Really, who am I?
Name: Sarah Jae-Jones
Nickname(s): JJ, if you please. I won't respond to Sarah, primarily because I haven't gone by that name in over five years. Also, I detest having such a common name.
Age: 23
Location: New York, NY
Choose three adjectives that describe you: Vivacious, pragmatic, creative
Choose three adjectives that describe your weaknesses: Procrastinatory yet anal-retentive and prone to sentimentalism.
What is your favorite Jane Austen novel? Why? Without a doubt Emma is my favourite of Austen's novels, although Pride & Prejudice comes a very close second. I love Emma best because I find it the most scathingly satirical of her works and it also contains my favourite of Austen's heroes: Mr Knightley. I love Pride & Prejudice because Elizabeth is my favourite Austen heroine.
Who is your favorite Jane Austen character and why? I have many favourite characters, but my favourite character of all time in any of Austen's works is probably Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who never fails to make me laugh with her absurd pretensions and unconscious hypocrisy.
Do you agree with the quote, the course of true love never did run smooth Explain: I do, although I take umbrage with the connotations encapsulated in Lysander's quote. To me it seems to imply that it is only true love when things are rough or passionate, a type of sturm und drang affair that I detest. As with any relationship, I believe that true love takes work on both parties involved, but that it should be your willingness and committment to work through the rough patches and become less selfish that defines "true love," not the rough patches themselves.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I prefer to be active: hiking, skiing, camping, etc. (rather difficult to accomplish when you live in New York City but I try my best). Skydiving is my most recent hobby and I am working towards earning my A license. When I am not diving headfirst out of perfectly good airplanes, I write young adult fantasy novels, draw comics, and play the piano and guitar.
Please explain the origin/meaning of your username: Somewhat embarrassing, but on the first day of junior honours English, the English teacher with whom I would eventually become infatuated called roll, saying "Sarah Jae-Jones. Jae-Jones. The Great Miss JJ." He would continue to call me The Great Miss JJ throughout the rest of my high school career and it became my handle for almost everything.
Are you close with your family and if so, which members? I am very close to my family, especially my father, with whom I share wry observations about life. We are close in temperament and primarily exist as foils for my more high-strung mother. Also, he is a wit, my dad, the funniest man I know.
Describe for us what your house/apartment/bedroom/dorm room looks like (and post pictures if you’d like): I live in a lovely two-bedroom apartment in Astoria, Queens with gorgeous natural light. The walls are painted yellow, my bedspread is a red toile, and there is a curtain of star lights hanging behind my bed in lieu of a headboard. My bedroom furniture is a (virginal) white; I can't seem to escape the "little girl" aura that clings to me, while the living room is styled more in the same vein as Art Deco (bold colours: yellow, red, and black with Erté-esque art). It's also bursting at the seams with books as my roommate and I are voracious readers.
What city or country have you never been to but would like to visit and why? I love to travel, but narrowing it down to one city or country is too limiting. I will cheat and pick one from each continent! In Europe, I would love to visit Prague (because I possess a secret romantic side). In Asia I would love to visit Bangkok, Thailand. In Africa I would love to go to Cairo, Egypt and Macchu Picchu in Peru in South America. Montreal in North America, Wellington, New Zealand, and of course, Antarctica, would round out my list of places to visit.
Aside from fictional characters, who is someone you admire, and what do you admire about them? I really admire my skydiving mentor Laticia, who is extraordinarily patient and giving with the sport and possesses none of the arrogance that accompanies many professionals. (Not that anyone in the skydiving world has been arrogant or snobbish in my experience.) I also admire my best friend Mandu, who has gone through so many hardships and travails, from being an illegal immigrant, to singlehandedly supporting her family, to keeping cheerful throughout it all. She is the bravest person I know and I am extremely proud of her.
What do you love most about your closest friends and what makes you so close? I love that my closest friends are honest, even to the point of bluntness. Honesty is a virtue I prize most highly because if you can't be completely open and trusting of the ones you love, then I don't consider it a friendship.
What really upsets you? Bigotry. Undeserved arrogance. Stupidity. A lot of things, apparently.
If a friend takes you to a party where you know no one else, how do you act? One of the best compliments an acquaintance once said about me to a friend was "JJ can get along with anyone!" I can sociable and charming if called upon and my interests are sufficiently varied enough to be able to make conversation with nearly anyone (from the state of the current U.S. economy to post-modernism to the latest Britney spears drama to comic books).
What valuable mementos do you keep from childhood or from your past? My stuffed seal White-Harp, who has been my constant companion since we met at Sea World San Diego when I was three years old. My juvenilia (which are nowhere near as good as Austen's). I'm notoriously sentimental when it comes to nostaglia, but having moved so many times in my life, I've learned to viciously remove any extraneous baggage.
Post at least 3 pictures of your self: I am aghast to discover I don't have too many recent photographs of myself!
The most recent photograph. My current haircut, inspired by Audrey Hepburn. April 2008.
In Disney World, Florida. February 2008.
I'm in the middle of two of my best friends. I also look 12 years old. January 2008.
Christmas 2007 when I got my new camera!
White-Harp and me. July 2007.
My Teddy Bear. London 2005.
Anything else? I am quite possibly one of the geekiest girls you will ever meet. No, not joking. Ask me about Lord of the Rings, star Wars, X-Men and other comic books (especially anything by Alan Moore or Neil Gaiman), Harry Potter, Guitar Hero, DDR, and anything else your 12-year-old little brother adores.