I just moved to L.A., so I'm looking for friends to indulge in my geeky hobbies with.

I'm a full-scale geek whose favorite hobby in the world is Magic cards. I carry my DCI card in my wallet, worship at the altar of MaRo, and am a Timmy with a splash of Johnny and not a hint of Spike.

I'm not satisfied if I'm not thinking constantly--there are so many things to think about! How come Ozzie Osbourne and Alice Cooper have such similar stage personas, when Alice Cooper is strikingly intelligent and Ozzie Osbourne is about as sharp as a bowling ball? Why in God's name is this funny? http://students.eng.fiu.edu/~jfunk/images/weird/those-are-my-shoes.jpg Am I the only person who thinks the little messages that tell me you haven't been contacted in a week are inhumane? If we go to see a movie, I hope we will analyze it over food later that night.

I love doing community service projects, but I only do ones that grab me in some way. I'm not noble enough to just sit down and go "How can I make the world a better place?"

I made a rug that depicts Link from Legend of Zelda out of yarn.

Beware of asking about the autistic kids I've worked with--I have an endless reserve of cute stories. I keep them to myself unless prodded, but once I have kids of my own I make no promises. I'm going to be the most annoying mother ever.

I love the pictures on Cute Overload, but have to follow it up with a visit to Fuck You Penguin to clear the rancid babytalk aftertaste.

I don't like long online courtships and I HATE the phone. I consider OkCupid to be a place where you meet people you might want to see in person. If you plan to ask me out, feel free to do it within our first few conversations.

Also, I wish I could grow a white streak in my hair through force of will. Just like Gordito's mustache.

My babies...
Pierre http://ratzrealm.com/17882bf00.jpg
and Hugh
http://ratzrealm.com/173d2cf00.jpg

I own my own copy of Betrayal at House on the Hill.

I am Unitarian Universalist where it counts. I'm not so good at getting up on Sunday mornings, but the principles are terribly important to me.

http://14.media.tumblr.com/b9vfl4b63mtoomzb1mNKC9bto1_500.jpg Just... go look at it.

I was originally going to be a marriage counselor, but now I'm taking a year off to decide whether I want to do that or do research in the field. Either way, I want to study marriage counseling in couples where one or both has autism.

Working with people with autism has been a life-changing experience because I learned to love them for the sake of loving them, not with the hope that they would ever show appreciation or return the affection. It's kind of zen. Eventually I want to adopt a child (or two) with high-functioning autism from the foster care system. (But not three--after nannying, I have pledged never to have more children than I have hands.)

taking care of other people, and working my ass off at whatever I've decided to commit to. I was a stage manager for 4 years at my high school and community theatres, an awesome way to combine the two. Props were always prepared, sick actors got cups of hot water delivered to their dressing room, and my crew members each got individual thank-you notes during the final dress rehearsal.

Now I rain that kind of devotion down on the autistic children I work with. I actually kind of enjoy being sneezed and drooled on and stuff, since then I know I am doing a service that most other people would be afraid to do.

Also, Scrabble. I'm not the kind of player who knows all the stupid two-letter words, but I seem to have a knack for doing well among normal people. Maybe it's because I think in writing. Seriously. It's weird.

Not sure. If there's a child around, they notice that I'm making goofy faces at it. Otherwise--that I laugh a lot when I'm nervous? That I'm kind of a dork? That I dress like a dude? My clothing of choice is jeans or men's shorts (which don't ride up or make you feel like a Barbie doll!) and webcomics T-shirts. I used to wear men's shirts too, but now I wear clothes that give a slightly better indication of my gender.

When I'm wearing shorts, people notice the giant tattoo that says "autistics" on my ankle, in honor of the autistic acceptance movement.

I read any books I can get my hands on. I will seek out light fantasy in particular, like Piers Anthony and Patricia C. Wrede. Other random books I enjoy: Anything by J.D. Salinger or Shirley Jackson, Harry Potter, anything by David Sedaris, Good Omens and a handful of Neil Gaiman and Discworld boks, Stephen King's short stories plus The Shining and Lisey's Story, Kelly Link.

