Well, everybody else has done it so I thought that I would have a go too. Plus right now I’m feeling kinda bored and not wanting to do the things I should be doing. So, without further ado, here is my obligatory “100 Things About Kym List”. (Does anybody actually read these things?)

  1. My name is Kym (duh!) and yep, I’m silly enough to use my real name on the Internet.
  2. I was born in a little city called Redcliffe in the state of Queensland, Australia on 18 October 1970.
  3. That makes me a Libran.
  4. It also makes me a dog in Chinese Astrology.
  5. Continuing the new age theme, my life path number is 9.
  6. The primary school I attended as a kid was called Humpybong State School. It’s where all the students sat around in humpies smoking bongs. (Okay, just kidding about the smoking bongs thing).
  7. My high school had a much more normal name … Clontarf Beach State High, although it wasn’t actually situated on a beach.
  8. I only went to grade 10 before leaving school to enter the workforce.
  9. From the age of 15 up to about 20 I worked as an administration assistant for several different companies.
  10. During that time I never stayed in the same job for over a year. My feet were too itchy.
  11. At about the age of 20, I decided to change career directions so I started doing some volunteer work providing in home care for people with disabilities.
  12. I spent the first 21 years of my life living in Redcliffe, before I moved up to Townsville to attend university.
  13. I did one of those “toilet paper” degrees … a three year Bachelor of Community Welfare.
  14. The years spent at university were the best time in my life.
  15. My first job after graduating was as a Community Welfare Worker in a small mining town in central Queensland.
  16. I then moved out west to steal babies from families (statutory child protection worker).
  17. I don’t work in the community welfare field anymore as I hated working in the child protection sector and burnt out really quickly.
  18. At the moment I work casually as a photographer for the local newspaper.
  19. I’m currently studying at TAFE for a Cert. IV in IT (Website Design).
  20. I might actually attain the certificate if I get off my lazy ass and do some study.
  21. I’m married to a lovely guy named Shane.
  22. We actually met via a telephone dating service.
  23. As of November 2006, we’ve been together for eight years but only married for three years.
  24. We don’t have any children.
  25. I don’t particularly want children either.
  26. Instead of human kids, my hubby and I share our lives with two dogs and a cat.
  27. Nikita is our Siberian Husky.
  28. Shakara is our Australian Shepherd.
  29. Captain is our cat.
  30. I don’t really keep this blog for others to read … is that weird or what? I keep this blog to get and hopefully keep in touch with my own mind and self.
  31. I do like receiving the odd comment though.
  32. I decided to keep my journal online (that is, this blog) because a friend of mine introduced me to the world of blogging and being a computer geek I couldn’t resist starting one of my own. It became about my day-to-day life and my struggles with mental illness almost by default.
  33. Back in 2004 my current bout of mental illness hit me like a brick wall.
  34. Before that, I suffered from depression from around 16 years of age into my early twenties.
  35. I’ve never really been free of some level of depression since that time.
  36. During 2004 I overdosed on prescription medications three times.
  37. I only ended up in ICU twice because of the overdoses.
  38. I should have believed the people that told me you can’t really overdose on the newer psych medications. I’m proof of that.
  39. I still wish that I wasn’t proof of that.
  40. I now think I have a very good idea about the combination of pills I need to take to be successful, but don’t want to hurt my husband like that again.
  41. Later on in 2004, I was diagnosed with dysthymia (long-term depression) and DDNOS (Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified).
  42. I’m a self harmer too. My preferred method is burning. I’m getting better at not doing it though.
  43. I’ve spent a total of 14 weeks in psychiatric hospitals since 2004, having been admitted three times.
  44. Generally I find being in hospital relaxing.
  45. After seeing my psychiatrist weekly for a couple of years, I am now only seeing him once per month.
  46. Even after all this time, I have trouble acknowledging that I have a “real” psychiatric illness (like bipolar, schizophrenia or D.I.D. for example) despite the fact that I cannot function without my crazy meds.
  47. I have a small collection of plush Siberian Huskies and am always on the look out for others to add to my collection.
  48. Speaking of Siberian Huskies, on my wedding day I arrived at the church on a sled led by six Siberian Huskies. It was a lot of fun.
  49. I’ve only been overseas once … to New Zealand on my honeymoon.
  50. I loved New Zealand and would probably move there in a second if the chance came up.
  51. I have keratoconus in both eyes although my right eye isn’t affected very badly so I get away with only wearing one RGP contact lens in my left eye. Just don’t ask me to judge distances accurately because it ain’t gonna happen and forget about asking me to drive on a rainy night.
  52. The only sport I am really into is motor racing, particularly Australia’s V8 Supercars.
  53. Actually, scratch that … ice skating is pretty cool too.
  54. I was briefly a member of an ice hockey team in my early 20’s before moving up north to Townsville where the only ice skating rink was tiny and they didn’t have a ice hockey team.
  55. I never properly mastered the ability to do a hockey stop on ice skates. I did this one footed thing instead. I must have looked hilarious playing ice hockey.
  56. My favourite colour is black.
  57. I love the Goth look but have never been a Goth.
  58. I was called “the hippy” when I lived in a little mining town just after graduating from uni.
  59. I would still love to buy a Kombi van and decorate it with flowers.
  60. My all time favourite band is Pink Floyd.
  61. My favourite book is “Interview With The Vampire” by Anne Rice.
  62. My favourite poem is “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. I find it lyrical and haunting.
  63. I’m almost ashamed to say that I love “The Simpsons” version of “The Raven”. It’s hilarious.
  64. I smoke way too much, although I didn’t start until I was 25 years old.
  65. As I write this, my neighbours across the road are having a drunken party and are playing country music really, really loudly. I sooooo hate country music but I’m sitting here tapping my foot on the floor to the beat. Eek!
  66. I’m known to fart like a bugle some mornings. *blushes*
  67. I’m almost phobic of Huntsmen spiders and scream like a little girl if one catches me by surprise. *shudders*
  68. I don’t understand how people can be scared of mice. They are just way too cute.
  69. I am like the worst housekeeper ever!!
  70. My favourite meals are pasta and rice dishes. Yummy!
  71. I’m slightly allergic to eggs, as in I chuck if I eat an omelette or a quiche for example.
  72. The eggs in cakes and biscuits and the like don’t effect me though. Weird!
  73. My favourite season of the year is winter. Summers in central Queensland are just way too hot.
  74. I love it when it rains. I find the smell and the coolness in the air just lovely, not to mention how everything greens up after a good drop of rain.
  75. I’m not into politics.
  76. I don’t understand finances. Thank goodness my hubby plans for the future.
  77. During my latter teenage years through to my early twenties, I was a church going Christian.
  78. By the end of uni I decided I didn’t like the constant guilt tripping of the Christian church and started to explore my spirituality.
  79. I was drawn to paganism for several years.
  80. I “lost” my spirituality when I became depressed/dissociative and haven’t regained it.
  81. Wow, I can’t believe I made it up to number 81! Will I ever finish this thing?