Get to Know You!

[Tensleep]

As I was going through the list of names today and found that of our 21 members I know 6 and a few more by name only. How sad for me. So you all have to help me out. Guess I'll have to start. I'll try and keep it original since there are 6 billion out there.
(Just copy and paste this.)

Name:
Location:
Age:

Now, I know you all got that off the profiles, so here's stuff I don't know:

Nickname:
Favorite Food:
Bad Habit:
Favorite Animal:
Pet Peeves:
Favorite Place:
Place you want to visit:
Favorite Sport:
Favorite Band/Singer:
Favorite Song:
Favorite TV show:
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders):

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character:
Favorite Character to write about:
Least favorite Character (why?):

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old:
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions:

I’ve been writing since:

Hopefully we all get to know each other better.

See ya in the funny papers!!!

Tens

[Tensleep]

Because everything looks better in green...

Name: Tens (To be fair, I do go by this more than my given name)
Location: Alberta, Canada
Age: Old. So very old...but not as old as Keira ;D but for real, 19

Nickname: Ashtray. Yeah, I know odd people

Favorite Food: Jambalaya (Cajun) and Dill Pickles!

Bad Habit: I tend to be absent minded. I often forget the keys are in the ignition while I'm driving and have a mini-freak-out in the car. Which sucks, let me tell you.

Favorite Animal: Dogs – Bernese Mountain Dogs

Pet Peeves: People who make annoying noises for no reason. My kid brother, for example

Favorite Place: In my truck

Place you want to visit: Scotland/Russia

Favorite Sport: B.C. Lions Football! Yes, I know, I am a bad Southern Alberta girl…

Favorite Band/Singer: Three Days Grace / Marshall Tucker Band

Favorite Song: currently, Run to the Hills by Iron Maiden

Favorite TV show: Supernatural

Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): The Five Fingers by Gayle Rivers and James Hudson

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Darry
Favorite Character to write about: Steve

Least favorite Character (why?): Johnny. I can’t understand him. I grew up with boys who would have stood up for themselves if their parent were doing that. I know; a lot of people are abused like Johnny, but not gang members who know people that wouldn’t stand for it and have the records to prove it. It just throws me for a spin, so I don’t write him.

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: 2002 and I was turning 14 in a month, so it was a perfect time to read it.

How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: I realize Ponyboy didn’t know everything. His perceptions were that of a 14-year-old kid and everyone else in that book saw things from a different view. That realization made it so much easier to write Outsiders fan fiction.

I’ve been writing since: Seriously since Grade 8 (13) and I have been a member of ff.net since I was 15 (Still haven’t finished my first story, by the way). But I've been writing since I was in grade two or three, according to my dad. I don't remember much from those days...

Anyways,

See ya in the funny papers!!!

Tens

[Shadow]

Name: not sayin’
Location: Unknown
Age: 19
Nickname: Mr. Shadow, Brother, Cliff…sure Tens has a few
Favorite Food: Pistachios
Bad Habit: I have a lack of impulse control
Favorite Animal: Parrots
Pet Peeves: When there is no prize left in the cereal box because big bother got it first
Favorite Place: Italy
Place you want to visit: Okotoks
Favorite Sport: Surfing
Favorite Band/Singer: Fair Haven
Favorite Song: Moot Davis – Last Train Home
Favorite TV show: Yes, Dear
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Two-Bit
Favorite Character to write about: Cherry
Least favorite Character (why?): Bob – he’s the bad guy, that’s how it works
I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: In 1999 and I was 11, I think. Neither Tens nor I can do math.
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: I thought that they were very tame and that hasn’t changed.
I’ve been writing since: I was 16

[Keira]

Name: Keira (pronounced Kara)
Location: Provo, Utah, USA
Age: 20

Now, I know you all got that off the profiles, so here's stuff I don't know:

Nickname: Kiks (pronounced Keeks), Tango, Fudge.
Favorite Food: Cheese. Pasta. Anything I can sink my teeth into and really enjoy. Of course that's all the stuff I've never tried to cut out of my diet.
Bad Habit: Breaking my diet plans, not going to the gym as often as I should. Driving in a position that doesn't allow my leg to heal properly from my last accident...
Favorite Animal: Don't have one. Not really anyway
Pet Peeves: People not believing me when I tell the truth. Never had it happen before this year, and it's a rather unpleasant feeling.
Favorite Place: London. Hands down.
Place you want to visit: Scotland and Ireland
Favorite Sport: To watch? Football. To play? Baseball.
Favorite Band/Singer: Dude. You can't make me choose. love them all. Mostly.
Favorite Song: Forever Young by Alphaville. It's my theme song.
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): Harry Potter.

