Today's rambling: A survey!
Written on Monday, May. 13, 2002 at 11:15 p.m.
while feeling a bit

In case you don't feel like scrolling to the bottom of my last entry, this might be my last entry for a week. At least, I certainly won't be putting entry-writing at the top of my list of priorities! ;) Anyway, here's this survey I stole from Lola's diary, hehehe...

1. WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR NAME?

Not much of one, really. Mom just heard the name 'Amber' and thought it was beautiful, so that's what she gave me. I like to think of my middle name as being something of a newfound tradition, hehe...it's Mom's first name, it's my middle name..it MIGHT'VE been my grandmother's middle name, too...

2. NAME FIVE [5] OF YOUR FAVORITE PIG-OUT FOODS.

Pizza, ice cream, Doritos, ice cream...ha ha...I really can't think of two others.

3. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A MAKEOVER?

Yes, when I was 10 years old (for this silly beauty pageant I was put in...well, at least I won in my age category..), and when I was 12 or 13 (I was doing one of those Glamour Shots thingers, where they make you up and take pictures...it's useless, really, but sort of fun).

4. NAME ALL MEMBERS OF THE BEATLES.

John, Paul, George, Ringo. This one was here why..? "I'VE got a HOLE in my pocket!"

5. WHAT'S THE LONGEST TIME YOU'VE STAYED OUT OF THE COUNTRY/WHERE?

I don't remember if it was an entire week, less than one, or a little over...at any rate, I was in Belgium and Paris with my mom's foster mother...it would've been fun if I hadn't been so homesick!

6. ONE THING YOU'RE GRATEFUL FOR, TODAY.

Rain!

7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL MEMORY?

Tenth grade AV club. I was in Massachusetts for the year, and because I had such an interest in video cameras, I joined. I think I was the only girl on the crew, but it was SOOO much fun! The advisor came to depend on me for last-minute stuff...it rocked.

8. WHAT IS THE MOST INSANE THING YOU'VE DONE FOR/TO YOUR CRUSH THAT HE/SHE MIGHT NOT/MIGHT KNOW ABOUT?

Uhh...? I don't really think I've done anything insane...No, I take that back. The day (long, long ago) when I said to Geoff, "So, uh, d'ya wanna do something sometime?" was DEFINITELY insane of me. And humiliating.

9. DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING.

I'm not sure right now. Heck, I don't even know if I'll get married!!! I'd love to have something big and elaborate, but at the same time I'd probably feel really stupid walking down a long aisle with everyone staring at me. Considering I'm self-conscious walking through a MALL, where no one notices me, how would I be with tons of eyes trained only on me?

10. WOULD YOU EVER JOIN TEMPTATION ISLAND?

Yeah, right. Filthy, trashy show. "Hey, I'm gonna be on TV! Sure, I gotta go let people try to seduce me away from my boyfriend, but DAYUM! The other guys might be HOT!"

11. NAME THREE [3] TEACHERS YOU LIKED IN HIGH SCHOOL/ELEMENTARY.

Mr. Samuelson (aka Mr. S.) is at the top of my list, hehe...Shut up, Tiff. He was my Journalism teacher during senior year. He was also tall, pale-skinned, and moody. And a freak about Star Wars. But me being the sort I am, became infatuated with him. :oP The nice part of it was, I was always able to bring him out of his bad moods...I remember for his birthday, my friend and I came to school really early and got the key to unlock his classroom door. We proceeded to tape balloons around his desk, hid cards inside one of the drawers, and wrote "Happy Birthday, Mr. S!" (or something like that) on the board. Both of us were afraid that he'd get angry, because he'd just ranted the day before that the other teachers had given him a 'party' in the teacher's lounge and he'd hated it. But he was so HAPPY about it that his quote for the day was even dedicated to us: 'Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves'. ^_^ I never really saw him after graduation, and something happened which caused him to leave the school, but I still think back fondly to that time, hehe...

