Because I'm such a joiner! And wish lists:

 

- Amazon

- BPAL

- General stuff

 

If you had to chose one BPAL scent and only ONE to have forever what would it be? That's a hard one because I don't have a ton of experience with what notes work on me v. what notes I adore. Right now I'm inclined to say Dorian, though Western Diamondback and Intrigue are up there for me as well. I turn a lot of the BPAL scents I like into vanilla once we hit extended drydown, and unfortunately Dorian is susceptible to that. Western Diamondback may be too, once I've had the chance to test it more.

 

Who here likes Betty Page? In a passing way, yep. Pin-up ladies are lovely, but I don't have a specific fondness for Bettie.

 

How about original Trek Characters? I will always have a preference for select TNG or DS9 characters, but Mr. Spock is the epitome of awesome. I have a copy of Leonard Nimoy's I Am Spock floating around somehwere (I hope), and it was a great insight on the actor and character alike.

 

If you were my witchee, would you like a jar of home made apple butter? This is assuming it turns out good... Home-made anything sounds awesome! I just learned the joys of fruit butters a month or two ago when I picked up a pear-vanilla butter from my farmer's market. Awesome glaze ingredient, and I'd love to try other kinds. Food = love, IMO.

 

Are you interested in Tarot cards? And if so, are there particular decks you like (or don't or already have or whatever)? Very interested, and dying to learn how to read 'em. I've been coveting the DC Vertigo deck for about a decade now, so the re-release has me all a-squee, though I'm also scared that I won't be able to pick a set up.

 

What kind of tea (or coffee) puts you in a fall/Halloween mood? And where do you get it? Apple cider, without a doubt. I like the concept of pumpkin-related beverages, but can never find any.

 

Favorite Halloweeen song? Er, I actually don't have one. Halloween hasn't really featured heavily in my life for a dozen-plus years now. Boring, I know.

 

If you were my witchee, would you like dried honey crisp apple slices or other dried fruit? (We don't add anything to it AFAIK -- no sugar or spices.) All the SW talk of honeycrisp apples prompted me to try my first one over the weekend. ZOMG, indeed. I can't imagine how lovely they'd be dried, but I'm definitely gonna have to stock up on the fresh ones.

 

Speaking of historical fiction, how does everyone feel about Sherlock Holmes? I like the character premise a lot though I've yet to get around to reading the original stories. Someday... I would also like to watch some of the TV programs about Holmes. Right now my favorite mystery series are the Mary Russell novels, where Holmes is a primary cast member. A bit of Mary Suedom, but fun!

 

Favorite cartoons or animated films? ReBoot! OMG, ReBoot = love. I cry on the inside occasionally because you cannot get the whole series on DVD, and I only have one of what is available. If you haven't seen it, then you're breaking this lady's heart. Nothing else compares to ReBoot for me.

 

Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? I'd rather avoid them, but it's a very kind thought. That said, I am going to be voting for Obama.

 

Villians you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking? Boinking. I have wanted to schtup John Constantine and Pete Wisdom since I was 16, though I dunno if Pete is really a villain (John's just a bastard). My chosen crushes tend to live more in the grey area of morality rather than having teeny little black hearts. Tony Stark has become pretty awful recently, but I'd still do him. I've grown past my Spike fixation -- thank god -- and would jump Methos' bones so fast he wouldn't have much of a skeleton left.

 

Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? Creamy, because I always used to stab myself with crunchy peanut butter. (Don't ask.) No allergies at all, and I find that chocolate peanut butter + green apples = something oddly reminiscent of caramel apples. Tasty, but hard to find. Maple anything is just plain sexay and ranks up there with honey for me. Nutella, though, I have no prior experience with.

 

Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? One of my favorite genres! I love reading about any point in time, though I will admit to having only the smallest interest in American history. My bias about American historical fiction lifts for the very rare western, anything featuring Native Americans or if it features New York City in any stage at all, but particularly around WWII or prior. I feel very strongly for New York Jews -- where my family comes from -- and my grandparents (who were like my surrogate parents) lived in the city back in the 1930s and 1940s, so that era rings home for me. I love medieval and pre-history anything, though, as well as Europe during any Tudor's reign. The Victorian era has quickly become a favorite, but I'll read just about anything happening just about anywhere and when.

 

What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? I kind of became a makeup fiend starting last year. I live and die by Clinique's Buttermilk shade, but alas, can't find it anymore. I wear a lot of purples to offset the brown hair/eyes combo, but Urban Decay's array of blues just sent me into a fascination there. Browns aren't uncommon nor neutral or sagey greens. I like the idea of copper and bronze, and just recently started a foray into pink for emphasis. Occasionally I wear shades of reds, though not often. Outside of just plain Buttermilk, my favorite combination is that shade of cream below my brows, and an aqua color on one half of my lid blended with a fuschia on the other half. As Pope has said, it makes me look like a summer popsicle and is fun besides. Truthfully, the only colors I don't wear are orange and yellow, and that's just because I haven't thought about purchasing them before (though with a yellow skin undertone, it's probably best that way). Me being me (subdued about my in-your-face urges), I tend to lean towards matte shades but shimmery ones are also wicked fun. I have a palette of Urban Decay eyeshadows with a crapload of glitter, and they're nice sometimes but drive me bonkers most of the time.

