I suppose it's time to update this. I am in transition and I hate it! I recently moved across the country from Portland, OR to Amherst, MA. I'm having a tough time finding an apartment, and so I'm very fortunate to have a friend letting me rent a room at her place for ridiculously cheap. Transition is very uncomfortable for a settle-in-type like myself, especially when it lasts this long.

I'm a bit of a home body but I do love getting out with friends and family as well. I like reading, arts and crafts, garage sales, hiking, going to the beach, camping, and other embarrassing nerdy things that don't need to be broadcast to the world. I look forward to finding a partner with whom I can spend more time outdoors than I do on my own. Think snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, canoeing or kayaking, hiking, etc.

I'm pretty quiet at first and rarely the most boisterous person in a group. I care the most about human rights, social justice, and education (and how they intersect).

I have a masters in teaching and license in early childhood and elementary, but bad timing in terms of the economy and searching for a job. I subbed for two years in Oregon before realizing the massive layoffs weren't going to stop any time soon. Now I'm here in Amherst working with kids and families in a different capacity. Gotta pay off those loans for my degree that I'm not really using! As it turns out, my teaching license transfers to lots of states that don't have teaching jobs, but not to many of the states that do. Sweet.

Crafty things. I can sew a little, I can draw a little, I can paint a little, I can construct a little.. not a master of any of these things but proficient enough to entertain myself. I like making things for people and used to have a little side business painting and dying baby clothes. These days I mostly just paint.. funky, loud, geometric, graphic animals. I don't really know how to describe them?

I'm shy and not the best conversationalist, but I love listening and hanging out with people who are louder and more animated than me. It just takes me a while to warm up!

Here comes the nerdy part.. I love the Harry Potter series. I really do. But I hate Twilight! Too much teen angst for me. As far as writing style I really enjoy Paulo Coelho, and some other books I wouldn't mind re-reading would be Water for Elephants, the Red Tent, All the Fishes Come Home to Roost, Dante's Inferno, and The Count of Monte Cristo.

For movies, my favorites are The Sandlot, The Never-Ending Story, The Labyrinth, Swingers, Everything is Illuminated, Boondock Saints, Terminator 2, and the original french version of Le Conte de Monte Cristo.

I'm not much of a music buff but I like jazz and alternative 90s the best I would say.

It's in my blood to love burgers and boy do I, but I usually prefer North African, Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai food above the rest. I also like Indian, Italian, Ethiopian, and Mexican food, and am always willing to try new cuisines.

1. Family and friends
2. Dogs
3. Lists
4. Fruit
5. Chocolate (but never fruit and chocolate together.. yuck)
6. Scarves

Some of these things sound ridiculous and probably shouldn't be on the list but it's difficult to think of six things!

The future for myself, my family and my friends, getting to know my new community, trying my best to be aware of the oppressive forces acting against the people around me, student loans.

This has changed since I've moved here. Since my only friend so far (with whom I live) isn't much into going out or playing games (as I am wont to do), we usually get take out on Fridays and pop in a Harry Potter or LOTR/Hobbit movie. Sometimes I'm working.

I hate socks and it makes my skin crawl when people wear them to bed. I guess that's the weirdest thing I'm willing to admit.

You're not a total creep, really old, or doing drugs.

Edit: I've found that leaves the door open for far too many people from whom I do not want to hear. Let's add a few other qualifications:

You do not have "casual sex" listed on your profile. That is revolting.

You are not "finding yourself" or anything similar. Find yourself before you find someone else (or at least me).

You envision your future and plan for it. I do not mean a trip you want to take, a philosophical concept of what it means to live, or changing life direction. If you have to go back to four years of school to do something you just thought of, I'm not interested.

Hipsters need not message, though I know most hipsters say they're not hipsters, so this feels pointless. Could also live without the musicians, artists, etc.

EDIT #2: DO be a feminist, aware and horrified by the countless ways people are oppressed every day, present and willing to do something about it, and open to learning about things like your own privilege (yeah, you have it).

EDIT#3: I'm just gonna go ahead and say that I eat meat and gluten. Quite a bit, really, and I love them. It would be extremely difficult for me to maintain a relationship with someone who has vastly different dietary needs than I do. Actually, probably impossible long term.