I'm a reading teacher who can't spell (damn you dyslexia) but I've been reading constantly since I was seven. I take care of anyone who is sick but ignore my own symptoms till I literally drop. I will always be a Chicago girl at heart but NYC is working out perfectly. Basically I'm full of ironic contradictions that strangely work just like salt on watermelon or pepper on cantaloupe.

I work as reading teacher at a small elementary/middle school and spend my days both loving my job and managing my terror about failing to help my students.

Cooking a new recipe every week.

I'm super good at reading books aloud and it comes in really handy in my line of work. There is nothing like capturing the attention of 20+ five-year-olds with a dramatic reading of Green Eggs & Ham.

Karaoke, can't forget karaoke I just love it.

My laugh I'm almost always smiling and laughing my way through the day. Also, I usually have a book in one hand, coffee in the other and my hand changing the song on my ipod or sending a text. Yes I have that many hands.

I like cooking (almost all my dishes include garlic/onions/fresh spices and wine), I like "classic" West Wing, Supernatural, White Sox baseball, a good slice of Chicago Deep Dish, freshly baked cookies, rereading The Chosen by Chaim Potok over and over, watching Brighton Beach Memoirs and listening to the Beatles, Dylan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Muse.

Started watching The Wire finally and it appears to be as good as everyone said it was.

I listen to quite a lot classical, bigband/swing and broadway musicals as well.

I'll watch almost any movie drama/comedy/thriller/war/epic you name it I'll go see it (or at least watch it on Netflix streaming).

-conversation (I love people)
-teaching (I love kids)
-COFFEE (I tried giving it up and made it just over two months, ah well.)
-books (I literally started crying when I was choosing which ones to bring from Chicago and realized how many needed to stay behind.)
-my iPod (I'll never give it up)
-Most importantly keeping in almost constant contact with those nearest and dearest to my heart (this handy iPhone of mine makes it so much easier!)

My students past and present. Sometimes I think I should've been a social worker.

All of the books I want to read.

My next international trip. Spending just 2 weeks in Germany last summer just isn't enough :)

50/50 going out (movie or a bar) or staying in and catching up on some tv and sleep.

I spend more time figuring out what song to listen to on my ipod during my subway ride than what clothes I'll be wearing. I kinda like doing the dishes, it gives me a sense of control and accomplishment.

I dance around my room listening to GLEE on my iPod.

I love old movies and have seen a great number of them but as of yet I have never watched Citizen Kane. I've had a bias against it since I was about 11 and watched Casablanca for the first time. I literally couldn't (and still can't) believe anyone thought there was a better movie out there.

And I'm a little bit s&m.

You want to get to know someone who is thoroughly the glass half full type.
You have a dog and want someone else to walk with you two.
If you think it would be cool to see all the movies on the AFI 100 greatest film lists http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI's_100_Years...100_Movies_(10th_Anniversary_Edition)
If you like to cook and want someone to make a new fancy dessert.
If you enjoy WWII movies/books.
If you like reading and discussing over coffee. I could never say no to having coffee... or drinks