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Nearly 4 years ago I joined Hatrack at the insistence of Toretha. I don’t really remember what I posted about back then, but likely it was neither very intelligent nor interesting. I lost interest in the ‘rack for awhile, then came back to it and never left. Hatrack is first in line on my Firefox toolbar. Hatrack is the first thing I check when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I see on my computer screen before I go to sleep. Reading Hatrack takes up a lot of the time in between as well. Though I don’t post very often, I read every thread, even the ones about football and books that I haven’t read, and possibly never will. I’ve spoken on the phone with jatraqueros from all over the country. I’ve taken a Hatrack road trip. I’m “real” by Hatrack standards. I have 61 screen names under my “jatraqueros” section on my AIM buddy list, which is only 6 fewer than my list of non-Hatrack friends. I have Hatrack listed as an interest on my facebook, myspace, and livejournal profiles. Am I addicted? Quite happily.
This is my first landmark, and I haven’t been particularly looking forward to writing it. I know it’s not a requirement, but this 1000th post has been a long time in the making, and I figure a landmark is in order. I’m not going to say much about my past, because I don’t consider myself to be much of the same person that I was 4 years ago, or even 2 years ago. Every day I change a little bit more as I learn more about the world and the people in it.
The basics: My name is Jane, I’m 19 years old, female, and a studio art sophomore at Louisiana State University. I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, and never set my sights much further than LSU. It’s not that I lack ambition or that I don’t want to leave my hometown (I want to get out of here quite a lot, actually) – I have just always thought LSU was a decent school, both my parents went here, and hey, it’s free. Growing up I wanted to be a veterinarian, and LSU has one of the top vet schools in the country. Somewhere along the way I decided that all that school simply wasn’t for me, and decided to pursue my first love, visual art. Some of my earliest memories involve crayons and paper – I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been drawing. In grade school I was accepted into the new Talented Art program, and continued with that program throughout high school (except for freshman year, which I spent living in Tampa, FL – my school didn’t have much art to speak of). It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I finally decided that I wanted to pursue painting as a career, and chose that as my major.
I’m now in my second year as an art major, and confident that I made the right choice about my field of study. I’m not doing as well in college as I’d like, but I’m working on pulling my grades up and getting back on track. Most of my classes are pretty interesting, and I’m learning a lot about art theory and technique.
My interests outside of school have little to do with art. For the past 6 years or so, I have been involved in the sport of showing purebred dogs. I don’t even remember how I got interested in dog shows, since I come from a “cat family”, but I love it, and feel more at home at a dog show than almost anywhere else. I began by showing dogs for other people, since I didn’t have a dog of my own, and sophomore year in high school I was given a champion English Pointer by the name of Molly. I showed her for several years, and also began working as a handler for money at weekend shows. On a good weekend, I might make $200. I was hooked. I now specialize in showing German Shepherd Dogs (considered by many to be the most difficult breed of dog to handle in a show ring) and English Pointers. Currently, I have a wonderful Pointer (one of Molly’s puppies) by the name of Oscar Wilde who is about halfway done with his championship. I don’t have much time to show nowadays, and I miss the excitement of entering the ring with a dog.
I have another interest which somewhat baffles my family: herpetology. I am in love with all things reptilian, especially snakes. I became interested in snakes while working at a pet store, and fell in love with a red-tailed boa they had for sale. I spent months playing with her daily, and falling more in love with her, but money and concerns about how large she would eventually grow kept me from taking her home. One day a couple came in and was very interested in buying her - they looked at her for a long time, and said they would come back the next day to get her. I didn’t give them the chance – she came home with me that night. Nadia has grown nearly a foot since I’ve had her, and has the most marvelous personality of any snake I’ve ever met. She’s a socialite and loves to come to parties with me and meet new people. I’m proud to say she has also helped quite a few people to overcome their fear of snakes, which is something that I love to see happen. Nadia is not my only snake – I also have a little ribbon snake by the name of Mr Anderson who was given to me when his owners had to leave New Orleans. A new member of my snake family arrived just today – a baby Dumeril’s boa from Florida. He is very pretty and unnamed as of yet. I’ll probably wait to know his personality before I name him, but suggestions are welcome.
I also share my home (my tiny and very crowded one-bedroom home) with a dwarf hamster called Pikachu, two rats (Big Rat and The Baby Chi Rat), a mouse (Stan the Man), and another hurricane refugee, a kitten by the name of Brie.
Also, I’m a gamer. I’m addicted to EverQuest 2, Warcraft III, pretty much any FPS, and my PSP (Untold Legends, Ridge Racer, Wipeout, Lumines). I mention this because some people think that girl gamers are nearly nonexistent – we exist, we just do so very quietly.
My Hatrack username is elvish for “from the far cliffs”. I don’t think this was my original username, but I have no idea what the other ones were.
