Pensieve!
1. Name:Kaitlin (Kate)
2. Age: 18
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? I love New York from all of the time I've spent there, but I love Los Angeles and London. I adore modern cities with a rich culture and almost futuristic sense about them. It's also nice spending time somewhere where you have a good chance of not getting drugged, mugged, and carried off like a Viking prize.
4. What would your Room of Requirement look like? Well, that entirely depends on what I need at the moment, doesn't it? Well, it would be comfortably warm, with lots of pillows and interesting books I haven't read yet, new adventures of Tintin, and pleasant smells and music. Just a nice place to retreat to on a Saturday morning.
5. Who is your least favorite Harry Potter character? Snape by default, but I think I would have to go with Luna. God help me, she's a doll and I've been doing my best to appreciate her, but I cannot stand conspiracy theorists. I think it's fascinating if you have facts to prove it and reach that conclusion, but when it's entirely made up, I can only really admire the thought for its originality (if it's not totally obnoxious). She just bugs me whenever she appears in the book because all she can seem to do is praise her father's magazine and prattle on about make believe things that aren't even funny or interesting. I do kind of admire her for it, but she's still annoying to a point.
6. Is the glass half empty or half full? Depends. If it was empty before and then filled half-way, then it's half full. If it was full before, and then drained half-way, it's half empty.
7. Give us a quotation (Can be from a famous person, a song, or even a poem-whatever you want) you feel represents your life or personality.
"The secret of success is to offend the greatest number of people." George Bernard Shaw
8. In your life, who comes first: family or friends? Oh, definitely family. I've spent so much of my life at home instead of out and about that my parents are my best friends. My brother as well (when he's not being a turd.)
9. What is your favorite childhood memory? I was born and raised Catholic. Nothing really hardcore and the folks sort of gave up after awhile, but I have these wonderful memories of coming home from church to the Sunday color comics and brilliant blue skies. What sticks out for me are the mid-90s when there was a wonderful amount of alternative rock music like Shawn Colvin, Duncan Sheik, Everything But the Girl, etc. I'd listen to Z100 (the popular music station in the Manhattan area) in my room while mom made brunch and although outside there were those cold sharp winds of autumn and the trees rarely turned any colour aside from brown, there would be those fantastic sunny skies. I love thinking about that. I don't go to church anymore and I didn't enjoy it when I did go, but when I think about it, remembering the style of the cathedral's architecture fills me with a great sense of serenity. It's why I love New York.
10. What would you say is your biggest flaw? I lack motivation. I have a lot of dreams and I want to accomplish a lot with my life, but I was a wild kid in grade school and high school was so laid back that I never recieved the discipline I need. It is very rare for me to study for a test, but I still manage to do well, and I almost never do my homework. I really need someone to give me a kick in the ass or I need to get up the motivation to do it myself. I'm ashamed for not living each day to the fullest. I want to start living my life like I want instead of worrying about breaking the rules. Most of the times I've misbehaved in the name of fun, it was totally worth it. I also have no idea how to socialise with people my age. I can carry on a conversation with a (non-asshole) adult just fine, but it's difficult for me to figure out how to act my age.
11. If you had been at Hogwarts during Harry’s fifth year, do you think that you would have joined the D.A.? Yes, but I have a horrible habit of not finding out about these sorts of things while everyone else knows. I tried starting a sort of D.A. this year because our teacher was teaching NOTHING related to the course, but I lost interest easily and we never kept with it. I also didn't like the school so I left as soon as I could since I'm a commuter and everyone usually had a lot of work to do. I have a lot of respect for people who can start something like that and keep it going. If I did join, there is the risk of my dropping out due to a lack of interest, but I like to think I would have stayed with it.
12. Describe how you react to difficult or stressful situations. Usually I cry. People around me have this impression of me that because I'm honest and seem tough, I can deal with anything, but I cry through a lot of it. More recently, I've been working harder to get out of difficult situations if I'm not comfortable with them. I work well under pressure for schoolwork and such (it's almost the only way I work), but if I'm really miserable and in a situation I can change, I don't put up with it. Let someone else be brave. I choose to drop the sorry suckers and let them do as they please. I'll find somewhere else to be happy. It usually works, praise Allah.