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Sodapop
Favorite Character to write about: Ponyboy
Least favorite Character (why?): To write: Dally, because he's a hard personality to get down. In general: Marcia. She was kinda annoying and pointless.

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: 1999 and I was 12.
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: Darry is not as old as I thought, being a greaser is not glamorous, Soda is not an angel. *Sniff*

I started writing when: I was in seventh grade. Had finished with The Outsiders and decided to write my own story about a poor girl. Her name was Cherry Cola. Not too original, I know.

[maxiekat]

Name: Laura
Location: Pennsylvania
Age: 33

Nickname: None
Favorite Food: Pumpkin Cheesecake
Bad Habit: Buying books that I know I probably won't get around to reading but I still buy them anyway.
Favorite Animal: Cats, I've got two
Pet Peeves: When I have to tell someone to do something at work that was really obvious - like sweeping the floor, or taking out the trash.
Favorite Place: Work - I manage a bookstore and I really enjoy the group of people l have working for me right now (with the exception of the previously mentioned problem, lol).
Place you want to visit: Scotland
Favorite Sport: don't really have one
Favorite Band/Singer: Lyle Lovett, Loreena Mckennitt
Favorite Song: Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie
Favorite TV show: Heroes
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): Lightning by Dean Koontz

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Johnny
Favorite Character to write about: Dally is fun to write about and I'm suprised to find that I enjoy writing Darry.
Least favorite Character (why?): Steve - I just never felt any sort of pull toward his character and find that I have to remind myself to include him.

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: 1983 and I was 10. The movie had just come out but my parents wouldn't let me see it, so I just kept reading it over and over again.
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: Well, now I don't think Darry is just some boring old guy. Plus, back then I'm sure I didn't catch the fact that Sandy was pregnant and I don't think I understood that Dally had essentially committed suicide.

I’ve been writing since: As long as I can remember, although this is the first time in a long time I've written for fun.

[printandpolish]

Name: Christine
Location: central Massachusetts
Age: over 40.

Nickname: None
Favorite Food: probably eggplant
Bad Habit: I get distracted easily
Favorite Animal: cats -- specifically, my cats, Yawkey and Garth
Pet Peeves: rudeness
Favorite Place: Fenway Park in Boston and October Mountain in Western Mass.
Place you want to visit: Ireland
Favorite Sport: Baseball, hands down.
Favorite Band/Singer: The Eagles
Favorite Song: Just one? The Eagles, "The Last Resort," Counting Crows, "A Long December," The Beatles, "Let It Be."
Favorite TV show: Numb3rs and Supernatural
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders):"A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Ponyboy.
Favorite Character to write about: Soda -- because I think there's so much more to him than the pretty boy who likes to fight and race cars.
Least favorite Character (why?): Least favorite is a strong way to put it, but I have to admit I've always found Two Bit a little annoying. (Can I still stay here?)

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old:
I first read the book in 1975 when I was 12 or 13 -- it was assigned for our 7th grade English class. It was both the first book that ever made me actually cry and the book that made me sure I wanted to make my living by writing.

How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions:
Now that I'm waaaaay past 20, I get Darry like I didn't before. I also understand why Steve and Dally are the way they are and I think they're so complex. It also makes perfect sense to me today that Dally killed himself. I don't agree with the decision, but I totally get it. That was something I didn't have the capacity to understand as a child.

I’ve been writing since: I could hold a pencil. Seriously. I remember writing stories in third grade.

[printandpolish]

PS: Laura, I LOVE Lightning!!! I reread it every couple of years.

