Hi. I am Lauren.
I am a native born resident of Bloomington, Illinois.
I have been divorced for 30 yrs. I don't have any children.
I am 5'6", around 150 lbs.
I am retired and I have time for a relationship.
Apartment dweller/home owner. I know, it sounds ambiguous,lol. Tell ya later.
Lets Chat soon.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ MY ESSAYS YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR A DATE WITH ME. PLEASE read them before contacting me. Thank you.
At the outset, I ask that you please not bother to message me if you don't have a photo or an essay filled in, nor will I reply or consider your profile. This is the digital age and I can't begin to know anything about you without a photo or any info written in the essay section. PLEASE ! NO FOREIGN SCAMMERS OR FAKE PROFILERS. USA ONLY. Thank you. Additionally, it has gotten to the point that I have to insert so many clauses concerning behavior and attitudes , and what I am looking for, that my essays are beginning to sound like a pre-dating legal contract ,lol. I have no space left for describing myself , not that anyone actually reads these things. They look at the photo, where I live, and decide if they want to 'sleep' with me or not, and start hitting on me, with IM's, e-mails ,and for webcam. That's about how far it goes with alot of you guys.And you guys call women shallow? NOT. Fed up with finding the same thing online I could find at any local bar any nite of the week, the bar mentality. If you are looking for someone to use and abuse go find it elsewhere. Fed up with that also.

I am a decent, mature , responsible artsy/sporty gal. I can be fun,spontaneous, easy to talk to, am down to earth and realistic and think I have a good sense of humor. I regard myself as a nice mix of old fashioned and new fangled.
I am more of a slow country road and not a fast lane on a super highway kind of person. Guess that makes me a type B personality. I am pretty much a 'what u see is what u get' kind of person, nothing pretentious here.
Aside from an occasional cold or over-doing it I am in fairly good health with no serious medical or physical disabilities or conditions.
I try to keep an open mind with people on these sites. What initially appears as not a possibility can change and often does .
I think good conversation is as important a part of a relationship as any other part and is essential for staying connected. I also think its important to have parameters and balance in relationships.
My political views are moderate left but I vote based on the candidate.
Work history includes banking, retail, restaurant, photography, manufacturing.
I mostly like to do simple doable activities in a relaxed casual manner that gives me quality time with someone -go out for a cup of java, lunch in the park,dinner & a movie, cookouts & hangin out in the hammock, play cards/pool/darts, music/theater/sports events, fairs/festivals,day trip drives. Or just stay home and hang out on the couch ,order a pizza or make a bowl of popcorn,put in a movie or watch a ballgame . A friendly bowling match works too.
The perfect date would be going to Conklins Barn 2 dinner theater in Goodfield, Illinois.

I have no current complications(i.e. ex husbands or boyfriends lurking around trying to stay in the picture/situation, lol ).
My sexual orientation is straight, no group stuff, just old fashioned 1-on-1 guy/gal scenario.

I am intelligent, witty, and creative

Web surfing, tv, shopping, chatting with friends, cooking, sewing, gardening, enjoying retirement.
I have a few hobbies I enjoy: I play golf(not that good but I like it and when I can get a ride to the golf course, lol), I like any kind of boating(power or sail) Hey, anybody know how to sail out there, and do ya drive something with a trailer hitch, lol. I own a small sunfish sailboat but no way to get it out to a lake.
I am quite crafty and sew alot in the winter to escape the winter blahs and boredom(and reruns on tv-lol).I got into sewing with the new polar fleece fabric and really enjoy working with it. I took up quilt making a few yrs ago and have gotten quite good at it. I have had alot of oohhs and aahhs from family and friends and been encouraged to start a home business. I reject their idea as that turns my hobby into a job, then its a 'I gotta do it" basis.
I am into antiques and history, favorite period is American Civil War, and have done re-enacting.
I like gardening and do home canning. I am fairly good with basic hand and power tools, not afraid to get my hands a bit dirty.
I tend to be a bit of a homebody (not always by choice), or what I like to call a 'domestic diva'.
But its tough to be queen when you have no staff, lol.

Sewing and designing, dancing . Just being myself.

