Getting to know you Meme

[bearshorty]

You know how sometimes people on your friendslist post about stuff going on in their life, and all of a sudden you think "Wait a minute? Since when were they working THERE? Since when were they dating HIM/HER? Since when?" And then you wonder how you could have missed all that seemingly pretty standard information, but somehow you feel too ashamed to ask for clarification because it seems like info you should already know? It happens to all of us sometimes.

Please copy the topics below, erase my answers and put yours in their place, and then post it in your journal!

Name: bearshorty
Birthday: June 2
Zodiac: Gemini (it really fits me)

Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'8
Body Type: Tall, I guess, not too skinny, not too big - pretty average

Relationship Status: Married
Religious Views: I'm Jewish but I'm also atheist, Judaism is important to me for social, traditional reasons but I don't find the question of existence of God important.
Political Views: Democrat

Favorite Color: red or blue, depending on a day

Favorite Flower: I don't have one but I like a bouquet

Favorite Movie(s): Dirty Dancing, Titanic, Love Actually

Favorite Song(s): Again, not just one favorite, I like so many. Can't choose. (Gemini) I like alternative, British rock and classical the most.

3 Random Facts about you:
1. I immigrated to US from Belarus when I was almost 13

2. I lived in London several times, adding up to a year

3. I can read shorthand medieval Latin

Story behind your username: I call my husband Bear in real life and his nickname for me is Shorty, even though I'm pretty tall and he is just 2 inches taller than me - it was a joke from college days. (we have it on our wedding rings too because we are dorks, when I went to engrave "you are my Bear" on his I got some amused glances) So I combined the two nicknames and my icon reflects that too.

1. Nickname(s): I'll skip this one

2. Age: 34

3. Location: Brooklyn, NY

4. Occupation: This is a tricky one. I've been working as an Adjunct Professor of history and Part-Time Lecturer for writing at a university until this May and this semester I'm on maternity leave. But I'm also trying to look for a job right now in New York that pays more.

5. Partner? I met Bear 16 years ago, second day of college, when we were 18. We started dating 16 years ago today, September 6, a week or so after we met, and we've been together ever since. We finally got married two years ago, after ages of long-distance after college.

6. Kid(s): A six-week daughter Tanya, born on July 28. Still getting used to this motherhood thing.

7. Brothers/Sisters: None. I'm the only child, which I always liked. I did grow up close to my cousins of whom I think of as siblings, so best of both worlds.

8. Pets: None. I'm not a pet person. I like pictures of animals a lot but I don't like to touch animals. It's a thing. And I have a dog phobia, so that's out.

9. List the 3-5 biggest things going on in your life:
- New parenthood! It's pretty hard. It really helps that Tanya is adorable.
- Job search
- I'm too sleep deprived to think of more

10. Parents: I'm very close to my parents. My dad, Yakov, and my mom, Olga, had me when they were 23, so they are still pretty young at 57. I was always a daddy's girl, and my father and I have very similar interests in books and TV. He got me into reading and sci-fi. My Mom and I have a very complex relationship, since she is not an easy person. She has to have things exactly the way she wants and she is the only person I raise my voice with and fight with. But we forgive each other pretty quickly too. I talk to them everyday. Right now, they are helping out a lot with Tanya, so I also see them a lot.

11. Who are some of your closest friends? Some are friends from high school: Yeva and Marianna. Some from college: Janna. Some from grad school: Medusa. And, of course, Bear, who knows all sides of me.

12. What are some of the things you like most? reading, writing, fanfic, cross stitching, rollerblading, chocolate, cooking, TV (especially sci-fi), music

13. A photo of yourself and anything else you want to say: I don't post photos of myself online, I like privacy and I don't want professional and fannish to cross.

Comments

[badfalcon]

I'm just gonna go 'AWWWWW' at the stories of you and your hubby - what can I say, I'm a hopeless romantic at heart.

I also have to ask... shorthand medieval latin?!

[bearshorty]

Bear and I are very silly - I think that what makes our relationship work!

I studied Medieval England in grad school (women and property in the 14th century Norfolk was my topic) and to read the manuscripts I had to take paleography, since most court records were written in medieval Latin shorthand. The scribe would skip some letters and make a lot, a lot of abbreviations. So I learned those. Once, for class, I had to transcribe into regular Latin a book of deeds and charters from a monastery. And translate some too. The medieval Latin in court records is very formulaic so it is often very easy to read - one just has to know the abbreviations.

[badfalcon]

Silliness is vastly under-rated... I think it's vital, especially if you're a silly type person!

That's pretty cool with the latin, I'm impressed anyhow