 

Eyeliner is my BFF, though I only have it in black -- Stila's gel eyeliner rocks my world. (And if anyone can recommend a good mascara, that'd be awesome!) I'm weird about my mouth and always feel that reds look ridiculous on me. Er, probably because I'm piss-poor at application. I broke out of my comfort zone and bought a Bare Escentuals lip kit in what I think is rose. I'd kill to find a nice neutral, natural shade which doesn't look stupid.

 

About incense: do you like sticks or lose incense? Have you got one of those devices to burn lose incense over a bit of charcoal? I have no incense supplies anymore -- it's been years since I've been prepared that way. I did like cones back in the day, but at this point I'm poorly prepared for incense. Which doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy it, natch.

 

What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? That's a hard one. I don't have an especial favorite, but the ones I enjoy are inevitably the older, darker ones that have more of a warning to them than a happy ending. I like most fairy tales, provided they're that way.

 

So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? I... Actually, I don't know. I'm easily overwhelmed just because I'm such a newb. Honestly, I'm still hyperventilating in panic over cracking into my savings to spoil myself with the Snake Pit.

 

Who needs a recipe box? Last X-Mas a co-worker gave me a recipe book where I can fill in empty card slots, so I've sloooowly been working on that. They cater to my need for organization and cleanliness a bit more.

 

ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? I would love home-made anything. <3

 

How does everyone feel about really green gifties? I was thinking of giving my witchee some of my handy-dandy "paper" towels (hand-sized, washable muslin squares--kinda like ultra-cheapo cloth napkins) in a kitchen-friendly decorative box, but I didn't want to seem preachy ("Stop using paper towels, you environment destroyer!"). Would y'all use something like that? My roomie and I already use washcloths in place of paper towels for cleaning (and now we use paper towels for napkins, which really doesn't improve the situation that much), so I'd appreciate any help I can get.

 

What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? Knitting, always knitting. I gave it another shot last week and bombed.

 

Would you appreciate some tunes in future packages? And if so, do you care if you get any CDs or mp3s you might have all ready? Or would you be able to find a way to post a list of things you're (a) looking for, or ( b ) all ready have? I would appreciate anything and everything. CDs are more convenient for car tunes, whereas MP3s work better for my PC. I could possibly list what I have if my witch was curious -- ask away if you are! -- and a general idea of my musical interests can be found on Pandora if my witch would like to see them.

 

Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it? I like savory foods rather than sweet ones, but I'd be curious about candies sheerly for the sake of knowing. Kielbasa is like heaven when fried up and clogging one's arteries.

 

How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? So far, yes. It's hard work!

 

Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? I love this question. Yes, I like them. Last Thanksgiving break I became enabled to Aerie, which is an offshoot of American Eagle. I like their briefs with the faux pee-flap in particular, but their boyshorts are fairly comfortable as well. I finally started buying myself cute and fun undies... so of course now I'm eyeballing the "professional" and sexay ones again. <sigh> I run a medium at Aerie, which I guess means I'm around a 8 normally..?

 

What is your favorite? What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? I love Sleepytime but don't buy it often because I'm trying to focus more on loose-leaf or more natural bagged teas nowadays. Right now I don't have a favorite other than naturally gravitating towards anything with fruit or the word "chai". I'm a big pansy who hasn't made proper chai yet -- the closest I've come is my mint chai green tea mix, which is chai fixings with mint and green tea plus some hot water. Very lovely. Otherwise I'm still exploring my tea love.

 

BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? I'd like to try them very much. They're a bit pricey, though, and so I haven't been able to justify the cost.

 

Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like? Baked goods! <3 Pope is my household's baker, and I love bakers so since I am more of the chef mentality. While patience and methodical instructions are things I'd probably enjoy otherwise, cooking is the one place where I like to get spontaneous and so I'm a piss-poor baker. (Also, I prefer meals to desserts as a general rule.) With that in mind, I am a huge fan of rugelach and rainbow cookies. The latter are my most favorite cookies in the world and make me fall back into my childhood in NYC, but are a bear to find elsewhere. I'll try anything, really, but I especially love cookies. Yay gluttony!

 

Your thoughts on the update? Meh. Blood accords don't typically work for me, and while I love food, I'm not typically thrilled with foody scents. It's a no-go for me.

 

How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? During my next round (inevitable), I've already decided that I will be more methodical about planning ahead and how I'd like to organize my witch's packages. I've broken from character completely, because I do love organization so, but right now I'm just flailing about and sending things willy-nilly whilst I collect the larger stuff for a reveal package.

 

If you were my witchee, would you be terribly offended if I sent you a box containing project "experiments" or random miscellaneous pretty bits of brainstorming that I thought you might like/wear? As my artistic skills consist of looking at pretty things and exclaiming "pretty!", I would appreciate any artsy stuff that anyone is willing to share. I live vicariously through you folks!

 

Do you often drink take away coffee in paper mugs? I don't drink coffee at all, though occasionally I may get tea from somewhere like Barnes & Noble, Starbuck's or one of the local cafes. At work I have a Pirates of the Caribbean travel mug that I use for tea. It's a bit of a bitch to clean, though.

 

What would a perfume based on you smell like? I actually couldn't answer this question off the top of my head, because the notes were so conflicting. I thought of snow/ozone because I am oftentimes described as cold (and am also constantly freezing, even in much of the summer). But then I thought some more and went "well, there'd have to be some resins, too, but those won't go together..." Pope told me that a perfume based off of me would smell like "Tea leaves, wool, a splash of rum and the dry wind of summer."

 

Who here likes Wizard of Oz things? Me! Except it's like, not love.

