It probably doesn’t even need to be said, but I am postponing this week’s weigh-in to allow my butterbeer belly time to deflate. So, where did we leave off? Ah yes, it’s Saturday morning, my parents and I have just arrived at the parks, and I am rip-raring and ready to get my arse to Harry Potter World! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the layout, Universal Orlando is split in two: Universal Studios park and Islands of Adventure. The latter is the one that houses the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is a section of the park along with others themed around things like Marvel superheroes, Jurassic Park, and Dr. Seuss.

We traipsed through Seussland and The Lost Continent, taking a few giddy moments at the Lorax statue and peering into a shop or two. No time to dilly-dally, though. I was a girl on a mission.

It actually kind of sneaks up on you. Despite the fact that you’re actively looking for it. You just walk around a bend and suddenly, there it is.

Hogsmeade. With its snow-crested rooftops and meticulously planned storefronts and Butterbeer barrels lining the streets. Eager children in robes roaming the streets, Hogwarts castle looming in the background. I would be lying if I didn’t get just the slightest bit emotional when I saw it. I’m only ridiculously obsessed with Harry Potter human, after all! And it was quite the magical moment for me.

After going through the main gate into Hogsmeade, we were immediately greeted by the enthusiastic conductor of the Hogwarts Express. To the right is the steaming smoke stack of the engine car, set up perfectly for a photo op. As I mentally squeal with utter delight, I see that the lockers for this area are housed under a sign indicating they’re part of the Hogsmeade train station (clever!).

Across the cobblestones from the train sits Zonko’s Joke Shop and Honeydukes. At this point, the squealing is no longer just in my head.

I demand that we go inside right away, and I immediately melt at the sight of extendable ears dangling from the ceiling, wizard chess pieces dueling it out in the store window. Zonko’s and Honeydukes are connected, so it’s a mere hop, skip, and a display of Every Flavour Beans before I’m in the next store.

I practice extreme self-restraint and leave the stores empty-handed today. After all, we’re only about 30 minutes into our two-day park adventure at this point! No point in letting my chocolate frogs melt while we’re waiting in line. They’ve only got one good jump in them to begin with.

Everyone keeps asking me what my favorite part of the park was, but it’s hard to narrow it down to just one thing. It was the overall feel, you know? The window displays of stores that weren’t even functional, set up for no purpose other than for us fans. The Mimbulus Mimbletonia in the window of the botany store. The set of Gilderoy Lockhart’s books displayed in the bookstore. Moaning Myrtle echoing from inside the bathroom walls (don’t forget to go to the ‘public conveniences” while you’re there!). I just loved it all.

Besides Honeydukes and Zonko’s, the only other store that you can really go into is Dervish and Banges. This is where they sell all the wands, robes, and various paraphernalia you could dream of. We actually had to wait in a line just to get into the store itself on the first day we were there. Once inside, it’s mayhem, but amazing.

Ollivander’s isn’t actually a store, so you can’t buy your wand there. We did go into Ollivander’s, of course, but I just wanted to point out the difference. It’s more like a show, after which you can purchase the actual wands in Dervish & Banges (or in one of the many other stores around the park, of course). You’ll find replicas of all the characters’ wands from the movies in addition to 12 wands that are exclusive to the park. The meanings behind these special wands are based on the Celtic rune calendar, so they can match you with one based on your birthday. As it turned out, I didn’t need to have them analyze any dates in order to know which wand to get, but that’s another (infinitely more awesome) story for later.

We stopped by a merchant so that I could try a pumpkin juice before we went any further at this point. Pumpkin juice, as crafted by the creatives behind the theme park, tastes a lot like spiced apple cider. A quick look at the ingredient list showed an apple juice base, with pumpkin puree, apricot puree, and various spices (and preservatives, of course, but that’s to be expected).

