Since 2015. I first met Kidd and Becky at the mall in February that year when I went to pick up one of my best friends. And then at the very first LsCon that year, I was just so incredibly galvanized by the sense of community and belonging and the idea that there was something to do in this small town that tickled very specifically the side of me that’s an insatiable pop culture consumerist, that I asked to be involved in whatever way I could be.

nervous laugh from Chayt – I currently officially work in Data Analysis. There are other things I would like to do, though, and maybe one day I will get to do them.

I think my Dad reckons I can solve literally any and every technology issue in the world. Even when it makes no sense for me to know how. Like, no, Dad, I’m not sure why your MTN internet isn’t working even though you just bought a bundle; there is entirely no way for me to know that.

another nervous laugh from Chayt – I’m disappointingly a bit more boring than I let on. All I do is go to work, and then come home way too tired to do anything than mindlessly doomscroll on Twitter.

I do allow myself time to catch up on TV shows. I most recently finished the latest season of ‘Hacks’, brilliant!

And read, I’m currently working through “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer, a recommendation from a friend during one of our Sunday Trivia nights!

Interesting. So, I think these are two separate questions.

Inspiration for me comes from the ability that human beings have to create, and witnessing them explore that. I feel I’ve lived a thousand lives because I’ve heard a thousand songs. I’ve been adorned in a million colors because I’ve seen a million paintings. Art in most every medium is intensely important to me, and is such a reminder of every single fiber that flows through people and personhood, and I feel extremely lucky that I get to be a person that witnesses people creating it. I get to know people working every day on their music or their drawings or their films, and I promise you, there’s nothing I find more awe-inducing, more sacred to me. 

As for what makes me feel like my best self: I do not mean this in a self-deprecating way at all, but I do not feel like I’ve been my best self yet. I’m still just stumbling home. And when I get there-when I feel it-I’ll be sure to let you know. Ask me again later!

I’ve studied long and hard about this and I think the most obvious answer is the Owl. They are all knowing and mysterious and hold all the secrets to this and all other universes and as much as I would like them to whisper those secrets to me, I don’t think the human mind is capable of that level of comprehension.

100% invisibility. To go through life unperceived, what a concept! Sign me up immediately! Also, the sky is filled with birds. Have you ever met a bird? Terrifying.

Unfortunately, my side of the family didn’t foster any sort of traditions or anything of the sort. Although, my friends and I, we have a sort of gathering every Christmas, have a secret Santa and everything, and that means the world to me. I’m still thinking about last year’s gammon…

I know Disney Adults are cringe and this is going to lose me Internet Points, but Ariel from The Little Mermaid. I see a lot of myself in her. Or herself in me. I think the characterization of The Little Mermaid at her core as originally written by Hans Christian Anderson is one I identify with closely, but I think I appreciate some of the spunk the film puts in her. I think me and Ariel are both these minds holding dreams so wild and that feel so insurmountable, and I hope maybe I can also borrow some of her bravery and tenacity in eventually achieving them, instead of just her impulsivity and longing like I currently have.

This is a tricky one for me. Vanilla is one of my favorite smells, so the cookies have that going for them, but I don’t know, there’s just something so mesmerizing about the smell of the first rain. I’ll go with the rain. My memory is responding more positively to it at this moment.

Oh, goodness.
Okay so I’d have to check through my memory bank for everything that this year has given to us music-wise, but most immediately the song that jumps to mind is “Machines” by Jensen McRae. I love every single line in that song but most often I find myself coming back to the verse:

“I think I saw God in the bathroom.
Some pretty girl was holding her hair back,
and I offered her fistfuls of tissues.
She bit back tears and told me not to do that.”

Some honorable mentions are “Girls Against God” and “Morning Elvis” by Florence + The Machine, “Sidelines” by Phoebe Bridgers, and “We’ll Never Have Sex” by Leith Ross.

(You can’t use too much of the Superslick no matter how shiny it makes your coat, because if you do you’ll break Mognet!) Probably red. It’s my favorite color and I’m trying to become an influencer for the color red.

Case-by-case, but generally phone calls, because they’re immediate and to the point, I find them more honest because they remove the ability to curate yourself and your responses, plus they have the added bonus of being able to hear your best friend’s voice. But I also don’t like it when unscheduled phone calls run too long. But generally phone calls. I often forget that texting is a form of communication and take it for granted and it makes me rude because I’m always unintentionally ghosting all of my friends.

One year is an incredibly long time to watch (500) Days Of Summer on loop, but I am just f***ed enough in the head to do it! Definitely that one.

Yikes! I think KINGDOM HEARTS has the best narrative, pacing, theme, and understands its tone and atmosphere the best, but I had the most fun playing KINGDOM HEARTS III, and it has the best scope. But I think they’re all good and everyone should definitely play them. I have a spare copy of the 1.5+2.5 ReMIX collection that I bought specifically to lend out to friends.

I think you expect me to say Taylor Swift, and while her remarkable skill is one that I would kill a million times over to acquire, the answer to this question is actually Tori Amos.