 

Do you like Mystery Science Theater 3000? Have you tried out (and if not, would you be interested in doing so) its weird little brother, RiffTrax? I love MST3K, especially when Mike Nelson was hosting. I tend to be up and impatient and moving around a lot when I watch movies at home, though, and as a result I don't watch movies at home particularly often. So RiffTrax, probably not until I can calm down a bit!

 

What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? Yes, please? I like anything that will trigger my curiosity, which is about all of that. On the flip side, I also have little room in my life for trinkets that are meant to sit on your desk, etc. (I think statues are the lone exception.) It's the down side of the minimalist I'm turning into.

 

What is everyone's "luck" item? I don't have one, actually. Honestly, sometimes I feel as though I make my own luck. That and every luck item I own tends to mysteriously disappear. The last one was a rough silver plate with the pisces symbol on it tied to some leather cords. It was a lovely, simple little bracelet from a dear friend of mine and the damn thing fell off my wrist and into the ether a few years ago.

 

Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? Yes, yes, a hundred times yes! I have a big crush on Mucha most especially, but art nouveau in general makes me happy and I have a fondness for art deco colors and patterns.

 

What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit?

How do you feel about Hello Kitty? Meh. When I was a kid in SoCal, we'd hit the Sanrio store regularly and I really enjoyed that. I'm not one for overly cutesy things nowadays, though, and so while I like Hello Kitty, I'm comfortable with not owning anything of hers.

 

Legwarmers? Armwarmers? I feel a little weird about legwarmers -- too 1980s fabulous for me. Armwarmers are something I've never owned, but really covet. I, er, kind of made a list of the Sock Dreams ones I want on my LiveJournal (droa).

 

What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? Er. Well, unfortunately my crafting skills are about nil. The older I get, the less creative I seem to become. Maybe my undying love for virii, particularly Ebola?

 

If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? I am, but I don't have my console anymore. So I guess I'm exempt!

 

What is your favorite category of the GC? I'm still a bit too much of a newb to have one just yet. Off the top of my head, I've enjoyed Bewitching Brews rather a lot so far.

 

Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? General irritation. I dislike the way Joss gets worshipped as a tiny godling, as I've found that he only really does good work with his own creations and the longer any of his work runs, the worse it gets. He's very talented and I enjoy his shows, but he is not my end-all. Also, I loved Willow and Oz, dammit.

 

Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? Yay, my question! I love chilled ice wine in a small glass. It's beautiful and syrupy and the color always kills me with how pretty it is. I rarely buy it, though, 'cause even in ice wine country the stuff don't come cheap.

 

What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? Happy Housewife. They're about it.

 

Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? The most I've ever done are some tourist-y grave rubbings back when I lived just outside Salem, Massachusetts.

 

Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? LOVE. I think cemeteries are beautiful places, provided they're older and less modern -- cemeteries today seem too... hygienic, I guess. Too impersonal and streamlined. Some of my best memories are walking through a graveyard with any number of my friends. They're wonderful, meaningful places, and I adore photos of them.

 

What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there? I don't have either, but Pope does!

 

Do you play a musical instrument? Does hanging out with the band geeks in school count? I never learned how to play a single instrument. Makes me sad, because I would have liked a crack at the piano growing up.

 

What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? It sounded interesting, but I've yet to buy a bottle of anything and D&SCD probably wouldn't be at the top of my to-buy list. I try to avoid LEs as a general rule (says the girl who's dying for Halloweenies and Carnaval scents) because I am scared of finding something that will practical change my life but is not readily available. I'm also, quite frankly, scared of hoarding.

 

How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? I'll pass, but thank you! I can't deal with clutter and my mind is ruled by practicality, so unless it's artwork of some kind, I'm more likely to wind up frustrated by it than anything.

 

Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? I think they'd probably wind up okay. We're quickly descending into autumn weather out here in the great white north.

 

Who likes pirates? I AM A PIRATE REPRESENT. Have yet to successfully commandeer a ship, though. (But I'm going to keep trying!) I'm a bit of a history freak, so I enjoy the whole kit an' kaboodle when it comes to pirates. They were typically mean, dirty, awful men, but I can understand the things they did very easily. Not so keen on modern-day pirates, probably because the romance of the idea is long gone. Piracy = filthy, unhygienic love to me otherwise, though.

 

What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? Awesome! Love, love, love. I love the meaning, the significance and everything about it. The designs and imagery involved always wows me in particular.

 

What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? I enjoy the movie a lot, but it's not the end-all, be-all for me.

 

If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? Smaller would be lovely. I'm dying to try out those 1 lb. bags of caramels, but I know me -- I have candy left from last Passover, some from last Thanksgiving. Unless it's magical candy, smaller quantities are more lovingly appreciated. Plus my witch could keep as much as she likes.

 

Do you like floral bath soaps, shower gels, etc? If so, what florals work on you and what don't? I've never bought too many florals, actually. I like jasmine based off of past experience -- Lush's Alkmaar and Flying Fox. Outside of that... uh, I really don't know. Jasmine's definitely a winner, and while I really enjoy rose, I would prefer to avoid that kind of "cloying" smell when it comes to bathing.

 

How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? NOM NOM NOM is about how I feel. I am part of the honey swap and eagerly awaiting my share of the swag while simultaneously trying to not buy anymore... it's hard! My tea is lonely as a result. I also love maple. Maple candies are neat, but my favorite thing ever in that neck of the woods is maple cotton candy. Burnt sugar heaven, I tell you!

