Tagged! 11 Things

I’ve been tagged by the lovely Melissa so I must do this wonderful meme/chain letter-ish thing. I do it because I love her. And talking about myself.

The Rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.

4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.

5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them that you’ve tagged them.

Me and my first love: Lake Superior

The questions I must answer:

1. Do you have any silly fears? My fears are a bit ridiculous: I’m scared of finding a spider in the shower right before I’m about to lather up. I’m scared of a Lost-esque situation happening whenever I fly (though I quickly dismiss this thought when I get distracted by a book or tunes). I’m scared that I won’t like a book after I’ve dropped money on it. Silly things.

2. What musical group/act changed your life? Oh LORD, Melissa! OF COURSE you’d have to ask this! For me the most life-changing music has been from RENT. Never before or since has something resonated so deeply with me. The messages of living life to the fullest, loving without fear, whole acceptance and the bonds of friendship and love are the foundations that I’ve based my life around. I cry whenever I listen to the soundtrack. I love the play and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of the songs and message that has so strongly impacted my life for the past eight years.

3. Do you collect anything? I do! I collect books of fairy tales. And I collect books signed by authors I admire: Jennifer Lancaster, Mindy Kaling, Anthony Rapp, Maya Angelou and others.

4. What is your happiest childhood memory? I don’t have just one. I had a really happy childhood despite my parents divorcing when I was five. My mom worked really hard to make sure my sister and I had good childhoods. I was really happy with just the three of us. One of my favorite memories of our family was because of my mom’s thoughtfulness–whenever we’d come home from visiting Dad, she’d set up a Scavenger Treasure Hunt where she made up clues and drew us maps that we’d have to use and figure out to find little presents. I remember tearing around the house, following the maps and solving clues while throwing around pillows and crawling under my bed to find a Little Mermaid puzzle or new book or small toy. My mom’s kindness, never-ending love and creativity continue to inspire me. She’s why I had such a great childhood.

5. What beauty product do you have to use every day? Just one?  I use Fit Me Foundation and Maybelline mascara every day. I also can’t live without perfume and some kind of lip gloss or lipstick!

6. What is your favorite book? My first favorite book was Little Women. It’s still one of my favorites of all time. I read it every couple of years.

7. What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever eaten? I’ll try anything so I’m struggling to come up with an answer. I freaked out friends when I ate octopus at a Greek restaurant in Chicago. I’ve tried shark in Hawaii and Haggis in Scotland. Those were probably the most adventurous things I’ve tried. I’m also hoping to try rattlesnake in Arizona and alligator in Florida in my near future.

8. If you had to be a celebrity, what would you want to be known for? My multi-facted nature. I’m a diva who cares about her looks, but also a feminist who knows how to question societal norms. I’m very loud and unafraid to use my voice, but also I’m really reflective and I know how to dig deeper and ask hard questions of myself and others. I love making new friends but I value me-time. I’m fiercely independent but I’m learning how to love whole-heartedly and exploring a relationship that could last a long time (hopefully forever). I’m so much more than people see and I want people to know that just because they see one or two facets, they may not be seeing the whole picture unless they take the time to get to know me.

9. What movie can you watch over and over again? Any Disney movie. I love love love all of them! Also Anchorman and Moulin Rouge are on that list.

10. What kind of animal do you look like? A lion. I have big hair and a very-present nose. Plus I’m a Leo so it totally makes sense.

11. What would you do if you could be a member of the opposite sex for a day? Have sex! I want to know what it’s like to feel it from a male’s perspective. I’d also see how people react to a male in today’s society and try to play with perceptions and societal norms. Once I’m done having sex I mean.

My questions:

1. What TV show would you watch any time, any day even if you’ve seen every episode?
2. Quick! Recommend three CDs or bands/artists for me to listen to!
3. If you could have an alternate life, what would you be doing?
4. What is your favorite thing about your job? What’s your least favorite thing?
5. If you could visit the campus of your alms mater for a day, what would you make sure you did?
6. What’s your favorite quote?
7. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
8. You win $10,000 and you have to spend it on you and you alone. What do you spend it on?
9. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you have?
10. What is your favorite indulgence?
11. What are you most proud of in your life?

You’ve been tagged! Becky and Ashley!

Day 1: Letter to Myself

Note: I want to challenge myself as a writer. I want to feel a sense of personal growth before 2011 ends. I was looking to do a writing challenge and stumbled upon the Reverb Broads’ December 2011 writing challenge, fell in love with the idea and quickly committed to it. For more information click here.

Day 1: If the you of today could go back in time and give advice to any of the previous yous, which age would you visit and what would you tell them?”

Dear Ten-Year-Old Krissy:

I have three words for you: perfection is over-rated.

I know that this is a really hard concept for you to understand, but that’s ok. It took me a long time to understand that it’s ok not be perfect, so I don’t want you to feel bad that you don’t get this idea yet. I know you’re going to beat yourself up because you don’t understand, but trust me–someday you will get this.

Life is hard. You had to watch that horrifying Womanly Changes video and touch a maxi pad. You’re still seen as “that weird new kid” even though you’ve been at your school for over two years now. (And kids are still teasing you about your wart, weight and/or glasses because the kids at your school? They were total pricks in elementary school.) You have anxiety about getting good grades because you want so badly to be accepted in any way, shape or form. Elementary school isn’t your time to shine and that’s ok. You’ll survive it, I promise.

I will warn you that life will be hard until you get to college. You will encounter people who will tell you that you’re fat and ugly (including some adults you thought were mentors–that will hurt, yes). You’ll constantly come across people who’ll try to silence you in a lot of ways. You’ll start to understand that living in a small town means living among people who have a herd mentality and who won’t appreciate your point of view. People will try to manipulate you, control you and tease you because you’re a bit odd. And though you’ll want to conform, please try to keep your spark. Please don’t conform to a small town’s ideal of perfect. Because you’re better than that. You’re stronger than that. Perfection doesn’t exist, not in people and certainly not in the tiny town you’ll eventually escape.

Try not to chase after non-existant ideals. You’re at a tender age and you’re taking cues not only from your classmates but from television and movies. You may not look like the girls on the screen, but I assure you that you’re far more brilliant and inspirational than anyone on the TGIF line-up.

Try not to chastise yourself when you don’t get an A. A B is just as good, even if some people might tell you otherwise. You’re doing your best–that’s all I ever want for you. I’ll let you in a dirty little secret of adulthood: nobody in the real world gives a shit about your grades. So try to breathe a little easier when you’re taking that science test. It’s not your forte’ and it doesn’t need to be.

I promise, there’s a world undiscovered within you, you just need to persevere and realize that perfect isn’t a goal, it’s merely an idea. You’re better than that. Please try to remember that as you navigate your tween and teen years. You’re going through a rough period and while you may not think it will end, I promise you that your life will be far more brilliant than you’ll ever imagine. You won’t be defined by your family’s economic status. You won’t be judged because you’re loud. You won’t be seen as odd or ugly or weird. You won’t be lonely. You won’t be stuck in Michigan. You are going to live a wonderful adventure of a life and do things you never thought you would. You’ll see parts of the world you never even know exist. You’ll achieve things that you never thought possible. You’ll find love. You’ll love yourself.

You can’t imagine that right now because life is not easy when you’re ten and struggling to be accepted. But I promise that if you can survive those damn science and math tests and get over some silly crushes on stupid boys and pass your driver’s ed test, you’ll make it through school. Someday you’ll realize how lovely life can be. Persevere, beautiful girl. You’re not perfect, but you don’t need to be. You’re incredible and you’ll figure things out. Just keep going.

Love, Krissy