I'm open minded about most things, but with an old-fashioned twist. Having a sensitive heart has been known to cause me trouble, but I want to keep a sense of softness, even when the world gets rough. Still, I'm no Pollyanna (too silly and self-deprecating to ever be that chick.) If I like you, you'll know it when I tease you. And it takes *a lot* to make me angry (much easier to make me sad), but I will passionately defend underdogs and loved ones, warts and all.

When it comes to turn ons, intelligence is a huge one for me. Tonight I learned this makes me sapiosexual. The thing is, I'm only attracted to intelligence that comes wrapped in humility, humor, and a caring heart. (Does this mean I'm not sapiosexual after all?) Well, whatever I am, I just plain like connecting to other human beings. This doesn't mean I don't have walls, but I'm working on chipping them away. And through it all, you can trust that I'll be honest. I am a terrible liar and even if I could do it well, I just don't like to. Speaking to a person and truly getting to the core of who that person is has got to be one of my favorite things. There is something special and intimate that happens when two genuine people come together. So, come on, be brave! :)

It's a journey! When I was little I thought 30 was soooo old, but the older I get, the more I see what a work in progress I'm always going to be! (Maybe if we're not, we're doing something wrong??)

As for paying the bills, office life was not for me. (Too much like high school! Why can't they be like my old, idyllic liberal arts college? Well, then again, it had no men, so not exactly like it... ;) But I digress.) So instead, I have my own business which basically allows me to be a nanny to peoples' pets. "You went to college for that?!" is something I hear a lot, but it's a dream. Unfortunately, it's not the kind of work one can do forever. So I'm looking into ways to expand and grow. Grad school is probably around the bend.

Understanding and relating to animals, cats, dogs, squirrels...you get the picture! I tell a ton of animal stories, but whether I tell them well is up for debate! Let me know what you think!:) Guess my appreciation for animals and nature plays well with my ability to find joy in simple pleasures, though I have to give animals their props: they're still better at it than I.

I'm incredibly loyal to my family, friends, and my Mets, who are just as lovable to me when they're losing as when they're on top. You gotta believe and I'm good at believing. I'm like Alex P. Keaton when it comes to Santa Claus. Well, Alex P. Keaton if he were female...and Jewish...and a Democrat... Oh, never mind! :)

I've been told that I'm way too hard on myself, so I guess I'm good at that! (A dubious distinction, I know...) I've also been told that I'm a good writer, but unfortunately I seem to be better at procrastination and writer's block.

I can be shy and quiet when I don't know you, but loud once I do. I'm often told that I'm too nice and/or polite and/or homespun to actually be from New York. And I don't like to rush or act impatient. I kind of get their point, but New Yorkers are actually good people!

That I'm perfectly at home in the Barns & Nobel children's section.

Editors

• TastyPaper

I love movies... Movies in theaters are magical to me! Love the communal experience of sharing a few hours with strangers in a cool, dark room. DVDs just don't do it for me in the same way, though I'll watch with someone I care about, provided I can cuddle. That being said, I'm not wild about this profile question. These lists can become elitist in a way that turns me off. So if you think my list is heading to the land of pretention, call me on it! Here goes:

Back to the Future, Igby Goes Down,Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,Say Anything(Diane Court is probably the movie heroine with whom I most identify), Run Lola Run, Edward Scissorhands, Dead Poets Society, Life is Beautiful and I recently loved Juno and Waitress. I still remember seeing Flight of The Navigator multiple times when I was little, but i don't do that much anymore. Guess I'm afraid they'll lose their magic if I grow too used to them. Being afraid things will lose their magic is kinda a running theme for me...

Books: Pride and Prejudice,Goodbye, Columbus, The House on Mango Street, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Animals in Translation and The Sun Also Rises. Ordinary People isn't a bad movie but the book is beautiful. And you gotta read The Ha-Ha. The name is funny, but it is a perfect title once you get into the story. Trust me. :) And I'm still a huge fan of the young adult genre. The Outsiders is probably my favorite of all.

Music: Too many to name! I love listening to almost anything if I can sing along (and yes, badly air drum) in a car. The Pixies are incredibly good for that! And James Taylor (though he's not as good for drumming!) Also love80s music, power ballads. I'll even try to rap if the mood strikes. (Luckily for you, it doesn't often. It ain't pretty. Go white girl, go white girl, go... Consider yourself warned.). And I gotta confess I have a love that will not die for singing along to "We Are The World". Problem is I'm from the city and never learned to drive, so I don't get to road trip with music all that often. Want to learn, though.

Favorite foods are: Cheese, pasta and more, but writing this is making me too hungry!

1. My family and friends (2- and 4-legged.) 2. unlimited nights and weekends on my cell 3. cheese (both the food and cheesy things like 80s music and movies) 4. cozy naps 5. random acts of kindness 6. socks (my feet are always cold!)

EVERYTHING! Sometimes I wish I could shut it off for a bit. Really...

Most likely tired!! My workday starts at 7am and I'm NOT a morning person. On this Friday night, I should be sleeping, but here I am, up late writing something so a little animated lady named Inga will let me see what this site is all about... Don't know what that says about me. That this good girl is so skilled at taking orders, that she'll even listen to cartoons? Well, I guess Inga is very enthusiastic about okcupid, so that should count for something. I'm a little more tentative but at least for now, I'll put myself in her little one-dimensional hands...

I'm somewhat bi-curious but am unsure as to whether or not I feel like acting on it. In light of this, I figured I'd try the "bisexual" label on for size. These days I'm not really sure what fits, so if you see me bouncing back and forth here from "bi" to "straight", please bear with me. LOL. :)

You are any or some combo of the following: Funny and silly, but you try not to be cruel. You are gentle but strong. You love animals and nature. You are humble!!! You stand up for your friends and dig in with conviction when the going gets tough. You love stories. You like to get lost and explore. You're creative in a quiet way. You are goofy, have a great imagination, or don't quite fit in, in the best possible of ways. You treat all people with dignity and respect, not just those girls that you find pretty. You appreciate wisdom and will put up with a curmudgeon to get to that nugget. You have a wonderful heart and appreciate the same in others.

**Note: As of April 17, I'm on an official break from dating. I really want to be with someone special, but know I need to do some work before I can be that once again to someone else. Please still write, but all I can promise in return right now is friendship.