Damnit with the memes!

[veek]

1. I was born in a place that, at the time, was called Kishinev (now it's Chisinau), in Moldova, USSR.
2. On March 16, 1977.
3. Apparently, there was an earthquake a few days before I was born, which caused me to be born ever so early, nothing critical.
4. Earthquakes excite me and make all my actions very efficient. I dislike panic.
5. I climbed trees a lot as a kid. Especially between the ages of, say, 8 and 13.
6. I had a best friend in kindergarden (which, in the old country, is something like four years, from age 2 to 6 inclusive), who happened to live in my apartment complex. Her name was Vika as well. Her mother increasingly didn't like me as we grew, and the last straw was drawn when Vika's new sneakers got dirty because I'd had her jump over a pile of dirt left there by construction workers, and she couldn't jump. After that, she was never allowed to speak to me again.
7. I went to a school about half an hour's trip (walking and public trolley bus) from my house. My parents allowed me to travel that alone starting with second semester of first grade (age 7).
8. Ah, screw the chronological bullshit.
9. When I was four, a heavy cast-iron table fell on my foot and broke my toes. I wailed, but the trip to the hospital, the x-rays and the cast were actually kinda cool. For months afterward, I'd wake up for kindergarden early, my dad would hold both my hands and walk backwards, and I'd hop to the bathroom. Now that was fun.
10. My dad died of lung cancer on January 2, 2001.
11. I have always hated the smell of cigarette smoke. It's probably the single most disgusting sensory assault, as far as I am concerned. This has been a firm belief since I was 7 years old.
12. I used to be a cold-weather person. In the past two or three years, though, I've been known to revel in the sun. Especially when there's nothing pressing to do that's mentally challenging -- physically challenging, oddly enough, is fine. Hiking in really hot weather can be great.
13. I joined a theatre studio when I was 12, and left it when I was 13, only because we immigrated to America.
14. I met my first love, a dreamer and a poet, at that theatre studio. Thanks to him, I eventually read most of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's writings (of which there are many more than just The Little Prince). Years later, I broke off contact with him, because I could not deal with his depression. I hear he's doing decently well... though he probably wouldn't agree.
15. I was dragged kicking and screaming (figuratively) out of my home and into immigration. It is not something I would wish upon anyone, especially anyone conscious of not being ready for it.
16. In retrospect, I believe that my parents did absolutely the right thing, and am indeed thankful to them for presenting me with the opportunities I've had in the past 12 years. I consider the United States (more precisely, Boston) my home now.
17. But I still cannot bring myself to consider myself an American.
18. I like interactive fiction, and the people of ifmud.
19. I have a haptic interface. It is difficult for me to communicate through words alone; touch is the only medium of communication I've found which is incapable of lying.
20. I am polyamorous. No, not a swinger, and not a libertine. But, if it's important to me that you understand what polyamory means to me, then I've already explained it to you. If it's important to you to understand it, feel free to go read up. Despite my giving you the link, I don't necessarily subscribe to everything you'll find there, and I tend to not study the Rules or anything.
21. I like crisp, juicy, non-waxed apples.
22. I get most hurt when people lie to me.
23. Or cheat on me. This hurts double, since it is utterly unnecessary.
24. Last time I was cheated on, lied to romantically, was... hm, about a year ago. I'm making damn sure it doesn't happen again anytime soon.
25. I've hurt people in the past, and have apologized for about 95% of it.
26. I love good movies, and really dislike most of what Hollywood puts out. Luckily, there are many more non-Hollywood movies that don't suck than there are Hollywood movies all together.
27. I like rollerblading, especially down the length of Commonwealth Avenue in Boston around midnight, culminating in a round or two around the Common (technically closed after sundown, been chased out of there by actually friendly policemen).
28. I love good coffee, in coffee shops and in my kitchen. Mostly, I drink espresso.
29. Starting in September, I will live in my own apartment for the first time. Hooray.
30. I know what it is to feel love for a child. Tesher, my nephew who will turn two on June 26th, has taught me what love without bullshit is really about.
31. Tesh calls me "tetya" ("aunt" in Russian) and loves to ride on my back and play ball.
32. He is growing up bilingual. This is still "about me" because I am currently half of his Russian input (his father is the other half).
33. I love dark chocolate. Especially in truffle form.
34. I do not drink vodka. Except in very rare circumstances.
35. My favorite tea is Harrod's Blue Flower Earl Grey. If I find one that's as good and not Harrod's, all the better, but the big store name isn't going to keep me away from this goodness.
36. I put whole milk, and even light cream sometimes, into my coffee and tea. And other foods, as necessary.
37. I like feeding people. Especially groups small enough to not have to cook in batches, but large enough to have lots of food on the table and have most of it get eaten.
38. I suck at role-playing games.
39. I am bisexual.
40. I procrastinate. (Hence, this list.)
41. It is about two hours past my bedtime, so I'll continue this later.

Comments

[zrblm.livejournal.com]

Murchie's (http://www.murchies.com/) has the best tea I've had, for what it's worth. They do the mail-order thing, though I just buy some Earl Grey or Empress Blend whenever I'm in Vancouver. Of course, now I have to make myself a cup.

randomly responding to just one entry

[davidglasser.livejournal.com]

Hey, my great-grandparents were from Kishinev!

Doubt you knew them, though.

Re: randomly responding to just one entry

[veek.livejournal.com]

Whoa! Still very cool, though. :)

[tablesaw]

No, not a swinger, and not a libertine.

LIBERTINE men! And SCARLET women! And RAGTIME! Shameful music that'll grab YOUR son, YOUR daughter in the arms of a jungle, animal instinct. MASSTERIA!

Friends! The idle lj is the devil's playground! TROUBLE!

(etc., etc.)

You rock!

[gmoneyjonesiii.livejournal.com]

I say that any boob, can take and shove a ball in A pocket. And I call that sloth; the first big step on the road to the depths of deg-re-DAYY I say FIRST! (clap) Medicinal wine from a teaspoon, then beer from a bottle!

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I read these entries:

21. I like crisp, juicy, non-waxed apples.
22. I get most hurt when people lie to me.

and thought it said, "I like crisp, juicy, non-waxed people." And I thought, "woo!"

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

I love you and miss you horribly.

[kizlj.livejournal.com]

Mmm, next time you're in NYC, I have a tea shop to take you too. They have very good blue flower earl gray.