Country girls can survive... I have survived Vegas long enough, I want to ENJOY it for a while... so here I am.

I have a full time stable job with the federal gov't. (Read: If you're into any drugs, even 420, keep moving. I won't jeapordize my job because you're frying your brains.) I fully financially support myself, and I expect the same from a guy. I'm no sugah-momma. I am not in the best shape, but I am working on that. I'm 5'8 ish, and a size 18/20 (as of 03/01/2009). I wear glasses and sport a short no-nonsense hair style. I'm not fashion friendly... I'm just me.

I'm a former mid-western girl, born and raised in Missouri. I love to cook, but rarely do so. It's expensive and wasteful to cook for just me. I like being artistic and crafty. I crochet, I cross stitch, I sketch and paint, I sew at times, I do bead work. It keeps me busy and my brain occupied. I LOVE to read... though these days its mostly trashy romance or murder mysteries.

As I insinuated, I am a very "country" girl, from the music through the morals, down to the hobbies. I love horses and dogs, have no problem butchering a rabbit or deer, love the fresh air and great outdoors. My favorite times as a child revolved around boating and fishing. In college, I would go for short hikes through a nearby National Forrest to clear my head and de-stress. Nothing quite like wading through a spring-fed stream to take your mind off classes for a while.

I'm a dog person, always have been. I have a Boston Terrier (female) and a Puggle (male), both rescues. I never met so many guys that are "cat" people until I moved to Vegas. Anybody care to explain that?

If you haven't picked it up by now, I am an educated gal. I have a BS in Engineering with an emphasis in Hydrogeology. IOW, I'm a fluid mechanics nut: the kind of girl that will stand in the gutter to watch the way the water flows, or studies the way water collects and runs in rivulets down a windshield.

I minored in psychology. I'm looking into a future certification in occupational therapy and further certification in animal-assisted therapies so I can run my own hippotherapy clinic.

I actually asked one of my friends to describe me. The response I got was: "An intelligent, witty, and compassionate person who is quick witted and enjoys gaming, puppies, and has admirable aspirations and long term goals." Can't argue with that. ;-)

I work long days 4 days a week, but have Fri - Sunday all to myself. I'm looking for someone who wants to spend time together just shootin' the shit, watchin' movies, or whatever sounds appealing. In the end, I am looking for something real and lasting, but I don't get too caught up in that on a day to day basis. I figure when the time is right, something will come around.

I try to live by this motto: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as you ever can. -- John Wesley

I'm told I over-think things. I guess that is something I am good at, whether it is truly a benefit to my person or not. I seem to be able to help everyone BUT myself. I love to study people and have served as a psychological counsel to many friends. That's probly my best quality. I'm a great friend.

My mother thinks I should become a writer because she's impressed with my ability to BS through an essay. I don't think she comprehends the requirements to be a decent author. I don't have the focus or imagination to do that kind of work.

Lately I'm good at scaring away potential dates. Heh... I'm brutally honest, so beware. I say whats on my mind, especially if the conversation occurs through a keyboard. In person I'm a bit more reserved and do find some ability to edit my part of the conversation... that filter just gets lost at the fingers, I guess.

That really depends on how they meet me. Probably the glasses, or the fact that I'm on the larger size, since that seems to be so out of place in this city.

If they "see" me without meeting me, they probably think I'm efficient and in a rush... as it seems I am whenever I'm not at home.

In order to see my sense of humor, I have to trust you with my serious side first. It's more prevalent, and really a large part of who I am. That stops a lot of people... but I am who I am. And Gosh Darnit -- I like me!

(a) Authors: JK Rowling, Dan Brown, Nora Roberts, Douglas Adams... anything really.

(b)Gattaca, Harry Potter(s), Erin Brockovich, Bicentennial Man, You've Got Mail, Twister, Princess Bride, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Mission Impossible 3, Cars, Happy Feet, Elf...

(c) country and some pop

(d) Mushrooms!, Roast beef or Steak, Sushi, Pasta, Poultry, fresh fruits and veggies, chocolate... lately lemon pepper salmon has been hitting the spot.

Oxygen, Water, Food... oh, you don't mean biologically.

Friends and Family. They are my roots and the grounding force of my life.

My dogs... I have no kids, so I have fur-kids.

Music. A beat and lyrics I can keep up with and relate to. Slow ballads or upbeat singalongs. No screaming please!

Water... not sarcastically. It's soothing to me when I get stressed. I love swimming or fishing, or just watching the river flow. Hence the HydroGeology.

Fresh Air. I hate the smog and congestion in this city.

Technology. From iPods to TVs, Computers to crockpots... my geek side shows with my gadgetry.

My family, my future career options, the people who wander in and out of my life...

My schedule has changed and I now have Fridays off. (M-Th 700 AM - 530 PM... plus commute time. I'm gone on average 13 hours a day.) Fridays are now "errand" days. Grocery shopping and other such miscellaneous running around tasks. Friday afternoons are dog park. Friday evenings are "vegging" with a hot shower and a good book.

I'm not happy in Vegas, but I don't know where I want to go from here.

I always have a plan, but I plan in pencil so I'm pretty flexible. My plan right now has a target of living in Colorado down the road. I think I'm going to detour back to grad school before I get there though. (Target date of entry, August 2010)

As I said, the plans are always subject to change. Maybe I'll meet a guy who could convince me to stay in Vegas? Who knows what the next year will bring...