I love to read but lately I just can’t get myself to sit down and read much of an actual book in one sitting. I have tons of books I’ve bought but haven’t gotten around to reading yet. Instead I mainly just read what you’d call long form articles (like the kind on Longform), from sources like the NYT, the New Yorker, Texas Monthly, whatever. I like that they’re nonfiction and cover interesting and/or timely subjects in a quick article that takes maybe 15-20 minutes to read.

But, I still do like regular books. Some favorites would be The Perks of Being a Wallflower (it’s hard to explain how much I love this book and why), All Souls (a memoir about a guy growing up in South Boston that’s heartbreaking but also very interesting & poignant) & all of Harry Potter for fairly obvious reasons. I have a lot of favorites I’m leaving off that though.

This is kind of difficult since lately I’ve been all about getting rid of stuff/not buying stuff I don’t really need. But I suppose…

1. iPad: I just got a MacBook Air & it’s awesome, but I’d love to have an iPad too. Won’t be buying one anytime soon, but it’s something I’d gratefully accept as a gift.
2. An assortment of PS3 games: I’ve been getting back into video games, but I’m also trying to save money so I haven’t bought any new ones since I actually bought my PS3 18 months ago. Some RPGs would be very nice.

I really can’t think of anything else besides small things like a tshirt I saw at the mall or whatever or things I’d never actually buy. There’s not much worth mentioning that I feel like I need haha.

I guess I’ll say 20 because last year was the best time in my life, especially the first 8 months. At this time last year, things were pretty great. I got to spend a lot of time with my boyfriend, I didn’t have to worry too much about working & I had very little responsibility. That’s definitely changed, but I’m still very happy. I still have my boyfriend, even if we don’t get to spend nearly enough time together & even though we’re coming up on a long deployment. I have to work a lot more because I have to pay my own way more since my parents’ divorce, but I have a job, I have a house, etc. 21 probably won’t win any awards because of deployment but I’m pretty damn confident that 22 will be awesome: reuniting with Jimmy, moving to VA, graduating college (hopefully), new job, etc.

Hmm. Tough one. I’ve always thought the 60s seemed kind of nice. Not because of the hippy stuff, but in a Wonder Years way. The 80s seem like they would have been fun too, but maybe I’m just too influenced by TV because I think I’m only thinking of Freaks & Geeks.

I think it’s hard to say though because if you didn’t grow up in that time period you don’t really know what it was like. I’m sure movies & TV don’t show the whole picture. But I probably wouldn’t complain much if I was born in a Wonder Years 1960s time.

Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate & Jack’s Mannequin. I love his music so much, and my two favorite bands happen to both be fronted by him (coincidence? I think not). Andrew is just an amazingly talented artist. I relate to a lot of his songs to the point that I really want to get some kind of tattoo to symbolize them, but I haven’t been able to think of any. My sister got me into SoCo back before North came out & I’m not sure she realizes how thankful I am she introduced me to their music.

My favorite Something Corporate songs would probably be Watch the Sky, I Don’t Want A Job, Konstantine, Wait, Straw Dog, & Not What It Seems. My favorite Jack’s Mannequin songs are Swim, Hammers & Strings, Dear Jack, There There Katie, MFEO, & American Love.

My stance is good for you if you have one, but don’t shove it in my face. I was raised Catholic, did my communion & confirmation & all that. I wouldn’t say my family was very religious. We went to sunday school but we weren’t the family to sit around & discuss God or read the Bible together or whatever religious people do. I never really felt I had a relationship with God, but I did believe there was one in a passive this-is-what-I-was-told-so-I-believe-it-way.

About 2 years ago I just kind of started thinking that it was all bullshit. I think it was propelled by some personal crap but it’s not like I just up and stopped believing in God because of that. I think a significant role was actually discussing it on a forum I went to at the time. The owner was really hardcore Christian & through debating with him & others on it, it had the opposite effect of what they were trying to do. Instead of persuading me, just the act of debating it made me question it more & think about it more & ultimately reject it even more.

