Heart Shaped Box

Q&A with Amanda

That's right, it's time for another Q & A Session with me :D Thank you to everyone who has been sending in questions. And please keep doing so! Direct Message me on twitter, text my cell, email, leave comments, what have you.

1. PC or Mac?
I am a Mac fan all the way, which makes this a kinda easy question. My Mac has done more, faster, in a more efficient manner than ANY PC i've ever used, hands down. But here's the thing that most people do. . . they want to buy a Mac, so they do, but they go BIG and get the biggest machine all tricked out. . . and it's an awesome machine, but it's way excessive for what they actually NEED it for. For Graphic Designers and Videographers and other Graphics/Media Techies, I do recommend the bigger tricked out machine. But if you're using it for college to write papers and do like regular 9 to 5 jobbish stuff, there's no need for you to go all crazy with all the bells and whistles. Think about what you NEED and customize it to be the most beneficial for THOSE things. Also, if you've never spent more than 5 minutes on a Mac, but want to get one. . . go to the Apple store a few times before you actually purchase the thing, and see how well you do with the new interface. Don't let the machine defeat you. It's a beautiful thing and can work wonders and be your best friend, if you're willing to LEARN how to adjust to the different technology. But overall, GO MAC or go home ;)


2. What are your screenplays about?
So many things. Though I've learned that the majority of what I write is TRAGEDY. Dramatic Tragedy. I won't tell you what all of the screenplays are about. Some are in beginning stages and some are further along, but I'll give you 3 examples so you can see what I mean.

- LANE AND ALLEY : Lane (guy) and Alley (girl) have been best friends since they were kids. Now as adults, they keep in touch through letters they write to one another. However, what they write about themselves is far from reality and weaves a very tangled web. When Alley is attacked at her workplace, she takes a turn for the worse and finds herself in a VERY dark place and commits suicide. Through this tragedy, Lane discovers the truth about Alley and it challenges him to rethink his life and where it is headed. Alley's death gives him a new perspective on how to live his life to the fullest.

- THE SHADOWS OF CHERNOBYL : Lara, A young woman discovers that the family she's grown to know is full of secrets. She uncovers a family secret about a brother she never knew she had who was affected heavily by radiation poisoning and is being taken care of by an orphanage that manages children with birth defects from the fallout of Chernobyl. Along with confronting the family that lied to her for so many years, she and her husband must decide whether to remove him from the orphanage and care for him themselves or to let him stay there as they raise their own family from a distance.

- BRAVERY : Evie Glassman has spent the past 6 years of her life in a New England boarding school thanks to the expendable income of her widowed, multi-millionaiire business tycoon of a father. Before she leaves for college, her father asks that she spend one summer with him at the company mansion in Cambodia where their international headquarters is set up. When she arrives, she is reunited with an old friend, Spencer Fairbanks who is interning with her father before heading off to college himself. As their summer romance begins to grow, Evie discovers that her father, the one person she trusts, very well may be her worst enemy. Hidden beneath the marble floors of the mansion lies an underground child slave labor operation. It is up to Evie and Spencer to muster every ounce of bravery they have to come up against Evie's father and set the children free once and for all.

See what I mean, dramatic tragedy. I really WANT to write a fantasy-like fairy tale and also a comedy. . . but everytime I try, I just "don't got it." Amazing how you can be funny in real life and not on paper. . . or computer. ;)

3. What do you think about the whole Seattle/Depression theory? False?
It's so hard to say, being a transplant to the city. Most of the Seattelite's I've talked to about it don't think it's that bad. I mean, it's true. It happens. People get the Winter Blues here. And understandably so. But I think that over the years, the city overall has gotten better at providing resources for people dealing with depression. One thing that IS true about living in Seattle, and which may actually be a big factor in depression is the theory of "THE SEATTLE FREEZE"
for more on that, check out these sites:

Seattle PI Article
Youtube Video about Seattle Freeze


4. If a person was raped, would you still be against abortion?
I think it would be up to the person. I know that personally, if it were me, I wouldn't have an abortion. I've seriously thought about this one for a while. I don't have it in me, in my heart, in my mind or anything else to get rid of a life like that. But every person is different. If someone had been raped and came to me about it, I would ask the following questions and just let them decide:

1. If you keep the baby, will you be able to live with the possiblity of seeing your attacker's face everyday? And if so, would you love that baby any less? Would you love yourself any less?

2. What are ALL your options and what is the wisest choice for you and for what you believe in?

3. If you do decide to have an abortion, will you seek counseling to help you deal with the strong emotions attached to 1. the rape and 2. the guilt you may encounter from time to time

4. Regardless of your choice, do you promise not to lose sight of how valuable YOU are through all the good and bad days?

