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Soozcat

Soozcat
Date Joined: October 5, 2011
Last Online: September 1, 2023

Country: United States
Confessions of a Laundry Faerie

About Me

Hi, I'm Soozcat. I like to write, doodle and make things. I'm occasionally capricious and whimsical. Life often delights me.

I'm the oldest of six children. Being the oldest is a challenge; your parents, being new to parenting, try out all their child-rearing theories on you, and when you're the oldest daughter in a large family it means you're often forced into the role of Junior Mom. While my parents did the best they could and were stellar in so many ways, they also made a few mistakes, as all parents do.

I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and it's helped make sense of a lot of things I dealt with constantly growing up. ("Intelligent but not working to her full potential" on every single report card? Check.) A few years ago I discovered bullet journals and they've revolutionized my life. I've often described my executive-function-deficient ideas and thought processes as a grand stage production with plenty of talented actors -- and no director. Bullet journals and other workarounds help create a "director" of sorts, so I can get my ideas sorted, remember what I've done and keep track of what I still need to do. I've seen some amazing bullet journals that are miniature works of art and while I greatly admire them, my own bullet journal is pretty spartan. Embellishing my BuJo would be too much of a distraction for my already highly distractible brain. Some things need to be kept simple if I'm going to stick with them.

Speaking of distractions, I enjoy several crafts, although I've had to prune back some interests because I'm a dilettante (discover a craft, get obsessive about it for a while, move on to the next thing). Crafts that I've stuck with for many years include knitting and crocheting, the occasional cross-stitch or blackwork project, calligraphy, origami, handmade cards (often with found images or collage elements) and patchwork. I can sew clothes, but prefer not to -- which is kind of funny, because my niece (I've raised her since she was 10 and think of her as a daughter) loves clothing construction and went into costuming and tailoring as a profession.

I also cook and bake, but that isn't so much a craft as a basic life skill. (You need to eat every day, so you might as well learn to make food to your own liking, ne?) My extended family is Swedish and Dutch, so I grew up cooking and baking a lot of recipes from Scandinavia and the Low Countries, but I've branched out. Just recently I've been watching "Midnight Diner" on Netflix and making dishes from the show. (Mmmm, tonjiru.) I like most Japanese home cooking, as well as Korean, Indian and Thai food. Ethnic grocery stores are one of my personal joys.

I write. A lot. Does it show? :) In addition to writing fiction and personal essays and such, I also enjoy writing letters and postcards. It keeps my penmanship in good condition, plus it's fun to send snail mail. I've had a few pen pals over the years and I occasionally send postcards to friends out of the blue. (Yes, I am on Postcrossing.) I'm a word nerd who's fascinated by etymology and the history of common phrases.

I also read a lot. It goes with the territory. Growing up I read all the fantasy I could get my hands on, a lot of classic literature and short stories, and the occasional science fiction. My interest in SF further blossomed when I met a boyishly cute guy who started lending me paperbacks from his collection. We were married in September 1993 and have been reading to each other ever since. In the last decade or so, I've been drawn to more nonfiction -- biographies, personal essays, and creatively written histories like "The Professor and the Madman" and "The Disappearing Spoon." The last book I read that deeply affected me was "Crying in H Mart" by Michelle Zauner. Not only is it beautifully written, but it presents an honest portrayal of the emotional minefield of grief associated with the death of a parent. My mom died suddenly in August 2020 and I'm still processing that, and this was the right book at the right time.

If you'd really like to know more about me, there's a lot to be learned from my blog, Confessions of a Laundry Faerie. But for those who just want a quick rundown, here you go:


Things I love

  • Locally produced chocolate (please don't send a lot, since as a Type 2 diabetic I have to be very careful how much I eat). The darker the better.
  • Beautiful papers (chiyogami, handmade papers, etc.)
  • Sock yarn in beautiful colors.
  • Postcard books. I love Art Nouveau and Art Deco, Alfons Mucha, William Morris, and similar design styles. I also love Asian art and anything by Michelangelo.
  • Fun stuff from any of my fandoms: Harry Potter (I'm a Ravenclaw), Firefly, Studio Ghibli animated films, Tomm Moore animated films, The Pirates of Penzance.
  • Something unique from your part of the world.

Please don't send

  • Anything featuring alcohol, tobacco, coffee, or black/green/white tea (though herbal-only tisanes are much loved and greatly encouraged).
  • No offensive materials, please. (In other words, no porn, profanity, or gore.)
  • No politics. Please, just don't.
  • Any high-carb edibles. Low blood sugar equals a longer and healthier life for diabetics, and I plan on living a long time!

NOTE: I don't join lots of swaps, so I can concentrate on properly fulfilling the ones I do join. If I show up as your swap partner and you haven't yet received anything from me, PLEASE CONTACT ME and I'll do what I can to make it right. The USPS hasn't been highly reliable in the last few years and sometimes items go missing. If a swap has gone astray in the mail, I'll double-check your address and send a replacement, via some other mail/parcel carrier if necessary.


