Just like everyone else, I have a terrible time writing about myself. Let's see. I like long walks off short piers... um, that's not right. I'm very passionate about every thing I do. Which is not to say that I'm passionate about everything, just that if I don't care about something enough to give it my all, it's not getting done (or will be done by someone else). I'm your prototypical left wing wonky news junkie. I can't get through the day without the New York Times, Huffington Post, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. I love a good debate and am very cerebral. That said, I have the sense of humor of a 12 year old boy and am not ashamed to make puns about bodily functions in any social setting. My favorite social setting is an unpretentious bar that has a pool table (good thing I'm in Portland). You should also know that I score pretty high on the Geek Scale. While no longer a practicing geek, my past is filled with comic books, 20 sided dice, Monty Python and more than a couple of trips to the Renaissance Faire. And I still regularly watch MST3K. So you've been warned. and I tag interests to see what happens when you hit 100%. Hmm. Nothing. Oh well. At least that stupid "jump through random hoop to get to 100% for no apparent reason" header is gone.

Stumbling through it, trying to have as much fun as possible. I would never talk about my job as what I'm doing with my life because I see work as the thing I do to pay the bills so I can find fulfillment elsewhere. Years ago I was assigned the task of coming up with a personal mission statement (in one of those unfortunate workshops at a conference back in my management days- not at anything I would have done on purpose). Anyway, what I came up with was "To Leave Nobody Worse Off For Having Known Me." At first thought it doesn't sound very ambitious, but if I can get through life having pulled it off, I'll have done alright.

The first thing listed has to be cooking. It's my absolute favorite thing to do, I'm fantastic at it, and it's one of the main ways I show people that I care about them. Ask anyone I know, there is always a delicious dinner to be had at my place (and enough for anyone else who might stop by). I'm also pretty good at making people laugh and being generally supportive. And walking into walls and falling down. Many people would say that I'm a big old klutz. I prefer to think that I'm excellent at walking into walls and falling down. I am a fountain of useless knowledge. Unless it's time for pub trivia. Then it is of great use. I'm also a damn good drinker. I can hold my own (and yours for that matter) without getting sloppy, weepy or belligerent.

I honestly don't know. The first thing people mention is my hair (you don't find too many people with naturally black hair). Then they notice the snark. Good natured snark, though.I love (and have) a sarcastic , mischievous sense of humor, but nobody would ever mistake it for mean spirited. As the age old bumper sticker says, Mean People Suck.

Books- Notes of a Dirty Old Man by Charles Bukowski, The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, the entire Sandman series by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean (yes, I am one of those nerds), The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams, Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins, all the sleazy druggy sexy books by Bret Easton Ellis, If Chins Could Kill, by Bruce Campbell...This could go on forever. I love books. And anything by Kurt Vonnegut.
Movies- In no particular order- Scotland PA, Forbidden Zone, Annie Hall, Mystery Train, Down By Law, Young Frankenstein, anything by David Lynch, I Heart Huckabees...Crap. This too could go on forever. My recent favorites would be Star Trek and The Hangover.
Music- Everything but contemporary country, cheesy R&B, teeny bopper pop and the flaming bag of suck that is rap-rock fusion. Seriously. Stop that shit already. A few actual favorites are Tom Waits, Wilco, Elliot Smith, Phoenix, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Ratatat...
Food- I love all types of food, seriously. Also, I have to mention breakfast. I fucking love a delicious breakfast more than just about anything in the world. Whether it's treating myself to something wonderful from Helser's on Alberta or Besaw's or the more common practice of cooking something scrumptious at home, it's just the best thing there is. It's not just the taste, it's the ritual. You wake up and start your day with wholesome deliciousness, nourishing and fueling you for the rest of the day, drinking coffee, waking up, chatting up whoever you actually like enough to see that early in the morning- awesome. Also, if I'm having a wonderful breakfast, as opposed to a quick bowl of oatmeal, it means it's the weekend and I have a day to do whatever I want.

Good friends, good music, good food, good wine, good beer, good scotch (does that make me sound like a lush?). Apparently I should change my self summary to "I am a lush."
I'm not really a lush. I'm just a foodie who enjoys tying one on with my friends.

Grilled cheese sandwiches.

Hanging out in a bar or at my apartment with my friends (I have fantastic friends that I'm quite fond of).

At some point over the past few years, perhaps gradually, I've turned into one of those people who cries watching movies. I shrugged it off at first, attributing the phenomena to a particularly sad and beautiful film, (it started with Pan's Labyrinth- who could blame me). Then I lost my shit during Wall-E. I blamed PMS. The instances became more frequent and less excusable. I finally realized that I had to come to terms with and accept the truth about myself. My rock bottom "aha" moment occurred recently when A) I went through six tissues watching Up and then B) teared up in the opening scene of frickin' Star Trek when Kirk's dad dies, even though it was the fourth time I'd seen it. My name is Debbie, and apparently, I'm a big old sap.

You should not message me if you are interested in being anything other than friends. I have an awesome boyfriend and wanted to throw that out there, in case you missed the "seeing someone" or that I am just looking for "new friends". After that, you can message me if you think we might hit it off. You are a big old dork and are unashamed about it. Or you would like to share delicious vegetarian recipes or have recommendations for what tasty veggie options/ restaurants are out there. I'm a foodie who has been an omnivore her whole life but is apprehensively transitioning to a meat-free diet and could use help navigating the frightening world of meat substitutes. I've had far too many wannabe bacon/chicken/hot dog monstrosities to count. Any suggestions for the few that don't taste like ass would be greatly appreciated. *UPDATE* Going vegetarian was way easier than I thought. I'd still appreciate tasty suggestions though :)