Hello, I'm Brendan. I grew up on the east coast and came to Salt Lake City in 2008 to start a new career. I'm generally an easy going person, balanced by a decent sense of responsibility. I'm also a very honest and loyal guy and I look for those two qualities in the people in my life. I love my career (I'm a 3D graphics software engineer), but I generally leave it at the office; I have other interests I like to engage in at home. I love dogs and want to adopt a Sheltie, Lab or Retriever in the next year or so.

Hobbies around the home include reading, watching DVDs and playing games. I occasionally play some video games. I like tinkering with things; I am working on some home improvements and like to work on my car. Computer graphics is also a big one, particularly writing shaders.

I like the outdoors, particularly hiking in the mountains (when I write, this where I prefer to do it). Relaxing summer drives, away from the city, with the car wide open are also great. I like going to a sports bar to watch Hokies football or Caps hockey (on the rare days they're broadcast this far west). I love to shoot pool but I haven't done so in quite awhile. I enjoy going out to such places as the theater, museums and galleries. I'd also like to do some light traveling; throw a bag in the car and take off for the weekend to see some sight in the American southwest.

I spent the past few years "all work and no play" in order to change my career and improve my life. Now I'm enjoying the new career as well as having free time again to enjoy life.

I'm a pretty good problem solver; I have a knack for logical and analytical thinking. (This from an engineer! Go figure!)

Oh boy... better to ask what I don't like.

I'm a big reader. I particularly enjoy fantasy fiction (Tolkien, Martin, Jordan and Salvatore). I also really like Anne Rice's work. As far as nonfiction, I like books about military special forces and computer graphics. (Are there two more disparate topics?). I also picked up an interest in graphic novels a few years ago and have started a decent collection of 30 Days of Night, Fables, Sin City and a few others.

I tend to like most movies; I'm much less critical than most other folks. I'm hard pressed to name favorites, but some notables from my collection include LotR, Last Starfighter, Il Mare (a Korean romance), Cube and Silverado.

My music taste runs the gamut also. I'm picky about rap, R&B and country, but generally like anything else. Hard rock and metal are my favorites though, particularly what most people call symphonic metal (Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation...). Other rock bands I like include Finger Eleven, Trapt, Evans Blue, Sevendust, Linkin Park, etc.

I'm working on turning around my eating habits. Fresh fruits have most of my attention lately. The absolute best food, however, is steamed blue crabs, fresh out of the Chesapeake Bay! Now if I can just figure out how to swap the Bay for the Lake...

I don't think I could go without my family, my friends, my integrity, my freedom, my car and a good game.

Lately, I've had quite a bit on my mind. Repairs and changes to my new home, whether I should (can) buy a motorcycle, improving my diet and exercise habits and getting back into writing are all at the top of the list.

What? And take the mystery out of romance!?

I'm interested in making new friends as well dating and (eventually) finding a woman to spend my life with. If you think we have something(s) in common send me a note; let's see if we have ground upon which to build that friendship or potential relationship. The only real turn offs I have, as far as dating is concerned, are drug use and regular smoking. I'm a pretty open guy, so if you're curious about something in particular (even if it's not mentioned above) feel free to ask.