"This is who I am."

Hey Grey People,

            So, Enigma has been doing a lot of these, and they’re so entertaining that I have decided to take the questions I like, in no particular order, and start giving you little pieces of myself. It’s a fun way of saying “this is who I am.”

1)    What is something you often do without realizing that you’re doing it?

I correct people’s grammar in my head while they’re talking. So if they say “further” when they should say “farther” I say this to myself in my head. I have a grammar thing—I can’t help it!

2)    Who has the capacity to make you angrier than anyone else in your life, and what in particular does he or she do to make you so angry?

Unfortunately it’s my best friend. She purposely sabotages her relationships with women, and leaves me as the scapegoat. It sucks because she’s not really conscious of it, but everyone else can see it, and tells me so all the time like I’m supposed to do something about it. I can’t make someone see what’s right in front of her if she refuses to open her eyes.

3)    If a fairy waved a magic wand and gave you the house of your dreams, where would it be and what features would it have?

It would be anywhere I wanted—a traveling house. It would most often go back and forth from NYC to a cute New England town. And it would have an amazing kitchen with a range-top gas stove and every kitchen gadget you can imagine. It would have one of those pot racks above the stove, and endless counter space. I love to cook, if you hadn’t gathered :)

4)    What’s a belief that you hold with which many people disagree?

The right to end one’s own life without being classified as mentally ill. Some people’s lives, for whatever reason, are terrible. And they should be able to end them in peace. Suicidality ≠ insanity.

5)    Imagine you just moved onto Sesame Street. Which puppet would you want as your new roommate?

Probably Beaker, because I like to experiment as well. And maybe I could keep him from blowing everything up!!

6)    Have you ever had a weird crush on a famous person that didn’t make sense to you?

Yes! Steven Tyler. I think it’s is mouth/lips, coupled with his screaming and strange androgyny. Somehow I find it hot. I know, a lesbian with a thing for Steven Tyler? Go figure!

7)    If you get ten minutes to interview any celebrity of your choice, who would you like it to be?

Oprah for sure. She has an amazing life story. I could learn a lot.

8)    VH1 has re-introduced its hit show “Pop-Up Video,” which gives behind-the-scenes facts for popular music videos. What musician would you be most interested in learning behind-the-scenes facts about?

Probably Tracy Chapman. I guess I would want to know why she isn’t more forthcoming about her sexuality and personal life (besides the obvious answer of “because it’s private.”)

9)    If you stumbled across someone’s personal written journal that was accidentally left in a public place, would you read any of the content?

Yes. I am fascinated by people, what they think and feel. I don’t think I’d be able to help myself. I realize that I would feel so exposed and betrayed if the tables were turned, but for that reason, I’d never lose my journal!

10) What is the title of a self-help book that you’d never want to see on a store bookshelf?

How about just “How to Live Your Life?” I don’t really care for this genre in general...not sure why.

11) Why did you sign up for writing your blog?

Because I felt the need to reach out to others, and blogging is a great way to do that :)

12) What do you do online when you’re not on your blog?

I read articles, tweet, look at and comment on other people’s blogs, peruse psychology research studies, non-fiction book reviews.

13) How about when you’re not on the computer?

I hike, go out to eat with friends, listen to music, sing, dance, read, bike...oh, and work. You know, the business of life.

14) What do you wish people who read your blog knew about you?

Who I am. Anonymity is safe, but isolating at times.

15) What is your favorite community in the blogosphere?

The queer “this is my life” community. I like hearing other people’s stories.

16) Tell me about your picture you use to represent you on your blog.

The picture is a part of my body, in gray. It represents the philosophy behind my blog—the Grey Space.

17) Pick 3 random blogs from your blogroll and tell us about them.

Effingdykes is a hilarious blog about...well, dykey things. It has great pictures and comical captions, and each post has a theme. The one about dancing is by far my favorite, so check it out! A Brown Girl is Alix Golden’s blog, and it’s really interesting, fun, and comforting—we have some things in common. The Hook Up is an AfterEllen blog that gives relationship advice to people who write in. It makes me feel like I’m not the only who has trouble maneuvering the human species!

18) What features do you think your blog should have that it doesn’t currently?

I wish my blog had a better aesthetic and a clearer organizational structure or focus. I’m thinking of switching to wordpress, but I’m fighting the urge to organize too much. I do that enough in my day-to-day life!

19) Do you have any unique interests that you have never shared before? What are they?

I don’t know if this is unique, but I’m interested in how psychopathology develops in children. The overarching question I have is “what dictates that some of us thrive as children, in spite of our surroundings, while others deteriorate?” How is it that two children growing up in the same environment can have such divergent life outcomes?

20) Do you follow your own style or everyone else’s? Definitely my own. If you were to look into my closet, you’d have no idea what to make of me, because I can be anything on any given day. The same goes for my friends. They are all over the map. I can appreciate a lot of different types of things and people. I’m versatile that way. I’m not a “prep” or a “sporty dyke” or a “femme” exclusively. It’s all in there. I like “nice” people, and “assholes” and “funny” people and “smart” people. I can appreciate certain qualities in everyone, and I judge no one.

Peace and Love and Bugs Named Doug,

GreyGirl