Snowflake Challenge #1

[keli]

Challenge #1

In your own space, introduce yourself! Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.




Starting this challenge late but I meant to do it and then decided not and now I think I will. *g*

Wasn't sure where to start so I followed spikedluv's format.

→ I am a wife and a mother to two kids, one in college and one graduating high school this year. I'm a Paralegal in a mid-Michigan firm. We have two dogs and two cats (all rescues) and six fish aquariums thanks to my daughter. She's going into fish biology (both fresh and salt water). We call our house the Zoo for obvious reasons.

→ I started my journal back in 2006 to enjoy fandom with my friends.

→ My health is pretty good except I need to lose weight and I have tinnitus that I am still trying to habituate to. So I am trying to find my joy and learning mindfulness practices in an attempt to alleviate any stress surrounding the constant sounds.

→ I have recently started watercolor painting. I suck but it's fun and I hope to keep it up. I have a friend that is getting me into cardmaking and stamps so I also hope to do more of that this year. I want to also start journaling regularly. I started old fashion letter writing with justjo2u. I love receiving her letters and writing and sending mine to her. It's so fun to slow down and do something the old fashion way. I would love to work on my handwriting and even maybe get a pen and quill. The art of handwriting is a beautiful form and I fear one that will soon be going away. My kids did not even learn cursive in school.

→ I love bees, daisies, Yankee candles, Bath & Body soap, cats, crafting, journals (even if I don't write in them I buy them).

→ Fandom has been my life since as long as I can remember. I started out exchanging BOP and TEEN BEAT magazines with my friends and then eventually expanded once the internet hit. My very first online fandom was one for Keanu Reeves' band Dogstar but it was an odd setup and I never really made friends. I really credit Wenham Wonderland with being my real honest to goodness online fandom. It was a forum for fans of David Wenham who played Faramir. I met my very first online friend justjo2u and we are still friends to this day. I miss that forum. In the beginning we really felt like a family. Then as interests changed and faded so did the people who were there. Sad. I don't even know if forums like that exist anymore so I've hung onto livejournal.

→ I don't really fandom like I used to. I don't have a current one I follow. I miss that so maybe one day I will find one. My biggest ones were The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Marvel.

→ Actor/Actresses - Right now I like Henry Cavill, Richard Armitage, Keanu Reeves, Ewan McGregor, Gal Gadot and others.

→ The tv shows I am current watching are The Crown, The Spanish Princess, The Witcher, The Boys, Ragnarok, The Mandalorian and others.

→ Tv shows/movies/books that I'm looking forward to in 2021: Loki, Wanda Vision, The Boys S3, The Witcher S2 and Obi Wan Kenobi (but I think that comes out in 2022.

→ Authors I follow: Karin Slaughter, Jenn McKinlay, Philippa Gregory and MANY others.

→ Video games: I am addicted to Animal Crossing. Would love to add some friends. My friend code is: SW 7289-9902-4882

If you want to know more, ask!

Comments

[justjo2u]

I love this. I did this challenge two years ago I think and it took me until last Jan to finish it so I probably won't do it this year.

Edit - actually it was 3 years ago and I finished it two years ago but these are different questions I think.

[keli]

I wasn't sure I would have time to complete it, but I kept seeing it in other journals and decided to give it a try. I'm five behind but will try!

[justjo2u]

Behind doesn't matter. Do it your way! xx

[starbuckssue.livejournal.com]

We've swapped out some of the questions just to ring the changes. Well done for completing the previous one, even if it did take a year, that's real dedication.

One of the good things about Snowflake though is that people can dip in and out as they want, no one is under obligation to complete all the challenges:)

[justjo2u]

Thanks. I need to find the post with all the questions and I'll give it a go.

Dipping in and out is a good idea.

[spikedluv]

Yay, I'm glad you decided to do it! (And that you liked my format. *g*) I love finding out new things about people (and sometimes being reminded of things I already knew o_O).

Even though I am (was) an attorney, I worked as a paralegal for a bunch of years because I couldn't find work locally as an attorney. (I didn't want to drive an hour to work.) I did mostly real estate. What area do you work in, if you can say?'

Wow, that's a lot of aquariums!

Yankee candles!!!! (I also like to drop in to Bath & Body. *g*)

[keli]

Yes, it is fun to read others. I read all the mods and it was nice getting to know everyone. Yours was set up really nice... and I love cozy socks too btw! :D

I work in litigation, mostly defense, but once in a while we will take a plaintiff's case. I am the only litigation paralegal so I get it all... insurance, workers' comp, bankruptcy, divorce, employment, collection, landlord/tenant and everything in between. LOL I love it because I never know what my day will bring!