[fairlane]

Name: Haley
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Age: 26

Nickname: -
Favorite Food: At the moment, chicken curry. It changes.
Bad Habit: Swearing is all I have left. I quit most of my vices when I got pregnant with my son.
Favorite Animal: Tigers, they are so beautiful. I own a dog though.
Pet Peeves: At the moment the drains in my house which are stuffed and have to be plunged every time I empty the sink/take a shower.
Favorite Place: Coromandel (Upper North Island of nz)
Place you want to visit: South Africa
Favorite Sport: Rugby - NZ All Blacks
Favorite Band/Singer: I can't decide. I love the 'old school' hip hop.
Favorite Song: The Unforgiven by Metallica.
Favorite TV show: A NZ comedy/drama called Outrageous Fortune about a family of criminals its so funny.
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): I love It and The Stand (Stephen King)

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Darry, Dallas
Favorite Character to write about: Tim Shepard. I also find Curly a lot of fun to write.
Least favorite Character (why?): Soda - I avoid writing him generally. He seems too 'perfect' in Pony's view of him, if I wrote him I would probably want to try and show a flipside.
I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: In 1993 when I was 13.
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions:
Reading it now I definatly have a lot more sympathy for Darry and the position that he is in. I think Soda probably has a darker side than Pony sees generally, whereas when I first read it he seemed like the perfect guy. I always thought Dally was cool but rereading it now see a bit more complexity in his character.
I’ve been writing since: I was 13 and I started writing stories about horses. I was a horse crazy kid.

[Nittanylizard]

Name: Elizabeth
Location: upstate New York
Age: 37

Now, I know you all got that off the profiles, so here's stuff I don't know:

Nickname: Liz
Favorite Food: cheesecake, cereal, and fried eggs, but it varies
Bad Habit: nail biting
Favorite Animal: dog...horse...uh...I can't decide! I love reptiles, too, and birds are really cool. And rats, they're awesome pets.
Pet Peeves: being interrupted mid-sentence
Favorite Place: anywhere my family is. Or, my garden.
Place you want to visit: Hungary
Favorite Sport: I mostly watch football when it's on, but I'm intrigued by almost any sport; so much physical dedication involved.
Favorite Band/Singer: I've got a few, but for now I'll pick Rush, Alan Jackson, and Rascal Flatts
Favorite Song: Life is a Highway (RF version); If You're Going Through Hell (Rodney Atkins); and the list goes on...
Favorite TV show: The only TV I watch is whatever series is on Sunday night HBO (Sopranos, The Wire, Rome, Big Love, etc.), though even then I have to record half the episodes
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): I love the Winter King trilogy by Bernard Cornwell; again, can't pick a favorite. There's the Alvin Maker series (O.S. Card), Harry Potter, etc.

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: I'm leaning toward Darry
Favorite Character to write about: Again, I find Darry intriguing, but also like writing Ponyboy. But, only when he's a little older than the book.
Least favorite Character (why?): I don't like writing Steve or Johnny, because I just can't get into their heads. I don't know why. Maybe it'll happen someday. But as for reading, I find all the characters likeable.

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: I read it in 1984 when I was fourteen. I had just seen the movie on HBO and had to get the book. They didn't require it in my school, so I'd never heard of it before.

How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: Like other posters, I took what Ponyboy said as law, and wasn't too fond of Steve. The whole book seemed so different when I read it again a few years ago. It took me until I was an adult to realize that Sandy left because she was pregnant. I remember just not getting that whole scene. I thought, "What wasn't him? She just didn't like him?" I thought she left because he wanted to marry her, but I didn't get why it was such a big deal.

I’ve been writing since: I was around ten, and I kept trying to keep journals. I wrote my first poem when I was thirteen; it was how I coped the day we set free the oppossum we had raised from a baby. From there I wrote lots of essays, poems, and short stories, but didn't start novel writing until a few years ago.

[Rock]

Name: Allison
Location: Provo, UT
Age: 20

Now, I know you all got that off the profiles, so here's stuff I don't know:

Nickname: Alli, Rock, and im sure there are many others - but only those two are used now.
Favorite Food: Rice and chicken, Crunch Bars, Strawberry Short Cake.
Bad Habit: Biting my nails
Favorite Animal: Cats, I have two.
Pet Peeves: Slow drivers, cleaning up after everyone who wont do it themselves.
Favorite Place: Dresden Germany, any library, Provo Canyon.
Place you want to visit: Canada, Atlanta Georgia, Great Britain
Favorite Sport: College Basketball (to watch). Love to play frisbee.
Favorite Band/Singer: Counting Crows, Three Days Grace, and many many others.
Favorite Song: "100 Years" by Five for Fighting
Favorite TV show: Daily Show, Colbert Report
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): "Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd, "Enders Game" by OS Card, and many others. I love any book that teaches me something new.

