I'm an academic historian and I read way too much, or so my friends tell me.

I love traveling; I lived in Scotland while I earned an MA in history. I've seen more of Europe than I have of the States, in fact, though that is something I'm more than willing to change.

I'm a big fan of the kitchen; I'm a good baker and a passable cook. Part of a job I had once involved spending a great deal of time in a massive (usually stocked) kitchen giving baking demos. I had a recipe book that I generally ignored in favor of experimenting. Never having poisoned anyone, and receiving three proposals of marriage over short bread, I call it a success.

I like good conversation and good coffee. Either or both are an easy way to turn a rubbish day into a fantastic one.

I'm shy on first meeting, but open up on further acquaintance, and then the sarcasm comes out. I like to think I'm worth the effort, but that of course could just be personal bias.

I work at one of the museums in Albany and I love it, but it's not very well suited to meeting new people, so I thought I'd give this a try. I'd like to meet someone who wants to settle down and try for something meaningful.

transcribing the personal letters of an eighteenth century US Ambassador. Seriously.

is probably something you should tell me.

There are entirely too many books to list-anywhere- but I've recently read (or reread) and enjoyed Edward Rutherfurd's New York and The Forest, Dorothy Sayers' The Nine Tailors and Gaudy Night, Austen's Persuasion, Gregory of Tours' Decem Libri Historiarum, and Chris Wickham's The Inheritance of Rome. I also just acquired a set of the Rise and Fall, which I will (finally) finish.

I like music. I'll listen to pretty much anything. Except rap. And death metal.

I watch movies. I don't really care if they're good or not. That having been said, I have to be strongarmed into watching anything with Will Ferrell in. I just don't think he's funny. My favorites are The Philadelphia Story, Love Me if You Dare, Before the Sunrise, and anything else with Cary Grant in.

My favorite food is Italian. That one, at least, is straightforward.

coffee, books, family and friends, and libraries. And, you know, air.

what's next.

probably reading. Or saving the universe. One of the two.

My friends and I play boardgames all night when we're all together. Usually with margaritas.

you know who Clovis was. Or Robin Goodfellow. Or John Donne. Or what the Nymph's Reply to the Passionate Shepherd was. Or don't think I'm crazy because I do know these things. If you like coffee rather than tea. If you can handle sarcasm and dry wit- and give them back in kind. If you can deal with the British slang that has integrated itself into my everyday vocabulary. If you know the difference between decent beer and the swill you get in grocery stores. If anything you've just read piqued your interest. But, please, only if you're certain of what you're looking for.