 

What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? Go for walks, preferably in wooded areas, with some comfortable boots and a comfortable sweater.

 

If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? The cats love chicken-flavored Greenies, but Weiss doesn't have a toy preference.

 

What's your ringtone? I don't have one. I keep my phone on vibrate instead, as rings annoy me.

 

Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Addams Family, all the way. I got a lot of Wednesday comparisons, growing up.

What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? I would love any of the above. I love, love, love tea but have very little in supplies.

 

How do you feel about copies of music or dvd's that your witch might have that you might enjoy? Not just mixes, but whole copies? Sounds fun!

 

Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? Not at all. My birthday expectations are nil -- I don't mean to sound cynical, but I expect nothing on my birthdays because I usually get nothing (and I do not necessarily mean gifts, but those are included in expectations). I'm lucky enough that my best friend is willing to plan for me on occasion. This year she gave me a very lovely birthday jaunt, which was a treat.

 

Tarts? Yes/no? Maybe? I have not ventured into the world of tarts yet. (Well, not those kinds of tarts... ) I'd like to, but have no tart warmer and am a little intimidated by the whole thing.

 

I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? Hells, yes! Sea salt caramel sounds like sex, and I know that chocolate + chili is love. I'd be willing to try bacon. Bacon makes the world go round. Vegans, please don't hurt me for saying the awful truth.

 

What's your favorite animal? It's a toss-up between wolves and dogs. I find them both immensely comforting. I'm also very partial to ravens and sparrows.

 

What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Just bottles? I'm aching to try out Mme. Moriarty -- it's one of the only remaining Carnaval scents I'm interested in. Lacking that, any of the Snake Pit or Halloween scents I have listed on my wishlist, for sure. My BPAL note-specific desires are weak since I don't 100% know what works on/for me.

 

If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? That's... really difficult, actually. I think Eddie Izzard, Neil Gaiman and... Actually, I think that's it.

 

If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Highlander: The Series. I miss that show SO BAD. If not that, then Earth 2, which never got the chance it deserved.

 

I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? I love blankets. Very much so, especially since I am always cold. (My circulation is bad enough where I usually wear a coat to work in July because of the A/C.) However, I have to admit that I literally received nothing but blankets for Christmakkuh last year from everyone I knew but my two best friends. It was kind of ridiculous, and I'm burned out on blankets now as a result.

 

What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Um... gosh, most food. I have a fairly easy time saying no to most temptations, so probably maple sugar candy or my favorite cookies in the world, neopolitan cookies. I feel like I can't get those anywhere other than NYC.

 

Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? I've purchased some Halloween/Sleepy Hollow decants that I'm waiting on. I'm nervous about not getting bottles of any of those I may like before they're gone, as I have no idea when to expect my decants to arrive. So I'm on the fence there. I'd be happy to warn my witch if necessary. I've also been contemplating gifting myself, for a change, and taking some money to buy myself the Snake Pit before the Carnaval is gone. They're the only CD scents I've enjoyed thus far barring The Illustrated Woman (still hoping to find someone kind enough to offer up CD decants of the only other scents I'd like to try -- my last contact seems to have fallen through. As I don't own any bottles, I feel like I might as well try and take advantage of these opportunities while they're around.

 

Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I haven't worn a watch since I was a teenager. I burn through the things too quickly, so nowadays I rely on my cellphone to tell the time.

 

How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something?If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? That sounds lovely. Animal rescue groups and shelters are my preferences. At the moment I don't have specific organizations I'm supporting, for a variety of reasons.

 

What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I prefer realism more often than not, but art noveau hits me in all the good places. Mucha is amazing.

 

Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? iPod, yes. Camera, no. Hopefully my camera will be replaced during the holidays, though, and so that may become a moot point. <fingers crossed>

 

For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? Right now, I buy bagged and am buying loose more frequently, but I still bag that. Mostly because I do not have an adequate teapot with an infuser. I've found one at my local market I rather like a lot, but can't seem to find a price for the damn thing. And so it lives in my fantasies...

 

Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? I'm literally right next door to Canada, so it gets coooooold out here. As someone who wishes that they knew how to knit, I <3 homemade anything. Especially scarves! <3 scarves! I'm kind of a dork about mittens -- I have "glittens" which are getting a bit rough around the edges, but they're the only kind of gloves/mittens I can wear without incident, as I can free up my fingers when needed. Hats are also awesome, but I am equally weird about them. I can pull of a lumberjack's hat quite well (fedoras and newsboy caps in the winter not so much), but your standard beanie not so much. Stupid hair. Stupid head.

 

Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? Oh, Pope, without a doubt. She's my best friend and roommate, and is one of only two close friends I have who can shop for me without instructions. Knowing her, she'd be happy to help out.

 

My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? Oh, I <3 Pandora. I've signed up with Last.fm but never did anything with it, so maybe this is my opportunity. Otherwise... er, I'm kind of flailing helplessly here, having not done this before and being a total, uninitiated newb.

 

Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? Alas, no charms for me!

 

If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? Bleh. Not a coffee drinker unless it's heavily iced and sweetened, i.e., a frozen drink.

 

What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? I own a couple of Spider-Man soundtracks, the CSI soundtrack, Forrest Gump and the like. I think Romeo + Juliet is my favorite movie soundtrack for pop music's sake, whereas the first two Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks are my favorite for, you know, piracy's sake. I also <3 The Producers (I have to check and see if I bought that one or not), and one of these days I'll get The Music Man soundtrack.

