Vegetarian writer, bookworm, amateur musician and weekend chef. I became vegetarian about two and a half years ago, after I graduated from college and moved out on my own. I always wanted to try it out, as a challenge to myself to do something good for my body and for the environment; I'm really happy I did it. I've become a more adventurous cook and eater because of it. I cook on the weekends and sometimes in the evenings as a way to relieve stress (and sometimes as a way to put off writing). It's amazing how relaxing it can be to just take a really big knife, chop up a bunch of vegetables and make a meal for yourself. You feel like you've accomplished something, even if everything else that day turned out like crap. I always cook with music. I like books as much as I like food. When my bookshelf and my refrigerator are both full, all is right with the world.