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Darry, Steve, Dally
Favorite Character to write about: Darry, Steve, occasionally Pony.
Least favorite Character (why?): Johnny, I dont understand him enough to connect.

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: 1999, I was 12.
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: The first time I read the book, I really only liked Pony and Johnny. I didnt understand the depth of the other characters or the meaning of them being there. Now, I appreciate the story more, and the characters as well. S.E. Hinton really had some deep insite into life at such a young age.

I’ve been writing since: I've had stories in my head for as long as I can remember, but I didnt start writing until I was 14 and my english teacher gave me an assignment over a school break - I wrote a 12 page paper and loved it. Havent stopped much since.

[Ryker]

Name: It's A Secret
Location: UK
Age: 20 (I feel so old)

- - -

Nickname: Taurus, D, Rye and many more

Favorite Food: Chocolate, Pasta, Cheese

Bad Habit: I always forget things

Favorite Animal: Panther, Tiger, Siberian Husky

Pet Peeves: When people snap their fingers especially at me *twitch twitch* bratty and spoilt behaviour, and farting jokes - so not funny.

Favorite Place: My room and libraries.

Place you want to visit: Australia, New Zealand, China, Ireland.

Favorite Sport: Ice Hockey and Kickboxing (I have a mean left hook.)

Favorite Band/Singer: Linkin' Park

Favorite Song: I can't decide.

Favorite TV show: LOST

Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): Ender's Game by OSC, Hawkes Harbour and a bunch of others.

- - -

Favorite Character: Curly Shepard

Favorite Character to write about: Tim or Curly

Least favorite Character (why?): Ponyboy, because he acted like a brat through out the book.

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: In 2003, I believe. So I was, 16... I think.

How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: Well, it hasn't been that long since I read the book so my opions haven't changed much. I liked Ponyboy back then, but now when I look back he irks me in so many ways.

I’ve been writing since: Probably since I was about 9/10.

[Kierstin]

Name: Kierstin (Keer-stihn)
Location: Northern Kentucky
Age: 19

Nickname: Kirs
Favorite Food: Pizza
Bad Habit: I'm either too quiet or I never shut up.
Favorite Animal: Bunnies and Unicorns.
Pet Peeves: Liars
Favorite Place: In the barn (I live on a farm) or my bedroom.
Place you want to visit: Dominican Republic
Favorite Sport: Volleyball
Favorite Band/Singer: Bonnie McKee
Favorite Song: Somebody by Bonnie McKee
Favorite TV show: Roseanne, Boy Meets World, Saved By The Bell
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Sodapop
Favorite Character to write about: I've never actually written a fic, but I think Steve or Two-Bit would be interesting (and a challenge) to write.
Least favorite Character (why?): Ponyboy. As I've gotten older and reread the novel, I've decided that he just seems to get more bratty. He mentions that Soda listened to his problems all the time while when it came time for him to listen, he was always busy daydreaming or so on.

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: I read the book in 2001 and I was 13.
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: In the beginning, I felt for Ponyboy, disliked Darry, thought Steve was a spawn of Satan. Now I can understand Darry, I just can't understand Ponyboy at all, and I don't think Steve is that bad.

I’ve been writing since: Since I was young. I can remember winning a writing contest in second grade that had to do with school and winning made me happy, so I started writing on my own.

[latch22]

Name: Lara
Location: Around... Seriously? Connecticut, USA.
Age: I plead the fifth.

