The first and most important thing you need to know about me is that I am a WRITER. I just finished and published my second book, Mouth of God, Light of Infinity and I'm very proud of it. It's a collection of short stories - message me if you'd like to read one

I'm also in the process of starting my own publishing house. It's my dream to help other independent writers get their work out to a wider audience. If you're a writer hit me up

I spent most of 2012 abroad in a country called Tunisia where I taught English as a foreign language. I taught people of all ages, from children to adults older as old as my parents. It was an incredibly enriching experience and one that I won't replicate any time soon

Music's a huge part of my life, and if you like record stores then we'll definitely be friends. I am always up for new music, so if you have a recommendation please share!

I'm fluent in Arabic. If we get to know each other I'll teach you some

Just put out my second book, been busy promoting that (gonna have a book signing event in May) and getting my publishing house off the ground

I currently work as a substitute teacher with the local school district

Starting grad school in the fall with the hopes of completing an MA in English

Writing
Holding conversations
Soccer
Star Fox 64
Editing that term paper you wrote at the last minute

When I worked as a server people always noticed my name first since it's very uncommon

Then it's usually my smile

Music - Huge fan of hip-hop and jazz, but will listen to anything as long as it isn't shitty. Favorite artists: The Roots, Mos Def, King Crimson, Daft Punk, Anberlin, Kanye West, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, R.E.M., Shabazz Palaces, De La Soul and more. I also like to indulge in Top 40 radio

Movies - Anything by Pixar, Collateral, Indiana Jones movies, Fantasia, The Science of Sleep, Inception, All the President's Men, Michael Clayton, There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, The Insider, Anchorman, 10 Things I Hate About You, Up in the Air (George Clooney's my favorite actor, to throw it out there). I like huge dumb popcorn movies just as much as I enjoy smaller, more independent films

Books - The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Harry Potter series, Life of Pi, The Hunger Games, Calvin & Hobbes, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Where I'm Calling From, Make Lemonade, The Tao of Pooh, Roots, anything by Cormac McCarthy, Love You Forever (no joke)

Food - I love trying different food from other parts of the world

Shows - Don't watch too much TV, but I do like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, House, Arrested Development, ESPN, anything on Discovery or National Geographic and Adventure Time

And of course, if Arsenal's playing I'm definitely in front of the TV

The Arsenal
Reading/writing
Sports
Music
Friends
Family

I always wonder what's next, whether it's the next few minutes or the next year

I think a lot about ideas for new stories. I have a notebook packed full of random ideas that I keep adding to. Some ideas come to life, while others just stay there

Soccer is something else I think a lot about too

Out with friends or relaxing at home with family or enjoying a book/movie/record

Sometimes I hit the gym and play pick-up soccer

I'm always writing no matter where I am

I use Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" as pump-up music

Sometimes I think if I yell at the Bulls enough they'll start playing better

Life is short, why waste it talking to some boring guy?

And just as an FYI, I try to reply to all the messages I get, but if I miss yours I'm sorry