An Introduction

*waves* Hi, I'm Allison. As usual I feel that I've jumped into this project feet first without really taking the time to introduce myself or explain. This is me:It is a fairly terrible picture taken with my cell phone camera right before going swimming (or kayaking or something) this past summer. However, that's all you get for right now because my other photos are still on my old computer.

There's a random facts meme going around right now, where one is supposed to post 10 random facts about him- or herself. I figured this would be a good way for us to get acquainted.

1. Dartmouth
I recently graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Anthropology. My four years at Dartmouth were amazing; I can see why people say college is the best years of your life. Now that I'm out in the Real World things are different in oh-so-many ways, some better, some much, much worse. However, I know wherever I go I'll carry a piece of Dartmouth with me, because I met many of my closest friends during my time at college and the experiences I had each year contributed greatly to the person I am today.

2. Animals
While I was taking Vertebrate Zoology my sophomore winter, it occurred to me that I could, theoretically, get a job working with animals in some capacity. This was a changing point in my life. I love animals; there is a very real chance that some day I will be the neighborhood crazy cat lady (although I'll probably also have some fish, a bird, maybe a ferret or 2 (or 5), a hamster, a dog . . .). The idea that I could work with animals seemed novel and exciting and wonderful. I'm still working on making it happen, but I am confident that I'll find something to interest me that involves animals in some way. Also, I run fundraisers for the local humane society on occasion. Also also, David Attenborough is one of my heroes, and his Life of Mammals and Blue Planet: Seas of Life are two of my favorite documentaries, and the Trials of Life is my all-time favorite documentary.

3. Books
One of my addictions. I am incapable of passing up a used book sale. At any given time, I am reading one book and have at least two unread ones (or right now, closer to 20 - 30 unread). I keep lists on my computer, one for the books I've read and one for the books I want to read (titled "Summer Reading List" from when I started it freshmen summer, and I've never changed the title, just added to the list). My favorite book ever is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, although I haven't read it for a while (for a complete list of my favorite books, see to the right). I almost never read a book only once if I like it. Whenever I end up owning a house, it WILL have a library (probably not as grand as Belle's from Beauty and the Beast, but hey, a girl can dream). One of the best things about graduation from college was having time to read for fun again.

4. Food
I love food. That picture is me eating a fresh avocado in Costa Rica (delicious!). I particularly love cooking and baking, which is another thing I have lots of time for now that I've graduated. I can make quite a few meals well. I keep meaning to update my food blog, since I cook almost every night and and have tried lots of amazing recipes . . . but I never seem to have my camera with me to take pictures of my meals! Oh well. My favorite food is artichokes (and they're in season RIGHT NOW, yay!), and for a more complete list of favorites see my food blog.

5. Crocheting and other crafts
I can crochet pretty well, I'm trying to learn knitting (mostly to make this), I can cross stitch (although I haven't in years and years), and I love to try any other crafty things. I have a rarely-updated craft blog that I may start using now that I've been finishing up some projects. I'm currently working on a blanket, a stocking for my brother, some fingerless gloves, two scarves, and one afghan that I started about 4 years ago and that I work on sometimes, but haven't in a long while.

6. Drinks











I suppose this could go under food, but nah. This will just be a list of favorites: alcohol - Bailey's Irish Cream with Caramel, mixed drink - mudslide, wine - white zinfandel (the Barefoot one is surprisingly good), non-alcoholic drink - Shirley Temple, soda - ginger ale (Schweppes Dry Grape was the best, but is no longer made, alas), warm drink - hot chocolate, tea - Adagio's coconut (see previous post), and sparkling water - Perrier with lime.

7. Technology
Technology and I don't really get along. However, you wouldn't know it considering I have a 30GB iPod video, a brand new Lenovo ThinkPad T61 computer, an also new Logitech QuickCam Deluxe webcam, and an also new LG VX8350 cell phone (it was time for an upgrade). I really, really, really luff them all. The computer is particularly amazing.

8. Paranormal Phenomena
I think I might blame Uncle Joe for this one. For as long as I can remember, I've been interested in weird, unexplainable occurrences. I love reading about unsolved mysteries and supernatural phenomena. The X-Files was my favorite show for YEARS while I was growing up. My freshmen seminar was on credulity, belief, pseudoscience, and why people believe weird things. Basically, it was how to be a good skeptic. That's where I discovered CSICOP (Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, home of the "Skeptical Inquirer" magazine), and I may still subscribe to their magazine at some point. Skeptic looks like another good one, although more expensive. Anyway, I like weird things.

9. Television

10. I'm not sure what to put here
So I'll go with another one of my current "interests." All of a sudden, I developed a love for Threadless T-shirts. I've known about them for years because I've had friends who were really into them, and then suddenly I had a job and a little extra spending money and I wanted to revamp my wardrobe a bit anyway, and BAM all of a sudden I had a few wonderful T-shirts. They also have a lot of sales, so while I bought a few shirts full-price because I didn't want them to sell out I waited on others and got them for around 1/2 price. Great deal! I'm also not "addicted" (like some people I know . . .) because I only buy shirts when I REALLY like them, not because they have the Threadless brand. Problem of course, that I like A LOT of them.
I Like Trees Too - My very first Threadless shirt, a birthday present.
Life On Gi'raph Paper
What Makes It Go? - Quite possibly my favorite shirt of all time. I really want it in poster form.
Squeaked - I love elephants!
Foxy - Reminds me of Swift from David the Gnome.
Pillow Fight
Arctic Spa - My other favorite, way too cute.
Can't See The Forest But For The Socks - I don't know, something about this one really appeals to me.
A Voyage of Discovery - Books! Books and ships and desert islands!

So, there you have it. A brief synopsis of everything you ever wanted to know (and much, much more) about me.