Now, I know you all got that off the profiles, so here's stuff I don't know:

Nickname: I'm sure that I've had a few, but none really come to mind at the moment. You, however, may call me Marauder, Latch, or simply Lara.
Favorite Food: I can never make up my mind. I'm fickle like that.
Bad Habit: I bite my lip. Seriously. Not even when I'm nervous--just out of habit, period.
Favorite Animal: Wolves. Cats (I adore those creatures). And I'm just an all-around animal person.
Pet Peeves: In writing? Several. I know there are some... Let me think... Oh! Whistling. I don't care if it's in key or not--I just can't stand it.
Favorite Place: Home. Perhaps New York City. (I don't go there often enough. I should--it's not like it's a particularly long trip, really.)
Place you want to visit: You know, I never much liked travel, but I've recently been feeling the urge. See more of the United States. Canada. Ireland. England. (Probably never will, though.)
Favorite Sport: I don't really have one.
Favorite Band/Singer: Way too many to name, and way too many genres. But I particularly like Billy Joel, Simon and Garfunkel, Switchfoot, and Guster--after that, the list is just endless.
Favorite Song: ... Don't laugh, but I get all warm and fuzzy when I hear, "You'll Be In My Heart," by Phil Collins.
Favorite TV show: I don't watch television, most of the time. But I know there are shows that I like, if I remember to watch them. What they are, I can't remember. (I suppose there are a lot, then.)
Favorite Book (not the Outsiders): No real favorite, because I'm enamored with far too many. I know I had a real thing for Robinson Crusoe, years ago, and I really like Charles Dickens' work... I just read too many to even remember.

Since we're all Outsiders fans....

Favorite Character: Making me choose? Then it's between Steve, Two-Bit, and Soda. Oh, so you're still not satisfied? Then I may have to choose Steve...
Favorite Character to write about: Two-Bit. He's lots of fun, but I love writing him into serious scenes--I love his serious side. And Steve is interesting to write, especially with Soda.
Least favorite Character (why?): Johnny made very little impression on me by the end of the book. I think, at first, I was interested, but he was generally overshadowed, for me--which was probably intended, when you consider his character. But I still like him. I see too many sides of each of them to actually like any of them least.

I read the book in (ex. 1973) and I was X many years old: Not telling.
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: I'm a little more de-sensitized towards the book and characters now. It feels slightly more personal, but less intense. Because I delved so deeply into the fandom, I now feel more as if I really knew them as people/friends, and less as characters--which actually makes them less interesting and more difficult to write for, strangely.

I’ve been writing since: I've been writing since I was probably six or so, but I never considered myself passionate about it until I was ten.

Ah, such is the verbosity that is Marauder. I wonder if anyone even remembers me at this point...

Cheers!

[cheshiremax]

Name: Marie
Location: Virginia, USA
Age: 13
Nickname: Max, Mari, or Cheshire
Favorite Food: Burritos
Bad Habit: Biting my lip, over thinking things, and getting waaaay too nervous.
Favorite Animal: Fox... or a duck...
Pet Peeves: people who talk to me while I'm reading.
Favorite Place: Pittsburgh, PA
Place you want to visit: Venice
Favorite Sport: Hockey
Favorite Band/Singer: Panic! At the Disco
Favorite Song: I Constantly Thank God For Esteban
Favorite TV show: I don't actually watch TV.
Favorite Book: TWILIGHT!
Favorite Character: Darry, because if I had to do what he does I'd crack. And Ponyboy, because we have a lot in common, two older brothers, annoying friends, and same basic personality.
Favorite Character to write about: Ponyboy or Johnny.
Least favorite Character: Hmmm... I dunno... Probably Dally because of how he just completely cracked. (I know, bad reason)
I read the book in and I was X many years old: I actually saw the movie first when I was in sixth grade. My teacher showed it to my class and he wasn't supposed to because everyone in my school district reads the book in eight grade so that ruined the book for me. I read the book in eight grade.
How have my impressions changed since I first read it? If they haven’t, what were my first impressions: I realized that things weren't that different back then and it also made me hate preps even more...
I’ve been writing since: I started writing about two years ago, in sixth grade.

I've never actually written a Outsiders fanfiction, mostly because I only write things once I get a clear solid plot.

[Tensleep]

queenjaneapprxmtly said:

Favorite TV show: M*A*S*H. I kind of watch it religiously.

Man, I am right there with you. Whenever I can find it on, that is. They stopped showing it 6 times a day on Prime when they became TV Tropolis. But now they play Due South 4 times a day instead...

Yeah, that I know that is geeky, but you did not spend the summer with Mr. Shadow...

See ya in the funny papers and welcome aboard to all our members!

Tens