I am a self-loving neo-hippie, science nerd, intellectual, environmentalist, jogger, LGBTIQ advocate, optimist and Reedie. Originally I joined OK Cupid for the tests - used to take them when I was 13 and this was still thespark.com. It turns out I've met a few interesting people on here too. In first grade, for "dress as a celebrity day", I went as Bill Nye. For Halloween of I think it was 1998, I dressed up as Beethoven. I would repeat either of these costumes in a heartbeat today, given an excuse and a way to disguise my feminine figure.

Favorite quote: "This is Portland. Everybody is 20 and hot."

Since this is a dating/meeting-people site, here's my philosophy on relationships in a nutshell: relationships arise from people and so you can't plug a person into a hypothetical relationship. That's the simple explanation for why I'm only looking for "new friends." Looking for anything else, before I know the person in question, would be presumptuous. And once we do know each other: the more I like you, the slower I'll probably want to take it. For more on this, I refer you to my journal post of 08/18/09.

Someone who doesn't have an account anymore sent me this message: "you said you weren't looking for a sex partner and yet you cannot live without sensuality. now i am misconstruing your notion or are you contradicting yourself?" If you perceive a contradiction, check your premises. Sensuality doesn't require a partner. Sensuality doesn't even require sexuality. There's a lot of ways to find pleasant sensations in your body.

I list myself as bisexual, but under ordinary circumstances I don't label. Man, woman, genderqueer, trans - I am open to any of it, all gendered aspects have something to offer. I think OkCupid would benefit from "fill in the blank" on gender and sexual orientation, rather than a drop down menu.

I thrive on stability, though I require periodic change.

I'm currently a transfer freshman at Reed College, aiming to major in chemistry-physics. I spent my first year at University of Oregon, and I've decided Eugene has to keep being a part of my life. At the end of July I rode my bike there and back (stopping in Salem on the way). I also jog 4-6 times a week, and I'm really happy I've found exercise I enjoy.

My plan is basically to stay in school until I become a professor. Alternatively, I'm interested in medicine and might become a naturopath or herbalist. In any case, I am looking at some kind of doctorate degree. I want to have at least one child but no more than two, preferably to raise in a family environment and preferably starting by age 30. I also want to travel, partly to have new and interesting experiences, and partly to know I've seen many possibilities before I settle down somewhere.

* School
* Analyzing stuff
* Explaining and using chemistry
* Cooking healthy, yummy food on a tight budget
* Remembering dates
* Being myself (though it's sad that that's worth mentioning)

I have been told that I make myself vulnerable when I meet people by volunteering things about myself. Well how else am I going to make a meaningful connection with anyone? Apart from that, I don't really know - isn't a little strange to ask /me/ what /others/ see?

I would hope for my intelligence and enthusiasm to strike people first. If you notice my boobs, hips, or skin first, you might want to think about readjusting the way you view women.

BOOKS: Dune, Atlas Shrugged, Ender's Game, Jitterbug Perfume, Red/Green/Blue Mars, Good Omens.

** Yes, I liked Atlas Shrugged and I plan to read more Ayn Rand. I am not an objectivist and I think as an argument for her philosophy the book is lacking. However, the psychodrama is incredibly compelling and I agree completely with her related point that one should respect and make full use of one's rational mind. Using my rational mind can include critiquing her books, so I think it's all compatible.

MOVIES: Fight Club, V for Vendetta, Lord of the Rings, Immortal Beloved, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, American Beauty, Office Space, Pineapple Express

** I love Kevin Spacey, Gary Oldman, and Gary Cole. I also loved Troy, but I think that was more because I was in a roomful of Reedies shouting snarky comments at the screen.

TV: House, the Simpsons, Firefly, Bill Nye

WEBCOMICS: Least I Could Do, Questionable Content, XKCD, PHD Comics, Alien Loves Predator / NON-WEB: Calvin and Hobbes

MUSIC: Beethoven, the Beatles, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Elvis Costello, and Nirvana.

** Those are just my top favorites, but nobody wants to read a four inch thick list of all the bands I like. Generally I like stuff from the early 90's, and the stuff from the 80's that hasn't turned into a complete joke, including a lot of good British pop/rock. I live on my parents' music, and my parents are quite young (b. 1970).

FOOD: Ice cream, Thai food, falafel sandwiches, macaroni & cheese, salmon, coconut (especially macaroons), and tea.

** I've always been a vegetarian because my family were, but recently I've (we've) been eating fish on occasion. I've dabbled with other meats out of curiosity, but I'm still a bit uncomfortable with chicken and I think I will never want to eat red meat.

Love (family and friends count)
Respect
Intellectual stimulation
Perspective
Sensuality
Humor

Everything. Seriously, I live in my head, all I do is play with ideas.

More specifically:

Science: physics, math, chemistry, physiology, drugs, food, and cooking.
Gender roles, sex, and love
Economics/political philosophy
Personal wellness.

See journal 10/08/09 for more details.

My Reedie habits are not yet solid, but so far it looks like: doing homework, hanging out on campus, probably around my dorm, or chilling with objeta. (He's cool and sexy-smart.) Whatever I'm doing - no matter how stupid or submersed in psychoactives - you can be sure I'm flavoring the room with geekitude.

I am a bit OCD. I haven't been diagnosed or anything, but some of my friends think I could be. You know how in grade school, you would fold paper in half or in three and make little tents with your name on them? Whenever someone else's name-tent would be skew to the edge of their desk, I always wanted to adjust it to be parallel, but I wouldn't, because it wasn't mine and that would be rude, so instead it just bothered the crap out of me. I'm perpetually fixing furniture so it lines up parallel or at nice angles to the walls and other furnishings. This is the first thing I realized other people don't care about, but every day I discover more of my habits seem to actually be odd compulsions.

... you are geeky, weird, confident and love life. If you go to Reed College. Or whatever reason compels you to do so.

Yes, I make it difficult to message me - I have turned off my IM feature except for those already marked as my favorites. This is because I get way too many messages to keep up with, often of a far too sexual tone. Even if you message me to my inbox, I may or may not respond; don't take it personally, I just get a lot of messages and am not very extroverted. (Unless you are a 23 year old party animal who didn't read my profile, compliments my physical appearance and then suggests hooking up. Then take it very personally: you're an ass.)