# About Me ![[R2 Self Portrait 20240901.jpg]] My name is Ian L Hayes, and this website consists of some of my working notes I have created in the process of trying to better understand myself and the world around me. Born in Tennessee in 1986, graduating from St. John's College in New Mexico in 2008, and moving to Portland in 2014, I have never been very interested in the status quo or its maintenance. Instead, I look to history to learn good strategies for identifying and avoiding error, fixing mistakes, and trying to leave the world better than I found it. Since 2020, I have been a stay-at-home dad and homemaker/caregiver, developing my skills as a gardener and woodworker between bouts of writing. I completed my first novel in 2016 (then again in 2018, 2022, and 2023,) and my second novel in 2018, with another draft on the way just as soon as I finish moving. My favorite food is lasagna, my favorite word is "ladybug," and although I listen to a variety of music, I've lately been most enthralled with "[All You Need Is Time](https://music.apple.com/us/album/all-you-need-is-time-deluxe-edition/1650477262)" by Daisy the Great. *P.S. I had to make an "About Me" page to claim my Goodreads "[author profile](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16577173.Ian_L_Hayes)," but they require I feature my email address on this page and I'm not quite sure I want to just have that information available in plain text for any of the internet's spiders to see.*