I'm much better at conversations than prattling on about myself and my finer points. So, uh, let's try that:

YOU: So, are you from around here?
ME: No, I'm from Massachusetts.
YOU: But you don't have an accent.
ME: Well, no, I'm from Western Mass.
YOU: Massachusetts has sections? It's small.
ME: but eclectic.
YOU: So no accent.
ME: I don't have an accent. Unless I'm drunk, at which point it's either charming or belligerent, depending on how much of a douche you are being.
YOU: (something witty)
ME: You're cute.

Long conversation, short: I'm a happy, sarcastic, musical, bravo-tv watcher who is loving life and trying not to melt between writing papers and giggling to myself.

I'm in grad school for music and big german words that I don't quite understand.

digesting information in list form, Karaoke (a relic of a past life as a rocker/diva), pop culture trivia, cooking, pretending to be knowledgeable about wine, I'm pretty awesome at not taking myself seriously. oh, and laughing at inappropriate times.

a few of my favorite things, you ask? well: wandering, reading, picking my battles, spicy food, offensive tin pan alley tunes, dry red wine, awkward moments, cooking, crime fighting, gin, sarcasm, archives, music geek jokes, arguing with my ipod like it can hear me, fake equations that substitute for life.

Honestly? My size. I'm a large lady. Shortly thereafter, most people hear my laughter, sarcasm, pop culture prowess and stare longingly into my eyes. That's when they're usually done for.

music: yeah, that's too hard. a working list: elvis costello, lyle lovett, aimee mann, elliott smith, mike doughty, rilo kiley, nickel creek, mary lou lord, matt nathanson, ben lee, ray lamontagne, heather nova, jeff buckley, jonatha brooke, ryan adams... music school has me rediscovering my love for prokofiev, britten and milhaud, if that's not too pretentious for you.

books: I read a lot for school. a lot. much of it is not worth mentioning until you get to know me better. however, I devoured an amazing book called "the history of love" on my last vacation and I finally sat down over break and finished "house of leaves" after attempting it for years... a-mazing. I'm currently trying to catch up on the Vonnegut catalog; I love it but I never seem to have the time.

movies: anything with Edward Norton or Ed Harris, someone like you, the lives of others, usual suspects, cinema paradiso, movies with zombies are awesome...

i'm currently netflixing my way through dr. quinn, medicine woman and man, is it awesome/offensive/corny/ridiculous.

food: bring the heat.

my iPod, red wine, old books, human interaction, my guitar and my sense of self.

I spend too much time trying to figure out what music actually IS, where it is and how to talk about it without sounding like an idiot.

the rest of my time is spent thinking about my friends and family, this amazing city, my various travels through the world, tactile flashes of the past, the few cities i've called home, edward norton, the presence of love in everyday moments, the silver lining of every situation and the laughter in my head.

with my amazing friends trying to find the best dive bar in the city. i have a working list.

I have love for New York...

... you understand that life is too short to take yourself too seriously.

... you think that beauty is not exclusively linked to physical size.

... you are creative in some form. i'm not talking just about painters, writers, musicians. i'm looking for someone who sees the art in what they do, whether it's balancing a spreadsheet or composing a sonata.