My interests and hobbies are quite varied:
Hiking, weight lifting, reading, completely impractical craft projects (eg: making a maille hauberk), econometric studies. When the weather is conducive, exploring & incredibly long walks (6+ miles) are common.

Outside work, the day to day is mostly reading and exercising. I'll be doing a Tough Mudder in June, and recently began serving as a personal trainer to two of my friends, at their request.

The "more political" line is something I find a bit funny. I quite dislike politics, and instead care about the /effects/ of enacted and proposed policies. For example, many people like the idea of drug testing welfare recipients as a condition of receiving state support. Often, the supporters of such policies claim that it will save money and prevent abuse. However, the state of Florida enacted such a policy a few years back, and found:
- Welfare recipients utilize drugs at about 1/3rd the rate of the overall state population
- The cost of randomized drug testing was greater than the amount of money saved by kicking off those who either tested positive for drug use, or refused to be tested.

Meaning that the policy, according to the reasoning used to support it, is both unnecessary and wasteful. Awesome.

I finished my MA in 2011, and have been working at a local non-profit research group since: tracking companies and their investments, analyzing state economic development and business incentive (subsidization) programs, researching broader issues affecting post-industrial communities, occasionally attending conferences for the free coffee and lunch.

I've also been reviewing work from my MA, and exploring PhD programs: I do not want to chance a situation where lack of preparation precludes pursuit of a PhD, should I decide that such is indeed a desirable future path.

Historically, people frequently commented that I seem to have some vague, British/Irish/Scottish accent. Lately, it's been comments on my appearance:
"How can I get my [boyfriend/husband/son] to dress more like you do?"

Reading
My all-time favorite book would be Dracula. Love Stoker's writing style. Guns, Germs and Steel, and Banker to the Poor are quite up there, too.

Music
Second Person, Third Eye Blind, Clare Burson, Flogging Molly, Dandy Warhols, The Dresden Dolls / Evelyn Evelyn / Amanda Palmer

Movies & TV
Alien & Aliens, South Park, Firefly & Serenity, Star Trek: TOS, Twin Peaks, X-Files

Coffee is an absolute must. Tea, too, when the weather's cold.

Discussion and debate. Intelligent discourse is prerequisite to my happiness.

Persistent issues in society.
The arenas of public and economic policy.
Social messages and cultural norms.

"Why did X policy, which is demonstrably bad, as documented in Y studies over the past Z years ever get pursued? Are they really this stupid [or willfully ignorant]?"

Usually catching up on exercise, laundry and cleaning.

In years past, Friday meant hanging out at Necto, Aut Bar, Babs' or Ashley's. That's more a once-every-two-or-three-months thing now.

I still get choked up over my cat's death, which happened all the way back in 2010. I had that cat from the time I was 3, almost through to my 24th birthday.

If you like long discussions of complex issues, accompanied by a few drinks, we'll get along quite nicely.