Upon request, I'm happy to send you a list of activities and interests that will make me sound like a pretentious douche.

People often tell me that I'm something like 90% water.

Although I'm probably a fairly typical primate, I like to think that my ability to use tools and my advanced language skills set me apart from orangutans and other hominids.

I'm probably something like a level 6 At Shavasana.

The infinitely comlex interaplay of genetic variation, experiences, memories, willpower, and the influences of countless individuals that create my personality can easily be summarized in one word: Trousers.

I'm trying to come up with an original joke that I will one day hear told back to me by a stranger in a bar in another state or country.

Taking apart and reassembling Sturmey-Archer 3-speed internal hubs. Calculus. Word games. Fixing dings on surfboards. Doing an impression of Bill Clinton playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater with Ted Kennedy. I also play guitar, by the way.

That my fly is down. Also, that I have good posture.

I like various entertainments.

Lately I've been reflecting on all the near misses in my life -- the totaled car I walked away from unscathed; the winter backpacking trip across icy mountain ridges without ice ax or crampons; the head injuries that only needed stitches -- and thinking about how close I've come to being paralyzed or otherwise damaged. And how, if I had been living with paralysis or other serious injury for all these years, and if I suddenly woke up one day able to walk around and do all the things I currently take for granted, how ecstatic I'd be. And lately I've been feeling that more and more -- how ridiculously lucky I am.

Usually I'm en route to Tahoe.

Oh, I've got a vast catalogue of embarrassing personal information that I'm all too willing to disclose. What would you like to know? That I sing "Fat bottomed girls" in the shower? That I talk to cats in a funny voice? I could go on.

Oh, you don't need a reason. Just go for it. Everyone likes to get messages.