If you comment to this post, I will give you five words (or phrases) that remind me of you. You will post those in your journal with an explanation of what they mean to you. Please also copy this explanation so that other people can ask YOU for five words about THEM. So the meme can merrily perpetuate itself...

My 5 words from martina_d :

Body art
Music
Long-distance love
Intuition
Madison

Body Art:  I really don't have that much of it so far... one small tattoo on my right leg and 10 piercings, all but one of which are in my ears.   That said... if I had the resources and worked in an industry that was very body-mod-friendly, I'd have a several more piercings and at least a full back tattoo, as well as a scarification on my chest.  I love piercings.  I love the whole process of having it done, even if they are temporary.  (especially if they are temporary because you can do all sorts of crazy stuff and still show up for work without getting booted for dress code issues!)  There's something so infinitely relaxing and releasing about the puncture of skin and the trickling of the blood, it allows me to sink into states of being I can never get to just of my mind's own will.  The jewelry is a visual reminder, as well as an expression of understanding how your body and your life are your canvas to create.

Music:  Music, like pain (see piercings) is a way for me to transcend my mind's normal state of being, and to evoke or control or soothe my emotions.  I never felt safer than when crawling between the notes on the page during orchestra rehearsals, or losing myself to it during ballet class, no matter how rotten everything else was going.  On days when I just can't take anymore anything, I'll lay down in a bubble bath and listen to music to forget how cruel existence can be and refocus on the sensuality and beauty of silence transforming to sound and to light. 

Long-distance love:  I've have more than my fair share of stints at this - every major relationship I've had was long-distance for at least a few months.   I know people often bemoan how rotten it is, and yes sometimes it really sucks to achingly miss someone with no hope of seeing them in the short term, but really, LDRs suit me.  They give me love and romance and emotional support  and mental/emotional intimacy and at least occasional sex while also allowing my happy single life to go about unimpeded.   I do better when I live alone and have as much introvert time to myself as I need, that is for certain.   That is not to say that I can't function in more traditional or cohabiting relationships, I just realize that the whole setup of an LDR is really ideal for me, weird as that seems.

Intuition.  I couldn't live without mine.  I'm definitely emotionally-led, and I also try to allow subtle and sometimes unnameable perceptions from the world at large to influence my decisions and opinions and these things combine to be something akin to intuition.  My intuitions rarely lead me astray, or at least rarely let me be taken entirely by surprise...  there are times when I know by intuition I'm about to do something not entirely awesome for myself but I do it anyway, so I can't say it stops me from doing stupid shit, but at least I know I'm doing stupid shit so I can be ready to deal with the aftermath, right?

Madison.  Thus far, the only place that's really ever felt like home to me.  While a not insignificant portion of my time living in Madison was decidedly difficult, I always felt like I belonged there, like I was part of a community instead of just living amongst one.  90% of my good friends and people I consider my chosen family are there.   It's very hard now that I'm in CA to not dwell too much on how much I miss it and want to go back.  I feel like a wuss sometimes for not adjusting well out here, but then.... it's hard to compete with the kind of life I had in Madison.  I love you all like crazy-sauce.