How to summarize oneself? Perhaps a snapshot of the past year of my life?

About this time last year I was adjusting to life back in the states. I had just finished living a few months in Spain and had grown accustomed to life there. I miss the food, the rhythm, and the time to think and day dream.

But, alas, ultimately one has to get back to work. My day job is I am a professor at UW. I am in the engineering school. What this means is I spend about a third of my time educating undergraduate students on circuits and bits, a third working with graduate students imparting a sense of taste for research and zest for life -- the latter is more important--, and a third raising money and handling minutia. Somewhere in there I'm supposed to actually think for a living, but usually I have to rely on my graduate students to do that for me.

Last summer I crossed the country on my motorcycle. Starting from Vermont I headed north into Quebec and then across into Ontario, down into Michigan, across Wisconsin, Minnesota and into the northern high planes, through the Rockies, back into Canada and finally dropping back down into Seattle. ~3600 miles in the saddle, 11 days, all except for about ~50 miles was done on small two lane highways. Most nights I camped in the dirt. I've crossed the country before, and will do so again. I enjoy the tales it brings and the people I meet. Being on a motorcycle connects you to the world in a way that a car cannot.

Recently I just finished ten days of ice fishing in Vermont (my primary partner is from there and we go back often to visit). Originally I'm from L.A. so I really have no built in sense of extreme cold. It all looks like how Hollywood told me it should in Fargo. Minus thirty is fun in a crazy sort of way. Ice fishing is very, how shall we say, meditative? I'm sure there was a wood chipper somewhere nearby.

Travel plans coming up in the next few months include San Diego, the Bay, DC and Israel. All work related, although I'll probably take a few extra days to backpack / wander about Israel again.

This summer I'll also be riding my motorcycle across the country again. My sister in law is getting married back in Vermont and might as well make a journey of it. I miss the road. I miss sleeping in farm fields and abandoned houses. Scaring locals with my riding gear. Randomly finding that amazing gastropub in the middle of fly over country. Meeting people, sharing stories, exchanging impromptu gifts, and generally experiencing americana (and Canada eh) in a way that you really can't if you fly across it.

I'll also be doing some more sailing and fishing. My Clipper-Ketch rests on a mooring buoy outside my house in the summer time (too rough in the winter). A few years ago some crew and I moved it from Los Angeles -- quite a tale of sorrow, fear, and triumph, and an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. In Seattle, I live along the water's edge and the smells, the sights, the feel of the ocean envelops my daily life. I love the wind. The way the air feels alive when it moves. I also love the cold (although laying about on a sunny beach is awesome too). The cold feels crisp against your skin, reminding you that the earth touches your full body, not just your feet.

My primary partner and I are very busy raising our beautiful young daughter. Yes, you read that correctly. I am very happily coupled (married actually in everything but the law). But we hold space in our relationship for us to embrace other loves. Many people call this polyamorous or poly while others call it "open". My partner and I don't date as a couple and to be clear, I (not us) am looking to build a romantic relationship with you. But, this is honest and open non-manogamy here. Ideally (although by no means required) you'd be comfortable having a (platonic) dinner with my primary partner once a month or so, just to keep communication open between everyone. (And note to other polyamorous folks, I am obviously happy to meet your partners and work on building friendships with them).

While almost all of the remaining time I have in my life is filled up raising my amazing daughter, I do manage to squeeze in a few other pursuits, including house construction, making children's toys, boat maintenance, and photography. On our house I've built various things, the kitchen, the bathroom, the workshop, etc. On my boats, well, they are boats, they require constant maintenance to prevent them from turning into sinking hulks of rust and dry rot. As for photography, I consider myself just an enthusiast. I'm working on a project of low-contrast abstracts. I have recently gone back to Tri-X, and I'm enjoying developing my own film in my kitchen sink and shooting my rangefinders again. Digital is easier and of better quality. But film is more random and pleasurable really.

