Hi! So... what am I supposed to put here? I guess I should list some stuff I like to do...

I love to read - fiction, nonfiction, news. Those that know me know my opinions on things. I'm fascinated by things like philosophy, politics, art, and history... even though I might feel out of my league, I love to talk about that stuff and push my boundaries.

I love music. I've played in bands since I was in high school. These days I play guitar and sing with a little folk-type combo, really just me and a few friends for fun. I also love listening to music - many kinds, a lot of classical (Beethoven is my shit), jazz, rock, other. Time is boring without music to decorate it (I think Frank Zappa said that).

I love linguistics and languages (it was my major back in college). Etymologies are my favorite part of the dictionary! I speak a bit of Chinese after spending some time there teaching English after college. Words are just the greatest - did you know that apothecary, bodega, and boutique all come from the same Greek word meaning "storehouse"? But they are different because one came via Norman French, one via Spanish, and one via modern French. Awesome!

I hang out with 8 year olds all day long, in other words I'm a teacher. Workin' for the city... hey, it's a pretty good living and I'm proud of what I do.

Right now I'm excited about my new apartment on the Upper East Side - just made the move from Brooklyn, so it's a bit of a change (and a HUGE improvement on my commute time).

Music (see above)

Also: Jeopardy, crossword puzzles, bar trivia, board games, things like that. Some people think games are unimportant but I think they're horribly mistaken.

Books - Currently reading (very slowly) through the Modern Library's list of best 100 English-language novels of the 20th century. Yes, I am a nerd.

Movies - Kubrick, Coen brothers, old horror movies (especially 50s and earlier), 80s/90s action movies

Shows - Not really any TV other than some sports. I like soccer the most.

Music - Lots of different things, but I've been on kind of a huge kick for classical music for the past few years. Shostakovich!

Food - I could eat anywhere or anything within reason and I promise I will genuinely enjoy it. I love trying new and unusual things, and I am not picky at all. I like spicy food, and in general I think I like strong flavors.

I have a dorky fondness for Star Trek.