Hello! I'm a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, but I've lived in Missoula, Montana for nearly twenty years. When I'm not at my 9-to-5 job in our state's tourism industry, I enjoy exploring the hills and mountains of my adopted home. I also love books, music, movies, cooking and travel. I haven't had the opportunity to leave North America yet, but I've traveled from New York City to Honolulu and nearly everywhere else in between. On the weekends and holidays, you can find me hiking local trails, exploring small towns, National Parks and historic sites (Uptown Butte is a favorite), and taking part in some of the many cultural events Missoula has to offer. I'm also passionate about politics. I'm a liberal feminist atheist who occasionally gets argumentative; if you can't handle a good, friendly debate, I will not be the woman for you.

I have a close circle of friends and family. My father died a few years ago; I'm an only child, so it's just me and my mother now, and we have a very close relationship. I work full time, participate in various volunteer activities (I've worked at Garnet Ghost Town, I've answered the phones during Montana Public Radio's annual fundraising drive, and I currently serve on the board of directors of a local community arts center), and look forward to finding the right person to round out my already full life.

I absolutely love to cook and bake. Just now, on NPR's All Things Considered, I heard Gourmet magazine was ceasing publication. This breaks my heart. I write on the side; I used to regularly post on a local blog devoted to Missoula and Montana politics. I'm well-rounded--I can put up a batch of Concord grape jam, hang a set of window blinds, shoot a ruffled grouse with my little .410, and argue the merits of a national health care plan with you all night.

Honestly? My tits. They're huge. After that, it's a tie between my eyes and my sparkling (ha) personality.

My favorite authors are Michael Chabon, T.C. Boyle, Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. I love any film made by the Coen brothers and classic black and white movies like The Thin Man, The Big Sleep, All About Eve and Double Indemnity. I'm really catholic in my taste in music. You'll find everything from Brahms to Billie Holiday to the Black Keys on my iPod. As I mentioned above, I love to cook and bake; I'll try anything once but my favorite cuisine is Italian. I know my way around a wine list, and if you need a huckleberry pie ASAP, well, I'm your girl.

Just six things I can't do without? Gee, if I had to narrow it down, I'd say interesting conversation, good music, great sex, fine wine, scrumptious food and Antiques Roadshow on PBS. I'm an Antiques Roadshow junkie; I was even on the Spokane show in 2007.

There is no typical Friday night in my life. Some weeks I'm at home enjoying a quiet dinner and a good movie, others I'm checking out the art at local galleries during First Fridays downtown, and still others I'm out dancing to a band at a local bar. I do like to party, so if you're wary of drinking, smoking and cutting loose once in a while, I'm not the right person for you.

Okay, this is where my extroverted self reverts to the shy child I once was.

You have a great sense of humor. I'm fast, funny and fierce, so if you can't keep up with me I will leave you in the dust. Also, good spelling, grammar and punctuation is a must. Call me shallow, but the lack of all three is a total turn-off.