I am a mix of many different things, most of which seem paradoxical. I am pretty smart, practical, creative, serious, funny, sarcastic, hopeful, frugal, reasonable, and more. I am a musician, educator, lesbian, writer, occasional artist, collector and/or packrat, and sometime gardener. I've always liked sports but am careful about my knees nowadays, since I'd like to use them my whole life if possible. I am a Jerseyan - grew up in the suburbs and have since moved from there to a city, then to a rural town, and now to another city. Most of my patience is expended on the kids with whom I work. More to come later ...

I am quiet, eccentric, and a bit serious

I work with special needs children, collect and play with Lego stuff, read anything that doesn't move too quickly, listen to and play (trombone) music, love my friends & family, and am the proud pet of my cat (at least, she thinks so).

I'm reasonably good at seeing most points of view regardless of my agreement on such, reading and digesting info, playing my trombone (I did go to school for it!), building creations with Lego bricks, proofreading, baking goodies, helping others with problems, and being independent.

I am a first-class wallflower, very shy in large groups. (This is, of course, assuming people notice me at all.) When I laugh, it's all-out - and people have commented on it.

authors: Isaac Asimov, Lois McMaster Bujold, Mercedes Lackey, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Katherine Forrest, and others ...

movies: original Star Wars trilogy, Dead Again, Mr. Holland's Opus, The Nightmare before Christmas ...

music: Sting, Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls, Girlyman, The Royalties, Don Ellis Orchestra, Bernstein, Vaughn Williams, Holst, and more; genres include rock, folk, jazz, ska, classical, other ...

foods: good chocolate (especially dark), baked goods, Italian food, my mom's Swedish meatballs ...

my friends, my family, books, music, Lego bricks, and something to write with & on ...

... books, Lego stuff, work, my friends and family, my cat, and silly stuff like lists, errands, bills, and chores. Talk to me and see what comes out of my head, I guess?

... probably home reading or putzing on the computer, or maybe watching a movie; possibly I'm seeing live music somewhere.

I would like to meet people and see what happens, but I lack social ability and I fear being pushed away. It's not a pretty combination, but I'm trying to get past/through it - I'm sick of being lonely.

I seem interesting to you, in a good way - I don't want to bore anyone to tears or otherwise drive her (or him?) nuts.