WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR LJ USERNAME?
When I was about 16, I made friends with a 3/4 Cherokee, 1/4 French woman. She gave me the name Soaring Eagle, saying it was the name of a friend of her grandfather’s who was a Blackfoot Chief. The “eagle” stuck with me, and when I learned some Cherokee in college, I learned wohali meant eagle. The nickname stuck!
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A MAKEOVER?
Just last weekend, actually. At the NARS counter in Isetan, Shinjuku, Tokyo. I told them I like the natural look, avoiding the Tammy Faye Baker syndrome. It looked very nice, actually, and I bought some of the stuff they used on me. But I prefer facials and little-to-no makeup.
HAVE YOU EVER WITNESSED DEATH?
Human death? No.
WHAT’S THE LONGEST TIME YOU’VE STAYED OUT OF THE COUNTRY/WHERE?
16 months, here in Japan, not counting the short vacations I’ve taken there. If you count those, about 8 months.
ONE THING YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR, TODAY.
The love and support of my dearest friends and GF — can’t beat it!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL MEMORY?
Ack, high school sucked. Except for those three standing ovations our nationally-acclaimed jazz band got at the Midwest festival for the National Council of Music Educators. That rocked.
WHAT IS THE MOST INSANE THING YOU’VE DONE FOR/TO YOUR LOVE?
Moved to Japan. Unfortunately that relationship ended about a month after I got here . . . at least I also moved here for a job!
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING.
It’s still a secret, and yes, I’m working hard on it. One hint: Athena.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE DOING WHEN YOU ARE 60?
Everything I don’t have time to do now, but better. Like flying around the world in a plane I built with my own two hands. Or developing the latest Q*Bert clone for my PlayStation 9. And partying the night away like there’s no tomorrow, wearing purple the entire time.
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST MEMORY?
I remember sitting in the corner of my grandparents’ living room, watching everyone around me. I was listening to a Stevie Wonder album, and eating a cookie (I think). I must have been 2, or younger…
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE?
I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance
-e. e. cummings, 315, from Collected Poems
MY FIRST HEARTBREAK HAPPENED WHEN I WAS…
My first puppy love thing in high school…was 15. And it only took me a few minutes to get over it, since it was pretty lame to start with.
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES IT TAKE TO KEEP YOU FOR A YEAR?
More than you can afford, lemming! :)
DO YOU HAVE ANY WEIRD PREFERENCES?
Depends on how you define weird. I like natto and sushi, those are pretty weird. Oh, and girls. I like girls. :)
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Being so gung-ho for violent games and sports. I love sports with good rules and love talking about them, but “Battlebots?”
WHAT PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WANT MOST RIGHT NOW?
An airplane. Preferably a Cirrus SR22 or a Van RV-7(A?).
NAME ONE TV CHARACTER YOU’D MOST WANT TO BE.
Dark Angel. No question.
FAVORITE GEMSTONE?
I have to choose? Oh, all right, sapphires. :)
GIVE YOURSELF A PORN STAR NAME.
No.
WHAT’S YOUR WORST FLAW?
Working too hard. That, and eating an entire bock of Honeycomb in one sitting. Yes, the big size.
WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO THIS SUMMER?
Move to Toronto, and start my IFR training.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG RIGHT NOW?
Origin Of Love from the Hedwig And The Angry Inch soundtrack
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES IN THESE CATEGORIES: HUMOR, ROMANCE, DRAMA, ACTION, HORROR?
Shamefully stolen from
, since I agree with her more than 50%:
humor: Monty Python and the Holy Grail
romance: What Dreams May Come
drama: Run Lola Run or Citizen Kane
musical: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
action: The Usual Suspects
horror (film noir): Mulholland Drive
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY SONG?
Main Street Electrical Parade, for the analog synthesis.
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM HOUSE.
Big enough for all our stuff, and then some. With a pool, big garage and work area, and the most awesome bathroom you’ve ever seen.
YOUR TYPICAL SLEEPWEAR:
Um, nude.
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?
Palm m505, wallet, iPod, schematics to the Voyetra Eight, DoCoMo cell phone (keitai), business cards & holder, tissue, pens, allergy shot.
WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE EVER WORN, PIERCED, OR TATTOOED?
A blue latex dress, which I still own and wear on occasion. Woo woo!
HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR WALLET RIGHT NOW?
26,483 yen. Which doesn’t last you long in Tokyo, no matter how frugal you are.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR LIFE?
Always striving to be a better person. That, and finally standing up to my parents.
HOW WAS YOUR SENIOR PROM?
I didn’t go.
TELL US ABOUT ANY OF YOUR BIRTHDAYS.
This year’s birthday sucked because I was at a convention in Arizona. But at least I had dinner with my lovely GF and she took good care of me!
WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT LOOKING AT OTHER PEOPLE?
You DON’T enjoy it yourself??? It’s so much fun to sit at a sidewalk cafe and just people watch, especially the other people in the cafe :P
WHAT ARE THE FIRST FIVE THINGS YOU WOULD SPLURGE ON IF YOU WERE A BILLIONAIRE?
- Make
a star! - Pay off the politicans in Japan who are feeding projects to construction companies.
- Give money and development projects to firms that are ecologically sound and would beautify Japan from its current concrete wasteland.
- Help out my friends who are in need financially so they can get a leg up in the world.
- Buy lots of different kinds of neat aircraft and get trained in them all.
WHAT IS YOUR DAILY BEFORE-GOING-TO-BED RITUAL?
Shower, brush teeth, get into bed, talk with my GF until we both fall asleep.
WHAT IS THE WEIRDEST/FUNNIEST NICKNAME ANYONE HAS EVER CALLED YOU?
Donut slave.
WHAT ARE THE MAGAZINES YOU READ ON A REGULAR BASIS?
These days? Ugh, IEEE Spectrum and AOPA Pilot. Boring Joan.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF SHOES?
Currently my Hush Puppies, though I wish I had something a bit more comfortable…
WOULD YOU RATHER BE A HOBBIT, AN ELF OR A DWARF?
An Elf, again. I used to be one, but they clipped the pointy bits off of my ears and I lost my magic with it! :(
if you move to Toronto, you are going to get your brain picked about working in canada. When I did my lame ass effort 1.5 yrs ago (i.e. monster), the only viable offer (viable in terms of salary compared to Boston) was from a US company. But there are sooo few embedded companies in Toronto and that may be why.
Anyway, I will be getting some details from you about this :-) I still have this dream to be an ex pat someday (for a little while) since I know I’ll always end up in Boston.
Oh, and Toronto is my second fav city in the world (behind Barcelona)
Donut Slave, I want you to go to the corner Krispy Kreme and get me some donuts!!! Then lick my boots! :P
I totally forgot about that nickname! *laughing and falling out of chair*
“And partying the night away like there’s no tomorrow, wearing purple the entire time.”
That brought a smile to my face — you rock :)
Also, girls are so weird, also peoplewatching rules (I spend most of my time in public just watching people), and last but not least…
I’m and Elf too, but the rest of the world doesn’t understand.
They ain’t gettin’ my pointy bits tho!