Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me

Three days ago, this lovely piece written by Kayleigh Fraser, popped into my notifications.

I am going to be honest, I tried to ignore the call of taking on the challenge. I really, really did.

Look at this list of things you have to write. (Starts listing off the seemingly never ending list of ideas and back burner-ed projects.)

But, but...

No.

Then I read and commented on Ashely Lima's version. Like a sign, she commented back:

Absolutely! Thanks so much for reading. I'd love to read more about you. If you decide to take on this challenge, drop me a link! :)

The whole truth of the matter is, I was going to do this anyway. I like a nice easy challenge in between the complicated ones I put myself through sometimes.

1. I write under a pseudonym. That's right, Alexandria Stanwyck is not my real name. No, I will not be telling you my real name, because that kind of defeats the whole purpose of a pseudonym.

I decided to write using the alias Alexandria Stanwyck as a way for me to ensure privacy as I released my debut poetry collection, instead of therapy. I was at a place to talk about my feelings, but didn't want to worry about wondering if everyone I knew knowing something I rather keep private. It's easier to talk about it if everyone doesn't know it is actually you.

Right now, I am 99% sure I will never reveal my real name. I quite enjoy the mystery of having a pseudonym.

2. I LOVE to read! Although, that may have already been obvious. So I guess I should consider this more my reading journey.

My parents read to me in the womb instead of playing Mozart or whatever music you're supposed to play for fetuses. Then there was Dr. Seuss and the stacks of board books for toddlers. By the time I was about to leave elementary school, I was already reading (and comprehending) at a college level.

Unfortunately, I am no Belle and do not have access to a huge library. (All of us book lovers are jealous of Belle.) So most of present reading is done on my Kindle, which I have to admit it pretty nice to carry around a bunch of books on one device.

Extra fact (as I haven't given a bunch already), it was years before I got my first Kindle. Before that, any books I couldn't get a paper copy of, I read using the Kindle app on my phone.

3. I am obsessed with spreadsheets. Like seriously, it might be a problem.

For example, I recently started watching the Chicago series (Fire, PD, Med). So, like the slightly insane person I am, I decided I was going to watch all of them at the same time. I looked up, found an article to watch them in all in order, then created a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. It took me a while to get the base of it right, and I am still trying to figure out how to do certain things.

By the way did you know that there was a Chicago Justice? Or that they sometimes cross over with Law and Order: SVU and FBI?

4. I deem myself a geek and I am not ashamed.

geek: a person who is knowledgeable about and obsessively interested in a particular subject, especially one that is technical or of specialist or niche interest.

Most of what I watch that is considered geeky is Marvel related, although I have watched DC, Star Wars, and one anime (I am not really an anime fan, but I do like Holmes of Kyoto). I have watched almost every MCU film and tv show, except the new Guardians of the Galaxy. (That will be changing soon.) Loki is one of my favorite characters, I am of the popular opinion Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the unpopular one Thor: The Dark World isn't so bad (until Loki 'dies', then it's crap.)

5. I am a proud succulent parent. This is a recent development (as in the last year). I have tried to take care of other plants before but never had much luck. Succulents are durable and a lot harder to kill.

Here are some pictures of my babies.

Yeah, I'm one of those people to name my plants based on the plant name; a name association kind of thing.

6. I broke my nose when I was a teenager.

Don't worry, my nose doesn't look like Owen Wilson's.

I was coming off a trampoline at a friend's house when a bunch of kids were coming on, and one of the kids kicked me in the face. I felt myself start to black out until I heard screaming and crying. Because of that, there is a long-standing joke I couldn't pass out in peace.

The worst part about the thing was when I got checked out by a doctor who made the comment I could use the break as an excuse to get a nose job. Maybe I was slightly offended because I came back with a smart-aleck response that I was going for the Owen Wilson nose, so I was good. That shut him up, mostly from shock.

I also ended up with a black eye and some bruising, which cleared up after a few days. My nose healed up and it looks as great as it did before. Now one can tell it was ever broken except me if I feel up on the sides.

7. I used to want to be a veterinarian when I was a kid. (Along with being an author.) I wanted to work mostly with wildlife or exotic/zoo animals, and watched quite a few vet shows, especially Yukon Vet with Dr. Oakley. Part of me still does, but after working with animals for a few years, I decided the stress was too much of a burden to take on for a dream.

8. My favorite color is green and has been for a while. When I was a kid, I had a new favorite color every week until I stuck with green. And I feel I need to be specific, I don't like neon green or that yucky "I'm sick" green; I love the greens usually associated with nature.

9. Photography, specifically nature-related, is one of my long-standing hobbies. I take pictures with my phone since I don't have a great camera myself, and besides, phone cameras have come a long way. For landscapes, I prefer using the panorama mode to capture as much as I can in one picture.

Here are a few of my favorites.

10. I have very neat penmanship. All those years of writing and rewriting reports paid off.

I hope that you enjoyed getting to learn a little bit about me.