"Just 'cause you do math doesn't make you a nerd..."

[apple_pathways]

My students: SO PRECIOUS! No, doing math doesn't make me a nerd: there is a whole HOST of reasons why I am a nerd, and they have nothing to do with my current profession as a math tutor. (Though I am so very glad he's taken that lesson to heart! Kids: it's OK to be smart! Jocks can do math! Hooray!)

All of this is a roundabout way of me making a sort-of introduction post. I've never made a proper one, and since I have new friends, I may as well! But before I get down to that, I would like to announce a general DE-FRIENDING AMNESTY for anyone who feels we just never really connected. I understand, really: we were young and foolish, and we just got caught up in the moment! We don't have as much in common anymore, and now we just don't know how to make time for each other...it's not me, it's you, etc. It's OK! If we don't talk at all, and you'd like to de-friend, by all means do! If we don't talk at all and, for some reason, you would like to remain friends, then do let me know here, because in a few days I am going to be conducting a minor friends cut. IT'S NOT YOU IT'S ME, etc.



UPDATED: 5/29/11. UPDATES are made in red!

My name is Amy. It's ok to call me that! My last name, however, is a closely-guarded secret that only about 50% of my flist, plus several random members of other comms I belong to, know. I am, apparently, terrible at keeping my own secrets. (I'm pretty good at keeping them for others, though.)

I am 28. I will be 29 at some unspecified time in the near future. That 'unspecified' time which (I believe) is actually listed on my profile has passed! I am 29.

I am graduating with my bachelor's degree in social work in (looks at watch): I dunno, a few days! One more exam to take today, and then I'm DONE! It took me ten years to get to this degree, due to a combination of financial difficulties, mental health difficulties, general inability to figure out what I want to do difficulties, etc. I have the degree now! Hell of a lot of good it's doing me, though. I plan on getting my Master's degree at some unspecified time in the future soon!

I chose social work because I'm truly passionate about it. I love people, I want to help people, and I want to make a change...for once in my life. Want to feel real good, wanna make a difference...wanna make it rigggght.

(So apparently I never got around to explaining what I do do! I am a math tutor. I teach math (all kinds) to kids aged 5-18. I love my job, but often complain it. Because I'm usually talking to two different students, shushing a third, actively ignoring a fourth, answering the phone, printing out a worksheet, finding a calculator, and changing the toilet roll in the bathroom all at the same time, my short-term memory is shot and I often forget what I'm doing in the middle of doing it. If I told you I was going to do something for you, it's Ok to remind me!

I have difficulties being serious for prolonged periods of time without resorting to self-deprecating and/or ridiculous humor. I try real hard when situations warrant it, though, and if you're ever feeling down and want a sincere compliment, just drop me a hint, and I'll shove down my embarrassment and let you know what an amazing person I think you are.

I am honest and direct to a fault, and I'm constantly trying to teach myself how to balance these traits with the expectations of polite society. (If someone says, "Tell me what you really think", why aren't you allowed to tell them what you really think?) While I'm occasionally clueless, impatient, and irrational, I am rarely ever mean. I apologize when it's warranted. (Just ask the cashiers at Lane Bryant...)

I am an atheist, and I suppose that's important to me. I am, in general, a skeptic and an all-around non-believer in things that require "faith", i.e. psychics, ghosts, gods, angels, demons, alien abductions, out-of-body experiences, karma, reincarnation, and other such mystical forces. I'm generally not rude about it, though, and I won't take it personally if you believe in such things; in exchange, I ask that you not take it personally if I don't.

I'm politically and socially liberal. In terms of "how liberal", it depends on what scale you're using: on the scale of American politics, I would come up "pinko commie liberal"; one the scale of many European countries, I would come up as "moderate". So, if you're wondering about specifics, it's best just to ask. ;)

I welcome respectful discussion of any and all things: just because I've said I think a certain way about something, doesn't mean I don't want to hear your view, even if it's the opposite.

I love kids, books, Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes (the books and the BBC series), writing, poetry, cheese, ice cream, animals, my cat, my family, intelligent discussion, rational debate, absurd humor, and music of many, many kinds.

I am irritated by: my family, people who wear shorts in the middle of winter, traffic, not being able to find things where I put them, shouty people, people who hate Americans, Americans who hate other countries, general intolerance, Facebook, and Twitter.



Any quibbles? Any questions? WANT TO SAY 'HI'???

Comments

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

I'm politically and socially liberal. In terms of "how liberal", it depends on what scale you're using: on the scale of American politics, I would come up "pinko commie liberal"; one the scale of many European countries, I would come up as "moderate".

This is so funny, because I have watched many American friends unsuccesfully try to classify me who, in Europe, sometimes move on the extreme left of the spectrum. It's like your system has no room for someone like me. ;) One guy advised me to never ever talk about politics if I was trying to get a job in the States, LOL.

[curlybeach.livejournal.com]

HELLO. We have chatted a little, but I have been awful at keeping up with Livejournal lately, so I have been somewhat absent. However, I would like to DENY this defriending amnesty (which is a cracking idea, by the way), and say that you interest me and that I really like your writing, so I would very much like to keep you on my flist. Is that okay? :D

[sabriel75.livejournal.com]

So if I was there I would be jumping up and down with glee and going OMG... only three more days... THREE MORE DAYS... OMG... what are you going to do to celebrate?!

