deirdre

First name: Deirdre

Were you named after anyone?:  Unfortunately. I'm named after Deirdre of the Sorrows. Nice story, huh? She brings about the downfall of the Red Branch of Ulster, her lover is beheaded, and she dies upon his body of a broken heart. Yeehaw. Thanks, Mom.

Home: I live in downtown Baltimore, within a stone's throw of Camden Yards (I can see the fireworks at the baseball stadium from my front steps). I like my neighborhood, especially since the crack house on my street has been emptied though I have my suspicions that another one has cropped up close by. Despite that, I find myself getting really defensive about this city. As much as I might enjoy The Wire it's still fiction, people. I get extremely annoyed with those who have never lived in Baltimore (or even visited) but who are willing to dismiss it as a complete shithole based on a fucking HBO show. Yes, it has problems, HUGE problems that the city is struggling (and often failing) to address. That said, I still like it here--people tend to be very unpretentious and friendly. My mom grew up in west Baltimore (in what was then a predominantly Jewish neighborhood) so I got to know at least part of the city from a very early age. Maybe that's why I'm so comfortable here.

Plus we have John Waters. So.

Of course I'm probably eventually going to be moving to D.C. in order to be closer to my job. Which I'm not thrilled about but the two-hour one-way train commute is beginning to grind me down. I'll be able to socialize with my D.C. friends more, however, and that would be a good thing. [I say this every year and yet I always wuss out at the thought of moving when the time comes.]

Job: I'm the managing editor of a small university press, which doesn't really mean anything since the only person I manage is myself (and a few freelancers). I deal with our authors--I try to keep them happy though usually I have to give them bad news over which I have little control Oh? hate the title our marketing department has given your book? Despise the cover image we've chosen? Have a problem with the publication date we've assigned it? Whine all you want but none of it is a'changing despite my efforts and yours. And I have to tell people that. Over and over again. And then I'm supposed to work with them for the next 8-plus months. It's fab-u-lous.

Family: They drive me a little nuts but whose doesn't? I have two younger brothers who are both married; the youngest has a son and two daughters. My parents and my brothers all live either in or around Annapolis so I see them fairly regularly but I'm far enough away that they can't just drop in without notice. Which is a good thing.

Tim: I will probably mention him occasionally. Just so we're clear on this: He is not my boyfriend (much to my family's disappointment. They all think he can do no wrong). We were housemates in grad school and have been good friends ever since. He lives up near Hopkins and teaches at MICA when he's not being a beleagured paper pusher for the state.