September 5, 2010

• Sunday Shoutout: TheSecretLifeOfPandas

  When I asked who you would like to see featured in a shoutout, several folks said TheSecretLifeOfPandas .
  I thought this would be a good time to get to know her,
  Jenny is sweet and very talented and I've enjoyed reading her answers.

  1.Can you give a brief outline of your life?
  Well, I’m 24-years-old, first generation mexican-american and was born and raised in the city of Chicago (west siiiiide!) Okay honestly some people think where I live is the west side, but it’s not. I think it’s still part of the northwest side. the west side is totally further southwest and way more ‘hood than where I live. Although the gangbangers hanging out at 11 o’clock at night at the park I like to jog at with my doggies would beg to differ.
  
  I was one of the only non-ghetto kids in my grammar school and have spent most of my life explaining to people that no, I do not “talk like a white girl,” I just happen to speak correctly.
  
  I studied broadcast journalism at Columbia College and am currently debating whether I prefer telling the truth or making up stuff.
  
  I spent a year of my life living in London and then an entire night getting really wasted and crying a lot when I had to come back home.
  
  I teach a little girl’s dance class and spend a lot of time trying to figure out what to do with my life and blaming lots of things on my “fiery latin blood” and wanderlust.

  2.What are your main interests,hobbies or collections?
  I love to write. Love it.
  I’m constantly writing. I either have a notebook with me
  or I’m using my ridiculous fancy super phone and typing stories in my mobile Word app.
  
  I love writing letters and mailing people post cards. I am on a one woman mission to save hand-written correspondence. I think it shows you care about someone when you take the time to put pen to paper and mail them something.
  
  My other hobbies and interests include, singing, dancing, acting, painting, drawing, wearing high heels, reading, practicing my spanish, learning other languages, laughing at my own jokes, popping bubble wrap, having crushes on cute boys, walking my dogs, taking photographs (which I only believe are good, when they can stand alone without the use of photoshop), and traveling—traveling extensively.
  
  As far as photos these are a few of my favorites:
  

  

  
  I like taking photos of people. People are so freaking interesting.

  4.What brought you to Xanga?
  Ah, I opened my first xanga account when I was a senior in high school. Everyone had one. Everyone. My school was small, well for a high school in the city it was small. I’m sure there are people here who had like 20 kids in their graduating class or something. Whatever. Everyone at Payton knew everyone else’s business and Xanga made this easier. There was even this anonymous blog called “The Payton Informer” which was like the Gossip Girl’s omniscient narrator, but way more hilarious. It was so bad it got Xanga blocked on all school computers.
  
  Eventually everyone stopped posting. I switched to this blog my freshman year of college and due to some awesome people I’ve met on here have stayed ever since.

  5.Do you have weird talent,if so what is it?
  I’m incredibly diplomatic and really good at not hurting other people’s feelings. Does that count?
  
  I doubt it.
  
  I know how to play the kazoo and the spoons.
  
  Crap that’s a lie.
  
  I don’t really have weird talents. Unfortunately all of my talents are of the run of the mill, garden variety type. Bugger.
  
  I sing pretty well, or so I’ve been told. This may be a lie as well. I act and I’m apparently a decent writer. I’m also pretty adept at using self-depricating humor as a defense mechanism.

  6.What are some of the causes/charities/ you support?
  Puppies. I support the puppies. I believe in supporting animal shelters such as PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) and the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago. I am planning on participating in the Run For Their Lives event (the 4k walk with Linus, because if I did the 8K run I’d probably end up dying somewhere before the 1st k). I also believe that “breeder” is a dirty word and more people should adopt from shelters because there are so many animals out there that NEED a good. loving home.
  
  Kiddies, the human version of puppies. I support programs that keep disadvantaged youth (the kind that I was) off of the streets.
  
  And finally (gosh who knew I supported so much stuff????) I support the Special Olympics by participating in the Chicago Polar Plunge. I didn’t get to this year because I didn’t raise enough money to participate (I ran out of time) and I didn’t have enough money to just donate myself.

  7.What are some favorite posts of yours that you have written?
  Favorite posts of others that you have read?

  oh dear, favorite posts. That’s like asking a mom to pick their favorite child. My super favorite is one I wrote when I was still studying in london. It’s a travel essay based on an awkward spring break spent with my roommate and her boyfriend:
  The Single Person’s Guide to Surviving traveling Alone With a Couple
   
  another favorite was an essay I wrote about my mom, which was actually the first, and only, and more than likely last time I will ever be featured:
  Guacamole

  and finally my first foray into writing a sex scene. I think it’s pretty tame considering. lol.
  A Pathetic Attempt at Sex
  
  As far as other xangans…oh man there’s a lot. It’s like my predicament with choosing a favorite song or music genre.
  Let’s see,
  
  I’m sure most of the things I love of hers has been made private, but what drew me to NoGraySunflowers at first were her amazing and kind of weird linguistics posts. I came on a rec and was hooked. Also the fact that she feeds into my vanity and has dedicated a couple of posts to me has helped keep me coming back.

  SoapandShampoo: I love her posts because they are always fun to read. ALWAYS. Period.
  
  If you look at my recs section on my page you can see what I love. I am an incredibly judicious rec’er. lol. except when it comes to left-handed toons and that is mostly because I am blinded by love for one of the cartoonists who always makes me laugh.
  
  8.Favorites: music,movies,websites,artists?
  Gah!!! It’s so hard to choose favorites. I’m so darn indecisive. Okay…as far as music I really can’t choose. I love everything. I like things that I can sing along to. I like music that I can dance to. I like music that can make me smile. I like music that reminds me of people. It’s always changing.
  
  I love so many movies I’m just going to name the top three that come to my head,
  Bringing up Baby
  Nacho Libre
  What’s up Doc
  but there are soooo many more!!!

  As far as websites I basically check three and then have no idea what else to do on the internet. I love Xanga, Facebook and Gmail. That’s it.

  9.What is something that makes you laugh?
  Myself (because you have to be able to laugh at yourself sometimes), awkward moments and bad jokes. Here’s one. I’m going to share it even though it’s in spanish
  una pelicula en tres partes.

  primera escena:
  un hombre vende tortas.
  
  segunda escena:
  el mismo hombre vende tortas.
  
  tercera escena:
  el mismo hombre vende libros.
  
  como se llama la pelicula?
  No sabes?
  El ex-tortista!
  ba dum bum!
  
  I dunno, lots of things make me laugh. Ask anyone, I spend most of my day laughing.

  10.What is something/someplace you have always wanted to do/see?
  I’ve always wanted to do Brad Pitt.

  • 9:02 pm
  • 86 Comments