*catches her breath* Okay, second on my list is Mrs. Warren. She was my 11th grade English teacher, and even though she got angry at me one time for being "lackadaisical", I still love her to death. I even asked to be transferred into her group of students for the graduation project we had to do. She was a really great lady.

And finally, my French teacher, Miss Columbus. She had infinite amounts of faith in me and my abilities, even when I didn't. She was so full of vibrant energy, it was hard to not find it contagious. Two other girls and I were actually chosen by her to skip Level 4 French and go straight to Level 5, which in my school was considered to be something like college-level (though I doubt it was anything like that). And during our senior awards ceremony at the end of the year, I was the only one who got an award for Outstanding French. The award was a $100 savings bond, and the giver person (hehe) was listed as anonymous, but my parents swear that it was Miss Columbus. She moved away to Puerto Rico after I graduated, so I haven't seen nor heard from her since. I really miss her, too!

12. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE? WHAT IS IT?

My quotes always change, hehe...

13. MY FIRST HEARTBREAK HAPPENED WHEN I WAS...

Hrmm...The funny part is, my first/only boyfriend wasn't much of a loss, so when he dumped me I only cried for a few brief minutes! I think it hurt worse with Mr. S., hehe...he was the last serious crush I've ever had ('til Geoff, of course, ha ha)...but I've never been heartbroken by a boyfriend.

14. THE SCHOOL PICTURE YOU BURIED IN YOUR BOTTOM DRAWER?

None of mine are buried, unfortunately. There IS my sixth-grade one, which Mom has displayed in the living room...I'm wearing a dark and light blue-striped shirt, my big red glasses (which have since been dubbed the Sally Jesse glasses)...it's just terrible. Not my worst, but those glasses are so embarrassing!

15. DO YOU HAVE ANY WEIRD PREFERENCES? WHAT ARE THEY?

I have lots of weird preferences, though I think they're all more on the "obsessive-compulsive" side, heh...

16. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?

"Ugh. How about, why are they so interested in sex? To be quite honest, I think the whole act sounds really disgusting, disturbing, and degrading." <---*nods in agreement with Lola* Preoccupation with sex is probably one of the reasons I haven't been overly interested in finding a boyfriend, hehe...

17. WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND?

A person can have more than one best friend! Just remember that, hehe...But mah bestest friendle is Tiff! I have other REALLY really close friends though, like Jam 'n Lola, who really are like best friends (except I've never gotten to do anything with them in person, so...well, I guess that's not a factor, but anyway...)..

18. NAME ONE TV CHARACTER YOU'D MOST WANT TO BE.

I'd say Scully, from the X-Files, because she's so smart and sophisticated...but she's also been abducted by aliens, diagnosed with weirdo cancer, and rather cold and anal at times. And she's the enemy of some very dangerous men. So maybe I WOULDN'T want to be her, hehehe...

19. IF YOU WERE FAMOUS, AND WERE TO BE A GUEST ON A TALK SHOW, WHOSE SHOW WOULD YOU CHOOSE? WHY?

I don't watch talk shows very often...um...Oprah, ha ha, because everyone knows her. ;) And if you're going to be famous, go on a famous talk-show! LoL...no, I'd have more fun on a night show.

20. GIVE YOURSELF A PORN STAR NAME.

The Sexy Tammy Twinkle (it's something I got on a random generator ages ago, and I'm too unoriginal to think up a new one, hehe)

21. DO YOU HAVE ANY WEIRD SLEEPING HABITS?

"When I first get in bed, I lie on my back. Soon I'm on my side. But I always end up on my stomach." <--Same here! Weeeeeird, hehehe...

22. WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO THIS SUMMER?

Uhh...vegetate? Ha ha, like THAT'LL happen, considering jobs don't have summer vacations. I guess I'm just hoping I'll keep my sanity intact!

23. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG RIGHT NOW?

Maybe "It's Late" (or is it "Too Late") by Queen..but that won't last long, because my favorite songs are constantly changing!

