westerosorting | win or die! (Reply)

Name: Audrey
How did you find out about the community? If it's through an LJ user, please tell us who it is (individual user if possible, not just a community name!): It was mentioned quite a few times on ONTD (in the Game of Thrones posts), I think the user was hobnailedboots.
Age: 23
Location: Canada
Occupation: Student

All About You
1. Describe your ideal house/home. Please go into as much detail as possible, and be sure to include your ideal geographical location in the description!
Ever since I first watched Beauty and the Beast, I wanted to have a library in my house. If it was as big and extravagant as the one in the movie, I would probably faint every time I entered it. I absolutely love to read and learn, and having a space that would promote that would be a dream come true.

Other than that, I would love to live in a detached home that had a garden and large yard for my kids to play in. I would love to have hardwood flooring, and a house that is decorated comfortably in earth tones, instead of bright and loud colours.

I would love to be near a body of water... the ocean, a lake or even a river are all great options, and I would love to have those close by. There is something very relaxing and calming about the water that I absolutely love. I also really like trees, and having a forest, with a trail or something would also be incredible.

As for location, I am not really sure. I grew up in the greater Toronto area, and I enjoy the diversity that all the seasons bring. But, I would like to live somewhere warmer, because freezing my ass off for what feels like six months out of the year isn’t all that fun.

2. Imagine you’re given the classic opportunity: a genie granting you three wishes. What would you wish for? Please be as elaborate as you can. Wishing for more wishes is not permitted!

My first wish would be for my family, especially my younger sister, and friends to be happy, healthy and safe.

My second wish would be the ability to time travel. I would love to be able to go back in time and experience life first hand during the different eras of civilization.

My last wish would be for the ability to just know things. Kind of like Sylar in Heroes, how he could just look at things and know how they worked. I would love to be able to just look at something and understand the mechanics. It would be so fascinating, and I would never, ever be bored!

3. In your life so far, what accomplishment are you the most proud of? Why? You can list more than one if you have trouble deciding. ;)
I would have to say that my acceptance into medical school is currently my best accomplishment. I had worked so hard to overcome personal hardships, and slaved away throughout my undergraduate career to accomplish my goal of becoming a doctor, while juggling other responsibilities. I was always told that the hardest part of becoming a doctor was getting into medical school, so getting in and attending my first day was my proudest moment.

4. Which of the following is most important to you: Love, Money, Knowledge, Family, Friendship, Adventure, or Pleasure? Which is the least important to you? Please explain why for each choice.
Knowledge would be the most important thing for me. Without knowledge, I don’t think you can have many of the other things on this list. I cannot have money, if I do not have some basic knowledge about mathematics. I will find friends based on common interests, which I will be knowledgeable about. I find pleasure in reading about the world, and can find in adventure in stories (like ASOIAF). Maybe this is cheating a little bit, but definitely, knowledge is the most important thing for me.

Choosing a least important is definitely harder. I am going to have to say money. Money certainly allows for certain types of freedoms, and those with it are incredibly fortunate to have it. But, money is useless on its own. You cannot buy friends or family to share your adventures, pleasures, love or knowledge with. What is the point of having money, if you would have to give up one of the other options?

5. What's one quote (or passage, song lyric, etc.) that effectively describes you and your values? Explain.
“I am only one, but still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do what I can.” - Edward Hale.

I think this quote is pretty effective at describing who I am and why I like to do the things that I do. I like to be part of something bigger, to be part of a change for the better. This is a motivation to remain active in educating myself, fighting injustices, and contribute to the greater good so that everyone can enjoy a healthier, happier and safer environment and life.

6. How do you manage your money? On that note, how important is money/financial security to you? Go into as much detail as you can.
I’m pretty careful with money. I like to do my research on big purchases, comparing everywhere and anywhere before any money is exchanged. I always keep track of my finances, where money is going and how much of it is going where, because if I don’t, who is going to?

I am not really a person that wants a lot of things. I’m very frugal. I don’t really care for electronics, clothes and that kind of stuff. But, I am guilty of sometimes spending money where I shouldn’t. I accumulate so many books that it is probably a little bit stupid that I do not use the public library, but I can’t help it sometimes.

Money can’t buy you a lot of things (like family or friends), but it does allow for certain freedoms. You wouldn’t have to worry about certain things, and are at liberty to take vacations, and those sorts of things. I wouldn’t say financial security is the most important thing in the world, but to have it is a blessing.

7. Name (and elaborate on) some of your hobbies. What are your favorite things to do outside of school/the office?
I love to read anything and everything (well, maybe not everything, I want to stay as far away as possible from the Twilight series as possible). These days I spend a lot of my time reading history and politics. I like to get involved in the issues, and as such, I spend a lot of time working with local members of both provincial and federal government. I like to attend conferences that will expose me to different political thought/opinion.

I really enjoy cooking and baking. I guess because I really love food, but it just seems like a fun way to actually create something that is also fun to destroy! I like trying new foods, and am willing to try anything at least once.

I’m also a national level athlete. I have played netball for ten years, and play recreationally and at the state/provincial level frequently. I also play baseball for a club. So, I do spend a lot of time on the field and in the gym.