Also, so doing math doesn't make you a nerd?! Does it make you a geek? Uhm... I'm not sure my brain can compute. I'd rather the jocks who can do math/maths would admit to being geeks and freaks and out themselves so that all the cool kids would realize that you can be both popular and smart and read and do geeky things. I dunno... somewhere I have a point in all of this. I think it's that we shouldn't have labels period because it leads to stereotyping but since we do, I'd like some popular people to identify with geeks/nerds/whatever else the smart but unpopular kids get called today so that they can have their chance in the sun.

Eh... I'm rambling and showing my tiredness.

BTW... your package of most awesome Christmas things arrived. I have eaten the peppermint truffles into oblivion and my children thank you must ardently for the candy canes because I refuse to buy them. And I wore the bracelet today to work to be festive. :D THANK YOU.

[housemaid79.livejournal.com]

...general inability to figure out what I want to do difficulties, etc.

I understand this almost too much.

*and I would officially like to request to stay friends - I enjoy your posts far too much to give them up! :)

[katyscarlett76.livejournal.com]

people who wear shorts in the middle of winter
lol! The postmen around here have some kind of competition about wearing shorts the longest into winter, they have sponsorship and everything!

not being able to find things where I put them
THIS. And I find it's getting worse (getting old now lol!) I can never find my keys!! I'm always wanderinga round the hosue muttering about my bloody keys! I swear someone sneaks into the house and moves them!

[jesterjoker.livejournal.com]

I am also 28. Gonna be here for a while, though, even if 29 and 30 scare the living !@#% out of me.

I have a bizarre approach to faith and paranormal things. This likely is a big element of why I'm a /huge/ Scifi nut but I read loads more occult detectives and fantasy. Everything ALWAYS needs more conspiracy theories that isn't trying to ahemgovernahem.

I've fairly recently turned into a complete liberal and it still feels pretty raw. Likely going to for a long time, too. I voted in the last election as a Joke candidate because all the candidates are such intense, wretched conservatives. Look up Collin Petersen. I wonder if you can find where he drew a line.

And as for European politics, when I first found a big taste of them, they completely O_O! me.

[seramercury.livejournal.com]

people who wear shorts in the middle of winter

LOL!! My cousin's husband does that and you should hear my dad make comments without being very subtle about it. XD

Anyway, nice to "meet" you, Amy. I'm Michelle. You can find my intro post here if you haven't seen it.

I'm sorry I haven't commented much, but that doesn't meant I haven't been reading. I enjoy your entries.

Happy Holidays! :)

[faery-fall.livejournal.com]

people who wear shorts in the middle of winter

I've pretty much lived in an uncalled-for state of rage when I see people in shorts (and often flip-flops) between November and February. Granted, the weather lets you get away with it sometimes in eastern North Carolina, but NOT when I was in New Hampshire. Just... no.

[jacknjill270.livejournal.com]

(If someone says, "Tell me what you really think", why aren't you allowed to tell them what you really think?)

YES. THIS. My friends and family all know to be careful when they ask my opinion on anything. Because once they ask, then I'm going to tell them, though I try not to be so brutally honest if they haven't asked for it. Also glad to know I'm not the only one who finds Facebook and Twitter annoying. How can you possibly put anything that interesting in the space of a text? UGH.

(P.S. I saw your wishlist you posted a few days ago and I'd love to send you a book, but I'm not sure what you like! Giving people a new book is so fun for me, especially if it's one that I loved when I read it, but I'd hate to send you something that's not your thing/something you've already read.)

HI!!!!!!!!!!

[alt_universe_me.livejournal.com]

NEVER LEAVE ME.

I mean, ha, um, stay on my flist? :P

I think I pretty much knew all of that about you, except maybe--wha? People wear shorts in the winter? I'm not sure that would irritate me, but it is kind of mind-boggling :/ As long as people dress their kids warmly enough, I'm okay with whatever adults want to wear, even if they choose to freeze :P

[rewindclunkplay.livejournal.com]

I AM GOING TO DEFRIEND YOU BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'VE ~CONNECTED.

...JK. BUT TO BE ANNOYING I'M GOING TO REPLY IN ALL OF YOUR ENTIRES IN CAPS. BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE MISSED MY CAPS-Y SELF.

[girlingoldboots.livejournal.com]

I'm friending you, if you don't mind as we have some f-listers and interests in common.

I hate people who wear shorts in winter as well. And they always wear them paired with a sweatshirt. Why?

[temporaryage.livejournal.com]

hey, so I am wondering whether you wouldn't mind being LJ friends! I just read this intro post today and you just seem so interesting and so much of what you've written resonates pretty strongly with me. plus I always appreciate more social-work-y type folks on my flist :D

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

While my political views are probably precisely opposite to yours (though probably equally hard to define/unusual... in part because my first tenet of politics is "I hate politics can we just for a moment pretend they don't exist?") we share a lot of fandomly interest, as I discovered through "It's a Gift." Which is my roundabout way of saying Let's Be Friends! (or I'll friend you, but I won't be offended if you don't friend back. :-D )

[eanor.livejournal.com]

Hey there, Amy. :)
I've just friended you - then I saw this and thought it might be polite to introduce myself properly, in case you want to friend me back. :)

I am almost ridiculously happy to meet other people who call themselves nerds and are proud of it. Because why shouldn't one? It's just so awesome! ^^ No, really, most "nerds" I know (aka all my friends) have much broader interests and knowledge than the average person and most of them are very open-minded, too. So if that's negative, I don't know what the ideal would be...
And you are a math tutor - hurray! ^^ I am a physicist (or rather a physics Master's student) and I enjoy maths, too. And I like people who do. :)

So, to keep it short. I am looking forward to getting to know you better (and I'll start by reading random stuff from your journal. :-P). :)