I am a pretty suspicious person and don't open up to just anyone, although if you persist, are not a creep/idiot, and are an interesting person, you might crack my shell. I am intelligent, creative, fairly artistic and interested in many things. I especially enjoy music, reading good books and watching good movies. I practice yoga, knit, crochet, fold origami, write poetry and the occasional short story, and have been known to make collages and dabble in painting/drawing from time to time. I love to dance but don't get to clubs often enough, so my living room is my dance floor. I watch too much television, but I try to include a lot of PBS, so it's not ALL crap. I love cats in particular and animals in general; I find learning about nature and the planet fascinating, and try to be good to Mother Earth whenever I can. I was not raised with any particular religion and I like to pick and choose what I like from different religions/philosophies. I'm a big fan of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism. The "Golden Rule" is universal and you can't go wrong if you try to follow it. I'm an Aries with Scorpio Rising and Pisces moon, with Venus in Taurus and Mars in Aquarius.

One of these days I will manage to take a decent photo of myself again, but until I do, be assured that I look the same, but with slightly shorter hair. Stop nagging me about my outdated photos, OkCupid!

This always makes me laugh: http://youtu.be/U5X4N2exOsU

I am shy, intelligent, and creative

As of 5/11/13 I have been an ex-smoker for one week. I smoked for 25 years. This is a huge deal, and it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I am temporarily avoiding smokers until I have some more non-smoking time under my belt. If you are trying to quit, I'm happy to share my secrets or provide support. Nicotine replacement products, man, I'm telling you! They're working!

I am trying to become a freelance Spanish translator (not interpreter - written word, not spoken) and I have worked as a private Spanish teacher/tutor. If you know anyone who needs a Spanish teacher or tutor, let me know! Self-employment is scary and I sometimes feel that I'm in over my head, but I think I'll be okay in the end. Like all Aries, I am a "be your own boss" type of person. However, since self-employment takes work and can be unreliable, I'm also a temp for the state (my former permanent employer) and occasionally apply for jobs here and there. I work for the Department of Labor.

???? I never know what to say. There are things I do well, but "really good at"? I would probably never use that phrase. Okay, I'll give it a shot - listening, writing, and useless knowledge i.e. pop culture trivia. I've recently gotten serious about my yoga practice again but I wouldn't call myself an advanced yoga student, since I can go for long periods without practicing on a regular basis. Yoga is a lifelong process.

I'm petite, hard to pin down in terms of ethnicity (I'm half Mexican) and apparently I give off a fairly intimidating vibe, which is not intentional but does help keep the weirdos at bay.

I love to read, and I read many different authors - it's too hard to pick favorites. I minored in English in college, but I don't believe in being a snob about books. I can go from reading Jane Austen or Shakespeare to getting lost in the latest Stephen King book (I love King, obsessively). I read nonfiction by people I like or about topics I'm currently interested in. I love a good autobiography and books about creepy people and things.
Movies - I LOVE movies and watch a bit of everything, but my absolute favorite is Yellow Submarine. I heart documentaries - I'll watch a docu about almost anything or anyone.
I love almost all types of music except mainstream country music (I like old school like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, etc and I've recently gotten into bluegrass.) I have many, many favorite bands; if you held a gun to my head and forced me to pick one band to listen to, it would be the Beatles. Food - I like a lot of things, especially Mexican, Chinese and good pizza. I was a finicky eater as a child, but have been growing out of it as an adult and I'll try anything once. The only food I am still finicky about is mushrooms - just can't stand them. I like to play around in the kitchen, and am trying to cook from scratch more often and not eat ready-made, processed foods stuffed full of unnecessary ingredients. You can't go wrong with a really well-made, delicious sandwich, and I believe that almost any meal is better when you add a glass of wine (mostly red, sometimes white depending on my mood).

a cat, music, movies, my favorite clothes, interesting people to talk to, good food

Why do people still think it's okay to litter? Why don't more people recycle? Why don't people in this town pick up their dogs' poo? When will the world become a better place? When will Lincoln become a bike- and pedestrian-friendly town? Where did these people learn to drive? Where are all the men in this town?

usually at home watching a movie, but on occasion I can be seen at a bar, a movie, a play, or doing something fun and exciting. I am one of those people who needs "me time" and I don't always feel like doing something on a Friday night, nor do I think you're a loser if you stay home on the weekend. Chilling at home or with friends can be much more entertaining than going out to the bars, anyway.

I'm not going to admit anything private here, but you never know what kind of answer you might get to a random question.

- you're looking for an actual connection of some kind - friend, pen pal, whatever - and you're at least 25 (I have nothing against older women dating younger guys. I think that love/lust can transcend age. I hate the term "cougar". It's just my own personal preference)
- you're not looking for casual sex
- you're a zombie fan