Do you like puzzles? What kind? Jigsaw, word, etc?
Yes! I love crosswords, but I cannot do sudoku to save my life.
I know Canadian chips can be different than others, how does "dill pickle" or "ketchup" sound?
I like anything that tastes like pickles.
Do you like Kickstarter? Are there any projects up that you really like?
Yes, but I don't usually go browsing for projects. I've contributed to probably half a dozen things?
If you have an Etsy wishlist, what are your top 5 favorite things on there?
All the wedding dresses, vintage cocktail stuff, and brass animals I've favorited.
Gourmet popcorn, yes/no? What do you like: glazed, savory, candied? Nuts or not? Any flavors you wouldn't like (like Bacon CHeeseburger, Pizza, Watermelon, Root Beer Float, Hot Chili Dark Chocolate)? Or if any of those sounded interesting, how weird is weird enough?
I'll eat anything that has that magical savory/sweet combo.
What else do you love from the Trading Post site, and need to have?
Yoga pants! The belladona ones. I've been coveting them for ages.
What are your top five wishes from ThinkGeek?
Tardis socks!
Cross-stitch iPhone case!
Crest of Hyrule shirt! (Not sure if I'm a small or medium.)
DIY guitar pick punch!
OCD chef cutting board!
Seen anything lately that makes you go OH HOLY FUCK THAT'S AWESOME!! ?
ALL THE TIME. But of course I can't remember any of it right now.
Do you like audiobooks? If so, do you have/would you like to try Audible? (I'm an addict, myself.)
No time to listen to 'em - I prefer reading.
Chocolate: Love? Hate? Allergic? If love, what are your faves?
I like it a lot! But I am not that into dark chocolate. Anything with caramel, ginger, or toffee, though, I will stuff in my face.
Name three things that you could use, but might not necessarily think to get for yourself?
Ummm... a way to organize my cross-stitch supplies, a new iPhone case, the willpower to get rid of some of these books.
Does anything from the TP Etsy update interest you?
I think it's all gone now, if there was!
Has anyone asked about tattoos? Do you love them? Hate them? Have any? Want any?
I have one - a tiny symbol that's meaningful to me and my fiance. I want MANY - crossed foils on my arm, swallows like the ones that nested in my grandparents' eaves, leaves for my stepfather... etc, etc.
Do you have any symbols or totems that are meaningful to you?
I'm going to think about this one.
What are the three BPALs you would most like to receive - one GC, one not-hard to find LE, and one HTF LE from your dreams?
Katharina or King's Daughter
Death Adder or Thunder and Blazes
Yvaine or Orange
What styles of artwork do you like?
Art nouveau, classic children's illustration (what I wouldn't give to find some inexpensive Kay Nielsen or Arthur Rackham prints!). Rock posters. I'm pretty art-ignorant.
Would you like Mexican vanilla or silver rings/necklaces?
Sure!
What is your favorite color?
Deep red.
What is your favorite season?
Fall and spring - and they're both always too short!
If you could live anywhere in the world and money was no object, where would it be?
I'd have a house in Sydney (or Melbourne, I can never choose), one in Brooklyn, and one in Portland (OR). And I'd take a lot of vacations to Stockholm.
When you are having a really rough day, what do you like to do/have to make it a little brighter?
Honestly, probably make a good cocktail and buy myself some nail polish on the internet.
Would you like if your witch sent a regional pop/soda? If so, what type (Root beer, creme soda, cola, citrus-flavored, chocolate-flavored, etc...)?
Ha, sure, if it doesn't explode! Root beer, ginger beer, anything unusually flavored.
Do you want to receive one big package or a bunch of small ones? Digital stuff all at the end when the box should arrive or as we go?
Whatever works for my witch works for me.
Do you welcome knitted items? If so, what would you like most? (amigurumi, washcloth, socks, shawl, shawlette, scarf, wrist warmers, hat, etc.) Do you have any favorite fibers? How about any fiber allergies? Favorite color for knitted items?
Sure, especially scarves! I still really want the damn scarf Amy Pond wears in the DW episode "Vincent and the Doctor."
Is there a quote that resonates with you, or that you particularly like a lot. Would this be something you would like artwork made of for your walls or a shirt/bag/scarf?
"If I don't let myself be happy now, then when?"
"We tell ourselves stories in order to live."
And my most favorite quote of all is the page-long quote from Gaiman's American Gods when Sam explains what she can believe. It's here.
Also, STARBUCKS, Yay or Nay? Anything you particularly like?
Yay when there isn't an independent coffee shop around. Also I have a weakness for caramel macchiattos.
If you happen to find out who yours is, how much would it bother you?
It's fine! I'm pretty bad at hiding my tracks so my witchees often figure me out; if that happens on my end, no worries!
Are there any BPALs that you loved the idea of, the imagery - whether artwork or description - but which didn't work out for you? (I'm asking because if they did, you might mention them elsewhere, but if not, the imagery might be helpful)
TONS. I haaaate red musk and am not much for the heavy/sultry scents, so while I like the Carnival, the scents rarely work for me - and I adore Neil Gaiman but almost none of those scents have worked for me either.
