How did you find out about VampireFreaks?
One of my friends in university was on the site. She told me all about it, and I joined. Unfortunately, she's no longer on VF.
When was the most depressing time of your life? How did you cope up with it?
The most depressing time of my life was when my father passed away. I was going into my junior year of college and I was about to transfer to a school 4 hours from home. He passed away from brain cancer just a few weeks before I moved. To cope, I immersed myself in school life (soccer, friends, studying, etc.) I got involved in a lot of clubs and activities and just kept busy.
You're engaged. Any plans to where and when? How did you guys first met?
We aren't quite engaged yet, but we're close. We have the ring, Tom's just waiting for the right time to surprise me with it. I'd guess that we won't get married until October of 2014 though. I just started my career and I need to focus on that for a while. But it'll be an Autumn-themed wedding. Tom and I met through a mutual friend. He and my friend Dana were actually trying to hook me up with Tom's best friend, Mike. Obviously, things worked out a bit differently. That was almost 8 years ago!
If you were given a chance to get back at someone. Who and what would you do to him/her?
I don't hold grudges, so there really is no one that I'd want to get back at. I believe that grudges take too much out of a person. I'd rather focus my intentions on more positive things. Yes, there are people who have hurt me in the past, but I've learned and grown from those experiences, so ultimately, those people helped me become who I am today.
Have you ever fallen flat on the ground and managed to pull yourself together?
Literally fallen flat on the ground? Not that I can recall. However, I have metaphorically fallen flat on the ground. My father's death was one such occasion. I consider myself to be a very strong woman, so I have always found a way to pull myself together and come out of the situation a little bit wiser and a lot stronger.
What is your pet peeve?
Poor grammar. Knowing the difference between "they're," "their," and "there" is important. Unless English is your second language, you should be able to communicate properly.
About your job. What's your work? Are you enjoying it or is it boring?
I am an ELL teacher. ELL stands for English Language Learners (students who don't speak English as their first language). I enjoy my job, but I'm a certified English teacher. Sometime in the future, I will want to teach Literature again.
What has been the most exciting experience you've ever had?
The 8 months I lived in Vietnam was definitely an excited time for me. While there, I taught Literature at an international high school. I was fortunate enough to travel SE Asia while I was there. I climbed a volcano in Bali, went scuba diving in Vietnam, did a pub crawl in Singapore, drove cross country through Cambodia and bungee jumped in Thailand. These memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. Skydiving would be a very close second! I have gone twice now and I am in love with it. It is a wonderful combination of extreme rush and ultimate awe. The adrenaline released from jumping out of the plane soon turns to an overwhelming feeling of wonder. The beauty that you see from thousands of feet above the Earth is breathtaking.
If you were to trade bodies with ANYONE, who would that person be?
If time travel were also possible with this body switch, I'd choose Mary Shelley circa age 18. She is one of my favorite authors and I'd love to have been inside her head when she wrote Frankenstein. Also, she married Percy Shelley and she was friends with other famous British Romantic poets whom I'd love to converse with.
Growing up, who were you in high school?
I bounced between different subgroups. I was a hardcore athlete, so I had some jock friends. I was in Orchestra, so I was friends with some band geeks. I was in Honor Society, so I was one of the nerds. I was going through my "punk" phase, so I was friends with the alternative kids. I kind of floated from group to group.
What is/are your best skills? Talents?
I am a pretty good soccer player. I was really good when I was in high school (I was an All-State player). I still play, but after tearing my ACL, I'm not the superstar I once was.
Anyone here on VampireFreaks that you hold a grunge with?
No. There was some slight VF drama when I first joined, but I was young and immature. I've definitely matured and now I have no grudges or problems of any kind on VF. Any particular stalker or troll ever bumped into you? How'd you deal with it?
Not particularly. I've had some random creepers send me inappropriate messages, but never a stalker or troll situation.
Have you ever lost someone near and dear to you?
Yes. I lost my father when I was 19. I miss him everyday and I always wonder if he'd be proud of the woman I've become.
Any advise as to "How to Keep A Relationship" to all the gals here?
It's simple - treat your significant other the way you'd like to be treated. If you want your bf/gf to do sweet, romantic things for you, do the same for them. If you don't want them snooping through your personal items, phones, computers, then don't snoop through theirs. Also, get involved in the things that they enjoy doing and teach them the things that you enjoy doing. Common interests help to form stronger bonds between partners. Bottom line, love them more each and every day and do something every day to convey your love for them. And don't become a psycho, stalking, nagging significant other!
What is your dream work?
I love teaching, but I'd like to do so at the college level at some point. I'd love to teach upper level Literature classes to students who are English majors and enjoy reading. I'd also love to go back to school to get my PhD in Psychology. I'd love to either have a clinical practice out of my house or work for a police agency doing criminal profiling.
Where in this world would you most likely want to have a vacation? Who would be there? Anything special about this place?
I love to travel, so choosing just one place to go is extremely difficult. I suppose if I had to choose one trip, I'd take two months to travel though Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Israel and Jordan. I guess you could kind of call it the "Cradle of Civilization Tour" While there, I'd stop to see the Pyramids, Petra, the Dead Sea, etc. And of course, I'd bring my long-term bf, Tom Testament744
I only knew of this lovely lass from a mutual cult. But DAMN, I wasn't aware of all the things she's seen, literature and English bliss, and her deep understanding to living and embracing life.
I'm totally inlove with Amanda (idee_fixe).,. That's why she was on my top list to be interviewed here.,. She's beautiful, smart, loving and down to earth.,. PLUS! She represent a lot of us.,. Any of us can relate to her
Y MARY THEDA LYNN
*** IT'S NOT MY FAULT IF THE REAPER HOLDS MY HEART ***
Even though these people mean well, some of the grammatical errors in both the interview questions and the comments posted must make you cringe. All in all, lovely interview though.
You're engaged. Any plans to where and when? How did you guys first met?
About your job. What's your work? Are you enjoying it or is it boring?
Anyone here on VampireFreaks that you hold a grunge with?
Testament744
Pets101