It was delicious but VERY sweet. We ended up watering it down quite a bit, and given the outrageous amount of sugar I remember reading on the nutrition label, so it’s probably just as well. Regardless, I certainly found it refreshing! And you better believe I kept the bottle.

The Harry Potter area of Islands of Adventure currently boasts three main rides. First, there’s Dragon Challenge, a dueling roller coaster that they converted from a previously existing ride. I remember going on this particular coaster when I came to the park many years ago, so I didn’t feel the need to wait in line for it again. Then there’s Flight of the Hippogriff, which is more of a kid roller coaster. Dad and I hit this ride up on Day 2, when the line wasn’t too bad. Then, finally, there’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This spectacular simulator ride, which features a majority of the original actors, is the real star of the show. We waited in line for 90 minutes for this puppy, and it was so, so worth it (though my mom probably feels quite differently. Those who get easily motion-sick, be forewarned!). I won’t spoil things too much, but just know that I loved it. Once you weave your way through the outside part of the line, you dump your stuff at the free lockers inside and then get to take a tour of Hogwarts Castle!

Starting with a few talking portraits (the way they cured the screens really does make them look like paintings! It’s fantastic!) and various decorative pieces that I recognized from the movies easily (the Mirror of Erised, the unicorn tapestry, etc.), you go through a few rooms before being greeted by Professor Dumbledore himself in his office (make sure to look for the Pensieve!). Then, you meet up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and finally learn what the ride is actually going to be about. Spoilers stop here, so if you’re curious for more you’ll just have to go to Orlando and find out yourself!

After disembarking from the ride, retrieving our things, and edging our way back out of Filch’s Emporium for Confiscated Goods (a.k.a. the ride’s gift shop), we headed down to the Three Broomsticks to let my mom’s stomach settle and refresh ourselves. They serve traditional British pub food there, unshockingly, so we got a couple plates of fish & chips to share. It was also here that I had my first (but not last!) taste of frozen butterbeer. Otherwise known as God’s gift to sugar, the aftereffects of which must be a parent’s worst nightmare, hahaha.

It tasted like a vanilla and butterscotch milkshake, and was so, so, SO delicious. I cannot wait to try to recreate this at home… with alcohol, natch. I’m thinking something like cream soda, butterscotch liquor, and a blender. Can you blend carbonated soda with ice? Guess we’re going to find out! And on that ominous note, I think we’ve covered enough ground today. Are you still with me? Haven’t jumped ship quite yet? Still to come: Ollivander’s and choosing my wand, Hagrid’s hut and the Flight of the Hippogriff, and many, MANY galleons’ worth of swag!

To be continued…

What better place to start than at the beginning, hmm? Friday morning, my parents and I set off on our way down to sunny Florida. After dealing with the normal travel logistics (bags, nourishment, car rental), we arrived at our hotel, which was my aunt’s timeshare property that she generously gifted us time at, the Wyndham Cypress Palms.

We settled in for a bit before meeting up with an old friend of my mother’s, from her Hong Kong days! We had dinner at Seasons 52 Orlando, which I believe is the original one!

Still armed with fond memories of my blogiversary celebration at the one up here, it was a fantastic meal (as well as the first and last healthy meal of the trip, haha).

We all shared mussels and a goat cheese & artichoke flatbread to start, and I got an ahi tuna salad. Fresh and delicious! Naturally, as Seasons 52 claims they originated the idea of the “shot glass dessert”, we had to get a sampling of those as well to finish the meal:

Red velvet for me, please! After dinner, my parents dropped me off at Downtown Disney, the bustling (and free!) area outside of the Disney parks, where I met up with blog reader Alicia and her boyfriend!

I was so glad to have been gotten a little taste of Disney while I was in Orlando, since even though this was a trip with a VERY specific purpose, you know I love me some Disney.

Alicia was a fantastic tour guide! There’s a lot of cool stuff in this little pedestrian area, including a Disney Store that does so much business that it singlehandedly accounts for an entire percentage point of Disney’s revenue. Let that sink in for a sec.

