About Me/Mini-Interview

I was mini-interviewed by Carol from Bookluver-Carol's Reviews.

1. What book are you reading now?

I am about to finish WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson, at which point I will read either BLONDE ROOTS by Bernadine Evaristo or JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE by Beth Fantaskey.

For school I am reading THE WEIGHT OF THE YEN by R. Taggart Murphy and the short stories "Neighbors" by Raymond Carver, "Where I'm Likely to Find It" by Haruki Murakami, and "Jolene: A Life" by E.L. Doctorow.

*I forgot THE JAPANESE FAMILY IN TRANSITION by Ochiai Emiko. I highly recommend her book (out of print) and Murphy's. Both are highly readable and relevant to Westerners despite the subject matter.

2. What do you enjoy most about college? What do you not enjoy about it? Is it really better than high school?

There's a lot to like about college. I like my program, which allows me a massive amount of flexibility in the courses I take and encourages study abroad. I like that there's always something going on on-campus: free movie showings, guest lectures, concerts, clubs. I like that I'm not in class for eight hours a day. (I am in class from 9:30-3:30 TTH this semester, but that means I'm only in class for an hour MWF.)

I don't like that one of our teachers didn't request a book from the Co-op, so we didn't know we needed it until the first day of class, and the only way I could get it is directly from the publisher so I haven't received it yet and we're supposed to be reading it now. Also, professors have a sixth sense for when your other professors are going to have an assignment due and all your assignments and/or tests will be scheduled for the SAME WEEK.

Yes, it is better than high school. (And I say this as one of those odd ducks who liked high school.) Unless you're engineering or architecture your schedule is far more flexible and you can test out of the pesky basic requirement classes. Pretty much you only have to take stuff that really interests you. Plus, your classes are filled with people who like that stuff too which makes it somewhat easier to connect. (I suck with people.) Professors are helpful if you go to their office hours, which you should. I believe you get a better grade if the professor knows your name. And yeah, what work you have to do will be more difficult than in high school but there will be less of it so you can pace yourself. (I don't. I procrastinate.)

The cafeteria food is better too.

3. What are some of your hobbies, other than reading?

I like music. I'm a percussionist, specializing in jazz vibraphone and other mallets. Upcoming concerts I plan to attend include Flogging Molly (February) and Flight of the Conchords (May). Tomorrow I am going to a performance of Rigoletto by Guiseppe Verdi. My taste is pretty eclectic. Topped played on my iTunes includes: Arco Arena by CAKE, Yankee Bayonet by the Decemberists, This Corrosion by the Sisters of Mercy, Fairmont Hill by the Dropkick Murphys, Tentative by System of a Down, Pet by A Perfect Circle, Touched by VAST, I Want You (She's So Heavy) by the Beatles, I Want You performed by Fiona Apple and Elvis Costello, and Toccata and Fugue (D minor, Bach) performed by E. Power Biggs. Despite that, my top genres would probably be punk, folk metal, and jazz. I really like female vocals, both powerful and light, as in Lacuna Coil, The Cranberries, The Gits, and Shivaree.

I like movies. Mostly anything that can make me laugh, be it black humor, romantic, action-adventure, or horror. I like both mainstream and cult films and don't like a lot of mainstream and cult films. Last week I watched Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Taxi Driver. N&N was cute and I laughed at inappropriate moments in Taxi Driver. My roommate and I concluded the point of the movie was, "Pimps must die." I think I'd say it's a good movie, but it is odd and there's approximately ONE SONG on the soundtrack.

I like hanging out with friends. We go to restaurants (or to someone's apartment to make food) and sit around eating and talking about food. No, really. While we're eating we discuss what we like best and what we eat with our families. We shop together, but some of us are not used to the bargain shopping lifestyle. My young padawans shall learn. We share books, movies, and music - always a good way to find something new and to generate conversation. But yeah, generally I spend my days hanging out.

Sometimes I run and I try to do crunches regularly. I wouldn't call exercise one of my hobbies but I don't cut it out of my life since I want to be a little healthy. I do take routes to my classes that force me to climb more stairs because it makes me feel better.

I also like to bake. I'm not fabulous but I make good muffins, cookies, pralines, fudge, pies, and cakes. I do some cooking as well, but I'll have less responsibilities regarding this at home for awhile since I nearly set the kitchen on fire making stuffed peppers last month.

Almost forgot: I like art. I draw some, but I'm not that great. I hang out in museums. I mostly like to take photographs. I go crazy with a camera in my hand. Recently I've been focusing on macro photography. It's rough on me because I'm rather twitchy but I've been getting some beautiful shots.

4.What is a upcoming book that you're looking forward to?

DEATHWISH by Rob Thurman. It comes out in March and then I can get my Leandros brothers fix. I love this series so, so much and I know approximately one other person that reads it. That's just wrong. C'mon ya'll: snarky male protagonist, witty dialogue, great characterization, familial relationships, evil beasties, fight scenes galore, and interesting worldbuilding. Er, when Cal angsts people laugh at his woe?

5. Lifetime supply of coffee or lifetime supply of donuts?

Both. Okay, if it came down to it I'd take the coffee because donuts are cheaper. But both have been a part of my life since toddlerhood and I'm not about to give either up. (NOTE: Don't let your three-year-old sip your coffee hoping they'll stop grabbing at your cup because it tastes nasty. S/he just might like it.)

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If you want to know more about me, just leave a question in the comments and I'll answer it! If I'm procrastinating, I might not shut up either. (See above.)

Want to be interviewed?

1. If you want to be interviewed, leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the
questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions and let me know when you have posted it, so I can link it.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview
someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask
them five questions.