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| Rachel is a unique woman with many passions and a great love for words and beautiful things.
Elfwood User Name: onyxash  Page: http://www.elfwood.com/~onyxash
Published material at: SciFi Fantasy as onyxash: [Go!]
 <-- Personal smiley...
I am a poet, a writer, a book cannibal, a dreamer, a hoper, a pessimist, a listening shoulder, and a laugh a minute. I am tall, silly, loud, aggressive, anal-compulsive, impatient, kind, trustworthy, honest, one of the butt sisters, and an Amazon. My greatest talents are talking, laughing, and making others laugh. Oh, I’m good at drawing and writing and other arts and crafts, and have interests in many many things, but I’m a born nurturer, and making others feel better about themselves and truly caring about them is, I feel, my greatest trait. My mother calls me the Ambassador, and I’m fiercely loyal and protective. I will kick your butt if provoked, but I will never throw the first punch. My favorite colors are pink (fuchsia in particular) and black, I'm an unabashed tomboy with a girly streak that climbing trees could not seem to wrest from me. I luuuuuurv chocolate (or any sweets), talk in my sleep, talk to myself (which is really just thinking aloud a majority of the time), am fascinated with the human body, am insanely ticklish (watch out or you’ll catch an elbow to the face or gut), scratch when and where it itches, was called a Walking Dictionary and Human Thesaurus (I'm very proud of this), and was always well-known, but certainly NOT popular (thank God). Rachel means 'ewe' in Hebrew, and Kelly means 'warrior woman' in Irish Gaelic, and that’s pretty darn accurate in summing up my personality in three words. And supposedly Tipaldi is a small village/town somewhere in Italy, though I can’t find it. LOL. Nationality: I'm a mutt; Native American (7 different kinds), Irish and Scotch, Dutch, Black Dutch, Welsh, German, and a few other things I forget on my mom’s side and Italian, Cecilian, and Swedish/Norwegian on my dad’s. I look Dutch Italian and am built like a Norwegian Amazon woman. If you stand me next to my oldest brother Michael -who is 4.5 yrs older than me- you can tell the difference in our builds. It’s actually quite funny. He’s this 5’9 petite wiry guy who learned karate before he ever took lessons, and I’m this 5’8 big-boned, large-framed girl whose nickname is Crash. Hah. All I’d have to do is sit on him and all those karate lessons are useless. ^.- Sometimes I wish I’d been born petite and little, but then I wouldn’t be who I am, so… fooey to that. Who wants to be skinny enough to snap in half? I graduated High School On May 23rd, 2003, Cum Laude. Despite my debilitating Speech impairment, that, for numerous reasons, began before I even started school and lasted until 4th grade, people say I am one of the most well spoken individuals they've ever met; goes to show that you CAN overcome adversities (I took, that I can remember, about two years of speech classes). I enjoyed school because it was somewhere to be other than home and I hated being home. My parents divorced when I was 8.5, I was molested on a regular basis from age 7.5-13.5, and always the odd-man-out because I wasn't petite and little and because of my unique view of things and the fact that I was my own person and refused to conform to society and fall in with the crowd. Teachers generally always liked me and I usually liked the teachers everyone else hated. I’ve made being different work for me, and couldn’t be happier about it. I always had lots of close acquaintances because most people like me, but I prefer only having a few best or really close friends. My artistic abilities include writing and drawing, though I do not possess the amount of talent in the latter my mother and her eldest sister does. Nor can I draw cartoons like my brother David (he's the middle child, and I'm the youngest). I'm a realist, and people think I’m odd, but I don’t know what they’re talking about. >.> <.< ^.