I think that when a woman is raped, she already has so much to think about and making the decision to keep the child is a big one, but I would also always suggest having the child and putting it up for adoption.

5. I like your funny stories. Share another one!
Ha! okay, okay. Hmm. Okay so this one I was actually reminded of today. So one time I was helping to plan this girls retreat thing for Master's Commission and when we got out to the place, I realized we needed to get some groceries. So me and my friend Kelley went to the nearest grocery store (HEB) and got supplies. Turns out we couldn't use the company card for some reason so we had to call another staff member to come rescue us. While we were waiting, this big awkward creepy guy walks up to the teenage bagging lady who was helping us and gets all up in her space, rubs her elbow and says, "I uh... heard you played a little game last night. . ." Me and Kelley were SO creeped out, and I didn't know whether to just bust out laughing or like smack the guy for being a creep. It was funny though.

She

It's time for yet another installment of Q & A with Amanda!!! :D Thank you thank you so much for continuing to send in questions, and as always, feel free to keep sending them. I'll probably do this little installment as often as I get questions. Right now I have a few stored up, so here

What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?

Hmm. Well, here's the thing, I was in LOVE with Legos when I was a kid, but I never had any of my own. :( I always wanted some, but I never got any. In fact, there have been times where I'll go shopping at Target or Toys R Us and I'll be REALLY tempted to buy Legos. Ohh... that reminds me! Okay, so this past Sunday, our pastor spoke about being connected to one another and handed out Legos to everyone, but at the end of the service we didn't get to keep them, we used them to build a house thingie on a table in the foyer, and it was SO hard for me to let the Lego go. Mildly hilarious. Mildly sad. You be the judge. ;)

Do you ever get jealous of people?

Yes. Often actually. A lot of my relationships with people have been ruined early on because I've been insanely jealous. I have good days and bad days, just like anyone else. I suppose it would be nice to give an example, eh? Hmmm. Let me think... Okay, so the other day I saw this dude with an iPhone and I really really wanted it. I get jealous of a lot of possessions. I'm actually quite materialistic...and I have to work on telling myself that I'll be okay without those things.

I know you have some OCD things you do and I think you should share them.
Okay, so this isn't really a question, but I figured I'd indulge my friend with this one. Gosh. Where do I even start? Okay, so here's an obvious one that a LOT of people know, but you might not, who knows? Okay. So, when I order coffee to-go, whether it's from Starbucks, Caffe Ladro, wherever... I HAVE to have the logo on the cup, the logo on the sleeve, and the mouth opening of the lid all centered and facing me. I can't tell you why...I just do.

Another one that I'll share is when I sit down at a table, and I take out my cell phone and put it on the table, It HAS to be straight up and down, and if someone turns it diagonally, I'll stop what I"m doing and turn it back "the right way." Again, I cannot tell you why. I just do. That's how I roll. Maybe I'll post more later, but that's all for now. :D

Have you ever thought about leaving Seattle to move back to Austin?
Many many times. I think if anyone ever thought that making such a big change—moving from one place to another—is easy, is completely out of their mind. There have been so many times where the thought of leaving to go back has been strong, but it's not dominating. And I refuse to let it dominate. This is where I belong. This is the place for me to be. And I LOVE it! I think a piece of me will always long for some of my memories in Austin, but if I focus too much on the past, I'll miss out on so many of the things going on in my present life... things like going to Cupcake Royale with Cindy Jones and like being able to be a mentor to some amazing students at Westside, and playing softball with great people on Saturdays and stuff like that. And more things to come. But I think it's been a while now since I've come to realize that this truly is HOME for me. And when I go back to visit family in Austin, it makes that time there even more special. But yes, I do get homesick sometimes and there are days where I'm so tempted to just hop a flight down to Austin. But those thoughts are few and far between now, versus when I first moved here.

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?
Oooh! this is a fun question! Thanks! First of all, let me just say that I am in LOVE with books! I love reading! Even as a kid I LOVED reading! If I had to pick a favorite, I would have to choose FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD.


It's a book that is based on a folk tale that used a song to map out the Underground Railroad that slaves would use to escape slavery, following the Big Dipper north to freedom. Though the song was written way after the actual Civil War, I remember being so inspired as a kid—I wished that I had been alive back in that time, helping to lead the slaves to freedom. I also had a mega fascination with Harriet Tubman—she has always been and always will be one of my heroes. So yeah, that was my favorite books. I loved it. I even bought it for my niece last year so that she would have a copy of it to read whenever she gets older. :D

Alrighty! Well, that's the five for today. Until next time. :D Keep the questions coming folks, this is FUN! :D

Words Meet Heartbeats

Q&A with Amanda [Installment #1]

Okay, so I decided that for the whole Q & A Project I'm trying out (See This Blog Post) instead of doing one giant post and having it be so much to read, I'm going to break it down and answer a few questions at a time. I hope this will be helpful to all of you who read the blog. If not, well hey, i filled in some spots of boredom for you ;) .  First of all, I want to thank everyone who has sent in questions so far! I know it's only been a couple of days, but people have been great about posting questions in the original vid. blog as well as Direct messaging me on Twitter and sending me Facebook messages. Please continue to send them in... via blog comments, emails, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I'll answer 5 questions at a time to save space and time. 