Put your mp3 player/online music/itunes/etc on random and list the next 10 songs here:
"Fuck Was I," Jenny Owen Youngs
"Pivotal," Cursive
"The Cure," Tegan and Sara
"Wedding Gloves," Frightened Rabbit
"Nail in My Coffin," The Kills
"Lost Kitten," Metric
"Brace and Break," The Thermals
"When I Get Old," The Descendents
"Texture," Catherine Wheel
"Coda," EMA
Confession: I have a lot of soundtracks in my iTunes, but I don't listen to them much, so I took out the TWO tracks from the BSG score that it tried to make me list! I may have massaged this list a little since my iTunes is also full of weird stuff I downloaded for an old job and never listen to...
what is your favourite object, that you own, ignoring sentimental reasons for attachment? So I guess something you find beautiful, or fun, or incredibly useful.
I'm super-sentimental so this one is hard. I'm not even sure I have anything that I'm not emotionally attached to on some level (and if I do, I'm probably trying to get rid of it!).
How big is too big...for something to hang on your walls? If I'm painting you a pretty picture, are there maximum dimensions that you have/prefer?
Hmmm. I don't really know. I guess no bigger than your average concert poster, but I don't know how big that is!
Is there anything from Australia you would like? eg: snacks (yes, you can ask for Tim Tams!), books, magazines, memorabilia?
Can you just send me the whole country? (We're hoping to spend three weeks in Australia for our honeymoon.)
Do you have any problems with swearing or particularly off-color humor?
Swearing is just words some people don't like. I'm more then good with off-color humor when it's "dirty"; if it's racist/sexist/bigoted I am not good with it at all.
What style is your sense of humour?
Easy! LOL. And fairly wry.
Opinions on table top games, from cards and board games, to dice and rpgs. What do you like? What don't you like? Favorites? Any classics you like? Do you collect any?
I love Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit, and, well, Cards Against Humanity (which I am going to have to download to make my own deck, since I refuse to buy things from Amazon). I don't really collect games, though, since they take up a lot of space.
What would you like from the most recent BPAL update? What are you planning on buying for yourself and what would you like to try?
Since I run decant circles, I'll be trying everything eventually!
Is there a literary character you identify with? Even if it's not spot-on, just someone you found yourself having that "I identify with this" feeling?
Yes: Elphaba from Wicked (the book, not the musical). There are others, but Elphie is first.
What are the three books you most want to read right now, and which you don't already have?
Anything I want to read is probably on its way to me or will be soon - the bookstore job. But the three things at the top of my mental to-read-but-don't-have pile are Rebecca Solnit's A Field Guide to Getting Lost, any of the Elizabeth Hand books I don't yet have, and Kate Zambreno's Green Girl.
Would you like something from Empire Edibles?
In theory yes, and I LOVE caramel, but I'm worried it would melt - it's hot here!
Is there anything small you try to collect from everywhere you visit?
Squashed pennies, if I see a machine!
What fandoms do you belong to?
None in the super-active sense - I don't write fic or anything - but I keep up with Doctor Who, Game of Thrones and Orphan Black, and am a pretty huge LOTR fan. And I do love All Things Whedon. I'm addicted to the Doctor Who cosplay communities not because I cosplay anyone on purpose, exactly, but because I love the clothes Amy Pond and Clara Oswald wear, so I collect those when I can!
What cheers you up?
Hanging out with my fella, reading, cross-stitching, friends ... the usual! Going for a walk, too.
Would you like anything from an European country? Any particular food or goodies, magazines, books, whatever would be available to your witch in his/her country.
I love foreign candy. There is probably a longer answer for this one but I'm tired.
Do you like bags? If so, what type (rucksack, clutch, shopping bag) colour and would you like/need a new one?
Maybe too much. Most of my bags are Queen Bee (two from ebay, because those are expensive, at least for me!). I like smallish shoulder bags - big enough for a book, wallet, phone and keys.
What's your favourite comfort food(snack or candy etc) and/or drink?
Food: steamed broccoli and cheese sauce, or burritos. Drink: a Manhattan with good booze, please. (If I can't have alcohol, I'll indulge in a soy mocha or, if at Starbucks, caramel macchiatto).
If you knew you were going to live comfortably for say 800 years, what profession, calling or project might you pursue with some of your extra years, which you imagine you may not do in the life that you have?
I'd fence professionally, if I could; I'd be a marine biologist; I'd really want to be a stunt double (see also: fencing); I'd spend a lifetime in academia doing women's and cinema studies ... there are SO MANY things. I wish I could live for 800 years.
What colors/style is your kitchen decor? And do you entertain in your home?
Crowded. What, that isn't a style? We have friends over for Buffy Night weekly but it's mostly about wine or cocktails and take-out; we haven't managed to throw any dinner parties. Yet. (It's a very small table.)
Are your ears pierced?
Yep, three holes in the left, two in the right.
How do you feel about traditional picnics (namely the intimate table for two variety)? Old-fashioned basket or something more utilitarian (cooler/insulated bag)?