Ratings

24Donna rated for Goals Theme Notecard on Aug 22, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the magical card! Congratulations on your new home how exciting! It sounds like you will add a bit of wonderful you to your town! Enjoy your new home and town, blessings!
Response: Thanks for your kind words. It's a wonderful new place to live and the neighbors are amazing!
5
rating
Comment: I loved your letter and especially Milquetoast the dragon!
Response: Awww, thanks! I first came up with him in high school and he's sort of been kicking around in my head ever since.
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the letter. The stationery is so beautiful and I love the floral. San Francisco is also one my favorite places to visit. I'd love to go back there one day.
Response: I still have family in the area. Would love to go back to a world where travel was relatively easy!
5
rating
Comment: Thank you! You have such nice penmanship!
Response: Thanks for the kind words. It took many years of practice just to get legible!
Bucket rated for Quick PC Swap (US Only) on Mar 3, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for the Redmond card! Yes, Shirley Jackson is a wonder, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle is so charming!
Response: Did you know there's a new(ish) story collection called Let Me Tell You that's a compilation of many of her unpublished works? Worth checking out!
5
rating
Comment: Thank you. I love it
Response: I'm glad it got there OK. Have a great day!
5
rating
Comment: Thank you so much!!! What a generous gift of stamps and other assorted goodies! I love the little year of the tiger! Hope your Valentine's Day is great!
Response: So glad it got there and that you enjoy the contents. I saw that little tiger sticker and went "Oooo, yes, you're coming home with me!" Happy Valentine's Day to you!
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the cute cards. We started watching Midnight Diner and some how it got missed in the jumble - we'll have to take it back up again - Happy Valentines Day and thank you for all the extras!
Response: I've worked my way through the original first season of Midnight Diner (before it was picked up by Netflix) and am now into Season 2. Every now and then there's a recipe I want to try in the kitchen... and we're fortunate enough here to live close to two large Asian grocery stores, so it's possible to find items like gobo, taro and konnyaku. I'm so glad you liked your envelope. Happy Valentine's Day to you!
5
rating
Comment: Wow! Thank you for all my goodies! I LOVE your handwriting! Happy Valentine's Day!
Response: Yay, it got there OK! Best wishes and Happy Valentine's Day to you too!
5
rating
Comment: I don't think I have ever seen such beautiful penmanship! It's so perfect I almost thought it was printed on a computer! Thank you for the Valentines and extra goodies. I would give you 2 hearts if I could! πŸ’—πŸ’—
Response: Thanks, that's so sweet of you! It's taken a long time to make my handwriting even legible (a calligraphy set gift when I was in 6th grade helped a lot). Happy Valentine's Day!
5
rating
Comment: Oh my goodness, thank you so much for the book of stamps!!!!! I πŸ’• these Toy Story stickers, putting them on my Xbox! I adored the Valentine's and they'll be hanging in my kitchen! Also, you have the coolest handwriting ever. Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Response: You're so kind! I'm glad the envelope got there OK. Happy Valentine's Day to you!
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the recipe. I have not seen Midnight Diner, but sounds very interesting. Thank you also for using the Fairy Note card. Love how the artist made her. Have a great weekend.
Response: I'm so glad it got there OK! Hope your weekend is great as well.
Ramya rated for Postcards With a Prompt #165 - US Only on Jan 27, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Thank you so much for the acorn elf postcard! I love these acorn guys! Thank you for the birthday wishes too. How amazing that we have the Emmett connection! I just love living here… not too far from what we need beyond the offerings in this sweet area. And we are rural- outside of town. I love your handwriting and stickers added to the card. ❀️ You made my day
Response: Thanks so much for the kind words! Hubby's grandparents used to live on a farm on Gem Avenue. The place has since been sold and the new owners added on a whole new wing to the house!
nsciambi rated for Halloween on Oct 23, 2020
5
rating
Comment: Thank you! Your handwriting is fantastic!
Response: Thanks, you're very kind. It took a lot of practice just to get it legible -- my handwriting was a nightmare when I was a kid. Happy Halloween!
lindseyjae rated for Join 8/10, Send PC 8/11~US ONLY on Aug 21, 2018
5
rating
Comment: thank you!!
Response: YW! Glad it got there OK.
squince rated for Postcard Swap #38 on Oct 27, 2017
5
rating
Comment: Weird -- how did you get my Valkyrie Dr address? I thought I changed it everywhere!
Response: I had it in a back email from Days of Yore. Wasn't your fault.
jlink rated for Join 9/25, Send PC 9/26~~US on Sep 30, 2017
5
rating
Comment: I am not Scandinavian myself but all our street names are crazy here! Thanks for the postcard
Response: You're welcome!
heatherknits rated for EZ PC...USA on Jul 24, 2017
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for the Louisiana card! I lived in New Orleans for several years and I love crawfish (great sticker)!
Response: So glad you like it! I was afraid I'd gone a little crazy with the stickers. :)
jezb750 rated for Random Christmas PC Swap on Dec 31, 2016
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the nice postcard! Hope the holiday season was fun for you! Best regards!
Response: It was hectic but also wonderful. All the best to you!
paperlover rated for I want to visit PC Swap on Nov 14, 2016
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the Sweden PC. It would be great to visit there
Response: Here's hoping!

Rating Overview

Overall Hearts Stars Hosted
5.0000 53 0 0
Completed Fives Threes Ones
35 63 0 0
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Uncategorized
0 33 2 0
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Comments

squince on Nov 24, 2014:

I got your kitty postcard! LOVE! I will send one back at'cha! meow!

squince on Nov 20, 2014:

Hey! Sooo let's start swapping cute cards! :D

kezeven on Nov 2, 2011:

A rating was not enough, so here is a big hug! Thank you for my birthday present!

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