HOBBIES/INTERESTS

My favorite music is symphony music from the romantic era. Favorite composers include: Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Mahler, Saint Saens, and Tchaikovsky. Some favorite pieces/symphonies include: Saint Saens Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Enigma Variations by Elgar, Barber Violin Concerto, The Planets by Holst, Mahler Symphony No. 4, and all Beethoven Symphonies.

I am also interested in digital technologies for producing music. I have composed music using composition software and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). I have some knowledge of MIDI file formats and enjoy creating and obtaining MIDI files.

Sports

I enjoy many types of outdoor activities. But I particularly love cold weather, and the more activities that involve snow, the better! I came to Ithaca to enjoy its snow and winters.

I love to backpack and hike. I have hiked and camped many on many of the areas of the Appalachian Trail. Some day, maybe I'll hike the entire trail if I have 6 months with nothing to do. However, I have recently started to learn mountaineering, which is backpacking except at extreme altitudes on rugged terrain with inclement weather (see Cool Vacations for more info). I have had experience hiking on glaciers, learned the techniques for crevasse rescue, and have some practical experience self arresting with ice axes! Other outdoor activities I enjoy include rock climbing, ice climbing, downhill and cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, and occasional swimming.

Most recently I have been developing my rock climbing skills (see my recent rock climbing pictures). I am currently teaching rock climbing for Cornell Outdoor Education. I have taught Basic Rock Climbing and High Adventure. I also work out at the Hoffman Challenge Course through the Cornell Teambuilding Program which I highly recommend you try while in Ithaca! I also frequent the "Gunks" with my husband and try to visit the Lindseth Climbing Wall (indoor wall at Cornell) several times per week. Not too long ago I also ran frequently in some 10K races getting in shape for mountaineering adventures, but graduate school has put some of my activities on hold. However I did run in the Ithaca 5-miler race in Sept 2001 - here is a picture of my husband and I crossing the finish line.

Because of my frequent wilderness outings and my working for Cornell Outdoor Education, in June 2002 I was certified as a Wilderness First Responder by Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA). This was sponsored by Cornell and was an intense week of 80 hours of classroom instruction and simulations to test our skills. Here's a picture of myself and other classmates learning to strap an injured person to a litter (for helicopter evac or carry-out). I highly recommend this course to anyone spending significant time in the outdoors. Read about the course description.