 

How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? BPAL has been my first foray into perfumes since I was a teenager. In the past ten years or so I've relied mostly on lotions and soaps for scent. I'm very fond of Lush's Silky Underwear dusting powder, but the price hikes Lush is constantly enforcing are very frustrating for my wallet and I. Nowadays I still like scented soaps/scrubs and moisturizers, but I seem to be buying lighter versions there (ex: Villainess) and focusing more on the BPAL.

 

Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Not really. Scented candles and potpourri drive me batty for reasons unknown. I like incense, but only non-offensive scents -- the foodie ones make me want to stick pipe cleaners up my nose. I've never actually used a diffuser before, but am very curious about them. And also a little intimidated, because I know nothing of 'em.

 

BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I am a texture whore. As a result, I love knitted products and desperately wish I could learn how to knit without botching it up horribly. Whenever I am shopping, anywhere, anytime, I have my hands all over the products to touch and feel and, as my roomie and I say, "texturize". Sight is important from a mildly OCD perspective -- I need order and organization, and so I spend a lot of time (re)arranging things so provide a more visually pleasing experience. Brightly colored fabrics with basic patterns (think stencils, or the art you see in vinyl wall decals), or patterns reminiscent of, say, saris also make me happy. Music is important, but I could probably live in a fair amount of silence. Scent is also very, very important. It boosts my mood, hence the BPAL <3. I love the smell of good food cooking, the smell of plants and gardens, herb and fruit gardens in particular. The smell of tomato plants is awesome stuff.

 

How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? Cookies with carnation petals sound awesome. I love food, love experiencing new kinds of food, so I'd be very interested in anything there is to offer!

 

What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? I'm down to a cat and two rats right now. Weiss is my 4 year-old tuxedo cat, the big baby. Four years in and he's sloooooowly coming to be more comfortable around us. He was found in a garbage dump as a kitten, and I think that helped to shape his perpetual nervousness. My rats are Ridley and Jack -- I just lost Tobias last month, the old man of the house. I also had to give away the cat I've adored the most, Sarit, for a variety of cat-conflict reasons. That was two years ago, but I still miss her dearly. Definitely no more cats after Weiss, though. Weiss is named for a character in the TV show Alias, who I have a big old crush on. Since he is mostly black, most people think his name is a funny ha-ha joke about his color, but nope!

 

Jack is just Jack. I like the name and have been drawn to a multitude of characters by that name. Ridley was named by my roommate. Sarit was named as a Hebrew petname for Sarah. I met an Israeli girl named Sarit quite a few years ago and fell head over heels for her name. Tobias was another roommate name, after the character from Oz.

 

Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I'm hardly a fanatic, but I enjoy the stories and imagery. I have a crush on the White Rabbit BPTP locket, and I own the Alice video game.

 

Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? My favorite series are tied between TNG and DS9 (of which I figure I'm one of about six fans). TOS is wonderful, but for story purposes I prefer my two more modern series. Favorite characters are Picard (<3), Riker on general principle since he and Picard are constantly having a "who is sexier" contest amongst themselves in every episode (seriously, watch again with that thought in mind and you'll be very amused!), and... well, I had a crush on Dr. Bashir growing up, but Dax -- proper Dax, not replacement!Dax -- was my absolute favorite for DS9. She was brilliant.

 

Do you have phobias? I wouldn't say phobias so much as dislike. I don't like interacting with insects if they are not spiders (eat the pesky bugs), ladybugs (limited likability after seeing them descend en masse at a relative's) or butterflies. I particularly loathe centipedes, roaches, earwigs, maggots and silverfish. Clowns, as a general rule, do not thrill me unless they are very artsy indeed. And while it's neither phobia nor really a dislike, I'm really kind of worn out on cats. I've had some bad cat experiences over the past three years, and once the two which are currently in my life have had their time on this earth, I am done with cats forever.

 

How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Anything! Finding new music used to be a hobby of mine that fell to the wayside. I used to work at Barnes & Noble running the newsstand department, and the best part of the job was going through the music mags we didn't sell, where I got to keep all of the sample CDs. I discovered a lot of great bands that way.

 

Would you rather get food or jewellery? Er, either? I love food and like jewelry and am just grateful for anything.

 

Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Occasionally, but I'm now at the old and boring point in my life where my attention span just doesn't jive with many childrens' toys, assuming they don't come out of the "educational toys" aisle.

 

English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? Proper fruit & nut bars. Outside of that I have little knowledge of British candy and wouldn't know where to begin, because most all of it sounds lovely. I feel a little safer avoiding marmite without someone to hold my hand, and tea = <3 regardless of its origin.

 

Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. I love fanfic and miss writing it as well as reading it. A lot of the 'fic I was involved with was actually RPG-related, and for ego-related reasons those are always my favorite. I do like Marvel 'fic, though, as well as Highlander. Good Alias 'fic is hard to find. House 'fic might be nice. (My favorite characters are actually listed in my profile here on BPAL.org.)

 

Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? I'd love to get back into beading, but I'm unsure where to even start! I don't know what to thread the beads on at this point, or how to attach clasps to jewelry. Again, a newb.

 

Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? Oh, my. I don't know yet!

 

Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? I do! But they're usually cheaper, quality-wise, than the practical ones, so I buy practical instead.

 

What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? It's stuck firmly between an evening my mother and I brought my very drunk stepfather home and fell into a dramatic scene of domestic violence, or the night I ran away from home to escape to the other end of the country. I will always remember sitting on my suitcase on a street corner beneath the street lamp, waiting for my ride. It was a lot of anxiety.

