I am at various times a critic, a cook, a formidable Scrabble opponent, a dance partner, a less than formidable tennis opponent, a tourist, a teacher, a big brother, a writer, a goofball, a pedestrian, a singer, a Phillies fan, and an avid conversationalist.

Years ago, I left my midwestern, mathy/sciencey roots for a small liberal arts education and degrees in music and art history at Swarthmore. Now armed with a PhD in musicology, I've got a one-year job in New Jersey, a long commute on the train, and aspirations.

If all else fails, Plan B is to open an all-male bakery called Pastriarchy.

Making incredibly bad puns. Grocery shopping. Reasoning. Overanalyzing subway ads. Word games.

I'm not sure, though if you're one of those motion-activated paper towel dispensers, chances are you don't notice me or my wet hands at all.

Books
Michael Chabon- The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay; Kazuo Ishiguro- Never Let Me Go, The Remains of the Day; Barbara Kingsolver- The Poisonwood Bible; Ian McEwan- Atonement; John Kennedy Toole- A Confederacy of Dunces, Jonathan Franzen- Freedom.

Movies
Annie Hall, Dr. Strangelove, Grand Illusion, Nashville, Sherlock Jr., Singin' in the Rain, There Will Be Blood, Tokyo Story, Touch of Evil, Vertigo, The Social Network, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Ratatouille, Talk to Her, Children of Men, Cache, Tree of Life, Knocked Up, Lost in Translation, South Park: Bigger Longer Uncut.

TV
Arrested Development, Simpsons (seasons 3-8), Sports Night and West Wing (seasons 1-4), Flight of the Conchords, 30 Rock.

Music
My occupation allows me to listen to pretty much everything. Currently in heavy rotation: Frank Loesser, Charles Ives, Richard Strauss, Alison Krauss, Gustav Mahler, The Head and the Heart, Vampire Weekend, Sufjan Stevens, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Duke Ellington, The National, Stephen Sondheim, David Lang, Of Montreal, The Lumineers.

Food
Berries, guacamole, sweet potato fries, sourdough, dark chocolate, barbecue, cheese, fruit pie with ice cream. Though, really, any meal made and eaten with friends wins.

(1) Deceptive cadences
(2) The Criterion Collection
(3) Maps
(4) The New Yorker and the Sunday NYTimes Crossword over late breakfast
(5) This American Life podcasts
(6) Seasons and thunderstorms

the finer details.

doing something fairly low-key: board games, a movie, an orchestra concert, dinner and conversation with good friends, or an intimate late night with library books.

I once raised $100 in an auction by writing a limerick.

You're interested in the world around you and can articulate that.

While these answers gauge a certain level of minimum interest, I'd rather get to know you in person, but I'm also fine with volleying messages back and forth for a bit first if you prefer.