished this book awhile ago, but we've been so busy lately, that I've hardly had any time at all to sit down and write a review. So, I apologize for the brevity.

Blindness was fantastic--no wonder it won a nobel prize for literature.
It took me a couple of days to get used to the phrasing in the book. Saramago hardly ever used any line breaks (means no paragraphs AT ALL) and apparently the period is the only punctuation mark that he likes.
Which means most of the book reads like this:

How can blindness be contagious. No one has ever heard of anything like
this. A white blindness. It doesn't make any sense.
Who's there. It's only me. Do not worry. How can you ask me not to worry. I cannot stand this.

But after awhile I grew used to it, I had no idea how easily I read conversations because they were separated by breaks, or the inflections I read to myself depended not on the words in the book, but the punctuation marks at the end of the sentences.

The book is so good. It's about a white blindness that spreads throughout the country and what happens to people when they must start living like animals. The only one left with any sight is the wife of the eye doctor that examined the first man who went blind.
Also, hardly anybody has a name in the books, when they are referred to, it's by description "the first blind man's wife, the taxi driver," etc.
The way Saramago is able to describe everything through the eyes of the doctor's wife, and some of the terrible things that she is forced to witness is truly amazing.
More boggling is the state of the human mind as people are forced to start behaving like animals, and through it all, it is so very realistic. Not once did I think, 'no. people wouldn't act like that.' Instead, I questioned what I would have done had this happened to me and my family. The terrifying thought throughout the book is not that people are blind, it's that EVERYBODY is blind. The old, the young, the politicians, the workers; it's not as if you went blind and people could help you out--the world is blind. Nobody can see where he/she is going, or where he/she has been, some people went blind while driving, others while cooking, some while sleeping. It's a really fantastic thought.

This book is currently in production of becoming a movie. I have some doubts as to how this is going to transfer into film, but I think, in the right hands, it could turn out really well.

so absolutely exhausted.

I've been working the camera job regularly all month (and am WAY excited about the ridiculous money I'm getting from it) plus working the other job full time, and now we've finally got that house (!!!) and we've been spending what very little free time either of us have fixing it up. Today, I'm going in to paint the ceiling in the bathroom, and rip out some carpet (so everyone can see our GORGEOUS wood floor that some heathen covered up with ugly beige berber) before going in to work.
Wish me luck!

.......shhhh......

I think we may get the house!

....I'm so excited, but I'm terrified I'm going to jinx it.

busy busy like a bee...

To think that I've spent so many months with just my substitute job--which, by definition, is not steady work. It took so long for me to find a job that I thought I'd be happy with for several years and I find two almost immediately next to each other.

My luck with finding a job was so terrible that I thought nothing of applying to several places at the same time--and lo! I recieve two jobs that I really like at the same time!! TWO! The work is fun, they don't mind my camera job and I really liked my co-workers (my priorities in finding a job).

However, I've had to choose, and I chose the one where more money was offered, more strict scheduling was available, and where sneakers were not required.

AND I LOVE IT!!!

(plus, look at me, on the internet on company time.....you know, because nothing needs doing at this moment)



Next on the list, FIND A HOUSE!!!! ....or rather, keep on looking for one as we've been searching since July.

Autumn!

When I walked outside my house this morning at 10:30, the air was...cold. Overnight, east tennessee became eveloped in autumn's cool breezes. Although it signaled the end of my favourite season, and the return of that old dreaded winterness, I smiled at the chill.
I love autumn, the ability to drink my coffee outside without burning up, the boxes of old sweaters and cardigans that I've been collecting for a few years.
Although my weeks are busy with three jobs right now, I had a brief respite of happiness as I shivered in the morning wind.

For my friend:

How strange it is to me, that we've known each other for many years and yet somehow are only now becoming close. Perhaps neither of us were in the right place before; you, being too lost in your sadness; me, being way too judgmental and thereby unaccepting of most people.
And yet, we've somehow finally decided to "get together outside of parties" and discovered how wonderful we are together. I want you to know, I'd given up ever finding a female friend I can be close too--anytime I met someone with whom I'd manage to connect, they (or I) would inevitably move away; as is my personality, and the type to which I'm also attracted.
I know you're nervous about tonight (and who wouldn't be?) and I know that you'll do fine; in fact, your slight nervousness might make your already stellar performance, WAY above par.
But, I want to send happy thoughts for you out into the world, especially for tonight.

