I was born and raised in New York City, which will always be "home" to me. Because of that, I was raised with good manners, a love of museums and concerts in the park, and a firm belief that if you're going somewhere that's less than three miles away, you should walk there. However, I've been in Buffalo for the past four years, and have come to love it. I rarely make it two months without traveling somewhere, and am 3/5 of the way to reaching my goal of spending at least one night in all 50 states. I sometimes talk too much or too fast, but usually what I say is worth hearing.

I am a Graduate Student in Classics at SUNY Buffalo, just starting my dissertation on Homeric epic. I should have my Ph.D in two years. I get to read great Greek and Latin texts, teach them to motivated college students, and spend time with brilliant and passionate colleagues. In other words I'm very, very lucky.

I'm pretty good at cooking, but I'm a better sous chef. My knife skills are solid, and I find cutting garlic and onions into very tiny pieces cathartic.

I'm okay at bowling. I usually throw in the 130s-150s, but I hit 200 once in a while.

I have become pretty skilled in planning trips. Between the three Classics conferences I hit every year, my annual vacation with my brother, and the many (probably too many) last minute trips I take, I am now a master priceline.com and amtrak.

Something I've said, usually loudly

Books
I love Classical texts, particularly the Iliad and Odyssey, but I tend to read murder mysteries when I'm reading for pleasure. I particularly enjoy the writing of Jeph Loeb and Elmore Leonard. I've also read Freakonomics a dozen times, and believe that Robert Heinlen and Ray Bradbury are two of the greatest English language writers in history.

Movies
While I appreciate the excellence of serious movies like Saving Private Ryan, I prefer fun films. I've watched The Naked Gun and Dr. Strangelove a thousand times, and I'll probably watch them a thousand more. The Usual Suspects is amazing (particularly when you watch it with someone who hasn't seen it yet), and Christopher Guest can do no wrong.

TV
I own DVD sets of The Tick, Transformers, and X: Men the Animated Series, and do not apologize for it. In terms of what is currently on TV, I enjoy Chuck, the Daily Show, and Iron Chef.

Music
Mostly, I listen to rock Music (Radiohead, Beck, and the Matt Smith Band are favorites). However, there's nothing quite like a great orchestral work, particularly if it features a chorus (I was a choir boy for 9 years).

Food
I love to eat Mediterranean, Indian and Thai food, but I prefer cooking Mexican and Italian food. That said, I love getting the chance to try something I've never eaten before, and I'll usually go through the entire menu of a restaurant I like before I order something twice.

My awesome younger brother
My laptop (it has my entire life on it)
A proper kitchen knife
Giants games on Sundays
JStor
Good shoes for walking

Old books
New recipes
Where I put my keys

Fridays are usually a work night for me. For some reason, thesis work goes by faster during the weekend. When I have the chance, I like to go to game night with friends or catch a movie. I'm usually traveling somewhere once a month, which means that there is 22.5% chance that I'm spending Friday night frantically trying to make a midnight bus, train, or plane.

I released a tropical fish into the Louisiana Bayou, and three months later read that someone in the bayou choked on a "rare" fish of the same species and size. I think that makes me a butterfly effect killer.

You want to say hi, or if I made an egregious typo and you're kind enough to inform me of it.