About

Hi, I'm Leah, but not really.

Sometimes I look like this:

Sometimes I look like this:

Mostly I look like this:

When I started my first website, in 2003, I used my real name and suffered the consequences, so for the last six or so years I've been writing here (and elsewhere) pseudonymously, which is sometimes awkward and confusing but mostly good because the illusion of anonymity is juuust strong enough that I can feel comfortable writing here about all sorts of things that I'd rather not show up when a future employer or former classmate Googles my name. See also: Why I am not on Facebook.

My life, in brief, to date, is such: I was born in 1979 in a suburb of Salt Lake City, where I lived (in the same house) until I graduated college and moved to Berkeley, California, with my boyfriend of three years. About three years after that we got engaged, and about six months after that we broke up. In between, I started journaling online, which means my oldest archives cover my days as a young fiancee and then a lost and heartbroken single girl; it was a laugh a minute, I tell you. Then a bunch of weird and cryptic posts cropped up, much to the annoyance of loyal readers, but I think they forgave me when they realized it was all leading to the introduction of Simon (but not really) in September 2005, which you might say is when agirlandaboy.com got its goove (and its "boy") back. He's a musician, a smart-ass, a people person, and one of the kindest, most thoughtful and selfless human beings you'll ever know.

(No, really.)

In the last five years, we've lived in a crummy Chinese apartment, fostered a giant tabby cat, travelled to exotic locales, performed feats of strength, endured great sadness and great happiness, and worked hard to build a life that now includes a gently haunted house in Oakland, California, two normal-sized cats (who use their real names online), and a son, Wombat, born in December of 2008, even though I told Simon not to touch me during the month of March because I DID NOT WANT a Christmas baby. (I hope it goes without saying that my son's real name is not Wombat and that despite his birthday we're glad to have him.)

I like to watch t.v., make crafts of questionable quality, and put away clean dishes. I'm a professional book editor by day, an amateur photographer by compulsion, and a long-time blogger by the grace of the Internet. This blog is not a business or a brand but a personal journal that also just happens to be a bridge to a wonderful community full of people and wisdom and opportunities that it's almost always a pleasure to explore. I am a member of the BlogHer ad network, a Nintendo Brand Ambassador, a contributor to Style Lush, and a blogger for Work It, Mom. I write reviews for and host giveaways of products and services I believe in. I'm doing this, first and foremost, for myself.

If you want more, I have thousands and thousands of photos and videos up on Flickr, a few longer and "produced" videos on Vimeo, and an extremely active Twitter stream. I took my links list down several years ago because it was stressing me out that it was never updated, but if you're interested in what bloggers I read and love, check my Twitter account's Follow list.

I love comments and email almost as much as I love Filet o' Fish and these guys: