Floating Leaf

So, there is this meme I stole a while back from goddessofchaos. I give you a letter and you have to write about 10 things to do with that letter and what they mean to you. goddessofchaos gave me M. Took me long enough to come up with ten things starting with M that I wanted to write about, but here they are. Oh, and if you want a random letter from me, let me know.:)



1) Manga. Yaoi manga in particular. Of course, it will not surprise anyone who has been following this journal - but the interesting thing is that my fascination with manga has sprung directly from my fascination with Vampire Chronicles (yes, I know I'm sounding like a broken record these days, no need to point that out). I was looking for fanart, sometime back in 2002, and that's how I discovered Dany & Dany. Who are, and always will be, my favorite manga authors. I do have a small collection of other yaoi comics, most of which are Japanese, obviously - but perhaps because I am European, I find Dany & Dany's style most appealing (they are Italian). Here are the promos for my two absolutely favorite mangas of all time:





Yes, the characters are based on a certain famous vampire duo.;) But they have different names and different stories. The comics are, in a sense, elaborate graphic AU fanfics - which probably goes a long way in explaining why I adore them so much. The fact that the boys are exquisitely beautiful and totally androgynous goes the rest of the way... LOL.

2) Mangoes. (Yes, I'm trying to do this in alpha order...;). Quite possibly my favorite fruit. I had never tried it until I
moved to the US, and it was love from first taste. Luckily, the little farmers' market in my neighborhood always has them. And I have found a few great recipes featuring mango, so I can use it in cooking too.

3) Miniatures. I have an obsession with tiny things. Little trinkets that fit into the palm of your hand. Miniature notebooks, figurines, picture frames, candleholders, little decorative boxes... you name it. When I'm out shopping, I often can't resist touching the miniature stuff, lifting it from the shelf and examining it closely before putting it back. It mesmerizes me somehow. I think my favorite museum exhibition of all time is the miniature collection at the Art Institute in Chicago, which showcases examples of interior decor across history, from the Middle Ages to the present. There are those tiny rooms, exquisitely furnished, with incredible attention to every little detail, each one inside a glass case the size of an average TV set. I could stare at them for HOURS... and have, on at least two occasions.;)

4) Minorities. As most of my flisters know, I consider myself a member of several minorities; and perhaps because of that, I strongly empathize with any group of people who are discriminated against for being "different" (unless they are ones who want to discriminate against others, like extreme religious fundies, for example; I don't feel much affinity with those, I have to admit). As soon as I hear of another such group I was previously unaware of, I do some research to find out more about them. This applies to ethnic groups, gender and sexuality variations, unusual health conditions... you name it. I am extremely curious about it all. Even in fiction, I instinctively prefer stories of outsiders, ignored or misunderstood by the "herd". That's who I always identify with...

5) M/m slash. Yeah... I believe no elaboration is needed.:) I read it, I write it, I furnish my bedtime/shower fantasies with it etc. Sometimes I do wonder whether that has anything to do with the fact that in real life, I have never been with a guy, and probably wouldn't want to. But that's a whole another topic I don't have the time to get into at the moment...

6) Moonlight. As in, the light of the moon. (Incidentally, Moonlight is also the name of a Polish goth metal band I love...) I believe it affects me quite strongly, especially when the moon is full. I don't howl or shapeshift or anything extreme like that (not that I know of, anyway...;) - but I sometimes get into a strange headspace, especially if I happen to be PMS-ing during full moon. I once did this Tarot-themed personality quiz, and it told me I was The Moon. Enough said... *shifty eyes* ;)

7) Moroccan food. Quite possibly my favorite cuisine in the world. I love the use of dried fruits and the typical Moroccan spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric). Discovering the recipe for Chicken, Date and Apricot Tagine was an epiphany.:D Mmmmm... just thinking about it makes me hungry.;)

8) Movies. Now, here's a topic I could go on about for hours, if not days and weeks and... well, you get the picture.;) I am an avid movie fan, even if I have very little interest in most Hollywood blockbusters (I liked Hollywood as a teenager, but got bored with it pretty quickly, and these days, for the most part, I totally ignore it). I love European cinema... but also Chinese, South American, US independent - anything that teaches me about different cultures, lifestyles, human nature in general... and yes, minorities of all kinds. I have probably seen most gay & lesbian flicks that came out in the past 20 years or so... LOL (well, at least the ones available in US.) And if not, I WILL see them at some point. I also avidly watch sordid drama about dysfunctional families and unhappy childhoods (to make myself feel better about my own, perhaps?... who knows?...). I don't shy away from emotional angst, but too much violence and gore does put me off - unless it is very well justified by the plot. I also like dry, witty comedies - you know, comedies for intelligent people, as opposed to silly and pointless slapstick stuff where you're suposed to laugh because someone fell off a chair.:P I look for intriguing, believable characters and unique perspectives on life. Same as with books - I want to feel that I have learned something, instead of just being entertained...

9) Music. Yeah, another one. I'll keep it short, since I'm pretty sure my flist knows what sort of music I like.:) How much it means to me is also pretty clear, I suppose. I tend to wear my headphones most of the time when I am outside, and I always choose an appropriate musical background for domestic tasks like cleaning or cooking. I enjoy silence too, particularly when I'm reading - I like to pay attention to what I'm reading, as well as to what I'm listening to, so I usually don't do both at the same time - but music is essential to me in ways I find hard to explain. I was always very sensitive to it, and always had a strong fascination with a particular singer or band (sometimes more than one). The list of favorites would be very long, so I'll refrain from that for the moment...

10) Mythology. Usually my favorite part of any history or literature classes. Particularly Greek mythology - I used to be very well-versed in it, having devoured a number of books that weren't even on my school reading list. I also love mythology-based fiction; Mary Renault's excellent novels come to mind. But that's another huge topic that would probably take me into the next week, so I'll just stop now.:)

And that's really all for tonight, I'm afraid. Back to work tomorrow.:/