I’ve been tagged by Franki, a blogger with an amazing eye for design, to share 7 previously unknown facts about myself:

1. Piano music always gives me goosebumps. I played piano for 7 years before I gave up practicing from lack of interest (I can barely remember the notes). Still, I’ve never lost my appreciation for the striking sound of piano keys and the deep connection I feel with every crescendo.
2. I, unlike franki, have an overwhelming fear of flying. Despite my best efforts, I will always break out into tears in varying degrees (sniffles to sobs to Oh-My-God, Get that girl a Valium). Although profoundly embarrassing, I refuse to let my phobia interfere with my desire to travel around the world. I have taken numerous terrifying overseas flights and sobbed quietly in the bathroom in every single one.
3. I am convinced that my childhood home in the Midwest was haunted by an unhappy ghost. I consider myself to be a fairly skeptical person but I am certain that I encountered the ghost of a man on many occasions. As a kid, I often heard vague, incomprehensible whispering just over my shoulder whenever I was alone in a room. I trained myself to slowly exit a room backwards so that the voice could not trail after me. I often had nightmares of a tall, shadowy masculine figure that descended the stairs towards me. To this day, my mother insists that it was the combination of our loud next door neighbors and my imagination that led me to this conclusion but I still maintain that it was a ghost.
4. I adore boardgames but am cursed with having the majority of my friends uninterested in a game of Scrabble. Whenever there is a gathering, I always have to suppress the urge to whip out a game of Uno or Monopoly (Because this is usually followed by a groan or sigh that translates into “Do we really have to play?”) I own quite a large collection of games: Trivial Pursuit, Cranium, Upwords, Scrabble, Dominoes, Scene It and more.
5. I have the most unreliable memory. I can remember lyrics to a mediocre song, website addresses and hundreds of passwords but I cannot, even to save the life of a newborn baby, remember someone’s name 10 seconds after meeting them. I have trouble remembering the birth dates of my closest friends and always have to look up the titles of books and authors to some of my favorite stories. It’s a miracle I graduated with an English degree.
6. I was originally born in Puerto Rico but haven’t revisited the island in nearly 12 years. It’s shameful to admit considering about half the island’s population are made up of my family members. Still, the increase in crime and the emotional toll of seeing so many relatives has made me reluctant to go back. It is, however, on my list. My list of things to do someday.
7. I have, in my opinon, a really jarring laugh. If I find something especially funny, my laughter will easily split apart atoms. I try my best to keep it at a conservative giggle but I think it only makes things worse.

And now, to continue on this 7 fact tradition, I look towards: Cappycom, Luis at Ginza Style, Anna at The Other Blog and Vanessa at Vita Brevis, Ars Lunga.

As you can see, Shibooya is now purpler. The yarn in the header is the yarn I’m using to create a cell phone cover (which is actually more pink than purple). Since it’s sock yarn, I’m basically making a cell phone sock. This is sadly the extent of my skill and creativity but you cannot rush genuis. My skillz will develop in time.

I tidied up the links section with some updates and new submissions, one of which is Grey’s Anatomy Online. As a new viewer, there’s a lot on Grey’s Anatomy that I’ve missed, such as the whole romantic saga between Derek and Meredith. Luckily, with this comprehensive website full of commentary and screenshots, I know exactly who screwed who. Speaking of screwing, in a recent episode Meredith decides to learn how to knit as a substitute for sex and I have to remark on how inaccurate this is. There is no bigger turn on than a garter stitched sweater, am I right or am I right?

Shibooya.Radio is finally updated with a series of ethnic tunes from the Middle East. I have a bit of a crush on the sometimes tubby Amr Diab and surely, after you hear his romantic crooning, you will too.

In the sidebar, I’ve added a useless spot for unbelievable, wacky, zany facts about yours truly. Refresh as necessary to get your daily dose of me.

I recently spent a quarter of my paycheck on Japanese stationary. I recieved my first batch of my purchase yesterday in the mail and I have to say, money well spent. I am planning on updating the penpal section with new information and images. I understand that all the pages need a bit of refresh and this will happen very, very soon. I promise, I will give you a good reason to be here.

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