Banniko

I'm a nanny and substitute teacher. I love to write, read, penpal, cross-stitch, and play roleplaying and puzzle type video games. I love puzzle books (Variety, Logic Puzzles, Sudoku, Griddlers, etc). I am an animal lover and I have 2 cats, 4 ferrets, and 2 hamsters right now. I speak Japanese as a second language and have lived in 3 countries besides the US. I love basketball and baseball and am an avid supporter of my favorite teams. I also am a movie and TV buff. I am a Christian and I respect the beliefs of others, but expect to be respected as well. I mainly swap FB's, but will swap FS's, slams and crams if I know they are coming.

I enjoy a lot of different types of music. I love country (modern stuff, not the old "country-western" stuff), rock, pop, 80's, 50's and 60's, J-pop, soundtrack music (songs and instrumental), classical, some contemporary Christian, traditional church music, some rap, some metal, etc.

I do not like music that is disrespectful to women or that encourages/promotes drug abuse, violence, abuse of women/children/animals, etc. In this respect, I may like a genre or even a band, but reject specific songs. This is an equal opportunity rejection - male and female artists are both held to this standard.

I enjoy sci-fi and fantasy fiction best. My favorite authors are Terry Brooks, Piers Anthony, J.R.R. Tolkein, and Michael Chrichton. I also read crime novels and true crime non-fiction. Some of my favorite books by other authors are: The Bone Collector, The Firm, and The Hot Zone. I also read Japanese short stories, but still require a back-up English translation to ensure I get the most out of what I am reading.

I am a HUGE Audrey Hepburn fan. I have a collection of postcards, posters, and stamps of her that I have received from friends. Many of my friends have stated that I bear a physical resemblance to her. I'd like to think so. I love all of her films, but my faves are: Sabrina, Funny Face, Charade and Wait Until Dark.

My favorite movie genres are action-adventure, comedy, and drama. Some of my current favorites are The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Labyrinth, Sleeping Beauty (Disney), Kung-Fu Hustle, and Kill Bill. I love Chinese martial arts movies (not dubbed) as well.

Once again, I have a criminal mind. I am a huge fan of CSI (the original only), Law and Order (all 3), most of the shows on CourTV, and Cold Case Files on A&E. I find medical shows fascinating and I really enjoy Mystery Diagnosis and Dr. G: Medical Examiner. I don't watch many American sitcoms anymore, but I love the British comedies I can get on my PBS station and I also am watching Dr. Who (the current incarnation).
I enjoy Japanese drama and anime. My faves are Trick, One Piece, Sailor Moon, and Full Metal Panic. I prefer all of my Japanese TV dubbed.

Overall, I love cross-stiching the best. I prefer counted to stamped. I also like creating FB's. I don't sew well, but I keep trying. Luckily I have a very talented friend who helps me out. We just finished making out Halloween costumes and next she is going to help me attempt to make my own kimono. I want to learn to crochet more than just a chain. I have latchhooked in the past and I used to paint Tshirts non-stop.