Who ladypirate, please tell us more about you!

[gwendolyn]

LP, we don''t know enough about you! I think you are quite an interesting chica with a FANTASTIC sense of humour and outlook on life! I love the lyrics in your sig (from your band, jah?) and the fact that you studied in York for a year (J loves that too

) and that you and Freke are almost-name-twins! You have excellent taste in food and give great advice. Tell us more about yourself, please!

 

[ladypirate]

Aww, thanks so much for starting this thread, Kristin! You are such a sweetheart!

I guess I''ll start from the beginning because, as we all learned from the sound of music, that''s a very good place to start.

My parents met in the early 70s in Los Angeles, CA. My dad was (and is) a keyboard player and my mom a singer. She had just released an album (not one you''ve heard of, I''m sure!) and was auditioning keyboard players to go on tour with her. She says that when my dad walked in, he looked like the archangel Michael because he had long curly blond hair. My dad said he walked in and just thought "WOW!" He was hired and a few days later they had their first date in New York City and have been together ever since.

In the early 80s, they decided that they had better get started on having a family, and a short time later, I was waiting in the wings, so to speak. A story that will be relevant later on: When she was about six months pregnant, she went to Taos, New Mexico to visit a close friend of hers. While she was there she had a dream that there was a window in her stomach and she could see me looking out, ready to come into the world. She was so excited for me to be born. Unfortunately for her, I apparently was nice and cozy where I was because i was born 2 weeks late, on October 23, 1983 at 22 inches long and weighing almost 9 pounds. The first thing my mom said when she saw me was "Oh [Dad''s Name]! She has your dimples!"

I was apparently a very happy baby and little kid. I was also a HUGE ham, as evidenced by this picture:

I sang from the moment i could talk and started playing the piano when I was about 6.

When I was almost three, my mom told me she was going to have another baby. I said that she was wrong--she was going to have two babies! She tried to explain to me that there would only be one more baby, but I would hear none of it. Imagine her surprise, then, when at her next ultrasound the doctor informed her that she was carrying twins!

My sisters were born April 24th, 1987. I liked having sisters most of the time, and we''re still close, which is neat.

Oh! So the story from earlier. Well, when I was about 7, we went and visited the same friend in Taos that my mom had visited when she was preggers. We got there and I started talking about how I''d been there before and what it used to look like before they remodeled it. Since the only time I''d been there was as a fetus, that was pretty weird. That friend of my mom''s still thinks I''m psychic or something.

I did well in school growing up, and I participated in theatre and music constantly. Unfortunately, I also got teased a lot. I loved people (still do, as a matter of fact) and it was hard for me to understand them being cruel for no reason, as kids can often be. I went to a very small Catholic elementary school where it was the same kids every grade (270 kids in the entire K-8 school), which was...small. Plus when you did something (like chasing one of the boys in the class trying to kiss them after they made you mad because you couldn''t think of any worse punishment in the world...not that I did that or anything...

), it was not forgotten. FOR YEARS.

I can''t find any pictures of me in my uniform, but here''s me in about 4th grade in my halloween costume. And no, I have no idea what I was going for here.

 

[ladypirate]

P.S. The white volvo in the background of that picture was also my first car about 9 years after that picture was taken.

I''m at work, so I''ll have to continue the story later!

 

[FrekeChild]

Hi almost-name-twin!!!Did you know that I am older than you by 1 year, 6 months and one day? You were almost born on my half birthday!

Wanna come out and visit NM again?

 

[miraclesrule]

I think you were going for Captainess America!! Too cute.

Isn''t it fun having musically gifted parents? And because you are a Scorpio water sign, you may very weel "psychic" as some people would refer to it. I refer to it as a gifted sensitivity...extreme sensitivity. Water signs are good at that.

Awesome stories. Keep the hammy pictures coming.

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 6/23/2008 12:19:02 PM
Author: miraclesrule
I think you were going for Captainess America!! Too cute.

Isn''t it fun having musically gifted parents? And because you are a Scorpio water sign, you may very weel ''psychic'' as some people would refer to it. I refer to it as a gifted sensitivity...extreme sensitivity. Water signs are good at that.

Awesome stories. Keep the hammy pictures coming.

I''m actually a Libra (although barely!). My moon sign is Taurus, which comes in handy since everyone else in my family and Kris are all Tauruses! Seriously, it''s crazy. My Dad''s b-day is April 22, Kris is April 23, my sisters are April 24, and my mom is May 3. Late April/early May is an expensive time of year!