The real gem in this area though? The Ghiradhelli Soda Fountain, where the three of us shared one of their incredible signature hot fudge sundaes.

The calories don’t count if you split it, right?

Admittedly, after getting up uber-early to travel, by the time we were done walking through the area (and getting to see more awesome things like the House of Blues and the Cirque du Soleil tent) I was pretty exhausted. I did have to conserve my strength, after all! The next morning I would be headed onto great things — terrible, yes… but great.

Despite my very best intentions to get an early start, we didn’t end up getting to the park until around 11. Which ended up being just fine, because it gave us a chance to fuel up before I reverted to my 7-year-old self again.

Universal has an area called Citywalk that sits outside of the actual parks and is filled with shops and restaurants, similar to Downtown Disney. We grabbed some grub there before charging into Islands of Adventure, full-speed. I had talked a big game about meandering through the rest of the park first, working our way over to the Harry Potter area at a time that it might be less crowded, but…

I mean, C’mon. Are you really surprised that I wasn’t able to wait? Everything was just beginning!

To be continued…

Hi, fellow foodies! I’m Alex, blogging over at Alex Eats Green. Gretchen was kind enough to pass over the reins while she frolics in Harry Potter land (I’m so JEALOUS) for the weekend. Though not about weight loss, I’ve recently undergone a different kind of transformation: introducing myself to real food.

I live in NYC, and started the blog after being bit hard by the nutrition bug. It was only a matter of time before I found an outlet (other than lecturing my parents) for ranting about the processed food world. I’ve always been an avid Bon Appétit reader, but only recently have I started paying attention to the ingredients listed in all those beautiful recipes, and in turn, what those ingredients do to our bodies. I had become obsessed with learning about nutrition, and had an urge tell people about what I was learning. It was a whole new world that simply astonished me. I couldn’t believe how much I’d been left out of the loop on.

(I really like pickles.)

I stepped into the light after reading Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food. I’ll never forget the moment where it all clicked for me. Summer of 2010, I was reading on a train to Martha’s Vineyard, and Pollan was discussing sugars such as fructose, glucose, and the evil spawn: high-fructose corn syrup. He spoke of the havoc that HFCS can unleash in the body.

I set the book down and thought for a moment.

Ahhhh. I get it now…

We need to eat whole (preferably mostly green) foods in order for our bodies to be happy. And by “happy,” I mean we need to eat food that our body understands, and knows how to break down. When our bodies are happy, we’re happy. Makes sense right? However, the line gets a little blurry when it comes to what constitutes these whole foods; happy foods.

I finally made the correlation as to why when I was a kid, my Mom always insisted on buying us that “gross organic stuff.” The organic whole milk, real cookies (made with milk, sugar, flour, chocolate), Breyer’s ice cream with whole ingredients. Of course when I got out of my Mom’s kitchen, I found my way into the multi-colored world of Twizzlers, Sour Patch Kids, KitKats, and Cheetos. I lived in that world until I realized that our bodies don’t have the tools to process these colors (high-fructose corn syrup, processed, artificial coloring) and that it was time to turn my plate around.

I started reading (and watching) everything and anything related to my epiphany. I was passionate about making good food, and about making real food. I also became a vegetarian a little over a year ago (just had my veggieversary!), which stemmed from my newly acquired appreciation for all things green… plus the lofty environmental and ethical effects don’t hurt either. Living in New York City, it’s easy to find fellow green-eaters. I try and take in my fair share of restaurant weeks, but more often that not, I find myself wandering the Union Square farmer’s market searching for the perfect eggplant for that evening’s home cooked meal.

Sometimes I make my own 3-day juice cleanses, and sometimes I eat nothing but cheese over the weekend. Either way, I feel like for the first time in my life, I am really tasting my food, and liking it. Mother approved.

