Get to Know Me

This one is a just for fun edition blog post…..how about some not widely known facts about me …. I’m talking the real nitty gritty, not the surface fun facts, too. (Let me know if you have anything in common by leaving a comment for me, too).

Once Upon A Time……some might have told you I was a good writer (and some may still argue that I am). In grade school, I never missed a year of going to Young Authors. I also spent hours writing my own magazines (my father recently found the proof of this one). In middle school, I joined the Power of the Pen team and went to state competition both years, and I even won our district competition in 8th grade. Fast forward to college, and I entered and placed in a worldwide competition sponsored by Calgon Beauty (no surprise, I received a giant basket of goodies) and my fiction writing professor called me the next Thomas Harris (author of the famed Silence of the Lambs). That one wasn’t one I took too seriously….however that was definitely one of my favorite college electives and he was a great professor. I think by writing crime fiction, I may have had him slightly scared of me when he decided to pay me that generous compliment. While I don’t ever see myself writing a novel, or even a short story, I do toy around with children’s books (and illustrating them as well). I know, quite the opposite end of the spectrum from writing psychological thrillers (which will forever be my favorite genre to read).

Speaking of psychological thrillers and crime….I am a true crime junkie. I could watch Investigation Discovery all day, every day, and have since I was pretty young. I use to drive my Mother nuts (she would often question “what was wrong with me.”) I’m glad this has become popularized, and it isn’t just me who claims this obsession. But I never would have thought I would live through a time of my life that could have been a featured episode (I would say “Survivor Stories” would be my best match, because I am indeed, still here). While I won’t go into details online, I have an ex boyfriend who could probably be featured on quite a few different ID shows. The more I found out after the fact, the more I am truly happy to be able to say I am still here, because he made a valiant effort to make sure I wasn’t.

Alongside crime, psychology has always been another fascination of mine. Understanding how the mind works is truly an art form in itself. I took many psych classes in college. In fact, my intentions were to get a dual psych/art degree and continue on to get a Masters in Art Therapy. But life led me down a different path, and here I am fifteen years later, a portrait photographer instead. From time to time, I still toy with the idea of going back to school and making this happen. My end goal was to get employed in a juvenile detention facility (there goes that crime and psychology connection again!) But I think my background in psych comes in handy in this profession, too.

Lets talk favorite movies next, because I LOVE movies. By now, you can probably guess the types of movies I usually watch. I would say my favorites are all dark comedies and horror, and I rarely will sit down to watch a chick flick. But since this is an edition of nitty gritty facts, and not just surface facts, I’ll admit that I have two “chick flicks” that no matter how many times I’ve seen them, if they are playing on tv, I’ll stop and watch them. I just can’t say no to “The Bodyguard“ and “The Notebook”. Funny story about that - my friend asked me to go see The Notebook in the theater with her, we would have been in high school I believe. I was so embarrassed because she sat and bawled through the whole thing, and I just did not get her deal, at all. I really just wanted to move a few seats down and pretend I didn’t know her. Fast forward a couple years, and I couldn’t get enough of that stupid movie. WHY?!?!? Ryan Gostling might have something to do with it…..or maybe it is a truly great tale. I would never bawl through it, but I do appreciate it now. If you do want me to cry though, give me any movie where an animal gets hurt or dies. Doesn’t matter if it is animated, yes even the Lion King, I will bawl like a little baby. (Absolute favorite movie of all time though: Evil Dead. Grosse Pointe Blank is probably second….perhaps that will help you understand my weird sense of humor).

Not that I don’t love my job, because I do, but I always talk about what else I would possibly do with my life. Storm chaser always tops the list (I am a thrill seeker). Art therapist (obviously). State Wildlife Officer (this one just got on my list, then I learned how hard it is to actually get this job). Professional Cat Cuddler (a girl can dream). Restaurant Owner (I joke of opening “Everything Cheese”. All menu items will, you guessed it, have cheese). Its amazing that as we age, we all still dream about “what I want to be when I grow up”…..or is it just me?

Other random favorite things, just because you may find you have something in common with me after all (and in no particular order)…..Grogu. Hedorah. Wonder Woman. Ronda Rousey. Peanut Butter. Cheese. Yogurt. Cheesecake (clearly I’m hungry). Flannels. Hoodies. Owls. Ash vs. Evil Dead. Dinosaurs. Reading. Mad Men. Plants. Gladiator. Marvel. Wally Waffles. Mac n Cheese. Grilled Cheese (yep, still hungry). COWS. Black Widow. Petrichor. Gold glitter. Beanies. Special Effects Makeup. BAM. At Home. Grumpy Cat. KITTIES. Good Girls. Antique Stores. Tattoos. Halloween (the holiday and movie series). Bruce Campbell. Mandala Art. Thunderstorms. Ancient Egypt. WWII historical fiction. Llamas. Lost Kitties. Scarlett Johansson. COFFEE. Stuffed animals. Chibi anything.