in the words of ee cummings, "Hereupon helpless i utter lilac shrieks and scarlet bellowings." Or at least: I hope I can summon up some lilac shrieks and scarlet bellowings. I am an early-20s traveler, asking myself Mary Oliver's haunting question--What do I want to do with my one wild and precious life? I spent last year in post-Soviet Central Asia, and will be spending next year in Africa and the Middle East for an eight-month trip starting in January. Right now I am a traveler in my homeland, the U.S., confused and mesmerized as usual by humanity and wonder.

I'm Jeff: a traveller, writer, researcher, engineer, political junkie, an apathetic runner, a quitting smoker, renewable energy aficando, queer theory enthusiast, and a unique snowflake.

Welcome to my lair...just kidding. You are now entering the worm-hole that is my life. Escape while you have the chance.

I have made a great discovery. What I love belongs to me. Maybe there is no proper way to react to the inner animal's tunes but to dance to them.

I don't know you, but I imagine I am probably a better writer. I say, "probably" because I don't want to come across as arrogant. I know there's nothing that people hate more in a writer than hubris.