Do you like to find out there's a package on the way or to receive a tracking number to stalk, or do you prefer surprise packages?

Both ways are fun! It is extremely exciting to receive unexpected mail, but it's also fun to obsessively hit refresh on the USPS website once one has received a tracking number. I'll leave this up to my Witch!

 

If i were your witch, and I wanted to make you a spell or mojo bag, would you be into that?

I honestly wouldn't know what to do with it.

 

What are your favorite fruits?

Berries of all sorts, mango, clementines (and citrus in general, really), apples (but not red delicious), pear, watermelon, banana...I like fruit in general. Just not cherries, white nectarines, or white plums. Screw you, allergies.

 

What is one thing you constantly keep with you that you constantly lose?

Pencils and pens! I always try to carry one of each, and I lose so very many. I do have this one pen that I've managed to hold onto for over a year, but it's noticeably heavier than the other pens I tend to carry, so I may be more aware of its presence.

 

Lusting over anything from the Trading Post lately?

I haven't really been looking, because I am trying to avoid spending more money.

 

Are you a Miyazaki fan? Do you have all the films you like, or is your collection missing one? Is there any merchandise you want?

The only Miyazaki thing with which I'm familiar is Nausicaä, which I like very much. I've seen the movie and have the books. I figure I'd like his other work, but I just haven't gotten around to seeing/reading it yet.

 

Do you wear lip gloss/lip balm? If so, what flavors/scents?

I'll wear unflavored or basic mint lip balm in the winter, because my lips get really chapped and bleed everywhere, which sucks. Definitely not gloss for fashion reasons, or anything with a color to it!

 

Fetish?

I assume this means fetish animal, and I honestly don't know. It's an interesting concept, but I haven't investigated it much, and so to say something about a particular animal in this thread would be pulling something out of very little consideration, which just doesn't work. So, nothing for now.

 

Do you drink alcohol? Wine, beer or liquor? What is your favorite wine/beer/mixed drink?

I do drink, though not very much and not particularly often. As an earth scientist, I am required to have an appreciation for beer; I tend to like amber ales, pale ales, and hefeweizens. In terms of wine, I know woefully little about specifics, but I do know that I have consistently liked pinot grigio and shiraz when I've had them. I don't really drink hard liquor, though Bailey's or Kahlua in coffee or cocoa is good.

 

******9/18*****

If Beth made a perfume called "switch witch" what notes would be in it?

Hrmm. Wrapping paper and/or shipping cardboard, tea, chocolate, the metal of handcrafted jewelry, the soft wood of hand-painted BPAL boxes, the sweet wax of candles, and a whiff of so many generously gifted imps at once that you can't tell them apart. This round might also have beets, but if we're going with a more general Switch Witch scent...

 

What is your favorite cookie type?

Oh jeez. You're making me pick one?! In general, cookies are awesome. Some particular favorites are white chocolate macadamia nut, things related in composition to Thin Mints, and snickerdoodles, but there's no way you could really screw up with sending me a cookie. Unless it had cherries - stupid allergies.

 

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Are you into 80s movies (like i am ) if so, which are your favorites and who are your favorite characters?

I was born in 1984, so I probably know more '80s cartoons than anything else. Haha. I was kind of obsessed with "Oliver and Company" when I was little (I haven't seen it in ages - but I do remember the awesome soundtrack). Also, "Ghostbusters," though I preferred the animated spinoff at the time, and now I prefer the movie. Definitely "The Princess Bride" as well.

 

Do you like Villainess soaps? What are your favorite scents?

I have, thus far, only tried two Villainess soaps (Ginger Snapped and Smashing), and I liked them both quite a lot. They smell good and feel nice. In terms of ones I'd want to try, Quick Or Dead sounds awesome, but also appears to be sold out. As for others I might be interested in trying: Friction, Krakatoa (on principle, because it's a big volcano!), Grundy, Scintillating, Byzantium

 

Do you mind artificial colors in your food?

I don't mind.

 

Who wants hair pretties?(headbands, barrettes, pony-o's, scrunchies, bobby pins, hair clips, etc)

No thanks. My hair is not long enough for these things, even disregarding the fact that I'm a guy.

 

If you were my witchee, would you like any of the scents/sizes that are available on clearance?

No candles, please. Don't want to have the cats start yet another southern California fire.

 

I am on an origami crane kick recently, so I wonder if anyone will be interested in origami crane earrings, origami crane in a glass vial (~1.2cm wide) phone charm/pendant or just a container filled with cranes of different sizes.