I think you're wonderful, not because you're so talented but because you open yourself up to let everyone see inside, regardless of however they'll take it.
I think you're strong, not because of how much you've been through, but because you're still willing to give people a chance despite the past.
I think you're lovely, but not because you are beautiful, but because you've somehow, against all odds, have been able to maintain your fragility.
And, I delight in your friendship, not because you are so wanted, but because something in you decided to open up to something in me.

And, I wish I could be there tonight to watch you blow thousands of people away, and to see you afterwards and help you gather yourself back together after draining your soul for them. But you will do wonderful, as you always do.
And I will see you tomorrow.

Bat Boy to Terrorize No More

Reading my back issues of TIME, I've discovered a very small albeit very sad fact. The Weekly World News is no longer in business.

Grocery store trips of my childhood were spent reading all the headlines from the tabloid rack--and the WWN was my favourite. It provided funny, just barely believable stories, with amazingly fake photographs. But my favourite part was that it was run in black-and-white, and it never changed. As I grew older I watched all the other tabloids begin to focus only on the celebrity gossip, but the consistancy of the WWN is probably what ended up killing it too.

It was a small milestone in our culture's history. It was a punchline in Men In Black, it pushed the story in So I Married an Axe Murderer, but my favourite, and it's biggest influence, is the wonderfully weird, surprisingly funny play, Bat Boy!: The Musical. (And anyone who's not seen this production should find a showing as soon as possible.)

What I did learn from that article was the interesting beginning of WWN, from the Time magazine from Aug. 27, '07, article by Joel Stein:

"The Weekly World News first appeared in
1979, when the National Enquirer went colour and the only thing the
publisher could think of doing with the black-and-white priting press was to run
all the joke stories his editors came up with to entertain
themselves."

Which is about the best way to beigin a newspaper as I've ever heard.

Alas, good-bye Weekly World News. I'll miss seeing you from the check-out line.

...I wish I had known, I would have bought my first and last copy of the WWN.

mmmmmmm...

Baby and I made some impromtu sushi for supper.

and it was SOO GOOOODDD!!!!!

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, by mark haddon

Haddon's book about a 15-year old with Asperger's Disorder, a form of autism, is very well written.
The book can be somewhat taxing however as the entire novel is read through the narrative of the child. Most every conversation goes like this:

"Mrs. Anderson said, this...
Then I said, this...
Mrs. Anderson nodded and said, this...
I didn't answer because it wasn't a question.
Then Mrs. Anderson said, this...
And I said, this..."

And the entire story is interspersed with mathmatical puzzles that we can watch the protaganist work out, some for a class, some for his own particular method of calming down, mainly used as his method for understanding the world.
Haddon writes from years spent working with autistic children when he was younger. According to some articles, those with Asperger's Disorder thought his depiction was inaccurate; however, people who have worked with autistic children found the behaviour to be well described.

But overall, the book was extremely interesting. I loved being able to see very simple things through the eyes of this kid. Everything he did and thought was so precise. Everything had to be absolutely logical or he couldn't understand it. If someone told him to "come inside or you'll catch your death." He would have no clue what they meant, he would have to be told, "come inside or you could potentially get a very bad sickness."
About 3/4 of the way through the book, I began to doubt my own loopiness. This kid is so straight. Everything has to have an answer. Everything. Perhaps I'm just floating around out there, not paying close enough attention to everything, not noticing any details in the world around me, missing so very very much in my daily scenes. Within a chapter, I'd managed to come back down to reality and began to admire this kid for doing what he does, despite his limitations (see me, trying to make a point without giving away storyline).
There are rumours out there that the rights to the book have been purchased and the ever-elusive they are working on a screenplay. I cannot comprehend how this book will be turned into a movie. The only hope this book-to-movie story would have is if it stays with an independent film company; so much of this entire book takes place inside this kid's head.
I'd recommend this book to just about anybody, especially if you're in the mood for something different from the common novel.

cold-blooded

Am I too unforgiving? Do I have a hole where my heart should be? Am I unfeeling? Do I expect people to live up to unrealistic expectations?

