smadronia

Profile Updated 2 January 2019

I'm Stephanie, a former truck driver. I spent 11.5 years behind the wheel before giving it up in late 2018 to take a desk job. I am not a shipping and receiving clerk. I get to give drivers the side eye now, which is a nice change. I live in my childhood home on a cattle ranch with my partner of 14 years, who also drives; my grandmother, a retired English teacher; and Mozzie, my fluffy white cat. There are 2 tanks of fish in the house, one goldfish, one live bearing tropicals. We also have a German Shepherd, Kody, who's tennis ball crazy.

At the end of September, we acquired another dog, Kya. She was mt mother's boyfriend's dog, and after he passed away, there was no one to take her. So, she's our doggo now. She'll be 13 in March 2019, but acts like a young dog. Starting to go blind and deaf, but plenty of energy. And farts. Oh man, the farts.

I'm @starhiker s daughter, in case you wonder about the interactions between us. We don't live near each other, but sometimes we end up partners in a swap.

I make a concentrated effort to keep all pet hair out of my swaps. Mozzie has fine white fluff that gets into everything, and Kya has short black hair. All swap items are inspected and wiped down (if they can be) before boxing, and I keep packaging away from the pets.Be warned though, that a few hairs may still slip in.

Mr. Mozzie

Being on the road meant that I had to give up pretty much every hobby I had, minus anything that could be done on a laptop. It's tough to have hobbies or crafts when you live in a space smaller than a walk in closet with someone else day in and day out. Now that I'm home, I've taken up fused glass, often called kilnformed glass. I make a lot of small tea dishes, and occasionally art pieces with it.

I'm most active here doing book related swaps for my Book group, Carpe Librum.

I'm new to Zentangling, and I think I'm hooked!

My old likes was mostly in paragraph form, and I think people might have been tired of reading it. So I'm going to try for a list this time

• Purple
• Black
• Blue
• Red, especially dark red
• Rainbows
• Sun/Moon/Star themes
• Forests
• Flowers (all kinds)
• Rivers/Lakes/Oceans/General bodies of water
• Sparkly Things
• Glow in the Dark
• Washi Tape (deco tape is fun too)
• Cows
• Buffalo (American Bison)
• Moose
• Elk
• Cats (big and small)
• Dogs (especially German Shepherds)
• Butterflies
• Dragons
• Mermaids
• Keychains
• Zentangle
• Bandages/Plasters (all colours and styles)
• Pinups
• Fireworks (photos, postcards, etc)
• ATCs
• Hand crafted Items
• Book Themed Items
• Classic Cars
• Big Trucks (semis/tractor trailers/big rigs/18 wheelers)
• Tea (all flavors)
• Hello Kitty
• Jetoy
• Postcards (all kinds)
• Notecards (all kinds)
• Video Games (classic 80s especially)
• World of Warcraft - Horde & Alliance, Night Elves, Pandas, Warlocks, Priests, and Monks especially
• Fallout Universe (Only played 4, but I love the world)
• Heroes of the Storm, and other BLizzard games
• articles on writing
• pens (all kinds)
• notebooks
• Fuzzy socks (those one size fits most fit me fine)
• Pagan related items
• Things associated with Buddhism

I aspire to be a published writer one day, so writer related items are always welcome. Right now I'm trying to write in the Young Adult genre, but that may change in the future.

I also have to list quirky items, and funny ones. That's kinds of subjective, but I do like things that are offbeat or oddball. One of my favorite items I have is a square beaver made of felt, and one of my favorite postcards is a 1950s era photo with the words "he couldn't be a distant memory soon enough."

I'm also not offended by coarse language or nudity. I'm a truck driver, I talk like a truck driver, and my household is well over the age of 18, so we can handle nudity.

Thankfully, this listis pretty short. I'm allergic to scented things, and artifcial sweeteners. If you can avoid sending either, I would appreciate it. I understand I'll run into these things from time to time, especially in sender's choice swaps, and I do regift these items to friends and family members where appropriate.

I've worn the same earrings for 13 years now. I don't generally change them out, but if you send me earrings, I have a 21 year old cousin who will probably get them & love them.

I hate Sponge Bob with a vengeance. I have no idea why.

I don't sew or embroider, so those items (fabric, lace, ribbon, floss) are lost on me. I do try to regift anything like that, so it won't go to waste, but it usually sits around gathering dust for a while before I find a home.

I'm an eclectic pagan, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't send me religious items, unless the swap calls for it.

My family doesn't do much with Christmas, that season has been filled with a lot of trouble and loss for us. However, I know many other people do, and so when the Christmas season rolls around, I am not surprised, nor am I offended to get religious things. It's part of the season. The rest of the year though, I'm not a fan.

For these things, if you miss this section and send me something that I'm not able to use, I'm not going to rate you down for it. I do have limits though, if it's a goodies from your profile swap, and someone sends a Jesus head air freshener, sugar free candies, and and note telling me I'm going to hell, then I'll take offense.

I go through a lot of books: paper, ebook on my nook, and audiobooks. Being a truck driver means I spend a lot of time driving, and a lot of time sitting around, waiting to get unloaded. It's prime listening/reading time. I average 4-6 books a month, mostly fiction, although I try for a non fiction book every month, usually around homesteading/survival/self sufficiency.

I'm one of those people who has very few favorites, not because I love so many books I can't choose, but because I just don't. However, I have settled into a pattern of what I like to read:

• Paranormal
• Fantasy
• Science Fiction
• Young Adult

Young adult is vague, as so much goes on there now. It's also why I read it: most of the interesting things are happening in the Young Adult market right now. I have a soft spot for paranormal and dystopian young adult novels.

Want to know which authors I like best? The names in parenthesis are book titles Adult Authors:

• Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Dart) * This is the closest thing to a favorite book for me

• Lyda Morehouse (Archangel Protocol)

• Richelle Mead (Succubus Blues)

• Karen Marie Moning

• Mercedes Lackey (Magic's Pawn)

• Kelly Mccullough (MythOS)

Young Adult Authors:

• Richelle Mead (Bloodlines)

• Tamora Pierce (Alanna)

• Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games)

• Roald Dahl (Matilda)

My book dislikes are short. I'm not a fan of literary fiction, the symbolism and meaning goes right over my head. Horror stories are not my thing either, I don't like to be scared. I'm not a huge fan of modern romance novels. I also dislike Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey.

I'm a co-founder in Carpe Librum, a group dedicated to books of all kinds. If you like book themed swap, please come join us!

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There are a few things I would really love to receive, but I don't expect anyone to send.

• Truck Things (postcards, notecards, stickers, etc)

• Johnny Cash Postcards (sent naked or in an envelope)

If you haven't received anything from me, and a reasonable amount of time has passed (3 weeks US, 6 weeks international) please let me know. I don't mind doing a resend.

Waiting on a rating? Let me know. I try to set my mail on one part of my desk, and rate on the weekends when I don't work, but sometimes mail falls off my desk, or someone brings the mail and sets it on my couch, which likes to eat it. I'm not trying to ignore anyone purposefully, so just drop me a message and I'll go hunt your mail down.

Swapping is supposed to be fun, but it's also a commitment we all need to follow through on. If you're going to be late sending, please let me know before the swap deadline has passed. I understand that everyone is human; sometimes things come up and you can't send on time. I'm willing to be cool, within reason. We can work something out in most cases, although if you don't hold up your end, I reserve the right to rate according to Swap Bot rules.