banjobraids

2020-pacolypse Update: Wow. It's been rough. And I'm not seeing a light yet, but I know I KNOW it's there. Pride was cancelled which is PTTHHHTHTHTHhhhhhhh. Swaps are helping keep me going, and I'm trying to make each one extra special if I can. Everyone hang in there!

International Mail Note: I'm nervous about my international mail arriving safely these days, so please don't hesitate to tell me if it's been an abnormally long time for a swap or if it arrives with postage due. There's something hinky about the USPS postage calculator online right now and it'd difficult to be sure about amounts. Just let me know and I'll reimburse you.

I never flake on swaps. Ever. If you have not received a swap from me, please send a note and I'll replace cheerfully and immediately.

I work for the VA and am extremely busy, so often I can only work on my swaps on the weekend, and may send out near or on the last day. This may cause a delay in rating as well. However, I ALWAYS rate and I ALWAYS send on time. Rating is super important to me and I like to devote time and effort to it, and really let the person know how much I appreciate their time and generosity.

I'm 45 years old and neuroatypical (autistic), and wouldn't choose to be any other age or way to be. I'm a mama of two (ages 16 and 13) and have been with my beloved best friend husband for 21 years. I love to laugh and joke, but can also be very serious. I love sunglasses and have about 20 pairs that I cycle through. I have two black cats that are siblings and a huge menacing calico who despises them. I drink massive amounts of Lime LaCroix every single day. I am a grateful member of Al-Anon and Adult Children of Alcoholics and will gladly hear about and share on these topics if anyone wishes. I'm a court transcriptionist, for veterans mainly, and it is very fulfilling work.

I make dioramas out of televisions and cigar boxes and am working on several right now, one is a vintage circus and one is going to be Shackleton's Endurance ship. I am hoping they won't take 10 years to finish as my last one did; (see below). Update: They are going to take 10 years.

I love tiny things and plastic toys which I incorporate into my dioramas or put into shadowboxes or just fill up jars and put them on shelves. My obsessions change from day to day and I often get sucked into a rabbit hole researching different topics.

My hobbies include needlepoint, cross stitch, cooking, reading, crafting, traveling, SLEEPING, and listening to music. I'm originally from the Detroit, Michigan area but have been living in the south for 12 years now.

I'm NOT a super picky swapper and will not give low ratings just because something doesn't exactly match my standards. Those things just get put back into my swap box to be sent on to someone who will enjoy it better. I will not be offended by much of anything unless it's hateful or bigoted, and will love anything profane or funny or weird or kitschy or bizarre.

"No matter where you go, there you are." ~ Buckaroo Banzai

"Strangers on this road we are on/ We are not two we are one." ~ The Kinks

I prefer artsy or funny postcards over touristy, but I will be happy to receive any postcard, naked or in an envie, vintage or new or ad. I definitely enjoy handmade postcards, too. You can send me all the weird or "gross" postcards, bugs and creepy creatures, scary women, wtf cards and I will be ecstatic.

Specific topics I like:
nature and natural history,
aboriginal/first nations art,
needlework,
ouroboros,
bananas,
rainbows,
birds, especially blue jays and cardinals,
squirrels,
snakes,
science fiction,
mysteries,
the supernatural,
cryptozoology,
history,
moths,
huge things,
tiny things,
skeletons,
folk art, outsider art,
strange tourist destinations or attractions
insects, esp houseflies or beetles
amazons,
warrior women,
witches/witchy things/paganism,
LGBTQIA+ (pansexual a PLUS),
radical progressive politics,
things about voting,
amazing women politicians,
Frida Kahlo,
aspergers/aspie/autism positive (not Autism Speaks),
mermaids,
gingko trees,
images of woman,
cacti and succulents,
Fandoms: Supernatural (Destiel forever),
Harry Potter (I love Hermione and Snape the best)
Doctor Who, Jodie Whittaker or Tom Baker
Legion
Buffy/Angel/Firefly

Any of these are instant hearts and love and gratitude:

postcards,
pressed pennies,
shaped plastic combs,
plastic dinosaurs,
buttons/badges/enamel pins,
gay stuff,
bitchy stuff,
fat stuff,
zines,
anything tiny and plastic,
LENTICULARS!

My current button stash display:

People I absolutely love/heros:
John Waters
Divine
Kate Bush
Frida Kahlo
Wonder Woman
Pee Wee Herman
James Baldwin
Temple Grandin
Shirley Chisholm

Needlework, dioramas, ATCs, articulated paper dolls, shadowboxes, stickers.

My needlepoint based on a Russian suprematist painting from around 1915:

Fav Artists:
Kehinde Wiley
Amy Sherald
Keith Haring
Tamara de Lempicka
Kara Walker
Paa Joe
Diane Arbus
and a MILLION MORE...see my Pinterest

I am a HUGE Supernatural fan. Recent loves: Upload. I didn't think I would like it, but I ended up loving it. Killing Eve is the BEST. Also loved Belgravia. Ended shows I loved: The Good Place, Schitt's Creek (one of the best shows ever ever ever), Maniac, The Haunting of Hill House. Other favs: What We Do in the Shadows. Picard and Discovery, I am so in love with both.

We just finished watching We're Here and it's so incredible and inspiring.

I love old movies, especially 40s movies with Betty Davis or Cary Grant or Margaret Sullivan or Humphrey Bogart. TCM is a staple. I was raised on musicals and know almost every word to most of them (whether I want to or not).

I don't have many and will absolutely not rate down for these. Just a list if you're wondering what things I don't really have a use for and that automatically get put in my giveaway box:

glitter
planner stuff
emojis
kawaii stuff (except maybe Twin Stars)
things that glorify drinking (ex. Wine-o-clock, etc)
dreamcatchers
perfumey stuff (except patchouli)

As I said before, I don't like anything bigoted or hateful or white supremacist. I'm not a Christian, but I don't mind religious items or prayers or things like that. Jesus seems like he was a cool guy. I wish more people were like him.

Pink and orange anything, especially together! I also adore rainbow patterns or color schemes.

TOP FIVE: Kate Bush, Joanna Newsom, Iron & Wine, Lavender Diamond, Lynyrd Skynyrd

OTHER: Sufjan Stevens, Innocence Mission, Lizzo, Sia, My Morning Jacket, Beyoncé, David Byrne, Dawn Landes, Alela Diane, Feist, Florence + the Machine, Y La Bamba, Elvis Perkins, Gillian Welch, Arcade Fire, The Middle East, Santigold, Future Islands, Aimee Mann, Yeasayer, Wye Oak, Tom Tom Club, Liam Finn, Finn Bros, Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes, Deerhunter, Cocorosie, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young

Blade Runner, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Popeye, Any period movie (Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice), Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, To Have and Have Not, Tank Girl, Secretary, Star Wars (any), Dune, Harry Potter, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, Addicted to Love, Punch Drunk Love, Darjeeling Limited, District 9, ALL the Alien movies.

I read everything from romance to non-fiction to fanfic. Mainly, I like mysteries and have a few favorite authors like Kathy Reichs, Preston&Child, and Lindsey Davis. I really enjoy very old first-person accounts, like old diaries and compilations of letters. Other favorite authors: Rikki Ducornet, Emma Donoghue, Lois-Ann Yamanaka, Octavia Butler, William Gibson, The Brontë sisters, Banana Yoshimoto. I write fanfic sometimes, but mainly read. I'll tell you my OTPs if you're interested, and would LOVE to hear about yours!