If I could spend the rest of my life doing one thing, it would be making stuff, kayaking, camping, building stuff, and seeing what kind of adventures I can have within biking or kayaking distance. That's actually more than one thing, but you get it. I like making furniture, having fires (bonfires and camp fires, not like arson fires), climbing hills, beating my chest with my fists, and doing other man's-man type stuff. However, I'll never be good enough at any of that to pay the bills, so I can't quit my day job.

So to make sure I can afford to spoil my dogs, I have a job I look forward to waking up for. Most of the day I spend working on engineering proposals and helping plan business development goals. It's fun and I get to think about complex issues and problems all day. That's a big part of what keeps me happy at work and feeling guilt-free that I don't obsess, or generally think, about work after I get home.

During school I wrote a novel and, after six years, have finally landed a contract to publish it. My book should be out in early 2011, so that's exciting. I always wanted to be an author, and now it's kinda happening. So that's also exciting. However, don't let that scare you off. You don't need to be a bookworm, librarian, or author groupie to get my attention. I'm interested in dating someone who is independent, low-maintenance, adventurous, well grounded, and who loves a structured environment but enjoys a spontaneous day trip or random excursion.

Take My MatchMe Test

Dating Strengths

1. Intelligence - 85.7%

2. Financial Situation - 76.9%

3. Spirituality - 76.9%

4. Friendliness - 62.5%

5. Independence - 57.1%

Dating Weaknesses

1. Arrogance - 62.5%

Dating Strengths Explained

Intelligence - Your sharp intellect is a valuable asset. Use your intelligence wisely; avoid condescension. Quiet, confident intelligence is very attractive.

Financial Situation - You've got your financial situation under control, which is a very desirable quality. Be careful to avoid women who are only interested in your money.

Spirituality - Your spiritual side brings you peace and balance, and keeps you grounded. This is attractive, as you can help reinforce this quality in other people.

Friendliness - Your friendliness makes you approachable and fun to be around. A wide circle of friends also works to your advantage on the dating scene.

Independence - Your strong sense of independence comes in handy while dating. You are not held back or tied down; you are free to pursue your interests.

Dating Weaknesses Explained

Arrogance - You are a bit full of yourself. You need to practice a little humility now and then, as arrogance can be a turn-off.

Dating Strengths and Weaknesses Quiz

I want to take issue with this last one. It's a TOTAL load of BULL! I'm not a BIT full of myself, I'm SUBSTANTIALLY full of myself.

I am kind, non-judgmental, and a thesaurus

By day I work in proposal development and will explain what that means if you're interested. By night I alternately watch Netflix and set up my side career as an author -- web development, marketing myself, and lots of other things I'm new to. I have a steep learning curve ahead. Both are great jobs, fun careers, and never get boring.

I'm a conservationist. I kayak when the weather is nice enough and when it's not. Since moving to California, I don't kayak so much, though. The lakes here are less prevalent and harder to get to than in the Midwest. I was totally spoiled in Chicago by easy lake access. Instead of kayaking all the time, now I take my dogs hiking at Castle Rock, ride my bike, and keep my room immaculately clean.

I wish I were humble enough not to answer this. I'm good at writing, sometimes. I'm working on my second novel. Someday, I might even finish a draft.

When I kayak, I'm pretty good at paddling, but not so much at landing.

When playing fetch with my dogs at the park, I'm good at throwing the ball, not so good at throwing it where people aren't.

Physically, it's my smile. Oh, and I'm six feet three+ inches. That tends to jump right off the page.

In terms of personality, I'm honest to a fault. I have a ridiculous vocabulary filled with words that I may only get to use once or twice in my life (but they come in handy at Scrabble.) I'm stable, and reliable.

A) -- I like well written books but because of my degrees in creative writing I hold authors to a very tough standard. I don't judge people who read authors I don't care for, though. But seriously, Twilight? Really? I am very fond of Steinbeck, Cheever, and John Gardner. I also like Ian Fleming and James Baldwin. Don't judge. You know Ian Fleming holds his own in that list.

B) -- Top five: Fight Club, Batman Begins, Coraline, Boondock Saints, and The House of Sand and Fog. Netflix is my friend.

C) -- I have some favorite bands, like Faithless, Live, Explosions in the Sky, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds; however, I spend most of my day listening to NPR and other radio stations from around he world (thank you Wunder Radio.) I have every episode of This American Life on MP3. Oh yeah, that's sexy.

D) -- I like turkey sandwiches. Sushi is great. Grilled cheese (optionally with tomato soup) works in a pinch. When I'm cooking extravagantly, I make deep-dish pizza from scratch, including the crust. A good hotdog and brat are always appreciated, but not so easy to find in the Bay Area. And creme brulee. Any kind of fruit pie (except lemon. Really? Lemon?) Apple cobblers are good. Oatmeal raisin cookies rock. I'd like to one day make an oatmeal raisin cookies that fits into a huge ramekin and then, right after it comes out of the oven, top it with some kind of ice cream, maybe cookie dough. I'll try about anything once.

Dental Hygeine Gear
Blank paper
A pen or typewriter
Companionship
My dogs
Refuge

I spend a lot of time thinking about what I'd like to do on the weekends only to realize I have no idea what there is to do, so, most weekends, I'll end up working out, cleaning, and hiking. That didn't sound quite so pathetic in my head.

In my free time, I spend a lot of time with my dogs, but they don't know the area any better than I and aren't great guides. I would really like to meet someone who knows her way around and can show me some of the area's exciting offerings. OR, just as good, someone who is new and wants to explore the area together.

Over the next six months I have 70 or so independent bookstores to visit in the Bay Area. I need to visit the stores to decide if I want to ask the owners to sell my book and also volunteer to do book signings. How great is that?!? I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm always open to a new idea. My typical Friday is woefully boring. I won't bore you with it; it's that boring. Not to play it up, but my Fridays are more boring than a lichen migration.

Apparently, I'm made of Silly Putty. Last January a Nissan Titan rolled through a stop sign and hit me while I was riding my bike to work. Hit me dead-on -- not a glancing blow. The Nissan logo on the grill hit my arm. Amazingly, I didn't bruise, had no broken bones, and only limped for a few days. I still ride my bike to work every day, too. Some days I see the lady who hit me and we wave. She turned out to be very nice.

Message me if you think you'd like to meet for coffee some time.