13. Which do you value more: compassion or justice? Justice with compassion. If a man steals because he is hungry, he should be fed. If a man steals for drug money, he should be treated since he is sick. If he steals because he desires riches, he should be punished (for getting caught). If someone has a legit reason for their crimes that deserves mercy, it should be extended, but that does complicate some situations. Should compassion or justice be extended to a member of the taliban because they honestly believe they were doing the right thing? It's very complicated and I value both very much since they are essential to the makings of a great society since no criminal is the same as another. We must establish who they are as a person, and only then can we figure out how to act.
14. Would you say that you’re a child at heart, or that you have an old soul? I'm a cranky old codger. I can't stand most entertainment nowadays and history is one of my favourite subjects. Even though I support educating kids about subjects people want to hide from them, I still get embrassed when I come across "It's Perfectly Normal" in the bedroom of a kid I'm baby-sitting. If every state decided to bring Irish Catholic switch weilding nuns back to schools, I would support the movement since God knows how many of these feckin kids need a smack in the mouth or some kind of discipline. At the same time, I'm such a kid. Most of my favourite stories are children's literature and comic books (TINTIN!), I am a sucker for sweets and carousels, I love dressing up (particularly in pink with lots of fabric), my room is a mess, and goofing off is my life. I'm also delightfully obscene with my language, which is something I'm proud of.
15. Which Hogwarts House do you think that the Sorting Hat would place you in? For Ravenclaw, I lack the motivation needed to really be the best and accomplish the most, but my mind is CONSTANTLY wandering and wondering. The Greeks came up with the ideas of atoms by pure speculation. I think that is astounding. I'd feel inclined for Gryffindor though since I want to be brave and courageous since I've spent so much time sitting back and watching other people be successful. The times I have tried to be brave and revolutionary, I've lost interest, no-one else shows any interest, or I chicken out. I'm very Hufflepuffy in that I give as much as I can when I can and I've been making sure I give more to the homeless everytime I see someone on the street and I very much believe in balance. However, I have my Slytherin traits. Usually if I want something, I do my best to make sure I get it, though I do try and make sure other people are accomodated so I don't inconvenience them or put them off. And as generous as I try to be, I always make sure I have spare cash or whatever for myself since I can't do very much if I'm not as well off either. It all depends and I'm a bit curious myself, but maybe Ravenclaw.
16. If you have a picture of yourself and feel comfortable posting it, please do so! Pictures are fun!
(The clearest picture I have of my Halloween costume. I was Musetta from La Boheme and I have made an early resolution to use my drums to the fullest. I've been blessed and I don't want to be disrespectful, so I might as well use 'em. (It'll also give me that effin' confidence I only get when I'm dressing up and entertaining.))
Prom picture. My son (teddy bear) was my date and my dress and crystal barettes were gorgeous. ^_^ I got my thing on at prom, but panic attacked before the after party and went home. -_- Picture also gives a great shot of the drums.)
The hat I sewed for 'Goblet of Fire'. The feckin' thing got trampled on and was almost lost cos a woman took it by accident.
Hand to God, I didn't do any of that to be disrespectful. I was up really late one night out of boredom, so I decided to use this great scarf I have to wrap my hair in different Middle-Eastern styles. I'm also learning Persian (which I'm God awful in, but I know a few words! Window! Panjare!) So from left to right, I made a turban, hijab, chador, and burqa with one scarf. Bebakshid for any offence.
Graduation. I was voted 'most unique' (I'm crazy, but I have style, charm, and class) by my fellow seniors, and since we never did a senior prank, I wanted to go out with a bang. A little wet eyeshadow and black lipstick turned me into Groucho Marx, my principal doubled over with laughter when I went down the aisle for my diploma, and I escaped without a bollocking. My only regret is not having a cigar.)
The day I found out that I'm allergic to make-up! ^_^ I got all made-up when we went out to the opera for my mom's birthday, but the Met was really warm for some reason and my face was really hot and itchy. I put some cream on before I went to bed and after I took the stuff off, but when I woke up, I looked like the Elephant Man. It took a week for the damn swelling, itching, and burning to go away, but I'm very proud of myself for thinking it hilarious (and still thinking it hilarious) when I usually would have just burst into tears.
And that's what I normally look like, except I have bangs and my new camera phone isn't as flattering (but it doesn't turn all red and tinty when I try to take a picture at night.)