Wow, I have not posted in forever.  The information in my previous posts are not even close to accurate.

I have been working in local government for two and half years now.  I have a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in public affairs (public policy).   I moved back to my hometown a few years ago to be near family, but I could never get work as a scientist.  I work with homeless providers and social service agencies. I also administer several homeless grants.  Being the homeless specialist in local government, I also get the disabled, special needs populations, and ex-offenders.  Both my grandmothers were active with helping the homeless, so I am following in their footsteps.  I guess it was meant to be.

I have recently moved into a 2 bedroom apartment and I have so much room now.  Well, maybe not so much room, but finally all my stuff fits into my living space.    My 600 plus dolls sorta have their own room now. Everyone refers to my second bedroom as my doll room, but it also has craft supplies, musical instruments, books, and everything that does not belong in the rest of the apartment.   People are surprised that I gave my dolls the much larger bedroom with walk-closet while I sleep in the tiny bedroom.  My dolls have more clothes and stuff than I do.  I am getting much more selective now, buying fewer dolls, but spending a lot more money on dolls overall.  

I have been on vacation over the holidays.  I got forced into taking the time off because it was either use it or lose my time by the end of the year.  Anytime I get time alone to think about life besides work, I always think about how I have always wanted my own doll/craft/toy company.  My resolution is that by 2011, I am really going to turn some of my ideas into reality.  I have so many ideas, I have been researching through the internet, as to what ideas of mine fill needed gaps.  I think I know what I need to do, I just don't know how to start or go about getting there.  I also don't know how I am going to find the time.

If dolls did not take up all my spare time, I also love music and reality shows that have to do with music.  Still crazy about Kris Allen, the current American Idol winner.  Kris Allen is so underappreciated.  Finally, my favorite wins American Idol and it does not feel like he has been treated like the winner.  I guess my favorite musicians will never be supported by the general public.  As a blues fan and off beat music fan, I guess I will never feel like I have popular taste.  Right now, I don't want to invest into another season of AI, but I know by March, I will be totally into American Idol.  I also songwrite and I am re-learning guitar as a left-hander. 

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Kris Allen

Birthday coming up on the 16th of this month. My user name translates to born on a soapbox. I have already bought enough dolls for my Birthday gift to myself several times over. The rest of the year I buy too many dolls too. I love the new Juku Couture dolls that I just bought. Now I want the clothing packs and the accessories too.

Tags: juku couture
Current Mood: grateful
Current Music: B.B. King (same birthday as me)

Getting into the dollmaking side recently, and it has added to the play value of my dolls as well.  Don't have time to write any more since I am at lunch, just wanted to touch base. 

I finally have steady enough of employment that I can start buying dolls again.  As a doll collector, I feel so shallow that I missed being able to buy dolls.  I admit I did sneak a few in last year, but I felt so guilty.  

I finally bought Bratz Kidz rather than just talking about them and I already have six in less than a week.  I have about 150 Bratz and Boyz all together (~400 dolls total). 

Excuse the quality of the quick photo taken with my cell phone, but here is the start of my Bratz Kidz collection.  The Boyz outnumber the Bratz, how rare is that in a collection?  It won't last long as a ratio.  
 
Close ups if interested
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/Soapbox0916/128.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/Soapbox0916/129.jpg

My overall goal as a doll collector is to have an even split of female and male dolls in my collection, but there are so many more girl dolls produced that I want, so it makes it very difficult, and the girls still win out in numbers.

Current Mood: busy

I applied for a ton of seasonal jobs. I interviewed with Victoria's Secret yesterday. (Update: I did not get job. I think it is mainly because I look too much like Ugly Betty.) I am still waiting to hear on career, real based jobs too. While I wait, I have discovered the joy of answering short surveys about myself.

Here is the World's Shortest Personality Quiz. It is amazingly accurate so I decided to put it into an entry. Well, I don't know about the elegant part, but still I was impressed.

Your Personality Profile

You are elegant, withdrawn, and brilliant. Your mind is a weapon, able to solve any puzzle. You are also great at poking holes in arguments and common beliefs. For you, comfort and calm are very important. You tend to thrive on your own and shrug off most affection. You prefer to protect your emotions and stay strong.

I also took the How Republican and How Democrat are you and came up with only 20% on both, which was considered pure coincidence. Yes, I am truly politically independent so I guess it was right after all. I really have little in common with political parties which should surprise people since I have worked until recently in politics and grew up in politics too. When push comes to shove, in the two party view limited political world, I do lean Republican more than anything else, I am not sure how though. In some ways I am also very libertarian, but I tend not like libertarian candidates enough, although I admit I have voted for a few. At first, I think I come across as liberal, very liberal, because I am so strongly supportive of individual rights (right to be oneself, civil rights), but with money I am very tight, and think individuals should have more control over money, so there I lean strongly conservative. Plus, while I am not traditional for the mere sake of tradition, I am scientific enough to value many traditions because they have been tried and tested over the years. No need to fix what ain't broke. But if it is broke, I am not going to pretend it is ok either. USA has a tradition of growth and expansion too. I am part of that paradox.

Unfortunately, at the local level in my hometown, my hometown has it own version of local politicians that absolute rule nearly everything. I can not get a political job or political related job despite the fact that I am more qualified that many in local politics. I keep trying anyway. It sucks that I have so many political and governmental skills, yet I can't get hired due to dirty politics. No wonder I am so bitter. I have a Master's degree in Public Affairs (same thing as public administration) and years of experience. I moved back to be near my family and sick nephew, but if I can't get a decent job by summer, I will be forced to leave, maybe sooner. In the meantime, I don't know how I am going to pay rent and my bills this month. I have a lowly two day part job for now, but I need more hours and I need money. No one will hire me to do what I am good at, no one seems to be willing to hire me at all for real.

I need happy thoughts again, I think I will play with some more surverys now.

I also tried taking some of the music blogspot surveys, but there was nothing about blues on them, and if you leave the blues out, you leave me out.

Current Mood: angry

I better enter something into my journal, otherwise people might not think I am real person. LOL

Actually, I am afraid that once I start writing about myself, I won't be able to stop. I am like that.

I chose the user name "soapbox0916" because all the names that I really wanted were already taken. People tell me that I was born on a soapbox and the "0916" is my birth date. So my username sorta means that I was born on a soapbox.

I am used to being a legal and technical writer, so I have a tendency to overwrite and use too many big words. Plus, I don't really mean to, but I often sound preachy when I write. It is just the way I write. When I talk, I think my tone better reflects me. So sorry. Hence the soapbox nickname.

I sometimes write blogs for Reality TV Calendar, and my articles can be found there under my real name. If you pay close attention, you can figure it out. LOL

I am Gayl at Bratzworld. Username there is gkilloug.

I love toys, crafts, and decor, and I am trying to be an inventor. I joined LiveJournal mainly so that I could talk about dolls. Bratz, Boyz, and Takara are my favorites. I am also a major male doll collector.

Current Location: Indiana
Current Mood: discontent
Current Music: The Huckleberrys (shown in the icon pic)