« July 2008 » Su M T W Th F Sa 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  name. liz maryland age. 36 location. brooklyn, new york city occupation. graphic & web designer; programming dabbler beliefs. uncertain at the moment disposition. depends humor. sarcastic attraction. geeks; tattoos; smart motherfuckers relationship. happily married and raising a menagerie social. extroverted introvert status. freaky geek habits. workaholism, cynicism, self-doubt, self-love, shameless devotion to friends, singlemindedness at my wedding october 2005 - broolyn, nyc Like me enough to want to buy me something? Well, here are a couple of things I want... « ? 100 Things # » « ? Verbosity # » Blogroll me or use the image below to link back to this area of my site. What website wouldn't have a links page? Come see a few of my favorite places to kill time. Serious linkage ahead. I was born in Puerto Rico. I lived there until I was one and a half. I've lived in New York City ever since. I grew up in the projects in the South Bronx. I moved to Brooklyn in October 2003. I lived in Manhattan for 17 years, ever since moving away from home at age 17. I have one sibling, my brother David. I learned to read, write and do basic arithmetic before I went to kindergarten. I was a chubby kid. One of my mother's nickname's for me was vaca (spanish for cow). My other nicknames were "Your Majesty" or "Queen Elizabeth". Growing up, my friends didn't have nicknames for me. My full name, as listed on my birth certificate, is Liz Maryland Hiraldo-Sánchez. I was named Liz because of "Liz" Taylor. Maryland was originally going to be my first name. I hate the name Elizabeth because of three girls who tormented me in grade school. All the fights I ever got into at school I started. I was bilingual until third grade. I went to specialized schools for gifted children from the 4th grade on. Before that, I used to make up my own curriculum / studies with my teachers' blessings. A grade school teacher once told me "You have three strikes against you in this world. You're a woman, you're puerto rican and you're intelligent." I think I was ten years old at the time. I scored a 1310 on my SAT's without studying. I was surprised that I did better on Math than English. I wanted to be a librarian when I grew up. I have also wanted to be a: lawyer, doctor, surgeon, astronaut, astronomer, forensic scientist, nurse, police officer, army grunt, archaelogist, bartender, actress, and writer. Universities I've attended include: University of Rochester, Baruch College, School of Visual Arts and Parsons School of Design. I never planned to be a graphic designer, it just happened. I'm an extremely hard and devoted worker. Just like my father. I don't know how to drive. Or ride a bike. Or swim. I don't know how to do any of these things because of my father's impatience at teaching me. I'm heavily tattooed. I'm pierced. My mom and dad do not know that I am tattooed or pierced. I have not seen my parents in ten years because they live in Puerto Rico now. I support my parents financially. I believe in fidelity and family loyalty. I'm a nervous flyer so I don't like to travel much, though I am currently working on getting over the fear. Except for Puerto Rico, I have never left the continental United States. I miss my parents. I've never been married. I want to have a baby, with a specific preference towards having a boy. However, my biological clock has almost run out so I will be content being the eccentric aunt. My longest relationship was on again / off again rollercoaster that burned 7 years of my life. I have a tendency to fall in love too easily. I'm afraid of dying old and alone with no one to take care of me. I don't like to cuddle. I hate hand-holding or kissing in the street because I think it leaves you vulnerable to an attack. I am a first degree black belt in Bujinkan Budo taijutsu. I have taught martial arts. I have injured my: elbows, achilles tendon, shoulders, wrists, neck and hamstrings. My favorite band used to be Depeche Mode. I still like them, though not at all as much. I'm behind on what's new and hip in music. My ex used to call me a "cave dweller" because of this. I do not know if my ex is dead or alive. I've finally gotten to the point where I don't miss him anymore. I like to make things with my hands. I've taught myself all my needle skills (knitting, needlepoint, etc.) I got my first needlepoint kit in 2nd grade from my teacher. I love walking in the rain without an umbrella. I love stargazing. I used to have a crush on Carl Sagan as a little girl. I saw shooting stars for the first time when I was 33. I almost fell over cause I was so happy. Two of my friends say I'm a romantic. My favorite color is black. I like silver and platinum. I don't wear gold. I like playing violent PC games (Quake) with the guys. Deep down inside, I'm really a tomboy. I get along better with men than with women. I'm not usually a girlie girl. I'm really, really afraid of bugs. I hate grass and dirt because of my irrational insect phobia. I don't like to sit on the grass at parks unless I have a blanket. I prefer to walk around barefoot when I am home. I'm a sock, sock, shoe, shoe person. I rarely get manicures or pedicures because I feel weird about having strangers touch me. I only get waxed for special occassions, otherwise I try to maintain. I want to go gray gracefully. I believe age is an attitude. I used to believe everything people told me. I'm much more cynical now. I think I'm a good judge of character. I have few friends but am close to and treasure the ones I have. I like to withdraw from the world from time to time. I talk way too much when I'm nervous. I have a hard time making eye contact. Growing up I was taught that it was confrontational to make eye contact with anyone. I have a strong firm handshake. I was born in late April, which makes me a Taurus. I own seven tarot decks. I was raised Catholic. I was the Virgin Mary on two separate occasions: the Passion Play and a Nativity re-enactment. I played the slave girl who brings King Herod women to choose his bride from in a Purim play. I've followed the tenets of buddhism. I don't know what to believe in anymore. I abnormally fear death. I've tried to kill myself. I've obviously failed. I'm finally letting go of my past. I want to leave my mark on the world.