**

Thanks, Alex! I love how your story proves that healthy living transformations are not just about weight loss — something that I often forget as someone so fixated on my weight! If any of you are interested in learning more about Alex and following her story further, please check out her blog, Alex Eats Green!

Happy Presidents Day!

Yes, I am FINALLY going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and I don’t care how lame you think it is! Right now I am en route to Orlando, headed towards a totally awesome, totally nerd-tastic weekend with the ‘rents. Though yesterday was full of emotion (thank you all SO much for your kind words in response to my incredibly raw and emotional post, by the way), I know that this trip will be just the thing to pull me firmly out of the doldrums.

Though, to be honest, I’m not really sure why I’m so excited. I mean, it’s not like I’m some huge Harry Potter fan.

It’s not like I own multiple items of Harry Potter clothing and related paraphernalia.

It’s not like I took off work on the day that the last book was released.

It’s not like I read all 759 pages in one sitting, fell asleep, then woke up and started reading it all over again from the beginning.

It’s not like I have ever stood in line for hours to attend a midnight release of the movies.

I especially didn’t see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in the theatre four times.

And I was as cool as cucumber and didn’t freak out at all when I met Daniel Radcliffe.

Nope, I’m just not that girl.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Clearly, none of you are fooled. I absolutely AM that girl, and I am not ashamed! Harry Potter is awesome, and haters can feel free to hate on me, my inappropriate obsession with my dogs, my laziness, and my hatred of getting sweaty, but don’t mess with the HP, yo. Rest assured, you will be getting a VERY detailed recap of my adventures at Universal Studios this weekend, hehe. I come back on Monday afternoon (Happy Presidents Day weekend!), so I have a fantastic guest post lined up before I overwhelm your eyeballs with pictures of wands, wizards, and the 10 gallons of butterbeer I intend on consuming (“All hands on deck, Granger!“). SQUEEEEE, I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

Have a magical weekend, friends!

One disparaging comment.

One possibly judgmental glance.

One ill-fitting garment, one unfortunate glance in a store window.

One moment for the weakness to set in, for the thoughts to take hold. A single second, and suddenly your world turns. It takes all your strength not to run to the kitchen and rip open bags of tortilla chips, boxes of leftover pizza, pints of ice cream. It takes every ounce of resolve that you possess not to jump into the car and head straight for the nearest drive-through. To drown your remaining shreds of self-esteem in french fries, chicken nuggets, and double junior bacon cheeseburgers.

You’re having a normal day. Maybe even a great day. You don’t expect it. You can’t predict it. It happens so fast. It catches you off guard. And it only takes one.

As you are all well-aware, I’ve been feeling pretty good about things lately. I may still be dealing with my holiday weight gain, I may not be at goal, but in general I’ve been feeling like things are really starting to fall into place. So yesterday, when I dropped by my parents’ house to pick up some vegetables that my mom was trying to get rid of (free brussels sprouts? Heck yes!), I wasn’t prepared for the conversation that came in response to my blog post showcasing the epic Valentine’s Day meal that I had the night before.

“I have too much produce,” she said, thrusting a bag of brussels sprouts, spinach, and a container of blackberries into my arms.

“I saw. But I can’t believe it.”

So I left. Well, I guess “stormed out” is the more appropriate term. And the very instance I stomped out of the room, my head was filled with self-deprecation, loathing, and hatred. I know that to her, the comment was nonchalant. Moms are moms, and she has nothing but love and concern for me. I know that I’m a sensitive person in general, and I’m extra defensive when interacting with my family. I know that there have been miscommunications between my mother and me in the past. I know that her intention was not to hurt me. I know these things. But knowing doesn’t stop it from hurting. It didn’t stop the tears from welling up in my eyes as I slammed the front door behind me, or from falling once I got to the car. It wasn’t about what was said, it wasn’t about who said it. It could have been anything. The point is that it happened: one comment got under my skin, and brought with it an emotional flood that I hadn’t experienced for some time.

