I've spent the last couple years working on my PhD here in Maryland, but before that I spent all of my life in California and various tropical islands. Needless to say - its been a bit of a transition. Frozen water just shouldn't fall from the sky - thats just insanity - though I still stare at it with a dopey grin on my face since a little insanity falling from the sky can be fun at times.

I consider myself an aspiring foodie. I enjoy cooking and find time to eat a home cooked meal even on those nights I get home late from work. But I also love exploring new restaurants whether they be the place everyone recommends or somewhere off the beaten path - as long as we both agree not to get "the usual" its fun. I like watching movies and TV (curled up with someone at home or at the theater). I've gotten really into yoga lately and do a quick workout twice a day. I've also started running again. I used to run competitively but I'm trying to take it easy this time around, and just use it as an excuse to get out into nature some more.

The key to my heart is conversation. While I am chatty at first, it takes me awhile to open up (especially meeting people online). I like to think the best of my eccentricities rub off on those around me - and I expect my girlfriend to bring some of her own quirks to the relationship.

I am doing the academic scientist thing while avoiding the trap of not having a life outside work (while still dauntlessly chasing my white whale in the lab). Pushing the non-profit I founded some years ago up the steep hill to self sufficiency; it might seem odd but my goal is to be able to hire an employee (all volunteers now). I really like learning new things; lately yoga and cooking have been a big focus. One goal in cooking is to learn enough good vegetarian recipes to stop eating meat (I'm down to eating meat only about once a week). When I do eat meat I try to make sure it is organic and sustainably raised. With my yoga I'd just like to master the head stand - I think the abs are the key. I also have a serious news addiction; npr, cspan radio, and loading the bbc nytimes cnn and huffington post like a hundred times a day.

I'm really good at/with computers and graphic design (and yes I am rather anal about valid markup). While I've avoided getting my scientific diver certification I've managed to get rather good at free diving (diving without a tank). I'm good at long distance running and have been toying with the idea of ultra-marathons (a friend at work does them often).

In terms of appearances I suppose people notice that i am thin - I have a runner's build. I tend to get comments on my eyes and calves often (still surprised that women look at a guy's calves).

My favorite book ever since I was little is Ender's Game. More recently I have enjoyed Antarctica by Kim Stanley Robinson (I've been trying to find an excuse for some field work in Antarctica ever since reading it). I have a soft spot for Thai food, but my favorite cuisine has to be Ethiopian. I have a very eclectic music taste (I think that is a common characteristic of our generation - legacy of Napster and its descendants). I have music from most genres and decades (back to about the 20s) in my most played list. I effortlessly move from Frank Sinatra to The Lords of Acid to John Denver to Regina Spektor.

• Someone to talk with (a volleyeball with a handprint doesn't count)
• good food made from fresh ingredients (and now that you made me think about it I have a hankering for those purple heirloom tomatoes)
• sunshine (I'm from california I had to hit at least one CA cliche)
• a challenge
• an artistic outlet (even if its just building sand castles)
• something new/different on a regular basis

...politics, science, past conversations, and the ever present "what should I cook tonight?"... mmm falafel, oops sorry I zoned out there at the end.

Sitting in my comfy chair by the window watching people bip about on the streets below. "Ohh look that kid on the skateboard almost ran over a bunch of people, so amusing up here but so annoying if I had been down there." Fridays are my decompression days, cook a good meal, crack open an orange soda (no HFCS) watch a movie while mostly staring out the window, and rest up for the weekend.

My bathroom is stocked with products from Lush.

You dig quirky intellectual guys who enjoy a great conversation as much as a sweaty workout.

You are playful and passionate.

You find time spent reading for enjoyment some of your most precious time (even if you don't find time for it often).

You are independent enough to say "I don't need to read what he says in this section, I think he sounds interesting and will message him anyway!"