I was talking to a friend the other night and he was telling me about his cousin. "She's like you," he said, "she's independent, intelligent, opinionated and a total sweetheart..." How's that for an intro to how folks perceive me. I'm flattered! :)

I work hard and play hard, I've managed to get some travel under my belt (including living abroad) and I've had some amazing adventures and met terrific, larger-than-life people along the way. I tend to keep it pretty casual, low key and non-dramatic. I'm not much of a couch potato, I get regular work-out focused and fun-focused exercise (and sometimes quite a bit of exercise for work- heck, they pay me to hike!), I eat well, I play in the sunshine and the water (I love me some time with the Pacific). I feel that I've had a lot of experiences and adventures in my 30 years on the planet and that I've chosen a life more adventurous than most--and I tend to click best with others who can claim the same.

I'm not a relationship hopper- I've been single for about 7 years now. Of course I've had flings, flames and romances during that time, but nothing substantial has stuck. I suppose another fling, flame or romance would be alright, but I'm really hoping for the real deal.

So what do I suspect the real deal will be like? He'll probably be someone like myself: someone who has really, really lived, and is now slowing down a little, but never plans to stop completely...or is ready to have someone at his side for the next adventure. Someone who has gone through the necessary riggermorale of getting themselves educated and building a career. Someone as comfy in a dive bar as a museum exhibit opening. Someone who is genuine and loving to those around him. Someone who has lots of similar likes & dislikes (commonalities in musical taste, political stance and religious/non-religious views tends to be super important to me). And hopefully someone who I find super attractive.

I'm someone, who when the right fit is found in life, be it within my career, in material items I really want, and in my personal relationships, I relish in the serendipity of it all and don't take it for granted. It's no different in finding the right romantic interaction. I look forward to finding that right romantic fit and in relishing in the serendipity of it, and relishing the individual involved.

I've just finished working on a project out of town- it sucked to be away for so long, but it was a site associated with one of the most significant events in human history - which kinda made it worth it. Now that I'm fully back home, I'm enjoying having others over for amazing meals, back to my yoga practice, and back to checking out all the wonders of my newish neighborhood (North Park) and enjoying life.

I used to work in hospitality- and I think I had a natural talent for it (I still cover a shift from time to time and I love it!). I love to cook, and given the response to the last meal I made- I might have a natural talent for that too. I guess, overall, I'm pretty hospitable. :) I'm hosting Thanksgiving for a couple family members and I've been giving a lot of thought to the menu-and I'm really excited about making the meal!

I couldn't tell you...I will say that I hung out with a new group recently and by the end of the night they were laughing about how they had thought they were going to corrupt me...but after getting to know me figured out how wrong they really were...

Books: anything by Kurt Vonnegut, Allan C. Weisbecker, Christopher Moore, Mulan Kundera, Henry Rollins, Neil Gaiman, Augusten Burroughs. I also have a fetish for food-in-culture stuff like Fast Food Nation and Food Politics, and I read a lot of history (both primary and secondary sources).

Movies:Grosse Pointe Blank, Hedwig, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Trainspotting, Dr. Strangelove, High Fidelity, Sliding Doors, I Heart Huckaby's, Pump up the Volume, Europa Europa, Run Lola Run, Good-bye Lenin (the german films help me to keep up on my linguistic skills), and childhood favorites like Red Dawn, Top Gun, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

TV: I'm tryin' folks!! But I'm really not much into television. I like Lost and the Office and catch up on those online usually. I go on Netflix binges when Weeds seasons come out. Otherwise- having spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up, my television habits still mimic theirs: Jeopardy, local news, Golden Girls (I've updated to Sex & the City- same cast, different age group and era) and PBS. And no, I don't even bother with cable.

Music: Depeche Mode, Tori Amos, Beatles, Stones, the Cure, Smiths, Modest Mouse, New Order, Kate Bush, Steely Dan, Elton John, Pet Shop Boys, Led Zeppelin, Siouxie & the Banshees, Peter Gabriel, and some of the newer stuff like MGMT, Silversun Pickups, Airborne Toxic Event, Duke Spirit, ect.... My most recent concerts were The Cult- and OMG what an amazing show!!, and I made it to Street Scene. The radio in the car is usually tuned into 94.9, 102.1 and PBS/NPR.

Food: I like to keep it pretty healthy and I'm a no red-meat eater. I'm not vegetarian (I still eat poultry/fish), but vegetables are actually my favorite food. I like ethnic varieties and trying new things. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get on the Sushi kick- no one is more disappointed about this than I. I tend to like milder foods- spicy stuff is yummy, but it makes my nose itch- which if you decide that you like me could be endearing.

humans are amazingly adaptable! But I'll list the things, that when away from them, make me anxious:
*music
*diet coke
*my people
*adventure
*reading material
*healthy foods

social issues, current events, science, my future and the future of society, archaeology & preservation issues, the people I care about, whether or not I wanna do the whole PhD thing.

Hanging out with friends enjoying adult beverages, doing a puzzle while listening to NPR, looking up music on youtube, planning my next wee adventure

when I was a kid I wanted to grow up to be either a librarian or a rock star... (I think I've managed a career that kinda combines those elements)

You read my profile.
You think we will have lifestyle/personal values/experiences in common.
AND
You find me attractive.
AND
You're pretty cool yourself.
AND ESPECIALLY
if you yourself are adventurous and a lil' wild yet genuine at the core.

(also, not to be obnoxious and picky, but I'm not interested in dating dads, folks who never get outside/away from the TV/game box/couch, dudes more than 10 years my senior or ANYONE who might have ever considered for even a nano-second that bringing George W. back for a second term was a good idea...also, I'm beginning to really trust OKCupid's compatibility determination- if we're less than like 80% compatible...why even bother?)