LavaRocky

Hi, I'm Rachel. My motto is "Go, See, Do." I'm just a big kid at heart. I especially love Paul Bunyan, and weird dinosaur sculptures made out of spare car parts! My favorite color has always been tied between red and blue. I envision them as twins. I used to be an art teacher, but now I make Christmas at Disneyland. Yes, all year long. Wrap your head around that!

Parade and marching band music make me teary-eyed and give me goosebumps. I wish I had learned to play the trumpet. I also love mariachi bands. I always get choked up when I see Goofy dancing to the music of the Fireman's Band and Disneyland, or Mary Poppins and Bert with the Pearlie Band, or the Dapper Dans for that matter. I am a sucker for "the Magic."

I also LOVE Leslie Hall of Leslie and the Lys. You should look her up. She's seriously wacky.

My favorite movies are Office Space, House of Flying Daggers, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Edward Scissorhands, and ET. I like older and silent films like those of Buster Keaton, Nosferatu, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Bette Davis is my favorite actress. Oh, but that Meryl Streep! She's so good.

Futurama and the Simpsons make me laugh. I loved Survivorman because it caused me to realize how natural selection favors the creative. I watch the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, and Nova.

I enjoy making hand-sewn things out of felt such as puppets and cat toys. I am not into the typical crafts such as needle work or yarn stuff unless they are used to create something truly wacky and off-beat. People and creatures interest me greatly, as do color and energetic brushstroke.

I am an athiest, and although I can appreciate religion for its cultural qualities, I really prefer and appreciate non-religious swap items.

My vegan diet limits my meaningful participation in recipe or food swaps, but my blood pressure and cholesterol are fantastic!

I am married to another woman here in the state of California pending the State Supreme Court's decision on Prop 8. Oh, yeah, and I am quite unchangably a Democrat.

I like cats, all animals in general, nature, and arts and culture. My wife is a wig maker at the opera!

I love cartoons, but I am not into Japanese cartoons, manga or cutsie stuff. I don't even know what that means. I'd much rather go old school Godzilla or Loony Tunes.

Generally, though, I am open to whatever comes my way. I try to see all things as opportunities.

Some of my favorite quotes are: "You can't wait for inspiration - you have to go after it with a club." -Jack London

"Better to shoot for the moon and miss than to shoot for sh*t and hit it." -Cowboy truism

"Fortune favors the brave." -Virgil

"What does not kill us makes us stronger." -Nietzche

and finally, "Gators love to scrum!" from my rugby days.