I think origami cranes are cool, but I wouldn't have use for earrings or a phone charm, and I suspect that a really tiny one in a jar would get devoured by my desk somewhere. I should clean this thing, really.

 

How do you feel about clothing/accessories made from animals? Anti-fur, leather, shells, etc.? Does even faux wig you out?

I'm fine with leather, since it comes from an animal that people use for other things as well. Fur is a definite no, though, since the animal is killed specifically and only for its fur. I have no moral objection to faux fur, though things with faux fur do not necessarily fit into the vague thing that is my "style." No problems with shells, either.

 

How do you deal with stress? What's your favorite way to unwind?

I release my constant loading stress slowly and steadily in a process called aseismic creep, in which I move constantly and produce no earthqu--...wait, that's the Calaveras Fault, not me. Sorry.

In all seriousness, though, I sometimes follow a more traditional stick-slip/elastic rebound fault behavior in my personal stress management. That is, stress builds up and I don't let it show so much, but at some yield point, I have a really bad day, whether it's bad-mood-discouraged/depressed or whether it's explosive. I'm trying to be less like this, since I always feel terrible about the bad outburst days later. The goal is to be more like aseismic creep - letting the stress slide, or releasing it so steadily that there are no bad mood problems. I tend to unwind by plunking down in front of the TV and drawing, or by petting my cats, or sometimes by playing music. Reading is less effective than it used to be, because it makes me feel guilty about reading fun stuff rather than reading all the stuff assigned to me.

 

You're given the opportunity to apprentice at any trade (or craft) of your choosing for the period of one year. Your mentor may be any currently living person. Which field of study would you choose, and who would be your mentor?

My initial thought was that I'd want to do fault geology with some of the best people out there, but then I realized that I should answer this question in a way not related to my actual research/job, and I also realize that I already know some of the best people out there in this field.

So - actual crafts. Artistic things. Hrm. Wouldn't want to do a music thing, since I'm terrible at practicing and would just tick the person off. I'd also be hesitant to do visual art, for fear that formal study might make me feel less inclined to do it on my own (I'm currently completely self-taught.) At this point, I'd probably say I'd want to lean to cook from someone really good, since the only things I can cook now are boring and not very tasty. I don't know enough about chefs to know who I'd want to work with, though.

 

******9/16*****

Who is musically inclined? What instruments (voice counts) do you play? Would you enjoy sheet music?

Hooboy, this question.

Vaguely in the order of when I learned them: piano, violin/fiddle, viola (I consider this my main instrument), voice, tenor viol, recorder (mostly alto), guitarrón, crumhorn (though I suck at it), and most of the instruments in a Javanese gamelan (with a particular focus on gendèr and bonang, if that means anything to any of you). I also compose (and, in fact, have two degrees in composition). And I'm contemplating learning mandolin next.

But for all of that, I rarely practice outside of actual rehearsal. There just isn't time, since I'm not a music major/proper musician/what have you. I probably would not ever get a chance to learn any sheet music sent to me, at least not if it's solo stuff. If you were to send something like parts for string quartets, I would find people to sightread through them with me.

 

Favorite musicals?

Wicked, Into the Woods, Spamalot, The Secret Garden, Fiddler On The Roof, Ludwig II (which is a German musical, and which has really good music), Chicago, probably forgetting a few others...

 

Which of the seven deadly sins is most likely to be your undoing?

Hrmm. Possibly envy. I do get jealous when other people get awesome opportunities related to things that I also do. It's not a crippling thing, but if I were to let myself fixate on it, I would get sidetracked from working hard so that I can get my own awesome opportunities.

 

Anyone want a nickname and embroidered headband from PandaBite?

Not particularly.

 

I have seen a lot of yankee candles haters..... personally i like yankee candle (some of them, anyway). do you or don't you, and if not, what candles do you like? this assumes you like candles. otherwise, what specific home fragrance do you use?

I don't scent my apartment, since I hear doing so is bad for animals, and I have two cats. Even if I did scent my home, I think candles would be a terrible idea, because of the whole burning thing, and said two cats.

 

Would a "gift" donation to one of the organizations/causes you support be a great gift, or a lame gift?

That would be a good thing!

 

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Does anyone have any symbols they consider to be personally significant or talismanic?

Not particularly. There are symbols that I like, but they are generally representative of my larger interests, rather than being talismans in and of themselves.

 

Are there any Gods, Goddess, or other mythological figures of whom you're particularly fond?

