Descriptions, descriptions. It's hard to describe myself. I'm a walking contradiction, really (example - I'm about the most non-religious guy you'll ever meet, but one of my favorite areas of study is theology). Well, I'm tall (about 6'3"). I love going out, but what I love even more is staying home. Hence, we (well, I) are/am at an impasse. But I do get out. I love to go rock-climbing, and I try to go camping or fishing every once in a while too. Insofar as indoor/yet not at home activities go, I like playing billiards, watching movies, and playing basketball (I get to roughhouse and stay in shape - what's not to like?). When I stay home, it's mostly reading interrupted by sporadic fits of gaming (I recently took up Warcraft - yes, I'm a nerd. The worst part is that I'm really bad at it). I've also become completely enthralled with Battlestar Galactica. My department has a live/die pool for the characters, and if anyone else out there thinks Adama's gonna die, please message me - apparently, I'm the only one.

Update - as it turns out, I was wrong about Adama. Unless you count the fact that he died a little inside when the President died. Which I totally do.

I'm a grad student in the Classics department at UCLA. I study mostly Roman social history and Latin comedy/satire, at least in those times when the evil Hellenists in the department aren't making me read Greek (jerks). After that, I'll teach at a university somewhere, pausing occasionally to write a book that nobody'll read (the life of an academic, though fulfilling, doesn't generally lead to glory among posterity, I suppose).

Shameless self-promotion, such as the kind required in this particular field. I've always had a talent for language. Basketball, too. Which would, I suppose, explain why my mouth runs faster than my legs on the court at times.

My height (I'm 6'3"). I've never asked anyone, really, but I assume that since the first thing I notice about most people is how short they are, it's a good guess to think they notice the opposite about me. You should have seen me when I lived in Korea. Tallest guy anywhere I went, I tell you. I felt like king. Granted, the crown and purple cape may have (completely inadvertently) been a cultural faux pas.

(A) So many, and I have a hard time choosing between the books of my favorite authors. So I'll list a few of those instead: Petronius, Catullus, Martial, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Boethius, Homer, Vergil, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Camus, Kant, Shakespeare, Milton, and a whole lot more you can ask about should you want to. (B) Star Wars (the old ones, of course), Indiana Jones, anything by Mel Brooks, Lord of the Rings, Boondock Saints, Gremlins, etc. (C) I've always figured that to balance out the whole elitist academia thing (not that academia is all elitist, but c'mon, I study Classics), the Fates decided to grant me rather plebeian tastes in music (and movies, if you hadn't noticed). I enjoy all kinds of music, but my favorite bands are Rage, the Chili Peppers, any hair-rock (especially the ironic type) - lately, I've been on a strangely satisfying kick for 80's montage music. Yeah, it took me by surprise too. The only music I generally don't listen to is country; however, this has nothing to do with the inherent musical merit of the genre. It's just that my mom listened non-stop to pop country when I was a kid (non-stop achy-brakey heart seriously messes with your head) and every time I hear twang I suddenly start twitching ;) (D) Anything spicy. Indian, Mexican, Korean, I love it all.

(1) Books. I'd go insane without something to read. (2) Laughter. Perhaps it's not even the best medicine anymore (let's face it, the pharmaceutical companies are putting way too much into R&D), but at least the side effects are negligible. (3)Unfortunately, the internet. I swear, when it shuts down, I take to aimless wandering (literally). Modern technology as shepherd? (4) Air conditioning - I went through a humid Korean summer without it, and I'll never take the blessed machines for granted again. (5) My two little sisters. Their never-ending quest for piggy-back rides and ice cream always makes me feel needed. (6) My two cats. What can I say, I'm a cat person. Or, as my roommate once put it, "If you ever see Paul charging you (a blatant mischaracterization, as I have never "charged" anyone), just put a cat in front of him and he'll stop to pet it." He's probably right.

How I'm ever going to crank out a dissertation. In a few years, that'll probably switch to "How in the hell did I ever crank out that dissertation?" It's actually my #2 choice for what goes on my tombstone.

Out with friends for a couple of drinks. I tend towards quiet, badly lit places where you can have a conversation without having to lean and scream (yeah, so I'm boring).

If the whole mother's father thing is correct, I've only got about 7 years of naturally dark hair left. At which point, I'll probably throw caution to the wind and experiment with fuschia. Or maybe brown. Whichever matches my shirt, I guess. Also, so long as we're on the subject of embarrassing physical traits, I feel it fair to warn you that I'm a big guy. Like 6'3", ranging between 240-250 lbs most of the time. I'm by no means inactive - I can run up and down the court for hours, go on a day-long hike without a problem - I was just born a bit pudgy. So, if you like scrawny, you'd probably be better off with the guys sprawled on the basketball court after mistakenly thinking they could run through me ;)

You have a smartass comment on the tip of your tongue. Go ahead, say it. I've got thick skin.

Also, regarding IMs - I habitually leave windows open. Both kinds. So if there's a long silence on my part, I'm totally not ignoring you.