Hello all!

[used_songs]

Name: Opal Trelore
Age: far older than I ever thought I would be
Location: San Antonio, TX
Tumblr/Goodreads/IG/etc: usedsongs or used_songs pretty much everywhere (I post on twitter more that anywhere)

Describe yourself in five sentences or less:

I’m an 8^th grade US History teacher, and I specialize in working with English Language Learners. I’m a lesbian, progressive, and an atheist (married to a Christian – I don’t have a problem with religious people provided they aren’t trying to legislate me out of existence). I love coffee, stickers, electric blankets, all kinds of music but especially opera, and road trips that involve hiking. I’m somewhat of a serial monogamist when it comes to fandom participation.

Top 5 Fandoms:

• Marvel (Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Totally Awesome Hulk, America Chavez, Kate Bishop, She Hulk, Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, etc.)
• Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (I love all of the political stuff.)
• Elementary (Joan Watson and Bell are my favorites.)
• Sherlock Holmes (RDJ movies)
• Mr. Robot (Darlene is my favorite character.)

I mostly post about:

Teaching, my wife (who is working on her PhD in Bilingual Bicultural Studies and is consequently always busy), our dogs and my beardie, politics (a little – I’m very progressive, and sometimes I post about contacting representatives, policies, etc. but I also try to sequester that stuff so it doesn't overwhelm me), history, books I’m reading, my fanfic, the joys and pains of home ownership and upkeep, and coping with increasingly elderly and dependent parents.

My last three posts were about:

• Homophobia at work and how my view of someone changed (from negative to more positive) – also some Andrew Jackson in that one.
• Taking 8^th graders on a high school visit field trip and discovering that the students from my school (a Title 1 school where over 90% of the kids are economically disadvantaged) have been routinely shunted into a “lower track” school tour when they accidentally sent us on the college-prep tour. I was mad.
  
• Teaching ELL students, cedar fever, and Science Bros fan art.

How often do you post? How about commenting?

I’m lousy about posting, but I always try to do better. My goal is 2-3 posts a week. I may be cross-posting some of the stuff I put on Facebook because I have tended to write more there. I am a good commenter (I think). I’m kind of shy about jumping in to conversations, but once I’m in I comment a lot. Ever since I started posting more fic on AO3 (this past summer) I’ve been a LOT better about commenting because I realized how much I enjoyed getting comments.

A GIF to describe how your day has been so far:

Can I just say "exhausting" and you imagine it for me?

Comments

[lycomingst]

I'm adding you, if that's okay.

[used_songs]

That is more than OK. I mean, look at your icon!

[randomdrops]

Hello! You sound very interesting, I'm gonna add if you don't mind.

Anyone who loves teaching, road trips, hiking and Marvel has got to be a good person in my book. ;)

[used_songs]

Awesome! I actually don't have many Marvel friends, so it'll be nice to have someone to fangirl with.

[meepettemu]

I'll add you if you don't mind?

[used_songs]

Please do!

[yukonsally]

I haven't posted an entry yet, but I think you and I would get on. Shall we try it?

[used_songs]

Definitely!

[cosmolinguist]

Adding you. :)

[used_songs]

Cool! Right back at ya!

[dreamsrundeep]

I'm adding you! I'm a transplanted Texan and my parents retired to San Antonio from El Paso. I love it there. Also a married lesbian lady!

[used_songs]

Oh wow! What are the chances? Adding you back.

[worlds_of_smoke]

I would love to read about the process of teaching and what it's like, even though I'm 1000000% not someone who has the temperament for it. Mind if I add? :D

[used_songs]

I would love it!

[springviolets]

adding you, if that's ok! i am ALSO a lesbian from texas, though i live in boston now (but i constantly am homesick for the food). i have quite a few teacher friends and enjoy hearing about their work. :)

[used_songs]

I'm so ambivalent about so much of Texas, but I can't imagine being elsewhere - or, at least, I can't imagine living anywhere but San Antonio.

[redcirce]

You seem pretty cool and we have a bunch of comms in common! Is it okay if I add you?

[used_songs]

Of course!

[jadesymb]

adding :)

[endeni]

Oooooooooh, DS9! *_*
/I love all of the political stuff./ - Yesssss, me too. Also, I'm an Atheist too and I still find DS9's handling of religion so very fascinating.

[used_songs]

Your icon is fabulous!

Same. The religious stuff interests me as an outsider to all of that. I grew up agnostic, so I don't have emotional attachment to religion. I always liked how DS9 acknowledged that there were people of differing religions and that it had an impact on their lives. That and the political machinations make it my favorite Trek.

[endeni]

Haha, thanks, a friend made it for me. *g* Actually, it's from a Sense8 quote, did you happen to watch the show?

Well, I grew up in a Catholic family and then turned Atheist in my teens so there's still a little friction there for me but I really liked the way DS9 handled religion, yes.

[olivia_beige]

You seem very interesting. And your wife pursuing PhD in Bilingual Bicultural Studies is so awesome (I'm a bilingual myself). I'd like to add you, please. :D

[used_songs]

Excellent!