Unlike some people, I don’t see my lack of religion as a big part of me or anything. I don’t really like talking about or debating religion unless someone is being an absolute idiot about it. I don’t think religion is inherently wrong & still defend some aspects of Christianity & Catholicism to this day. I do actively hate the practice of trying to force one’s religion on anyone else. Gay rights issues bother me a lot not simply because I think all people should be equal, but because the concept of using religious beliefs to influence politics is absolutely disgusting to me. If your book of worship says X is bad & we shouldn’t do X, fine. Don’t do X. But don’t try to influence whether or not other people can do X simply because a book that cannot be proven as more than just fiction says so.

Anyways. As far as my family is concerned, I’m still Catholic. It’s not worth it to me to bring it up. I think it would actually hurt my mom to know I didn’t believe in God. My boyfriend shares my beliefs and feels the same way when it comes to telling his own father (who is extremely religious).

Mostly my atheism comes into play when it comes to making jokes about Jesus or assisting my man in cutting a little compartment into a bible he stole from a hotel, so he could stash a condom in there (we don’t even use condoms).

#1. Jimmy (my boyfriend): I honestly would do anything for him & feel so lucky to have him. We just “get” each other. He makes me happier than anyone else ever could & I can seriously say that he’s never made me feel bad about myself in any way. He’s just an amazing guy. I’m articulating this badly, but that’s basically it. He means the world to me.

#2. This one is hard because I can’t decide whether to pick my mom or my sister. Both are pretty significant. I mean, your mom is your mom. That’s an obvious pick. Since her & my dad decided to get a divorce things have changed a lot & while we argue more maybe, I also realize how much she’s done for me. My sister is who I’m closest to next to Jimmy. We’re 5 years apart in age, but we’ve had a good relationship for a long time. We’re good friends & while I wouldn’t say we talk about everything (still not gonna discuss my sex life with her) we’re really close.

1. Name two of the most significant people in your life and explain why.

2. What is your stance on religion? Would you affiliate yourself with any?

3. What band/musician is most important to you? Explain why.

4. If you could chose a time period to be born in, which one would it be and why?

5. At what age were you the happiest?

6. Name five things from your wish list.

7. Do you read? If so, what are your three favorite books and why?

8. If you could live anywhere, where would you live and why?

9. How old do you think you act? Explain.

10. If you could only live off of one food and one beverage for the rest of your days, what would they be?

11. What is your favorite quote? How does it relate to your life?

12. What item of clothing do you wear the most?

13. What can you not live without?

14. Name things that you do every day.

15. Who is someone you admire? Why?

16. If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do with your remaining time on earth?

17. What do you want to be when you get older? Why did you choose it?

18. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be? What would you say to them or ask them?

19. What is your favorite film? Why is it so important to you?

20. Would you consider yourself an optimist or a realist? Why?

21. Do you want children? Why or why not?

22. What subject did you exceed in at school?

23. Are you a fan of art? If so, who is your favorite artist? What artisitic movement do you prefeR?

24. How attractive do you consider yourself?

25. Would you rather date someone plain with an amazing personality or someone beautiful with a plain personality?

26. Choose two: mentally stable, intelligent, attractive. Explain why you chose those two.

27. What do you prefer: film or television>? Why?

28. If you could choose to live forever, would you? Why or why not?

29. Do you wish for anything at 11:11? If so, what do you wish for? Has anything ever come true?

30. What do you imagine your life like at age fifty?

I spent a month in Europe over the summer because my dad is stationed in Germany, so I’ve seen a lot of cool places recently. But the Amalfi Coast in Italy was definitely the most beautiful. I wish I’d taken more photos there, but I only brought my iPhone along.

Skipped this yesterday because Tumblr was being weird & I didn’t have a chance to take a picture. I’ll come back to this one at some point.

I have 2 pets, a dog and a cat.

