Biography

Who is Val?

Name: Valerie Bromann
Nicknames: Most people call me Val. Some people call me Valley, Valley Ranch, Vallerina, or Valry.
Age: 30
Sign: Capriquarius
Home: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Web Editor, Photographer, unemployed world traveler
Hair: Currently, naturally, blonde. Has been Red, Black, Brunette, Maroon, Purple, Green, Orange...
Mods: Faerie wings tattooed on my back and a stud in my nose.

 

Things I Like

Writing, pretty things, photography, competitive eating, food network, road trips, roadside attractions, baking, decorating cakes, cupcakes, brownies, web designing, checking my web stats (I stalk you stalking me), milkshakes (chocolate and strawberry), strawberry ice cream, hot chocolate, coffee (OK, pumpkin spice lattes, mochas, white mochas, campfire mochas, espresso truffles and any other fattening froufrou coffee house drinks), traveling, theatre, improv (although I never liked doing it), ballet, dancing, collecting flowers, skating (of the inline variety), dessert wine, bad horror movies, swing sets, jackalopes, black pickle (my car!), appetizers, creamy soups, bacon, critiquing commercials, the color pink.

 

Movies I Like

I lovelovelove horror films (even though they scare me to death!) The best ones fall into the genre "so bad it's good," although many of my friends would debate the "good". Some of my favorites include: Two Thousand Maniacs! (really, anything by Herschell Gordon Lewis), Motel Hell, De Lift, Sleepaway Camp, Friday the 13th (the whole series, I'd marry Jason if there wasn't the threat that he'd kill me...), and Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Besides horror, my other favorites include Heathers, The Dark Crystal, Bring it On, Sleeping Beauty, The Company (even though nothing happens in that movie), and The Virgin Suicides. Oh, and when Showgirls is on I have to watch. I don't like the movie but I have to watch. My taste in regular movies is no better than my taste in horror movies.

 

Books I Like

I'm usually reading some kind of computer manual or Lonely Planet guidebook to some part of the world. But I also enjoy Gone with the Wind, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Catcher in the Rye, Amy Hemple, David Sedaris, Chuck Palahniuk, Virgin Suicides, The Camera My Mother Gave Me, Rachel Cohn (Gingerbread, Shrimp, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist), and Babysitters Club.

 

TV Shows I Like

My taste is TV is really no better than my taste in movies. Really, I like anything that falls under the category of "stupid reality show." America's Next Top Model marathons paralyze me from getting anything else accomplished. I watch Food Network as if it was background music. I watch the entire series of My So Called Life in one sitting every year. I never used to watch The Office but now obsessively watch the reruns. Same for How I Met Your Mother. I, of course, love the Simpsons but can't quote it as well as anyone else I know can. I love reliving my childhood through DVDs of 80s cartoons (She-Ra, Jem, Fraggle Rock, Care Bears...). And I'm a Gleek...because I used to choreograph for my high school choir.

 

Val's Rule of Music

If it's the middle of the night and anything from (early) Bon Jovi or Madonna's "Like a Prayer" or the Violent Femmes comes on the radio you must immediately roll down all your windows (no matter what temperature), turn the volume way up, turn your car in the opposite direction (or at least pass that turn you're supposed to make), and sing at the top of your lungs.

I own an iPod but rarely bust it out. I listen to music in the car and sing along to very song as if I actually know the words but I probably, most often, do not. I don't listen to much music but sometimes I will get obsessed with a song that I have to listen to it over and over again. Don't expect those songs to be good either.

Also, I do like Tally Hall and Flogging Molly and The Decemberists a lot.

And the New Kids on the Block reunion tour was the highlight of my life.