I enjoy myths and legends in general, though no particular named figures come to mind as being favorites. Lately, I've been particularly interested in myths that involve/explain natural disasters. Since my research is into some of the real mechanisms behind earthquakes in particular, it's really cool to hear how different groups of people explained these phenomena before there was such a thing as modern science.

 

Super villain or vigilante? Which would you like to be?

I'm not really the type for either of these, but I think I'd more likely be a vigilante than a supervillain.

 

What mythical or fantastic race of creatures (dragons, unicorns, griffins, elves, dwarves, faeries, etc.) do you most identify with, and why?

This is never something I've thought much about, but out of the list here, I think I'm going to have to go with gryphons. They're part one mundane creature, part another, and come together to be something weirder and, perhaps, greater overall. This makes sense given my academic background - scientist and musician at once.

Though, perhaps, a phoenix might describe this switch of focus better. One field wasn't working for me - I felt totally burned out on it - so I let that one go and rose out of the frustration and mess and angst into a totally different field that I'm enjoying much better.

 

How do you feel about Dia de los Muertos? Are you interested in sugar skulls? Catrina (or other) skeleton figurines?

I know very little about this holiday, but I do know that the aesthetic of sugar skulls is appealing to me. I like all the little patterns and details that go into the designs.

 

Do you have a favorite poem or poet?

I know shamefully little about poetry.

 

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For the crafty people out there: would you prefer something crafted or crafting supplies?

I would be thrilled to receive a craft that my witch made! I would also be excited to receive supplies, particularly in the form of markers.

 

Can you use pill boxes, a hard ID case, coin purse, etc?

Not particularly. Though maybe I should get some cards, since I go to conferences a lot now and end up scrawling my email address on paper for people.

 

Any songs you are desperately into at the moment?

I am still totally hooked on the whole Nickel Creek compilation CD that Lizard Queen gave me in the last Switch Witch round.

 

What's autumn like in your neck of the woods? What do you love and/or hate about it?

We don't have proper autumn as most people think of it here in Riverside. It remains quite hot even into November, and humidity is pretty much nonexistent. The Santa Ana winds, which result from a high pressure system spilling already warm and pressurized winds from the desert over the mountains, thus heating and speeding the air up even more as it flows into the L.A. basin, generally start in October, making everything hotter and drier. This is also the time of year that fires are whipped into their worst conditions, due to the heat and dryness and wind. Given the recent drought and the severity of fire we've had already, even without Santa Anas, I'm expecting a bad year. So...I do love how the Santa Anas clear all the smog and crap out of the air, leading to some very clear views of the mountains, but I'm definitely not a fan of the fires.

 

What's your favorite product(s) at Trader Joe's?

Those dark chocolate and sea salt almonds are amazing, as are the dark chocolate chipotle hazelnuts. I'm also a big fan of their maple frosted wheat cereal, and of the microwavable Thai lunches they have. I actually do a lot of my regular shopping at Trader Joe's, since it's so close by.

 

If you're caught in front of the tv, what are you watching?

Mythbusters, Monk, House, or something on the Discovery Health Channel. Unless it's 3AM and I'm up drawing things, in which case it's probably Law and Order.

 

Any Amy Brown art fans?

I do not know who this is!

 

How do you feel about Halloween music? (mix CDs, what have you)

I generally find Halloween songs amusing, but not so much that I have sought out CDs/MP3s. But don't let this deter you, Witch - if you have found some musically interesting or particularly funny Halloween songs, they're welcome!

 

Who else is reeeeeally looking forward to Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland?

I am excited!

 

Is there a store that you love which does not have a location near you (but that has a physical presence somewhere, not just online? Why do you love it so much?

Nothing comes to mind. (I live within an hour's drive or so from the Lab, even.)

 

Lolcats....yeah or nay?

I can has!

 

What is your favorite creepy folk story or legend?

I don't have a favorite, since I know very few to begin with.

 

If your witch were to either write something for you or put together a collection of ghost stories, would you rather have it in writing, recorded as an oral telling, or both?

I'd probably rather have it in writing, but I certainly would not object to a recording if that was something my Witch wanted to do.

 

If you had the funds to comission an original painting for yourself, what would it be of? What would it be like- colors, size, style?

I have no idea. Seriously. I actually don't think it'd be something geological, though, since that's the kind of stuff I draw.

 

 

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What's something you're really looking forward to in the semi-near future?

Volcanology class field trip to Hawaii!

Also, continued work on the big earthquake outreach project I've been focused on for the past month and a half.

