My "three adjectives" were, until recently: "beets, bears and Battlestar Galactica," a reference to the popular tv show "The Office." Although I really do like Beets (for their nutritious, earthy flavor and because they remind me of Tom Robin's Jitterbug Perfume (one of my favorite books) and I am fond Bears, for their ability to be simultaneously slothful and ferocious (two things that I am not) I have never seen Battlestar Gallactica and suspect that it would bore me. So I changed to three less amusing but more accurate adjectives.

I grew up in NYC and moved to Tallahassee at age 16 and then found the great high mountains of northern Arizona (Flagstaff) when I was 22. I taught and guided rock climbing and working as an EMT. Like others in the "outdoor rec industry" [insert self-conscious snicker] I worked a variety of jobs including Ski Patroling, guiding backing packing trips and a season with Outward Bound. That collective work, school and play experience inspired me to return to school to become an RN and perhaps become a Nurse Practitioner once I've become s salty old ER nurse. The more I learn, the less I feel like I know,

I love children and dogs - nearly equally - depending usually on the dog or child in question.

I have just started nursing school and will graduate in Spring 2012 (ahg!) and move to some place with mountains and a vibrant city. Options include Flagstaff, from whence I came, Chattanooga, for it's proximity to family and climbing (and it's fun-to-say name) or the Boulder, CO or Salt Lake City areas.

I read as much non-school related stuff as I can, ride bicycles, cavort, gallivant and occasionally carouse. I am "learning tofly fish..." which means "thrashing about in the weeds." Update: I have not touched my fly-rod in 8 months!!! *tear* Perhaps it will come out if I go somewhere for the xmas break.

"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment," is a favorite quote that applies well to climbing, medicine and certainly my life. From all of my, um, experience, I've actually developed good judgment in many situations, although I'm sure I have many more "experiences" ahead of me.

At work:handing sandwiches to drunk people. Watching the cardiac monitors in the ER (pronounced "E R-ah"). Finding creative (sometimes too complicated) solutions to problems. Making up ridiculous analogues. Explaining things (that I understand well)... unfortunately I am also good at explaining things that I do not understand very well (which is called bullshitting?) Teaching. Banging my head on computers in such a way they finally do what I want. Guiding climbing. Selling climbing gear. Climbing 5.10 hand cracks in my tennies... (assuming that they're totally splitter). Lifting people. Lifting barbells. Lifting babies. Splinting. Teaching people how to squat, both for lifting heavy weight and for pooping in the woods. Listening.

My tramp stamp of the entire cast of "Charles in Charge."

Not sure, I can be really awkward or very confident depending upon the setting. If I have a role: teacher, EMT, guide, etc, I usually feel quite confident, but in other settings, like loud bars with music I don't like, I feel like a total geek.

To keep it fresh and current:

Books (and magazines, thank you)
Dwell magazine is the source of all my Happy Place thoughts when I'm having a rough day at work/school or just pleasantly planning future home goals. There is a wonderful synthesis of modern, small, simple, city and wild-place homes. A very exciting magazine.

The Believer. One of the few magazines that I truely want as part of my library.

Reason Magazine, because while my voting tends to be Democratic, I believe that there is some exciting power coming from parts of the Libertarian ideas. Notice I didn't say party. Read the magazine, its got some good writing.

A few books that have stayed with me
"The River Why" James Duncan
"Blood Meridian" Cormac Macarthy
"The Unbearable Lightness of Being" Milan Kundera
"Disgrace" Coetze

New music in my life that I love:
My Morning Jacket
Monsters of Folk
The Avett Brothers
Phoenix
MGMT

I love the program "All Songs Considered" (on an unrelated note, "This American Life" tooo great show!)

Music that I suspect will still be in the rotation when I'm 103, assuming I've made it through the zombie apocalypse:
Cat Power
The Mountain Goats
Pavement
Keller Williams
Liz Phair

I occasional revisit "classical" music, that vast and enormous realm, beyond genre, I usually get lost and wonder back. Some places I recalled where the Brandenburg Concertos and Stravinski's Rite of Spring. I have much to learn in that world.

similarly with Jazz, I have may albums that I enjoy from my father but don't have anything new from that scene coming in... that makes me want to get some new jazz.

Food, I am happiest when I eat mostly Paleo foods (google that term if you're interested) basically foods that hunter gathers would eat. For a poor student, I spend a nice chunk of my budget on grass fed beef, free range chickens, tons of fruits and veggies, lots of nuts and good oils. I love curries, esp coconut. When cooking for others I don't worry about my own personal dietary goals as much, but try to cook toward their tastes. That said, I love sweats, beer and wine and chocolate. I am adherent about 80% of the time.

Wild places, good food, a bicycle, music, laughter and friends.

Maslow Shmazlo.

How I ought to be more in the moment. Remembering what I am supposed to be doing. Ridiculous "what if..." scenarios that make me laugh.

Oh and the heavy stuff, where I'd like to live after graduation and how well I'll survive the coming zombie Apocalypse.

Or if my Grandmother - who throughly audits every grocery store receipt - were to reenact the "Do I look like a bitch?!" Samuel L. Jackson line from the film Pulp Fiction. The confused clerk would reply a nervous and confused: "No, no Ma'am. You don't!" Then she would say... oh, you know the rest.

Places I want to visit.

Working...

Getting out dancing more, hopefully some latin dance soon. Movies, the occasional game night with friends. Unfortunately sometimes studying. Helping one of my 5 children with their homework.

No, not really, just making sure your still reading.

I am bit neurotic.

You'd like to know more, are cool hanging with a busy and poor student and want to tell me about yourself!