24. WRITE A LINE FROM ANY SONG.

You say you love me/and I hardly know your name/and if I say I love you by the candlelight/there's no one but myself to blame

25. DO YOU KNOW AT LEAST ONE DISNEY SONG BY HEART? WHICH ONE?

I don't think I know any complete songs, though if I went through all of them, I might surprise myself. :-P

26. DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM HOUSE.

Something big, but not like INSANELY big...a nice 3- or 4-bedroom affair. And I've wanted to have a secret room (like the House of the Seven Gables), so if I could have my house built to my specifications, I'd have one of those secret rooms. ^_^

27. YOUR TYPICAL SLEEPWEAR:

I start off buying really cute pajamas, because I LOVE pajama shopping. But before long, I'm wearing the bottoms (shorts or pants, but usually pants), and an old Super Fresh T-shirt. It's tres chic.

28. WHAT'S IN YOUR BAG?

As I'm constantly reminded by Mom, I need a new--larger--purse. Mine has my cell phone, my wallet-y thing (that only holds cards), lots of change in the clear pocket that's supposed to hold photo IDs...sometimes I have mint or gum...crumpled money...oh yeah, and lots of receipts and things smooshed at the bottom.

29. WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?

Photo ID, credit and ATM cards, a Waldenbooks gift card that I have yet to finish off, my bank ID card...

30. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR WALLET RIGHT NOW?

I don't carry around an actual wallet, so the total would come to $0. My money is kept either in my pockets, or shoved in my purse..which isn't safe OR organized, but there you have it.

31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF SHOES

I used to LOVE this cream-colored pair of Adidas sneakers that I bought back in 9th grade (because they looked like the ones Freddie Mercury was wearing in a poster I have). I was still wearing them after graduation, but the soles are so worn out that they bother my feet now. Still, I don't have the heart to get rid of them!

32. IF YOU COULD'VE GONE TO YOUR SENIOR PROM IN A DIFFERENT OUTFIT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I would've had to be slimmer to wear something different. As it is, I LOVED my dress!

33. HOW WAS YOUR SENIOR PROM?

Definitely sucked. I think I only went because it was one of those "once in a lifetime" opportunities, and I'd skipped out on so much in my school career that I didn't want to skip out on this as well. However, I hated all the guys in my school, so Mom set me up with a guy she worked with. The nice part was that he wasn't interested in dating (or sex), so I didn't worry about being taken advantage of. (talk about bad grammar!) The bad part was that I didn't know him at all, I was self-conscious at this affair, and I only danced once because of it. All that money on dress and ticket WASTED! So now I regret all of THAT, LoL!

34. TELL US ABOUT ANY OF YOUR BIRTHDAYS.

Myy....ugh, I don't know if it was my 4th or 5th birthday (but I think it was my 5th). We were living with my grandparents at the time, and Dad took me out to fly this big styrofoam (sp?) plane that he'd put together. When we came back, he made up this big story about me needing to hide because we were trying to surprise Mom. So I climbed off of the seat and hid somewhat under the dashboard. He got out of the car first and put his hands over my eyes as he led me out, and I still had no idea what was going on. Then I heard my cousin, Billy (who was still just an infant) cry out, and I begged Dad to let me go so I could go play. He uncovered my eyes and there were all my relatives and friends, at my surprise birthday party! I pretended to faint, hehe, but the party was cool.

One of my later birthdays brought me one of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band dolls (John), and I loved it. :-P

35. WOULD YOU RATHER BE A HOBBIT, AN ELF OR A DWARF?

I have no interest in Tolkien's works, but I've always had an interest in Elves.

36. WHAT ARE THE FIRST FIVE THINGS YOU WOULD SPLURGE ON IF YOU WERE A BILLIONAIRE?

A new computer (and all sorts of nifty stuff to go with it)...a laptop, maybe...an electric-gasoline hybrid car! Aaaannd, well, I'd probably buy a house for myself (and Mom, since I'm still living with her, hehe); and probably something to do with critters.

