PLP 09 Profile: Matt Conrad

Name: Matt Conrad
Age: 30
Born: I was born in Lynchburg, Virginia and grew up down the road in Appomattox.
Current Digs: I live and work in the City of Richmond.  Specifically, I live in the neighborhood of Union Hill.  
Occupation: Attorney/Lobbyist
Favorite part about the job: I'm always learning something new.  One day I'm studying the business practices of Virginia wineries, the next day I'm researching intra-state switched access fees for a rural telecommunications client. I love the contrast.
Your first job ever? My first paid job was briefly stocking and cleaning shelves at Rexall Drugstore in Appomattox.  My favorite part of the job was when Mr. Pack let me open and restock the drink machines. After that, I was a lifeguard at Holliday Lake State Park.
Favorite book? I don't much care for fiction, generally, but I do love short stories, particularly those of Welty and O'Connor.  Mornings On Horseback by McCullough is a favorite.  I usually travel with a small collection of T.S. Eliot's poems called The Wasteland and Other Poems; I read it over and over. Ditto for Sister Wendy's The Story of Painting.
Favorite movie? I don't have one.
Comfort food? A way of life for me. Depending on the season, I love fried chicken, hot cornbread, blue crabs by the bushel, oysters, and majudarrah (a big pot of spiced lentils).
What's in your car CD player right now? Being a literalist, I just went to check and it's empty.  There's a Hank, Sr. CD on the floorboard along with Ricky Skaggs and Vanessa Paradis.  The last song I purchased on iTunes was My Savior My God by Aaron Shust.
Next journey? Maybe Curacao or Brittany.
Favorite Virginia vacation spot? Bent Creek.
First political memory? President Reagan's address after the Challenger disaster.
Whom do you admire and why? I know it's common to say, but I admire Thomas Jefferson because of the purposeful and diverse way he used his time. 
Best advice you ever got? Don't sweat the small stuff (Matthew 6:25-34).
If you could have dinner with any one currently living, whom would it be and why? One choice that comes to mind quickly is May-Lily Lee.  I'm a huge fan.
Describe a perfect day. Saturday, sunny, 80 degrees. I'd get up and go for a run, then come back and accomplish something tangible, like in the garden.  Then a mix of all my favorite friends, family, and neighbors would get together for a crab picking or cookout.  When everyone left, we'd sit on the porch with a glass of wine. 
One thing most people might be surprised to learn about you? I'd love to own a farm.
Ambition, political or otherwise? Cultivate discipline, patience, and humility.