"Life doesn't mean anything; people do."

Call me Jeff... hm, not very dramatic. Sorry, don't have any nicknames either. Currently taking applications.

I am all sorts of contradictions. I am both sides of the argument. I'm devoted, passionate, responsible, caring, deeply creative and strangely literal. I'm an ambivert. Also known as an intro-extrovert, with a bit more emphasis on the intro. INTJ, if you're interested. I love learning, just about anything that I can, and the strangest bits of information pop up years later, from books, conversations, whatever. I get buried in all my interests, I'll spend days researching something that I have no intention of ever using. The flip side is, I can have a hard time letting go of things. Just a little bit of an intellectual packrat. I'm an atheist (I don't list it on the right because it isn't a religion) with an interest in Zen Buddhism, for instance.

My sense of humor generally doesn't translate well online. It's mostly spoken, and I'm not that kind of writer. And hey, these are not essays.

I'm also very physically affectionate, once I get to know you or feel comfortable together. Cuddling is a good thing.

I've been working for the County of San Diego. I was working at the welfare office as a clerk, but that turned out to be horrible, mostly due to bad supervisors, so I'm now working for the training department. What can I say, I'm just glad it's no longer emotionally caustic. :D And I'm learning a lot. Don't know what I want for a career yet, but I'll get there.

I like to travel. I went to Scotland and England (mostly Cornwall) in '07, Ireland in '08, and now Italy for '09.

Right now, I'm getting heavy into photography. I have a Nikon d40, and I absolutely love it. Not very experienced yet, but I think I'm doing pretty well. If you want to see my pictures, let me know, I'll forward you to my flickr account. Actually, there are a couple links in my journal now. Just click the photo. And if anyone wants to go out shooting feel free to ask.

I've developed an interest in... oh, call it physical culture. Old school strength training. Indian clubs and yoga. Joint mobility. Things that create quality of movement and useful strength rather than simply a "built" looking body, and end up being honestly fun as well. I may be an info sponge, but sharpening my body is satisfying in its own right. Something about the discipline involved, I think, as much as the tangible results. Oh look, I'm rambling again. :D

Basically, my interests are generally solo endeavors, that may or may not require me to go somewhere. When I go out, it's generally for a reason. So yeah, that can make figuring out what to do on a date a little tricky. I'll gladly plan something, but I usually figure it out with the other person.

Feel free to check my journal for more casual updates.

Critical analysis of literature (I was an English major, went to USD), photography (well, I'm working on that), video games, outdoors stuff like camping. I volunteered as a trip guide with the outdoors group at college and love every minute I'm in the mountains. I cook better out camping then I do at home, too. :D

I dunno, maybe the freckles. Okay, now, the massive shiny dome. Call it a hunch. All I know is, people who have only seen me tend to remember me. And I tend to speak my mind. I'm the cheerfully dark guy :P. They also say I have a good sense of humor, and certainly a strange one.

Besides that, should probably say it again, I have a strong personality. I will be focused on you while getting to know you. It's just how I learn about people. If it seems odd at all, smack me upside the head, I'll be good.

A) Science fiction and fantasy: especially David Gerrold, Neil Gaiman, and Terry Pratchett, H.P. Lovecraft, Philip K. Dick, Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth. A book that recently impressed me was Haruki Murakami's 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.' Jeanette Winterson's The Passion. George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. Marillier's The Dark Mirror. I also like a fair bit of poetry, especially Romantics, Modernism (like T.S. Elliot) and Symbolists. B) Hell, too many to name, again with the science fiction, fantasy, horror... Things like Fifth Element, Children of Men, Event Horizon, Leon, Spirited Away, Alien series, Falling Down, Fight Club, most of Tim Burton's movies, some of Kubrick's, Office Space, Mirrormask, all kinds of stuff. C)Lots of music too: absolute favorite group is Oingo Boingo, and I listen to Danny Elfman's film compositions as well. Jurassic 5, Sage Francis, Spearhead, Type O Negative, Metallica, Opeth, Tool, TV on the Radio. D)I crave burritos and Japanese food. I love food, and enjoy cooking.

My brother. We're twins. He's up in Portland, OR. I sometimes use "we" and it confuses people.
My computer. It holds the keys to the internet.
Books.
Music.
Coffee, tea, monster?
Camera, pen and paper, various other odds and ends.

I'm a thinker. I spend a lot of time in my head (see typical Friday night for reference (yes, this is a footnote explaining the footnote)). In terms of what I actually spend time doing: literature Looking up critical articles on various authors. I have a tendency to at least mentally outline critical responses to the thematic elements that really grab me. Because I pull ideas and characters from fiction together with bits of psychology and philosophy and the like, and see how it all works out.

Things I think about that stem from there: my relationships, philosophy, alternative spirituality and the fact that I'm always surprised when people believe in some sort of god, gender bending and gender roles, sexuality.

Usually hanging out at home, out to dinner with my friends, reading books or webcomics, playing video games. Some specific examples are Neverwinter Nights (1&2), Fallout 3, and Bioshock. These days it's even more likely I'll be out taking pictures. I'm always happy to go out to a bar, or karaoke or something, it just isn't usually my idea. On the rare occasion I go to a club, I really prefer goth clubs. Much friendlier atmosphere, and as much as I like rap, I hate the club music. This is a lot better.

I tend to be too open with people that I don't really know. Oh, and I tend towards the Submissive side (you heard me :D). Just something I've been exploring.

You're willing to meet people offline (eventually, of course). I'm on here to see what happens. I tend to do well with people who are creative but low-key, literary or artistic and enjoy discussing the finer details, and of course willing to assert themselves. I'd like to have some fun, but keep things open to anything potentially serious. In other words, let's hang out, what the hell, no worries.

I really will be impressed if you've read this far. Endurance test, that is.