37. WHAT IS YOUR DAILY BEFORE-GOING-TO-BED RITUAL?

I take my hair out of its half-ponytail thing, I brush my teeth, go to the bathroom (ah, you all wanted to know that)...sometimes I write in my paper diary, sometimes I read...most of the time I listen to a CD before finally drifting off.

38. WHAT IS THE WEIRDEST/FUNNIEST NICKNAME ANYONE HAS EVER CALLED YOU?

'Am with a ber on the side'. Sure, it's not a nickname, but it's not my name, either! (Dangit, kid, stop messaging me...) That's definitely the weirdest. I've always wanted a nickname, though, but my name is short enough that it's never really needed one. Of course, people call me Am, which I've gotten used to, but Janette started calling me Jam, and since then I've grown to love that nickname! The only people who call me Berry, however, are Janette, Laura, and Tiff. :oP Everyone else just calls me Am.

39. NAME THREE [3] OF YOUR FAVORITE CARTOON CHARACTERS.

The Powerpuff Girls...that's probably it, hehe...I don't watch cartoons much anymore. I used to love Babs from Tiny Toons, but that was a long time ago!

40. WHAT ARE THE MAGAZINES YOU READ ON A REGULAR BASIS?

YM...I know it's pretty stupid, but I've had a subscription to it for YEARS, and it's sort of entertaining. That's the only one I read regularly; the other ones I only read if the front cover really captures my interest.

Okay, those were a lot of questions! But what the heck, I'll copy the other'n from her diary too, hehe....

4 things you would eat on the last day of your life:

* pizza

* ice cream

* spaghetti

* Chinese

4 CDs from your collection that you will never get tired of:

* any Queen CDs

* my Charlotte Church CD

* my The Guess Who CD

* I'm sure there's something else...

4 movies that you watch over and over:

* Labyrinth

* Slipper and the Rose

* "Disney Movies" (*agrees with Lola*), esp. Lady & the Tramp

* The 10th Kingdom (okay, I don't really watch it over and over, but I really like it!)

4 celebrities you would have sex with(dead or alive)(gay or straight)

* I...don't really have any interest in having sex with anybody. Well okay, I wouldn't mind having Ewan or Michael Vartan for a few minutes... ;)

4 vacations you have taken:

* Disney World - always great, no matter how many times you go!

* Belgium/Paris - would've been better if I'd stayed long enough to see London!

* Wildwood, NJ - Fun childhood memories!

* Maine - It's GORGEOUS up there!

4 songs you get stuck in your head frequently: (of late)

* "Share the Land" - The Guess Who

* "Barcelona" - Freddie Mercury and Monsterrat Caball�

* "Blueberry Hill" - Fats Domino (I can't stand that song, LoL)

* Can't think of any others right now, hehe

4 things you'd like to learn:

* how to sew

* how to speak French fluently

* "piano" <--same here!

* and yes, I'd like to be able to write better, hehe

4 beverages you drink frequently:

* Fruit Works Peach Papaya

* Sierra Mist

* Dr. Pepper

* Water

4 TV shows that you liked when you were a kid:

* The Thundercats (or however it's spelled)

* She-Ra, Princess of Power (and He-Man)

* Rainbow Brite

* Strawberry Shortcake (I liked the Care Bears and My Little Ponies, too)

4 places to go in your city:

* the mall

* Wal-Mart

* Target

* cow-tipping. Ha ha, not really. Well, we DO have cows, but I've never done that. It's mean. Though the mental image is funny.

4 things to do when you're bored:

* Play Aidyn Chronicles

* surf the Internet

* Read

* whine about being bored

4 things that never fail to cheer you up:

* Hannibal (as in, my fish)

* buying stuff

* hearing affirmations from my friends

* reading or watching a movie

Okay, NOW I really ought to pack. It's technically Tuesday at this point, and I should sleep at some point. ;)

Good night!