I wrote a post a while ago about trying to figure out my identity as someone who has lost a significant amount of weight (“My Name is Gretchen, and I Used to be Fat“). In it, I questioned why I have such a hard time letting go of my “old self”, as it were, and embracing my new mindset and my new body. I talked about not wanting to forget who I was, for fear of slipping back into those habits. My experiences today only affirmed those feelings. Without fear of backsliding, without the constant reminder of how you once were, you forget. You let your guard down. You are vulnerable, and it takes just one thing before… you slip.

Summer 2009

I was fortunate this time. My mind may have slipped, I may have let in that self-hatred and beaten down my self-esteem but I had the strength to resist the temptation to binge. Instead of eating $18 worth of Taco Bell, I came home. I chopped onions and roasted brussels sprouts and sauteed mushrooms and I didn’t succumb. But I wanted to. I wanted to binge. I wanted to fill my stomach with crap until it felt like I was going to burst, and then I would have wanted to purge. I managed to fight against that, and I’m both grateful and proud that I was able to. But the physical act of bingeing is only one side of it.

The worst part is the emotional damage that one simple, innocuous comment can do. How it can unravel you. How in a split second, it can undo a year’s worth of repair to your self-esteem. Sure, I won the binge battle, but the emotional war? It’s still raging, even now. I’m my own enemy, fighting against all the thoughts I’ve been trying to keep out for so long. And not only do I have to fight against old thoughts, but there are new ones too. Like feeling that being happy about my life and making peace with my appearance is the very reason why I let my guard down in the first place.

I’m still fat.

You’ll never make it to your goal because you’re too content with how you look. Hate yourself more.

Having this blog helps, it really does. It lets me go back and see where I began. It lets me reflect on how far I have come, in so many ways. It helps me rally the strength to fight, because I owe it to myself, and I owe it to you, to try. It convinces me that instead of wallowing in a pool of self-pity and dysmorphic self-image, I should try on my newly delivered dresses. It allows me to revel in the fact that I fit firmly into a regular ol’ size L, something I would simply not have been able to do a year and a half ago. It proves that change has occurred.

Chalk it up as cheesy, self-indulgent, narcissistic. Label it as just another trend. But blogging helps me see the progress I have made and will continue to make. As long as I keep trying. As long as I can rebuild, stay the course, and be prepared for the next time this happens. Because, as much as I wish it weren’t the case, the sad truth of it is that it will happen again.

It just takes one.

Steak errrrverywhere! As if taking me to Ray’s the Steaks on Saturday wasn’t enough of a Valentine’s Day celebration, right? Well, last night the new man in my life also showed off his culinary tactics with a homemade steak dinner!

Seriously impressive, right? Sean really went all out. The surf ‘n’ turf menu included filet with a balsamic & red wine reduction, sauteed shrimp, loaded mashed potatoes, and green beans. It was all him, too! The only thing I helped with was a modicum of slicing and dicing.

Though, to my credit, the clove of elephant garlic that I minced was a total beast. See the size comparison to the QUARTER next to it? Biggest effing garlic clove ever!

Since I was, for once, not the one bustling about the kitchen (a gift in and of itself!), I spent my time getting giddy over last night’s episode of Glee (I know how bad it is, just let me love it, mmkay) and ogling myself in the mirror. I made my first attempt at doing a true smokey eye with makeup, so I was very proud of myself, ahaha. I felt mildly whorish when I was putting on layer after layer of eyeshadow (there’s like 5 different shades going on here!), but I really like the final result. Not bad for my first try, right?

Anyway, in addition to the incredible meal that I got to enjoy, Sean also made a delicious from-scratch dessert: chocolate mousse!

