Hey, how's it going? If you're interested in someone conventional, straight-forward and uncomplicated, well, you've found the wrong profile, kiddo!

Well, my earlier attempts to create a distinctive and eye-catching profile have obviously not worked at all, so I have thus decided to do like Madonna and re-define myself. Or at least attempt to, insofar as one can in a forum like this, and insofar as such a brief textual profile can come anywhere close to defining someone in the first place.

[Nice one--way to defeat yourself before you even begin!]

Right, so what am I all about? Well, I'm considered, by those who know me and those who have dated me in the past, a person who is very honest, extremely open-minded, very analytical and intellectual (and intelligent--and note, not all of those things always accompany each other) but sometimes lacking in common sense, subtly and dryly humorous but a very good laugh once you get to know me, great fun at parties because of my raconteuresque wit and effusive storytelling, warm and sensuous and a very good kisser, and among the more "interesting" and unique persons which most of my acquaintances and friends know or have ever known.

A few things that you ought to know right off though: not only do I not have a car, I don't even know how to drive. While I am currently employed, it's not a "regular" job in any major sense, thus income is not a great current asset, and all that goes along with such a predicament. If that's a problem for you, and you think I'm a loser because of these things, well, then it's your loss I'm afraid. I am a much bigger person with a more varied and multi-faceted life than my employment and financial status could ever indicate, and I'm defined by more than what car I drive, and will continue to be so after those situations change or improve.

Why did I join this site? Honestly, for the quizzes...But then, like all people who are cynics (i.e. failed romantics), I thought that perhaps this might be a good way to meet people to be friends with and possibly meet people to date...but probably not. I have not made too many friends through this medium, and the dates have not been lining up at my door either, but again, that's partially due to lousy circumstances and crappy luck, I think. Few have been in contact with me long enough to establish any kind of rapport, much less an accurate opinion of what I'm like and why or why not I might be desirable.

In case you're wondering, I'm perfectly happy to speak with anyone, no matter what sexuality or gender they happen to be. I am a lot more queer than anything (and by "queer" I don't just mean gay), I have had sex and relationships with women in the past, but am not currently interested in pursuing the vast majority of women for any purpose other than friendship. I'm a bit gender-atypical, and I don't mind others who are that way either (i.e. trans or genderqueer, etc.). My tendency is to liking people younger than me, or roughly my own age (i.e. +/-3 years), but I tend not to be attracted to older men (i.e. 40 and up), other than in a friendship type way.

A few other things that it might be well to keep folks apprised of: I am intersted in BDSM and fetish things, but I do not see them as absolutely necessary to all of my relationships--they're a nice and fun option, but not a requirement. I am a very dedicated pagan in the Ekklesia Antinoou (we are queer Graeco-Roman-Egyptian syncretist reconstructionist polytheists with a strong mystical/Gnostic bent); we do not proselytize, but it is a major thing of importance in my life, so if that is a difficulty for you, it might be best not to consider me. And I'm a diabetic and asthmatic, and I'm on an insulin pump, which has really made my life a lot easier; however, some people get freaked out by such things, so if you're one of those, then alas, that's very unfortunate.

I am intense, intellectual, and humorous

Was granted a Ph.D. in Celtic Civilizations (mostly religion and mythology and literary studies) in 2006, and now am trying to find a job, writing profusely (mostly academic articles that will appear in obscure journals and won't pay a dime), and trying to find some peace amidst all the troubles of the world...and with any luck, some new and interesting and FUN people to enjoy all the while.

In VERY CURRENT news, I'll be adjuncting in June and July again, which is good (!); and now, my first sole-authored academic book is out! Hurrah!

And in VERY CURRENT CURRENT NEWS, I've just moved back to Anacortes, WA from Ann Arbor, MI (where I taught as a guest prof for a semester). I'm between full-time jobs right now, and am meanwhile helping out by living with my mom, who is just recovering from lymphoma/chemotherapy.

I had a boyfriend from Dec. 21 of '07 to May 6 of '08 (the longest relationship I've yet had, unfortunately); I'm mostly over all of that now, but I'm not averse to something more serious at this point. I'm interested in people, not relationship types, and whatever may work out amenably for both myself and someone else is great with me. (I'm somewhat poorly wired for one-night hook-ups, not only for practical reasons, but just because they don't really work too well for me; however, I'm also not opposed to moving rather fast if I find I like or am interested in someone.) I won't say "no" to a worthwhile person and a good opportunity, no matter how bad my life happens to be at a particular moment. Then again, I'm not easy, either...

Talking--for hours and hours and hours, about all sorts of things, non-stop. A warning: even for a one-night stand type deal (which I don't do any longer), I've needed at least 3 hours of talk before I'm in any way prepared to do anything else; and if you don't want to talk afterwards or even in breaks during, then you'd best move on!

Writing--while intellectual but sometimes unconventional and even ungrammatical (though few people apart from academics call me on that), I enjoy and am extremely good at written communication. I am known by some of my friends as the best correspondent ever, whether on e-mail or in those ancient things called "hand-written letters." (Though I've fallen down on this in '09--that was probably my worst correspondence year thus far, due to far too many complicating factors...)

Teaching--it almost doesn't matter what, I'm nearly a natural-born teacher. I began teaching my younger siblings (who were 2 at the time) basic math and spelling when I was 7. As it is my aim to do this for a living, that's a good thing! It was never a question of whether or not I'd end up teaching, it was what I would end up teaching and getting my degree in.