I also like comics. Favorites include Watchmen, Serious House on Serious Earth, and Neil Gaiman's Murder Mysteries. I haven't read all the Sandman comics, though.

I read an embarrassing number of webcomics--in approximate order of favorites: Dr. McNinja, Questionable Content, xkcd, Diesel Sweeties, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, Bear Nuts, The Abominable Charles Christopher, Order of the Stick, Wondermark, Penny Arcade, The Invisible Life of Poet, and a handful I only read when I remember.

My all-time favorite movie is Ghost World. I'm also a fan of Donnie Darko, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Labyrinth, Hairspray, Enchanted, Ma Vie En Rose, (not La Vie En Rose), 40-year-old Virgin, Amelie, and Big Fish. Also anything else by Tim Burton. I enjoy many kinds of movies but don't make it to the movie theater often. However, I will try to make it to musicals. And while I think Garden State has its extremely cute moments, If you think it is any way profound we will have problems.

Unless you actually know somebody who has dealt with mental illness and still think it's profound. Then we will have a fascinating debate.

TV show subsection: Yes, I am a failure as a geek on the TV front. I have never seen Battlestar Galactica or Firefly. However, a friend has begun educating me and I am now hooked on 30 Rock and Arrested Development.

Musically, I'm fairly eclectic. I spent high school obsessed with Pink Floyd and its members' solo albums, and still hold a major soft spot for them. Roger Waters will rocket back to the top of my list if he gets off his skinny ass and finishes his next album. Ca Ira has been growing on me as I play it in the interim, though. I listen to a lot of classic rock on the radio, but my glove compartment is full of Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and show tunes. Mostly Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber, but my current obsession is the musical Chess.

They didn't ask about favorite artists, but I am a huge fan of Magic card artists, some fantasy art, and pop surrealism. Favorites include Lisa Snellings, Jason Chan, Nancy Chien-Eriksen, Brian DeSpain, Cliff Nielsen, David Ho, Michelle Bradshaw, and most of the exhibits at Roq la Rue.

And where's the section on video games? If you are a fan of Xenosaga, skip straight to messaging me. Also, Earthbound, Mother 3, Psychonauts, Tales of Vesperia, and all of the Mario RPGs. Really revved up for Sims 3!

The children I work with, a good gaming store, AIM, my geek buddies, Lexapro, and a pet.

ethical dilemmas. They're kind of my hobby. Know any good ones? Example: given that mothers will almost always give their lives for their children, is it OK to sacrifice a mother for her child without her explicit consent?

Also, wondering if we can ever find out whether we're doing the right thing for the autistic kids. Should we be pushing them harder at the expense of being themselves? Letting them be more comfortable at the expense of learning important skills? Everything I do I do out of love, but that doesn't mean it doesn't haunt me that there's no right answer.

trying to stir up a board game or Magic tournament. We're particularly fond of Settlers of Catan, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Touch of Evil, Agricola, and Last Night on Earth. I may be out at dinner with a friend, playing drums or bass in Rock Band, or looking at artwork on the internet. Or getting beaten badly at Super Smash Brothers.

I think a smoker's voice is attractive on a girl.

My goal in life is to be a Bunny Ears Lawyer. If you know what that is, you're awesome. (Or in my case, a Bunny Ears Psychologist.)

geek hobbies and science talk excite you. Bonus points if you don't drink. And if there is something in your life that you really care about--school, job, hobby, doesn't matter, so long as you have a direction.

Also, only if you can accept that I think these are funny:

http://www.smbc-comics.com/comics/20090106.gif

http://www.ratemyeverything.net/post/8016/40_Lb_Box_of_Rape.aspx

Also also, if you have any piece of art/media to recommend to me that can best be described as "haunting."

If you're not sure how to start a message to me, here's a good way. Fill in the blank: "I read the most interesting article the other day, about _____________________."