 

What fictional character do you most identify with and why?

I could think about this question for a long time and never come up with one in particular, so I won't.

 

Could you use a 'travel' imp case? How many should it hold?

It wouldn't hurt, though my use would be more as a way to keep the imps from getting squished in transit, than as a thing I'd carry around for the sake of refreshing the scent. I'd have no preference as to what it could hold.

 

As a witchee, would you prefer to have many little packages sent to you throughout the round with a not-so-big final package or fewer things throughout the round with one huge final package to seal the sweetness?

I would be thrilled with whatever modus operandi of gift giving my Witch chose to adopt.

 

What is your idea of the perfect evening at home?

Just me, petting the cats and relaxing, maybe reading or drawing. If I'm drawing, the TV might be on, and it'd be an actually interesting show. In this perfect evening, it is not stupidly hot in my apartment.

 

Are you on any social networks (MySpace, Twitter, LJ, Facebook, Bebo, etc)? If so, make with the links! Are you open to new friends?

I'm dsch on Livejournal and seismogenic on Twitter. I'm definitelt open for new friends.

 

What kind of socks?

Right now, my socks are all the plain nondescript white ones.

 

How often do you update your wishlist?

Generally, whenever I get s new thing and test it.

 

May I help you fill out your costuming wardrobe (assuming you costume)? Are there articles you are seeking to enhance your a) Halloween costume, Renfest attire, c) Cosplay, d) Steampunk accouterment?

Nothing immediately comes to mind here. I generally only do the costume thing around Halloween, though if I had more excuses to do so without being the only person in costume, I would. My Halloween costumes tend to either be somehow historical, or to be anthropomorphic personifications of things.

 

So, who has a store or ETSY shop or knows of a shop of a fellow BPALer that everybody needs to check out?

I have never actually poked around on Etsy.

 

Who are your favorite artists/illustrators/art periods?

In terms of periods, I tend to like my art rather like my music - stuff from the late 19th and early 20th centuries - Romanticism, if you will. I like art nouveau and jugendstil for all the patterned details, and I have an appreciation for art deco providing it has not been done as a simplification/modification of things that were prettier earlier (see: the Call Building/Central Tower, 3rd and Market, San Francisco. Grr.) As for artists...hm. I like Mucha, I like Klimt...I actually don't know that much about fine art. Haha. If we can include photographers, definitely Ansel Adams. An if we can include comics, P. Craig Russell.

 

What's your stance on cranberries?

Yum!

 

Do you mind receiving used (in good condition, of course) CDs or DVDs? (I know this question was on the questionnaire about books, but I didn't see one for DVDs or CDs.)

Used things are great by me! I tend to buy used CDs rather than new for myself, even, since they still work but cost less.

 

Do you have a crush on anyone famous? Do you have a crush on any literary characters? Would you like fanfiction or fan art based on this/these people?

I have no crushes.

 

You're at home, or out, and you want a snack. Something that will get you through to the next meal, or through to the end of school or what ever. What do you grab?

In reality, this is often determined by mood, and I may not make the best choices (read: Pop Tarts), but if I want to keep my blood sugar at a good height and not have a rumbling tummy, I go for things like almonds or other mixed nuts.

 

Do you have a favorite bpal bottle art?

I love looking at the bottle art for all the new scents that come out. This is actually one of the things I do first at Will Call, before even testing some of the new ones. As for favorites, hm. All of the Steamworks and Carnaval labels are amazing (the label art may have been partly responsible for my purchasing a bottle of Priala, even). All of the Lunacy labels lately have been wonderful, too, though I haven't actually purchased one since Windy Moon. I also found last year's Wind in the Willows labels to be particularly charming. So...after all that, I can't say I have a single favorite, but that I enjoy the bottle art in general. The artists must have such fun with these.

 

Are there any decants from the Halloweenies, Literary Vampires, Gris Grimly, or Hellboy that you would be interested in receiving?

I sniffed a bunch of these at Will Call, but didn't spring for decants due to money reasons. Things that I'd be glad to have decants of, though, would be Carlin, the Hell Gate of Ireland, and any/all of the Hellboy scents. With Hellboy, though, I figure I can also keep sniffing them at Will Call to figure out if/when I want bottles of any of them.

 

******9/11*****

Do you have a Livejournal?

I do! My username is dsch. I don't update horribly often, but when I do, the posts are long.

 

There has been a lot of talk about chocolate, but none about Candy! What is your favorite Candy? What candy do you hate?

