I'm an idealist at heart who wants to understand and change the world. I tend to see a lot of the things that other people miss, and I have more than once been described as "insightful." I tend to think I simply see what's there if you just look and listen long enough and well enough. I really strive to go beyond surface understandings and superficial relationships. Maybe it's because I'm still trying to live out the secret a fox told to a little prince in one of my all time favorite stories:

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."

I'm currently working as a field manager for a progressive non-profit group that works for greater economic justice. It's always been important to me to work for a cause I believe in instead of simply earning a paycheck, so this year has been very exciting along that front.

Prior to jumping into political work with both feet a little over a year ago, I spent quite a bit of time in education and academia. I have a Master's Degree in Religious Studies (focus on the psychology of religion and politics) and have done quite a bit of teaching. There's also a part of me that feels that I may ultimately end up as a writer. Writing is something I have loved to do regardless of what else I'm doing with my life at any given moment.

Writing, teaching, one-on-one conversations, saying what everyone else is thinking but lacks either the eloquence or courage to say, starting over, standing up for what I believe in, accepting people for who they are and making people laugh.

I tend to be quiet at first, so maybe it's that. I like to watch and listen for a bit before I jump right into a conversation or activity or whatever it is I'm doing.

Books: Grapes of Wrath, The Little Prince, Snow, History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters, Snow Crash, Anathem, Lathe of Heaven, Animal Farm, and pretty much anything by Neil Gaiman or Christopher Moore; I also read lots of non-fiction, usually in the areas of politics, psychology or history

Movies: American Beauty, The Dark Knight, Inception, Star Wars, The Road, Anything Else, Lord of the Rings

Shows: Arrested Development, The Daily Show, Colbert, Star Trek, BSG, LOST, Boston Legal, Game of Thrones, The Office

Music: Josh Ritter, Jewel, Metallica, Blue Oyster Cult, Tracy Chapman, Arvo Part, Weird Al, Rod Stewart, BNL, Mumford & Sons, Sara McLaughlin, Johnny Cash, movie soundtracks...can you tell my playlist on shuffle is really weird?

Food: Wings, cheese fries, beer

1) Something to write with and/or on.
2) Friends and Family
3) Steeler football
4) books
5) dreams (both the waking and sleeping kind)
6) more questions

Anything and everything. I didn't spend five years in graduate education for no reason. Politics, religion, philosophy, psychology, history...you name it and I've probably thought about it at least five times today.

I have a blog that I fill with lot of these thoughts. It can be found at:

http://www.dailykos.com/blog/greywolfe359

Canvassing a neighborhood and talking to people about politics. Afterward, either out with friends for drinks or back home to watch Real Time with Bill Maher.

You're passionate about changing the world, love to question and be questioned in return, and would be comfortable discussing everything from philosophy to football over beers.