1.  What is your love language?

- first of all, I think it's important for people who are unfamiliar with a "love language" to know what it is, or this question makes no sense. Taken from a book by Gary Chapman (check it out), there are 5 main languages that people use to express love, and one is generally more dominant than the others depending on the individual. The 5 love languages are: 

      - Quality Time : spending time and energy with the other person exclusively

      - Receiving Gifts : gifts are used as an expression of love and devotion

      - Acts of Service : doing chores, errands, and other acts of service

      - Pysical Touch : caressing, hand holding, etc.

      - Words of Affirmation : verbal appreciation and encouragement

For me, the Love Language I 'speak' when I'm showing love is RECEIVING (GIVING) GIFTS. I love being able to give people little things here and there to make their day, whether it's a cupcake, a book, or a cup of coffee.

The Love Language that makes me feel most loved as a recipient is ACTS OF SERVICE. I view our society as a very "Me. Me. Me." society and most people are looking out for themselves. So when someone DOES something for me, without me asking...like straightening something up, or running an errand for me, or giving me rides...I feel so honored and loved, because I know that they were not obligated to do it, and were doing it out of the abundance of their heart.

2.  Where did you get that shirt? (referring to the one in the video blog)

- I got it at Target a few years ago. And I'm so glad it STILL fits quite nicely :D !

3.  Since when did you start liking cupcakes?

- Um. I dunno. I mean, I've always liked sweets...obviously.  And I've made cupcakes before, I just haven't "gone out" for cupcakes, until I discovered Cupcake Royale here in Seattle. I have to admit, at first I was pretty skeptical about "buying" cupcakes at a "cupcake shop" but i mean, these are really really good...and unique—I think.  So yeah. I couldn't give you an exact date, but I've eaten more since I've been in Seattle, and I've decided I could never live near it or my whole paycheck would be spent there.

4. What flavor were the cupcakes and why doesn't this computer screen have taste-o-vision?

- In the video, the two cupcakes were- Lemon Drop and Peppermint Patty. The Lemon Drop is a buttercake with tangy lemon frosting and a real Lemon Drop plopped on top. the Peppermint Patty is chocolate cake with mint buttercream and green sprinkles. :D yum. And I'm not quite sure why the computer screen doesn't have taste-o-vision, but when it's invented, I'm totally gonna get one! ;)

5. What do you think of Obama?

- I think he's our President. :D kidding. well, i mean, I do. To be honest, politics has never been my thing. Because no matter who gets voted in, there will always be people (and not just due to religious affiliation) who don't care for that person or their choices. But I do think he is our president and because of that I have respect for him. Truthfully, I didn't vote for him. I have my own personal reasons, as I'm sure others had theirs, when they voted for whoever they voted for and I don't think a person should be disrespected for their political choice. Every person is different and entitled to their own opinion. I don't mind having him for a President, he has some great takes on some overdue action plans for major issues. Not all of them are perfect, but some are. And I'm okay with that. I do however refuse to see Obama as a savior of any sort—which is something that a lot of people have alluded to via the internet and public settings here in Seattle. To me, a President isn't a savior. He's a leader, who has a huge weight on his shoulders. I can't put my faith and trust in a President because here's the thing—people make mistakes. People do things they think are best. But I'm not looking for that, even in the person i DID vote for, I wasn't looking for that. Truth be told, when he was voted in, a lot of people around me were like—YES, finally a BLACK President. But that didn't matter to me. A person's race is not important. The choices they make are. And I'm totally cool with Obama being President. Also, the fact that I've heard various people in conversations on the bus talk trash about some of Obama's choices and speeches thus far, helps me understand my perspective even more. And though I don't know if those conversations were religiously influenced, I know they were influenced by strong catalysts... some saying stuff about their own families and their co-workers and others, with no talk of religion. So I mean, yeah. I'm totally cool with him being President, as long as he's cool with me being me and leaving the big stuff world stuff to him to handle and me to help locally with what I can to build hope for people near me—which he seems to be.

THANKS FOR THE QUESTIONS GUYS AND GALS!  KEEP 'EM COMING!

PS: If you submitted a question you didn't see answered here, have no fear. I have them logged in my MacJournal... but since I'm doing 5 questions per post, I want to spread them out evenly.