I am a big fan of candy in general, it's true! Favorites entirely depend on my mood, though as before stated, you can never go wrong with chocolate for me. Ditto mints. Cinnamon things are also quite welcome. I like fruit candies in general, except for the grape ones. Please do not send me grape candy. It reminds me too much of the awful purple allergy medicine I took daily as a little kid.

 

Do you have a Blu-Ray player?

Nope.

 

Do you have any objections to receiving downloads? Is your internet connection fast enough for you to download large files like music easily? Are there any songs, albums, movies, or TV shows that you can't find/haven't been released that you want?

I have no objections! My connection is tolerably fast, though I've never really tried downloading more than individual songs at a time. Even if my home connection turns out to be slow, the connection at school is ridiculously fast.

Nothing is coming to mind right this instant in terms of things I particularly want, but if I think of something, I'll post or blog.

 

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If you do any kind of craft, could you use supplies? What kind? knitting needles, yarn, amazing fabric, pinking shears, cool thimbles or pincushins, jewelery making supplies, beads, etc.?

I could always use more art markers, specifically Copics or Prismacolors. I use them frequently, and I just burned through a bunch of them on a major project this summer.

 

What's your favorite pain-relief remedy or ritual?

Advil and a nap.

 

Do sounds make you happy? What ambient noises make you smile?

Like so many other people here, I love the sound of my cats purring. It's especially nice when I get them both purring at once. I also like the sound of wind through the trees, providing it is a nice sane gentle wind (as opposed to, say, Santa Anas). Also like other people here, I think distant train whistles sound cool.

 

When you receive your SW packages...do you like receiving things that are individually wrapped inside? or unwrapped? or both?

I have no particular preference - whatever my Witch wants to do!

 

Of course, we're all going to be grateful no matter what our witches give us, but for the record, what is your anti-present? Tell us something that you think your future witch might give you that you absolutely, unequivocally DO. NOT. WANT.

Nothing really comes to mind here. I think I was pretty clear about the kind of stuff I don't want in my questionnaire. Uh, I guess, no candles? Since things that involve fire are not a good idea around rambunctious cats.

 

What BPAL scent have you never tried but always wanted to? What scent have you tried and LOVED, and haven't been able to get more of and why?

I generally don't look at the older scents, since I know there's next to no chance of me getting to test them. In terms of recent things that there's no way I'll get to try, almost every single note in Sacrifice sounded amazing. The only one that didn't immediately appeal was the blood note, but everything else looked awesome.

As for things I got to try once, Skadi is amazing. I am lucky enough to have a decant, and I'm sure I'll never come by more of it than that.

 

I know we're all scent sensitive here. What are your favorite non-perfume smells? Day in the life stuff?

Coffee, orange blossoms wafting over campus in the spring, the desert right after rain, woodsmoke (providing it is not a huge freaking wildfire), chai

 

Coffee drinkers, what types of beans to you like? Kona, Sumatra, Kenya..etc. How do you like them roasted? Do you like flavors, such as hazelnut, vanilla, etc. in your coffee?

I like trying different types of beans. Right now, I have some from Guatemala and some from Flores (Indonesia). They're pretty different from each other, and both are delicious. I like flavored coffee drinks sometimes, but not so much for my first cup in the morning.

 

Who has a birthday falling in this round?

Nope. It was in June.

 

For those of us who like chocolate, do you like anything /in/ your chocolate, like fruit, nuts, or for the more daring among us, chilies?

I like trying interesting things with my chocolate! I think I'd draw the line at that bacon bar that seems to get mentioned every round, though. But yeah, so long as it's not cherries (to which I'm allergic), I like trying things in chocolate.

 

Are there any childhood shows/movies/games/books/etc. that still hold a really special place in your heart?

I still adore the Redwall books. I also wish I could watch shows like Gargoyles again.

 

 

******9/9*****

Super power?

I would want to be able to teleport. I could visit all kinds of places at the snap of a finger, with no travel bills, no transit time, and no carbon footprint! If I had this power, I could also move to San Francisco now and just teleport-commute to school, rather than having to wait until I graduate in 2013.

 

If I send you whole spices or coffee beans, would you be able to grind them or would you prefer them preground for your convenience?

I have a coffee grinder. I do not know how grinding of spices works.

 

For the tea and coffee drinkers: Opinion on tea- and/or coffee-related accessories/etc? (Teaware, sugar crystals, infusers, tea chests, etc)

I don't particularly need fancy accessories to make coffee or tea turn out good. An infuser for loose leaf tea is the only one of those things I actually have, and I do use it regularly

 

How do you take your coffee (or tea)? Black or with cream and/or sugar?

