Researchgirl was born in the desolate wilds of Northern New Jersey, the Embroidery Capital of the World (according to the banner above Route 495 when one drives into Hoboken, anyway.) While not an embroidery aficionado, it was clear that researchgirl had other vital interests.

Researchgirl (aka eva - rhymes with "diva" not "flava") began speaking at an annoyingly early age (in two languages, thus confusing kindergarten teachers) and hasn't stopped since. She also began reading at a rather young age and clearly recalls being ostracized by her classmates in the fifth grade when she finished the sixth grade reading book.

[ It did not help matters that once a week the town used a bus to transport researchgirl to the other elementary school in town to attend "Gifted and Talented" class. The bus they used was also affectionately known by its other name - the Short Bus or the Tart Cart. Not respectful to anyone involved. The bus driver was cool, though. ]

Fifth grade reading done, and social stigma established, there was nothing left to do but read alone, so researchgirl sat at the round table in the back of the classroom reading The Westing Game over and over. It's a good book, so things were 'aight.

Middle school came and went rather uneventfully - contact lenses were purchased, a fascination with shopping was instilled - and the strongest memory from that time period is writing a poem and having an English teacher completely misunderstand the meaning. Lesson learned - "people just don't understand!" Researchgirl dropped creative writing for a long time because of that sting.

The years passed, leaves fell (New Jersey offers the experience of all four seasons to her residents), those color-changing "mood" t-shirts and Wigwam socks fell in and out of fashion and finally 1996 came around. Researchgirl was voted 'Most Artistic' in her high school yearbook, was a candidate for 'Most Musical' (quoi???) and 'Class Scholar'. I came out of my shell, said, "what the hell??!!?" and directed some dramas, acted in plays and sang (which I still don't believe) as the second female lead in the senior year musical production.

Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR teachers (all in the math and science arenas) told me, "You think differently from the rest of us."

College applications were sent and acceptance letters were received.

NYU's College of Arts and Sciences won the prestige of being my higher education source. I made no friends, but I learned many valuable skills, including: how to work a full-time job and handle 20 credits while being a commuter, how to dress properly in layers for the variations in temperature and humidity between the classroom, street and underground, which floor at the Bobst Library is most suitable for naps (the 8th), and I took a chance and signed up for creative writing one last time - as an English elective.

[At some point, I switched from third person to first person - this is extraordinarily bad in an academic paper, but this is my website so I can bend those rules...]

I loved creative writing poetry and my professors told me I was pretty decent at it, too. They urged me to continue on for additional classes, and I did. The workshops taught me to handle criticism and helped me to believe that I had talent. It was truly wonderful.

During my last week of college and right before finals, I was offered a post-college job as a buyer for a book distribution company. I did that for two years until that company went out of business for various reasons - some involved the economy post Sept. 11th, some involved other companies' bankruptcies... but it happened.

I was a displaced worker for ten months. That was a very hard time for me. My self-esteem was at an all-time low - applying to jobs daily and not getting a single interview doesn't exacty make you feel fabulous. I asked for an received domain hosting from my family for my birthday. I had lots of free time between sending out resumes and cover letters, so I learned some web programming. Voila. Here's the site!

I am currently working at a job not within my field of expertise or education, but I'm doing it well. I have made several friends there within a relatively short time and that is the best part of the work - the wonderful people I get to talk to daily in the office, via email and via telephone. I get to work with international customers and help people in little ways on a daily basis. Until I find a job that's more suited to my passions in life, helping people in little ways isn't a bad gig.

[Moving back into third person voice!]

That said, researchgirl is still talking a lot and reading a lot. However, she now revels in her geekiness and the current trend of geek chic. It's very cool that it's cool to be smart.

She lusts after a silverstone grey Volkswagen Passat 1.8T or a gunmetal silver Mazda3 four-door. Researchgirl is also planning her finances so that she can move into a solo living situation soon, too, and own a grey cat. She's been dreaming of it... that would be sad if it wasn't just weird.

Researchgirl's sign is Aries. She is the eldest of four children, if you consider birth order factors. Her blood type is B positive (like her attitude ... sometimes) and she is a regular donor of blood because she believes it builds character and is a great way to get free juice and cookies and chat it up with interesting people.

Her favorite drinks are Cosmopolitan martinis, Midori sours, Absolut Citron & ginger ale, and gin and tonics. She favors silver jewelry over gold, tea over coffee, cats over dogs, and the moon over the sun.

She has been likened to Martha Stewart in terms of cooking, baking and general domestic resourcefulness and crafting abilities. Sans prison sentence. She has been likened to her mother and sister in appearance. Celebrity appearance similarities have been drawn between her, Claire Danes and Reese Witherspoon.

She has been referred to as quirky, quintessential, weird, smart, short, cute, intimidating, "a geek", "a punk" and "a bitch", as well as nice, friendly, funny and "awesome." If we go by the original meaning, it means she inspires awe and fear - though she highly doubts this is the case since, at 5'2" , she is hardly a massive presence.

Sometimes, she refers to herself in the third person because it's kind of fun.

If you've come to this site serendipitously, congratulations! If you were actually looking for it, thanks for making me feel like a valuable member of society. Let me know what you think and/or just drop me a line.