Pretty feckin' boring, eh?

I did mention kissing above...So I'll mention it again! I wish I knew how that came about...I haven't had too much opportunity to practice, but when I do have the chance, I'm in with both feet, as it were.

And two odd things: 1) I have never met the mother of a significant other (former, current, or even prospective) that has not totally loved me and thought I was great; 2) for whatever reason, I seem to come up in drunken straight male friends/acquaintances conversations on "Yeah, I'm not gay, but if I was, I'd want to have sex with Phil." Why don't more gay men think this way, please tell me?

For good or ill, it tends to be my intellectualism. If it is in a crowded room and the person has not heard me speak yet, then it is my height. People who speak with me on the phone before meeting me also tend to enjoy my voice, but my voice is very variable depending on time of day, amount of sleep, speaking occasion, etc. Also, those who get to know me and see me up close are often fascinated by my eyes, for all sorts of reasons--but everyone feckin' says that, don't they? All of my other qualities, good and bad, tend to get noticed only on closer inspection.

(a) Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth; Marie de France, Lais; Táin Bó Cúailnge; Pedeir Keinc y Mabinogi; Octavia Butler, Lilith's Brood; Neil Gaiman, American Gods; Royston Lambert, Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous; Ann Lauinger, Persuasions of Fall; Adrian Mitchell, Blue Coffee; Montague Summers, The Werewolf; and far too many others...!

(b) V for Vendetta; Run Lola Run; The Guru; Shortbus; The Ladykillers; Peter's Friends; Ladyhawke; Go; Ghostbusters; The Big Lebowski; Titus; Big Fish; Pulp Fiction; Being John Malkovich; True Stories; Secondhand Lions; Hedwig and the Angry Inch; Jai Hanuman; Onmyoji; Onmyoji II; The Sorceress; Wilde; Carrington; Monty Python and the Holy Grail; The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra; Hanuman; most Miyazaki films I've seen (and a good bit of anime, though there are egregious holes in my repertoire in that genre); and far too many others...! I also like the television series Rome quite a lot. Some friends recently introduced me to The Venture Bros., which I have thoroughly enjoyed...and I must say that I like (and would even like to be) Dr. Orpheus A LOT!!! Other television series I've enjoyed on DVD of late have included Buffy the Vampire Slayer ("Once More, With Feeling" is the best hour of television in the last decade, easily!); The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.; Jeeves and Wooster; The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (with the incomparable Jeremy Brett!), the British series Shameless; Jim Henson's The Storyteller; and The Wild Wild West (as in the one from the 60s!). Currently, I'm working through True Blood's second season--lovely!

(c) Lots--from Pink to Loreena McKennitt to Eurovision to Johnny Cash to Fleetwood Mac to Jefferson Airplane; Krishna Das is possibly an all-time favorite, and a profound influence on me; Jeff Waynes' War of the Worlds and the Ulla Remixes of it; E Nomine; Orff's Carmina Burana...tons, though often one song of an artist/group as opposed to their whole repertoire...Lately, Abney Park and Unwoman have really been high on my playlist, as has Voltaire and Dead Can Dance...and Lady GaGa, too! I also like some musicals, including both Jesus Christ Superstar (which I've been in twice--once semi-professionally!) and Evita, and perhaps most especially Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which I'd love to see in a theater someday...

(d) I love Indian food most of all, as well as Japanese; however, good old pub food or breakfast food is also highly appealing; I'm also a hopeless chocoholic. Diet Root Beer is also a gift from the gods.

An excellent book; diet root beer; reese's peanut butter cups; a notebook to write in (and something to write with!); good underwear; someone to talk with.

All of the work and reading I've done; where my life is going and what I need to do to get there; what articles and things I want to write (I literally have a list of over 60 I'm mentally working on, and I usually get 3-8 done per year at my current rate); places I'd like to visit; if I'll ever find someone that I like well enough and that likes me back well enough to have a serious relationship; oh, and random sex thoughts--hey, if you aren't doing it, at least thinking about it keeps you in practice, right? No, probably not.

Sometimes (but less and less often these days) wishing I was somewhere else doing something fun with interesting people; squeezing in a bit of reading before going to bed; probably looking at Teh Intarwebz and working on some project or other (see above re: 60 writing projects planned or in process at the moment!). I used to be a total night-owl at all times, but in my advanced age that's beginning to change; I still prefer nocturnal activities to more daytime-type things.

I think that one of the hottest types of clothing anyone can wear, whether male or female, is a swimsuit that has a belt--and whether the swimsuit is a midcut or a thong doesn't matter (shorts and board shorts with belts--not so much). I have a bit of a thing for underwear and swimwear/speedos (and I'm glad they've brought them back in competitive sports--it was a crime that they didn't wear them much in swimming in the last few Olympic games--bastards! Still, the divers and water-polo guys do!). No feckin' joke.

You're interested in someone who is unconventional, perhaps overly-analytical but very honest, open, and more than willing to try not only new things, but interesting old ones over again.

My spirituality is a big part of my life. If you're willing to politely engage with that aspect of my life, then that's great; if you're not willing or interested in doing so, and are not understanding of the importance of it for me, that's also fine, but a long-term relationship probably isn't in the cards.