I have a hard time figuring out who I am, where I fit in in society. In recent years I began introducing my content with the tagline ” Welcome to the Spiders Lair, Where Chaos Resides.” It’s been a good way for me to describe what goes on in my mind. Recently I determined I am more devoted to being a Witch than I have been in a very long time. The reason for this is simple, I love chaos. Partially I am drawn to chaos because the universe itself is chaotic. For me the natural order is destruction, death and decay. For that reason I now know where I fit into this world. I am the one who spreads chaos to your lives. This is because I am not bound by a singular motivation. I do not have one hobby that eats up my time. I do not have a single cause I devote my life to. I do not have a focus. And that is okay. For me it is about exploring as much of the world as I care to without getting too bogged down by any one thing.
Along the way I have discovered a few things that have stuck so here is a list of 25 things I discovered I am very much into even if it is different degrees. As with all lists I make this is not ranked. The numbers are merely so I can keep track. Enjoy.
1. Transformers
My first love is of course the Transformers. But it is not just Hasbro/Takara branded products. It includes nearly all transforming robot toys, and a few non robot toys like Popples. I happen to love all incarnation of the frachise including spin offs. I even enjoy the Gobots and Power Rangers. I say nearly all because I have a disdain for Macross/Robotech and Gundam style robots. Eh, it is what it is.
2. Ghostbusters
This mostly includes the movie. But actually it also includes the video games and the toys to some extent. I could just say science fiction or even sci-fi/horror in general but this is a flagship property I am rather fond of to be quite honest.
3. Rainbow Brite
I am a transgender woman. I grew up in a house surrounded by sisters. They played with many “girly” toys none I was more jealous of or coveted than Rainbow Brite. The day I finally broke down and bought a vintage doll off ebay was a very emotional day indeed for me. I love this character very much.
4. TMNT
This is one of the reasons why I can’t say sci-fi in general. There are some franchises I elevate above others. While I can enjoy a Planet of the Apes film from time to time I am not that into that franchise. However I love me some Ninja Turtles. I even own an original vintage TMNT Technodrome playset and the Sewer Lair as well as dozens of figures and vehicles from old to new toylines.
5. Hip Hop music
There are aspects of the hip hop culture I gravitated towards as a mask when I was still hiding in the closet. There are other facets I am drawn to because as an outcast I get it. Then there is some damn good beats. Some of my favorites are the Beastie Boys, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Snoop Doggy Dogg, MC Hammer, Arrested Development, Nas and Kris Kross.
6. Star Wars
I could slot this in pretty much anywhere but the reality is I LOVE Star Wars. In fact I am one of the rare super fans that love all the movies, shows, toys, video games, etc. If it comes from the Galaxy Far, far away I am in. I even read the books. I can’t get enough Star Wars.
7. Horror movies
Specifically slashers, serial killers, vampires, werewolves, fantasy horror, sci fi horror, monster movies, shark films and well pretty much all of them for the most part.
8. Techno/trance/disco/funk/dance
I am partial to dance music. I especially love techno music. I can and do listen to some other forms of electronic music but I loathe the term “house” and refuse to use it in my vocabulary. Don’t fight me on this just come over to the dark side and bask in the rightness of being wrong.
9. Nintendo
I love video games but if I am being totally honest I love nothing in that world even a fraction as much as the Big N. I have owned every single home console and the vast majority of handhelds, accessories and add ons the company has made. IN fact it is rare for them to make a product I dislike. The most obvious is LABO but please don’t get me started on that.
10. video production
I enjoy writing. I enjoy telling stories. I enjoy journalism. But none of them bring me as much pleasure as producing a video. I don’t care if it is a for hire project like a wedding, working for a commercial broadcast TV station, short indie films or random YouTube shit. I love producing videos. Hell I have even developed a fondness for the Live Stream on Facebook these days.
11. Comic Books
This is where I often get into arguments. You see I am not just into the Big 2 (Marvel and DC) I enjoy indie comics. I also enjoy 3rd party comics like stuff from IDW, Dark Horse, Image and yes Archie. I also enjoy random one offs. The thing is I don’t just limit myself to horror or super hero comics either. I like some comedy stuff. I enjoy romance. I like fantasy and even detective stuff. Honestly I just love the medium in all its forms.
