The majority of my social life centers around the BDSM scene in DC. Not having to hide my sexuality is incredibly freeing, as is being around people who get the way my brain works and all my random reference. As it turns out, a lot of kinky people are also huge geeks. Or maybe it's the other way around...

I am a hard-core liberal/progressive, and despite trying to be open-minded, conservatives, Republicans, and most libertarians tend to try my patience. I do not understand inter-party relationships, because my politics are based on my values, and I can't be with someone who doesn't share my values. But I'm not going to assume that you're a bad person if you've got different politics. I probably just won't bring them up.

Yes, I do blush. That's why I have that name. Also, the line in "Cabaret" that goes "I used to have a girlfriend known as Elsie/ with whom I shared four sordid rooms in Chelsea/ she wasn't what you'd call a blushing flower/ as a matter of fact she rented by the hour". I'm not a slut, at least not in the bad way, but I like sex and I don't think it's the same thing as love, or that it's a sin. Aphrodite and I have an understanding. If something in the preceding paragraph has led you to believe that I'm up for a quick and casual shag with a stranger from the Internet, you're very much mistaken. Try the Casual Encounters section on Craigslist if that's what you're looking for.

As a general rule, I believe that one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar. My motto (one of them) is "More kissing, less killing", and I think the world would be vastly improved by the application of this policy, and by a general policy of "we're all in this together." However, my patience wears thin on occasion. I can be bitchy and snarky. And if you catch me in the wrong mood (or I get the sense that you haven't actually read my profile before you message me) you may find yourself on the receiving end of said snark. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I'm currently unemployed, at least in the sense of work that actually pays me for my time. Despite my lack of gainful 9-5 employment I keep busy, looking for work and volunteering (being a Board member for Black Rose takes a certain amount of time) and being the person people call at random hours when they need things (which would be made easier if I had a car, as cabs aren't always easy to come by at 2 AM)

I'm more interested in making a life than in making a living, though it would be nice to have the money to live in the manner to which I would like to become accustomed.

Cuddling, listening, talking, reading, remembering random (and not-so-random) things (I was on Jeopardy!), writing, sex, teaching, sweet-talking gadgets into doing what I want

I've been told I have a great smile and a really nice speaking voice. And since I talk a lot, that's a good thing. I used to be tall, but then all the boys hit puberty.

Books: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis; Runaways, Y the Last Man (really, anything by Brian K. Vaughn); the Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde; Fables; the works of Neil Gaiman, especially his poems and short stories. In terms of genres, I enjoy science fiction/fantasy and historical fiction. I especially enjoy it when they cross (historical fiction via time travel!). My guilty pleasure are romance novels and books by Laurell K Hamilton. And fanfic.

Movies: Depends a lot on my mood. Labyrinth when I have a migraine; musicals (Moulin Rogue, Rent, Grease, Singing in the Rain); cheesy dance movies (Bring it On, Center Stage, The Cutting Edge, Dirty Dancing); The Forty Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Ever After, Iron Man. I like most things that end happily ever after, and quite a few things that don't. I prefer kissing to killing, but I'm not opposed to the occasional smash-em-up (esp. if it features James Bond as portrayed by Connery, Brosnan or Craig). For Christmas last year, my best friend got me Sleeping Beauty and Iron Man on DVD. This is a pretty good example of my taste. I don't like horror films or torture porn as a general rule, and I'll watch pretty much anything that features Colin Firth.

TV: (in alphabetical order, because that's how I roll) The Big Bang Theory, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doctor Who, Firefly, Fraggle Rock, Gilmore Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1, Torchwood

I'm the kind of girl who'll put Fall Out Boy and Frank Sinatra on the same playlist. According to my iPod, my top 25 most played songs (out of over 5,000) include tracks from Simon & Garfunkel, U2, Fall Out Boy andThe Indigo Girls, as well as the soundtracks to Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, Songs for a New World and Company. I was raised on 50s/60s music and am still a fan, especially of Motown. I did not, however, pick up my father's love of instrumental jazz, with a few notable exceptions. Vocal Jazz is a whole different story (Frank or Ella singing Cole Porter standards? Sign me up.) As a rule, what will hook me on a song is the lyrics. I like songs that are witty, songs that tell a story. Which isn't to say that I don't care about melody and the beat and all that, because I do, but instrumental music tends not to hold my attention.

Foods: I'm open to most "ethnic" foods, but I'm also really a meat and potatoes kind of girl. I like sushi and basically every kind of seafood I've ever tried. I love chocolate. Pizza is my comfort food and I am a firm believer in the restorative power of a good cup of tea. I like my steak pink in the middle and will never say no to my roommate's lasagna.

assuming we have all the necessities for survival (shelter, food, water, oxygen, proper medication, etc):

Other people (I would argue that company/companionship/society is a survival necessity for primates in general, but as an extrovert I tend to go a bit crazy without people)

touch/cuddling

the Internet

something to break the silence (iPod, book, pen and paper, whatever, but I'm not good at just sitting there)

a vibrator (I took mine when I went to spend Thanksgiving with my Grandmother. Mostly so I wouldn't kill her.)

the written word

the future, religion, sex, the commune/kibbutz/compound I want to start

Occasionally out ignoring my need for beauty sleep. Once a month (first Friday), at Dungeon 101 helping bring more people over to the Dark Side (we have cookies! And sex!) But more often Friday nights are spent at home.

I sleep naked

you want to have an actual conversation with someone.

You shouldn't bother if you're either a conservative or just looking to get laid.