Hello there,
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(Personal photo; The after effects of
dental anesthesia, taken by my husband) |
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| (Personal photo; Good hair day!!, taken by me) |
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| (Personal photo; Fun sunglasses!!, taken by me) |
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(Personal photo; Oops! Failed attempt to get out of a very
messy truck filled with obstacles, taken by my husband) |
This is me. My name is Chrystal Brehm. I’m a pretty introverted person, so I find bonding with people difficult at times. I tend to enjoy the solitude of losing myself in a good book or movie (mostly fantasy and romance). Some of my favorite fantasy series are Harry Potter, Divergent, the Hunger games, and Twilight. I really love any kind of book or movie that I can get emotionally involved in. The more I feel I personally know the characters, the better. I love a book (or movie) that makes me hate the writer (LOL), because it feels like real life when things don’t go exactly how you’d like them to in your fantasy world. I’m also very musically grounded. I listen to a wide variety of music, but my favorite is classic rock. My all time favorite band is Blue October (check them out, here)! I've had the pleasure of meeting them on multiple occasions and they're incredibly nice and down to earth in person too!!
I also love Metallica, the Offspring, Nickleback, & a lot of others! I’m a huge animal lover and my family likes to call me Elly May sometimes. We have several pets and we also foster kittens from time to time. Plus my husband and I work with several rescue groups to help get animals adopted.
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| (Personal photo; Our dogs, taken by me) |
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| (Personal photo; 3 of our cats, taken by me) |
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| (Personal photo; Our youngest cat [foster "fail", also seen below], taken by my husband) |
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(Personal photo; Some of our previous
foster kittens, taken by me) |
I’m almost 27 years old and I’ve been married to the love of my life for over 6 years (we have been together for over 10 years)! I have an almost 11 year old step son named Hayden and I’m blessed to have a good relationship with his mom (my husband’s ex wife). We all get along really well and we often have gatherings together, such as Hayden’s birthday celebrations. My husband and I are currently in the process of buying our first house, which is pretty exciting!! I’m the youngest of 11 children and I’m a really big family person. Holidays around my family are never a bore.
I currently work full time as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Oklahoma City police department. People often ask what exactly that entails, so I’ll give you a brief summary. Basically, when someone calls 9-1-1 in a crisis, I’m the voice of reason that helps to calm them and guide them through giving the most important information to help me get emergency assistance to them in a timely manner. I’m also responsible for the safety of 15+ officers’ at any given time. Its part of my job to make sure they have the pertinent information to maintain their own safety, as well as the safety of any citizens involved in a given situation. There are days where my job can be rather emotional and others where it’s very frustrating (people occasionally call 9-1-1 for silly reasons or they’re sometimes extremely disrespectful when speaking to me because they’re upset about their own situation and don’t appreciate that I’m not the cause of their hardships). Still, there are other days when my job is very rewarding. Those are the days that keep me going in my job; the days where I go home at the end of my shift and I know that I’ve made a difference in someone’s life. My job is mostly thankless but when I’m able to help someone in a way that I know has significantly impacted their life in a positive way, that’s all the thanks I really need.
I’m also a full time student, working on a double major (Biological Anthropology + Forensic Science) as well as a minor (Spanish). I would like to work as a crime scene investigator (CSI) for the department I currently work for and eventually I’d like to go on to work with the FBI as part of the evidence response team (basically the same thing as CSI, but on a national scale). I’ll graduate with my first major and my minor in spring of 2018 and as long as things go as planned, with my second major in spring of 2019. The next few years have a lot of new adventures for me and I can’t wait to experience them!
I don't believe there is much else to add about me, so I'll just leave it there!
Hi Chrystal! I too am an extroverted introvert, or maybe an introverted extrovert... which is why I like teaching online so much. It's a way to be "out there" with people, but also getting to decide just where and when. And hey, there are no bad hair days online, ha ha. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd what an AMAZING job you have: wow! I can imagine you get callers in moments of total stress where they do not think to thank you for your help... so I will thank you! I've never had to call 911, but I am glad and grateful to know it is there.
Between your job and your majors and all the people and pets in your life, I am guessing you will have no shortage of ideas for stories in this class, and I hope it will be a fun break for you in the midst of your very busy life!
