I was born the son of a traveling salesman and a farmer's daughter (truth). From that humble beginning, I became a confusing mixture of artist and scientist, pragmatist and idealist, and I revel in the confusion. My living space is chaotic and full of partially repaired violins, projects in various states of abandonment/postponement. I am hopeless at record-keeping and very big on having fun.

I used to call myself a (fiscal) Conservative but Reagan cured me of that, then I called myself a Libertarian, but Bob Barr cured me of that. Now I am just a politically homeless, dissatisfied mostly left of center non-authoritarian. I am appalled at the degree to which religion has hijacked my homeland and have decided that if Sarah Palin really does run for president, I will spend the night in northern VT so it will be easier to leave for good, should she win. I love music of almost all sorts, dogs, cats and children, great literature (including, but not limited to Twain, Vonnegut, Dan Brown and Stephen King (especially the Gunslinger series)), sailing and alpine skiing. I adore Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Dali and any of the impressionists. I am absent minded and have a plaque on my office wall that says: "I Have Not Yet Begun To Procrastinate" -- and it's true.

I respect logic and reason and have little patience for frivolous spiritualism and NO tolerance at all for religious fundamentalism.

Seriously, now: I joke about a lot of things, and I am very open-minded, but if you voted for Sarah Palin for vice president (even if you voted for McCain in spite of Sarah) DO NOT CONTACT ME. We will have no common ground on which to base a relationship. Sorry about that.

I am unconventional, musically talented, and disorganized

I have a Ph.D. in Engineering and work for an alternative energy company. I am a humanist who is comfortable in a UU Church, a Reform Synagogue (or, better yet, at the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues!!).

I try to support worthy causes and am a firm believer in Tikkun Olam -- I try to daily make the world a better place.

I am a volunteer musician for many events, including childrens' concerts and free concerts at nursing homes.

I am exceptionally good at playing the violin. I am a member of a Chamber Orchestra and numerous contradance and traditional music bands. I also like to do Bluegrass and Blues jams. I'm a pretty fair guitarist and vocalist, too. I can fix almost anything.

I speak my mind and am not famous for diplomacy.

I am not a style maven.

I look DAMN good for being so fucking old! (Uh, ... Actually, I'm quoting someone with that last statement).

Favorite recent book: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Favorite all-time books "The Gunslinger", "Shawshank Redemption" or "The Stand" by Stephen King; "The Inferno" (Niven and Pournelle) and anything by Vonnegut. (There are MANY more. I must stop somewhere)
Favorite non-fiction book: The Botany of Desire (Michael Pollan) (hands-down!)
Favorite short stories: "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut" (Stephen King); "The Jokester" (Asimov);
Favorite Novella: "The Big Front Yard" (Clifford Simak)
Favorite poet: L. Ferlinghetti
Favorite (old) movies: Steppenwolfe with Max von Sidow or maybe "Same Time Again Next Year" (Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn), "The Stand" (mini-series -- It had one of the best casts in the history of TV).
Favorite (recent) movie: Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood -- as a Christ figure, no less!) or the DaVinci Code (T. Hanks).
Favorite music: Henryk Szering's recording of Bach's Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas and Partitas, followed close on by anything from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (preferrably LIVE!); "Long Trip Home" (Josh Bell and Edgar Meyer et al)
Favorite food: Genuine New Orleans style seafood gumbo, very dark and VERY spicy!

Chocolate
books
a lover
a dog
my memories
a violin.

The meaning of life. How remarkable it is that I am here, now, in the midst of this extremely unlikely combination of dynamically moving matter and energy. How interconnected everything is. Quantum mechanics. (If you know anything about Bell's Theorem, I already love you. And if you can explain it to me, I will be your devoted slave!)

Escaping to New Zealand PERMANENTLY!

I think about relationships a lot. I am polyamorous, at least by one definition of it. I believe that polyamory is very different from cheating. It is not all sex all the time. By my definition, love comes in a huge variety of forms. Some forms involve sex and some do not. Most, in fact, do not involve sex at all. But loving many people is not easy, because one can never truly rest from doing the most good for the most people in one's life at all times. It involves a lot of work but is worth it. Honesty is an essential part of it. Love without honesty is counterfeit.

Am I looking for love? Yes. Always. Am I looking for sexual, intimate love partners? No, not any more. I am in love with a woman named Graci. It happened in January/February, 2010, and no I did not meet her on OKC. But I am going to continue to visit OKC now and then for old time's sake. Thanks to all of you whom I've met. Thanks for being my friends. I hope we can stay in touch. And I hope to continue to find new friends here. This is so much more intimate and interesting than Facebook!

Being open handed is kind. Being open minded is admirable. Having an open heart is divine.

... and jealousy is much more akin to hatred than to love.

Sometimes letting go is the greatest act of love of all.

Tired but ready to boogie!

I read the novel, "Twilight", and ... I enjoyed it :-(

You aren't completely offended by what I've said here. If any of it puts you off, well, never mind!

You aren't put off by the fact that I answered yes to "do you believe in the power of prayer", but ARE interested in the fact that my answer has nothing to do with religion or God (or not much anyway).