I am a Creator and a Healer, a unique hybrid of artist and professional: a local artist and an RN. I have lived in Asheville for 7 years, and three years ago, I committed to a home in West Asheville. It is my favorite neighborhood in Asheville, and the vibe that fits me most closely. I am happy to find friends/activity partners (time to hike, bike, eat outside, and walk around town!) and what comes next can only be determined by the dance of the Universe. Due to a school and work combo for the next year plus, my fill-in-the-blank time is rather limited. When school and work release me from their constraints, I find myself perusing Downtown Books and News, updating my booth at Woolworth Walk, painting, cooking, baking, mountain bike riding, gardening, at hot yoga,and so on. I have been uber-responsible most of my life with the goal of attaining greater and greater financial and time freedom, which is blossoming. It is always a risk to put off the limitless carefree experiences for later, but that is the sort of long-term gambling I have been comfortable with, which speaks to my hope and long-view without compromising my enjoyment of whatever may be at hand in the here and now. I do not squander my hours on televised events in general, and sports in particular. I love being active and excercising, but the only jersey I wear is my stylized individuality.

As an RN, I am blessed with helping and learning from patients and families facing difficult times. I am also honored to be in a support role for my fellow co-workers, who inspire me and bless the world with their service. I am currently upgrading my Nursing Education part time while working full time. My friend is opening a new restaurant a few blocks from my house, and I have been painting the design work on the exterior and the interior. It is the first time I have painted an entire custom menu on walls. Tedious, but exciting. (And now I have limitless taco credit at ZIA, which is aweseome). Making amazing banana bread. If you look for Zig Zag Soul Art, you will find my artwork.

Writing, painting, mountain biking, yoga, active listening, cooking, baking, intuition, managing finances, and so on.

I suppose you would have to tell me. "Pretty eyes" is a common one, but it is the soul that shines through over time that really matters.

Any books written by Tom Robbins, Fritjof Capra, Bill Bryson, Richard Brautigan, Kurt Vonnegut, Gabrial Garcia Marquez, Paul Coehlo, Don Miguel Ruiz, Hafiz, Rumi, and so many more. Franny and Zooey. Anything by Pedro Almodovar. "Goodwill Hunting", "Like Water for Chocolate", "Bubba Ho-tep", "Heat", "Neverending Story", "Big Fish", "Amelie", "Antonia's Line", "Cinema Paradiso", "Chocolat", "Run Lola Run", "Sleepwalk With Me", "True Grit", "Elizabethtown", "Stranger than Fiction", "The Secret", "The Motorcycle Diaries", "Darjeeling Express", "Moonrise Kingdom", and so many more movies, but I have never had cable and do not watch TV as I can not stand commercials. I use Netflix or my local Movie Store Orbit most of the time. My music tastes are vast and eclectic (Cat Power, Gillian Welch, Arcade Fire, Yeasayers, Animal Collective, Father John Misty, Damien Rice, Grizzley Bear, Panda Bear, Warpaint, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, My Morning Jacket, Barry White, MGMT, Joan as Police Woman, Outkast, The XX, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Yo La Tengo, The Cure, The Knife, Bjork, Broken Social Scene, Broken Bells, Daft Punk, Kayne West, Local Natives, Neko Case, She & Him, Death Cab for Cutie, Lana del Rey, Fruit Bats, Motown, PJ Harvey, Shovels and Rope, Iron & Wine, Beirut, Jose Gonzalez, Chad Vangaalen, Miles Davis, The Shins, Nina Simone, M83, The Budos Band, Tennis, Neutral Milk Hotel, Wolf Parade, Explosions in the Sky, Fleet Foxes, Feist, Santigold, Leonard Cohen, Built to Spill, Battles, Dirty Projectors, The National, Gnarls Barkley, Ali Farka Toure, Modest Mouse, Feist, The War on Drugs, Andrew Bird, Phoenix, Kovacs and the Polar Bear, Blackalicious, Toro Y Moi, The Decemberists, Spoon, Major Lazer, Divine Fits, The Postal Service, Sade, Bon Iver, The Flaming Lips, Delta Spirit, My Morning Jacket, Kid Cudi, The Tallest Man on Earth, Beach House, Kurt Vile, Band of Horses, Johnny Cash, and on and on and on... there are 10,000 songs on my Ipod alone from CDs I have purchased over the years, not downloads... I love live music and finding new music to enjoy). I love food in general, and non-American cuisines in particular, though I do enjoy a great burger. Ethiopian, Mexican, Thai, and Indian are some of my favorite food styles. I love artisan teas, craft brews, and wine, but coffee is too jangling for my nervous system (though I Love the smell). Dark chocolate (with expresso beans) and natural almond butter.

Family, Friends, Nature, Culture, Food, and Shelter (please note that a cell phone or large flatscreen TV was not mentioned here. I don't want the majority of my time to be dominated by bright digital screens. It amazes me how many people walk past me or sit across from their dinner partners lost in glowing smartphone screens. That may make me old-fashioned, but I am more interested in real life, which is often the opposite of "Reality Television".)

Everything, especially completing school just to keep the awesome job I have had for 4 years now (new requirements), after which I plan to finally make my one month trip to Spain, and will have time to paint 4 days a week again amongst other awesome, uplifting activities. Do people actually connect here, and why don't I initiate communication here.

Since I work every other weekend and erratic days of the week, I do not have a Life that is built around the weekend or certain days in general. I may be going out or getting to bed early on a Friday night.

I wrote about myself on an on-line dating site (the rest will not be published here).

If you are interested in communicating, because I tend not to be the next guy sending out generic messages here where the women are already inundated with ridiculous comments as evidenced by many profiles stating such. If you are authentic, natural, and looking forward to sharing positive energy. I always enjoy making new friends in Asheville, so I am happy to catch up for a brew or the like and share Asheville stories and connections. I have no qualms about taking a book to my favorite local haunts for lunch/dinner, but it's usually more fun to share a meal and silly or serious banter. Or a hike or mountain biking adventure. Or a walk around downtown or West Asheville. In a life so full of possibility, it is important to be open to whatever presents itself with a basic set of guiding principles. Lets skip rocks on the river and tell stories about what shaped us.