I did not know you were an attorney! That is awesome! I wanted to be one when I was young because my uncle is an attorney but when the time came to it, I did not want to do three more years of college. I wanted to slow down, get married and eventually have kids... so a paralegal I stayed. I am very satisfied with my career and, after working in the field for 28 years, I know I made the right decision. While all the attorneys at my firm drive nice cars and have big houses, they are stressed beyond belief! lol

Yes a lot of tanks and fish! She goes back to school Friday and they will once again be my responsibility. Oy! They all lived through first semester. Go me! lol

Yankee and B&BW are my stress relief shopping!

[spikedluv]

Cozy socks are the best! *g*

Sounds interesting. And you won't get bored doing so many different areas.

Yes. I graduated law school in 1990. o_O (TBH, I'm sorry I went to law school and have been since my second year there, lol. My other choice (after graduating college) was math teacher, and I always wished I'd done that. I'm not sure how I feel about that these days.)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i used to love writing letters

[starbuckssue.livejournal.com]

Sadly social media makes it all too easy to connect instantly, I always loved sending and receiving newsy letters. The cost of postage puts a lot of people off, here in the U.K. The prices just keep going up, 14p up this year just on domestic postage!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Instantly and more or less 'free' (sure you're paying monthly more than stamps would cost but its so much more than just writing). I have only one friend I still write to as she has no internet access. Holiday cards are about as close as I get to written correspondence these days. Stamps in America keep going up too.

[starbuckssue.livejournal.com]

I use to have tropical fish and I loved them, when my old cat was kifured he had to wear a collar of shame and he'd sit and watch them for hours! I'm a cat lover too, mine have all been rescues. Yours must be a lively houhold!

I started my working life in a solicitors office and finished my career as Admin Team Leader at my local Crown Court, have in great mived from Magistrates Court via the County Court (civil and family court). So I've always been interested in the law.

Writing is a dying art, sadly, I always loved sending and receiving long newsy letters. Social media and it's instant connection has made people lazy, and it's cheaper than the escalating postage costs!

I've suffered with tinnitus fir most of my life. It is something that you get used to but distraction is good. I use mindfulness and meditation, along with the Headspace app, especially their sleepcasts at night. Alexa' sounds are good too, my favourite is ocean waves.

Thank you for joining in, the good thing with Snowflake is that you are nit obliged to do every challenge, you can dip in and out with the challenges you fancy doing, and there's no deadline :)

[keli]

LOL @ your cat. So sweet. Our cats like to drink the water that runs from the filter at the top of the tanks. My daughter looked it up and the water is safe but yikes... fish water over clean water? I don't understand cats. lol

Wow your career sounds amazing! This is an odd question but do you still have to wear white wigs in court? I thought that was so cool. I saw it on a UK court show I used to watch a long time ago.

I totally agree about letter writing. I remember having pen pals when I was younger. I've always been a bit letter writer!

I am sorry you have tinnitus too, but thank you so much for saying that you get used to it. That really makes me feel better. I hope that day comes soon and it's what I am waiting for. I am learning mindfulness practices and also meditation in the hopes it helps! Thanks for the recommendations for headspace! I will look at it now. I have crackling fire on a lot... I love that.

Thanks so much for commenting! Would love to trade friends adds if you're ok with that?

[starbuckssue.livejournal.com]

He also used to eat the flake fish food and the dried shrimps, lol! I guess they like the fishy taste.

Wigs and robes/gowns are still worn by all High Court and Crown Court judges and prosecutors, barristers/attorneys. When sitting with a High Court judge the Court Clerk has to wear a wig and gown too, but it's now optional for a Court Clerk when sitting with a Criwn Court judge. Some will wear a gown in the winter as the courtrooms can be cold., county Court judges sometimes wear a wig and robes in certain circumstances when announcing a verdict. Much of it is still ceremonial and does make the hearing more formal, hopefully showing the seriousness of the offence and occasion.

Friends YAY 🙂

[d-violetta.livejournal.com]

This looks really good.

You have my sympathy for the tinnitus, I get it when my migraines are bad.

I am also looking forward to Wanda Vision. I am going to be watching it next week with my friend for our social distancing video catch up. We are pairing it with Bridgerton so we don't run out for a couple of weeks.

[keli]

You should join the snowflake challenge! It's fun.