I like 'em but don't partake that often! Last time I did, my fiance and I ate snacks and cheese on the High Line park - and drank rosé out of a Vitamin Water bottle. It's a very good trick. I don't really bother with fancy containers (no space for storage); a tote bag is fine!
If you were put in a room with 100 random other people the same age and sex as you, from your country, in what way do you think you would be different from the average?
Hmmm.
I started reading when I was 3.
I lived in Australia for four months.
I moved to NYC for college at 17.
I'm a fencer.
Witchee, do you cook? Do you do all the cooking? Is it a chore or a pleasure?
I do, but not as often as I'd like - it's a pleasure except when I have no time, and then it's a chore.
Which reading level do you prefer to read in, YA or Adult? Or even both?
I read both. Lately it's been a lot more YA, though - I'm just not in the mood for grownups.
If you could have one rare bpal which one would you choose?
I ... don't know! Probably Quincy Morris, because it smells amazing on my fiance. Oh, and Yvaine, because I've come to love lavender over the years since I parted with my partial.
Do you enjoy scented candles? Certain sizes that you like? What kind of scents or brands?
With very rare exceptions, no - too many of them smell the same to me, and I'm often sensitive to non-essential oil scents. BPTP candles are wonderful smelling, but something in them gives me a headache every time. I'm not opposed to trying new brands, though, if they're tea lights, and in the fruity/citrus/herbal varieties!
Do you like Sockdreams? If so, what styles would you prefer? (You can also link your wishlist.)
I loooooove Sock Dreams, especially knee socks of all kinds!
Do you need hair accessories? If so, what kind or color?
I usually put my hair up in a clip at work - I don't know what it's called, but I twist my hair and then clip it - and I only have ONE of these damn things, so sure.
What is your favorite shade of blue?
True robin's egg (so many things claim to be this color and are not!), navy, periwinkle, cornflower, sky. I like most non-neon blues.
If you were to start learning something new (intellectual or craft or hobby), what would it be?
Ummmm. I might like to learn to letterpress. I'd like to learn about a lot of things.
What about candy? Do you have a sweet tooth?
I do, alas! But I've been trying to eat better candy, like, not mass produced crap that's made of nothing but corn syrup and chemicals. I don't stick to this very well though.
Do you have an e-reader? What kind? Would you like to get ebooks?
Not a dedicated e-reader, but I sometimes read on my iPad or phone. I'm really not lacking for books, though!
If your witch is an extremely crafty sort, and she were to send all kinds of homemade foody goodies and handmade crafty stuff - what are items you would NOT LOVE to receive. Please dont hedge on this one...some of us are serious crafters and will be making most of what we send!
I guess I'm not big on tchotchkes that don't have some kind of purpose - though there are definitely exceptions to this (I adore the crocheted Totoro dixiehellcat sent me once!). I am not big on baked goods because I love baking myself. I don't really care for wire-wrap jewelry. This question is kind of hard.
Witchee dear, do you like video games? Are there any you want to play? Do you have a large library?
I LOVE certain games, primarily any variations on Mario and Zelda! I still don't have Skyward Sword. I have a Wii and a very small library and am definitely open to new games.
Do you have something you do, without fail, as a personal daily habit/ritual? (Examples: pen-and-paper journal keeping, tea/coffee drinking, morning yoga, nightly bedtime reading. I'm kind of thinking on things that would be dear to you and might need small supplies or could use certain extras. )
I used to, but I've gotten very bad about these things.
Do you wear nail polish? What colors do you tend to go for? What are your favorite brands? Are you open to trying indie brands?
Yes! NerdLacquer is my absolute favorite, followed by Enchanted. I went on too many nail polish binges last year, though, so I'm trying to stick to just the stuff on my wishlist, mostly!
Name three BPAL scents you have tried, but are dying to get more of.
Uhhhh. Um. I'll come back to this!
Do you still write real letters on nice stationary to people you like/love?
No, I have terrible handwriting!
Do you like/have space to garden? If so, what do you grow?
Tiny Brooklyn apartment, no outdoor space, boo.
Do you like sample sized things? Think lipgloss, mascara, bodylotion, scrubs, mini candles, and so forth.
Yessssssssss.
Do you use solid soaps at all? If so, what kind do or don't you like?
I do - I use Haunt, Villainess, and Arcana.
Have you ever tried Cocoa Pink? If you are curious about it, what looks interesting to you?
I love Princess Poo! I've run out, though, because sometimes I find that scent list overwhelming.
Do you like Lush? If so, what is your favorite product that is currently available, also, what is a product that you love but has been discontinued?
I do! I don't know what is currently available or not but I would pay through the nose for some Ibiza Party Shampoo.
Anyone a fan of Shiro Cosmetics? Any particular products? Eye shadow pigments in general?
I don't wear much makeup beyond nail polish and lip balm/gloss.
Are there any companies, products, or items you boycott?
AMAZON. Partly because I work in an indie bookstore, but also for a ton of reasons including shitty business practices on so many fronts.
As I am in Japan, what sort of things would you like from there?
Anything to do with Studio Ghibli!
Since FB and the FB Gusp group (and the BPAL Sorority which is quiet) have become gathering places...what are some of your favorite Facebook pages you like?