And yes, having musically gifted parents is wonderful. They still play professionally around town, so I sometimes go hear them play. It''s really fun.

 

[FrekeChild]

I forgot to say that my mom''s birthday is also October 23. Only in 1944....

 

[ladypirate]

OK, so still at work, but I thought I''d get a little further in the story.

I left the catholic school after 5th grade because I wanted to be in public school. Actually, those 5 years were the longest I spent in any school district. I switched a lot, even though we weren''t moving houses because my parents were very concerned with education and wanted us to go to the top schools in town. Here''s the list of schools, all in different districts.

Preschool: ages 2-4
Prekindergarten: ages 4-5
Kindergarten: ages 5-6
Private Elementary: ages 6-11
Middle School: ages 11-12
Seperate Jr. High School: ages 12-14
High School: ages 14-18

Switching so often was both good and bad--I didn''t stay with the same group for more than a few years, which was sad, but I got really good at making new friends quickly. Not too much more to report until I got to high school, so I''ll jump straight to there.

High school was fun, actually. I participated in about a billion different activities (Academic Decathlon, Math Club, Future Scientists and Engineers of America, Drama, Jazz Choir, Jazz Band, Discus, etc.) and loved staying busy. I was obviously a big nerd, but I had a great time with it and found other nerds to hang out with!

My freshman year of high school was the first time it had ever occured to me that a boy might be interested in me romantically. The first day of classes, a guy in my Latin class that was a junior started paying me a lot of attention. I technically wasn''t allowed to date at that point, but we had an "at school" romance that lasted for all of a month.

I suppose technically, he was my first boyfriend, but I don''t really count it, since I started dating my real "high school sweetheart", Charles, several months later.

The story of how we got around to dating is kind of funny. We had been friends for several months and he had dated a mutual friend of ours. When she broke up with him, he was bothered by the fact that she kept flirting with him. I pointed out that if he were dating someone else, he wouldn''t have that problem and we spent a couple of hours coming up with a list of people he could "date". He declared all of them unsuitable in some way and finally I agreed I''d be his cover. We never set a date to break up and we ended up dating for two and a half years. We had an amicable break-up (he had been away at college for a year and we agreed that our lives were moving in different directions). Even though we weren''t romantically involved any more, we remained friends and are still close to this day.

My junior year of high school was a difficult time for me. My grandmother, who I was very close with, passed away and I was trying to deal with Charles being away at college. I also went on birth control pills to help with my skin and period cramps and they caused me to begin having severe mood swings. I spent a lot of that year in a very dark place, which is very out of character. My grades slipped and I was unhappy all the time, although I tried not to show it to anyone. Luckily, halfway through the year, my parents figured out that something was wrong and got me off the BC. The change was amazing--I was a completely different person. By the end of the year I had pulled my grades most of the way back up and was doing well in school again. I aced my AP exams and SATs and was accepted to do a summer internship in materials engineering. I consider myself so lucky to have been able to get back on track. Depression is a serious thing.

Senior year of high school, I applied and was accepted to my first choice college. I also started dating Mitch, who I would spend the next three and a half years with. He was a year behind me and we had been friends for a long time before we started dating (notice a pattern?

) I''ll talk a bit more about him in the next chapter, college!

For now, here''s a silly picture of me and a couple of my close friends in high school. We were dressed up as Charlie''s Angels! Did I mention I had really long hair? I did.

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 6/23/2008 1:28:44 PM
Author: FrekeChild
I forgot to say that my mom''s birthday is also October 23. Only in 1944....

That is so weird--you and my dad share a b-day, I share a b-day with your mom, we have almost the same name.

LOL--I think we definitely have to meet at some point!

 

[ladypirate]

Also, to continue with the halloween theme, here''s my costume from my senior year of high school. Can anyone guess who I am? (And can you tell I like costumes? LOL)

 

[ladypirate]

And one more picture--my senior prom. This is Mitch and I.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 6/23/2008 1:45:59 PM
Author: ladypirate
Also, to continue with the halloween theme, here''s my costume from my senior year of high school. Can anyone guess who I am? (And can you tell I like costumes? LOL)

Lara Croft!!!

And I think you''re right about meeting. It''s crazy how many things we have in common!

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Lara Croft? lol, you are too funny!

 

[sunnyd]

What up Lara?

I was her a few years ago! Mitch looks like someone who went to my HS...weird. But lucky you to have prom pics on the beach!