I take my coffee black. As for tea, it depends on the type. Green and white tea, I don't add anything. Black tea, sometimes milk and sugar.

 

Restaurants you'd like a gift certificate to on Restaurant.com?

I can't get this website to looooad.

 

In your perfect world it is chocolate and...?

Oh jeez. I have to pick? I like trying different types of chocolate things.

 

How do you scent your home: tarts, reed diffusers, BPAL, candles?

I don't scent my home. This is apparently a bad idea for people who have cats.

 

What's your favorite dessert treat? Ice cream? Cake? Pie? Fudge brownie cake with pie flavored ice cream on top?

This entirely depends on my mood. In the summer, though, it's generally ice cream, because it's so stupid hot here in the summer.

 

Do you believe we control our destiny, or does our destiny control us?

We control our destiny.

 

What one thing that is missing from your life would you like to have above all else?

Uh. Is "living in San Francisco NOW" a thing?

 

******9/8*****

What was your favouritest job ever, and why?

I'm enjoying this getting paid to do research thing I'm doing now. The docent position at the Smithsonian was also awesome, but that wasn't a paid thing, so it's not really a job.

 

Which three albums would you take to your apocalypse bolt hole and how would you power the generator?

The Beatles' Revolver, Gjallarhorn's Ranarop, and Great Big Sea's Rant and Roar

 

What GC scent have you been putting off getting since it'll "always be there"?

Tombstone and Kumari Kandam. I very nearly caved on Tombstone at the last Will Call, but I talked myself out of it in exactly this way.

 

Are you interested in things like home remedies for ailments, cleaning solutions, etc.?

I have no experience with such things, but if you have any magic cat-pee-smell-remover, that would rock. Also, allergy remedies are good things.

 

******9/7*****

Any cooks? Could you use anything cooking related? Aprons? Cookbooks? Measuring Cups? Recipes? Herb/Spice containers? Fancy Spices? Dish Towels? Cocktail napkins? Amazing Beaded Pot Holders? (like from our very own Pottersville! ) Something else?

When I cook, it generally ends in epic fail. I probably don't even deserve fancy supplies.

 

Are you an avid reader? What's your favorite book/series?

I love to read, but I almost never have time to read for pleasure anymore, since I'm in grad school. It's very sad. That said, I like Gaiman and Pratchett in general. I also confess that I still read the Redwall books, though more for nostalgia than for anything else. In terms of nonfiction, I've been on a bit of a John McPhee kick this summer.

 

What's your favorite candy to stock up on at Halloween?

Pumpkin spice Hershey's Kisses. I didn't hoard enough last year, I don't think.

 

What are your phobias?

Falling off the freeway (again). Though it is not enough of a fear to keep me from driving. I've put 15,000 miles on the new car since my falling-off-freeway incident in June of 2007. This was, perhaps oddly, a thing that still scared me even before it actually happened.

 

What is your favourite flower (or plant)?

A huge expansive field full of a variety of wildflowers is a gorgeous thing. I don't know if I have a favorite among them, though. As for other plants, I love Joshua trees. They're so weird.

 

Duct tape purses and wallets and things are pretty darned cool. Who else thinks so?

They are pretty cool.

 

An anonymous benefactor gives you $500 (or an equivalent amount of money in your currency of choice) with the following stipulations. You must spend all of it within a week: any money left unspent must be returned. You must spend at least half of the money on yourself. You may not use it to pay off debts or bills of any kind. What do you do with the money?

I'd go to San Francisco for a few days. Not that I'm fixating or anything.

 

Who likes coloring books?

I prefer to color my own line art. This was true even when I was very little.

 

Do you have a Good Reads profile? If so, make with the link! If you don't have one, go make one!

I don't have one. I guess I should make one. Hah.

 

******9/6*****

You're in the kitchen at the end of a pay period and groceries are pretty scarce. Do you take the five ingredients you find first and make something fabulous, or do you order take out?

This depends on how broke I am at the end of the pay period. I would be inclined to just eat out, since nothing I would cook would be very good, but if I'm broke, I will suffer through my own attempts at cuisine.

 

If you could decorate/redecorate any 1 room in your home, what would it be and how would you decorate it?

I would probably decorate my living room to look like a room that people might actually want to be in! As opposed to a room in which grad school threw up on the floor. There are SO many papers in that room.

 

Any rabid sports fans out there? What teams do you root for?

