Hi there,

I now have a locked mailbox, so my parcels won't go missing. I can swap again! Hooray!

I'm a chef. I'm in the process of becoming a research chef, which means I get to play with my food and come up with new products. I also work part-time at a bookstore, which I love. Getting paid to talk about books all day? Sweet!

I love to swim, ski, knit, cook, read, swim, swim, travel, swim, and swim. I love anything to do with the ocean.

I lived in Japan from 1997 to 2005. I moved back to Canada for about 9 months in that period, but I just couldn't stay away from Asia. I've traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

I don't smoke and I don't have any pets, so the packages I send out are smoke and fuzz-free. I'm not allergic to cats, but the bearmate is, so I have to be a bit careful.

Recently, I've gotten many pms from wonderful people telling me that they love my brutal honesty in the forums, and have asked me to never change. Don't worry - brutal honesty is a family trait. I couldn't change it even if I wanted to!

Split Enz/Crowded House/Neil Finn, Johnny Cash, REM, Billy Bragg, Otis Redding, Steve Earle, Manic Street Preachers

Mallrats, Waiting for Guffman, The Princess Bride, Chinatown, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Roger and Me

Cracker, Simpsons, King of the Hill, The Office, Arrested Development, old Law and Order

Knitting, learning to sew and quilt

If you send me any of the following, I'll be a happy lady:

plain dark chocolate, Reese's Peanut Butter cups, (but not Reese's Pieces), anything vanilla, natural fibre (except for lovely alpaca, it makes me itch and gives me splotchy skin... sadness) yarn (in any colour), flavoured coffee (except Irish Creme or anything with coconut), post cards (especially Anne Taintor, or anything Anne Taintor), kitsch, retro anything, anything with stars (I love stars!!!), super-tacky Elvis souvenirs - especially of older, fatter, greasier Elvis (if it makes you want to scream and run away in terror, then you're close to what I'm looking for), books from my Amazon wishlist (used is all right!), anything Johnny Cash, bamboo knitting needles, and recipes.

I live with a big bear of a man. He also cooks and plays with his food. He likes LOL cats and Hannari tofu. I know, I know - it makes me giggle, too!

raisins (they make my tongue go numb), alpaca (again, sadness!!) coconut, fruit-flavoured chocolate, nuts in chocolate (I'm not allergic; I prefer nuts in savoury dishes), candy (except gummy bears and Starburst fruit chews), overtly religious material trying to convert me or save my heathen soul (I'm happy you've found enlightenment or have been saved, but please respect my beliefs or non-beliefs - my soul is just fine), overly cute stuff, etc... if you have any questions, just ask me.