12. Super heroes
OF course this is bigger than comics for me. You see while I do enjoy some super hero comics the truth is the majority of my super hero content is actually beyond the comics. In fact as far as comics go I tend to shy away from super hero stuff for the most part. I mostly reserve them for toys and video games, plus some movies and TV shows. Oh hell I love em all but I do prefer my superheroes to be animated or live action rather than in the pages of a comic for the most part
13. Dungeons and Dragons
I know some people who are into Magic the Gathering. I know others who enjoy all forms of table top and RPG games. Not me. I am strictly and very firmly devoted to D&D. I don’t mind playing a table top, board game or even a card game on occasion but my heart belongs to the greatest fantasy game of all time. I prefer 3rd edition but also enjoy 1st and 2nd, can tolerate 4th and will play 5th edition. In fact I don’t care for rule sets just give me some dice and let me role play my heart out.
14. write
It should go without saying I love writing. Not nearly as much as making videos but again I enjoy telling stories whether it is in the written form, visual medium or audio only. I have written news articles, magazine articles, blog posts, academic papers, news casts for TV and even fiction. I love writing and I know I will never stop.
15. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
I like all the giant zords but the first incarnation of the North American brand holds a special place in my heart. I love collecting the toys, watching the shows and even playing the retro video games. Go Go Power Rangers all day long I say.
16. model trains
I like building models. I enjoy putting together puzzles. I am obsessively fascinated by model trains. I enjoy the railroad layouts. I enjoy building the terrain. I even enjoy piecing together little towns for my trains to occupy. It is one of my passions.
17. Minecraft
This gets a category all its own as it very easily rises above ALL other video games. For me video games are a hobby. I enjoy playing games. I enjoy collecting games. I even enjoy discussing them. I LIVE for Minecraft. It is not a game, it is a way of life.
18. Hot Wheels
This is a relatively new obsession. Alright I like cars. I discovered this when my dad used to teach me about them when he worked in a shop. Or when we would watch Mecum auctions on TV. Or when I would attend car shows with friends. Or watching my uncle participate in the demolition derby. I like cars. They are cool.
19. Barbie
Much like Rainbow Brite I longed to have my own Barbie as a kid. In fact I mostly played with my boys toys action figures (Ninja Turtles, Transformers, He Man, etc.) as dolls. I played “house” or “office” instead of war or whatever you were supposed to do. Now as an adult I have a pretty decent Barbie collection that includes dolls, vehicles and playsets.
20. Camping
I like fishing. I like hiking. I like biking but nothing gives me as much joy when it comes to outdoor activities as sleeping in a tent, roasting hot dogs on an open fire, telling ghost stories or swimming in the ice cold lake on a hot summer day.
21. Movies
I collect movies on DVD, VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc, Blu Ray, HD DVD, Video 8, CED and so, so many more. I love watching movies. I love listening to the audio commentary. I even enjoy behind the scenes and making of documentaries on films. Given the choice between TV and films I mostly prefer movies.
22. X-men
The SINGLE most important comic book/superhero franchise to me bar none. ‘Nuff Said.
23. Trading cards
Although I have an aversion of sorts to Magic the Gather, well as an organized tournament play anyways, I can’t get enough trading cards. I love collecting cards. Sorting them into binders. Trading them with friends. Reading the bios and info on the backs. Yup me equals obsessed.
24. computers
I love computers. I love writing computer programs. I love typing words in a word document on a computer. I enjoy doodling in MS Paint on a computer. I also like playing computer games, editing video, producing music, recording podcasts, and the like. If it can be done on a computer then I want in. I love ALL computers. Windows. Linux. Apple. Atari. Dell. HP. Toshiba. Micron. IBM. Tablet. Laptop. Desktop. Watch. I. LOVE. COMPUTERS.
25. Music
Yes I mentioned hip hop. Yes I mentioned dance music. These are passions of mine. I also love making mix tapes. On Tape! I love making playlists on my iPod, Spotify and Amazon Music. I love buying CDs. I love burning my own playlists onto CD. I enjoy producing, writing, mixing and listening to my own music from my own brain. I love music. I even enjoy playing the drums, piano and guitar from time to time.
There you have it 25 things that define Stephanie Bri, also known as the Retro Witch. Stay Cool.
Stephanie Bri 