Music is my lifeblood.  My father worked as a sound engineer for Sigma Sounds in Center City Philadelphia in the 80's (while my mother was a model for Barbizon) and needless to say, he's a music buff.  I grew up listening to all kinds of music, and at loud volumes.  From every jazz artist ever, to Frank Zappa, to Tears for Fears, to the Grateful Dead, to Prince, to Pat Martino to Steely Dan.... I heard it all.  Since I grew up learning the importance of music, I think that's what I have to thank for my current obsession/fascination with the works of Nobuo Uematsu. 

That's not the only thing I listen to though, you can always catch me jamming to: Yoko Kanno, Weezer, Steely Dan, Metallica, Powerman 5000, Death cab for cutie, 311, Incubus, Coldplay, hardcore west coast rap, Gwen Stefani, n.e.r.d., Nirvana, Stereolab, Stone Temple Pilots, Muse, OAR, garbage, No doubt, Rob Zombie, White Stripes, Eric Clapton, 80's music, The Strokes, Tears for Fears, Lily Allen, Thievery Corporation, and other video game/anime music.

Art has literally been a part of my life since I was able to grasp a pencil.  I took art in high school when my schedule allowed, and during those 4 years, I was able to get grants from my school to take Saturday classes at Moore College of Art.  I took illustration, the art of storyboards, computer graphics, photography, advanced photography, and more. I'm one of those people that can't draw from their heads.  I can do all the "still life" in the world, but forget about drawing anything from the brain.  Since I basically work full time now, it's quite hard to have time to take night art classes, but I hope to do it soon anyway!

I have always had a love for fashion.  I can't depart with my old Vogue magazines just yet.  So much comes from those massive novels of a magazine.  One single picture of a model in an amazing dress does so much to me.  It makes me want to be the photographer, the model, the fashion designer and the make-up artist.  I love how the models are posed, and in what setting, and lighting, and all of that jazz.  And of course the colors used--contracting or balanced or just wild!  I am DYING to take fashion design courses.  If there is such thing as a shoe-design school, SIGN ME UP!  I love make-up, dressing up, taking pictures, having my picture taken, and making art out of everything ever.

Playing video games and watching anime as a young kid and during my teenage years of course sparked my interest in becoming the characters.  I had no idea Cosplay was a whole extravaganza until I was in college.  Once I found out that there was a convention near my residence in Philadelphia, I was there.  I decided to go to AnimeNEXT for a day, just to check it out.  Since Evangelion is my ultimate favorite series, I decided to go as Misato.  I was immediately hooked and planning my next costumes!  Currently, it is my most expensive hobby! :)  I can die happy now that I cosplayed 3 of my favorite characters:  Terra (FF6), Sorceress Edea (FF8) and Princess Ayeka's dominatrix outfit (a picture of her that I favored for years).

World of Warcraft.  Some might think I'm crazy for the amount of time I have spent playing this game.  I started back in May of 2005.  I swore I would never play an MMORPG since they had no endings, but the first time I ran up to someone, /dance, /point, /yell YOU JUST GOT SERVED..... I was hooked.  My main character is a Holy Priest named Ritsuko (yes, after Ritsuko Akagi from Neon Genesis Evangelion).  I've been playing with a lot of the same people over the years, and I even had the chance to meet up with them for a Halloween party when I was in Los Angeles for a work conference!  I have some really good friends that I met from this game.  Maybe one of these days I will actually quit!  (They call it World of WarCRACK for a reason!)