I always have trouble with the open-ended essay type concept. I demand that you give me some direction! Give me a question to answer, a problem to solve, anything but that nebulous "Tell me about yourself" phrase. I shudder every time I hear it. But I'll do what I can here.

I'm stuck with this silly "fools_gold" handle here. Long story, boiled down... I didn't figure I'd actually enjoy the site. Things change quickly in my world, and by the time I realized I wanted to post a profile I'd already answered a buttload of questions. So, stuck. I'm wysper. Nice to meetcha.

The phrase "doing with my life" suggests direction, possibly even a goal or ambition of some sort. In that light, I'm not doing anything with my life. It just sits there, staring contemptuously at me for not doing more with it. Every once in a while, I'll meet its scornful gaze... and stick my tongue out at it.

Aside from taunting my life, I am doing a little something to change my life a bit. I enrolled in 'college' a little over a year ago. I put that in quotes because it's just ITT. If you want a quality education, don't go there. If you want a piece of paper that says that you attended all the classes you were supposed to, that's the bastion of higher learning that you're looking for. I'm pretty much looking at it as a guided learning project. They give me the topics and I learn as much or as little as I care to about them. Of course, I love learning in general so I end up discovering some interesting tidbits.

The goal is to get a degree in Software Engineering Technology. I don't really have any plans to do anything with this degree. *shrug* I've just always wanted to learn programming. It's helped open some new doors at work. I was recently promoted to programmer (from junior peon) and have been able to use what I've learned to make my life at work less hellish. Still haven't taken on any actual development projects, but that's coming soon I think.

Tuning out the whole of creation to focus on a good book, or a naughty program... making my sister laugh... laughing at myself... procrastinating...

This is a question that I don't ask people. I have absolutely no input from others on this, so you'll just have to be content with what I think people first notice about me... my confidence, and self esteem. This may be a more accurate answer than I could relate based on an actual poll of recent acquaintances. I find that those personality traits are usually noticed unconsciously at first meeting. Someone might consciously focus on the eyes, or a smile, but what they're really responding to is much more intangible... body language, carriage, or attitude.

I can't define a favorite book, or even 10 favorite books. My favorite authors include (but are not limited to) Anne Bishop, Anne McCaffrey, Jacqueline Carey, James Clemens, Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, Stephen King... Those are the only ones in my head... I'd have to get up and look at one of the bookshelves for the others.

My favorite movie is The Princess Bride. I've also liked The Fifth Element, 30 Days of Night, Underworld, Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean, Labyrinth, and Fight Club.

I don't really have any favorite music. I'll listen to just about anything besides gangsta rap and some country. I don't have an ipod, I don't have a radio in my car, and I rarely use my CD player at home. Occasionally I'll dial up some tunes on Rhapsody, but that's pretty rare.

I also don't have anything I'd consider my favorite food... If it doesn't have veggies in it, I'm pretty much ok with it.

My daughter--I may not like her all the time, but she's got my heart.

My puter--because he's my best friend. Always there for me. Well, almost always. He's afraid of thunderstorms and tends to faint when the bad ones roll through. But we've all got our hangups, don't we?

Books--Not only do I read voraciously, but I collect books as well. Fantasy, sci-fi, some horror... non-fiction is right out.

Electricity--When the world dissolves into anarchy, I won't last long. At least I can admit it.

My eyesight, such that it is--I have daymares about being blinded. I have no idea what I could possibly do with myself if that happened.

Pepsi Jazz--self explanatory.

I spend a lot of time trying NOT to think. Thinking is highly overrated, really. However, I am intensely curious and will often run off on a research mission when something catches my eye (oooo shiny!). Typically, though, I figure out what I was curious about and then let it drop.

I usually spend Friday nights at home. It's expensive to go out both nights of the weekend, so I tend to save it for Saturday, when I have time to get dolled up if I care to. Occasionally, I'll go to a bar and play trivia or those wonderful little bar top games if I've had a rough week.

I have two classes of information about myself. That which I will divulge to anyone who asks, and that which I will tell no one, not even my best friends. That being said, I will admit that I own clothespins, and I also have a dryer.

... you want to talk to me?

Did I get it right? Can I have a cookie now?

Actually, I do find that a few personality traits most often result in a successful chat session with me.. confidence, intelligence, humor, and self restraint. Put any spin on that last one that you like. :)