My answer to these questions is no. But I am asked, or told, these same lines somewhat regularly. Perhaps it's a generational thing, because one of the few things I agree with my father is how the majority of my generation seem to be full of lazy, spoiled people.
It is tragic that I have come into contact with so many people who have died at a very young age. Rather, it is tragic for their families. Because even though I have seen a lot of people die before they hit 30 years old, not a single one of these people died because of some terrible illness, or tragic accident. Every single one of them died because of their own stupidity.
I'm a firm believer in the survival of the fittest. Evolution is at work even now. We no longer have to hunt our own food and figure out how we're going to survive any harsh winters. But there are still ways to cull the idiotic from the pack.
Have you seen the movie Idiocracy? It is one of my great fears. SO laughed his ass off watching this movie, I thought it was too true to be funny. This movie is a satiric glimpse into the future of our world--all the intelligent people have died off, leaving the most average Joe in today's world as the most intelligent man in that future. The language is a mixture of "Thug" and "Valley Girl" and everyone is overweight, sloppy, and basically pure trash. Go and watch it if you're in for a scare.
But this year, I've seen so many people that I am very distantly connected to die off because of stupidity. And, although it may sound harsh, I'm glad that Spencer's (or Darwin's, as there is debate) theory of human survival is still true.
Instead of being killed off by Mastodons, Mountain Lions, or harsh weather, we are now being knocked aside by drunk driving and an inability to follow common sense laws.
Every single person I'm thinking of has died because he or she refused to wear a seatbelt, while driving or in a car, and/or got into a car and drove away while drunk and/or under the influence of a narcotic. People are dying because they are riding motorcycles or bicycles without a helmet; because they think it'd be fun to climb a really high cliff or tree and jump into a not-so-very-wide or deep river. This is all we have left to extract those from our civilization who should not procreate.
I do not believe in helmet laws. I do not believe in seatbelt laws. I do not believe in "Sharp Turn, slow down" signs. I do not believe in handing out free condoms. I do not believe in warning labels on cigarettes. If you are dense enough to partake in any activity where the potential consequences are known, then you deserve what you get.

There. I said it.

Recent Studies Indicates that Cancer is Linked to ...EVERYTHING!

Yes. Cancer is a terrible terrible disease. My family's lost many people to it, as has SO's family. In fact, most of my friends have several members of their family battling or lost to cancer. It is the awful terrible monster that's slowing consuming everyone.
And although there are many many things that are linked undoubtedly to cancer--Tabacco, I'm looking right at you--there are so very many things that are only hypothesese.
For instance, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070905/ap_on_he_me/popcorn_lung_consumer
This is a new report that links a certain powdered chemical that's in microwave popcorn to lung cancer. And in the report, they state that they have no proof whatsoever that the powder is the link, but that they can find no other "plausible explanation" for this man having lung cancer--oh, by they way, he's worked in the microwave popcorn factory most of his life, AND he admits to eating a few bags of microwave popcorn DAILY. Perhaps this man just doesn't lead a healthy lifestyle...hmmm?
But it's not just this, if you search a news engine for "links to cancer" you will find that cancer has been linked to many many things--including, some anti-aging hormones, hair dyes, antiperspirant chemicals, sugar, most cosmetics, some GM food products, oral sex, obesity, too much iron and/or calcium, cell phone radiation, microwave radiation, chronic heartburn/acid reflux, biotech milk, some child antibiotics, the general daily "Western" diet (red meats, fatty foods, refined grains, etc. etc. ), most household chemicals, exposure to gasoline and gasoline fumes, even fear is now linked to cancer in some studies; oh, yes, and grilling your food is also under scrutiny.
Basically, there is so much potential cancer floating around out there, you're much safer being alone-because now even sex is under suspicion-in your very messy home, staying nude and unclean, and not touching/talking to anybody...and be careful what you eat and how you cook it, well, best not to cook it at all.
I'm all about a healthy lifestyle, but there comes a time when "the fear" of illness can overcome your enjoyment of life--and be careful, because some scientists now link fear to cancer, remember.

