I love to read. It has always been a passion of mine, since I was in grade school. To this day, you will find me with a book no matter where I am. What do I like to read? Practically anything! But, my favorites are mystery and semi-fantasy. Occasionally, I'll find a good biography or autobiography to read, too, but non-fiction isn't something I typically jump at the chance to read.
I also love music, of all kinds. Between my husband and I, I'd say we have one of the most diversified collections of anyone I know. We have blues, jazz, rock, pop, new age, instrumental, classical, world, rap, oldies, and indie. There's really nothing that I don't like listening to (although I do get tired of songs that get played over and over and over again).
I also love attending cultural events. I think this stems from growing up in such a restricted town. The variety of cultures that exist and all the different celebrations they have totally fascinate me. I attend a pow wow every year and also attend the Celtic Festival in Saline, MI. I find that each culture offers me a different worldview, which is refreshing to me.
I also enjoy helping others, be it person to person or indirectly. I'm currently the webmaster for 6 non-profits in Southeastern Michigan, helping them keep their websites up to date. I occasionally volunteer my time to be an usher for the University of Michigan Music Society, for different classical concerts they hold throughout the year. I get satisfaction knowing that I'm making a difference to someone, somewhere, even if I never get to meet them. :)
People I would like to meet in person:
Peter Gabriel - who I had the privilege of seeing in concert 2 times a couple years ago...he is an exceptionally wonderful performer!
Nelson Mandela - he has inspired so many people to be courageous and brave
Oprah Winfrey - she has come so far from where she began, showing such strength of character and virtue, it would be an honor to just be able to hang out with her for a day
Dalai Lama - it would be inspirational to be with such a revered religious figure
Ashley Judd & Sandra Bullock - both of these women seem so down to earth, centered, and friendly - I'd basically want to just meet them to see if they really were that way
Like I stated in my interests, there's really not any kind of music that I don't like. I appreciate it in all its various forms!! My favorite artist, though, has to be Peter Gabriel!
I prefer dramas and comedies for my movies. However, I'm not completely against any of the others. My best friend and I routinely go see more teen movies, like Ice Princess (which was pretty good!). I also occasionally like thrillers, but have to be in the right mood for them, since they usually end up giving me bad dreams.
If the price of movies didn't cost so much ($9 for non-matinees right now - with a student discount!), I'd probably see more in theatres. As it stands, I've been checking DVDs out from the library to get my fix. They have a pretty good selection. We also spend quite a bit of time visiting the local video store. ;) Let's just say, I'm less picky in terms of what movies I'll see than my hubby is, so I have a tendency to rent some when he's at work, so I can see ones that he has no desire to watch.
Ok, this is my one guilty confession....I enjoy watching shows like Buffy, Angel, and Charmed.
I was enjoying the few times I got to watch Carnivale. Alas, they've cancelled it so it is no more (I have a tendency to like the shows that nobody else likes, so they get cancelled and then nobody knows what I'm talking about --- case in point, Automan, which was a show I really liked and nobody seems to even know what I'm talking about).
I don't tend to watch much TV. I've been catching Extreme Home Makeover and occasionally watch the Style Network or HGTV or Food Network, but don't watch more than that. I also occasionally catch Crossing Jordan.
I like books.
Books are great companions!
Okay, great companions, but they don't make for good conversationalists. I find that I'm reading all the time, be it mystery, sci-fi, drama, women's lit, classic lit, non-fiction, whatever, I'm reading it.
I tend to gravitate towards more mystery/thriller and kind of fantasy types. I have a very good imagination, so anything that can grab me and keep me enticed is a winner in my book.
Typically, when I'm reading, I get transported and see a movie playing while I read. If I can't get a movie, I have a /really/ hard time reading the book, which can be disappointing sometimes.
My heroes are those who were courageous enough to follow their dreams, regardless of what others said to them or any obstacles that stood in their way. For those who do what they love, with great passion, and are perfectly content living as they do.
adopt your own virtual pet!