As for the Hobbits of the Shire, with whom these tales are concerned, in the days of their peace and prosperity they were a merry folk. They dressed in bright colours, being notably fond of yellow and green; but they seldom wore shoes, since their feet had tough leathery soles and were clad in a thick curling hair, much like the hair of their heads, which was commonly brown. Thus, the only craft little practised among them was shoe-making; but they had long and skilful fingers and could make many other useful and comely things. Their faces were as a rule good-natured rather than beautiful, broad, bright-eyed, red-cheeked, with mouths apt to laughter, and to eating and drinking. And laugh they did, and eat and drink, often and heartily, being fond of simple jests at all times, and of six meals a day (when they could get them). They were hospitable and delighted in parties, and in presents, which they gave away freely and eagerly accepted.

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1955.

The above is a pretty good description of me (pedicures take care of the leathery feet, though), and the part below is a more mundane version.

I moved to Edmonton in 2008. I live alone (by choice) and have lots of projects on the go. I love socializing on the internet as well as in person. I got my first tattoo last year - and I'm still inordinately pleased with it and with myself. And I love gadgets and probably spend too much money on cool ones - last year I bought a Nike+ and an iPhone and an XO (the little computer used in One Laptop Per Child) and next I want a Roomba.

My most recent travels included my first Wiscon - the feminist science fiction convention in Madison.

I am feminist, bisexual, and polyamorous. My dance card is currently neither full nor empty.

I like my work and I'm good at it, but it's not my whole life. I've helped raise two wonderful young people who are now on their own. I have various creative projects on the go (currently writing, textile art - knitting & quilting, and learning Irish céilí dancing) and I love spending time with friends of all ages and interests. One of my recent new enthusiasms is Guitar Hero (the World Tour version, so I need some other people to play with). I started winter cycling but next winter I think I'll get a studded tire to be more secure. Issues I care about include electoral reform and feminism. I also really like organizing parties and growing tomatoes. I'm dabbling with starting to learn Irish language -- or at least a few words / an cúpla focal.

I tend to have cyclic or temporary passions - not for people, but for activities. I've recently been involved in learning guitar, hockey coaching, editorial writing, fiction writing, sports administration, spelling bees, downhill skiing, belly dancing, yoga, choral singing, and sailing for example. Next year I might have completely different projects on the go, or go back to some of these - who knows? I'd like to try learning some different language, or learning swing dance. Or both.

being a friend, except when I get too self-absorbed. I'm pretty good with words, whether in Scrabble or in sentences. I'm good at organizing events, at knitting socks, at remembering what you tell me about yourself, and at putting my feelings into words. Oh, and I make a great crème brûlée - and I might even let you wield the torch to make your own crust, if you like.

That I'm short and grinning and probably talking. Or possibly that I'm wearing some bright colours that don't quite go together in a conventional way.

I read a lot, but usually books that I don't have to work too hard at. (Embarrassing, yeah.) Mystery, fantasy, science fiction, what they call "women's fiction" (as opposed to chick-lit). Marian Engel, Pamela Dean, Guy Gavriel Kay, Robert Sawyer, Reginald Hill.

Movies I've seen recently include Star Trek (three times, actually, because I kept hanging out with people who hadn't seen it yet, and wanting to talk about it), Pelham 123 Take 3, Terminator Salvation, Che, Watchmen, and Milk. In Milk, it was fascinating to see what bits of that era I remembered and what connections I hadn't made at the time. I don't have broadcast television but I love the storytelling on arc television series starting with X-Files and Babylon 5, and more recently The Wire, Friday Night Lights, Slings and Arrows, In Treatment, Lost, and The West Wing. I really hate spoilers!

Music: these days I'm mostly listening to alternative rock, both live and recorded. Rise Against, Bløf , The Donnas, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Lawrence Arms, Guster, Alkaline Trio, Death Cab for Cutie, Editors, Bloc Party, Silversun Pickups, are what I'm listening to this week - but it varies. The best live shows I've seen recently were Stars, Bloc Party, and Rise Against/Alkaline Trio, but the cover band I hired to play my birthday party ranks right up there for a fun show. I'm always looking for music recommendations, too.

And food: maybe it would be faster to write what I don't like. Don't make me eat soft-poached eggs or English sausages or undercooked French fries - oh, or peanut butter. Otherwise, I'm an omnivore. I appreciate good food prepared in creative ways, but I also eat grocery-store sushi and the occasional Big Mac. I love fresh sautéed asparagus with lime, pasta, rare grilled meat, cheese, seafood, root vegetables, aloo gobi and naan, General Tso's chicken, frittatas, Hollandaise sauce, crimini mushrooms, fresh tomatoes and strawberries ...

The internet, of course! An iPod (usually my iPhone), a fountain pen, a Swiss army knife, a book I haven't read yet, and my friends. Fortunately, most of those things fit in my pockets and the others are ubiquitous. I almost never carry a purse, but I have big pockets and usually a backpack.

how great my life is, and whether I will ever finish unpacking.

Well, before I moved it would have been e-mailing friends after work to figure out what's up, then probably having a nap early in the evening, then going out on foot to listen to live music at a small local venue (either by myself or with friends), getting a piece of pizza or some poutine on the way home, then coming home to chat with more friends on the internet.

Nowadays, it seems to be unpacking, and chilling with a beer while watching rented video. Or meeting a friend after work in one of the pubs on Whyte Avenue. Oh, but the Internet is a constant.

I'm not particularly tidy.

Edited to add: Two people who have lived with me in different eras just howled with laughter on reading this, and informed me that this was hardly news to anyone who had seen my desk, my car, or my backpack, to say nothing of my living space. They did think it was important for me to tell prospective interests about it, though.

Assuming that "message me" means send me a mail-type message, then you should message me:

If you have something to say. Especially if it comes easily to you to say it in conventional syntax and spelling.
If you want to tell me about Edmonton.
If you want to recommend some more music I should try.
If you know how I can learn and practice Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic) in Edmonton.
If you think I sound interesting and want to talk about anything on here.
If you recognize me from in-person life or from another on-line venue and you want to say hi.

On the other hand, you probably shouldn't bother sending me an instant message unless we've already exchanged the asynchronous kind. And you shouldn't send me an WTF request unless we're already good enough friends to talk about any differences we discover.