I died. So yummy, but nice and light after that decadent meal. Of course, my enjoyment of the meal was slightly mollified by the thought of my weigh-in in the morning. Pairing last night with the wine festival from Saturday didn’t put my hopes very high. As it turned out, however, this really is my week! Observe:

Starting Weight: 246 lbs
Last Weigh-in: 192.6 lbs
This Weigh-in: 191.4 lbs
Difference: -1.2 lbs

Huzzah! Another pound down and another pound closer to my pre-holiday weight. Not sure if it’s just because my body hasn’t registered all the extra wine weight yet, but I am most certainly NOT complaining! I’m also sure that this loss will be rapidly undone by this weekend’s impending trip to Harry Potter World (SQUEEEEEE!) but we’ll cross that magical bridge when we come to it. After all, you know there’s no way I’ll be able to (nor would I want to) pass up a few butterbeers and cauldron cakes! And at least I’m heading to Florida on a high note!

Sidebar: I also got this gorgeous Valentine’s surprise yesterday afternoon!

Aaaand we’re back! Sunday night we played it a little more low-key and made pizza! You already know how much I love putting my Christmas-given pizza stone to use, but you also know from past attempts how poor my dough-handling skills are.

Well, I’m sad to report that nothing has changed there. Misshapen pizzas still unfortunately seem to be my thing, and this margarita pizza definitely got struck with my ugly ‘za skillz. Luckily, in contrast, Sean seems to have unearthed a hidden talent for pizza shaping. Check out the perfectly circular pie he whipped up!

I was seriously jealous impressed. We determined that a factor may have been letting the dough sit OUT of the bag (we used the ready-made Trader Joe’s dough, like always) before shaping, instead of letting it sit in the plastic. We’ll have to do a strict comparison next time!

The second, perfect pie also had perfect toppings. It was like Hawaiian (my favorite) to the max: canadian bacon, bacon, mozzarella, feta (!), and pineapple. We may or may not have tucked cheese into that gorgeous crust, too. Heh. Not to worry! I exercised portion control only made it through a couple slices.

We both decided that if we did it again, we would cut the pineapple down smaller so you could get more of it in each bite. Delicious, nonetheless, and it made for the best leftovers ever!

On the docket for today is a cookie exchange that I’ve organized for my office (you better believe my disaster cookies are making an appearance, so brace yourselves for another earthquake!) It’s my first cookie exchange, so hopefully it goes smoothly. Hopefully my roommates will be happy that I’ll be bringing home a smorgasbord of sweet treats too — I’m counting on them to help me eat them so I can stay on track…ish!

What are your V-Day plans? Alternately/in addition, what’s your favorite pizza topping combination?

My brother proposed to Taylor, and she said yes! SQUEEEEE!! He whammied her with a proposal on her birthday — and she was COMPLETELY surprised. Though I had a hunch it was coming soon (I have a sixth sense about these things, hehe), I was blown away by Ben’s sweet and thoughtful proposal. Knowing how much she loves hidden object games (where you click around a screen to uncover items), he created one especially for her! He also videotaped the entire thing, so watch the video below if you want to know how it all went down. Fair warning: I totally started crying.

Okay, as I try to get my composure back, let’s recap another one of the weekend’s events, shall we? We’ll skip over the fact that I did not end up running the Love the Run You’re With 5K on Sunday (and with no good excuse as to why not), and instead flash back to Saturday, pre-proposal, where Ben and Taylor accompanied Sean and me to the DC Food & Wine Festival!

The face of someone who has no idea that she will be engaged in less than 24 hours…

It was my first time attending this huge wine-tasting event, and it was awesome! There were tons of people there, as you can see from the photo above, but as long as you were willing to finagle your way between folks and stand in the occasional line, well, there was plenty of wine to go around. I even ran into a familiar face there (Hi Amanda!) between sips of wine and bites of food. Not going to lie, I was definitely a little sloshed by the end, haha.

As you know, I’m not the biggest wine connoisseur (yet!) so this was yet another opportunity for me to suss out my likes and dislikes.

While I’m still definitely a white wine gal right now (especially a SPARKLING white wine gal, keke!), I think I’m coming around to some reds. I really like pinot noir, and even the occasional shiraz. Also, I now can say with absolute certainty that I dislike chardonnay. Hooray! I’m learning!