- Talent runs through my blood on my mother’s side. My father couldn't write a couplet to save his life, or draw a respectable flower -though he can fix a car like nobody’s business, and knows carpentry and construction like the back of his hand, which I admire as equally as those with musical and other artistic talents. My mother was born to do extraordinary things, but life got in the way. I can only hope that doesn’t happen to me. My 2nd cousin on my Dad's side, Kip Langello, writes medical thrillers, and they are very good, though not really my forte. I read mostly romance, romantic suspense, and supernatural romance, and fantasy, but I've read "Sphere" by Michael Crichton -the book is better than the movie, and I encourage you to read it -plus a couple other sci-fi types. I quite like the few Dean Koonts books I've read as well. “Tick Tock” was fabulous. I went from R.L. Stine at age twelve to Nora Roberts, so for... oh, I'd say seven years, I read almost straight romance. Then when I was 17 I decided to try something new, and Michael gave me "Towers of the Sunset", by L.E. Modesitt Jr. Then he told me about the Shannara series, which he and my father raved about, and I was hooked. I must say, if there's one thing that bothers me, it's that Terry Brooks -author of the aforementioned series- doesn't get enough credit. In all the galleries I've seen here, no one has once mentioned Terry Brooks. Everyone says Tolkien and McCaffrey, and yes, they are all good, I've read a couple of their things. But I feel it is my sworn duty to recognize Terry Brooks. He awes me more and more with every book of his I read. Please, please, oh please, read his books! Another good series are The Belgariad and The Malloreon, and The Elenium and The Tamuli, all by David Eddings. Read these too, I beg you. He is another simply amazingly talented writer. These two fellows are my inspiration for fantasy writing. Drawing: I remember coloring in coloring books with my mom and brother David when I was younger. I was extremely meticulous when it came to coloring within the lines, and I hated crayons so I used colored pencils, which meant of course that my pictures were always torn. LOL. I never colored a tree pink or a bear orange. I guess I'm very anal that way. I took art classes all throughout my school years so that I could learn how to draw better because, though I was born with the artistic capability, it didn't come natural, per se, and so I needed someone else to show me how to channel what was stuck inside my head and heart. The fact that I can channel it well is a small miracle I think. People ask how I got so good and I tell them it took years and years of school and studying in depth different techniques from books and practicing them; loads of practicing. I've saved all my older sketch pads, but I'll never let anyone see them because they are so horrible. LOL. Trial and error and practice practice practice got me as good as I am today, and believe me, there are SO many areas I need to improve on. >.< The learning never stops. It's a timeless process. My art teacher Ms. Mendoza from 7th and 8th grade was a great teacher. My mother and her sisters were huge inspirations, though my mom mostly is my greatest influence. My family -step and blood- always strongly encouraged success in every area my brothers and I chose to pursue. I think it's mostly pride that drove me to pursue art. I wanted to be good at it, to have a common link with my mother and to have what was inside me look like what had inspired it from nature. I draw and paint mostly landscapes or the human form, though I also enjoy doing animals and still life’s and seascapes, if something particular catches my eye. My medium is mainly colored pencil. They were my first love and I will always go back to them. I also draw with charcoal and graphite pencils. I like charcoal, charcoal pastel and oil and water soluble pastels. And I paint using watercolor and acrylic; oil does not interest me. I try not to be a hypocrite, for I despise them, and like to think I can take criticism well. So, feel free to give me some advice. I might not adhere to it, but I honestly like to know others points of views. Since you have already read a short story, I will end this. And I hope you enjoy my work.
Interests
Reading, writing, drawing/painting/sketching, art, scrap-booking, photography, and most other arts and crafts. I enjoy buying underwear, shoes (though it's impossible with size 11w feet), nail polish, books, make-up -though I NEVER wear it- and notebooks -I just love the possibilities of a blank notebook. ^.^ Watching good movies and TV shows I enjoy, talking, and singing (not very well). Love swords/knives, cats (domesticated and wild), horses, and wolves, toe rings, bicycle riding, hockey, histories on Native Americans and Ireland and Scotland, sleeping, and FF games -I grew up with them *shrug*. Interested in one day learning woodwork, glass-making, jewelry-making, and sewing. Why is the smell of a clean man working outside shirtless in the hot, bright sunshine so dang wonderful, and why is the sound of the ocean so dang soothing?
