I'm a graduate student in astronomy, which despite being a thankless job some of the time, does have its perks. Among them are the ability to keep flexible hours and the fact that someone else occasionally pays for me to travel places like Hawaii. Also, I have a guaranteed job doing what I love for the next few years!

Enthusiastically pursuing new hobbies. In the end, this usually makes me "pretty good" at things instead of "really good" at them, but a few things have stuck, like cooking (and baking and making cocktails!) and photography. Those things come in handy too: every time I move someplace new, photography is how I've gotten to know my new home, and cooking for people is how I've gotten to know my new friends.

I like to laugh, but I've had people tell me I look too serious. It must be because they don't understand my condition.

Books: The Left Hand of Darkness, The Diamond Age, The Fountainhead, The Sparrow, As I Lay Dying

Movies: Jeux d'enfants, Gone with the Wind, Moulin Rouge, Secretary, The Shape of Things

Shows: Damages, Rome, Battlestar Galactica (the new one!), Jericho (how did I miss this when it was on TV?), Homeland

Food: Practically everything, but I have a special place in my heart for gnocchi, hot wings, and strawberries.

My passport
A few bottles of wine (or a nice bottle of rye)
Movie trailers
My camera
Christmas music
Stylish post-it notes

With friends. Most of the time this means having drinks and airing our complaints about the week, but has also been known to include watching bad science movies and playing card games.

I once had a big literary crush on Howard Roark and baked cupcakes to celebrate Ayn Rand's birthday. I promise I'm not crazy (or a Republican), though. Really.

Among other things, you've ever driven by a highway entrance ramp and been struck by the desire to head off on an adventure instead of going home.

Or, more specifically, if you have suggestions for a girl who wants to be a tourist-in-her-own city. It's been a year and a half, but I still feel like there's a lot more to discover about LA!