Old-school in the ways that matter. Emotionally available, communicative, welcoming of intimacy. Broad interests, both intellectual and physical, an unusual combination of blue & white collar, street-smarts & erudite sophistication.

I'm not like most guys or most people nor do I pretend to be. I'm different in very small but important ways, not easily discernible except perhaps to the discerning. In other words, I'm an acquired taste.

Loyal, dependable, considerate, thoughtful, clean & hygienic. Physically, I'm lean, muscular, & athletic. By turns droll, witty, mischievous, irreverent. I can be bawdy to raunchy, depending upon the circumstances and company. Otherwise, I'm unfailingly polite and avoid 4-letter words in everyday conversation, especially "cool." Enjoy witty banter & wordplay, and their use in flirting. (I may be down to earth, but I'm still above ground.)

I'm more about the enduring & classic than trendy -- what life offers up, good or bad, rather than lifestyle. Virtually no circumstances could keep me from finding something to smile about. But cliches, verbal and otherwise, make me groan.

(Glass half empty? Pour what you got into a smaller glass; you'd be amazed at the improvement.)

I have a healthy libido. I believe in eros & mystery in a relationship. I do boy-scout good deeds almost daily, smile easily, and really like MOST people -- but don't expect an altar boy. I believe that what consenting adults do is their business as long as neither children, animals, nor Italian sports cars are harmed. It's all "normal" if not all typical as far as I'm concerned.

Microwave & dishwasher-safe.

Living it. Plenty of time to rest later....

Naming that tune. Working with my hands & tools and fixing things, i.e., "tinkering." Getting along with people from all walks of life.

Finding a humorous, bawdy innuendo in the most innocuous sentence (watch what you say!)

Keeping 2 contradictory ideas in my mind at the same time.

Predicting the past.

They usually don't; I'm pretty much under the radar until people get to know me. Then all hell breaks loose.

I find I know & respond to more cultural & historical references (but not all) than most folks. A friend once described me as the closest one can be to being an intellectual without actually being one.

Books: Always have a book in tow, mostly non-fiction, but trying to work my way back to the other side. VERY short list includes "The Great Upheaval" by Jay Winik; "Cultural Amnesia" by Clive James; "Frank: The Voice" by James Kaplan. Dozens more -- too many to list.

I'm almost encyclopedic about Classic films (can you spell "Ouspenskaya"?): "Best Years of Our Lives"; "Dodsworth"; "The Third Man"; "The Awful Truth", "Seven Year Itch"; Ford, Wyler, Wilder, Hitchcock, Bergman, Fellini, and so many more. Used to see all the foreign films and what were called "art" films before they were called "indie."

Theater: any "honest" theater, whether drama, comedy, musicals or musical comedy. Love the golden-age musicals: "West Side Story", "Gypsy", "Carousel", "Oklahoma", "Guys & Dolls", etc. Plus, any Sondheim.

Music: You've seen Mick or Bruce 200 times? I saw Ray Charles and Tony Bennett 3 times each, Bobby Short twice at the Carlyle, Jobim at Lincoln Center, and Rosie Clooney at the Rainbow Room. Caught Michael Feinstein in his first gig at the Algonquin. Once at a world premiere of a John Cage piece; saw Meredith Monk at BAM decades before it was discovered by hipsters. Was at the 1st all-Beethoven weekend at Tanglewood. Was at Carnegie Hall for the 100th birthday bash of Irving Berlin -- and I rooted for him to make it to 100 for about a decade. And many more notable musical hallmarks. Hell, I once bought Brahms a whiskey. (Not bragging, just pointing out that I've REALLY been on an independent track for a very long time.)

In short, I love and know Classical, Jazz, The American Songbook, and the classic rock I grew up with. .Also, highly knowledgeable about film scores. Thrill in the irrepressible joy and Americana of Bluegrass. Mostly laying off the New Age/World music for the duration. Newest appreciation: Portuguese Fado!

I also attend ballet & modern dance. I've seen the Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, ABT, NYC, Elliot Feld, ballet & dance companies -- even the Joffrey (remember them?) Flamenco. More.

Visit art museums regularly. You will often find me wandering around the Met several weekends a month (trying to find the exit?)

Tend to eat healthy, mostly vegetarian. As for ethnic cuisines, can't think of a single one I don't enjoy.

Always ready to explore new things, and eager to learn about your passions.

1. My two teenage boys (who live with their mother.)

2. Beverages: First 2 cups of coffee in the AM; a nice cocktail to wind the day down with.

3. Beethoven, Brahms, Ellington, Puccini, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, Hank Williams, Sibelius, Elgar, Merle Haggard, Schubert, Bill Monroe and hundreds of others. I.e, truly GREAT music.

4. Books, books, and more books.

5. My sense of humor & heightened sense of irony.

6. My (lucky) health & energy.

(Can I sneak baseball in here?)

The fetishisation of almost everything in contemporary culture: music; movies; TV; technology; coffee; food... Dogs. WATER, for chrissake (!)

The intersection of politics, science & technology, sociology, culture, media & ethics -- a heady brew.

The "gender wars." (i.e., women who won't take "yes" for an answer?)

The relentless pursuit of "cool."

The Great Durante. Oscar Levant. Dorothy Parker. Robert Benchley. The 6 Marx Bros, Bob & Ray.

The American League East pennant race.

You.

Relaxing and winding down after the work week and thinking about the next 2 days.

In a prior life I believed in reincarnation, but not in this one....

.... you are pretty, refined, gracious, intellectually curious, and you lead a reasonably healthy lifestyle in diet & exercise.

You are a woman to whom intimacy is important and who is in touch with your needs & desires. You appreciate how profoundly different we boys & girls are and the asymmetrical dynamics that makes our relationship exciting. AND you know that political correctness stops at the bedroom door.

You also understand the role of play & fantasy, and aren't willing to settle only for living vicariously through movies & TV (i.e., SITC.)

Timid? Drama Queen? -- please turn the page.

I would hope you value real honesty and directness. The way I spell it, sex is NOT a four-letter word. Nor does the mention of it mean any other aspect of a relationship is less valued.

You are capable of keeping 2 contradictory ideas in your mind at the same time.