My dog is 14 years old and we’ve had her since I was 5 (Christmas present). Her name is Princess (that’s what happens when a 5, 3, and 10 year old name a dog) and she’s a Maltese/Poodle mix. She’s pretty adorable when she isn’t begging for food/growling at me. She’s totally my mom’s dog though, and loves her the most.

My cat’s name is Gregor. He was a stray that followed my brother and my neighbor home from school (she named him Gregor because he’s grey and looks like a tiger) a few years ago. My family isn’t really into cats, but we took him in because he’s really sweet (besides his little problem with murdering lizards/birds/squirrels/moles/etc). We don’t know how old he is, but I’d guess maybe 4. The family that owned him before lived in our neighborhood and decided they didn’t want to take him with them when they moved (assholes, basically). He had a chip in his neck and the vet tried contacting them but they ignored all the messages. Apparently his previous name was Hanky lol

Not exactly sure about this one. I know I have a bunch of stuffed animals packed away somewhere that I’ve had since I was born/shortly after. And a blanket that my grandma made me, which I think is in the closet. But I’m not about to drag that stuff out and take a picture lol

The item I’ve owned the longest and actually constantly used is probably my video iPod. I got it right when they came out (Dec. 2005) and used it every day up until the end of last year when it decided it didn’t feel like playing music anymore (freezes every 5 minutes or so when I try to listen to it). But I still use it as an external hard drive, which it works perfectly for. Right now I’m using it to transfer episodes of Oz off my laptop and onto my netbook so I can watch them in bed <3

For this one I thought I’d do a couple of my favorite family photos (at least, ones I have on my laptop)…

My great-grandma, sometime in the 1940s or 1950s

My pap, cousin Michael, brother Adam, & cousin Alex, summer 2006

Interesting-ness to be determined, but they are indeed facts about myself

1. When my family went to Disney in Nov. ‘03, casting people from Wife Swap stopped us & “auditioned” us for the show. We were almost going to be on it (this was before the show premiered in the US), but we backed out because my dad was going to be stationed in Bosnia.

2. I had my first beer at one of those movie theatres that serves you food while you watch the movie. I just asked for it & the waitress gave it to me.

3. I have a lady boner for Christopher Meloni. He might be nearing 50, but he’s hot.

4. I used to be way into snowboarding, so my closet is filled with snowboarding magazines, gear & movies. I’m keeping the stuff just in case I get back into it.

5. I’m really into technology & I obsessively read tech blogs/sites like Gizmodo & Engadget on a daily basis

6. A few friends & I got suspended in the 3rd grade for “daring another student to leave school property”. There was a little shed about 10 yards away from the playground and we dared her to try to touch it without the recess monitor catching her.

7. I had a legit stalker in the 7th grade. Ok, maybe not really, but this one girl would follow me EVERYWHERE. Once my friend decided that to test if she was really stalking me, I had to walk back from lunch weaving in & out of these pillars in front of the school. She followed me the whole time! & once I accidentally made her cry because it was a friend & I’s turn to pick who washed the lunch table’s & we chose her & this other (weird) girl she didn’t like. It sounds mean, but this girl was really rude & mean & we honestly only picked her because she had never washed the tables before lol

8. I was also stalked by my 9th grade guidance counselor. I was going to this magnet school (i.e., a school for smart kids) that I hated & planned on transferring out of to the public school at the end of the year. She found out & started calling me to her office every other day to convince me to stay. So I started lying to my study hall teacher about where I was going (I’d tell him I was going to the library, but I was really going to the computer lab) so she couldn’t track me down. But she still did. I still ended up transferring though.

9. I love art & graphic design. I almost went to school for graphic design, but decided not to. There’s a program at Georgia Tech that mixes communication (my current major) with design though (called Computational Media) & I really want to transfer there for that.

10. I’m a 36C but I wish my boobs were bigger. I’d seriously consider implants if it wasn’t for the fact that all guys I’ve talked to see to be turned off by them.