8. Name three things you are afraid of. Explain.
A. Losing Control: The things I cannot have control over, like the circumstances of my childhood, or whatever, is OK. But, not having the ability to control where I end up is probably the most frightening thing for me. The idea that I cannot control where I am going and how I react to a certain situation terrifies me the most.

B. Heights: Oh my goodness. I don’t know what it is that terrifies me so much about heights. But, I really do not like them. I guess I should be grateful that I am as short as I am (only 4’11”).

C. Anything Bad Happening to My Little Sister: I am so overly protective of my younger sister that it is probably not healthy. But, I can’t help it, I am about six years older than her, and the idea that something bad happening to her scares the shit out of me. She has been through a lot in only 17 years of living, and I would hate to see her suffer anymore. If someone deserves a truly happy and blessed adulthood it is her.

9. Name (and elaborate on) your top three BEST and top three WORST qualities (personality-related, not physical). Please answer as fully as you can, as this is an important question.
A. Curiosity: I am a very curious person. I love that I like to know everything about everything. I want to be able to understand the world (whether its people or things) around me, so I do everything I can do make it a reality. I know that I probably will never understand everything about everything, but learning and expanding my horizons has opened up so many possibilities to me. I have met so many different people that I would not otherwise have met and done things that I otherwise would not be comfortable doing. I am so grateful that this is such an integral part of who I am, and would probably not be me if it wasn’t for my curiosity.

B. Resiliency / Independence: I have had a very hostile upbringing, surviving through emotional, physical and sexual abuse. I never was a victim to my circumstances, and always did my best to rise above. I believe that no matter what I go through, I will come out on top. This kind of attitude always allowed me to be really independent, and unashamed to stick up for what I believe in, and do whatever I wanted. I can stand on my own two feet, and don’t really look to others for support. My resilience and subsequent independence are probably the most defining things about me.

C. Fair / Objective: I do not like to have my emotions cloud my judgement, and I resent people who play on emotions to get a desired response. I like to look at things objectively as possible in order to get a proper understanding of my situation.

WORST
A. Spread Myself Too Thin: I like to keep busy and commit to way too many projects. I just like so many different things, and want to do and experience everything... needless to say, it comes back to bite me in the ass quite frequently, but I’m still learning!

B. Emotionally Detached: Since I like to look at things very objectively, it is sometimes very hard to empathize with other people. I want to, but it is difficult for me to do. Coupled with my own independence and resiliency, I sometimes come across really bitchy, when that is not really what I intend at all.

C. Impatient: I don’t really like to wait for things (who does?), and expect immediate results.

A Song of Ice and Fire Related
1. How many books from the series have you completed?
All 5!

2. Who are your favorite three characters in the series? Why?
Theon Greyjoy: His struggle is one that I feel that everyone can relate to. Don’t we all just want to feel like we belong somewhere? Seeing him make (really stupid) mistakes and suffer the consequences made him really sympathetic and relatable. I love how morally grey he is, and he makes me feel so many different things, from wanting to kill him to just wanting to hug him. I just love him so much.

Brienne of Tarth: She’s aware of how shitty the world actually is, but doesn’t use it as an excuse to change who she is and sticks to her convictions.She’s loyal, and her word actually means something! In a world, where everyone is backstabbing, and honour doesn’t really mean much, she just sticks out so wonderfully and is memorable. I love that she’s a woman, doing what is considered unwomanly, I mean, who doesn’t love that?! She’s not perfect, and has insecurities, but that doesn’t stop her from doing what is right. I just love her!

Sansa Stark: I love how Sansa was bred to be a “typical” young woman and still manages to survive, when she really doesn’t have any business doing so. She’s not brave in the “woman warrior” way, and we saw all her fairytale views on the world get crushed right before her, and she still managed to stay strong and get through it all. Her transformation from a pawn, to being a player was amazing to see, and I just want her to rule everything. How can people hate on her? I don’t know!

3. Who are your least favorite three characters in the series? Why?
Ramsay Bolton: Man, I don’t even know where to begin. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about him. I think I could at least appreciate him if he had a reason that would at least half-explain why he is so truly awful. But, there isn’t one. He’s evil for the sake of it, and in a world where everyone is so morally grey, it’s strange to see someone that is so cookie-cutter evil.

Randyll Tarly: Child abuse is not cool.

Joffrey Baratheon: He really is just a little shit. I couldn’t believe that I disliked him more in the show than I did in the book. I’m still a little disappointed in the way that he died. I feel like justice was not served!

4. #1 Favorite moment in all of ASOIAF so far? Why?
Even though it pains me to say it, I would have to say the Red Wedding was probably my favourite moment. It was just so unexpected, and it really drove home the point that no one was safe in this series.

5. In your dream-world, how would you like to see the series end, and why?
I really want to say SANSA FOR QUEEN OF EVERYTHING, but, I think it’d just be best if the Seven Kingdoms was broken up into Seven Kingdoms.

It’d also be nice to see Theon be the one to end Ramsay’s existence (would be funny to see him get flayed, but that is awful and I don’t want Theon to have a hand in that, I’m conflicted, if you can’t tell), Asha to rule the Iron Islands, Arya to continue kicking ass, and Sansa to rule (at least) the North. I’d also like to see Jaime and Brienne have lots of children!