Name: Chrissy Swinimer (one of the funky chicken girls!)
Where from: The suburbs outside Boston, Mass.
What I do in real life:
Well, my real life consists of work, eat, sleep and
fun. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth in 1997
and 1998. Yep, I graduated twice. I decided not to go into the "real world"
right away and instead went for a fifth year of school and, in total, earned
myself two Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees. One BFA is in Graphic
Design/Letterform and the other is in Electronic Imaging (web/multimedia
design). After tons of fun AND hard work I decided I should probably earn
some money to pay off my HUGE school loans!
I was hired as a freelancer at Monster.com the day that I met Gloria for
the first time at the Today Show on July 22, 1998. So now I consider Gloria
my "good luck charm". :) I was hired full time in October of that same year
and have been there ever since. I design webpages, graphics, banner ads,
interactive presentations, CD-roms, etc for Monster.com.
What I like to do in my spare time: Well, besides listening to Gloria, planning
fun and exciting roadtrips and working on the Conga website, I love to design. I can't wait to get back into painting
again too. Anything art related I love. Rachel always says to me, "You are
such an artist!". It's totally true and I take it as a compliment. In one
way or another art is in my life. It is part of me and I love it.
Traveling is another favorite of mine. Since I was very young my parents
would haul me and my little brother around on roadtrips. This is also in
my blood and any chance I get to take a trip (the wackier the better!) then
I go for it! I just wish i had more vacation days and more money....lol!
Taekwon-do is another thing I love although I have been out of it for about
a year now. My New Years Resolution is to go back to it and finally get my
black belt! My Master teases me saying that I should have a 3rd degree black
belt by now.
Music I like besides Gloria:
One word.....AEROSMITH! I have been a huge fan
of the "Bad Boys from Boston" since I was in the sixth grade. I love them! I got a chance to meet "the boys" briefly twice...once at a book signing at their
club "Mamakin" in Boston (which has been bought out since then) and once
at their New Years show in 1998 (and got a kiss from Mr. Tyler himself...*sigh*). They are sincerely nice guys and incredible
performers. Also most recently Rachel and I finished our "2001 Aerosmith Concert Year". We saw nine incredible shows (would have been 13 but 4 were cancelled because of Steven being sick) and were lucky enough to have front row for one show ("Steven's balls, Steven's balls..."...haha!! Right Rachel!?!? YYEEAAHH!!!) and second row for another, I just can't deny that I am madly in love with Steven Tyler!! Other than Gloria and Aerosmith I like to listen to a variety of music....latin, top 40, hard rock, heavy metal, alternative, urban...you name it. Everything but country. Some of my other favorite artists are Shakira, Annie Lennox, Metallica, etc.
Fav Glo song:
At the moment , "Oye" (spanish version) and "You'll Be Mine (Partytime) Single Mix"
My fav Glo possession:
My maraca!!!! I got it from Gloria at the Conga Bash, it was such a surprise! I LOVE MARACAS!!! :)
Favorite Gloria moment:
LIVE BY REQUEST!!!!!!! Rachel and I were invited into the show by Gloria
herself (we had no tickets) and somehow she knew our names without us telling
her who we were!! I am still in awe by that!! We were treated like royalty
and we were known by all the Sony people and guards as "Gloria's Guests".
This was BY FAR the best moment ever!!!!! I still cannot believe that it
ever happened it was too perfect to be true. Gloria, what else can I say
but....YOU ROCK!!!!! :)
Gloria has been a HUGE
influence in my life since 1990. I never thought I would ever get a chance
to meet her. It was only because of Conga did my dream come true! I love
being a member of this worldwide family! You are all such incredible people!
Love ya!
Click here to see Chrissy's
art work
Click here to read Chrissy's
adventure at the View & Today Show (98)
Click here to read Chrissy's
Live by Request story
Click here to read Chrissy's
50 Violins story
Click here to read Chrissy's
Conga Bash '99 story
Click here to read
Chrissy's Regis story