Most embarrassing former crush: Kevin Costner in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"

What I like to do: Anything is fun in the right company. I am an excellent sidekick.

I love to travel, read, learn dead and living languages. Good conversation and intelligent humor always win me over. In the summer I like to hike, and in the winter I dabble in ice skating. I like sports, but I watch more than I play. I'd like to play catch again like I did when I was a kid. I've mysteriously lost all ability to throw a frisbee.

I'm lucky enough to have a job that lets me live anywhere I choose in the United States. So I chose Boston, because I love its vibe and history. In the warmer months of the year, I volunteer as a tour guide with a not-for-profit historical walking tour organization. I'm going to learn a new tour this year: one about the mob, the Spanish influenza, bank heists, the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 and other stories of Boston's underbelly. Can't wait :)

In the colder months of the year, I shovel snow (or try to charm my snowblower-wielding neighbor to do it for me). When there are three feet of snow on the ground and your bicep has a diameter of 9.5 inches fully flexed, you've got to be enterprising and make use of the charm.

Some of my favorite books: "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara, “The Power of Myth” by Joseph Campbell, "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, Bram Stoker's "Dracula", "Nicholas and Alexandra" by Robert K. Massie.

Shameful confession: The Kevin Costner confession was shameful enough.

Favorite country outside of the US: France with England running a close second. I'm a PhD dropout in French lit. Perhaps you have to speak the language to love the French. Then again, maybe I'm just snooty ...