Weekly Meme (5 Questions!) week commencing 21/5/12

1. If a film was made of your life, who would you want to direct it? What is it about his/her work that makes you choose him/her?

2. What film from your teen years made such an impact on you it actually changed some aspect of you as a person?

3. When returning from holiday, or an extended trip, what three things do you make sure to do first?

4. List the top three oddest/off the beaten path/interesting (at least to you) jobs you have had.

5. What one thing stands out as the single most important career decision of your life?

Great questions TamaMoo!  

1. If a film was made of your life, who would you want to direct it? What is it about his/her work that makes you choose him/her?
Hmm, I don't know that much about directors at all.  How about the guy that did all those 80s films--from my youth....John Hughes, yeah he'd be good.

2. What film from your teen years made such an impact on you it actually changed some aspect of you as a person?

Well, I don't think at that age films had such an impact on me.  I will think about this one and come back to it.

3. When returning from holiday, or an extended trip, what three things do you make sure to do first?

Sort through the mail and get rid of the junk, unpack everything and do what laundry needs to be done, look for Dylan and see if he's around.

4.  List the top three oddest/off the beaten path/interesting (at least to you) jobs you have had.

Working at the PA Renaissance Faire as a musician (That was fun!!!), Giving out flyers for a gift shop and a CD shop on South Street (met lots of people, especially tourists asking me for all sorts of info.), working in a large antiques market in an old converted synogogue in Philly.

5. What one thing stands out as the single most important career decision of your life?
Well, it wasn't so much as a big decision, but more an opportunity that I seized.  I applied for a job at the natural food market and a few months later I was called in for an interview and got the job.  I stayed there 15 years and made so many friends and I  learned so much about health, food, alternative lifestyles and complementary medicine and much much more.  It was a great job!

ETA: Great questions TamaMoo! 

1. If a film was made of your life, who would you want to direct it? What is it about his/her work that makes you choose him/her?

John Waters! His films are colourful, fun, cheeky, and usually mildly to moderately inappropriate.  

2. What film from your teen years made such an impact on you it actually changed some aspect of you as a person?

This is a bit silly, but Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow. The only reason I say this is because it is the first R-rated movie I snuck into (I think I was 15). It will stay with me forever just because of that. Well, and Christopher Walken as the Headless Horseman is nothing to sneeze at either!  

3. When returning from holiday, or an extended trip, what three things do you make sure to do first?

Change clothes (probably into pajamas, doesn't matter what time of day), wash face, relax. Unpacking can be done later!

4. List the top three oddest/off the beaten path/interesting (at least to you) jobs you have had.

Well, I haven't had that many jobs as I tend to stick with them for a while...

1) I did work in a French clothing boutique for 2 weeks while the owner was in France doing some buying. I got a gorgeous (and expensive!) scarf out of the deal.

2) Assistant Manager for what was probably the most whacked out textbook store ever. I cannot begin to describe it.

3) Working as a cataloguer/art handler/researcher at a museum. I got to play with pretty/interesting things all day.

5. What one thing stands out as the single most important career decision of your life?

The one I'm making right now, leaving Art History to pursue TV/Film production. Actually just had an interview today for a really great internship with a producer/director. I feel more comfortable and confident pursuing this thing that I have no experience with than the thing I studied for years. I feel a bit crazy for doing it, but it also feels exhilarating and the completely right path to take.  

1. If a film was made of your life, who would you want to direct it? What is it about his/her work that makes you choose him/her?

I'm not very savvy when it comes to directors, but I do know I've loved everything I've seen Christopher Nolan do. Although, I love him because he can take a very complex idea and make it comprehensible without dumbing it down, and I don't think my life has been quite complex enough to need his skills.

2. What film from your teen years made such an impact on you it actually changed some aspect of you as a person?

Probably "Shawshank Redemption." I don't know if I can say it changed me, per se, but I grew up in an abusive home, and I watched it over and over because of the idea of escaping. I was determined to be Andy DuFresne, instead of poor Brooks. I think it gave me a lot of direction, so I guess maybe it did change me.

3. When returning from holiday, or an extended trip, what three things do you make sure to do first?

Love on the dog, change into my jammies, and check the mail. I don't know why, but even after being an adult for so long, with mostly bills coming in the post, I still enjoy checking to see if any good surprises with my name on it are there.

4. List the top three oddest/off the beaten path/interesting (at least to you) jobs you have had.

1. My current job is easily the most off-the-beaten-path job I've ever had, because I'm trying to establish myself as a writer. It doesn't pay anything (yet), but it still is hard work, liberating and terrifying.

2. My first job ever was in a sno-cone stand. I was 14, and I remember I would make the sno-cones the way I liked them - super-sweet and syrupy. My boss would get so mad at me for giving out too much syrup.

3. I've had a lot of really dull jobs that were really just a means to an end (paying the rent and for school), so while I take pride in my work, and I did them well, I never found the corporate-type jobs interesting or unique. They make up the rest of my working life, though, so I guess I'd rather leave this question dangling than dare to call them interesting.