Longer term there's many adventures I've queued up. I want to hike the Wonderland trail around Mt Rainier. I'm going to take my ketch around Vancouver island with my daughter. Oh and I'm going to head back to Alaska, but this time on my motorcycle. I also want to take my bike up to Hudson Bay one of these days. As for abroad, perhaps another trip to the UK to see some friends, and a trip to Nicaragua so my primary partner can see some of her old buds.

Currently I am busy raising my beautiful young daughter with my life partner. They are both fabulous! It is also Winter quarter at the UW so my life is just insane. I'm running faculty hiring again for joint appointments in CSE/EE. Lots of politics. I'm also spending far too much time on an airplane (when the flight crew recognizes you, well, then you know you are spending too much time with them -- thank you Alaska Airlines).

I'm pretty good at letting bad memories fade and finding the silver lining in any situation. I have a gallows and sarcastic sense of humor that isn't always funny to anyone but me. In my day job, my chief task is to ask questions that make you question your reality. I enjoy it.

I'm really into music and I like a very wide range. From very early folk/country, to Dylan, all the way up to today with bands like MGMT, Brooke Fraser, etc, yes -- even the fame monster. I don't own a TV, but do occasionally watch a show online. Nevertheless, you will find me pathetically (or charmingly) ignorant of TV/movies and perhaps nerdy about music.

I am a foodie and a locavore. I enjoy a very fine meal out or in. My partner and I often throw large dinner parties at our place, and we enjoy the whole process from cooking to entertaining. Despite enjoying fine dining, I am also a bit of a connoisseur of Seattle's best hole-in-the-wall places and down home food as well, BBQ, Fried Cat Fish, Taco Trucks, etc. I am an adventurous eater, and will consume anything (breast milk cheese -- bring it on).

For books, my all time favorites would be Catch-22, because it always confuses and explains me; 1984 because I feel like I'm living it; and Air Kissing in the Northeast, which defines my childhood. I have been slowly working on writing a not quite sequel, sequel to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and a photo book about abstract low contrast images.

Love, Music, the Wind, the Ocean, a lingering sunset spent sharing a beer among friends, my motorcycle (I know you are like huh? But yeah,...)

There is no typical Friday night. So ignoring the question, here is what in my imagination would be a perfect relationship between you and I. First and foremost, we are friends that genuinely enjoy each other's company. We write deep and thoughtful letters to each other and share our minds and our bodies. I feel love and naturally give love through physical touch and correspondence (although I'm adaptable for the right person). We meet once or twice a week around town. Have a nice dinner, talk about life, see some live music, or do some outdoor activity. We're attracted to each other physically and mentally. We care about the relationship we are building with each other and value it. When we are together we hold hands (I'm not a secret poly), caress each other, kiss, charm and flirt. If the mood and the time strikes us we let that attraction comfortably spill into passion. If not, that is fine too, as we still enjoy our friendship.

I work (toil?) in a professional position that requires me to be "out there" and "on performance" all the time. Yet ironically, I was born shy. You'll actually find I need to warm up to you before I really share a lot in person. That is, unless you ask me to use my "speaking voice", in which case, well, the show must go on.

I'm an open minded individual with a complex mix of carefree and drive. In my day job, I strive hard to find truth and essence among the cluttered thoughts in the room. Elsewhere in life, I let it ride and don't sweat the small stuff. I care passionately about dreams and friends. I will support your dreams and I spend a lot of time pursuing mine. I have a few, but very deep friendships. When my friends drop in late at night, they don't ask to stay with me, they know the door is unlocked and where the spare bedroom is -- they know I'll see them in the morning. I don't consider my work a job, so much as a lifestyle. My students are part of my family, and I would (and have) gone to the end of the earth for them.

Ideally what I am looking for is a funny, witty, attractive friend who also enjoys romance and passion. You should be either in an open / poly relationship or single and comfortable with the fact that I have a very loving life partner. I'm imagining we'll get together a few times a month, hang out around town or elsewhere in this beautiful state or world, get to know each other and build a lasting loving relationship that we both value as a supportive, positive, and sexy part of ours lives. If this sounds interesting to you, please message me. I'll be happy to point you to my real name (which will tell you a lot about me), and we can see if there's enough mutual interest in meeting over coffee or drinks, etc.