I am a self-professed nerd with a wide array of interests. I have spent most of my adult life learning about human behavior. I have worked in the mental health field since the Clinton Administration, studied sociology and psychology in college at the undergrad and masters level, taught all manner of social studies to crazy-ass 12-18 year olds, and I follow politics like TMZ follows the Kardashians. As far as the Kardashians go, I only know what Joel McHale tells me. Much like Joel, my sense of humor can sound self-absorbed when it's really self-deprecating. I also like cooking, videography, martial arts, and animals, especially dogs. Dogs make the world go round.

Sometimes, when one of my students has done something particularly nuts, like throw the game of Life and all it's 10,000 constituent pieces at another student, hitting me in the process, I wonder,"What AM I doing with my life?"
Other times I'll be somewhere, say on top of a Mayan ruin, staring out at some type of huge raptor bird swirling in the air off in the distance and I'll think, "Oh yeah, that's what I'm doing." I'd like to thank my mom for living in the Yucatan for a few years so I could have this experience.

teachable moments

training dogs

Pasta sauce

making life changing decisions at inopportune moments (at least it feels that way sometimes)

Did you read My Details? I'm 6'7". Ladies, get ready to feel petite.

Books- Ones that I can listen to on my iPad like Earth by Jon Stewart. I like almost any "how to" book. History books like Guns, Germs and Steel, The Devil in the White City, the Lost City of Z, and In the Heart of the Sea are all fascinating. Malcolm Gladwell is also good for the brain. Dr. Seuss is good for the soul.
Movies- Inception, Dark Knight, Avatar, Hurt Locker, and Tropic Thunder have been my favorites over the last couple years. I also love watching the Colbert Report, Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, and the Soup, Boardwalk Empire, and Sons of Anarchy among other shows. I hear about some people that will watch movies but loathe tv. I'm not sure they've seen some of these shows. Not everything on tv is like Jersey Shore.
As far as music goes, I love music that you nod your head to, but generally am turned off by music that has people swaying back and forth, side to side. Yech. If this is confusing, try this experiment. Play some Isley Bros, Melvins, the Doors or some dubstep. Which way is your head moving? Now play something by Amy Grant or sing Kumbaya. Aha! See? Music that makes you sway side to side is lame! At least for the most part. Again, the world is a complicated place. Thanks Antonio Carlos Jobim, jerk.

My single favorite piece of music ever, regardless of mood, is Stravinsky's Rites of Spring. It makes the hair on my arms stand up. It's utterly visceral. No, not the version in Fantasia. Listen to the one by the San Francisco SO with a high quality set of headphones. For better or worse, your ears will not be the same.

The Apple Corporation, and their wonderful products.

Wikipedia

Strattera- I wear my ADHD as a badge of honor, or at least a badge that makes me kinda interesting. In nomadic hunter/ gatherer societies, it was likely an evolutionary advantage, btw.

Beer

My crazy ass students. Behavior disordered kids are cool to work with because they immediately let you know, in a hundred different ways, if you are doing a good job.

Caffeine

Sex (that's 7 things, I've never really been one for rules)

everything and I just want my brain to slow down for a minute.

Doing something atypical. I don't really have a "typical" Friday night. Don't really want one either.

Pick your own secret about me, mad libs style:
One time in the 10th grade, I ______ (action verb) _________(liquid) all over ___________'s (female name) house after ___________ (action verb) a ________ (product made in Turkey) too close to her parents' room. Never got caught though.

You want to feel short.
You don't see the world in black and white.
You want a good laugh.