[Currently in California for the next 4-6 months.]

My life's motto is "I'll try anything twice." This applies to food, experiences, and people. I believe in honor, pride, loyalty, and dedication. A life without honor is a life without purpose. I try and translate that mentality into my work ethic and my personal life. My worldview is that of a humanist, insomuch that the world is infinitely precious, yet we only have a finite amount of time in which to do the most possible good.

I'm a jack of all trades and master of none. I enjoy dry wit and sharp humor. I value intellect as much as entertainment or appearance. I will forever be a nerd at heart; living vicariously through whichever medium provides the quickest escape. I may come across as fairly serious at times, but I assure you I'm quite genial.

I guess what I'm getting at is this: we're all a lesson in contradictions. And no matter how much I type on here I will never be able to pigeonhole myself into some preconceived notion of category X or Y. Life it too visceral for summations.

I am a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa with my B.A. in American History and newly arrived in the professional world. I work as a park ranger at Redwoods National Park in California. I have previously worked out of New York City at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and in Washington, DC at Rock Creek Park. I plan on making a career with the National Park Service, an agency which will afford me room for personal growth as well as travel.

At some point once I'm settled in a more permanent position I also want to focus more on my herpetology hobby - both breeding and displaying my various fauna.

I joined this website in order to meet some new people and share some new experiences, be it roaming through the city, visiting a museum, or drinks at a bar.

- Being a repository for random facts and trivia
- Designing vivariums
- Computer games
- Holding a conversation
- Listening
- Debating a point eloquently
- Making guacamole
- Fixing your computer
- Organizing anything from music to comic books
- Photography
- Writing
- Assembling Ikea furniture
- Handling snakes
- Navigating
- Surprising you
- Having an innate sense of direction

Physically:
- I've had a lot of people comment on my eyes.

Personally:
- That I'm considerably more outgoing than I originally let on.

Books
- American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
- Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
- The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)
- The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
- Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
- The Golden Compass (Phillip Pullman)

I'm also a HUGE comic book aficionado, especially Marvel titles from the 80's & 90's.

Other favorite authors include J.K. Rowling, Alan Moore, Richard Knaack, Weis & Hickman, Robert Jordan, Ursula Le Guin, R.A. Salvatore. I'm also partial to select works by classical authors, such as Twain, Thoreau, Kipling, and Hemmingway.

I real a lot of non-fiction as well, mostly biographies, histories, or science/natural history.

Movies
- The Shawshank Redemption
- Gangs of New York
- O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- Fight Club
- Avatar
- The Prestige

Also love classic films, especially film noir, Hitchcock, and westerns. Anything with Robert Redford or Jimmy Stewart.

Shows
- Star Trek
- Psych
- The Venture Brothers
- House
- The Tudors
- Game of Thrones

Also: Top Gear (BBC), Archer, The Newsroom, Family Guy, Metalocalypse, MythBusters, Californication, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Scrubs, Boardwalk Empire

I don't actually own a TV so everything I watch is streamed or downloaded.

Music
- Amon Amarth
- Dark Tranquillity
- Sylosis
- Gojira
- Mastodon
- Darkest Hour
- Scar Symmetry
- Baroness
- Machine Head
- Allegaeon
- TesseacT
- Opeth
- Insomnium

For the most part I listen almost exclusively to heavy metal. If it's progressive, melodic or technical, I'll probably enjoy it. A lot of my favorite bands hail from regions such as Norway, Finland, Sweden, & the rest of Europe. I also have a strong appreciation for classic rock, and to a lesser degree blues, jazz, folk, and even classical. If it weren't for these pioneering genres then I couldn't enjoy metal as it exists today.

I generally frown upon "popular" and top 40 music due to my belief that it's all tripe concocted to sell CD's to a swath of impressionable suburban youth. However, I'm not perfect. I've streamed Gangnam Style on YouTube more often than I care to admit. I also have a weakness for catchy Indy songs.

Food
- Sushi
- Seafood of almost any variety
- Fajitas
- Chicken Parmigiana & Fettuccine Alfredo
- Anything with avocado on it
- The perfect craft beer

Fighting the urge to give snarky, pragmatist answers such as "oxygen," I would have to say:

- Google
- Air Conditioning
- My pets
- Books
- Music
- Good conversation

- The nature of the universe
- How Theodore Roosevelt would deal with the world today
- Why everything tastes like chicken
- What's for dinner
- The future
- Judging other people's wardrobe choices

On my days off, I enjoy going out and exploring - be it a museum, park, or merely losing myself in the streets of whatever town I happen to be in. Now that I'm in the Pacific Northwest, I have been actively hiking, camping, and tidepooling. As soon as the weather gets a few degrees warmer I'll be kayaking as well.

- I have a penchant for sleeping in the buff.
- I secretly enjoy romantic comedies.
- I un-ironically love roadside tourist traps.

- Have a bookshelf (and have read most of the books on it)
- Know the difference between you're/your
- Are a nerd of any kind
- Have diverse taste in food (bonus points if you cook!)
- Love animals (be they furry, feathered, or scaled) and the outdoors
- Have a passion for whatever it is you do and enjoy