 

[bee*]

I love reading about you Lp! Those photos are brilliant! Can''t wait to read more!

 

[ladypirate]

OK, so college. I loved college. As I mentioned, I went to my first choice school, Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA. It was a great school. I started off as a biochemistry major but after my first year I realized that my heart wasn''t in it, so I decided to be a Psychology and Theatre double major. It was totally the right choice for me.

I kept busy--I was on academic overload nearly every semester and I worked in the costume shop sewing costumes and in the scene shop building sets for the theatre department. I loved it, though. I had a fantastic group of friends (and we still talk, which is neat!) and the theatre department was like a second home.

During my first few years at college, I was still with Mitch. That was a rough relationship in a lot of ways. He''s a wonderful, nice guy, but he also struggled with depression for much of the time we were dating. It''s extraordinarily difficult to love someone who doesn''t love themself. His parents got divorced his senior year of high school (my freshman year of college) and it really affected him, which was difficult because I was 1000 miles away at the time.

Despite the difficulties of a long distance relationship, we made it work for a long time. During my junior year, though, it became apparent that we were moving in different directions with our lives, so I broke it off. He was upset about it for a long time, but we''re friends now. I think in a way it was better for him because it allowed him to grow and find himself outside of our relationship, which he needed. He''s doing really really well now, and that makes me happy because he deserves it.

Also my junior year, I studied abroad in Northern England! I went to the University of York and lived in the dorms and just loved it. I made some fantastic friends that I still keep in touch with and I hope to go back to visit them before too long.

Time for a couple more silly pictures! This one is from my sophomore year of college, taken in our on-campus apartment:

 

[ladypirate]

Here''s a play I was in, Caucasian Chalk Circle:

 

[ladypirate]

Here''s one more. This is the day I cut my hair for the first time--2 feet at once! I did it for a play I was in, actually.

That''s it for now, but I''ll be back later with more.

 

[gwendolyn]

Hahah, I LOVE your photos as well as your stories!! Crazy, the amount of schools you went to! Oh, and if you come back to England to visit your friends from York, you''ll have to tell me so we can chill, yo.

 

[ladypirate]

Freke, it''s so true! I was telling Kris about it today, actually. If I ever make it out to NM, you''ll know! (And let me know if you ever make it up to OR!)

Thanks, IWPO! I love halloween and dressing up...wait until I get around to my She-Ra costume!

Sunny, that is too funny that you went as Lara Croft, too! I think we need a picture of that one, missy!

Thanks, Bee! You''re such a sweetheart!

Gwen, seriously! I would be totally down for chilling in England! Or when you make it back to the States.

 

[sunnyd]

LOL actually none exist. I have a TON of dance costume pics, but no halloween ones...

 

[LaurenThePartier]

LP - I''m loving reading your story! You seem like such a cool chick!

I''m also a libra.

 

[coatimundi_org]

LP--you were a darling little girl, and you are a lovely woman! I too switched schools a lot, but only because we moved around the country every two years or so. I can relate! Thanks for sharing!

I''ve always liked Libras--they balance the crazy Gemini in me!

Coaties

 

[miraclesrule]

Well okay then, you must have been born before 5 p.m.

My daughter is a Libra too!! Dayum, you sure had some long hair!! I love the picture of you on stage. I was in drama too and I loved it. Loved, loved, loved it!!

I can''t wait to hear what happens after college...

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 6/23/2008 6:12:27 PM
Author: ladypirate
Freke, it''s so true! I was telling Kris about it today, actually. If I ever make it out to NM, you''ll know! (And let me know if you ever make it up to OR!)

You know, FF is going to Portland in November for a conference. I wonder if he''d like some company...

 

[Harriet]

I see a resemblance between Ladypirate and Iwanna. Does anyone else?

 

[FrekeChild]

Me too Harriet!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Ahh, Ladypirate you are sooo adorable and so is Kris!!! Nice to read about you!!!

 

[ladypirate]

Sunny, that''s too bad! Halloween pics are the best.

Lauren, Libras are awesome! (Not that I''m biased...) BTW, I love love love your TTD pics--I''d love to do that after Kris and I get married.

Coati, thank you so much! Moving schools so often can be hard, but I think it really helped make me the person I am as well, so I don''t regret it. My parents were pretty crazy about education, though. The asked my Jr. High School principal write me a letter of recommendation just in case i ever needed it. I think they probably still have it somewhere.

