I was an Army brat, so have lived, as my mom used to say, "All over hell and half of Georgia." I went to 13 schools in 13 years of schooling--the shortest 3 months, the longest 3 years, and that was after my folks divorced. So I am fascinated by the world around me, love to learn about new things and meet new people.

I love traveling, whether for a day, a weekend or longer. I'll meet you at the door with our bags packed and a map in my hand. You choose where we go in the time we have. Jefferson, TX is delightful with charming B&Bs, and the country around the Salt River Canyon in Arizona is breathtaking.

A trip to the mountains, especially in the Fall, when the air is crisp and cool, is invigorating. Sitting on the front porch swing of a cabin, drinking a cup of coffee, and cuddling with my significant other. Indescribable bliss!

I enjoy:
Genealogy/history--trekking through graveyards is a journey through time, and you get to meet so many wonderful people, not in the graveyards themselves, of course :-). Digging through old courthouse archives is a blast as well.

Reading/learning/words and wordplay, if you have a profession/hobby/interest I don't know much about, expect many, many questions and a genuine interest in the answers. I can still sing all the words to Conjunction Junction, and I think puns are one of the highest forms of expression.

A great comedian who leaves me weak from laughter (Bill Engvall, Eddie Izzard, Bill Cosby (Are you dain bramaged?), George Carlin in his younger days).

I love to cook, but have gotten a bit rusty since I have no one to cook for. I enjoy eating out as well, but that, too, is more fun with company. I get the urge to bake once in a while, and suddenly, the house smells of cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate, and cookies are everywhere. My family, students, and coworkers love it when I get that urge. :-)

I would like to meet someone with whom I can go to dinner, the movies, museums, just spend time with, etc., someone to be friends with and see where the situation leads, hopefully a romantic, passionate, companionate, life-long relationship. I think you need to genuinely like and respect someone with whom you fall in love.

Ultimately, I'd like to meet a man who is comfortable enough with himself to be comfortable with me. I like my age and who I am. There's always room for improvement, but I don't plan to spend the rest of my days worrying about what society thinks I should look like or feel. I'm not perfect and I don't expect you to be. That's what makes life interesting, isn't it?

Teaching

Learning, learning, learning--can't ever stop that or you'll just belly up and die! I'm the type of person who can visit 10 websites on my way to the one I wanted just 'cause something interesting caught my attention.

Ancestor hunting and researching to write a family history

Being Mamaw to my 12-year-old grandson

Listening--giving advice if you ask, or just being your sounding board

Teaching--I can tell you almost all the secrets of the comma! Can't tell them all or you won't need me.

Finding pleasure in almost anything. Ever just watched an ant carrying 10 times its weight as it makes its way home? Oh, Lord, this woman has no social life, I hear you cry!

Not taking myself too seriously. Laughter truly is the best medicine.

My smile

My laugh

My curiosity about people and life in general (I don't mean nosiness; I mean being fascinated by the world around me)

In books, I like some of most any genre, fiction or non-fiction. I especially love history: ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Tsarist Russia, Colonial/Civil War America. I like reading military history--reading now about the Russo-Japanese war, in which Russian lost almost her entire navy. My family says I'll read soup can labels if reduced to it.

Again, with movies, some of almost everything: Gladiator, Dr. Zhivago, Steel Magnolias, Pirates of the Caribbean series, psychological thrillers, murder mysteries, lots more. Just watched Patton again last night. Even after 40 years, it is still a great movie (also my stepdad served with him, so it made the movie more personal). Like almost anything but horror--didn't bathe without someone in the house for over a month after seeing Psycho.

Music: Golden oldies (I remember Fabian!), classical, Celtic, lots of 80s music as that was what was inflicted upon me when my kids were teens. I love folk music, the original (Barbara Allen, The Gypsy Rover) and the newer (Peter, Paul, & Mary, Chad Mitchell Trio)--bring back hootenannies!

Food: My favorite meal is still pinto beans with ham, cornbread, and fried potatoes--hey, I'm a child of the South--I was raised on meat, potatoes, and veggies, with gravy and biscuits. But, alas, as most of us are trying to do, I'm eating as healthy as I can, so salads are my new "fav." I won't turn down good BBQ, however.

--The blessings of the Lord
--My grown kids and grandson
--Books/crossword puzzles--reading material of any kind
--My cats (I am as devoted to my cats as you are to your dog, which is not to say I don't like dogs. I love 'em, just prefer cats.) :-)
--Some way to write, pen and paper or computer, a stick and sand
--Laughter "Children laugh over 300 times a day whereas adults laugh only 15 times" (http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo000/00030440.htm).

My legacy (not money) to my grandson. What will he cherish about our relationship and how can I help him navigate this world?

My place in this world--I'm expected to live far longer than my grandparents, even my parents, so how will I use this time?

Finding a partner with whom I can laugh, love, and enjoy life to the fullest.

Reading, going to the movies, grading papers

Wishing I had someone to share the weekend with

I'm an only child--my friends say, "Hum, that explains a lot."

You are brave enough! :-) I'm not particularly interested in whether you look or act 10 years younger than your age, work out 10 times a week, or get off your motorcycle only when forced to; I'm not overly concerned about your height or weight as long as you are trying to keep healthy. You can be overweight and still be healthy--read the newest literature on the subject. Your height and weight are not YOU. I want to know if we could spend several hours in the same room, me grading papers and you watching telly or reading a book, and still be "together." My in-laws (long gone now) used to put their recliners close enough together that they could hold hands while watching TV or talking. Now, that's a relationship.