Q U O T E
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:113-14
B A S I C S
NAME dolores jean jeffries. NAME MEANING named after her maternal and paternal grandmothers. dolores means sorrow and jean means god is gracious. NICKNAMES most everyone in the family has called her dj since she was young, except for her mima, who shares her first name. she lovingly calls dj lolita. GENDER cis female PROUNOUNS she/her AGE thirty BIRTHDAY july 18 BIRTH PLACE manhattan, new york
F A M I L Y
PARENTS nicholas and roslyn (née rivas castillo) jeffries. (fcs: tim robbins and maría canals-barrera). dj has a great relationship with her parents. she knows she initially pushed the limits of unconditional love when she came out – though she suspects nic and rosie knew long before she ever sat them down and told them – and things might have ended up differently if they weren’t such a close-knit family unit. when she lived in new york, dj had dinner at her parents’ house usually once a week on the days she and her dad are on the same job site. even when she moved out of her parents’ house and still lived in the city, dj would sometimes come home to find her fridge and freezer full of ready-to-go meals and previously dirty clothes laundered and folded. she eventually had to talk to her mom about boundaries (and when it was okay to use the extra emergency key she gave her parents). she misses them now that she’s living up in maine, but they still connect through nearly daily texts and weekly calls. SIBLINGS dj’s an only child OTHER RELATIVES josé and dolores (maternal grandparents). dj ran her side carpentry and design business out of their garage and often spent weekends and nights out in queens fulfilling orders. clark and jean (paternal grandparents). they initially snowbirded and then finally decided to make the permanent move to phoenix five years ago. nic inherited the family company from clark, so most of dj’s conversations with her grandfather revolve around work. PETS the family had a tuxedo cat named ted when dj was growing up. since settling in somerton dj’s thought about adopting a cat, but hasn’t yet made that commitment.
A P P E A R A N C E
FACE CLAIM odette annable BUILD 5′9, lean but strong thanks to her profession. she still swims recreationally and it’s her go-to for working out. she loves being in and on the water. HAIR dark, brown, and naturally wavy, and it’ll hold curl. dj most often has her hair pulled back in a ponytail or up in a bun to keep it out of her face (and out of her tools) while working. EYES hazel DISTINGUISHING MARKS scarring on her left (dominant) hand from an electrical burn. TATTOOS believe on the back of her neck. dj decided to get the tattoo after struggling with her faith and sexual identity, and finally deciding that god created her to be nothing but her true self, and that he loves her regardless of whom she loves. PIERCINGS dj’s ears (lobes) were pierced when she turned one, but when she was old enough to play sports, she stopped wearing studs and the holes closed naturally. She’s never felt the need to get them redone or add any new piercings. STYLE jeans, t-shirts, boots (for work), or sneakers. crew neck sweaters/sweatshirts when the weather is cooler. she needs clothes that are comfortable and don’t restrict movement when she works. dj hasn’t worn a dress since her first communion. ACCESSORIES usually bare bones when it comes to makeup, dj does indulge in lip color. she only wears two pieces of jewelry: the promise ring her father gave to her mom that her mom then gifted to and resized for her when she turned 15, and the st. joseph medallion her dad presented to her when she began her carpentry apprenticeship. dj wears it around her neck and keeps it tucked beneath her shirt. she’d also consider a lot of her sneakers as accessories, too. SCENT musk, guiaiac, cedar, frankincense
P S Y C H O L O G Y
LANGUAGES spanish and english VOCABULARY average for every day and above average professionally. TEMPERAMENT melancholic LEARNING STYLE visual and logical learner EMOTIONAL STABILITY solid. dj grew up with three sets of supportive people cheering her on, and her roughest years were when she was struggling with her sexuality and immediately after she came out to her family. being truthful to whom she was really allowed dj to settle into life and be proud of herself.
