Shannonigans

Favorite Movie: Braveheart
I remember when I saw "Braveheart" for the first time - I was visiting my mom in California during winter break and she wanted to watch the movie with me. For reasons that are still unclear to me, I wasn't interested in seeing it. But, she insisted so I complied. I'm so glad I did. I knew the movie was going to be a massive, bloody epic; what I didn't expect was for it to contain so many explicit Shakespearean themes. I was especially moved with how it dealt with courage, sacrifice, friendship, love, and betrayal. Although many of today's critics bash "Braveheart" as a vanity piece, I still consider it a classic tragedy.

Little Known Fact: Bullied
I spent a majority of my childhood being bullied in one form or another. In the 5th grade, an older more popular girl, Susan, kept me from going to my best friend's birthday party, claiming she wouldn't go if I was invited. At 10, being uninvited from your best friend's birthday party is absolutely devastating. Unfortunately, that was the nicest of the affronts. Later that year, a group of boys started chasing and tormenting me on my way home from school. They would pin me down and grab me, threatening to kill my dog if I ever told anyone.

When I finally started middle school, my only friend, Dee, liked a boy, who had a crush on me. In a fit of jealously, Dee started a nasty rumor about me and this boy, turning me into the school slut. I had never even been kissed. I suffered an entire year of being kicked, slapped, spit on, and called names. This is when I learned how to forgive.

Bonus: Favorite Wine: Byron Pinot Noir
The flavor profile for Byron pinot noir is nothing that I expected. Usually, pinot noirs are a very fruit forward wine. The Byron, on the other handed opens with a hint of rose before moving into the fruity cherry and plum flavor. The finish was nice and earthy. It retails for $22.00 a bottle.