STEELERS, BABY.

 

What's your favorite animal? (You can have more than one.)

Domestic cats, cheetahs, cougars, domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, pine martens, otters, genets...I could go on.

 

This is how the world ends... zombie apocalypse, robot uprising, alien invasion, return of the elder gods... which doomsday scenario do you prefer (or make your own!)?

A large earthquake on the northern San Andreas Fault levels northern California. It sets off several significant aftershocks in southern California, including one on the Puente Hills Fault under Los Angeles, flattening the city (because it's not a true doomsday scenario until L.A. is destroyed). While everyone is fighting the fires that have consumed the case, static stress changes in the crust twig the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which inflicts a 9.0 earthquake on the Pacific Northwest and sends a tsunami across the Pacific, which has effects as far away as Japan. These stress changes twig several of the faults within Japan, which rupture in sequence in a southernly fashion. With all of the seismic waves bouncing around, the magma chamber under Mt. Merapi in central Java gets particularly stirred up, and the gases within react, prompting a massive Krakatau-like eruption. The amount of ash shot into the air is so vast that the climate is drastically effective. Earlier in this process, hurricanes and tornadoes turn up in unusual places as air cooled by the ash in the atmosphere. As things progress, the Earth sinks into volcanic winter. Crops, which have already been struggling due to drought, die, and people and livestock starve. The particularly snowy and icy months don't help. And for those in climates that don't get snow and ice, everything is still such a wreck that nobody can get vaccination or care for standard winter diseases, so epidemics wipe out other large groups. Eventually, survivors become so few and far between that they can't reach each other to share resources or reproduce. And once everyone has died, Yellowstone erupts for good measure, and a meteor hits where Los Angeles used to be, just because it can.

(Individually, these things might be able to happen, but they probably wouldn't be able to set each other off quite like that...)

 

In the year 2525... if man is still alive... what sort of future do you imagine? (apologies to anyone who gets that song stuck in their head!)

I HATE THAT SONG. AUUUGH. I suspect we will have a future that is blissfully free of that song! Unless some jerkface resurrects it for the occasion. Said jerkface might be punished by being vaporized with the push of a button.

 

Do you believe in magic (or magick, if you prefer)? What does it mean to you?

Nothing has happened to me to give me cause to believe in it.

 

If you found the puzzle box from Hellraiser, what would you do with it? ( and would you be able to resist playing with it? )

I do not know what this thing is.

 

******9/5*****

Do you like pinup art/images?

I have no particular interest in them, though I have no problem with them, either.

 

What are your plans for Halloween? Have you made any yet? Do you have any traditions?

I don't know whether or not I'll be able to celebrate Halloween this year, because I might be on a class trip to Hawaii at the time (the exact date isn't set yet). This is, to me, a legitimate reason to skip Halloween, but I'd still be a little sad. If I do get to celebrate it, I'm thinking I'll either go as a victim/survivor (haven't decided which yet) of the 1906 earthquake, or perhaps as the anthropomorphic personification of San Francisco.

 

Who are your BPAL forum buddies? You know, people I could conspire with to Witch you!

Nali and septima_pica are people I know in person, and they'd have ideas. My previous Witches, Voodoocatwoman and Lizard Queen, were amazing and clearly know the kinds of things I like, so they could also be askable.

 

What is your favorite color?

Blue or green. Though I've been using a lot of gray in drawings lately, too.

 

Any other steampunk fans/lovers?

Steampunk is awesome, though thus far, I have only observed from the sidelines.

 

Describe your ideal picnic lunch. Where would you go? Who (if anyone, and yes there can be multiple people) would accompany you? What sort of food would you take? And, of course, if a picnic lunch sounds like a horrible idea, feel free to say so!

I would want to go somewhere with cool geology, though if you ask me to narrow this down right now, I don't know if I could. Accompanying me would be friends from the geology department, the music department, and people from back east that I almost never see anymore. It would be fun to do this as a potluck sort of picnic, with a wide variety of interesting food.

 

******9/4*****

Any Gamers here? What kind? Board games? RPG? Miniature? MMORPG?

I used to play a lot of MU*s, but I haven't in a while.

 

Is anyone playing this round of SW into ABJ? (asian ball jointed dolls)

Nope.

 

What is your favorite Halloween icon?

Icon, in what sense?

 

Imagine that you're given a shoebox-sized time capsule, and you are asked to put any number of items in the box that symbolize who you are. The items can be may be anything you can imagine, and money is no object, but they must fit within the box. Which items do you choose?