Hi Chrystal! It's nice to meet you! I so understand the extroverted introvert introduction. I feel that way myself and for that I really like online classes. This way I can get to know people without actually talking to them, even though I like to talk to people, too. Congratulations on buying a new home! I still live with my family so I am always dreaming of the day of home ownership, haha. Your pictures are awesome, thank you for sharing your goofiness and your cute pets! Also, I think it takes a special person to be a dispatcher. Thank you for your patience in doing that because your job is so important!
ReplyDeleteHey Chrystal,
ReplyDeleteI love your pictures, those that are not hilarious are very pretty, thanks for putting those up, they brought a smile to my face. Is it bad to say that we are very similar people, introverted nerds who attempt to be friendly? I am so sad that we may never get to met in person because I think we would be great friends, either that or we would hate each-other. To add to your classical rock, have you ever heard of Trans Siberia-Orchestra, they are a classic rock band that I love. Good luck with your full work load, make sure to take time and relax.
First of all, I love the wordplay in your title. I immediately thought of Game of Thrones when I read your comment about loving media where the you hate the writer. If you haven't checked that out before, George R.R. Martin will definitely make you hate him. I also enjoyed reading a description of your job. It's one that I've really not ever thought about, but after reading it, I can't believe I hadn't wondered about it before. Finally, I wanted to compliment you on your career path. It seems incredibly interesting, and I hope that you end up in the FBI!
ReplyDeleteWow, you're a busy bee! Love your pictures, especially the ones of your pets! They're very cute :^). Your job sounds so hectic. I can't imagine how stressful it must be, so I admire and respect you so much for doing that. I'm glad it's rewarding for you, though! I get you with the whole emotional involvement because I'm like that, too. I get so attached and honestly I'm like, "why are you like this" to myself because fictional characters are my weakness.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little curious about what your blog title means!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand what you mean when you wrote about being introverted. I am too; I love curling up by myself with a good book or movie. Lately, I've been enjoying reading nonfiction that way and it's a huge time-sink, whoops.
You sound like a really intelligent person! Thank you for everything you do as a dispatcher. I don't think people often think about how demanding that job would have to be, but it's vital.
The blog title is from a song written and performed by an artist that has inspired me more than anything or anyone else in my life; Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October (mentioned in my intro). I've had some rough times in my life, as I think most people do, and I've grown from it and persevered thankfully but Justin's songs helped me through a very dark time in my life, when I felt pretty alone. He had basically hit rock bottom himself at one point and so a lot of the group's earlier music really hit close to home for me... He's pulled himself out of the darkness as well and in the process has made a great life for himself in spite of everything... His most recent album was all about happiness and family and it just really inspires me and feels personal to me for some reason. The line is simple, yet very powerful to me.
Delete"I stay sticky 'cause I gotta be the glue for
my girl, my friend's, my home, family, I do it all."
That's probably more of an explanation than you bargained for but there ya go!! =)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fNAVW4Otks if you want to check it out. ;)
Hi Chrystal!
ReplyDeleteI Iove the title of your post, as I, too, like to identify myself an outgoing introvert. I really like that you included some photos of yourself, I feel like it really helped me get to know you better. I think it's awesome that you work with rescue animals! I would love to be a foster dog mom, but i'm afraid I would get too attached. Your job sounds very interesting. I am currently studying criminology as a minor and have fallen in love with it. I agree, working for the FBI someday, especially in their CSI unit, would be the dream!
Hi Chrystal! You sound like a really interesting person! I like that you included so many pictures in your introduction; it gives a good sense of how fun-loving you are. And I'm a huge animal person, so I totally loved all your animal pictures! I also think it's great that you're doing a double major AND a minor- that sounds difficult! I'm also doing a foreign language as a minor and I love it! I think it makes my course load a lot more interesting.
ReplyDeleteHey Chrystal! First off I want to say that I thought your title was great because I totally understand wanting to just be alone with a good book (even if I know I should be social). I would comment on each thing you wrote because it was all extremely interesting, but I don't want to make my post too long. I mainly want to say that I haven't ever personally spoken to a 9-1-1 dispatcher, but your job seems really tough with everything you described. That being said, it's great that you're able to enjoy helping people even without the recognition. That can be hard to do. Good luck this semester and in getting your double major!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIntroverts unite! You seem to have a great sense of humor, which I love. I agree that I can get very emotionally involved in a story or character as well. Your family seems awesome and it's great that you have such close relationships with all of them. It's so cool that you're a 911 dispatcher. That job is probably not an easy one, but I know a lot of people appreciate you for doing it. You seem to be handling work and double majoring and family really well, so I applaud you for that. I hope you go on to do even more amazing things. I can't wait to read your stories!