I am a bit shy, or cautious, at first with someone till I feel more comfortable with them.
My low midwestern voice.
If I am dressed in shorts or a skirt, my nice shapely legs.
My directness as I tend to be rather straightforward which can rub people the wrong way. It helps to eliminate alot of gray areas and confusion.I don't like talking around the issue or alot of indecisiveness.I am not good with situations that hang in limbo for too long. I like definition and clarification.
My ability to articulate what I think, how I feel, and what I want. And I like my partner to do the same.
My intelligence.

Favorite Music:I love old rock & roll(60's, 70's stuff, some 80's) since I grew up with that music. I also enjoy classical. My favorite composer is Chopin. I can really get into stuff like Barbara Streisand, Harry Connick Jr, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole. Love the Memphis and Motown sound. Favorite bands are Boston( saw them in concert 7/2008 at U.S. Cellular Coliseum), Journey, Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sammy Hagar. I hate rap and hip-hop.

Favorite TV Shows:I am a big Food Network fan as I love to cook. Favorite talk shows are Rachael Ray, Oprah, Tonite Show with Jay Leno. I also enjoy History and Discovery channels.
I am a Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan so I watch NFL and MLB tv.

New shows I like: Mercy, Trauma, CSI-SVU, Law & Order, Dateline, NBC news, Damages, Brothers & Sisters, Americas Got Talent. I like alot of NBC stuff. Not a fan of Reality tv but I did like The Osbournes.

Favorite Movies:My all time favorite movie is Wizard of Oz. Other big time faves include Gone With the Wind, Titanic, and alot of good chick flicks: Steel Magnolias, Beaches, Stepmom, . Favorite actresses are Meg Ryan, Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder.Favorite actors include Michael Douglas, Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford. I gotta confess that I am a Trekkie too and like some sci-fi stuff. Love a good thriller too. Favorite comedies include Grumpy Old Men, Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters, love Home Alone.

Favorite Books:Cookbooks. Quilting/sewing. I like how-to books, as I am kind of a DIY'er. I also like humorous or inspirational books. I read my local newspaper online too.

Favorite foods: Italian, Southern, BBQ, Comfort, All American but willing to experiment and try new culinary adventures.

My cat
my health
my sanity
my computer
my sewing machine
my coffee pot
Last , but certainly not least, my good comfortable bed. You just can't beat a good nights sleep. lol

Okay, thats 7, but I really do need them all.

What to do with my life and time .
How I am going to get someone into my life.
My next sewing project.
People I love or care about and can't be with, for various reasons.
How utterly lonely I am.
How much I hate wintertime and long for the good ole summertime.
What to cook for dinner that won't leave me with tons of leftovers in the fridge,lol.

At home alone watching tv or playing around on the pc..

I have a small 2" tattoo of a red rose on my left shoulder. I have never been sorry I had it done either.

You can treat me like I am someone special, and not just use me and abuse me.
You want to make a new friend.
You have some class and behave like a gentleman. You guys would not believe how far that one really goes with women.
You are not married or in a committed/cohabiting relationship. I just don't want to get caught up in those problems.
Want to actually date a real live person.
You are Not gonna park your butt on my couch and call it a date.
You are not looking for just sexual encounters, or webcam.
Age range is 45-65, but I might consider older if the chemistry works.
You must like cats. I only have 1 and I love her .

Characteristics in a partner: Intelligent,mature,genuine,honest, nice , generally good health and physical condition,in/near my location. Please be emotionally and mentally stable as well.
Realistically has time, positive dating attitude, economic means and ability for a quality friendship/companionship/long term relationship with a marriage possibility.
I really don't have a problem with kids so long as they are older, and aren't at home on a permanent basis. I like alone time with a man without his kids. I am willing to get to know them however, and be friends.
No extreme stuff or high maintenance situations. I just can't deal with that.
I am also not really into a long distance situation, prefer closer to home.

Serious inquiries only- had it with head games, players,bar types, deadbeats or bums & dead ends , 1 nighters, and all around shallow, superficial fakes. Please! NO drunks or drug addicts, or sleazeballs or perverts or psychos either. NO FOREIGN SCAMMERS OR FAKE PROFILERS.

If any of the above appeals to you feel free to drop me a line. I welcome your e-mails. Thanks for reading all the way thru to the bottom.