Reader of the Week: Meet silver_dragon_girl

There was such an overwhelming response when I asked readers to introduce themselves on a weekend open thread that I decided to give you all a weekly column to do just that. I’ve always said this site wouldn’t be what it is without the engagement and participation of its readers and this column is the place to learn more about who you are what makes you tick. After the jump, let’s meet silver_dragon_girl.

1. What’s your name, age and whereabouts?

My name is Katie, aka “silver_dragon_girl.” I’m 24 years old, and I live in North Dakota. I’m not from ND originally, and I’m hoping to move home sometime next spring or summer.

2. What’s your relationship status?

We-elll…there’s this guy….and I really like him…and we just started talking/dating like a month ago (I know), but he lives far away (I know), so we finally met up (I know), and we’re official now (I know), but for some reason I don’t want to call him my “boyfriend” because for the first time in my life I feel like that word is kind of childish, and doesn’t accurately describe his role in my life…is that weird? OMG I need to write to Wendy for advice on this issue…

Yes, I know, I’m being kind of crazy…all the commenters are probably going to jump on me and tell me to slow down and hit the brakes and all that stuff (and hey, I’d tell me the same thing), but…he just makes me SO FREAKIN’ HAPPY. 🙂

3. How do you spend your weekdays?

Well, I work full time, and then I teach a class on top of that, which keeps me pretty busy. Grading papers takes a looong time, and so do lesson plans (which is what I should be doing now, actually). I also workout 4-5 days a week because I’m on a health kick (have lost almost 20 pounds over the last three and a half months). Other than that I’m pretty boring. Well, I guess those things are all kind of boring, too.

4. How do you spend your free time?

Um, I watch TV, read, and surf the internet obsessively…I don’t have any fun or interesting hobbies, really. I tend to pick them up and then get tired of them after the newness wears off. I’ve done knitting, jewelry-making, writing a novel (off and on- I still claim that one sometimes), baking (OK, I still bake a lot), giving people unsolicited advice on the internet, etc… I like to go do stuff in the community when I can, but I live in a tiny, tiny town, which limits my options quite a bit.

5. What are your top likes and dislikes?

Likes: My cat (Shakespeare), books, the kind of movies that change your life, rainy days, chocolate, ice cream, tomatoes, The Sims Medieval, shiraz, autumn leaves, boots/jacket/scarf outfits, Saturday mornings, naps in the sun, my “Country Kettle Corn” scented candle from Wal-Mart, etc.

Dislikes: Ben Stiller movies, onions, when I accidentally burn the popcorn, living so far away from my family, negativity, more than three inches of snow, when people talk to me at the gym when I have my ear-buds in and am clearly in the zone, when there is complimentary coffee but no creamer, music snobs.

6. What’s the best relationship advice you’ve ever been given?

When I was in a long-distance relationship last year, I was debating flying to see my then-boyfriend over Memorial Day weekend. It was more money than I could really afford, but if I didn’t go then I wouldn’t have seen him for another month or two. I was moaning about it to my friend, whom I totally expected to tell me not to go, but instead she said she thought I should go. She said, “If you’re really serious about this relationship you should go for it.”

Well, the relationship crashed and burned a few months later, but I still don’t regret going to see him. We had a great weekend together, and it’s a memory I still cherish even with the way things ended. What’s more, I will never forget that advice. “Putting myself out there,” being vulnerable and revealing my emotions, is something I really struggle with in relationships. So for me, making a conscious effort to take the risk and really “go for it” is important. Otherwise I would be a total hermit.

7. What’s the best relationship lesson you’ve ever learned?

When you get that gut feeling in your stomach that it isn’t going to work out, you should listen to it. Because no matter how happy you are two hours later when he wakes up and you’re doing the usual couple-y things together and having a great time, the gut feeling will still be there the next night. And the next, and the next, until pretty soon it’s all you can think about and you find yourself playing relationship chicken with someone, neither one wanting to pull the trigger but both knowing you need to end it.

8. Besides DearWendy.com, what are some of your favorite websites?

Caloriecount.about.com is a good one for anything related to health, fitness, or weight-loss. They have some pretty good forums, and I go there quite a bit. If anyone decides to check it out I have the same user name there as on DearWendy. Cracked.com has some super funny articles…if it’s been a while and I need to catch up I can spend HOURS killing time there. I check theberry.com almost every day for random cute/funny photos from the internet. My new favorite shopping site is ideeli.com. I don’t buy a lot, because I’m trying to save my money, but I go every day to check out their sales, which are awesome. Plus, it’s different stuff every day!

*If you’d like to be a Reader of the Week, shoot me an email at wendy@dearwendy.com with “Reader of the Week” in the subject line and I’ll send you some questions to answer.