Hello! I'm Gil. I am silly, cerebral, somewhat snarky, and overall just an outwardly ordinary guy with offbeat tastes and a seemingly limitless capacity for enthusiasm.

A lifelong collector, I'm always seeking - some obscure HK horror film; a forgotten album of Argentinian psychedelia or Basque jazz-folk; an inspired combination of fresh herbs and vegetables; the dustiest shelf or item in any shop; a spot on a wooded trail where the slanting sunlight hits just so - with the express intent of sharing. I see myself as the curator of an ever-expanding stock of delights to be shared with appreciative friends.

And yet, I'm certainly not a hipster. I have little interest in claiming credit for being the first or the loudest advocate of the latest sonic sensation, trendy eatery or snob-baiting art film. Even when I was a professional music journalist, I shunned bylines. I have always preferred to discover, to enthuse, to enlighten, ultimately to play matchmaker between taste and taster, rather than to criticize or to act the imprimateur.

Just so there are no misunderstandings, I'm NOT looking for anything other than friends. I find that I get along best with people who are of like mind but unlike me in very particular ways - more assertive, more worldly, more confident, more mature, more ambitious, more driven, more outgoing and maybe a little shorter (or taller) - and able to relate to my cheerfully irreverent sense of humor and to my somewhat unusual attitude, best described as laid-back hyper-awareness.

It's a big world, and I can claim familiarity with only the smallest part of it. but I know that it is filled with fascinating people. So please don't be shy, even if you don't call New Haven home. If any of my favorite things should happen to strike an equally resonant chord with you, do drop a line and say hello. I'd love to hear from you! And I'm always eager to talk food, film, or whatever might be on your mind. I've even been known to help OKCers with their creative-writing assignments.

Still struggling to regain my footing after losing my job. This is proving to be damnably difficult. But i remain optimistic and generally upbeat.

Tutoring - 3 R's, ElHi - after school - with New Haven Reads. Enjoying it very much. Considering a career in education.

Making my way through a massive backlog of books, watching a lot of movies, and writing when my Muse is willing.

Being content To Be.

Taking great pleasure in small things
Empathizing
Observing
Alphabetizing
Scattergories
Dicing onions
Horizontal thinking
Procrastinating
Making lists
Editing
Packing
Writing?
the New York Times Sunday crossword. also a "Diagramless" and "Puns & Anagrams" wizard. Sudoku green belt, at best. lexis over logos any day!

"What a great listener! And his advice is always sound, respectful and very well considered."

"A quick wit and a talent for wordplay seem to impress him much more than physical attributes. Not that he doesn't have an acute eye for beauty, often finding it in the unlikeliest of places."

"He loves food, but only 'likes' eating. He nibbles; he noshes; he pecks. Which is especially weird, because he knows his way around the kitchen. His instincts for spices and seasonings are spot-on."

"He's unlikely to win Mr. Photogenic. Something about being caught in the camera's crosshairs makes him get all panicky and awkward."

Currently reading
Jeffrey Steingarten: The Man Who Ate Everything
Italo Calvino: The Baron in the Trees
James Burke: The Day the Universe Changed

I could rattle off a long list of my favorite films (mostly horror, art and indie), or I can simply direct you to http://tinyurl.com/czb69b for the gory - literally - details.

love: afrobeat, black metal, classical, dream pop, electroacoustic, folk, goth, house, indie, jazz, kiwipop, lo-fi, musique concrète, noise, psychedelia, qawalli, reggae, shoegaze, triphop, underground hiphop, world, xenakis, yeye, :zoviet*france: - and nearly all things in between.

I'm told i make a mean mix cd. remember mix cds?

I play guitar and mandolin, in a self-taught style somewhere between American Primitive and "folk baroque," and mainly for my own amusement. But I'm always up for a lazy jam if you're local and sing or play an instrument.

Omnivorous, though not a big consumer of red meat (or a seasoned drinker). I have definite vegetarian and teetotalist tendencies, but I just can't resist a superior burger or an interesting microbrew. Anything heavier, like a Porterhouse or a cocktail, might be a harder sell. If you're offering a fiery masala, sambar or curry, though, you probably won't have to ask me twice.

My absolute favorite foods are all either salads - mangai chaat, som tam, gado gado, insalatta caprese - or simple, homey dishes that embody a culture's food philosophies - mool naeng myun, phô, upma, yakiudon.

I've been curious to try wild boar, fresh durian and angulas. Preferably not in the same dish.

I don't know how to bone a duck, but I make an absolutely killer dak galbi. like, blow-your-mind good.

I really should update my GoodReads page. Until then, here is a stab at a favorite-author list...

Richard Adams; Attenborough; Auster;
Barth; Barthelme; Borges; Bourdain; Brautigan; Bryson; Barker;
Calvino; Carver; Coover; Cortázar;
Delillo; Dick;
Eco; Elkin; Ellison;
Gaddis;
Lem; Ligotti; Lovecraft;
McCammon; McGee; Murakami;
Poe; Pynchon;
Bruno Schulz; Sedaris; Singer; Clark Ashton Smith;
Walser;
Zelazny

...and a quick n' dirty rundown of favorite TV shows, past and present, even though OKC gives short shrift to that maligned medium:

"Arrested Development;" "Better Off Ted;" "Breaking Bad;" "Brimstone;" "Children's Hospital;" "Community;" Connections;" "Creature Comforts;" "Dexter;" "Dr. Katz;" "Delocated;" "Dollhouse;" "Family Feud" (bonus round ONLY); Futurama;" Home Movies;" "Look Around You;" "Modern Family;" "The Office;" "Parks & Recreation;" "Party Down;" "Seinfeld;" "10 Items Or Less;" "30 Rock;" Tim & Eric; "Top Chef;" "12 Oz. Mouse;" Whedon; "Wonderfalls" (+ ANTM, Idol, Big Brother, Real Housewives of NYC, Best Week Ever, The Soup, and other mildly embarrassing shows that are fun to watch w. friends)

have you noticed that I'm a compulsive alphabetizer? No assortment of books, CDs, or cereal boxes is safe!

Wonder
Laughter
Music
Fresh fruit
Ethnic groceries
the IMDB

Could I have an all-region DVD player, too?

Friends
Flavors
Family
Fears, and how they might be overcome
the Future
What can I make for dinner with what I have on hand? (corollary: Is my cilantro still usable, or will I need to hit the store for a fresh bunch before they close at 7pm?)
Debbie Meyer's Green Bags
Love
Death
Chickens
Frogs, Honeybees, other ecologically threatened creatures
the wit and wisdom of Mitch Hedberg
Three adjectives that would better describe me
(since I'm probably unsatisfied with whatever you see above)

Making dinner, in for the night. Or watching a movie, if not out at the movies, up relatively late - reading, writing. Friday's are just like any other day.

The right person(s) will eventually be drawn to my light, and I to theirs.

I can't dance. or bake.

You haven't been turned off by my profligate punning and excessive alliteration;

You, too, are given to flights of neologistic disportment - and it doesn't bother you that I just called it that;

You have an "epicurious" streak;

You agree that there's always room for "giallo."

You can name an Argentinian psych or Basque jazz-folk album (and MAD BONUS POINTS if it's one with which I'm not already familiar)

You own list of favorite things that you've been aching to share grows longer with each passing day;

You're local (ideally) and might be up for ...
a movie;
a game;
a long walk;
a live show;
a meal, out or in;
an expedition;
or just unfussy comforts - conversation? ice cream? TV?