Thanks... I'm sorry you get it when you have a migraine. I heard that happens a lot for people who suffer migraines. They thought mine might have been from aura migraines but it just lasts. I think mine is from my jaw.

That sounds like fun watching together! Looking forward to discussing it here!

[stellar_raven]

I enjoyed reading your answers, even though I already knew all this stuff about you! ;)

I see this in my journal every year, too. I'll try it out one year.

[keli]

LOL yes you know me well! I like that. :D

That would be fun if you did. I'm trying to get here more, I really am! lol

[stellar_raven]

I like that, too. :D

[green-wing.livejournal.com]

OMGosh journals are love 😻
I am addicted to them 😹 my room is full of them 😸
I used to write in them and fill them up but now I don’t want to ruin them so they stay unwritten 🐾

I used to make cards but just before Xmas mum started to teach me cross stitch and I love it (but not the endless unpicking 🤦‍♀️)

I don’t have a fandom love right now either, but I wonder, is The Boys any good? I watched the trailer and I wasn’t sure how violent it was (it looked pretty bloody) but if you’re recommending it, I might give it a go?

[keli]

Journals are love!! I remember how much you love them. You used to collect them when we first met. I'd love to see your collection one day.

OHHHHH I cross stitch too!! I have so many unused and partly started projects. I will have to go through mine and send you one if you enjoy it. I started in my 20s and love it. My eyes are not the best anymore but I still try.

OMG The Boys are AMAZING!! Karl is fabulous and the baddies are so BAD.. and Jensen will be joining S3. I would totally give it a whirl if I were you. Actually it's pretty violent but not all the time, if that makes sense. There are a lot of ewwww moments and exploding head moments, but it happens so fast that the minute you see it, they are on to something else. If blood and gore bother you even if it's fast, then maybe you might not like it. I don't like bloody violent things either. I had to stop watching The Walking Dead, but for some reason The Boys doesn't bother me like the Walking Dead did.

[green-wing.livejournal.com]

*LOL* my room is about half full now, just pretty journals 😹
If anyone is ever stuck for a gift idea, they just need to buy me a pretty journal and I’m super happy 😺
The last one I got was before Xmas, it was a really lovely Harry Potter diary for this year 💙😺

Next time the litter box is being cleaned, I’ll pull the whole collection out of the cupboard behind it and take a picture for you 👍😸

I am LOVING cross stitch 😻😻😻 but omg it’s so teeny 😹🤦‍♀️
I have to wear my really close up glasses and even then I still need the magnifier 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I just couldn’t watch The Walking Dead any more, but if you think the violent bits are few and far between, then perhaps I might have a go at it (I do love a beardy Karl 😸🐾)

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

HI! I just thought this was a good post to pop in because I got to learn so much about you already. I have to admit, I love that there's this sorta older contingent that's hanging on to LJ and making it our own. I always say that you get from a place what you put into it. :)

I just finished watching The Boys and I adored it. So weird and full of dark humour. I love The Deep because he's so... not. (Deeper: A Memoir. Aaaahahahahaha!) It also was one of the few shows that made me gasp out loud (and not during any of the gross bits.)

I also love Bath & Body Works soap (Twisted Peppermint? So good.), cats, and journal/journaling. My not-really-a-bullet-journals have been much fun for me this past year or so. I used to craft, but not much anymore. I love all animals, really, but I hate bees.

[keli]

Thanks for jumping in here! I love that the older generation stayed here during the LJ mass exoduses that happen every so often. I couldn't leave it behind when the new social media platforms came out. I just found them so impersonal. You play to an audience at twitter, tumblr, instagram, etc., where here there is so much more interaction. I love getting to know people and them getting to know me. *g*

The Boys is soooo darkly funny! I love all the marvel movies and shows but for a bit there, it was becoming a oversaturated with all the superhero stuff, so to have a show that is anti-superhero was exactly what I needed. Plus Karl Urban?! You can't go wrong. lol

Ohhh I love twisted peppermint too!! I know if I started a bullet point journal, it would definitely morph into a not really bullet point journal too, but that's the fun of it... making something your own! I only love bees when they are plump and cartoony and not real if that makes sense. hahahaha

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know exactly what you mean. I have a tumblr and participated there for awhile, but there's simply no way to have a thread like this where actual *conversations* can happen. I don't think there's really anything out there that operates the way LJ does.

Karl Urban is absolutely delicious. So with you there. Some men can just pull off a beard. He's so good in Chronicles of Riddick, too.