Online dating has a self-conscious quality to it that has always made me leery. Everyone wants this thing that cannot be forced, that is usually just stumbled upon, and here we are trying to "make it happen." But truth be told, it's time I adopt a George Costanza attitude and do the just the opposite of my natural inclinations. Physical affection is important, but humor and friendship are way more valuable to me in the overall scheme of life.

I have a deep appreciation of the absurd, love most animals, and I'm a little lazy, but keen to explore new things. I can mingle in any crowd, but also enjoy spending time by myself.

OrangesOnFire comes from a guerrilla art piece that appeared on San Francisco billboards back in the late 70's. Someone painted a pile of oranges with flames leaping out of them. These billboard size paintings appeared, seemingly overnight, and cheered me up immensely.

Still figuring it out day by day. I've worked in publishing and the arts most of my life. I want to start doing things I've never done before: take voice lessons (I cannot carry a tune, but love to sing); visit Iceland and Africa; act in a play (have done, but not for a very long time); help build a house; learn to garden and a dozen other things I can't think of now.

Well, obviously not describing myself. Let's see...what, oh, what am I good at?? Telling stories; making people feel comfortable, describing what I see, think, and feel; having great ideas; turning some of those ideas into reality; blah, blah, blah.

Hmmm...wouldn't you have to ask them? I guess my smile (gap between my teeth) and my witty repartee. Hmmmm...

Books: Too many to list, so here is a sampling...Lolita, Pale Fire, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Clown, Billiards at Half-Past Nine, Middlemarch, The Tin Drum, Birds of America, The Once and Future King, all things Raymond Chandler, The Age of Innocence, and Edwin Mullhouse. (I read mostly fiction, but there have been some lovely nonfiction books along the way as well as a smattering of poetry.)

Movies: Brokeback Mountain, The Wedding Banquet, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, Philadelphia Story, City of God, Babette's Feast, Jean de Florette, North by Northwest, Breathless, Beau Geste (w/Gary Cooper et al.), anything with Jean Arthur, Seven Year Itch, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, Palm Beach Story, Talk to Her, and more, more, more.

Music: Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright, David Byrne, Marianne Faithful, Hank Williams SENIOR, Todd Rundgren, Los Lonely Boys (and Los Lobos), Ry Cooder, and too many more to list.

My friends. Something good to read. Pen and paper for capturing ideas. Comfortable shoes, so I can walk as long as I want. Almonds. Frozen blueberries. Black coffee. That's seven. Too bad.

How to live a good life. How to stay grateful.

Moled up in my house watching a movie, having friends over to dinner, or writing.