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What’s life if you don’t fill it with fun things? Here’s some of my things, ranging from the semi-serious to the definitely-not-serious.

interests

Musicals

I love musicals! Favorite ones I’ve seen in-person are Hadestown, Waitress, and Les Mis. I’ve recently gotten into acting in musicals. My first show Next Act 2023 show, Remembering Her, where played Kevin, a wholesome, slightly empty-headed, Prius-driving highschooler who forgets his girlfriend, but eventually remembers (shyeah!). Most recently, I played Michael in a production of tick, tick… BOOM! with KAST, which was an absolute joy. Currently on an acting hiatus, but we’ll see what thing I try next…

Puzzle Hunts

I participate in Mystery Hunt (and many smaller hunts) with NES, a team composed of many former and current residents of Next House (my undergraduate dorm). I do hunts because they’re fun events to think hard about incredibly unproductive things were there is an answer to find, and also just to reconnect with friends.

Dungeons and Dragons

Most things I do are incredibly on-brand, but somehow I’ve managed to avoid becoming a DnD player until now. Currently in two campaigns playing Wella, a druid who talks to dinosaurs and is bad at people and definitely doesn’t have an Australian accent like Steve Irwin, and Myrna, a sorcerer trying to figure out the nature of magic and the secrets of the (definitely evil) Citadel. (For the friends in my campaigns — did you really think that I’d reveal my character secrets on the Internet? Please.) Also watch a good amount of Critical Role + Dimension 20!

Crosswords

In 2022, I finally subscribed to NYT Games and began doing the crossword daily; have since solved far too many crosswords for my own good. Slowly working on bringing down my averages to competition level, and maybe one April I’ll take the train down to ACPT.

Bouldering

I picked up bouldering right before starting grad school. I’m currently considering defecting from Boston Bouldering Project to Central Rock Gym, and climb roughly at a V3 level. I go much less regularly than I’d like to given how busy graduate school is, but enjoy it every time I go.

Biking

Over the past few years, I’ve gotten into taking long bike rides! Hoping to start getting into bikepacking over the next summer or two as well.

Improv

Started taking a few classes through a grad club here at MIT, and it’s been super fun to think on my feet and just say different things. I’d love to one day be able to do things like Jess and Zach from Off Book, but I suspect that improv musicals are a loooong way away.

Deep Discussions

I love talking to people to learn more about who they are and how they see the world. One semester in undergrad, I ran a small discussion series to bring strangers together to talk about big questions like “How do you define yourself?” and “What brings meaning to your life?”

A Cappella

For the first two years of grad school, I was part of the MIT Centrifugues, a group that sings predominantly mashups and medleys. I sang baritone, learned how to arrange songs and beatbox, and was a Music Directors for a bit c: I hadn’t been a part of organized music since middle school, and have greatly enjoyed getting reacquainted with my musical side. My last (and favorite) arrangement was my “Senior” Solo, a mash-up of Vienna and Landslide, which you can watch here :)

Trivia

I’ve always wanted to make it onto Jeopardy. Now that I’m past college-age (and thus only eligible for regular Jeopardy), I’m slowly working on shoring my literature and pop culture knowledge — or at least, that’s what I tell myself I’m doing. Slowly trying to get back into trivia through LL, and we’ll see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

Baking

I think I’m becoming a baker?? Some favorite recipes include lemon squares and matcha white chocolate chip cookies. Don’t ask me about the time I agreed to make croissants for someone not knowing what exactly making them entailed.

good things on the internet

entertainment

xkcd

Taskmaster, just all of it

Down for a Cross

Critical Role and Dimension 20

thinking

Wait But Why

YearCompass

Although of course you end up becoming yourself, a blog post by Petey

rabbit holes I’ve been meaning to explore

The website of bill wurtz, maker of history of the entire world, i guess

Wikipedia’s list of list of lists

this blog

Google Patents (try searching random nouns, like football or pasta, and read the actual patent for entertaining content)

wholesome links

hugs

my favorite train video

new england cider donut map

random things i find useful

goblin.tools, the most useful application of LLMs i’ve seen

the way i practice recognizing chords by ear

data is plural for random fun data things

metro boston regional walking + cycling map