That's me. The one who hangs out more with men than with women, to the point where in some ways, she practically is a guy, except with breasts and her own tough/artistic/gothy- but still definitely girlie- stage wardrobe. The one who likes a beer (or two or five) with the guys and gets told she's not a typical girl, whatever that means. A woman in a man's world, who doesn't really fit the mold for either gender. (But then, does anyone, really?)

It's a position I like, most of the time. I get to hear and see a male perspective that I don't think a lot of women get to see first-hand. Unfortunately, that doesn't help me much with my love life, but it's still interesting. I feel like I often get the best of both worlds, both male and female. I get to be one of the guys and still be treated like a queen. I get to feel beautiful without being treated like "just a pretty face".

It gets odd, though. I always feel a bit strange around the girlfriends at first. I always wonder, are they afraid I'll try to steal their boyfriends? Do I make them uncomfortable? Will I ever get invited to their girls' nights? I usually like most of them later. But just for the record, to me, band code is stronger than girl code. If you and my band-mate fight, I will probably not take your side. So don't come to me. Even if you still have a legit grievance against one of my bandmates, I will probably resent being put in an awkward position.

I jam with these guys. I am creating music with them. When I create something beautiful with someone, to me, that is, in a way, an intimate experience. So naturally, I will often feel very close to those I have that experience with. So I will admit my opinion on any situation involving such people may be a bit biased.

Unfortunately, that also can sometimes mean I get crushes on different people I play with. Incredibly awkward position to be in. Acting on my feelings could ruin the dynamics of the band. Feelings do have an odd way of coming out when there is enough alcohol involved, but alcohol is also a very handy excuse. ("Did I really do that? Wow. I must have been pretty drunk!") And I guess I always figure I'll get friend-zoned anyway, that he probably wants someone a bit more "girly", so why ruin band dynamics over a silly crush?

As strange a position as it sometimes feels like, it's at least one I've figured out how to navigate, one I love, and wouldn't trade for anything.

As some of you know, I'm a singer. Not a famous one by any stretch of the imagination, but I am a singer.

And I guess the fact that sometimes my music is on the local radio here and once in a blue moon I get interviewed on the radio or on TV means that a few people have heard of me, and on rare occasion, I get recognized when I go out.

Which is fine.

Until it happens in the doctor's office. I had a routine test done, and I went to pick up the results and get another test I needed. As I was talking to the nurse, I showed her my receipt, and she said, "Oh! So you're Cheryl!" My first thought was "Were my test results that bizarre that I am now the talk of the entire nursing station?"

Then, I suddenly remembered that I'm the singer in a local band and it occurred to me that she had heard my music. So I asked her if she had. She said, "Of course! I've just never seen you play live. When's your next show?"

So I told her. Then...

"Can I have your autograph?"

You just finished discussing the results of a rather personal procedure with me and now you want my autograph?!!?! How exactly does a person respond to that?

Feeling rather flustered, flattered, and somewhat unsure of how to proceed, I just said, "Sure! I guess I'm just not used to being asked that in a doctor's office!" And I signed her agenda for her.

I walked out laughing. Because seriously, how often does that happen?

Here we are again...once again trying to find the motivation to come up with something witty, the courage to say something horribly shocking, yet true, and wondering if this counts as productivity when I've got a half-made couch and fridge upstairs waiting to be completed so I can live like a normal person (you know, the ones who have fully-functional couches and fridges in their apartments!)

The truth is, I'm not particularly witty unless it's 5 minutes to late, I have nothing overly shocking to say today, and whether I'm productive or not, most of what I start eventually does get finished, even if in a rather roundabout way. And I must admit I was slightly disappointed that this blog challenge didn't come with an opportunity to pose for a bunch of pictures in a sports bra and a long velvet skirt, make fun of my hair, and be the ultimate anti-Barbie princess. I hope a later opportunity comes along.

I've been on Xanga since I was in college. It started out as a way of just telling people what was on my mind about things going on in my life. Then, I realized that just because I'm writing a rock opera doesn't mean my everyday life is absolutely fascinating. So I started writing about whatever ideas happened to be floating around in my mind that day. Strangely enough, I sometimes feel like I'm still here so I can comment on other people's blogs, even though I love writing my own when I feel like I have a good idea.

So you probably want to know what I'm made of, besides carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and METAL! As my name suggests, I'm a singer, and I'm kind of kooky. I sing in a symphonic metal band called Legend's Ghost.

When I was a kid, I saw the world differently than other kids, which led grown-ups to thinking there must be something wrong with me. One incident I remember particularly well was being told I didn't understand the concept of space or had a depth perception problem or something like that. I asked my mom why she thought that. She told me about an incident when I was about 5 or 6 years old when I was supposed to run through a set of three cones in gym class in school. There were three lines of cones, so more than one kid could run through them at a time. Being a really spacey sort of kid, I was probably thinking up a really cool story to tell at dinner time when the teacher was giving instructions. I just remember seeing all of the other kids running through only three of the nine cones and wondering what was wrong with them. I tried to think of a way to run through all nine without repeating any. Boy, was everyone going to think I was smart! When it was my turn, I proudly started running through the cones the way I'd planned...only to be chased down by the teachers and told I was doing it wrong.

I think that day, the teacher called my mom and told her there was something wrong with me. I remember getting various tests that didn't make sense to me at the time, and no one ever being able to figure out what was wrong with me. Maybe because there wasn't anything! (I really do believe some people are just different, without having to have some sort of diagnosis to explain why.)

Throughout my life, I have seen things differently than other people. Sometimes I feel like I have to keep quiet if someone wouldn't understand why on earth I'd feel a certain way about a certain situation. But now that I'm a grown-up, I've channeled that into music. I'm a total theory geek, and like to see what I can play around with and put in my music. And even if people don't always understand my music, they do seem to like it! And even if someone doesn't, so what? I've had a hell of a great time creating it!

And for those who are curious about what I look like:

And what I sing like.

Now that we've got that out of the way, go to suggestivetongue's site and vote!