Post #1

Don't worry, I'm not going to number all my posts. I've spent nearly two years as one of those dreaded blog lurkers and it seems the time has come to stop reading about everyone else out there, and to put at least a small part of myself into the universe. As yet, I've deicided to remain anonymous, this may change in the future, it may not, we'll just have to wait it out and see. For the first post, I thought it might be best to show any particular reader a little bit about me. So...

101 Things About Sassafrass, in no particular order:

1. I'm terribly afraid I'm known best by my significantly long, unusually pretty hair.

2. I wasn't looking/ready for a dog when I crossed paths with mein klein Shrekhund, a.k.a. 'ol Wheezy, but he's a wonderful little dog that I absolutely adore.

3. I wasn't wanting a partner when I found my SO (significant other), but he's here and he's wonderful, and I'm sure a lot of posts will be published to his many quirks.

4. One of my favourite colours is purple and one of the colours I cannot stand is blue; my sister's favourite colour is blue and she hates the colour purple...for some reason I find this to be very ironic.

5. I use Old English for a lot of my spelling, "colour," neighbour," "favourite," etc. etc. This drove many professors and english teachers up a wall while I was in school.

6. I have nearly as many cameras as my SO has guitars--needless to say, we have a lot of both.

7. I am a photographer, I minored in Art History in college.

8. SO is a musician, by hobby and by trade; he plays every type of guitar possible and most other guitar-like intstruments as well (mandolin, etc. etc.).

9. I lived in Manhattan for a year and it might have been the happiest year of my life.

10. Alas, I moved back to TN to finish college like a responsible person.

11. I am always reading. ALWAYS. I buy bags (purses, totes, ...) based on one or more books being able to fit inside along with other life necessities.

12. I'm not much of a girly girl.

13. The number 13 is one of my all-time favourite numbers.

14. I love seeing new places, but I HATE riding/driving in a car.

15. I love to fly.

16. I watch a lot of movies. A LOT. Be prepared for many references.

17. I'm the oldest of two children.

18. My younger sister is only 15 months my junior and probably the best girl-friend I'll ever have.

19. My parents have been married for 27 years, still going strong.

20. My maternal grandmother is a German immigrant.

21. My mother did not learn to speak English until she was five years old.

22. My paternal grandmother is the best example of a southern lady that I've ever come across.

23. My family is HUGE. And they are all very close. You remember the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding? I relate to her family issues very well.

24. I'm currently living back with my parents whilst SO and I search for a place to live...it has turned into a very difficult search.

25. I live in a small town outside of a decently-sized city.

26. I want to move to that city, Knoxville, very very badly, but SO must finish college first.

27. My small town, along with most of my family is EXTREMELY conservative, and mostly Southern Baptist--at the very least, Baptist.

28. I was raised as a Southern Baptist.

29. The best way to describe my current faith is deistic pagan.....but this is another post entirely.

30. The best way to describe my politics is libertarian.....but this is also due a separate post.

31. I tend to leave people alone.

32. I like to be left alone.

33. My only social cause is for the Human Rights Campaign, which is to say, mainly GLBT rights.

34. I am bi-sexual.

35. My family, with exception to my sister, does not know about my sexual orientation.

37. Most of my friends know that I'm bi.

38. I love to cook.

39. I'm one of the best cooks I know. I probably should have gone to a culinary school.

40. My parents do not approve of most of my lifestyle. But they try to be as accepting as possible.

41. As yet I have no tattoos, but I have plans for two or three already; have had those plans for many years, and am simply waiting to save enough money to get them.

