savannah

Hello! My name is Melanie and I am 25 years old. I graduated from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where my major was history. I've moved back in with my parents as I try to find a job, and right now I'm kind of wishing that I had picked a more "marketable" field of study. :\ I'm thinking about going back to school to study something else, but right now my brain is kind of fried, so who knows.

I ALWAYS SEND MY SWAPS. IF YOU ARE EXPECTING SOMETHING FROM ME AND YOU DID NOT RECEIVE IT, PLEASE MESSAGE ME AND I WILL SEND A REPLACEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! :)

I love snail mail (except the bills and advertisements that I usually get). I think I am going to be very addicted to this site. :D

I'm fond of learning about the cultures that make up my heritage. My ancestors were Welsh, French, Dutch, First Nations (Ojibwa), and some "I have no clue but maybe Irish." My maternal grandfather was French but was part of Free France in England during WW2, where he met my mostly-Welsh grandmother. My mom was born in Wales and met my dad when he was studying abroad in London. I think that's a cool story. :D

I'm an only child but I consider my best friend my sister, since we were practically raised together ever since we were born. She has two kids and they call me Aunt Melly (or, if they're naughty, Aunt Smelly). [I don't smell, really!]

Also, I'm mildly obsessed with The Phantom of the Opera. :)

I love music, almost any kind really, and I listen to music several hours a day. I love big band and, to a lesser extent, jazz. I live in the country so it's pretty much required that I like country music, although I'm more of a country rock kind of girl.

I am more of a "songs" fan than a "band" fan, but some of my favorite bands are Lynyrd Skynyrd (the original), Three Days Grace, Linkin Park, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Nickelback, CCR, and U2.

I love to read. As a former history major, I love to read non-fiction books, and I read a lot of them. When it comes to fiction, I've loved "Daddy-Long-Legs" by Jean Webster ever since I was a little girl and it still makes me cry. I also read just about anything by VC Andrews. I'm a huge fan of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. In general, I like gothic-like novels (not so keen on romance though).

I love horror movies in general. I'm not very fond of chick flicks, although Pearl Harbor is one of my favorite movies. Anything with zombies, vampires, or creepy villains in general gets watched by me. :D I love the first two Hannibal Lecter movies! I'm also a big fan of V for Vendetta.

I'm a huge fan of The X Files, The Twilight Zone, and House! :D Other than that I don't watch much TV.

I love postcards, as I already said. :) They're the primary reason I joined swapbot, I just can't get enough of them! I prefer store-bought but thoughtful handmade are nice. Please no free/ad cards, or cards of common domestic animals like cats, dogs, things like that.

I like city views, country views, people in traditional costumes, weather (tornadoes, lightning, etc), Halloween, royalty, castles, soldiers (any place/time), mountains, forests, national parks, UNESCO sites, panoramic views, seas, oceans, rock formations, space/moon, deserts, sand dunes, old buildings, ruins, indigenous tribes/people, anything from France (especially Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Opera Garnier), and any history sites (especially World War II, American Civil War, American Revolutionary War). I have so many interests, I can't say I'm picky! ;D

I'm not hard to please, I will like almost anything! But if you are looking for some things in particular that I really enjoy, take a gander at this list. :D

postcards

hand-written letters

anything French

stickers

cute stationery (not picky on the brand, although generally not fond of Hello Kitty, Betty Boop, Diddl, Winnie the Pooh [except Classic Pooh], etc)

cross stitch supplies (fabric, floss, patterns)

chocolate

anything Halloween (the spookier the better!)

vintage art/images

anything pagan or gothic

There isn't much I dislike, but here are some things you may want to avoid sending me:

used items

items not in good condition

gum (can't chew it due to TMJ)

ad/free/sloppily-made handmade postcards (I don't dislike ALL handmade postcards, just the ones that looked slapped together with a dash of glue in ten seconds or less)

dreamcatchers (I find most of these to be tacky and commercialized - I have no problem with them, however, if they were made and used reverently, but most of them are not, and my grandmother was Canadian Ojibwa, so it kind of burns me a bit)

pushy religious things*

*I consider myself a "spiritual grazer" and I don't belong to one particular religion. I believe that religion is a private matter and that no one is a better (or worse) person for following one particular religion over another. I also believe that every religion offers some wisdom, truths, and lessons. If asked for my religion, I generally say that I am eclectic pagan, although I am agnostic. I do not need or wish to be converted!

I am allergic to dairy products (although that does NOT stop me from eating chocolate ;) ), bee products (honey, beeswax, etc - they make me get hives :( ), wool/mohair/any animal hair product, and most perfumes.