I am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I have a BA degree in journalism with an emphasis in advertising; I also have a certificate minor in religious studies with an emphasis in Judaism and Christianity. I work for a publisher as a marketeer (which is rather like a mouseketeer without the snazzy sweatshirt), splitting my time between direct mail, graphic design, and exhibits for the lovely books we publish.

I appreciate the offbeat, surreal, whimsical, and absurd. I have superb taste in music, food, and beer. I'm a reader and a writer, and I reside in my head a little too much.

I'm trying to live freely and courageously. Some days I feel like I succeed, and some days I have trouble even defining those two words.

Lately I've been spending a lot of time listening to old episodes of This American Life, reading science fiction, making up stories about strangers, and creating mix CDs.

layout and design, grammar, listening, introspection, one-on-one intimate conversation

(a) About a Boy, A Long Way Down, Catch-22, Fahrenheit 451, Flow My Tears the Policeman Said, Good Omens, High Fidelity, Invisible Monsters, Lord of the Flies, No Flying in the House, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, The Doubtful Guest, The Man in the High Castle, Ubik, V for Vendetta, Why I Hate Saturn, anything by Philip K. Dick, anything by Nick Hornby, the short stories of Edgar Allan Poe

Currently reading: The Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God & Other Stories by Etgar Keret; Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

(b) Amelie, Annie Hall, Better Off Dead, Dead Alive, Dirty Pretty Things, Heathers, Henry Fool, His Girl Friday, Labyrinth, Lost in Translation, Once Upon a Time in the West, Pretty in Pink, Rebel Without a Cause, Rushmore, Say Anything, The Big Lebowski, Twin Falls Idaho, Wonder Boys, anything starring Cary Grant, all of Peter Jackson's films

Last movie watched: Crazy Heart

(c) 16 Horsepower, Angels of Light, Billy Bragg, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Brian Eno, David Bowie, Dean Martin, Elbow, Elvis Costello, Jeff Buckley, Johnny Cash, Kate Bush, Leonard Cohen, Morphine, Neil Diamond, Neko Case, Nick Cave, Nick Drake, Nina Simone, Patsy Cline, Paul Westerberg, Peter Gabriel, Richard Hell, Roxy Music, Savage Republic, Serge Gainsbourg, Stumblesome, Swans, Tears for Fears, Ted Leo, The Kinks, The Magnetic Fields, The Mountain Goats, The Pogues, The Smiths, The The, Tom Waits, Tortoise, Tycho One, Wall of Voodoo, Why?, Wire, X, Zappa, almost anything from the '80s

Currently on heavy rotation: Adam Arcuragi - I Am Become Joy, Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies, The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World to Come, The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs, Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

(d) I'm not picky, but I love delicious, quality food. I would rather spend money on mouth-watering food and fine beer than just about anything. I'm really enjoying sweet, high-alcohol Belgian ales right now.

Current favorite beer: Duchesse de Bourgogne

fantastic music, affecting books, tasty food, true friends, laughter, sex

sex, myself, work, the finer things in life, people, everything

(a) out on the town
(b) reading
(c) writing
(d) watching a DVD

Take your pick.

I like to dance alone in my bedroom to '80s music, I pee in the shower, and I masturbate. Same as everyone else.

you aren't a dumbass.