I have the brain of a sexy librarian and the soul of an ass-kicking ninja-pirate.

I'm currently in a Ph.D. program, and like most grad students I'm a professional nerd. There's more to life than geekery, though: balance and variety are key. I especially like to spend time outside, being active.

I'm a professional workaholic as well, but I like to think that I've been redeemed by humor. Years of painstaking labor have actually honed my appreciation for the ridiculous. Now entertainment is the first thing I look for in a relationship -- whether we're out trying new things, or just staying in and being silly.

Be warned: I'm strong-willed and independent. However, I'm also stubbornly honest and tenaciously loyal. Everyday I try my hardest to be a decent human being. Everyone should, in my opinion, and that's the one thing I require in a friend.

So shoot me an e-mail if you're not a douche bag, and if you think we could have fun together -- preferably by throwing on a pair of sneakers and playing some ball, or hiking a mountain. If you're willing to talk about Star Trek and Xena, that's a plus. But if you're more inclined to laugh at them, that's all right too.

I'm currently a Ph.D. student. This means lots and lots of work and coffee-guzzling...and procrastination. Preferred methods of procrastination are: good conversation, working out, drinking beer, eating out, hiking, reading trashy novels, and reading and writing fanfiction. That's right. Fanfiction. I'm not ashamed.

Writing. For the moment, that means essays and research papers. I have this fantasy that I'm really good at writing fiction too, and one day I can run away to become a novelist. Also sports: I used to be a college athlete. Now I use all that energy to stay in shape, and to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.

Is eating a skill? If so, then I'm an expert. Although my cooking is a work-in-progress, I always appreciate a good meal -- especially in the company of friends.

I asked my friends this, and they said, "You're tall". They also said, "You're a Mainer". Not sure what they meant by that one.

Cicero, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert Howard, J.R.R. Tolkien, Raymond Chandler, Hell Boy, A Song of Ice and Fire

The Evil Dead, Brick, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Hot Fuzz, Kick Ass, Star Wars, The Princess Bride, anything by Quentin Tarantino, Indiana Jones

Star Trek, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Batman: The Animated Series, Xena: Warrior Princess, Rome, Deadwood

I believe that one of the keys to personal well-being is adaptabilty. After all, no matter where you go, or what your situation is, you have to take yourself with you. So I try not to put prerequisites on my happiness. But I have to admit -- good health, good company, good food, good coffee, and good beer all help. A lot.

Frankly, a lot of it is purely fantastical and has little to do with this plane of reality.

Having fun, hopefully. I do like variety, so this could mean a lot of things. Lately my friends and I have been having a weekly classic movie night. I never thought I was an old movie fan, but I think I'm being converted. Failing all else, there's always a Red Sox game to watch.

This is a tough one. There's not a lot about my life that I consider terribly private. Now you're all wondering: is she that innocent, or that shameless?

you feel like it. I'm not going to make a checklist. Until you meet them, you never know who you'll click with.