I am an Iowa girl from a very small farming town. To give you an idea of what that means: My town has one push-button stoplight. My high school graduating class was 68 people--from four or five surrounding towns. I am (convolutedly) related to the people in both houses across the street. For fun, people in my home town go to the bar. That's it.

Yeah, we're rednecks. I'd like to live somewhere more diverse someday.

My parents are divorced and both have remarried, so my family is pretty big (I have, in total, six brothers and two sisters and nine nieces and nephews thus far). Both sides of the family are also pretty much a grab bag when it comes to personalities, and I like that. (Sometimes!)

Once I was a very serious Roman Catholic who considered becoming a religious sister or nun. I am not religious any longer. I'm still dealing with the emotional aftermath of changing my life so dramatically.

Drawing is one of my hobbies, but I don't take it too seriously and am pretty much self-taught. I don't have time for it any more.

I love the Spanish language and jump at the opportunity to practice, at the risk of embarrassing myself. I have been to Spain and Mexico, both briefly, and I lived for a month in Ecuador, where I studied a bit and volunteered a lot. I now know a bit of German too. German's a fun language. Next, I hope to learn more than my current few words of ASL in order to communicate more efficiently with a couple of family members. (:

I also have a wonderful boyfriend. <3 For some reason, he continues to put up with me. I'm pretty fond of him.

I graduated in May from a private college in Iowa. I double-majored in sociology and art history and minored in Spanish. I graduated pretty well because I am an enormous geek and had no life during school except stressing out and studying. Hopefully this will help me get a "real" job someday.

Right now I am working at a gas station and liquor store, waitressing, and tutoring. I have three jobs and am still living at home. It doesn't really make sense for me to move out just yet, so I am putting what money I can toward student loans.

I also love to read. And soon I am going to get a dog. The little miniature dachshund I got for my 13th birthday has become my stepfather's now because she is a traitorous fiend and loves him more! ): (I was away at college for four nine month chunks, and he feeds her steak.)

+ Studying
+ Stressing the hell out (I am a Type A personality for sure.)
+ Customer service work (... because I will take all their crap.)
+ Instilling the fear of my mad ninja skillz into all who know me

I have a lot of metal in my head and people tend to comment on it as if I were not aware that it is there.

Upon talking to me, probably my voice. It has been described as a "Disney movie" voice. By that, I mean I sound like one of those blonde princesses in a ballgown. I am very self-conscious about my voice. ):

I am, however, a grown-up, because I can legally drink a margarita. I guess.

Favorite Books:
+ Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
+ The Crimson Petal and the White - Michel Faber
+ Don Quixote de la Mancha - Miguel de Cervantes
+ The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism - Max Weber
+ The Stand - Stephen King
+ Watership Down - Richard Adams

Currently reading:
+ The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

I am a nerd and keep a "To Read" list on Goodreads.com.

Movies:
+ Dark City
+ Doctor Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog
+ The Help
+ Labyrinth
+ Monty Python and the Holy Grail
+ Rent
+ Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
+ Tristan and Isolde

Music: I am not super into music, but going without in the car drives me bonkers.
+ Bon Jovi
+ Johnny Cash
+ Michael Bublé
+ The Moulin Rouge soundtrack
+ The Sweeney Todd soundtrack

Food: I have been a vegetarian since November, 2009. I find that my tastes have definitely expanded in the period of time since I've cut out meat and cheese. I love fruit and fresh veggies and try to eat healthful foods. But I'm not a health nut, either.

I love: broccoli, rice, spinach, tempeh, tofu, and hummus.

Bacon grosses me out. But your meat eating does not offend me. I will not try to get you to stop. You do not need to apologize to me. As long as you don't question the choices I make about what to put into my body, I'll return the favor. But don't say, "I could never give up meat! I like it too much!" Because that is simply untrue. You certainly could! I used to think the same thing. (That doesn't mean I think you should want to, I'm just saying, you have more willpower than you think you do.)

1. Hope. Belief in something better. This spot was once filled by "God." I no longer really know whether I believe in that guy, because he's kind of a jerk, but I do believe in something that connects us as human beings.

2. My friends and my family, and also pleasant strangers. Taxi drivers, waitresses, police officers who offer directions to the directionless, baristas, etc. etc. etc. If you work in customer service and still manage to be cheerful, I freakin' love you.

3. Stories. Books, role play story lines, plays, poetry, and music.

4. A sketchpad and drawing utensil of some kind.

5. The Internet. (How else would I find out the nutritional value of a banana?)

6. My heart. Both the organ that pumps blood throughout my body and the thing that makes me feel stuff. It's the capability of feeling how much life occasionally sucks that differentiates us squishy human beings from rocks. (Not that I have anything against rocks.)

... what the crap I am doing here, and where my life is going to go. I envy those who do not constantly worry about this stuff.

... well, right now I'm not quite sure. I'm at a transitional point in my life. Let's say, "Hanging out with my dog." That's a safe answer for now.

I have a sort of anxiety disorder. It's not diagnosed but I have a history of panic attacks and shakiness. I was on medication for a while but went off of it because of how it affected me. I'm trying to cope with my anxiety in healthier ways now.

... you are kind and compassionate, and if you extend your kindness and compassion to strangers as readily as you do to friends and family.

I love to read, so I'd like to share this in common with any new friends. (:

NOT looking for a boyfriend ... just to make that clear. But I'm generally pretty lonely right now and would love to meet some new people around my area who have similar interests. Or online penpals.

Thanks for visiting. :D