 

What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! Er, I don't have one..?

 

How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I stopped back when the Sega Genesis was in vogue, though with the right game I'd be willing to go back to console gaming. I'm actually saving up to buy my roommate a PS3 right now as a group gift, as she's the gamer of the household. (Effing expensive!) I like console games like Primal or Rule Of Rose (which I was given, kindly, and just haven't played yet), but I'm a newb when it comes to RPGs in that regard and get a little intimidated. PC games, in contrast, comfort me. I used to play Witchhaven constantly, and am dying for Sims 3 to come out. I wish I had the skills to play Portal. <sigh>

 

What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? I'm rather all over the board in that regard, and some genres are ones I don't necessarily know a name for. I like classical (Mozart!), blues and jazz. I also like toytronica (Psapp), and whatever you could call That One Guy. Electronica can go either way for me. Classic rock (Jerry Lee Lewis to Queen to The Who to The Beatles to The Doors, etc.) is great. Contemporary rock (Muse, Queens Of The Stone Age, Louis XIV, Metric, The Gossip, Amy Winehouse) is also nice, though I'm much more picky-choosy about that. Occasional "goth rock" (Rasputina) makes me smile.

 

Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? I'm kind of exempt from this question since it's my first Switch Witch, but no, I've never had that situation. Usually I find a book, then foist it upon the multitudes.

 

What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? Bare Escentuals, Clinique and Urban Decay are my go-tos. I like bright colors as well as neutrals. Someday I figure I'll try MAC.

 

Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I like lip balm, although I don't go as crazy with it as I tend to do soaps and the like. Right now I am using up a Lush Whipstick that I bought a couple of years ago -- chocolate lip balm is not my forte, sadly, though I do love the Lip Service desperately (and am on the last dregs of one I bought in December of '05, but can't justify the cost of another with the new designs). Moisturizing lip balm s first and foremost to me, though tinting isn't a hassle provided it's not brown. I'm not big on sparkles, but I do like glossy or matte ones -- I like the glassy look rather a lot, but Lip Service's matte-ness is rather nice, too.

 

What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? My best friend and I are very hooked on Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. Years ago while setting up a gift package for her, I was eBaying and found a piece of black leather. It was big, probably over a foot long alone, and the seller had painted a rendition of Delirium from the Endless on it. I snatched that bitch up fast, and as I recall it was pretty cheap. I am still proud of that thing, as it's one of a kind -- I've never seen anything like it ever again.

 

And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Tall, sturdy bookcases that aren't made from pressed wood. A way to hang two of these (the transparent, curved plate beneath the bowl) on my wall without using shelving or having hardware show behind the plates. Steampunk attire I can afford and wear. The Promethea and Brian Bolland Wonder Woman statues.

 

Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I wish. I'd love to learn how to knit. Learning from book diagrams is very difficult for me, though, and videos only provide limited instruction. I'm left-handed besides, so my attempts have been weak sauce. I reeeeeally want to learn how to knit, though; I love yarn, as color and texture are both joys for me.

 

Who here has an etsy shop? Not me! My crafting skills are non-existent.

 

What are your two favorite etsy shops? I don't really have any favorites, as I've only recently started buying on Etsy for X-Mas gifts rather than anything really for myself. That said, ArtisticDetour is lovely to work with and makes beautiful jewelry besides. I also purchased a seashell mobile from sarahkiser for the living room my roommate and I are redesigning, and she and her two sons were kind enough to include notes with the package. Awesome folks.

 

Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. I'm active on a message board RPG I co-run and quasi-active on RPG-D, which is about online role-playing. Otherwise that's pretty much it.

 

What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Quit dicking around and start putting all your money away immediately. You're going to need it soon, so stop buying makeup, clothes and bath products.

 

If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Fumble. Extravagantly.

 

Robots versus zombies: who wins? Pirates. Oh, okay. Robots.

 

Where are a few of your favorite places? New York City. Beverly, Salem and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Sterling, New York. Toronto. Kitty O'Shea's in Beverly will always hold a place in my heart.

 

What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Nothing, actually.

 

Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? I am a huge addict, and I love goat's milk especially. What I'd like to find is a more moisturizing soap, as they tend to be on the drying side. As a result, I'm willing to try just about anything! I'd prefer if it's more natural-oriented, however. My soap collection is actually fairly small right now -- a few from a soapmaker at my renn faire, one QoD? from Villainess and that's pretty much it. Mostly because I'm struggling to get through a crapload of shower gels, which are also not moisturizing. Argh.

 

So long as the scents aren't overly foodie I will try it all! I like food scents mixed with other ingredients, like chocolate and sandalwood or coconut and vetiver. Resins, leather and tobacco are nice, as are deep, dark scents.

 

Do you like kilts and would you wear one? Er, yes and no.

 

What's your favorite book? The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon. Someday I'll pick up a hardcover version of the book -- it's one that I pimp out to everybody. It's a beautiful story that mixes my interests, my hobbies, my loves and my family all together.

 

What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Er... one size fits all? I tend to wear men's socks out of practicality -- I like women's socks, but will rip right through the thinner ones with a combination of just plain walking and my awful feet, which are huge since I wear a U.S. woman's 8.5 - 9.5. I love stripes a lot, and argyle more. Hats have to be a little on the big size just because my hair is so thick. I actually can't wear some hoods normally -- my hair's so thick that the hood may rest halfway back on my head rather than sit at my forehead. Deep hoods are awesome.

