Hi!

I don't know if this is self summary. I'm here to meet new people. Perhaps start something exciting. I don't watch much sports--except for cycling. I think football is an excuse for a nap on the couch. I have a dog. I also have a nephew and a niece whom I adore. I'm from the mid-west but I've been in California for about 11 years now. I've lived in both China and Japan and I'd love to see more of the world.

I'm still trying to figure that out. I hope I never do.

at making people laugh and feel comfortable. I'm really good at being in charge. I'm excellent at having all the answers--I paid attention in school. I make lovely things with yarn. Usually sweaters for me. If I like you I'll make you a hat. It if is true love you get a scarf. (I'm mostly joking on that. I've only ever made two scarfs--one for my mom and one for my dad. I don't like making scarfs--true labor of love.) I'm an excellent cook. I'm really good at analyzing a situation and coming up with good answers or hypothesis. I'm good at seeing what happens and not rushing things. Sometimes, but not always, I'm good at letting sleeping dogs lie.

Based on what people have said, they notice that I'm really funny and really smart--at least most of the times. I've had moments of profound stupidity.

I would say the first thing people notice about me is that I'm not that tall and a little on the round side. But what do I know? (OK, lots and lots of things, but besides that.)

I like lots of books, too many to mention here. I dread the thought of moving because I'll either have to move all the books or get rid of some. It is almost as bad as the yarn.

By and large the same goes with music and movies. In this day and age where you can sample everything, to say you have a diverse range in music or movies is really not saying much of anything--only perhaps that you have a broadband internet connection or are familiar with your local library.

I love to cook and frankly, I'd love to have someone in my life that I could cook for on a regular basis. Cooking for someone in some respects is an act of love. (Please don't freak out by reading that, it could also be the fact that you may not be able to cook at all and I don't want to starve.) I love to try new recipes. Some are great and some not so much. I admire vegans their ability to live without butter or cheese which to me at least as long term option sounds like one of the levels of hell that Dante thought was too cruel to write about after his visit.

My friends and family (I'm counting that as 1) books, yarn, my bike, my dog, music and chocolate. I know that is 7 but I'm greedy! (Only about some things, others--not so much.)

Lots of really odd things, for example

1) Why do I have such a high level of personal entropy?

2) Considering above, why have I never learned to fix anything? (Mostly because I see a really ugly feedback loop...)

3) Why do humans have 'pink' and 'brown' skin? Why not purple or orange or green?

4) If we suddenly discovered a viable alternative fuel source to oil, would that finally mean peace in the Middle East as the area went from being of prime importance to the 'Great Game' so to speak, to none because we would no longer need oil? Or is the fact that we need oil the only thing keeping the region stable and without that, it would implode?

5) Is China going to be the great disaster or the triumph of the 21st century? Why is the answer to that question a good indicator of my mood?

6) Where does the time go?

At the dog park BBQ, hanging out with friends, at the movies, watching TV or otherwise hanging out

Back in 2001 I was an anonymous bone marrow donor for a woman with leukemia. I bought her an additional 3 months of life and I have 9 now healed extra holes in my ass.

If you lived someplace other than the US

If you're a displaced mid-westerner

You own a dog

You have a good sense of humor

You have the answers for today's New York Times crossword puzzle