An Interview With Kat

Recently I just got a chance to be interviewed by Kat, the author of this lovely blog, Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes. I jumped at the chance to answer a few questions that I hope will help you all get to know me a little bit better- and will be offering you the opportunity to be interviewed by me for your own blog or webpage. Hopefully we of the blogging community can all get to know each other a little bit better this way! And honestly, who doesn't like talking about themselves?

Here is my interview and, if you would like to be interviewed by me, read through the rules at the bottom of the page.

1. If you could go back in time to any era, which would it be and why?

See, this is a tough question for me. I do love the romantic idea of going back in time but I'm a pretty independent female, essentially a feminist at heart, and I would have a very hard time living in any era in which a man was considered more valuable than a woman. I KNOW I would get myself in trouble with my big mouth. Feminist issues aside, though, I have always thought it would be fun to head back to the 60's or 70's. I figure I listen to enough music from those periods that I could go to the early concerts, before they made it big, and seem totally hip and on top of things. Instead of seeming like, you know, a weird college chick who listens to music that's 30 or 40 years old. It would also be really great to head back to the early 1800s and find myself a Mr. Darcy, Jane Austen-style.

2. If you could play any role in any movie from the past, who would it be?

Another toughie! My all time favorite movie ever is Casablanca so I was tempted to say Ilsa Lund but honestly, I'm not dramatic enough to play her. I'd have to go with Francie Stevens from To Catch a Thief. She's a fun character with tons of spunk, and she gets to be a complete smartass around John Robie. Anyone who can take the notorious thief and get the upper hand is A-OK in my book. Plus I would LOVE to look like Grace Kelly (um, who wouldn’t?).

3. Apart from pandas, when you go to the zoo, which animals do you like to visit the most? How do you feel about the concept of caging up animals for zoos?

I love going to the zoo, and I usually hit about every animal with the exception of the reptile house (because reptiles are lame). I guess it would be cheating to say that my favorite animal is a red panda because that's close to a panda, but they're not actually in the same family because a panda is a bear and a red panda is not (seriously, wikipedia it). And it is a fact that red pandas are actually cuter than pandas. I'm also a big fan of otters, manatees, and bears when they're not sleeping (they usually are). Basically, I’m a fan of anything that looks snuggly and/or playful.

As far as "caging" animals up for the zoo, I won't pretend to be an expert on that. All I know is that, in my many visits to the zoo, I've never seen an animal look like it was suffering or unhappy. Meanwhile, zoos provide us with the ability to learn a lot more about animals around the world, especially endangered ones. I also know that the Columbus Zoo is a big supporter of environmental preservation and the protection of endangered species like red pandas and tigers, and it mixes a lot of very valuable educational resources into its exhibits. Zoos are a great chance to teach children (and adults) why it's so important to protect our earth and its resources. As a side note, I do believe that zoos have the responsibility to provide the utmost standard of care to their resident animals. That means well-trained staff, clean and comfortable exhibits that mimic natural habitats as much as possible, good nutrition, and all the necessary veterinary care. As long as these things are provided, I think animals would be pretty happy there, don't you? I mean, it beats getting eaten.

Red Panda, Columbus Zoo

4. Who is your favorite fashion designer and why? Do you own anything by this person?

I have to preface this to say that while I spend hours pouring over websites looking at clothes I love and lust after, I rarely pay attention to the names of the designers and my "favorite designer" changes from season to season. Thus, I'm sort of ill-equipped to answer this question.

I do know one designer I have been loving for awhile is Alicia Bell, whose designs you can check out here. They are insanely gorgeous and feminine without being too formal- perfect for me. Unfortunately I do not happen to own any items from her collection primarily because I am a broke-ass college student. If I did happen to find an item from one of her collections at a thrift store, however, you can bet I would be all over it.

Alicia Bell design, photo from their website.

I would also buy the entire stock of Anthropologie if I had the money to do so. Their clothes are so cute and feminine and totally lust-worthy. Unfortunately they're also like a million dollars if you're on a college student budget like me. Le sigh. But a girl can dream, right?

Of course, I’m always looking for new designers to lust after so if anyone has suggestions, they can feel free to leave them in the comment section.

5. What is your best thrift-store find, ever?

Ever? Oh man, your questions just never get easy. I do have a few favorite items which I mentioned in a previous post. One of my all-time favorite finds, however, is an absolutely adorable lamp that I call my “teacup lamp”. Its base, I kid you not, is shaped like little tea cups stacked on top of each other and it is painted all these crazy colors. I tried to get a photo but I’m working with a super jankity phone camera (note to self: buy digital camera) so you’ll just have to believe me. It’s adorable.

So now that you've read my interview, here are the rules for being interviewed yourself:

1. Leave me a comment saying, letting me know you'd like to be interviewed or email me: onehappypanda@hotmail.com with the subject "Blog Interview".
2. I will respond by e-mailing you five questions (I get to pick the questions)
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
6. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I will post a list of those who have agreed to an interview so everyone can follow along.