Hi, I'm Beth. Born in the Bluegrass, but far from a southern belle.

I like: going to rock shows, Converse Chuck Taylors, being left-handed (despite the associated evolutionary disadvantage), amusement parks, robots, and people who smile with their teeth.

I dislike: snakes (just one of the many things Indiana Jones and I have in common), racism, sexism, homophobia and pretty much anything else that makes one an asshole, and microwaves without a popcorn button (or even worse, microwaves on which the popcorn button BURNS the popcorn!).

I have a wickedly sarcastic sense of humor at times, but I think I also have a pretty soft heart. The thought that I've hurt someone's feelings can keep me up at night. I'm the kind of person who stops the car to rescue turtles from the road.

I don't need someone to complete me, I just want some company on the ferris wheel.

I am not interested in polyamory or "open" relationships; if that's your thing, that's cool, but look elsewhere.

I'm working on my PhD in English, focusing in Film and Media Studies. It's a lot of work, but I can justify watching a lot of TV and movies as "research."

I pay the bills by teaching at UF, which is always an adventure.

Procrastinating. In fact, I'm pretty much the undefeated champion at it.

I also kick serious ass at games like Catchphrase and Taboo.

I get a lot of compliments on my naturally curly hair. It's the one thing I'm a wee bit vain about, I must confess.

Books: The Great Gatsby, The Tempest, (technically a play, but, you know), Matilda, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Wrinkle In Time, Brave New World, All Harry Potter Books, Watership Down, Crime and Punishment, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Quirkyalone, Nickeled and Dimed, Freakonomics, Reading Lolita in Tehran, White Noise, Lysistrata, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Princess Bride, The Golden Compass, The Hunger Games trilogy, Beloved, Good Omens, The Time Traveler's Wife, Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

Movies: Anything by Hitchcock, most Wes Anderson films, Disney/Pixar, Amelie, Gattaca, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Empire Records, All the Harry Potter Films, The Last Unicorn, Donnie Darko, Run Lola Run, Memento, Stranger Than Fiction, Serenity, Brazil, Little Miss Sunshine, Halloween, A Christmas Story,Romeo + Juliet, Inception, Blade Runner, The Princess Bride, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Muppets, Waitress, Much Ado About Nothing (Kenneth Branagh!), RENT, Spiderman Trilogy, The Shining, Dogma, The Matrix (but ONLY the first one), Seven, Singin' in the Rain, Star Wars (original trilogy), Best In Show, This Is Spinal Tap, Up, Wayne's World, Wall-E, The Cabin in the Woods, The Rules of the Game, Citizen Kane, Adam's Rib, Across the Universe

TV: Arrested Development, Adventure Time, Dexter, Supernatural, Firefly, The Walking Dead, Parks and Recreation, Mythbusters, Lost, Top Chef, Bones,Clone High, Daria, Freaks and Geeks, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, Chuck, Pushing Daisies.

Music: Andrew McMahon (Jack's Mannequin/Something Corporate), Death Cab For Cutie, Alkaline Trio, Brand New, Motion City Soundtrack, Fall Out Boy, The Shins, The Beatles, Guster, Saves The Day, Phantom Planet, Third Eye Blind, The Postal Service, Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, The Hush Sound, OK Go, Snow Patrol, James Taylor, The Killers, Hanson (yes, that Hanson), Rooney, Ratatat, El Ten Eleven, Passion Pit, Florence and the Machine, Freelance Whales

Food: I love pretty much any ethnic food (Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Thai, Sushi, you name it) and ice cream of practically any variety. I also love trying new and exotic foods, I am not a picky eater.

I dislike most condiments, but mayonnaise is my most hated food by far. I hate every form of sensory input one receives from mayonnaise: foul taste, foul smell, the texture is just plain wrong, it takes on a sinister glisten in the light, and while mayonnaise doesn't usually say much, you know if it could make a sound it would be a disgusting one. (That doesn't mean you shouldn't contact me if you love mayonnaise though, I'm sure we can work things out! ;) )

1. My tight-knit immediate family 2. Good company and stimulating conversation (which could be deep and meaningful or utterly silly) 3. My adorable dog 4. Mind-expanding (or just plain entertaining) books/films/music 5. Contemplative time alone. 6. ... cake?

Even though I love my job, I often fantasize about alternate career paths. I think I'd be a good dog trainer or concert venue operator, or I could go hunt invasive pythons in the Everglades (just kidding on that last one).

Watching a movie with friends or without, drinking margaritas at Boca Fiesta, or sleeping if I haven't had much time to do that during the week. Grad school can easily become an endless cycle of all night binge-reading and caffeine-fueled writing and grading under duress.

I sneak my own food into the movies. Always.

We have some overlap in musical taste and you want a local concert buddy.

You're looking for a partner in crime, but not for actual crime.