about me... hanky333

the basics

30/m/USA

I live with my partner Jess and our 2 tuxedo kitties, Tux and Tuna. I like spending my time reading, playing (mostly retro) video games, making art, birding, and being with my sweet friends here in Chicago. I work as a massage therapist after years in the food service industry, and I love my new career! never thought I would say that but whatever!

If you talked to me in person, it wouldn't take long for me to mention my passion for polymer clay! I think about making beads pretty much all the time! I tell everyone I can about polymer clay! right now I'm trying to figure out how to make the biggest, weirdest pendants imaginable. I have a shop where I share my jewelry creations. I don't update it frequently these days, but I try to share some of my pieces here and there. Eventually I'd like to sell more of my beads there, too, because making the beads is usually more fun for me than making the jewelry.

why Neocities?

I am nostalgic about the freedom of the open web. I remember the way it was when I was young... it felt really hopeful to go online and know there was anything out there, anyone! I also remember what it was like before it became so sterile and clean. I actually feel that way about everywhere in the world these days! things are so beige... so afraid of being... we deserve expression and fearlessness and humanity, even in our digital spheres.

it is important for me to note, regarding the digital sphere, that I'm anti-AI. I don't want an assistant to help me write my stuff, I just want to have fun and be myself and be weird and make typos and be free. I don't want to see your disgusting AI "art". I don't want to participate in it, and I avoid it wherever I can. that's another reason Neocities is peaceful for me - I feel that it is a place where I can be imperfect online and not constantly run into AI-created garbage.

my philosophies

so this is ever-changing, but some essential things I believe in and think about a lot:

basically, I believe in being decent, authentic, and understanding. A massage teacher of mine introduced me to the concept of "unconditional positive regard" which I try to apply to not only my work, but my life. I am trying to shift my perspective away from the reactionary angst of my youth, to see others through a lens of forgiveness and humanity.

whew!!!

if you'd like learn more about my passions, be sure to visit my shrines page! it's a work in progress but I like to talk about things in more detail there. this website is evolving as I figure out how I want to engage with it, so I appreciate you joining me on the journey as I play around.