This is me, just before leaving for a formal party (in case you think I dress like this eveyday ;-)). This picture is VERY old -- I'll try to put a newer one up soon. Larger Version Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I'm flattered that you are interested. This page is being written and is coming soon. In the meantime, you can get to know me a little by reading what follows. JUST THE BASICS Call me Grace, or Gracejoy. That’s been my online name for more than eight years now and it suits me just as well as any other. I am a proud, old-fashioned New Yorker, born in Manhattan in May, 1978, which at the time of this writing makes me 24 years old. My interesting family includes divorced parents, two stepparents, and three wonderful younger sisters. EDUCATION Education is important to my family and has been important to me. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from a small, private liberal arts college in New England in May of 2000. I was an English major, but my main passion has always been linguistics and languages. My undergraduate studies centered around English and American literature, history, French literature, German, and Russian. After college, I lived and studied for a year in Germany, returning home in August 2001. I spent six months working successfully as a freelance writer/editor, and then six months working full-time in communications (writing, media, press releases, etc.) at a not-for-profit consumer advocacy organization. I really enjoyed that job, but in the spring of 2002 I gave it all up to join a special program, which offers first-time teachers a fully paid-for Master's degree and some grant money in exchange for agreeing to teach in some of the city's "worst" schools for at least two years. So now I am a full-time high school English teacher in the South Bronx while attending graduate school part-time. It's a difficult, frustrating, time-consuming job -- but so far, I do love it. HOBBIES: what do I do in my free time? I like to read, for one. Nothing is better than curling up with a good book. I read mainly novels, with a good balance of classics and some of the better modern stuff. I also like to read selected non-fiction books on topics that interest me, like linguistics or history. And I love poetry. I have a small poetry library at home with about 25 books, mostly collections of some sort of another, and mostly pre-20th century stuff (I particularly enjoy Romantic and Victorian poetry). I just finished reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, and Tales from the City by Armistead Maupin. I am currently reading At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon, and Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. Music is also a huge part of my life. I listen to it all the time; in fact, I have been known to become cranky when I was not able to listen to music for a few days in a row. As I write this I am listening to Josquin Desprez’ Missa de Beate Virgine. I am the child of musicians and it shows. I love to sing and have been performing with various choral groups since I was nine. I never feel quite complete when I am not singing in some group or other. More information on my passion for music and on the kinds of music I like to listen to and perform can be found on my Music Page, which is appropriately titled, “My Passion”. I like to watch television but I'm not obsessed with it. When I do watch TV I enjoy a range of shows . . . a lot of re-runs of my favorite sitcoms, game shows, mystery shows, and documentaries. And yeah, sometimes when I’m feeling bored and lazy, I indulge in a talk show or two. Movies are a different story—I enjoy both going to them and renting them. My all-time favorite movie is The Miracle Worker starring Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft. It came out in 1962 and is one of the gems of American filmmaking. I like to write—both poetry and fiction—but I have had writer’s block now for a few years and so haven’t produced much good stuff in a while. I enjoy teaching myself languages, too, using books, cassettes, or whatever is available. Right now I am trying to teach myself Arabic, Portuguese, and Swedish. I sometimes babysit to earn extra money. I love children and their magical ways of seeing things. I find that no matter how lazy or cranky I am feeling on a given day, I can always find patience and affection to give to a child. I'll write more about my hobbies--and everything else--soon, I promise. MARITAL STATUS: Involved.INTERESTS: Life, learning, people, music, modern languages, linguistics, religion, history, archeology, cultural studies, spirituality.POLITICAL VIEWS: I am a registered Independent because none of the organized parties truly reflect my beliefs and attitudes. The one that comes closest is the Natural Law Party. I am very liberal on most issues, although not in the cliched politically-correct sense. There are also a few issues on which I think very conservatively. That's because I decide the issues based on what I feel and not along party lines. Either way, I rarely end up in middle ground--either I take a very liberal, or a very conservative position. But I'd say on at least three-quarters of major issues I swing to the left. If you are a die-hard conservative, I still welcome your friendship . . . although it's hard to imagine us really hitting it off if you are. :-)FAVORITE COMPOSERS: Debussy, Josquin DesPrez, Scarlatti. But there are many others.FAVORITE BOOK: Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. FAVORITE MOVIES: Lots. The Miracle Worker (1962), Sling Blade (1996), The Princess Bride (1987), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), and Splash (1984) come to mind immediately.RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: This is not a simple question for me. I was raised exposed to many different religions, and have always been deeply interested in spirituality. There is a lot to say about this because it is the most important part of my life. Please visit my Spirit page.BELIEVE IN GOD?: Yes.LITTLE, RANDOM FACTS-I don't like olives. Yech.-I would like to have a pet pig someday.-I have performed the national anthem at the opening of a New York Knicks game.-I have broken my left baby toe--twice.-My mother once one a million dollars from a sweepstake (really), but didn't open the letter in time to claim the money because she thought it was junk mail.-Through my dad's work I have met a few celebrities, including Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Cosby, and Liza Manelli.-I can't stand the feel of cardboard, rough paper, or popsicle sticks--they make me gag. My sister has the same reaction to velvet.-I have hiked Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire.-I remember almost all of my dreams vividly.Back to Gracejoy's Pages