5. What one thing stands out as the single most important career decision of your life?

Deciding to write, instead of finding a secure job. I have a lot of experience in an office setting that would translate to something that pays (even if not much, at least consistently), I'm sure. But I've always wanted to write for a living, and I finished a university degree in Creative Writing last year. Moving to a new country (which meant leaving my secure job in the US, which I probably wouldn't have done otherwise) offered an opportunity. I'm so grateful my husband supports me in it, and has the confidence in me to put up with a really tight budget on his paycheck alone. It's an amazing chance to realize something I've dreamed about for so long.

3) Working as a cataloguer/art handler/researcher at a museum. I got to play with pretty/interesting things all day.

This reminded me!  For a few (several?  can't remember now) months I volunteered at the University of PA Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (my favorite museum!) working as an archaeological illustrator.

It sounded amazing, and I did love being behind the scenes in the museum (and it's where I first discovered NPR (National Public Radio), but.......it was too boring!  The whole time I was there I worked on and re-worked one thumb-sized piece of pot shard.  It was never quite good enough.  You may be thinking 'Why not just take photos of the finds?' but the human eyes still sees things much more accurately than a camera, apparently.

I'd never be able to do that job now as my vision isn't good enough any more for close work, even with my varifocal glasses.

1. If a film was made of your life, who would you want to direct it? What is it about his/her work that makes you choose him/her?

I'd definitely want Tim Burton to direct. He's always been a favourite of mine, how he paints his characters and gives it that extra special dark touch. However in no way shape or form is Johnny Depp allowed to be in it, nor is Helena B-C allowed to play me. She creeps me out.

2. What film from your teen years made such an impact on you it actually changed some aspect of you as a person?

Heathers. I *was* Veronica. And I knew every line. It was that film and Wynona that started me wearing black and understanding irony. It's still one of my top films of all time.

3. When returning from holiday, or an extended trip, what three things do you make sure to do first?

1) Plug everything back in. I unplug everything before I go to save a bit of $$ and the planet (awww).

2) Go through mail. Not fun but necessary.

3) Open windows to air out the place.

4. List the top three oddest/off the beaten path/interesting (at least to you) jobs you have had.

1) Orange Julius kiosk in the mall when I was 16. I still, to this day, don't know what is in that secret powder!

2) I worked for a couple months in a Philly Cheese Steak/Sausage truck (more like a trailer) in front of the Lowe's in Selinsgrove, PA. I got to meet all sorts of interesting people, including truckers who do the long haul across the US. Funny thing was my friend who got me the job? Vegetarian.

3) I worked in commercials for a few years and somehow ended up working in the art department. I got to wear cut offs, vests and boots to work, never wore make up. My tomboy flag flew high. I did a lot of painting and scenic stuff and on one car commercial I had Michael Bay screaming at me to work faster as I wiped dirt from the wheels of a Mazda. Career high, that.

5. What one thing stands out as the single most important career decision of your life?

I'd lived with DH in London for 4 years and was the best Operations Manager and PA to the MD that I could be. I was well paid, for London standards, had a good work/life balance, and lived only 3 miles so I could run or ride to work if I fancied. And I was miserable. I wanted to do something creative. So DH and I moved to Los Angeles where after one month I was hired at a boutique TV marketing and advertising company. In less than a year I was promoted to the creative department and by year 4 I was the senior writer/producer. That has really shaped my life now, as I love it so much I've had to come back to LA again in order to work as there were no jobs in London. Bittersweet but definitely the best decision.

A bit late to my own party, but I finally made it. 

1. If a film was made of your life, who would you want to direct it? What is it about his/her work that makes you choose him/her?
I would want Tim Burton to direct it, because he has an interesting way of finding the quirky and fun aspects of even the simplest things. I also love the way he explores the darker side of things and makes them feel natural and normal.

2. What film from your teen years made such an impact on you it actually changed some aspect of you as a person?
"The Breakfast Club", because it was such a reminder that we are all people, and it doesn't matter which 'group' we end up in, there is far more to us than that title. Everyone is worth getting to know.

3. When returning from holiday, or an extended trip, what three things do you make sure to do first?
1. Get the windows open to air the place out.
2. Make a coffee.
3. Just sit on the sofa and do nothing while drinking my coffee,after all the rushing and craziness of airports, and the confined feeling of the plane.

4. List the top three oddest/off the beaten path/interesting (at least to you) jobs you have had.
One summer I videotaped bungee jumps for the local amusement park. They only offered bungee jumping that summer. Another job I had was helping pull up old railroads. The man who owned the company sold the rail, plates, spikes, etc for scrap. It was one of those jobs where you travelled around, and went home for visits every couple months, but it took us to Oklahoma, Texas, Chicago and Kentucky during the time I was there. He paid for our rooms, and paid cash, so it was about $450 a month with no bills other than giving dad the car insurance money for about 6 months at a time so he could pay it for me. The third, not really all that odd or anything, but fun was the short time I was a dj at a local radio station. It was fun, but their equipment was outdated and temperamental. It seemed everything had a special way it had to be used instead of the actual way it was to be used. I was there overnight on top of going to college during the day, and too tired to keep it all up.

5. What one thing stands out as the single most important career decision of your life?
I would say it was quitting the radio station. I had dreamed of being on the air since I was 10, and was 20 when I was on the air. The combination of being too tired from my schedule, the stress of keeping the equipment going, and not caring for the music I was playing all made me give up too soon. I still have moments of wondering 'what if I'd stayed with it, or found another station instead of giving up completely?'.