Miracles, yes, I was born at 4:07 PM after 18 hours of labor.

I was a skinny baby, but I had a HUGE head and shoulders. Still do have pretty broad shoulders as a matter of fact. I take after my dad like that. I remember when my parents got me a snowboard as a birthday gift one year when I was in college and my dad goes "Are you sure you want a women''s snowboard honey? I mean, you''re not a small girl."

He later clarified that he meant that I''m tall and strong and "not one of those little wimpy girls" To be fair, I was kind of a tomboy growing up, but still! I may be tall, but I only weigh about 135 pounds (well, 138 right now, but those three pounds will come off!) What shows were you in? I think my favorite show was actually Company--that was the show I cut my hair off for and then they ended up wigging me anyhow! I played Joann (the Elaine Stritch part). I''m attaching a picture to this post.

Freke, that would be awesome! Portland is a really neat city and Kris and I would be happy to show you and Dale around!

Harriet, thank you! IWPO is really pretty!

Thanks, Skippy! Although I haven''t posted any pictures of Kris in this thread yet--I will, don''t worry. I just am getting to the part where I met him!

 

[ladypirate]

OK, so I left off with being in England studying abroad. I did date a guy there for a few months, John. He was really nice--lived up in Newcastle. We''ve lost touch since, which is too bad.

One of my favorite things that i did while studying abroad was travel by myself for a few weeks. I had the best time! I went all over France, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Scotland (I also did a fair amount of weekend travel through England). Another highlight was when a bunch of us decided it would be a good idea to go camping in the middle of march in Chesterfield. A tip: do not do this. The pub is much less wet.

Anyhow, I got back to the states in August of 2005. While I had been gone, my parents had started a wine club with some coworkers of my dad''s. They''d get together every couple of weeks for dinner (usually at my parents house) and everyone would bring a bottle of wine and they''d compare them and enjoy each other''s company. They invited me to participate in one a couple of weeks after I got back. Little did I know that at that dinner, they''d be introducing me to Kris!

Kris was a graduate student at the University (where my dad works) and had been working in the same department as my dad. Also being into wine, he was a regular participant in these Sunday night wine dinners. He was a bit shy, but we started talking that night and discovered that we both loved Mystery Science Theatre 3000. We ended up hanging out a couple more times before I left to go back to school.

Senior year of college was CRAZY. I participated in about a billion productions (we used to reenact midnight movies--that year I was Janet in Rocky Horror, Miss Scarlet in Clue, Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, and Shock in Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as having big roles in three major season shows, directing a show I wrote, designing sound for a season show, playing the lead in our annual outdoor shakespeare show [Rosalind in As You Like It], and acting in a couple of student productions), wrote a thesis for my psychology major, and carried 22 and 23 credits each semester. I averaged about 3 hours of sleep a night, but I had an amazing time.

OH! Speaking of other highlights of college, one of the most fun things I used to do every year with my friend Ned was a 48 hour film festival, where you have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a ten-minute movie. That was crazy (read: no sleep for a weekend), but also really really fun. Ned and I are still really close friends and he lives in New York and works as an editor. He''s like my brother--we even look alike! I have some pictures of us being silly from the last time I went out to New York to visit him--I''ll have to dig one up.

Over winter break I hung out with Kris some more, but we were still just friends. I had a couple of short lived relationships throughout the year, but nothing major until Spring, when I started dating a guy named Levi. I don''t even want to say how we met because it is pretty much the nerdiest thing ever, but in the interest of full disclosure, I guess I will. One thing we used to do for fun in college is play the card game Magic: The Gathering. We had a club and would usually play once or twice a week. Well, that''s how we met. I know. So embarrassing. If none of you ever want to be associated with me ever again because I''m too much of a dork, I completely understand.

Anyhow, after graduation, I moved back to Santa Barbara for a few months and worked to save up some money to move to Los Angeles. Kris and I still hung out a lot, but I was still dating Levi (long distance at this point) and we were just friends. I had an awesome job during this time, though--I worked in breast implant warranty claims. Not even joking. The best part of the job was hearing how the breast implant had failed. One time a woman called in because her implant had deflated after a "lawnmower accident". I''m so not even joking. I really wanted to ask what kind of lawnmower it was, but if it had been a riding lawnmower, I would have started laughing on the phone and that wouldn''t have been very professional.

Anyhow, in October of that year, the day after my 22nd birthday, I moved to Los Angeles and started working for the TV show "American Dad". To be continued...