My belief, generally, is to "live and let live." I took this for granted growing up, but since having moved to Minnesota, I've met a number of people who do not agree. I can't stay angry for long or hold a grudge against someone. I enjoy sleeping well and enough.

I'm intelligent, a hard worker, and probably an overachiever. Independent is an apt adjective, and I guess that's why I'm here - to find other people who are also their own people.

My brain rarely shuts off. I need something to think about most of the time.

I like independent-minded women.

I want to be a chemistry professor! I work in a lab mixing chemicals together to make new chemicals. I've almost completed my third year of grad school. I received my masters in the spring, and I have another two to three years before I receive my Ph.D. I'm aiming to be closer on the two-year side. After that's done, I'll be working in another academic lab for a couple more years, and then hopefully I'll be able to land a tenure-track assistant professorship running my own lab at a university.

I play softball with chemistry friends in the summer.

Consuming a morning coffee.

Puncturing my bike tires. I hate Minneapolis roads.

Not saying a lot. I'm a better listener than talker. I tend to be more observant and soak things up before making an opinion.

Sometimes, I am bearded and mustached. Also, my hair is a little mussed up usually because I bike both to and from school almost every day. Otherwise, my height, I suppose.

Music: a lot of indie rock, classic rock, some jazz, and pop. As a sampling, recent releases by Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, and Lady Gaga have been favorites.

Maybe you need a list to stare at. Here is an unofficial list of some favorite musicians: Allman Brothers Band, Arcade Fire, As Tall as Lions, the Beatles, Bon Iver, Broken Social Scene, Bruce Springsteen, Caravan, Charles Mingus, Coldplay, Creedence Clearwater Revival, David Bowie, Death Cab for Cutie, the Decemberists, Depeche Mode, Dinosaur Jr., Doves, dredg, Dungen, Echo & the Bunnymen, Elton John, the Flaming Lips, Fleet Foxes, Genesis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hall & Oates, the Jayhawks, Jethro Tull, John Coltrane, Johnny Cash, King Crimson, Lady Gaga, Led Zeppelin, the Mars Volta, Mew, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, Modest Mouse, Mumford & Sons, My Morning Jacket, Nada Surf, The National, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Pixies, Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, the Reign of Kindo, the Spinto Band, Sunset Rubdown, Talking Heads, Thelonius Monk, The Who, Wilco, Wolf Parade, Yes.

The present. Music. Coffee. Science - especially my chemistry labwork. Sports (my favorite to follow is basketball.). Outrageous disaster scenarios - like what happens if the Earth is struck by a gamma ray burst.

Usually, I'm in lab. Sometimes, out with friends at a bar or in playing poker.

I do not have cable.

I have my own bike. Weather permitting, I bike at least twice every day (to and from work).

I do not have a car. I can afford one, mind you, and I'm not living with my parents (they're 1000 miles away) - I choose not to have one.