For someone as verbose as me, summarizing can be a difficult task. Here's the abbreviated version: Long-haired musical observer of stars and humans, floating through the chaos of the universe experiencing life (or a reasonable facsimile thereof). Collector of random quotes. Existentialist pacifist lover of song, video gaming, anime, dogs, poetry, literature, tea and old cartoons. Alignment: CG (and bonus points if you catch/appreciate the reference!)

Or, to put it another way, here's a haiku I wrote:

Musician, poet / Chin-stroking philosopher / I like being me

Now's the challenging part, where I try to go into more detail and somehow "sell myself" without coming off as arrogant; here's hoping I succeed:

I believe I have many unique and desirable traits to offer in a relationship. I'm intelligent, musical, articulate, passionate, romantic, expressive, healthy (if not particularly athletic), attractive, unconventional, open-minded, honest, talented and caring. I'm highly educated and reasonably well-read. I listen well (as a good musician should!), tending to observe quietly and attentively unless/until I have something important/productive/unique/passionate to say, whereupon I can become quite verbose. I deeply appreciate art and beauty in its many forms, particularly music and the written word. I'm very open to new experiences. I excel at making a partner feel special and loved--I've been known to publicly serenade a lover, to write music and poetry for that special someone, and I write one hell of a love letter if given the chance.

How would I describe the ideal woman for me? I'm looking for someone who is compatible with me intellectually, physically, and emotionally. Someone with some philosophical depth, with whom I could converse at length about the meaning of life and/or the symbolism in that film we just saw. Someone with whom I could hold a meaningful conversation almost entirely in quoted song lyrics, and with whom I could also share a meaningful silence. Someone who shares a number of my interests or at least a willingness to explore them with me (as I would for her in return). Someone who derives pleasure and fulfillment from sex, and enjoys it without guilt or shame--bodies need love, too! Someone honest, who will let me know where I stand with her. Someone with enough emotional maturity to treat me like an important part of her life (which would also definitely be returned). Perhaps most of all, someone who revels in being ALIVE--someone who savors experiencing life, who appreciates the beauty of the world around her and can remind me of it on the occasional day that I'm too preoccupied with trivial matters to notice and enjoy it.

These are, of course, ideals--not to be confused with a laundry list of expectations. More than anything, I'm interested in getting to know someone real, for who she truly is. We'll see where it goes from there.

I recently completed my Masters degree in vocal music. I aspire to perform professionally as an operatic Bass-baritone. I visited Europe the summer before last and fell in love with Germany, so I'm working towards a singing career there (or perhaps Austria). My plan is to work for a couple of years to save toward making that dream a reality. It would be wonderful to find someone special, with whom I might share some adventures in the meantime. Who knows? Perhaps we can explore the world together one day. . .

I recently moved to the Denver area, so I don't know much about what there is to do and see here, and I don't know many people here either. Would anybody care to show me around? I've been working way too many hours, and could really use the excuse to get out of my cubicle. . .

Singing, expressing myself, acting, listening, playing piano, harmonizing, writing poetry, playing video games, thinking, learning, quoting, brewing tea, tests, job interviews, playing saxophone (alto and tenor), communicating, putting away far more food than one might expect from a person of my slender build, defying expectations (this can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending), getting lost driving in big cities, staring off into space as I ponder abstract concepts, perceiving subtle meaning, going on tangents, handling alcohol (though I don't know why, as I drink fairly infrequently), picking out songs on the piano after having heard them only once, calming people down, loving and making people feel loved.

Um, that I'm in the way? ^_~

Very possibly my long hair. I'm apparently often referred to by people who don't know my name as "that long-haired baritone." Though I'd like to think that many people first notice my voice. People who hear me perform often comment with surprise, wondering how such a large voice can emanate from my slender frame. I've also been told that I have a soothing, calming and musical speaking/phone voice.

I have received some kind compliments on my hands as well.

Editors

• deuceswyld

Books: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, The Deathbird by Harlan Ellison, Illusions by Richard Bach, Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams, The Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin. Very fond of existentialist writing (particularly Nietzsche and Sartre). Avid lover of poetry. Getting into Sandman.

Films: The Last Unicorn, The Matrix, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Yellow Submarine, Secret of NIMH, The Neverending Story, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, The Blues Brothers, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Mirrormask, Flight of Dragons, The Hunt for Red October, Evil Dead, The Devil's Advocate, Monty Python, Fight Club, First Knight, Ironman, Mel Brooks, The Point, Milo and the Phantom Tollbooth, The Dark Knight

Anime: Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, Trinity Blood, Wolf's Rain, Hellsing, Twelve Kingdoms, Bubblegum Crisis, Robotech, Voices of a Distant Star, X, Record of Lodoss War, Slayers

Video Games: Xenogears, Suikoden, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, Shadow Hearts, Kingdom Hearts, Crono Trigger, Lunar, Mega Man, Okami, Zelda, Ys, Metriod, Elder Scrolls, Valkyrie Profile, Wild Arms, Ace Combat, Gabriel Knight, Wing Commander, Space Quest, Quest for Glory, King's Quest, Earthbound, Ikaruga, Shining Force, Fire Emblem, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3