42. I have two jobs that I am paid for, and one job that I hope to be paid for eventually.

43. I'm probably the black sheep of my family. Although for different reasons on each side.

44. Coffee is my drug of choice. And I partake mulitple times a day.

45. I do not drink sodas of any kind.

46. I drink alcohol occasionally, but never beer.
47. I think beer is completely disgusting. Perhaps its because the alcoholics in my family drink beer and I have many childhood associations with that smell.
48. I LOVE wine. I'm a huge wino, and if I had excess money, a significant portion would be set aside for nice wines.
49. I have a knack for remembering numbers; dates, phone numbers, addresses are easily memorized.
50. I will hardly ever remember somebody's name.
51. My friends are so very dear to me.
52. I do not have a lot of friends, I strive for quality not quantity.
53. I've spent many years trying to get rid of any negative people in my life.
54. I have an extremely low tolerance for passive-aggressive behaviour.
55. I'm extremely direct.
56. Also, very honest, never ask my opinion unless you are prepared for my answer.
57. After watching many of my friends get married, I've decided that whenever I'm finally ready to be married, we're definitely eloping.
58. I'm terrified of marriage.
59. Although, it could be a fear of settling down.
60. I never ever ever want children.
61. And don't tell me I'll change my mind. I have. I wanted four kids, then two kids, and then one. Eventually, I added up how much children cost on average and decided against every having any.
62. Some children are okay. Most are little devils, who are never disciplined.
63. If I can only visit one place before I die, I want it to be Florence, Italy.
64. I think one of my friends has governmental aspirations; I'm not sure if they extend as far as the White House or only to a seat in one of the Houses.
65. I have terrible terrible vision and it gets worse every year.
66. My mother is legally blind.
67. My family takes an annual vacation every single year to the beach, we stay on the ocean front for an entire week with a family we're very close with, who also happen to be our distant cousins.
68. Somehow, I've ended up being friends with many people in some very popular bands, nationally and regionally, some signed, some unsigned, all of different genres.
69. This works out well for me, because I've discovered that I love taking band photography.
70. I'm not an extremely friendly person. I'm not rude. Just not friendly.
71. I have never experienced an "uncomfortable silence," I prefer silence.
72. I'm an extremely good judge of character--I've never been proven wrong yet.
73. I've studied how to read people's body-language, and I do pretty well at it.
74. I am a Leo, in every sense of the word.
75. I only put a small amount of faith into astrology, I've read/met a few people that suspended my disbelief.
76. I've had several different people tell me that I have a very old soul.
77. I rarely remember my dreams. It is usually significant if I do.
78. I'm more like my mother than I care to admit.
79. I have very little patience for people who don't know who they are.
80. I never seek pity or handouts.
81. I never give pity or handouts.
82. I don't mind caring for someone who is ill, but I cannot mollycoddle them.
83. If I ever get sick (which is very rare), I prefer to be left alone.
84. I have been accused of being very selfish--and I admit that it is true.
85. I am aware of my faults and either do my best to change them, or accept them as part of me.
86. I have some slight OCD tendencies, but I do my best not to inflict them on others. I don't always succeed in this regard.
87. I'm a pretty awful speller, although perhaps not as bad as I think.
88. I have a very firm belief that my sister should have been left-handed (as my father is) and it was "taught" out of her.
89. It is beyond my physical abilities to nap--even when I really really want to do so.
90. I am one of the strongest people I know, I inherited it from my Oma who is by far the most amazing person with whom I've ever come into contact.
91. I'm 5'2'' (barely) and I love my height.
92. I'm extremely protective of my loved ones.
93. If I am yelled at, I have no problem yelling in return--ask one of my old bosses.
94. I don't recognize anybody's right to my instant respect. My respect must be earned.
95. I treat others exactly how I wish I would be treated. Always.
96. I've always wanted to dye my hair purple--or at the very least, put some bright purple streaks in it.
97. For some reason, if I put on a beanie (or winter hat) or any type of hat really, my eyes seem to grow to anime proportions.
98. Halloween is my all-time favourite holiday, I've dressed up in at least one costume every year since I was born.
99. My family's Christmas traditions are very dear to me.
100. I can be in a darkroom for several hours at a time without ever seeing or speaking to a single person, or listening to any music, and I'll be so very happy.
101. I love to eat. I'm a foodie, and I eat every few hours.