The food situation was fun for me too (obviously, haha). There wasn’t a TON of food, but the pickings were pretty good. There were general stations with bread, cheese, and hummus set up all around, and then there were vendor-specific booths offering samples as well. My favorite was the slices of filet with blue cheese sauce from the Old Hickory Steakhouse. I was VERY tempted to go back for seconds fourths. Heh.

Overall, a pretty fantastic weekend! Excitement on the family front and wine in mah bellah — not bad, not bad at all. Of course, this is still a mere prelude to the MAGICAL TIME that awaits me this coming weekend. I am now mere DAYS away from going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (a Christmas present from the ‘rents!) so hold onto your hats when it comes time for next week’s weekend recap! *high pitched squeal*

Oh, and for those of who you (accurately) think I’m neglecting my race training: the passing of my Harry Potter World visit will also mark the end of my half-assery. (Confession: I haven’t run more than 2.5 miles since, er, December? Eep.) This means I really will have to literally hit the bricks if I want to survive the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in April and the Reach the Beach Relay in May. So that’s coming, worry ye not. Just let me just enjoy this final ring of freedom while I can, mmkay?

What’s your proposal story? Or, if you aren’t engaged/married, your dream proposal scenario?

Be merciful, please. But do enjoy the hilarious freeze-frame that Youtube chose for the video, hahaha.

And for those of you who blessedly aren’t able to watch the video because you’re at work, here’s a picture of a kitten hugging a stuffed sheep:

(source)

You’re welcome.

Happy Friday!

PS: I forgot to announce it in a timely manner, but the second issue of my Falls Church News-Press column was published last week. Check it out!

1) Which armrest do you use at the movie theater, the left of the right?

I don’t have a preference, other than using the armrest in between me and someone in my party, rather than the one between me and a stranger.

2) Did you have any pets growing up? Do you have any now?

Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize we hadn’t met.

3) If you were going to pick an actor or actress to play you in a movie, who would it be?

I like to pretend that our shared Whasian-ness makes me a dead ringer for Lindsay Price.

(source)

4) What was the last crazy dream you had?

Well, the dream I had last night involved a mountain of treasure piled high atop my bed, my hair having miraculously grown out, and a small Native American girl telling me I had to break up with my boyfriend. Actually, come to think about it, it wasn’t that crazy by my normal standards. My subconscious is generally pretty whacked out (attacking velociraptors! Bounty hunter assassins! Etc!)

5) What’s the last movie you saw in theaters?

The Artist.

6) What was your first cell phone like?

Pink Nokia brick phone, all the way. It changed my life forever, getting that phone.

7) What did you say you were going to be when you grew up? What do you actually do?

What I said I was going to be when I grew up: on Broadway. What I actually do: flounder and live vicariously through others.

8 ) Would you rather be outside when it’s really hot or really cold?

I love summer for the activities, the warmth, and all that good stuff, but I hate being super sweaty and uncomfortable. So if given a choice between the two extremes, I’ll take super cold. There are only so many items of clothing you can take OFF, you know.

9) Valentine’s Day – love it or leave it?

Oh, I’m a big mushygushy romantic at heart, so I tend to love the flowers, hearts, chocolate, and PINKEVERYWHERE! that surround this time of year. To be fair though, my feelings about this “holiday” usually depend entirely on the general status of my love life.

10) What’s under your bed?

Boxes of winter clothes, 100 leftover tea candles and votives from an event 2 years ago, and occasionally this guy:

11) Remember when everyone used AOL? What was your screen name?

Oh, AIM. I remember thee well. My brother created my very first screen name for me when I was in the 6th grade: GHPikachu. Go ahead and laugh if you like, but Pokemon were pretty damn cool back then.

Your turn: pick one (or all 11) and tell me your answer in the comments!