Boupie

11/8/09 So I am still very busy with work but I think I have it more under control... however, my mail key was stolen (along with house and car, yay) so I have my mail on hold at the post office until I get a new lock for my mail box. I don't think anything was stolen from my mail but I will be very late on rating (since I won't actually receive my mail for a while) so please be patient with me.

I am a twenty-something newlywed (it will be one year on 8/8!!!) who lives in beautiful Northern California. DH and I live in a cute townhouse with our grumpy, old cat (who really plays the part of unhappy, teenage step-child with me) and our extensive book collection. We are both high school teachers (science for me and English for him) and love our jobs.

When not working we enjoy gardening, reading (a lot), and playing games with friends (both online and off). I love to cook and bake, as well as craft and meet new people. Sometimes I blog and update my crafty Flickr but not reliably... yet.

I love anything earthy (trees and plants) but am also big into animal motifs (mostly birds... penguins are my favorite). My favorite colors are blue, green, and brown. Anything with seasons or different habitats make me happy!

I love to read and am constantly trying to keep up with my ever growing TBR list, which I keep track of at Goodreads. That is also where my book wishlist is maintained.

I love books by Jasper Fforde, Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman, and Jane Austen. Though my favorite book of all time is The End Of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas. I also really enjoy mysteries (more traditional ones), paranormal romance (though I have never read Twilight), and books about books.

Personally, nothing is better than curling up with a good book, warm afghan, and some good tea.

I am only an amature crafter but I do really enjoy my work. I enjoy: *Crochet *Embroidery (mostly cross stitch but I do others) *Sewing (both hand and machine) *Quilting (which I am still learning) *Baking (mostly cookies) *Knitting (usually not but sometimes)

I also try to scrapbook and do paper crafts but I suck at both of them so it only happens when it has to. I am currently part of an online Quilting Bee (though my broken machine has put me a bit behind) and trying to teach my friends how to crochet. Check out my Flickr and craft blogs for what I am working on.

I really like cop showes (no idea why). I love NCIS, Law and Order (especially CI), and Bones. And sometimes period romance mini-series... yes I love me some Austen too.

I also like Sci-Fi... thinkgs like Red Dwarf, Pushing Daisies, Eureka, and Heroes.

As for comedies I only watch Monty Python but sometimes Psych and Arrested Development.

I really want to see the Tudors, Mad Men, Rome, and True Blood but haven't seen any of them yet.

I love musicals (I just can't help myself). I also really like comdeies and romances.

I loved the BBC Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth), Princess Bride, Monty Python, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the original a little more than the new one but not much), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Wall-E, Hello Dolly, Triplet's of Bellville, Beetlejuice, March of the Penguins, Sleeping Beauty, Little Miss Sunshine, Moulin Rouge, Pirates, Shrek, Singing in the Rain, Stardust, Thank you for Smoking, UP, and many more.

what I pledged

I love sending and receiving Snail Mail though I don't write letters much (maybe I should try but I never can find any really cool stationary). I will PM you when your package has been sent and will rate you as soon as I receive my package. Please PM me if you have any problems or questions.

Things I would prefer not to receive

Please do not send me: *Lotions or bath products *Licorice of any kind (yuck) *Books by Will Self ;) *Anything religious *Anything with a strong smell (Hubby is hypersensitive to smell and really gets upset if the house has a funny new smell in it... sorry)

I do like steam punk things (especially Alice in Wonderland related), werewolves, vampires (not Twilight), cthulhu, pirates, ninjas, and ocean creatures (especially monster sharks, squid, and octopus). I do have a side that loves little cuddly woodland creatures and sunshine, too!

I will always prefer something that will remind me of the sender over anything else. Homemade is best for me but you can also buy something you think will remind me of you. The sky is the limit!

Everything I send will be from a smoke and dander-free home (we do have an outdoor cat but I will do my best to keep all of my swaps away from her).

Is a little jealous of the time and effort I put into swaps for other people and that he never gets anything (his friends don't really mail or email things unless it is football related). He would love anything in a swap that could be for him.

He is a BIG ATL fan (mostly the Falcons but also the Braves) and watches football almost religiously. He is also a big gamer, mostly on the XBOX and Wii but also on the computer, where he loves classic RPGs and some modern ones (Bioshock and Fallout 3 are his faves). He loves the band Tool and playes the drums (not real ones but electronic... we wouldn't still be married if they were real). He is an avid reader of mostly Sci Fi but really loves Will Self (who I hate) and Fitzgerald and Tim Dorsey... and Hamlet!! He loves Almond Joy (though I don't buy them for him) and a good dark beer.

Right now he is riffed but he is a HS English teacher so anything for that is good too (especially anarchist things... hot that it is for the classroom but he just likes it) or anything from the original Star Wars or the Timothy Zahn books (which he does take to the classroom). He also likes beanies and has lost three ones I gave him. His favorite color is very dark green... almost a deep, sparkly emerald...without the sparkly part. He also likes brown and blue. Oh and he is a BIG fan of Monty Python.

Again anything really would make him happy but only if he can use it (bookmarks are always good). Thanks!!!