 

Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Comics are my life. I buy trades more often than individual issues nowadays, though. (And don't tell me that graphic novels aren't comics. That's a load of B.S.) I grew up on the X-Men and though I can't read them anymore -- too different from what I loved -- I still keep up in a roundabout way, and will always love Warren Ellis's Excalibur. Kitty Pryde, Pete Wisdom and Nightcrawler are the best. Superhero comics are my weak spot. I collect She-Hulk, the Authority (when Ellis was writing), Runaways, Iron Man in a roundabout way (I want to schtup Tony Stark), Tom Strong, Top Ten, Promethea, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Watchmen... well, basically anything by Alan Moore. Fables and Ex Machina are up there -- Ex Machina rocks -- and I just learned that I love Starman. Sandman, anything by Neil Gaiman (someday I'll read his Inhumans stories), Preacher and Transmetropolitan are part of my collection as well as numerous one-shot stories. I would like to read more about Wonder Woman because I love her so, but am only interested in reading Gail Simone's current run, which is not yet out in trade. Argh, frustrating.

 

I do not, incidentally, like manga. Or anime. I've seen/read half a dozen of both combined which I've actively enjoyed, and when I do watch anime I like to do so with a group of friends who are willing to put up with me mocking it ceaselessly. It's just not my style, and no offense to anyone who loves it -- my ex constantly tried to win me over to the otaku side, but between me being stubborn and having a bizarre pet peeve towards people who wish they were Japanese so they can mangle the culture... well, no. I've got little patience for that stuff, though if someone feels that it's genuinely good and can tell me why in an intelligent way (something other than "but it's Japanese/anime/manga/hentai/the most perverted pornography on the face of the planet"), then I am willing to give it a chance.

 

Symbols that are meaningful to me? The symbols I have as tattoos, of course. Mandalas and the tree of life resonate quite a lot with me, and the Star of David has some quiet personal meaning. Ravens and wolves are, symbolically, the creatures I relate to the most.

 

By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? As a teenager I was so nocturnal that it hurt, and when I was dating my last boyfriend I matched his night owl schedule. Not anymore, though. My body clock insists that I wake up ridiculously early, and I like not only sleep, but feeling well-rested. So I actually go to bed ridiculously early in order to wind down and pass out at a decent hour. Then I'm up by 5. Frustrating sometimes, but I do love the sunrise and those morning hours by myself.

 

What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? It's a toss-up between jazz and blues. They are love.

 

What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Hot, spiced cider.

 

Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Haven't done 'em for years upon years, but my brain could use the exercise!

 

Favorite artist? My grandfather. <3 Seconded by Alfons Mucha. Most of my remaining favorite artists are actually comic books artists, including Dave McKean.

 

Favorite poet? Allen Ginsberg. The first time I read America was the first time I truly enjoyed poetry.

 

Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Either/or. My Halloween exposure over the past decade + has been nil, so I'll take what I can get.

 

Reserved or Raunchy? Raunchy. Because I'm a lech.

 

Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Water, seconded by earth. I'm a water sign who loves the forest as much as she does the sea.

 

Tea or Coffee in the morning? Always tea. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I cannot handle coffee if it is not heavily sugared, iced and blended like a mofo. I love herbal teas and think strong, sweet black tea is not unlike ambrosia. I'm teaching myself to enjoy green tea (mint chai green tea is awesome), but will ultimately try any tea. I prefer sweeter ones which don't necessarily need sweetening, but am a little cautious about fruitier ones since the sweetness oftentimes comes off as cloying.

 

Fruity snacks or chocolate? Both! A combination! Cadbury's Fruit & Nut Bars are king. I try to avoid candy more often than not nowadays, but fruit + chocolate is a weakness of mine. I like gourmet chocolate with things like salt, curry, or other "weird" spices.

 

Would you accept art? I love art. Love, love, love. I'm actually in the process of trying to add more art -- wall art, photos, paintings, sculpture, anything -- to my home and my life right now. My greatest ambition is to have framed artwork by my grandfather (Mort Leav) all over my house, but unfortunately I just have one framed drawing and a sketchbook. (Long story.) Art noveau Is My Thing as a general rule, particularly if it's by Mucha. I'll admire just about anything, however.

 

Antiques or Brand New? I love antiques. I also love brand-new things that I can break in as my own. It really depends. For example, I love new clothes as much as retro ones. I love antique wooden furniture, but my style tends to be more contemporary so rarely do the two jive.

 

What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? Oooh, there's a lot of 'em. I usually search, look, and then buy for someone else. Etsy being massively addicting, it's hard work! Usually I look for tea, bath products (usually hair and facial care -- finding decent shampoo/conditioner is my holy grail!) including soap, bags, clothes I'm too cheap to ever buy, steampunk anything, art noveau-esque jewelry or paintings (I worship Alphons Mucha), and most recently things for redecorating my house. Four years of living here and I'm finally making it a home, dammit. That's included ocean-themed bits and bobs for the living room (ocean wall decals that aren't cutesy? hard to find!) and my never-ending search for a table runner for our coffee table. Who knew it'd be so hard!

 

Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? Nope! No allergies for me, and I'll wear practically any natural fiber.

 

What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I never had a favorite -- few scary stories in my childhood -- but I always enjoyed stories where women played a key part. Bloody Mary rocked.