Music (way too many to mention in full): The Beatles, John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, Pagan's Mind, America, Fleetwood Mac, The Servant, The Protomen, Xandria, Billy Joel, Elton John, Yasunori Mitsuda, Yoko Kanno, Nobuo Uematsu, Yuki Kajiura, Within Temptation, Don McLean, Boston, Garbage, The Police, Kamelot, Sonata Arctica, Carpark North, Rachmaninoff, Wagner, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Journey, Ozzy, Stratovarius, Nightwish, Jackson Browne, King's Singers, Lionheart, Red Army Choir, Angra, Asia, Ayumi Hamasaki, Dark Moor, Dionysus, Epica, Flogging Molly, Joe Hisashi, Led Zeppelin, Richard Cheese, Spike Jones, Country Joe and the Fish, Jefferson Airplane, Scatman John, Steely Dan, Vienna Teng, Stream of Passion, Tom Waits, Tower of Power, The Cars, Styx, Kansas, Tom Lehrer, E Nomine, Tristania, Therion, Space, ELO, David Bowie, Rush

Food: Steak (medium rare), ice cream, chocolate, tea, wine on occasion. I'm not a particularly picky eater, though--I can find something I like on almost any menu. I'm rather proud to report that I haven't eaten fast food in almost a year.

Editors

• Silly_Ferret

Music, love, hope, good sex, a starry nighttime sky, Internet

(I am aware that some common and important mentions are missing here--such as friends, family, a loved one, etc. I didn't include them above because the question asked for "things" I couldn't do without. I don't believe people should be confused with things, lest we start treating them that way.)

Relationships, philosophy, music, beauty, the meaning of life, humanity, the future, loved ones, sex, peace, apotheosis, apoptosis, monomyth, transcendence, song lyrics, chord progressions, the decline of music from an artform into an entertainment medium, quotations, all things elven, the environment, nature, choices, cycles, pondering why the frequency of finding interesting women with whom I seem to share mutual romantic interest seems to rise exponentially if the distance is over 1,000 miles (any of you locals care to buck this trend?), Murphy's law, Quality, will, friends, words, concepts, the epic questions, wondering how people go about successfully initiating conversations, feelings, invisibility, associations, metaphysics, metacommunication, thought, wondering if anyone is actually reading all of this. . .

Hmm. Sometimes enjoying a drink in a hot tub. Playing piano and singing long into the night, playing video games long into the night, stargazing long into the night, and/or listening to music (yes, long into the night). Perhaps sharing a deep conversation into the wee hours. I'm something of a night owl--can you tell??

Though I tend to be quiet until I get to know someone, I'm actually rather open; if you want to know something about me simply ask and chances are I'll tell you.

But as far as something specific, I guess I could admit that I'm not quite as well-read as I would like to be. While I have read some quality pieces of writing, there are a great number of good books that I have yet to experience. I have been dearly looking forward to finishing grad school so I can finally read what I choose to for pleasure again, rather than what has been prescribed for me in coursework.

Indeed, I have been shut in my ivory tower far too long--perhaps if I let down my hair, some dashing princess will climb up and whisk me into realms I've never dreamed of!

I could also say that I'm usually a little shy when it comes to making first moves in contacting people. If you message me, woo me, or take my match me quiz, I will be much more likely to contact you! If I take your match me quiz, chances are excellent that I have read your profile and think highly of it, and would very much enjoy hearing from you.

Finally, because so many people aren't answering this question or are giving only cursory answers, I find myself viewing this question as a challenge--a chance to prove how honest I can be. So, I will also admit an epic secret: I am not always as confident and strong as I make myself appear to others, both here and in the real world. Though I am always trying to better myself, and while I make every effort to respresent myself truthfully and in the best possible light, I am a human being--with weaknesses and insecurities like any other. I drive myself to excel at any endeavor I undertake--partly for my own benefit/edification, and perhaps partly out of ego, but also because I long for people to take notice of me and because I yearn for someone to love me. That longing is one of the strongest motivations in my life--very possibly even stronger than my love of music.

You should message me if you would like to talk; if you're not into playing games with people; if you have fun stories to share; if you like music; if you want me to audition to sing for your band (I have always dearly wanted to be in a band!); if you can help me improve my German; if you can teach me to play bass guitar; if you have suggestions regarding my profile (even if you hate it!); if you'd like to show me around the Denver area; if you share some of my interests; if you could expand my mind (and/or vice-versa); if you need someone to geek out with; if you have a unique perspective on life to share; if you'd like to practice conversing (I'm always up for practice!); if you like guys with long hair; if you happen to be Janeane Garofalo; if you happen to be Shirley Manson; if you happen to be the Nostalgia Chick; if the song "Spiders" or "Female of the Species" (both by Space) fits you to a "T"; if you share my abiding love for beauty in its many forms; if you think I could be the Schmendrick to your Molly Grue; if spending an evening cuddling naked on a couch sipping wine/tea/cocoa while watching movies and/or playing video games appeals to you in the slightest (even better if you want to hold the controller and/or remote!); if any, all or none of the above apply to you; or if you're simply curious and would like to know more about me.

Actually, come to think of it, if you've bothered to read this far you might as well go ahead and write me!