I'm an early-30s guy that lives in central Phoenix and is still working on exactly what he wants to do when he grows up.

I'm sarcastic and come off as either funny or mean depending, I suppose, on whether or not we'll get along. Underneath it I'm an awfully nice guy.

I work as a 911 dispatcher, and used to be an EMT when I was younger. I have most of a degree in journalism and have done some freelance stuff, but it's a tough field to break into unless you're really committed. I'm thinking about going back to grad school, getting a degree in history, and teaching college.

Teaching's probably where I'm headed, either high school or college, although I'll probably write all my life, whether or not someone pays me.

I'm also starting to manage and do publicity for my friends' band (The Haymarket Squares, at www.myspace.com/haymarketsquares and on iTunes, check em out, you don't need a Myspace account, they're great). They're extremely talented musicians and I haven't done much for them yet but hopefully that will change soon.

I do some volunteer work, mainly with No More Deaths / No Mas Muertes. They explain it better than I can: http://www.nomoredeaths.org/ . The short version is we do humanitarian work near the border, in a highly controversial political environment. I'll admit the situation is a complex one but if you think we should deport em all, check out some other profiles because I'm not your guy.

Knife fighting.

No I suck at that. I'm a solid writer. I'm really good at rapid-fire conversation about complicated topics and love it when I meet someone else who is too. I'm pretty good at my job, which involves calming down very upset people and knowing Valley geography well. I like hiking, camping, and biking but I don't know if I would call those skills.

I can also light a match from a matchbook using only one hand. This is literally the coolest thing I know how to do.

That I'm either really funny or a jerk.

I'm a reader. Right now I'm reading Hegemony or Survival by Noam Chomsky, A Peoples' History of the United States by Howard Zinn, The Indie Band Survival Guide, and A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore.

The last movie I saw that I really loved was No Country for Old Men. Other faves are, in no particular order, Charlie Wilson's War, Love Actually, Anchorman (if you're too cool to find this movie funny you die inside), Almost Famous, and Why We Fight.

A random selection from my ipod produces the follwing six items: Real People by Common, The Pirate's Gospel by Alela Dane, Big Branch by M.I.A., So Long Sweet Misery by Brett Dennon, Hesitation Blues by Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel, and Another Travelin' Song by Bright Eyes. I tend to like either folk-influenced indie rock or certain types of hip hop.

I'm not a veggie or vegan, although I probably should be. Food-wise I'm not picky, except in a general quality way, but I don't have a favorite type or anything like that.

I like lots of things that aren't here, but it would be insane to list them all. If you have something you're crazy about and want to know if I like it, go ahead and ask. I'll try it at the least.

An iPhone is at least six things. I know I sound like an ad but the thing is amazing.

Other things I like include my dog Lily (German Shepherd, and best dog ever), coffee, smart people, crazy people with good in their hearts, crazy smart people, and good books.

How saying "a perfect storm" about anything that isn't a storm should be illegal.

Either at home, going to bed at 8:30 because I work tomorrow, bumming around Roosevelt district with arty anarcho-hipsters who are much cooler than me, or with the band.

Well it's pretty embarrassing to put up a profile on a dating site, but there's no sense trying to be sneaky about it. So here's a link to my FB: http://www.facebook.com/people/Aaron-Stratton/574920976. I'm a real person, look at my friends, friend me, all that. I know it's the same picture. It was a good picture.

You like what you see and read, and you're looking for dating or a relationship. I have lots of friends, and am not really looking to play online or anything like that.

This is a mean town and it can be hard to meet good people. I'm really looking for a partnership in both senses, with the right girl. Nothing fast or crazy, but that's ultimately what I would like. If that's what you're looking for, drop me a line and we'll see where it goes.