ReplyDeleteWow, you are such an awesome person! That is so cool that you are a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and I think it's great that you want to do crime scene investigation. Forensics really interests me! All your pets are so adorable, and I applaud you for helping with animal rescue. That is a very honorable thing to do, which seems liked the type of person you are!
ReplyDeleteYou are such an interesting person! I think it’s very neat that you have such a passion for crime and FBI and CSI. You seem to also have a love for animals as well. So cool and fun – I also love animals too! I hope you have had a great semester so far and you go on to do such great things in life! I think you will!
ReplyDeleteChrystal, it is nice to meet you! First off all of your pets are so cute. I have one dog and sometimes I think it is too much so kudos for you for having so many! That is so cool that you are a 9-11 dispatcher. I find that awesome that you are willing to do such a difficult job. Also, congrats on buying yalls first house! Good luck this semester.
ReplyDeleteHey Chrystal!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore all of your cats and dogs, they look so precious! I'm amazed that you're a 9-1-1 dispatcher. I've always wondered how they are able to keep their cool and monitor so many things at one time. That job would definitely take patience and hard work! I bet you've heard so many awful situations. Anyways, I also find it super cool that you want to be involved as a crime scene investigator. That job would definitely never get boring, as you'd see something different every day. It would also be very rewarding!
Good luck this semester and in the future!
Hi Chrystal. It's nice to meet you. I like how you were honest about your personality straight of the park. I think it helps people get to know you better when they know what you dislike and like. I, myself, classify as a extrovert, but after a long day at work/school, I always find myself recharging alone and in silence while reading a book. I would say I'm an extrovert but I must recharge as an introvert. It was nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI love reading fantasy books too! My favorite book series right now is Throne of Glass, I recommend it to everyone! That is so cool that you work as a 911 dispatch! I am sure that job can get very intense sometimes. I bet it takes a certain kind of person to work in that position. I think that’s awesome that you are double majoring and minoring! To do all that, have a job, be married, and have a kid is an impressive amount of work to juggle!
ReplyDeleteIt can certainly be a handful but I manage. =) I will be checking out that book now, thanks!
DeleteHello! All of your animals are so cute! Wow your job sounds stressful, but very needed. Also your major sounds so interesting and it is great that you found something you are passionate about. I love Harry Potter and Hunger Games as well! It is exciting that you are on your way to accomplishing your goals! Have a great rest of the semester!
ReplyDeleteHi, Chrystal!
ReplyDeleteHaha I loved the personal photos you posted. They really show how goofy you are! Aw, your dogs are adorable. I’m not really a cat person, but I must say your cats are very photogenic. I love that you work with rescue groups to find animals their forever homes. I don’t know how you’re able to handle all of these things in your life, but you are absolutely amazing!
Hello! My goodness you have quite a few animals and this is certainly the most photos that I have seen on anyone's introduction page to date, nicely done. Your major certainly sounds interesting and a far cry from my own. The Hunger Games is one of my personal favorites to read. I did feel that the movies aside from the first one were kind of let down for me personally.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you! You're animals are so precious! I give you props for being able to work full time and double major. I struggle working full time with my single major. I can't even imagine. It's great that you're able to be in a field that is close to what you want to do later on. I understand about a rewarding job. I work at a hospital and the rewarding part is what makes it all worth while. Hopefully the end of the semester isn't too crazy for you! Good luck with finals!
ReplyDeleteIntroversion is something I understand well, Chrysta; I often spent my childhood with video games, computers, and the like, often keeping to myself. Guess it's a good thing that being a nerd these days is a cool thing now!
ReplyDeleteWith such a background, my favorite music is video game music! There are plenty of prolific composers and soundtracks now that games are receiving bigger development budgets. Check out the work of David Wise, Yoko Shimomura, and Hideki Naganuma some time!