A: How the hell did we get to this beach?

A: Internet, chocolate (I think we already discussed this) but the twist is it's actually caramel. I think Star Trek: The Next Generation (if I could only watch 1 TV show forever). Wait, that's not the question? I guess hope, the hope to be able to love; to receive and to give love to others.

A: OMG! This is the longest SAT style college entrance personality quiz exam ever! Can’t we do a Buzzfeed quiz?

A: Photography and digital art, video games, studying AI, audiobooks and podcasts, selective TV, finding the most stylish yet lableless fashion I can find that actually fits me (growing up in abject poverty has made me an expert in this field). cybersecurity for reasons, and Shakespeare (not really a hobby, I just like it). I’m just getting into plant collecting (I don't like that its called plant collecting - its strangely colonial) and horticulture. I have lived up to my infamy of being able to kill anything green simply by looking at it. I just love them too much. 🥰 But I’m learning and actually trying this time. And I’ll have you know my Golden Pothos, ‘Goldie’, is thriving. We don’t talk about the others.

A: Paying close attention to the details. Analyzing, creating, and optimizing workflow performance for the benefit of all parties involved. I’m an empath, so remembering that people are people. Putting people first and giving them the respect and dignity they deserve, which is not easy. People come in multitudes and can be down right despicable. This is not a conventional business, and you’re going to run into a wider net of colorful personalities to just down right shady people, that you won’t likely deal with in other industries. How are you going to handle that?

And most importantly, putting myself first. I have learned in all business you have put your personal safety, well being, and even personal comfort first. If you don’t put yourself first, nobody else is going to either. You won't be doing your best work, and your business will suffer or even fail. It may sound counter-intuitive, especially to a natural people pleaser that spent too much time in retail. It’s the airline safety presentation conundrum, it will be your natural instinct to want to put your child’s mask on first, but if you don’t save yourself first, you can’t save anyone else.

A: Fun! I don’t have fun! Lol. 😂 I work, or make arrangements for other work. Or research a topic for another project. I was a New Yorker born on the wrong coast. Yah, I’m not what most people would call fun or the life of the party. I’m funny.

But that’s not why you called me, is it? You know why you called me. And while I’ve never been called the life of the party, your assumption was probably right, I have always been called fun in bed.

I used to work hard and play hard as cliche as that expression is, but I haven’t had a vacation in years.

A: It hasn’t happened yet. Or at least it had better not!

A: I’m shorter than most of the crowd. I can’t see what the fuss is all about. Does that count?

A: I’d say you’re looking at them, brother!

Just kidding. Well they are the best visual traits I have. But in retrospect I am very thoughtful to an almost astonishing degree. I don’t have a photographic memory but it is very strong probably due to the spectrum. So I remember all the little things that people take for granted, or forget, or never even noticed in the first place. I’m also loyal to a tee, even to my own chagrin. The best-saddest dog commercial ever. It’s hard to earn my trust and love but if you do, watch out it may be a life-long commitment.

A: This is tough. You would think I’m all niche. I am a jack of all trades which is by definition not niche, but perhaps I’m not the jack at all, but a bridge or conduit that brings people together that would probably never speak in day to day life together for special moments that can be healing. Loneliness and lack of touch and human interaction has shown to be detrimental to our health and shorten our life expectancy. They are the silent killers that we don’t talk about. Especially for the aging LGBTQ+ population that has higher numbers of increasingly aging single people than the general population. Touch, and not just touch, but the communal interactions we have in our work can make a positive difference. I’m passionate about not allowing the marginalized sectors within the LGBTQ+ community, be it over race, ageism, ableism, or misogyny ever feel like sexual minorities or second class citizens. Not in my practice. That being said, I’m not Whitney, I’m not everywoman, I’m not even Chaka Khan for that matter, I can’t meet everyone's needs. I try to suss out whether I would be right for taking on a particular client within the first interactions. I try to be transparent about it.

A: I am both in my element when traveling and spending time at home. I find excitement in exploring new cultures and dealing with the unknown when traveling, but I also appreciate the comfort of routine and solitude when I’m at home. I’m like a real life Hobbit. Hobbits are portrayed as they are creatures of habit who love their simple way of life, but they also have a sense of adventure and curiosity that drives them to explore the world around them.

It’s the routine 9-5 lifestyle I can’t deal with. While it's not uncommon for people to feel like they don't fit into traditional work structures, I feel particularly unfit for them. It's important to find a balance between work and personal interests, and to find a job or career path that aligns with your values and passions.

The pandemic has disrupted my travel plans in more ways than one, as it has for many people around the world. Hopefully, I can get back to traveling soon.

A: I am actually one of those annoying people that likes eating healthy and working out, so I'll keep this brief. I go through periods of more structured gaining and cutting, but it takes much concentration, effort, and time to prepare and consume the 3000-4000 calories plus, I may have to take in a day because I am a hard gainer, as they say. And too be honest I'm tired and sore all of the time when I'm working out on a cycle that hard, so my weight will fluctuate slightly, but I always remain fit, because I would go completely insane if I could not be active.

That being said, I love baked sweets, and cakes, and croissants and the like, and anything chocolate (mostly European chocolate). And I'll always make time for them.

A: "I'm flat busted."

Protagonist waits a beat. They look down at chest level.

"No, I mean I'm broke."

- Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

A: UNIQUE! - I'm an Alien Superstar. 'Nuff said.

Just kidding. But I was diagnosed as an adult with being neurodivergent. High functioning, superior functioning in some tested areas, but on the spectrum as they say, nonetheless. But the revelation does make a lot of sense. Why when growing up I often felt like an alien always being on the outside looking in, because I was in some respects an alien observing from the outside, because I experience things differently from the majority of the population. And sometimes I still do. It also explains the most said phrase to me in my lifetime. Boy, If I had a quarter for every time...Can you guess what it is? No, I'll wait. Drum roll, please .... "You're really hard to read." Yes, that is the most said phrase to me of my life. I wished I started a tally. That followed by something about my butt, my butt, etc. etc. So don't let the poker face fool you. It doesn't mean that I don't like you, or that I'm not having a good time. It probably doesn't mean anything at all. If I have a poker face on when we meet, please don't take it personally, cause Lady Gaga ain't got nothing on mine.

A: I have an irreverent sense of humour. It's more of quick dry wit with a knack for satire. It can take a minute to register for some folks, and for some maybe never. But I try to tread lightly with sarcasm. Sarcasm can outwear its welcome pretty quickly and really sour the moment. On that note, Thank you Mario! But I think your princess is in another castle!

A: No matter how bad things in life can get, I can always find the humour in it. Like the late great Carrie Fisher said, "If my life wasn't funny, it would just be true." And who could possibly bear weight of that?