I've been raised in small towns all my life. I'd like to think I have a cafe-dwelling, indie-music-loving, witty beatnik deep within my spirit. Hiding behind his beret and goatee.

But that's what I'd like to think.

The truth of the matter is I love my small town. I drink instant coffee, and am happy with it. I watch indies, but only like movies and books with happy endings. I'm offbeat enough to not fit in, but likeable enough to belong.

I'm more awkward than graceful, more stressed than relaxed, I don't sleep well, but I've got a good heart. Most of the time.

I stress myself out way too often, way too easily. However, I can be one of the best people to relax around, when I find the opportunity.

I think an important aspect of myself is how much I love nursing. I worked for a nursing home for a year and a half before choosing to go to nursing school. It was the hardest job, lowest pay, and the greatest rewards. It really changed my perspective on caring for others.

I never thought I would be a nurse. I hate the smell of hospitals, health stuff used to gross me out, and I could never see myself in healthcare. Now I can't ever see myself being anywhere else. I've truly found a calling.

I love people. It's not that I think people are wonderful. Trust me. Caring for the sick is not a glamorous job.

I have no idea why we have so many television shows about health care.

But I love caring for patients. Letting them know someone cares is so great. I can't possibly explain the magnitude of it through words. It is so amazing.

I'm in nursing school. It ends in December. The school is really rigorous, which doesn't allow me to work for all of 2009.

Dear Lord, I miss paychecks.

Talking to idiots. Which is so not productive.

But very, very amusing.

Speedreading.

Memorizing things for short periods of time.

Drawing.

Brainstorming.

Telling time. (Crocodile Dundee style, yo.)

Turning most things into jokes.

Procrastinating.

What I'm Not Really Good At:

Revising my OkCupid profile.

Breakdancing. Man, I wish I could do that.

Remembering things to get at the grocery store.

Tanning.

Taming wild animals.

Knowing when to shut up.

I am very pale, and I rock the glasses because I'm afraid of contacts.

I have sorta long hair that has been called blonde by some, and called brown by jackasses. Namely Derrick.

Of course, if you see me, I'm probably at school or clinicals, which is another way of saying I'm a mess on wheels.

And I'll probably look stressed.

Books: I'm a total Dean Koontz fanatic. I haven't read everything by him, but I'm working on it. Laura Lippman, Chuck Palahniuk, Jack Kerouac, e. e. cummings, Jason Wright, Mitch Albom, and other sentimental crap. I love poetry. And I don't mean only the sappy romantic ones.

Movies: Superbad, Talladega Nights, Little Manhattan, Secretary, A Love Song for Bobby Long, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Cars, Bridget Jones' Diary, A Slipping Down Life, Empire Records... yeah, I'm all over the place.

Music: Oh Lordy, what don't I love? I'm a music lover. I'm not huge on country, though I grew up listening to a good bit of it. Here's a few favorite artists - The Replacements, Beck, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, David Lee Kaiser and the Joint Chiefs, Reel Big Fish, NOFX, Flogging Molly, Saliva, Seether, Steve Miller Band, Shinedown, Sam Sparro, Pennywise, Kool & The Gang, The Ting Tings, Santogold, The Blakes, Adele, Rise Against, The Wombats, Lit, Cake, Smile Empty Soul, Theory of a Deadman, Dropkick Murphys, Nickelback, Live, Cake, Taj Mahal!, Bonnie Raitt, Gavin DeGraw, White Stripes, The Raconteurs, Nine Inch Nails, and so on.

Food: Anything really unhealthy. And preferably southern.

Aside from the necessities (air, food, water) and the basics we all know and love (electricity, plumbing, and an internet connection) not to mention my faith in God, I would have to say:

1. My family and friends.

2. My iPod.

3. A decent library somewhere in the vicinity.

4. Pockets. You have no idea how much we all take them for granted until we've been stranded holding money, keys, phone, iPod, a drink, sunglasses, and other assorted goods.

5. Daily access to the minds of millions. Or a phone. Call it a tie.

6. Loud, loud music. Preferably in a car, going fast, with the windows down.

7. [Putting brackets on random things.]

Billy Joel.

Okay, not really.

How life is so very improved with just hanging a hammock somewhere.

Working out the details to transfer to an RN program.

How I can save the world without having to actually be eco-friendly.

If one day I will have the sappy, goofy, utterly inconsolable, out of your mind, can't-even-focus love I desperately want, but deny.

Studying my ass off. I totally forgot.

Worrying.

I refuse to reset clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

At least I have it right half the year, so don't knock it.

I cry at movies. Like, constantly.

...I do math problems to calm myself down. I'm not a very scientific-minded person, it just takes my mind off of things.

You cry at movies, too.

Or if anything I've said reverberates so deeply inside you, striking a chord that makes you realize we have the possibility of being kindred spirits.

Or something to that effect.

But impress me!

Otherwise, just email me. Go forth, and message.