 

Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? Depends. I will freak out around silverfish and I greatly dislike roaches and maggots. Flies, mosquitoes and fruit flies are evil. Spiders, while an inconvenience, at least eat the other bugs and I'm rather fond of them. My general rule of thumb with insects is that I will stay away from them if they stay away from me. And no, I will not eat them, so no scary candy!

 

i haz no imp storage. do you? Kinda-sorta. I keep my favorite imps in the bag my Clocket came in, which probably isn't good for them at all. I have a small wooden box which used to house tea, and that is home to my to-test imps. And there's a larger, unfinished wooden box a friend gave me along with her imp cast-offs. Good housing, bad storage -- everything is rolling around in Ziploc bags.

 

If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I would like to, desperately, but don't. Right now I'm trying lamely with a small pot of basil. Someday I'll have a garden, but at the moment it's where to put it (particularly in the winter).

 

What incense scents do you prefer? Sage. My favorite incense growing up was sage, second favorite was a brand I can't recall the name of which had some amber to it. "Russian Amber". I like anything spicy or resin-y.

 

Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? I don't! Lame, I know, but my family stopped Halloween when I was about 12 or so and for whatever reason I never started back up. I think I'd like a grown-up's Halloween, with gatherings and stories and cider and a group that is about more than getting drunk.

 

Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? Bats charm me. <3 And zombies are fascinating, though I love me the were-creatures the most.

 

Do you like horror flicks? To watch and be amused by? Yes, and then I'll watch monster or slasher movies. If I really want to get scared, though, then I'll watch psychological horror. The Ring messed me up for days, and I will never watch that sucker again!

 

Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? I'm left-handed. It would end very poorly. That said, I'd like to try my hand at it (ha) someday. With a professional looking over my shoulder, maybe.

 

What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? Always! For some reason, I'm really struggling with finding stationary where I am. I like simpler patterns and designs, kind of reminiscent of BPAL.org's "summer" skin. I gravitate towards neutral or vivid colors more than pastels or bright neon ones that pop.

 

What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? Probably the Promethea statue. I collect comic book statues, and I love Promethea. I had the opportunity to buy one on eBay which had a very low number -- 4 out of 500 or something ridiculous like that -- but balked at what was, in the long run, a reasonable price. It's my modus operandi, unfortunately. I do that with everything.

 

What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? It's a tie because I'm so new to all of the Lab's notes and can't really imagine them. I think it's between Fearful Pleasure and -- I'm embarrassed to admit this, actually -- all of the Pumpkins. I reeeeeally would like all of the Pumpkins.

 

Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? Oh, tattoos. <sighs> I'm working on #6 right now, but am short on funds to finish it. They are, in order:

 

- Jack Sparrow's tattoo, on the small of my back. (Yes, a "tramp stamp". Imagine my surprise after first hearing that phrase.) My first tattoo. I got ripped off like crazy by the tattoo artist, but it's lovely and meaningful to me. It's different from Jack's in the sense that mine has a lot more shading to it.

 

- The Watcher's symbol from Highlander: The Series. Because I am a dorky fangirl. It's in black on the inside of my left wrist; I thought about it for about 10+ years before getting it, and it's been my lone concession to Dora's Tattoo Rules: No ink anywhere that wrinkles, stretches or sags. The concept behind the Watchers has always struck a chord with me.

 

- Yelena's tattoo from the end of Transmetropolitan, on the outside of my left leg between ankle and calf. Transmet had a big effect on a lot of my viewpoints, and I am part of a trio that has been often compared to Spider Jerusalem, Channon and Yelena. I'm Yelena, supposedly.

 

- A series of ravens in flight from the sun at the top of my back from the comic book series Kabuki. It looks like a beautiful ink drawing. I'd like to add on to it and make it a part of a back piece, but am really struggling since I'm a piss-poor artist.

 

- A wolf drawn in tribal-esque style I found on Deviant Art. After getting the artist's permission, up she went! She represents both solitude and togetherness to me, as well as the protective mother wolf concept. Right beneath her is:

 

- The current work-in-progress ('til I get more $$), Promethea from trade #2. Right now I just have linework of Promethea and her caduceus on my right arm. It's one of my favorite comic series and is heartbreakingly beautiful. When it's done, it'll be in full color and have the three decorative background bands around my arm. I'm working on how to incorporate that moon/shield above her as a part of my pre-existing wolf.

 

When Promethea is done I am looking forward to getting Wonder Woman done on my other arm as the beginning of a sleeve -- partially because I love Wonder Woman, but also because she represents one of my surrogate mothers to me. After that I'd like to build in the comics character The Heap, a character which my grandfather co-created back in the early days of comics. Anyone who says tattoos aren't addictive is crazy.

 

Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? I do, and I enjoy it very much, though I admit to being a little weird about recycling certain kinds of clothing (not just undies).

 

What is your favorite crafting supply? I am horrible -- horrible at crafting, as the older I get, the less creative my brain seems to be. With that in mind, I'm a very tactile person and am obsessed with textures. I desperately want to learn how to knit so that I look a little less ridiculous when I'm groping yarn at craft stores.

 

Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Lefty! My right hand is good for holding a knife and using a computer mouse. That's about it.

 

Any period of time that you love? Victorian and Elizabethan Europe. I'm enamored with the Tudors and Sherlock Holmes alike. The Middle Ages do fascinate me as well as the renaissance period. I like history in general, although I have to admit to finding my own country's history a little on the dry side. I love it, but we as a country have a lot less of it than oth