Overall, a very "alternative" look, leaning heavily towards goth. Never, ever emo.

5'4", thin, light-skinned, green eyes. Glasses with lavender wire frames. Dark brown hair, with a very short (two inches max) pixie-type cut, with asymmetrical long bits hanging down in front on either side, and very textured and wispy.

Many piercings, including tongue, left nostril, three in each ear, and navel (which you won't see unless I lose all my clothes).

Clothing choices are generally black. And some more black. Favor skirts. Will never be seen in shorts or short skirts. Plain, lacy, or period clothing prevails.

And since it seems relevant to the story line -- the pajamas I will wear to the War (which I am very amused I actually included in my intro before finding out the premise) are white flannel with a pattern of rotating purple owls, alarm clocks, moons, and stars on them.

The Cousinly Critters:

Cousine Moses -- A very large green iguana who believes she is a velociraptor. Spends most of her time terrorizing people around Toronto, stealing my bed, and glaring.

Lavalianna -- A jenny (female burro). She knows martial arts.

Xandy -- Chestnut Arabian gelding. He's in his late 20s now. Particularly skilled in dressage, he also learned how to pull a chariot in a previous outing to Toronto.

ChuChu -- African grey parrot, who is extremely good at talking; she does so in a very human voice, sounding like whoever she is imitating, not like the stereotypical "squawky" parrot. She is flighted, very very silly, and excitable.

Willoughby -- A lobster rescued from a Toronto restaurant.

Chainsaw -- A young, frisky, tortoiseshell medium hair cat. She's startled by everything, looks constantly alarmed, and has a very severe case of ADD. She loves to cuddle, purrs up a storm, and talks with "prrts", never meows.

Massacre -- Chainsaw's brother, a sleek black shorthair. He likes to lie in extremely strange positions, such as on his belly with his hindlegs stretched out awkwardly behind him. Obsessed with spiders, he hunts them and eats them whenever possible. Has a deceptively tiny meow.

Morgan -- Black miniature poodle who is downright DESPERATE to please everyone. He usually has bows on his ears. Extremely soulful button eyes of puppy-dog pleading.

I ride and teach horseback riding for a living. I teach dressage and also am a therapeutic riding instructor for the handicapped.

I have worked at a zoo and with animal control; I have a stupidly large amount of knowledge concerning animals, both facts and practical information such as care, have kept or worked with many many types of animals, and also am good at handling them.

I read a lot, am insatiably curious, and retain a lot of facts and information. I tend to just have a lot of knowledge about a lot of absolutely random subjects, and am extremely good at researching including in books, professional journals, and on the web.

I also spend a huge amount of time playing with mud -- I make ceramic art and pots, both wheel-thrown, hand-built and sculpture. I also draw, paint, and other 2D art.

I have bad knees and a bad back and hip. If I walk too much, or run at all, I limp. Lately when I have to walk a lot, I use a cane. (This is also a strength, however, because I can shake it at people when feeling crotchety, or smack people with it.) I also have migraines, which make me retreat into darkness and quiet; I've had them my whole life. Bleh!

I have a severe weakness for CUTENESS; adorable animals make me squee and melt a little, and this could definitely be used against me. In addition, I can't tolerate seeing an animal suffer (or face potential suffering); hence my rescue of Willoughby in an FKFIC story so many years ago.

I am afraid of clowns and dolls. I can't swim. I can drive (a stick), but hate to, have extreme anxiety over it, and do not have a license.