I don't even know what those pages are! I mean, I'm on Facebook, but other than haunting some of the nail polish groups, I don't spend much time on anything but the timeline.
Dr Who?
Yes!
How much do you like lipbalm? Flavored or unflavored? What are your favorite brands and flavors?
I love it, I don't care if it's flavored or not. Burt's Bees and Pacifica are a couple of favorites but I'm not that picky.
Do you like and wear lipgloss? If yes, what colours?
Sometimes, provided it's not the gross sticky kind! I like warm/neutral tones.
Your feelings on Adagio teas: If you've never had anything from them, would you be open to trying them? If you HAVE had them and like them, name some favorites blends. And if you had them and dislike them, can you name a few *other* tea companies you're into?
I don't drink a lot of tea, especially since Invisalign is cramping my beverage style.
What about coffee? Would you like to get coffee send to you? Whole bean or ground? What are some varieties and/or flavors you enjoy
Coffee YES YES YES flavored coffee NO NO NO. While I am not a huge Starbucks person anymore (I am not a huge huge corporations person whenever possible), I freaking love Starbucks Christmas Blend.
Who is your favourite female of all time? Historical, literary, ANYTHING, and why?
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE THIS.
If you were a Disney princess you would be?:
Belle. I'd like to think there's a bit of Merida in me, though. I do play with swords (I fence, though not currently!).
Would you like a seashell from Florida?
Nowhere to put it, really!
What craft project do you currently have on your docket or that you want to start? And that craft goodies would be welcome?
PILES of cross stitches. I welcome supplies!
10/12/08 FINALLY, I have time to work on these some more. Here goes, witch! And sorry I'm so damn LATE with this!If you had to chose one BPAL scent and only ONE to have forever what would it be?Oh, lord, that's difficult. Um. I just feel like after a while, I'd get bored of anything, really. Probably, though, it'd be Pumpkin Queen. Sweet but not too sweet, rich but not too rich, spicy but not too spicy... perfect. Who here likes Betty Page?I like her well enough but I'm not a huge fan. I do think Gretchen Mol was robbed of a deserved Oscar nomination for her role in the movie, though.How about original Trek Characters?Not so much my thing.If you were my witchee, would you like a jar of home made apple butter? This is assuming it turns out good...Sure! I'm kind of weird about foodstuffs from (virtual) strangers, but canned things for some reason don't give me the same nerves...Are you interested in Tarot cards? And if so, are there particular decks you like (or don't or already have or whatever)? Not hugely, though I do have what I think of as the basic deck - the Rider-Waite. I do like the Vertigo and Buffy decks, though...What kind of tea (or coffee) puts you in a fall/Halloween mood? And where do you get it? Every so often I get a pumpkin spice latte or a caramel apple cider from the evil coffee empire.If you were my witchee, would you like dried honey crisp apple slices or other dried fruit?Sure! I do have a thing for dried cranberries, especially.Speaking of historical fiction, how does everyone feel about Sherlock Holmes?I wasn't that into him until I read Julian Barnes' Arthur and George ... now I'm vaguely curious.Favorite cartoons or animated films?Thundercats! *grin* As for animated films, I love Hayao Miyazaki and can't wait to someday get My Neighbor Totoro on DVD. I also have a weakness for the Powerpuff Girls.Villians you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking?*snort* I suppose Spike. And were James McAvoy or Lee Pace to play a villain, I'd ... be into them.Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go?Crunchy and with no added sugar! I usually buy Adams No-Stir Crunchy 'cause I hate when the top half of the bottle is all oily and the bottom all dry. (I love Nutella, too. I just eat it from the jar...)What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try?Black, brown, dark reds and blues and greens, the occasional bit of white, and a smattering of pink, which I love when it's not to brassy or orangey. Powder-pink only! I do kind of want to branch out into more colors, but am usually wary... I did buy an odd shade of green shirt the other week that I love now.About incense: do you like sticks or lose incense?HATE. INCENSE.What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it?Again, difficult question! My favorite is Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," of which there is only one version (at least to me!). I also love "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and ... well, so many I can't think of which I love best, really! I collect fairytale books, kinda, and I love retellings, too. (Like Gregory Maguire's underrated Mirror Mirror.)So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'?That's possible?ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook?Sure!How does everyone feel about really green gifties? Fantastic! I am an avid recycler and yet I still have some un-green hangups, like that there are just some things for which I must use paper towels. I try to use canvas bags for groceries but forget too often ... there are a million other ways I could be greener.What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start?The more I look at the sweaters and scarves my friends make, the more I think I'd like to learn to knit. Then I could stop shopping for a Ravenclaw scarf on Etsy and just make my own! I also bought a bunch of empty wooden cigar boxes with the intent to decorate them and sell them, but I just don't know where to start. I don't have an artists' eye in that way, I guess.Would you appreciate some tunes in future packages?Sure, but this is ... a complicated category as between the boyfriend and I we have something like 3,000 CDs and I'm the music editor for a weekly paper so there are always more coming in. But there are still a million things I've never heard and I don't mind mixes with stuff I already have on 'em, so send away!Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it?YUM. When I was in NYC last week we were staying in the very Polish Greenpoint but never managed to eat at a polish bakery, so that's fun. How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie?I, um, don't.What is your favorite tea? What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get?I think I answered this one in the thread: I love a good Earl Gray, and I love Stash's Mangosteen Green but can't find it anywhere. I don't drink a ton of tea but when I do it's usually at night, so I go for herbal things so I won't be up forever.BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts?I like 'em, but sometimes they're a bit strong for me. I've had a small bottle of Queen's Croquet Ground in the bathroom for months and I'm so tired of it that I think I may have to sell off decants of the four seasons ones that I have, as I'll never get through them all! I can't stand Cathouse and am also tired, sadly, of Down the Rabbit Hole, but Dungeon, it turns out, is just subtle enough that I like it a lot. I haven't actually used the seasonal ones yet but I can't bear La Primavera ... I think L'Estate is my favorite of those. I'm really curious about the Doc Constantine one and the mystery spray some people got with their BPTP packages.Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like?Nah ... I'm kind of a baker myself and I always like the making - and the dough-eating - more than the finished product!How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send?It depends on what I find and when. Right now, I'm soooo behind that I plan to make a small box, hopefully today or tomorrow, to tell my witch I've not forgotten to send anything, and then make a bigger reveal box. I usually do a couple of small packages or things sent straight from sellers, but this round has proven a little difficult to me!If you were my witchee, would you be terribly offended if I sent you a box containing project "experiments" or random miscellaneous pretty bits of brainstorming that I thought you might like/wear?Not at all! That'd be lovely.Do you often drink take away coffe in paper mugs? Far more often than I should. But my travel mugs are kinda wonky: One is cute but hard to refill, because the top pops off, which makes me want only travel mugs with screwtops, and the other is just kinda old. But it does have a screwtop!What would a perfume based on you smell like?Coffee, ginger, a hint of sweetness from my sugary-smelling shampoo, the smell of sidewalks just when it starts to rain, a hint of basil, a drop of mint and the true vanilla smell of a just-sliced-open vanilla bean.Who here likes Wizard of Oz things?I do, I do!What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys?I don't know! Surprise me. Neat things you can only find in one place are always good.What is everyone's "luck" item?I'm not sure I have one, really. (I'm really in the clump of questions I answered in the thread, aren't I?) I have a denim skirt that it used to be impossible to have a bad night in, but I need to lose a few pounds to squeeze into it. But that's not really a luck item. I dunno what that is.Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? Yes! I had a thing for art nouveau when I was younger (a coloring book, too!) but didn't think much about it until I did the four seasons decant circle and bought Mucha postcards to send with the packages ... a couple of them I just love.What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit? A really engrossing book, probably - though right now I have so much to read for work that might not do it. Honestly, any thoughtful SW package will do it! When VioletChaos sent me a gorgeous necklace she made herself and followed it with a lovely dress, it was so unexpected I couldn't stop gushing about it for ages. How do you feel about Hello Kitty?Pretty meh. I'm more a Badtz-Maru girl. And Totoros and such.Legwarmers? Armwarmers?Don't wear 'em, really. Could use some gloves, though!What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? Um. I don't know how to answer this! I live in Oregon, which is weird for this group. I'm a former editorial assistant still obsessed with young adult books; I turned that experience, inexplicably, into a job as an editor and movie reviewer, which is the best possible job for me in this smallish town. But nothing in that is really special. Hrm.If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have?I'm not - but I've got a SNES and N64 and GameCube. Still on the hunt for Super Mario 64 used and at a reasonable price.What is your favorite category of the GC?Ooh. Um. Probably Wanderlust, followed by Exolo and Panacea.Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises?Abiding love.Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it?Yes and yes. I like trying all different kinds of wine. I think, it being fall and all, I might start drinking a little more port...What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about?I've tried quite a few but had pretty bad luck with most of them - a lot of synthetic and cheap smelling stuff with too much in common. But I like Blooddrop and the occasional Arcana (which I think is really good stuff, just not to my taste), and I have a definite weakness for CB:IHP. And I really want to try some of Moxie's Apothecary oils.Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings?Nope!Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography?Possibly! Never really thought about it.What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there?Too. Much. Stuff. Lemme see what's at the top, besides Battlestar Galactica: Soldier's Girl (it's the Lee Pace thing); The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (my previous witchee's interest in the directors made me curious); Southland Tales (anything that divisive needs to be seen!); a bunch of small foreign stuff I meant to see before I did my best of 2007 list (and didn't get to); Mysterious Skin (I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt); Oldboy; Oscar and Lucinda; a TON of stuff I just never got around to, really.Do you play a musical instrument?I can read music and thus can muck about with a piano; I used to play the clarinet; I had a brief love affair with my guitar but I never play it. I kind of wish I did; lately I find myself wanting to write songs. It's weird.What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle?I wanted to love it but it didn't work for me, sadly.How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? I love them when they're meaningful to me; I've got all kinds of weird little things on my bookshelf. I try not to collect too many oddments, but I do have a weakness for them.Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package?Yes! It's quite chilly here now.Who likes pirates?They're alright. Especially when they look like Orlando Bloom.What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos?I've not thought about it much, but it's interesting.What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas?I have it somewhere and would like to watch it again. I'm a fan of the trio of little creatures whose names I can't remember ... and the dog!If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag?I have no self-control, so small amounts of high-quality stuff is the way I tend to go!Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which?Kind of. I tend to be more accepting of bath stuff than of perfumes; for instance, I love the sugary Cocoa Pink shampoos, but I'd never wear those scents as perfume. I tend to like bright citrus notes for the shower, though, since they wake me up a little!Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't?Not really. I don't do strong florals in any form. Though I do love honeysuckle — and clematis, which I can never find in anything...How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind?I don't use honey a lot but I do like it - the more varieties, the better! And maple sugar candy, yum!What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day?Drink coffee and read a book in a comfy chair by a fire. Or go for a long walk and kick leaves. Or bake cookies so that the house is warm and smells nice.If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? No treats; they apparently make the kitty barf. She loves the weirdest toy: A friend sent me a little knit? crocheted? heart that was stuffed with what I think is quilt batting; she gets it stuck on her claws and throws it around like crazy. But now the heart is missing, boo!What's your ringtone?Plain old phone sound. I need to think up something better.Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Addams, for sure! What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])?Sure, why not? I don't need much, though. I have a good strainer and too many coffee cups...How do you feel about copies of music or dvd's that your witch might have that you might enjoy? Not just mixes, but whole copies?Slightly doubtful but open. It's not like I've never copied music/movies before.Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? You mean to plan things for me? Definitely not, though I have friends who do.Tarts? Yes/no?Nope!I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)?I love those things! One of the most surprisingly wonderful new things I tried lately was bacon brittle. YUM. And I love caramel with sea salt.What's your favorite animal?Otters!What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for?Hmmmmmm. Orange! You didn't say it had to be realistic. Also Coffee Bean SN. Yeah, I'm hopeless.If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? I think I could be asked this question daily and always give different answers. Today? Roger Ebert, Phillip Pullman and Ursula K. LeGuin.If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be?Veronica Mars. I'd say Buffy, but I think she's doing quite well in comic book form.I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you?Sure, I guess! Not a high priority, though.What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat?Bacon. *grin* And really good chocolate in large quantities. I'm pretty predictable. Oh, and ice cream. Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round?I usually do, but I keep the lists updated when I do so!Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style?Nope!How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something?If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to?It's a lovely notion but not one I feel strongly about.What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc.I'm pretty slow when it comes to art - I can't keep eras and movements and such straight. I just love a few things here and there. Elegant, realistic, fantastic, simple - oh, I don't know. I'd be more specific if I weren't such a dunce!Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? Yes on both counts.For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose?Either, but mostly bag tea.Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc?We have two seasons: Summer and rain. But yes, it's quite cold, and I lack both a hat and gloves!Any period of time that you love? Hrm. Kind of a fan of the 20s, but not so much that I'm a collector of 20s things, really. Another question I've never really thought about!What's your favorite part about Fall?The way the air feels on a crisp day when it's not horribly cold out yet; the leaves swirling through the air as they fall; the steam that comes off a cup of coffee in the morning. And the return of basketball season!Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? I like plain old ballpoint pens and stickynotes. Actually, I have a thing for office supplies, but don't use or need them that much, really!What's your favorite Halloween candy? Candy corn!Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that?No, alas. I've tried before but never passed about 16K ... and these days I have enough writing to do for work to keep me too busy to try.Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness?A local store full of housewares and candles and bath things, Etsy, stationery stores, Amazon ... wherever seems relevant!What is your favorite pumpkin goodness?One of my boyfriend's sisters makes an amazing pumpkin cheesecake. Sooooo good.9/4/08: OK, it took way too long for a computer-savvy person like me to figure out how to start this damn thing! But I'm stuck sitting around waiting for a train that's currently an hour and 17 minutes late - so what better way to spend my time than by getting started on some of these questions? Here goes!Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you?Hmmm. I live in an area without a ton of BPAListas, so I don't know many people IRL except djnevermore, who lives two hours away and who is lovely. We've only met a couple of times - maybe again tomorrow, oddly enough! But on the forum, hrm, again, hard to say; I "know" former witchees and people who are regulars in my decant circles, but do they know my tastes? I'm not sure! Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms?Yes! And it currently has a catburger hanging from it. It's really more like a cat strawberry shortcake - it's a little white cat between two cakes, with strawberries on the side; I bought it in SF years ago because I have a white cat - but catburger just has a better ring to it.If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator?Mostly, we use a stovetop espressomaker - the metal kind that I never understood until I realized how simple and perfect they are. We also have a French press that rarely gets used; I don't like how it gets cold!What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? Oh, lord. Um. The Dark Knight and There Will Be Blood, recently; The Piano; The Fall (if there is a CD of this, I must get it!); Hot Fuzz (soundtrack); The Crow (soundtrack)... probably more I'm just not thinking of at the moment.How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL?I'm actually pretty reserved with scent; I like to have it waft faintly around me, but not to intrude on others. I use scented soaps and scrubs - mostly scrubs - but hardly ever use lotion (for me it's mostly something I put on my hands before bed, as they get dry so easily!). I put on a bit of BPAL most mornings, and sometimes re-up at night if I'm going out, but I rarely plan to layer. I'm not that organized!Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above?I don't, apart from the occasional squirt of BPTP room spray! I can't stand incense, don't do tarts, and while I love some scented candles, I'm extremely picky about them; synthetic scents make my throat itch and give me headaches. BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures?This question is kind of hard. I love the smell of wet pavement, freshly brewed coffee, baking bread - all the usual, really! I love the feel of crisp clean sheets, skirts that swing, and fluffy towels; the sound of birdsong in the morning (though not the damn starlings that live outside my window), the ocean, steady traffic (this is a city thing, I think!), splashing fountains, pages turning...How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals?I'm bigger on things to make myself than things that are made for me, as I love to bake! I'd love oils and vinegars, though, and strange things to incorporate into my cooking.What are your pet's names, and what are they named for?My cat is named Halo, because she has a black dot in the middle of her forehead and Bindi seemed too obvious. I wanted to name her Mogget, after the white not-really-a-cat in Garth Nix's Sabriel, but it's kind of an awkward name, really.Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I wouldn't say over the top, but I do like the idea of collecting various editions of the Alice books, and I love Alice things, like the dishes at Fishs Eddy, or magnets or such. I'm oddly fond of the dormouse, for some reason.Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character?Nope. I don't dislike it, but I've never really gotten into it, though DS9 tempted me briefly. Becoming a BSG fan, though...Do you have phobias?I don't care for spiders, but I don't kill them, either. I'm somewhat afraid of fire; I hate when people are on fire in movies. And I'm horribly squicked by injuries involving finger and toe-nails.How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like?NOT random! The point of a mix is that something ties it together, even if it's just the year of release! I think mostly I like stuff that I already like blended with similar things I might enjoy. But I also like all new stuff - it just takes me longer to get to those.Would you rather get food or jewellery?Probably jewelry, if it was to my taste (which I will admit is fairly picky), as I'm trying to lose those last five to ten pounds...Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?Like? Yes, relatively. Want? Not so much, as I'm trying to have less unused stuff!English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England?Oh, where to start. Most British chocolate makes me very happy. I also love Swedish candy. Really. And Fullers ESB and Caffrey's - though getting beer from the UK to Oregon might be difficult!Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay?No, thank you! I'm not big on reading fanfic; it messes up the stories in my head.Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up?I've never tried a theme, so mixing it up is my answer by default.Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones?I actually kind of hate band-aids. Is that weird? I only use them if I really really have to.What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you?When I was about 10, I almost choked on a LifeSaver. Stop laughing! It's true! I mean, I did choke, and the Heimlich didn't work; my uncle had to turn me upside down and shake me to get the candy out (it was two of them stuck together). That was pretty scary. How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games?Yes yes yes! I play GameCube and N64 games and am on the hunt for a used copy of Super Mario 64. Someday I'll get a Wii. Oh, we also have a SNES used mostly for the occasional Dr. Mario battle.What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Indie rock. It's a phrase that's losing its meaning and has been for years, but it's still the most accurate for the guitar-based heavy-on-the-heartache stuff I like. A touch of alt-country, a little new folk/singer-songwriter stuff, some more aggro rock (Jaguar Love), some more electronically-laden stuff (TV on the Radio), lots of Death Cab and The National and Band of Horses and The Posies and, oh, some pop punk, too.Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee?Not yet! Though I still have to read the book my first Witch gave me - I've been meaning to get to it! But I have given two Witchees copies of American Gods, which is one of my favorite books, and one a copy of Wicked, which is my other favorite.What kinds of eye shadows do we all like?I actually wear very little makeup. It always looks stupid on me.Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I do! I tend to plain, but I have some sparkly and would go for lightly tinted in a heartbeat. I like the Propaganda stuff and the Haunt stuff; My Lip Stuff has great scents but is a little too oily for me. I like it to be thicker so it doesn't rub off so quickly.What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills?Ooh, tough one. I sent stellans a locally-compiled cookbook that I was proud of, as she'd said she liked that sort of thing. I managed to get my latest SW just the right yarn, which wasn't that hard but did take me off my beaten path! But I guess I'm not that exciting of a sleuth. And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find?Hmmmm. I'm going to try to remember to come back to this one, because there ARE things, but I can't think of them right now.Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies?Who here has an etsy shop?No to both. I'm sadly not very crafty.What are your two favorite etsy shops?Dirty Sanchez and the Pebble Collection (I only really love three of her earring designs, but I REALLY love those three!)Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there.Not lately. Once upon a time I was all over Delphi, but those days are long gone!What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far?I would tell myself to STOP TAKING ON SUCH GIANT DECANT CIRCLES AND GET OUTTA THE HOUSE. Yes, the all-caps would be necessary.If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight?Honestly? I'd probably freeze up and not be able to speak!Robots versus zombies: who wins? Robots, clearly; they'd be incredibly effective against those mindless creatures.What would zombie say?Zombies don't talk!Where are a few of your favorite places? Rockefeller Park in NYC, or any other sculpture garden with work by Tom Otterness; the courtyard of the Nunnery hostel in Melbourne, Australia; the central Oregon coast; anywhere in Sydney where I can stick my toes in the warm Pacific; Stockholm; the International Fountain in Seattle; the coffee shop where I'm sitting right now; the secret catwalks in Grand Central's windows; any NYC block where the sidewalk sparkles; a booth at the New Old Lompoc in Portland, an hour before last call; any bar where I know the bartenders; the Badlands; the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park. I could go on.Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday?I think mine's too late - it's Nov. 23.What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs?Ha! You could actually say BPAL, given my dislike for regular perfume and for people whom you can smell from across a room.Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try?Yes and no. I like the smells, but I can't stand to have a whole bar in the shower; it takes forever to use up, and I get bored! So I'd say I'm a soap slice addict; I loooove soap slices. I'm learning that Villainess is a little too drying for me, and that BPAL/Silk Road isn't scented in a way I like; I love Haunt and Dirty Sanchez and a couple of others. I'm game for slices of most anything, though.Do you like kilts and would you wear one?I find them sort of funny on people who aren't Scottish. What's your favorite book?Accidentally answered this before! Neil Gaiman's American Gods, Gregory Maguire's Wicked, David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, and many, many, many more.What size socks do you wear? How about hat size?Ordinary size? I wear 8.5 shoes, so whatever that translates to! As for hats, I have a big head, but I don't know the actual size...Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand?Yes and no - I read trade paperbacks, but I'm too speedy a reader to have patience with single issues. I've been reading the Buffy season eight stuff as it gets collected; I love DMZ; some not-current favorites are Transmetropolitan, Planetary, The Invisibles and, of course, Sandman. I have the first Fables book and the Scheherezade collection, but I really want to read more of those. I love Scott Pilgrim and Blankets and Adrian Tomine and... all kinds of stuff, really. Been reading a lot of Batman, lately.Symbols that are meaningful to me?Hmmm. Triullims. Not a symbol, a flower, but still. I'll have to think about this one.By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl?Total night owl. Total. Would love to never have to get up before 10:30 or go to bed before 2.What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded?Same stuff I usually listen to (says the girl on her way to a music fest!).What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Pumpkin spice lattes. And sometimes caramel apple cider. Probably some seasonal drinks at my favorite local bar, too.Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles?Crosswords, yes! Though I've gotten out of the habit lately. I love the NYT crosswords, impossible as they can be.Favorite artist?Um. Hrm. Let me get back to you on that. I'm not very visual-arts oriented. I do love the Mucha postcards I bought for the Four Seasons decant circle, though. And I have a weakness for Calder, thanks to my stepfather. But there are others.Favorite poet?e.e. cummings. I'm predictable. More recently, I loved Brenda Shaughnessy's Interior With Sudden Joy.Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy?A bit of both, I think.Reserved or Raunchy?Totally depends on my present company!Earth, Wind, Fire or Water?I'm a fire sign with a strong water affinity. Seems sort of counterintuitive, really.Tea or Coffee in the morning?COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE *sips mocha*Fruity snacks or chocolate?Both! I've been addicted to dried cranberries lately, but I love me some choccies ... and chocolate-covered espresso beans!Would you accept art?What does that mean? Prints? Art made by Witch? The idea of art? Yes to all.Antiques or Brand New?Both, mostly vintage, though.What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy?bird, silver, wood box, tiny earrings, tote bag, dressAre there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin?Wool makes me itchy.What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up?I really, really, really hate being scared, so I can't say I have a favorite exactly...Bugs? Do you like 'em or not?They're alright! So long as they aren't in my bed, anyway.i haz no imp storage. do you?I'm not bad. Could use another ammo box at some point.If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow?I have a small and ill-tended container garden of herbs: thyme, sage, rosemary, mint.What incense scents do you prefer? None, pleaes!Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween?I don't decorate for anything. (What's the point in having extra crap just to have it? ) I always mean to dress up, but generally lack inspiration/money. Last time I did a decent job of it, I was Ragged Robin from the Invisibles, and absolutely no one knew who I was. Maybe this year, though..Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer?Cats and witches! Especially very simple, black-silhouetted witches. Phillip Pullman witches (ragged, elegant).Do you like horror flicks?Noooooooooooo.Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing?I love the idea but haven't the patience.What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like?I'm terrible about handwriting anything these days. I love notecards and pretty paper, but mostly it just sits in a box.What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)?The perfect pair of black, knee-high, leather, zip-up boots. Why don't I have them? Because I am beginning to be convinced they don't exist. They must be utterly plain! And just right! and I cannot find them! Sigh.What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to?Just one? Probably Sticky Pillowcase. EDIT: Turns out my favorite is Huesos de Santo. The Pillowcase didn't work at all!Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting?None yet, and no immediate plans.Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same?YES. To the point that I drive my boyfriend crazy storing stuff to reuse in packing, and feel guilty about the bubble mailers for circles, since I suspect most of them just get thrown out...What is your favorite crafting supply?Dunno how to answer this as I suck at crafting.Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Right.
