It's hard to deliver on a name like that

Yes, the town I live in is called Paradise. Also yes, there are constant jokes from natives about how it doesn't quite live up to the name (but then again, it would be pretty difficult to fully live up to a name like that).

This area was originally nicknamed Poverty Ridge, and derives its current name from the Pair O' Dice Saloon which is no longer around, though you can occasionally see people with Pair O' Dice sweatshirts (that never really caught on though.)

Paradise is highly dichotomous. Generally the population consists of either people who have come here to retire, or teenagers who can't wait to leave. I'm sure there must be some middle aged folks around here to parent those teenagers, but you won't often see them around.

There's a large amount of chain stores and fast food places, but on occasion you can find a nifty little side shop or family owned restaurant. For instance I happen to live right across from a fantastic Chinese place... as well as a Jack in the Box.

One thing you can't fault Paradise for is all of the greenery, not only because it's in the middle of a forest, but because there are plenty of beautiful parks. Where a railroad used to run up into the mountains there's now a bike path that, if you put up with the hills, offers a lovely peaceful walk (except around 3:00 pm where it runs by the high school - I highly recommend avoiding that area, for small mobs of bored mountain kids are nothing to be trifled with).

Paradise has not lived up to its name, and possibly never will - with limited space for development due to geographic placement; a strong distaste for any sort of change from the status quo; and a distrust, though waning slightly, for any of those "hippie" values of social justice or non-chain restaurants/stores - but it is, after all, home.

Last But Not >

Substituting a symbol in for a word makes me one of the cool kids, right?

Okay, maybe not.

I'm Rachel (also known as Reinfire, but you're welcome to use my actual name), and don't worry, I'm not actually particularly concerned with being cool.

I'm a born and raised California girl, and now that you have that obnoxious Katy Perry song stuck in your head and images of beaches and movie stars, let me show you what it looks like where I live from an aerial view:

And the ground level:

So yes, I live in a tiny town in the middle of a forest in California, and this is one of my favorite things to share with people because it is so opposite the stereotype. Also regarding my living situation, I...well, let's just get out with it. I live in a commune. In an effort to decrease world suck, we take in homeless people for various amounts of time and do volunteer work throughout our little community.

Moving right along, nothing to see here...

In May I'll graduate from a state university with a degree in Liberal Studies (a.k.a. elementary education) and Special Education, and then start work in after school and in-home programs for kids with disabilities.

When I'm not doing copious amounts of homework, I enjoy knitting and baking, and do so with moderate success. I also draw, paint, sew, and cook with...well, markedly less success. But that's okay :)

My particular brand of nerdfighting involves Doctor Who, Merlin, Battlestar Galactica, Stargate Universe, crafty-ness/cooking (as mentioned above), history and writing, and an obsession with all things English (not just for the accents, but they don't hurt!).

Other than that I'm...

Well, I'm just a kid, who's looking forward to getting know the rest of these lovely girls.