I’m not really sure what else to say – this has been more of an introduction than anything, since most of you don’t know me despite my time spent on the ‘rack. I’ll finish up with some lists, ‘cause everyone loves lists:
DVDs I own: -Angels In America -Firefly: The Complete Series -Hedwig and the Angry Inch -Mean Girls -The Princess Blade -Sin City -Ginger Snaps -Labyrinth -Moulin Rouge -Pirates of the Caribbean -Clash of the Titans -28 Days Later -The Two Towers
Books currently on my bedside table: -The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams -A Tangled Web by L.M. Montgomery -Teeth by Hugh Gallagher -The Bible -Serenity: The Official Visual Companion by Joss Whedon -Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Current music on my iPod: -Ben Folds -Her Space Holiday -Joanna Newsom -A.C. Newman -Jets To Brazil -Knifehandchop -Aphex Twin -Belle & Sebastian -Hooverphonic -Fischerspooner -Ima Robot -They Might Be Giants -Reception Is Suspected -Starlight Mints
Stickers on my Volvo: -At the Drive-In -2 Greyhound stickers with pictures -Adopt A Greyhound! Greyhound Pets of America -I *Heart* Pointers -If You Love Your Dog, Leash Your Dog -WRKF 89.3 (local public radio) -Mock Orange -Protect Louisiana Wetlands! -International Game Fishing Association member -I’d Rather Be Fly-Fishing -Hotwater Music -Carlotta Records and Distribution -No Pain, No Jane -“Business is great, People are terrific, Life is wonderful”
Hatrack makes my world a better place. Thanks to everyone for being great. I hope I have contributed something worthwhile to this community and will continue to do so for years to come.
Also, sorry this is so ridiculously long. I may have gotten a little carried away. Posts: 1225 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Fascinating landmark! Does for the present what many landmarks have done for the past. Pleased to e-meet you. Also wasn't unnecessarily long. It might appear that way, but that's due to the lists and all that blank space they create.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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quote:I mention this because some people think that girl gamers are nearly nonexistent – we exist, we just do so very quietly.
I dunno if you read The Escapist, but they had an issue about girl gamers recently. I didn't agree with all of the stuff (notably the article about evolutionary psychology), but it made for interesting reading.
Added: Incidentally, I still play War3 from time to time. "thetwinkster" on USEast.
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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You know what else is awesome? People who live in Baton Rouge, a group that includes, but is not limited to: Avadaru, my Aunt and Uncle, 6 cousins (and their spouses and kids), my brother, several of my friends from college, and one of the oldest Waffle Houses I've ever seen.
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Nice landmark. It did exactly what landmarks are supposed to
And glad to hear female gamers are not as rare as it sometimes appears! Especially FPSers. You almost never see serious female FPSers
I can only play Starcraft right now (Skid_alcon on USeast) cause my gaming machine died. But after I get back from thanksgiving break I'm gonna dual boot it windows/linux and reinstall everything. In which case I'll be playing WarIII, CS, CS:S, Unreal, etc once again. I'd be happy to play with you (and most likely get my ass kicked, as I'm way out of shape in all of the above games) any time.
Posts: 3295 | Registered: Jun 2004
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Great landmark, Avadaru. Nice to get to know you better!
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Boon
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Hey, you wouldn't happen to know a snake owner in the Tulsa area, would you? I have some snake food in my freezer I need to move...it's starting to creep my husband out.
My sister loves animals too. She has had 2 carin terriers at a time for about 10 years (6 dogs?) one of them always named Toto. Right now she has Toto (III?) and she just got Frodo. She has a snake, 2 turtles, 1000 fish (ok, maybe not that many, but a lot), and lots of furry rabbit/gerbil things.
Posts: 1209 | Registered: Dec 2003
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quote: one of the oldest Waffle Houses I've ever seen.
JT, I think I know exactly which one you're talking about.
quote: Hey, you wouldn't happen to know a snake owner in the Tulsa area, would you?
No, but if you advertise on kingsnake.com you might find someone in the area.
quote: Do you every worry that the snakes will get out and eat the other pets?
No, the snakes' cages are very secure, and even if they were to somehow escape, the only animals they could harm would be the mouse or the hamster, and those are high up off the ground on shelves. I'd be more worried about the damage my other pets would do to the snakes!
quote: Do you ever think--Gee, I should lend Nadia to my dear friend Jen on Thursday so she can take her to Milton class?
You know, Jen, I have actually thought that! Posts: 1225 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Nadia has grown nearly a foot since I’ve had her, and has the most marvelous personality of any snake I’ve ever met. She’s a socialite and loves to come to parties with me and meet new people. I’m proud to say she has also helped quite a few people to overcome their fear of snakes, which is something that I love to see happen. Nadia is not my only snake – I also have a little ribbon snake by the name of Mr Anderson who was given to me when his owners had to leave New Orleans. A new member of my snake family arrived just today – a baby Dumeril’s boa from Florida. He is very pretty and unnamed as of yet. I’ll probably wait to know his personality before I name him, but suggestions are welcome.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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I hope I have contributed something worthwhile to this community and will continue to do so for years to come. ![[Party]](graemlins/party.gif)
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