+++Available - male human, approximately 32 years of age. Some light weather damage. Still in original packaging. +++

Am I a hopeless geek or more of an average joe who just so happens to have a geeky side? I'm not sure. I can tell you I have a mind for trivia of all kinds and an obsession with cooking, books, movies, comics and comedy. Sometimes I feel like I'm overly engaged with frivolous things that don't really matter, but other times I feel like a bleeding heart who spends too much time worrying about various social ills. It's taken me a long time to find a career that allows me to engage with people's lives in a meaningful way and challenges me intellectually. It becomes more and more apparent to me over time that teaching is as much a calling as it is a job and part of me still can't believe I've been "called." Though, I guess it makes sense that I'd be drawn to a calling that both lets me help kids ask "the Big Questions" and be a wise-ass without much fear of reprisal.

The long and short of it is that I'm a very laid back guy who's equally happy going out and having adventures and trying to take in some form of culture or staying in with friends. I love taking trips to the city, but also like getting away from civilisation from time to time. A lot of the time I'm a little anxious about interacting with new people, but weirdly I find I also get a real charge out being alone in front of blackboard facing a room full of expectant and/or indifferent faces.

I'm just trying to get by! I finished my Master's in Education last spring and I found myself working as a substitute teacher in my old middle school for the better part of a year. It wasn't where I thought I'd wind up, but at times it was so much fin that I couldn't believe I was getting paid to do it. After having some especially positive experiences workings with students with learning disabilities I realized I wanted to work in special education. Now I'm working full-time as a special education paraprofessional in Amherst!

I think I'm fairly good at making people laugh and putting them at ease. People at work tend to tell me I'm very laid back. Lately I've been very into Thai cooking and I think I make a pretty good green curry.

Probably that I smile a lot and know a lot of random facts. Also that I have advanced facial hair-growing abilities.

These change all the time, but perennial favorites include anything by Peter Carey, Jonathan Lethem and China Mieville. Recently I've been reading more sci-fi and fantasy – it can't always be "fine" literature... Also, I read a fair amount of comic books and graphic novels – especially anything written by Grant Morrison. Moviewise it's really hard for me to pick all-time favorites, but over the past few years I really liked Hanna, The Future, Black Swan, Inglorious Basterds, A Serious Man and Scott Pilgrim. I also really like Anchor Man, Talladega Night, Step Brothers, etc. and superhero movies. My taste in music is pretty eclectic. Recently I've been listening a lot to indie garage rock acts like Ty Segal and Reigning Sound, but I'll always have a soft spot for my two favorite "arty" bands, Okkervil River and Sunset Rubdown and have an abiding interest in 70s British folk. I love Korean, Thai and soul food, but really just like food in general.

My friends. My family. My computer. My ipod. Good books and movies. Good food.

My future. What school I'll end up working at. When I'll find the time and money to visit my friends in New York.

Hanging out at a friend's place or at a bar.

I've had to start ignoring friend requests from my students on Facebook.

You think I sound interesting and might be interested in hanging out.