Gimme a second. I was working on something when you came in...

Okay. Ready now.

This is where I keep the informal, personal information that might actually give you insight into my character. Then again, maybe I'm just putting down the superficial, non-threatening stuff to divert your attention. Draw your own conclusions about what this says about me. Note that I've trimmed the page quite a bit recently since I think it's beter to have only a little information updated frequently rather than a lot that is never updated at all.

I have a few main interests, although I have no real hobbies of which to speak.

Films
I like old movies. I'll watch anything with Humphrey Bogart in it, and I count The Big Sleep and Casablanca as two favorites, with The Maltese Falcon, an earlier film, just slightly behind. In addition, I admit to a certain joy at watching any of the old Universal horror pictures, especially Dracula (the American and the superior Spanish version). I received The Wolf Man recently as a gift.

My wife and I have watched Granada's mini-series of Pride and Prejudice about a dozen times. It's perfect way to spend a gloomy afternoon.

In more modern terms, I like The Usual Suspects, The Imposters, and The Tao of Steve. I also appreciated Shadow of the Vampire for its cleverness and originality. By far, though, the most original movie I've seen in a long while is Memento.

Books
Walk into other people's houses and you find change in their couch cushions. Walk into our house and try not to trip over our books.

I've read one WWII spy novel by Alan Furst called Kingdom of Shadows. I liked it enough that I may read more of his work.

Due to cultural obligation, I've plowed through The Hobbit and will no doubt work my way through a few more Tolkien books.

I recently finished a couple things that I was reading simultaneously: The Simple Art of Murder by Raymond Chandler; The Drowning Pool by Ross MacDonald; also Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess.

Television
Did I mention I'm fanatical about television cooking shows? I find them terribly, horribly addictive. And now there's a network devoted to cooking shows! Good Eats and Iron Chef are my two favorites.

I find Six Feet Under rivetting. It's fun for the whole family.