My *real* self-summary should be: someone who finds it difficult to write about himself on a dating site. And now I'll ramble:

I care about ideas and books and people's rights a great deal, but I hate snobbery and love movies with car chases and things that explode (*Road House* with Patrick Swayze might be my single favorite movie). In October I adopted a dog (just one; there was no choice for "has a single dog" in the details) who is gentle, sweet, on rare occasions over-eager to bark at/romp with other dogs, but really a bit of a wuss and a charmer. What I don't have is someone with whom to share great new experiences, a cold winter's night indoors, a lovely spring evening, the day-to-day of living and seeing where life takes us.

I'm funny (I hope), kind, caring, and open-minded; I hope you are too. I laugh at myself and the human condition generally; I know from experience that if you don't do the same, we'll end up with crossed wires. But I also believe the world can and should be better; I hope you do also. I can be goofy and need that with someone I care about, but I can and do comport myself well in all kinds of situations. I won't embarrass you. I swear. Mostly.

I keep active, eat generally well, and take care of myself (although I'm not a gym rat or so driven by exercise and food-monitoring that I won't indulge and enjoy myself), and I'm built more like a runner or swimmer than a linebacker. So if linebacker is your only type, I am, alas, not your guy.

Please note: If you're racist, homophobic, transphobic, or a bigot in any way, please keep moving. I have zero time for you. And "I love [famous LGB or T person] and I have a gay friend, but queer folk shouldn't have access to marriage" is still homophobic, and your "friend" secretly hates you. Move along.

Also: I am a bit allergic to cats. If you have lots o' cats, or your future must forever have cats cats cats (cats!), it'll be tricky.

Although not from Toledo originally, I have a good job (I'm an academic; I teach English) that brought me here and that I care about. It gives me the chance to hopefully do some good in the world, but it's not my goal to live for my job. Work takes up its share of time and energy, but it also offers me a lot of flexibility; it's not a strict 9-5 schedule. I want my life to be about the friends, family, and events that I care about and the good I can do in the world, but not for the sake of my career.

Sometimes what I'm doing with my life is watching Jeopardy or doing a crossword (not with great speed or skill). I just thought you should be forewarned about such habits.

being a little goofy, strutting my stuff when no one is around, singing songs to my dog (sometimes in the third person; I hope it's ironic and I fear it's not), and trying to be a solid friend to good people.

My eyes and smile maybe? My butt, if I'm backing that thing up at you? (I don't tend to do this as a way of first meeting people, but maybe I should try.) And I hope that sooner rather than later people notice that I'm friendly, warm, fun, and affectionate. I really enjoy conversation, and am a good listener (although sometimes I get over-invested in the give-and-take; you can tell me to shut it if need be). I tend to make people laugh and I love to laugh, but I don't need to make everything into a joke, either.

Books: What do you have to recommend, in print or as audiobooks? I'm always ready for anything with a story: book, movie, TV, etc. etc. I tend to have a stack of novels to piled next to my bed. Right now it includes Breakfast at Tiffany's, which I've never read, and The Master and Margarita, which I need to finish.

Movies: Good movies, bad-good movies, but not so much the bad-bad movies. I can love Hollywood trash (see *Road House*, above) and artier stuff, at home and at the theater. I'd go once a week if there's something worth seeing.

TV: I'm a sucker for police procedurals and mysteries and such, including Justified and Sherlock, and I've a soft spot for not-great-but-fun shows like Grimm (I ain't proud). I did love The Wire, although I realize that at this point saying so makes me a cliché. I've been watching the League on Netflix and it often makes me laugh (and cringe). But if you have new ideas, lay 'em on me.

Music: Indie rock, classic R&B, alt-country, and a whole range of other things, including the occasional bit of bubblegum pop. I have wide-ranging tastes but not, you know, Nickelback. (Also, some of my radio-time goes to NPR news or audiobooks.)

Good people: I value my alone-time, but at heart I'm a social animal (although that can mean hanging out with one good person!)

Narratives of all sorts: movies, good TV and wonderful-terrible TV, books, trading stories with friends (and you), etc.

Irony, including about myself. (You should probably have this too if we're going to spend any time together.) If your profile is deadly serious about yourself and your qualities, we probably won't match.

Ways to move: exercise sure, but also kitchen-dancing, seat-dancing, or forgetting things as I'm about to leave the house and having to run upstairs two more times.

And two more things.

Doing the right thing and whether I have or not. How good hummus tastes. The state of the world. Where to get an excellent breakfast in Toledo. The glorious horror that is The Bachelor (I saw a few minutes at the start of the most recent season and... good God what has become us?!?).

Also: the semi-colon, which I'm trying to learn to use (I'm a late bloomer), the cuteness of dogs, and the fact that I sometimes find things like America's Funniest Home Videos hilarious (toddler punching someone in the crotch = comic gold).

Mostly: that people are different from each other, how interesting that can be, and how keeping that in mind can make the world a nicer place for us all.

Dinner and a movie or having a drink after work with friends, walking my dog around my friendly neighborhood, or collapsing on the couch after a long week. And any of those could be much better with you.

Come on, I'm internet dating. Isn't that admitting enough?

... you're curious. That is the only way we can see if there's any sort of spark between us. So, you know, take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me.

... you're politically left-leaning. I just wouldn't be a match with someone who is conservative. Our values would be quite different.

... you're cool with the word feminist (or a related concept if not that word) and not invested in a super-traditional-gender-roles life. (Bonus points for being supportive of and in solidarity with the concept of "queer," even if, like me, you are straight.)

... you believe that a good world makes room for people of all sorts, and helps make their lives full even if their lives don't match dominant values.

... you can appreciate irony about the human condition but also care deeply about the world, about people, and about their rights. (Basically: you're not a jackass.)