C H A R A C T E R
RELIGION catholic. dj doesn’t take holy communion, and also doesn’t go to confession since she has no plans on repenting for being who she is, but she attends mass services fairly regularly and isn’t shy about her faith. PRIORITIES currently it’s being self-sufficient through her design business and seeing if she can grow it into something more. in the back of her mind is always the family business and its obligations, too. MOTIVATION being true to herself SELF CONFIDENCE it’s never been smooth sailing when it’s come to self doubt, which is why dj journals. she’ll write out negative thoughts and feelings and counter them with positivity. it doesn’t work every day, but it works most. MANNERISMS playing with her necklace when nervous. hands in pockets when talking to people so they don’t fidget. HABITS lying in bed for a half hour or so before she has to get up and playing her current favorite game on her phone. building towers out all things (sugar packets, blocks, utensils). ABILITIES anything that requires dj working with her hands. math. swimming. making deep connections with people she decides are worth caring about. INEPTITUDES reading. dj can read, but she just hates it, and especially hated having to read aloud in school. she’d much take in a story through audio book, or even better, tv or film. DREAMS building her own house one day, even if it’s just a weekend hideaway in the woods. FEARS taking over the family company. dj loves the hands on and physical labor aspect of the work, but the business side of things sort of terrifies her and she worries that when it’s her turn to take the reins she won’t be cut out for that role and will ruin what her father and grandfather have built. SECRETS dj stole $300 out of her mom’s purse on her 18th birthday and lost it all in atlantic city. in $20 increments she snuck it back into her mom’s wallet because the guilt threatened to eat her alive. WESTERN ZODIAC cancer CHINESE ZODIAC horse PRIMAL SIGN hermit crab HOGWARTS gryffinpuff ONE SONG "diane" cam ONE MOVIE disobedience
P R E F E R E N C E S
LIKES her job. power tools. fantasy football. her sneaker collection. the smell of sawdust. her mima’s ropa vieja. spending time in/out on the water. DISLIKES pineapple. pineapple on pizza. having to get up before the sun’s up. hot beverages. peanut m&ms.
H O M E + W O R K + E D U C A T I O N
HOMETOWN upper west side, manhattan CURRENT RESIDENCE evergreen dock, house boat DEGREES high school diploma. carpentry and electrician apprenticeships. a few business courses. MEMBERSHIPS union local 157 and 3 PROFESSION carpenter and electrician. still listed on the family business’s site even though she’s taken a leave of absence. dj designs is her current project. EMPLOYER currently self-employed EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES would like to get involved in youth coaching and other mentoring type projects like she was in nyc.
B I O
DJ is gifted with her names – Dolores Jean – by having the honor of being the first grandchild on either side of her parents’ families. As a result she is thoroughly spoiled and dotted upon for the first few years of her life, and knows she still ranks as the favorite grandkid.
From the time she can step into her dad’s work boots and has enough strength to drag his tool belt, DJ willingly follows her father to weekend work sites, and wants to help out however she can. DJ’s mom wishes her only daughter would take interest in other pursuits, but as DJ progresses through school, it’s clear traditional academics (aside from mathematics and art) aren’t her strong suit. Her dad is able to persuade her mom that DJ’s interest and talent for the work is not only good for her, but good for the family business. As a result, while still in high school DJ starts working on the hours needed for her trade apprenticeships.
Up until a year ago DJ has been working for the family’s construction and renovation company, with the expectation that she’ll eventually take over for her dad – just like her dad did for her granddad – whenever he decides to retire. DJ’s also taken a few business courses at the community college in preparation, but the reality of it all terrifies her. She knows she’s good at what she does, but the weight of having to carry a whole company (and all its employees) and what her family has built is nerve-racking, and it’s why she takes a leave of absence from the company back in May. She knows the company isn’t going anywhere, and neither are the expectations that she’ll return when called upon. But for now DJ is sort of content to explore life outside the city she grew up in and the expectations that have weighed her down for years.
For a bit now DJ’s had a side-business that she always wished she could devote more time to, which is exactly what she’s been doing since she left the family company. Initially run out of her grandparents’ garage in Queens, DJ Designs specializes in custom woodwork and commissions for clients, and she’s created everything from tables and chairs, to bunkbeds and bed frames, cabinetry, and outdoor play sets. Her designs had only been sold online and through personal requests, but as DJ’s traveled the coast she’s been stopping at flea and farmer’s markets and art fairs to see what various crowds buy up and are interested in.
That’s how DJ ends up in Somerton. There was a street festival in July, she booked a stall, and ended up falling in love with the little town. DJ’s not ready to put down roots yet (which is maybe why she’s currently renting a houseboat), but she’s happy enough to call Somerton her home for now.
Back in New York DJ volunteered her time for Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as youth sports leagues in her neighborhood. She got interested in the latter because of having horrible experiences with team sports while growing up. DJ was always taller for her age and had a natural athleticism, which meant most of her youth coaches put a lot of pressure on her to do well and better than her teammates. Sports ended up stressing her out and making herself feel horrible because whenever her team lost as she felt like she was solely responsible. Eventually DJ’s parents transitioned her to a swim team. While there was still a team element involved, most of the competition was individual-based, and DJ thrived. DJ still doesn’t personally participate in team sports to this day, but actively enjoys watching them and cheering folks on, and hopes to find something similar in Somerton in terms of volunteering and community.