A CD containing image files of things I've drawn, a CD containing sound files of music I've written, and another CD containing sound files of all the different kinds of music I play. A nerdy t-shirt of some sort. A couple of small interesting rocks. Maybe a copy of a scientific paper I've written. A picture of my cats. Not a picture of me, however. Nobody wants to look at that.

 

Are you involved in any long-term, ambitious project? something like decorating your house or saving for a trip to the other end of the world, for example.

I just finished a big art project! It wasn't particularly long term though; if anything, it was rushed. Does a PhD count as a long-term ambitious project, because I am definitely working on that. I am also already contemplating ways that could land me permanently in San Francisco after I earn said PhD.

 

Favorite kind or take out kinda burger? Whats your burger preference? Veggie,meat or ????

I rarely eat burgers, but when I do, In'N'Out trumps all, at least in terms of fast food.

 

Whats your favorite childhood toy?

I had a plush yellow lab named Shadow, like the dog in Homeward Bound. I couldn't have a real dog, so I had to make do with a toy.

 

If you have a pet, what kind of gifts would be good for them?

I have two cats, Andreas and Garlock. Yes, they're named after faults. They both like catnip, particularly Andreas. They also like toys, though the appeal of a new one tends to wear off on them after a few days. Unless it's the laser pointer.

 

Do you Tweet? What is your Twitter name?

I tweet. My username there is the same as here: seismogenic.

 

Are you on Ravelry? What is your Ravelry name?

Not on Ravelry. Me knitting would turn into a disaster of epic proportions.

 

******9/3*****

What are everyone's favorite Halloween-y/Autumn-y/spooky movies? Are there any you don't own but would like to?

Uh. I know very few of these. Gonna have to go with The Nightmare Before Christmas, since it's the only one that immediately comes to mind.

 

Are roasted pumpkin seeds and home made chex mix the best fall snack foods, or what?

I love roasted pumpkin seeds so much. I actually don't know if I've had homemade chex mix, as opposed to the kind that comes in a bag.

 

Whats your favorite pie, my dear SW's?

Piiiie. Probably a tossup between apple and pumpkin.

 

What kinda socks ar you wearing tonight?

I am in southern California, and it is early September. I am not wearing socks. I have not worn socks in several weeks. Shocking, I know!

 

Do you like socks? Blankets? Wrist warmers? Arm warmers? Headband? Shawl? Or what kind of knitted thing would you love the most?

I do, however, like socks when it is not summer! Ditto blankets. I like days when it's just chilly enough to make these things really nice. I wouldn't get much use out of things like arm warmers or shawls, both because winter here is not very potent, and also because that's rather more feminine than I choose to me.

 

How do you feel about ghost stories? Do you like to tell the old tales around a campfire? Read true accounts on the web way past your bedtime?

I know very few ghost stories, but I generally find them intriguing.

 

Do you like to pick up a good anthology of Poe stories on a blustery day? Or is all that too scary for you?

I have read shamefully little Poe, but I have enjoyed what I did read.

 

Who here is LOVING Warehouse 13?

I don't know what that is.

 

Nother question! Coffee or Tea?

Both! I tend to drink coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon.

 

Interested in locally produced products? Food, skincare or both?Olive oil? Lavender oils or soaps?

Locally produced is cool! I'd be interested in seeing people's interesting and weird local stuff. I might lean more toward food, but stuff like soap is also good.

 

Does anyone in here wear a lot of dangly earrings or collect pendants of all kinds?? How about hair clips or pony tail band things?

Nope.

 

What is your favourite historical period?

Turn of the 20th century. So many different things I've been interested have ties to that period. (I mean, other than that certain big earthquake in a certain California city that I've already mentioned a zillion times in these questions.)

 

What other hot beverages everyone likes for fall?

Coffee, tea, spiced cider, chai. All are good. I wish the weather were already conducive to drinking these things. (But noooo, I'm going to a conference in Palm Springs this coming week, and it's going to be 107 out! I want autumn, dangit!)

 

Did you order anything from the most recent update?

No, though I'm kind of regretting that I didn't order Falling Leaf Moon, since I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to Will Call in October.

 

Vampires or Werewolves? Or some other monster?

Werewolves.

 

What sort of odd or regional foods do you crave?

I love a lot of different kinds of regional foods. I think I get outright cravings for Japanese food more than for others, though. I wanted udon SO BADLY on Monday, but all the Japanese restaurants were closed for Labor Day. Woe!