Brief Update that adds to the below: I'm now living in central Michigan and attending pre-nursing classes. Definitely interested in dates and distractions from the homework. :-) Full summary change forthcoming, but in a nutshell: I'm Buddhist, vegetarian, love dogs, other animals and nature. I'm into conservation, environmentalism and being outside. I don't mind meat-eaters or non-Buddhists - I am open to all things.

UPDATE 9/25/05: The year 2005 has, in many ways, repeatedly kicked me in the teeth. Thus, I haven't been very communicative here (or elsewhere, for that matter.) If you really feel a connection, and are patient...please write. My apologies, sincerely, and thank you for looking. ***UPDATE - 4/12/04: I was utterly unprepared for the volume of email this site can generate...I'm so sorry, I just don't have the time it takes to do this with any sort of timeliness. If you write me and don't hear back for awhile, please don't take it personally - it's just my life getting in the way of fun things. I usually log in, start to read mail, and then get called away to do something else. I really am sorry about that. Ok, here we go. Sorry about the length of this thing... ***

"When I grow up" has suddenly become an "oh, shit!" expression I find myself saying or thinking...I'm 35 - seems like I should have a better grasp on some of the fundamentals. I know basically what I want from life, and I'm on the path toward a few important goals; however, certain things that seem to come easily to most "grown-ups" elude me. I'm generally pretty low-maintenance, with involuntary bouts of high-maintenance that irk me, yet there I am. I am in no way amazing.

And...about a week ago, the rest of my (really, really long) profile got deleted when I updated it. Alas.

At any rate, there was a lot of rambly, long-winded trains of thought here that didn't amount to much.

I am generous, dichotomous, and outdoorsy

Pursuing patience, expanding my compassion, learning all I can. Learning to slow down. Releasing unnecessary burdens. Trying to cope with what the year 2005 has thrown at me. Becoming a nurse.

Listening without judgment. Forgetting where I put something down not 5 minutes ago. Having my boots come untied when least convenient.

I've been told it's my smile, but that may be complete horseshit because I've got wamdigious ta-tas.

I have a horrible time with "favorites" of any sort, usually. I really, really enjoy film, and I've seen many good ones. What sort of "good" any given film might be...well, that's up for discussion. However, off the top of my head..."Open Range," "The Last Samurai," "Return of the King," "Intolerable Cruelty," "Pirates of the Caribbean," and...um...damn. Brain fart. Is it cheating to go back farther than a year? Other favorites: "Blade Runner," "Apocalypse Now," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Alien/s," "Miller's Crossing," Monty Python's works, "Unforgiven," "The Matrix," "The Usual Suspects," "American Beauty," "Fight Club," "Gladiator," "Se7en," "The Professional..." there are simply too many. Sit me down with a pint and we'll talk films.

Without getting all literal (which sucks the fun *right* out of the whole exercise...) Dogs, compassion, springtime, wilderness, comfortable clothes, .... and I can't choose a last one - I'm a creature of many loves and marginal, harmless addictions. Perhaps an endless supply of movies or books or chocolate. I saw one profile here that asked "Can I consider the Library of Congress a 'thing?'" Right on.

This question used to be, "whose brain would you want to hijack?" I'll answer the new one when there's time. :-)

Whose brain would I want to *hijack*? Can't we make it a willing, mutual trade? Assuming I would get mine back...I have a few people in mind. The Dalai Lama, for spiritual reasons; Douglas Hofstadter & Richard Feynman, for intellectual/geeky reasons; Tori Amos, to experience the joy that must accompany having a such beautiful singing voice; and, although he is not a "person," per se...my dog. Had we the technology, I would pay any sum of money to crawl around in there and see how he sees the world.

At a movie, at a friend's house, or at home. Previously, I had a routine of spending every Friday night at a pub in Seattle with a group of 5-15 good work friends, but alas - I moved away. Then, it was shooting snooker or billiard in Olympia at an historic pub/restaurant/hotel/movie theatre.

Now, I confess...I have stagnated a bit, although it's not sitting badly with me. Living in The Sticks has its pros and cons, and Friday nights occupy both categories. However, "town" is still close enough for the occasional dance club trip (I'm occasionally caught in a late 80's/90's Industrial/Goth nostalgia thing, I admit it,) fine dining, interesting places, or simply "Cultcha." I'm somewhat likely to be sitting out in the pasture on a boulder, listening to the coyotes, owls and frogs all around, though, just drinking it in and feeling damned lucky to be here.

Sometimes, I worry that I'm not a good enough person, that I'm not doing Enough, despite my best efforts. I'm hugely open - perhaps too much so; my internal editor evidently needs to get new glasses. Almost any sincere question will receive an equally sincere answer. Occasionally, the total lack of a question will receive a sincere blurt of Too Much Truth at an unsuspecting person. Oops. Sorry, did I get some of the Truth all over you? I am easily intimidated at first, but then I make a good comeback, once I regain my footing.

You are interested in a random, dichotomous woman who's trying to figure the world (and herself) out in bits and pieces, and in numerous ways, who may or may not want to be anything more than friends. If you like laughing with other people, not taking yourself too seriously, and dealing with a healthy amount of good-natured sarcasm. If you enjoy shooting pool or watching UFC. If you like the outdoors. If you want to go to the off-leash dog park. If you're just looking for simple companionship. :-)