I am one fierce rollerblader (hey, don't laugh- it gives you an ass so tight you can bounce a damn quarter off it)! Not all my pursuits are that nerdy of course, since I also love a rousing game of Scrabble, spending time with my four cats, people-watching, reading and viewing copious amounts of television. When I'm not engaging in the aforementioned activities, I can be found at the movies, as movies are truly my favorite pastime (even when I'm not being paid to review them). Lest you think I'm an ambitionless couch-potato, I feel I must mention that I run regularly and clean compulsively (yes, I'm a neat freak).
Hmmm, who would I like to meet? Well, who wouldn't want to have an encounter with their favorite celebrity? I know I certainly would want to meet several famous people, if only to see if they are pretentious douchebags in real life. My list would include Hugh Laurie (Dr. House can examine me anytime), Mike Rowe (he seems like such a fascinating fellow, not to mention sexy), Zach Braff (for those same reasons), Natalie Portman (she's simply exsquisite), Tina Fey (her wit inspires me), Cate Blanchett (so damn classy), Nicole Kidman (she's so elegant, plus I'd feel compelled to ask her if Tom Cruise was such a nutjob when she was married to him), Dr. Phil (so I could give him a swift kick in the groin), George W. Bush (for the same reason), Paris Hilton (so I could admonish her for setting the female empowerment movement back a good twenty years), Jessica Simpson (for the same reason), Nicole Richie (just to see how thin she really is in person) and all the girls who teased me in elementary school for being a shy nerd (I hope they've all gotten fat), and (finally) someone capable of real, reciprocal love, who'll embrace (or at least overlook) all of my idiosyncracies and neuroses.
Although I'm clearly in the minority in declaring my love for ABBA, I don't give a shit. When my antiquated portable CD player is not blasting ABBA, it can usually be heard playing Jack Johnson, Mika, Buddy Holly, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Edith Piaf, Keane, OAR, the "Garden State" soundtrack, the soundtrack from "Chicago" (when I'm feeling sassy), Jason Mraz (when I'm feeling like a spaz) or the soundtrack from "Secretary" (when I'm feeling naughty). I also love "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells, "Love is All Around" by The Troggs, "Oh What a Night" by The Four Seasons, "Kodachrome" by Paul Simon, "Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin, lots of Elvis, most classical music, some Michael Buble, some of The Mamas and the Papas and "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor.
Don't get me started on this topic! Movies are my passion, so the list of ones I enjoy is a long and eclectic one. The following are a few of my favorites: "Dumb and Dumber," "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "Seven," "Garden State," "Secretary," "Igby Goes Down," "L.A. Confidential," "The Silence of the Lambs," "Saving Private Ryan," "Chicago," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "28 Days Later," "Dawn of the Dead," "Bad Santa," "Apollo 13," "Narc," "Quills," "Clay Pigeons," "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," the series of "Horatio Hornblower" films, "Old School," "Fargo," "The 40 Year Old Virgin," "Reservoir Dogs," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "The Bourne Identity," "Fight Club," "To Die For," "The Usual Suspects," "Good Will Hunting" and "Super Troopers."
Currently, I'm obsessed with a little program by the name of "Dirty Jobs." It airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel (yes, it is thinly veiled edu-tainment). The show features host Mike Rowe (whom I simply adore) attempting a variety of foul feats. He profiles dirty professions with a sexy blend of humor, machismo and articulateness that I can't get enough of. Of course the scheduling of this program conflicts with my other favorite, "House," which means I have to tape the latter (yes, I still have a fucking VCR- I like to call it the poor man's Tivo). I also thoroughly enjoy "CSI: Las Vegas" (I boycott "CSI: Miami" because I firmly believe that David Caruso is too ugly to be on television), "Scrubs" (Zach Braff is so damn sexy), "The Office" (Steve Carell is a genius), "Family Guy" (it's freakin' sweet), "Arrested Development" (I wish it would make a triumphant return),"The Simpsons" (I prefer the vintage episodes over the newer ones) and "The Soup." Damn, I watch too much TV- especially when you consider the fact I'm omitting all the shows I rent on DVD, since I'm deprived of cable.
Does "Star" magazine count? Just kidding! While I do love the guilty little pleasure that is "Star," I actually relish reading real books that bear no mention of Paris Hilton and her ilk. I'm a fan of the Ripley series penned by Patricia Highsmith, as well as vintage crime novels by James Ellroy and Frank Abagnale's memoir, "Catch Me If You Can." I sometimes enjoy the warped sensibilities of Chuck Palahniuk and Brett Easton Ellis, although I was disappointed in the film adaptation of "American Psycho" (David Fincher should have directed that movie). I've also been known to actually enjoy "The Canterbury Tales," "The Iliad," and "The Odyssey" (and other books students are frequently forced to read in school). In summation, I also have an affinity for muckraking books of all sorts. I loved "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair, as well as "The Hot Zone," "The Pentagon Papers" and "Fast Food Nation."
Without a moment of hesitation I would say my mom! My mother is infinitely patient, supportive and wise. She's been both a mother and father to me, as well as a friend and confidant. She's sacrificed so much of herself on my behalf that I only hope I can one day become someone she deems worthy of all those sacrifices. My mom means more to me than anyone and I will forever measure my success in terms of how proud she is of me.