Favorite Fantasy/Scifi Movies and TV Shows
I LOVE Hayao Miyazaki and ALL his creations. I first saw my favorite movie of his, "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" when I was in elementary school and it had been americanized and the title changed to "Warriors of the Wind". I know they redid it a few years ago and it's supposed to be better, but honestly, I liked "Warriors of the Wind" more. Perhaps it's just sentimental memories from my childhood. I dunno. "Castle in the Sky" is another really good story of his. Oh, and so is "Spirited Away". I LOVE the Alien movies, though they always give me bad dreams. Hahaha. "Dune" was cool, though I could never get into the TV series or read the books. Star Gate was good, but I never saw the show. Michael Crichton is good when in the mood ("Sphere" was a better book than movie, so read the book). LOTR, of course, is just amazing. I own all 3 and even paid to see them in theatre when they came out. Whenever I need a little pick-me-up or inspiration I just pop one of the movies in. I am totally in love with the LOTR trilogy. As for shows... I liked Star Trek: Next Generation and Star trek: Voyager. I liked Alien Nation too. Kinda sad it's over. And I was in love with the X-Files, a million years ago. ^.^
Favorite Fantasy/Scifi Books
I read mostly romance/romantic suspense/supernatural romance (vampires and werewolves) so my list of Fantasy/Sci-Fi based books is limited. My absolute favorite fantasy authors are Terry Brooks and David Eddings; no one gives them the credit they deserve and it's very upsetting to me. They are my inspiration for fantasy. Anne McCaffrey, L.E. Modesitt JR, R.A. Salvatore, Susan Krinard; for urban fantasy I like Stephenie Meyer, Rob Thurman, and Charles de Lint. Tolkien is, of course, one of the greats; unfortunately, I've never been able to read his stuff. I don't know why. I love the movies, but couldn't get past chapter 2 in "The Fellowship of the Ring" all 4 separate times I tried to read the trilogy. I read "The Hobbit" in English in 10th grade and that's it. Oh, I gotta give a shout out to Orson Scott Card. He's... spectacular. And there are other sci-fi and fantasy books I've read but I forget the authors names. I also enjoy poetry -naturally- art books, histories, and other informative books on subjects that interest me.
Favorite Music
Oldies, old oldies (the stuff my grandmother listens to) Alternative, Contemporary, Pop, very very very little R&B and Rap, some Country and Western. 80's and 90's, of course. When I'm in the mood, Relaxation and Instrumental music; a very little Jazz, and Oriental. Rock: Linkin Park, MCR, Nickelback, Staind, and several more in that genre I have come to enjoy but have not memorized yet. LOL. Basically anything that isn't 'hard'. I like to think I have an eclectic taste in music. | 
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Joined Elfwood: 2008-08-14
Last login at Elfwood: 2008-11-17 21:04:40
Number of Written comments: 360
(Total characters in written comments): 46604
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Guestbook for Onyxash
 | |  | | | Date | Name | Comment | | | 9 Sep 2008 |  Per Johansson | Hi Rachel! *First comment dance!* I found Your page thanks to Your many, very nice comments on my gallery. Your story above was really interesting, and I really look forward to see some of Your art as soon as possible! See You in cyberspace!    Rachel Kelly Tipaldi replies: "I submitted the 4 pieces of work required but just have to wait for them to be approved by the moderators. I’m working on some more stuff, most of it just in need of editing. I’ll let you know when things are up. Thanks for dropping by Per. Have a good evening. Ciao!" | |
| 17 Sep 2008 |  Per Johansson | Hi again, Rachel! I’m a bit surprised You haven’t got any uploadings yet. I have some new material up that I posted a couple of days ago. On the other hand, I sometmes have waited several weeks, so I suppose Your material will turn up soon. I’ll be back...  | |
| 19 Sep 2008 |  '' AlpineBob '' | Welcome to the Woods! I don’t do any art myself, too busy wandering the groves, commenting and annoying people. I figure most Elfwoods denizens like fantasy, so currently the annoyance is in the form of promoting a cool comic called Black Jack O’Breen ’bout a rogue who must return to his homeland because fae have taken his brother. You seem to have eclectic interests, so if you’re curious, check it out:
http://www.zeros2heroes.com/property/black-jack-o-breenMissing [/URL]![/URL]
Rachel Kelly Tipaldi replies: "Thank you for your nice greetings. ^.^ I’ll check out the website. Ciao!" | |
| 29 Sep 2008 |  Miranda Kay Leek | HI! Thanks for the fav! | |
| 30 Oct 2008 |  Per Johansson | Hello, are You still there, Rachel? I wonder what happened to Your uploadings, and miss Your nice comments...  Rachel Kelly Tipaldi replies: "Yes I am still here. What happened with my things is when I uploaded them I forgot to click the save and publish changes button. *rolls eyes* Makes me feel stupid, but there you go. So I decided not to upload anything until I’d finished a few more pieces first. I am actually working on one piece right now, hoping I can finish it by the end of the week. Thanks so much for checking back on me. ^.^ Have a great day Per. Ciao!" | |
| 1 Nov 2008 |  Per Johansson | Hi again, Rachel! Very glad to see You are still on Elfwood! I look forward to see some of Your art.  | |
| 5 Nov 2008 |  Richard J. Igl | Thank you for your comment! I look forward to reading your work. | |
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