An Origin Story

Once upon a time, there was this girl named Amanda. Amanda was a curious sort of girl — her nose was permanently pressed into the pages of a book while her fingers grasped at console controllers and keyboards. She spent her days flitting from thing to thing, richly ensconced in knowledge and intellectual stimulation. She enjoyed spending time with her family, watching movies, and baking cookies with her Mama. There came a time when Girl Amanda grew into Chick Amanda. (I’d use the word Woman or Lady but seriously, it’s just not fitting with my inner monologue.)

Chick Amanda went to university where she studied to become a Code Monkey. It was a happy time, though her personal life was fraught with worry and concern about the things that college girls are most caught up in: relationships (mine with menfolk). Chick Amanda, having burnt out from studying and overachieving in high school, skated through her program with mediocre grades and little drive.

Mostly, she just enjoyed the code. And the people.

And so, Chick Amanda went off to find her first post-post-secondary job at a local warehouse. She worked hard alongside her future-husband (named Mike) but alas, Chick Amanda was far too much of a spitfire for traditional employment and was terminated from her position shortly before moving to Vancouver, BC. Somewhere along the line, Chick Amanda and Boyfriend Mike got married. (Mike was upgraded to Husband.)

Shortly thereafter, Chick Amanda decided that heading back to school was her best bet so she enrolled in an Interactive Design program. Half a semester into the program, Chick Amanda was bored as hell and decided that Interactive Design was for pretentious douche canoes.

Husband Mike made a huge Life Changing Altering Decision to become a Police Officer, to which Chick Amanda balked and cried and decided to move back home for a while (so that Husband Mike could get his proverbial shit together). Four months of back and forth, Husband Mike came to the obvious conclusion that becoming a police officer was nuts when you’re something resembling a Pacifist.

And so, they began a New Life. This New Life consisted of a new apartment in a busy neighbourhood… and serious lack of cash-money.

There came a New Time for Chick Amanda.

This New Time and New Person turned into Me.

I am… a small biznez owner. I rock out with amazing creative entrepreneurs over at violetminded Design. I believe that my clients should love their websites as much as I love them and that people should love my clients as much as my clients love their website. I’ve nicknamed my rag-tag (and rather A-List) clientele, the very violet family.

I am… a Mama. His name is ZomBaby (at least as far as you’re concerned). ZomBaby is a gorgeous, funny, fiery sort of baby. He definitely presents challenges for me and the Husband — but hey, he’s cute so it’s worth it.

I am… a gamer. Have been since I was old enough to hold a controller (which was probably around two or three years old). I will not shake my money-maker to get people to take me serious in this regard. I used to write over at Gaming Angels (and it was tons of fun). I’m now over at Big Red Barrel, where I write and podcast my little heart out.

I am… a Vancouverite. Well, at least in spirit. I’m currently residing in the ‘burbs (again) but I vow to make my reappearance in the coming years. I fell in love with this city when I was a kid, so I decided to make it my home.

I am… sassy, sarcastic, and sappy all at once.

I am… everything that you see and some things that you don’t. Got a question? I’ve got an answer. (Even if that answer is, “Hell if I know.”)