I choose happiness and laughter whenever I can! I'm a vegetarian, Libertarian, Lindy Hop dancing no-nonsense sort of fellow. I adore dogs and swimming! I'm not exactly a foodie, but I do enjoy going out to try new places to eat. Big fan of sushi, Thai, Ethiopian, and Indian foods. I'm also trying to get into running and I might be starting to like it, even though I'm only doing it to prepare for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. I particularly like to run through tree-lined areas, because I'm a fan of the flora. I work for a small Mac-based computer company that services the DC-metro and tri-state area. I like it when people are passionate, and a little aggressiveness is sexy in a woman. I'm also a story junkie, be it in books, film, or on television.

I'm tackling NaNoWriMo once again for 2009 (to put my money where my mouth is), and I'm having a blast so far!

For work, I develop internal computer-stuff for other employees at my company to use to be more efficient and effective at their consulting jobs. Okay, let's say my company is like Her Majesty's Secret Service full of double-0 agents; I'm like Q: I make the gadgets!

In the rest of my life, I try to explore new experiences whenever I can so I can tell better stories and maybe offer better advice.

Words. I'm often a failure at brevity, but finding "le mot juste" is not just something I left behind in college essays. Sometimes I use this facility to teach people things like dog behavior or swing dancing. Other times, I offer my insights on relationships or philosophy. Usually, though, I'm so full of words that I keep them to myself until I have a chance to blog or work on some fiction. I've even gotten into twitter as a means of venting some words at 140 characters a pop. Still, when I'm in a group of people, I'm as likely to be the one keeping quiet and collecting words up for later.

Visually, people probably notice first that I have a shaved head. I've tried hair and it didn't work for me. Regarding personality, people probably first notice that I speak what's on my mind with little regard for discomfort or embarrassment. That's not so say that I speak cruelly, I just don't see the point in being secretive about my thoughts, feelings, or intentions if they're not going to hurt anyone.

I suspect I'll keep adding to this:
Books by Terry Pratchett and Robert J. Sawyer, The Elements of Style (it's a Strunk/White thing, not a fashion thing), Atlas Shrugged, The City of Truth, The Soul of Anna Klane, the Harry Potter series, and His Dark Materials to start;
Movies starring Zooey Deschanel or directed by Michel Gondry or hard to categorize like "Stranger Than Fiction" and "I ♥ Huckabees", and 80's movies like The Goonies and Better Off Dead or any by John Hughes. Certain Christmas movies;
Music with good melodies and/or clever lyrics, like from Regina Spektor, Ben Folds, Ingrid Michaelson, Jason Mraz, Schuyler Fisk, Jenny Lewis / Rilo Kiley, and swing jazz;
For food, anything vegetarian and somewhat spicy. Ooh, with autumn here, I like anything pumpkin-flavored, like pumpkin butter!

Why not ask about TV? Look, people who are disdainful of TV shows and proudly declare that they don't own a television tend to irk me. Of course, most of what's on the hundreds of cable channels is going to be garbage. That's statistically likely if nothing else. Yet television, as a storytelling medium, provides writers with a venue to explore a narrative much closer to exhaustively than any other. The mainstream Harry Potter books are enjoyable reads, but to make a movie that really did the final volume justice, it would have to be days long (they're making it into two movies as it is). Books, of course, have near infinite capacity for containing a tale, but it unfolds only within your mind. TV can tell as rich a story as a novel and gives you week-long breaks to do other things between chapters. You can infer that I like TV, but I've now written so much I won't bother listing my favorite shows. You can ask me about them.

But I like anything related to Joss Whedon (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). There, I just gave that to you. Okay, also anything from Aaron Sorkin which you'll understand if you're a fan, too.

• Since 6 is a strange number of essentials to request, I choose to list one less item than that.
• I've had my dog, Dru, for 5 years and I'm always sad when she's not around. So she stays.
• Most of my writing, music, and means of staying in touch with loved ones is on my 4lb. MacBook--must keep it! Plus I use it to watch movies and TV shows.
• I'd hate to be without my 3 favorite meat substitute ingredients: tofu, seitan, and mushrooms. Mmmmm, umami.
• Dancing's my main form of social interaction and keeps a certain type of beauty in my life. I wouldn't give it up and I couldn't do it without my own 2 feet.
• But I don't think I could enjoy life without words. Written, spoken, or performed, they are essential! They were probably my 1st love and my affection for them is still as thriving as ever.

The meta behind things. Even when there's just no good reason. Take this box: I've been thinking about all the things that people type in here and trying to figure out why they would record such statements and what they're trying to get across. I'm sure there's honesty involved, but you can't disclose everything so what's the rationale behind what you do reveal? After all, couldn't every guy write sex in here? But if everyone would, nobody should, right? I'm also sure that many people are trying to present a specific image of themselves by stating things that highlight one personality trait or another.

Like I just did, showing off that I'm a geek. Woot!

Hopefully out dancing, but I work for a living and my hours are long. It's not unusual for me just to unwind with a book or a TV show (Dollhouse!) and then go out on Saturday instead.

For November: I'm actually opting out of many "that'll be there next month" sorts of things on Friday nights in favor of writing instead. That doesn't mean I can't be tempted.

Disney animated movies, especially Pixar ones, can still make me cry. Freakin' "Up" had me wiping my eyes in the first fifteen minutes! I'm generally not that lame, I promise! Maybe.

Fine, I also like Glee and So You Think You Can Dance. Damn, you're nosy.

...you're up for a movie.
...you'd like to try a new restaurant.
...you want to go out dancing.
...you want to go to a Flight of the Conchords show.
...you'd like to chat in a coffee shop. I'm going to order chai, I can almost guarantee it.
...you're irritated by the use of "anywho". Really, English language? Is that where we've arrived?
...you've read this far.

I'm not sure where else to put this, so I'll put it here: sometimes I browse through matches on okcupid after a draining day at work or after a night out. Am I not supposed to admit that? That's a shame.

Anyway, I'll save favorites for when I'm better able to string together coherent sentences and then I'll send an actual message instead of a stupid wink. Just as with cover letters, I figure I should try to make the best first impression that I can rather than merely tossing out a sad, "You're cool and pretty and please email me back." On the other hand, I'm happy to read any mail or IM with anyone when I'm online. Feel free to make the first contact if you're so moved.