Soni's Place

Food

I'm a dedicated vegetarian epicurean, a lover of great food and drink. Especially when shared with good friends and good conversation.

Special preferences -

Food: Mediterranean, Indian, Chinese - basically anything rich, spicy and complex

Wine: Full-bodied reds with lots of oak, moderately sweet whites with hints of fruit

Other Drinks: High-quality teas, B&B, Absolute Citron martinis, Sangria, cappuchino drinks, hard cider.

Hobbies and Activities

In the true spirit of geekiness, I don't actually move around much. For fun, I prefer cerebral pursuits such as reading, word and jigsaw puzzles, blogbrowsing, role playing (currently into Munchkin card sets) and writing.

OTOH, I'm also a sensualist so I will go to great lengths and expense to partake in stirring, inspirational, awe-inspiring or just plain fun experiences that engage my senses. This includes spur-of-the-moment vacations, events, concerts, travel and so on, or even just a "smelling tour" of the local flora.

Television Viewing (in general order of preference)

"Dead Body TV" (CSI, Law and Order, Numbers and related fictional crime dramas) I prefer science and mystery-based shows to gritty, realistic character-driven stuff like the Shield or 24.

Mysteries, especially British mysteries

Sci-Fi/Fantasy - Absolutely positively Battlestar Galactica (the new series, duh). Firefly. Buffy. Angel. Not a big fan of SciFi Channel originals (B movie knock offs)

Teh funnay - Stand up comedy, Who's Line Is It Anyway, Monty Python, MST3K. Not a big sit-com fan - too dumbed down.

Movies

Big special effects numbers. Especially if aliens, zombies, espionage or spaceships are involved.

Pretty much anything from Pixar.

Humor, but must be intelligent and rely on wit and comic timing for laughs, not booger jokes (die, Adam Sandler, die!). Also, anything in the tradition of Monty Python absurdism.

Dramatic thrillers - again, based on cerebral plotting and real tension rather than shock and awe. I hate paying $6.50 per for 2 hours of "creepy music" and startle shots.

Books

Mysteries, preferably British

Sci-fi, especially stuff that makes you go hmmm...

Future Extrapolation (like sci-fi, but more Idoru than Star Wars)

Epic, character-driven masterpieces that take weeks to read and a lifetime to explore.

Historical Fiction, particularly the good stuff that really makes you feel like you're there

Pretty much any educational "Discovery Channel" non-fiction

Anxiety Issues - thanks to a lovely gene pool and a less than secure childhood, well, let's just say I have a few issues. Loud noises make me edgy, stress tends to throw me into General Patton mode (controlling and with a bias toward overwhelming force) and I have some subclinical obssessive-compulsive tendencies that occasionally rise up to bite me in the rear. Other than that, I'm cool. Really.

Survivor Mentality - above anxiety issues also manifest in a desire to be prepared for anything. Since I figure, eh...what could it hurt, I vent this anxiety-based waste heat by acquiring survivalist skills that will keep me from getting kicked off the island in the event we all end up playing for keeps. See me for lessons or help in: cooking (kitchen or firepit), food preservation, auto maintenance, handicrafts, wildcrafting (finding wild food), Girl Scout 101 survival skills, first aid, herbal meds, building construction and much, much more. Trust me - you want me on your team. I'm motivated.

OTOH, I'm actually a pretty happy person - In spite of my anxiety issues, on the whole I'm genuinely thrilled to be alive most of the time. As far as I'm concerned life is just one big amusement park ride after another, and if I feel the need to keep an eye on the carriage bolts underlying the whole thing, I none the less have no intention of getting off the ride any sooner than neccessary.

I am a brainstorming, pattern recognizing, idea cross-pollinating genius. Really. This adds +5 to the potential success of any of the previous skills.

I do not suffer fools gladly. Nuff said.

People I consider fools: religious fundies of any stripe or sect, mindless sheep, kool aid drinkers, Paris Hilton wannabes, anyone who has seen "The Waterboy" more than once of their own volition, blowhards, spineless wonders, people who name their kids Shithead and LemonJello (real names, folks - I'm not making this up), animal abusers, road ragers and anyone with "entitled white guy" syndrome regardless of race, status or gender.

I love animals. Even the ugly ones.

I am a knee-jerk devil's advocate, just for the pure joy of the debate.

I respect authenticity and fart in the general direction of bullcrap.

I've been touched by His Noodly Appendage. Arrrrr...

Always on the list

Fuzzy socks (womens size 10)
Flannel jammies (womens LG or size 12)
Fair trade organic gourmet dark chocolate (more shopping options)
Gift certificates to online book stores

Other items

Munchkin Role-Playing Card Game Expansion Sets -

Clerical Errors
The Need for Steed
Star Munchkin
Star Munchkin 2 - Clown Wars
Munchkin Fu
Munchkin Fu 2 - Monkey Business
Munchkin Bites!
Super Munchkin
Munckin Blender

Lots of stuff from ThinkGeek (just ask!)

Twenty-sided Fuzzy Dice

The Journey to Wild Divine biofeedback meditation computer game

Big Dreams

A green-built, sustainable resort-style home in the Blue Ridge Mts area of Western NC.

A job that pays me to travel and do cool things.

1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster