"I am a vulture for your weary charms,
A ragged scratch upon a sordid sky,
Whose indolent predation soon disarms
The cares of one found wandering and dry.

I ache to know you to your bones, my dear,
Such paltry things are flesh and sweat and skin:
When hearts are spent and lovers lips and sere
The trick's not giving up, but giving in.

At last, when your senescent soul slips free,
And we, the scavengers, descend to dine,
Gorge us you shall, and gorgeous you shall be,
Since by the carnal kiss I made you mine.

These wasted lands will surely one day see
Your waist lands yield their plenty unto me."

- Peter Chiykowski

Yeah, that's not true. I am not a vulture and your plenty will not surely be yielded. But it is beautiful and powerful and one of the most evocative descriptions of courting I've ever read. So I put it at the beginning of my profile. First impressions and all ;)

On the contrary, I'm a nurturer: I seek to sustain you, to be the oasis of your desert wanderings.

And I am the desert. Simultaneously stark and rich. Often harsh. Sometimes destroying.

I am yet also the sky. My vision stretches to the horizon, earnestly embracing the world, and so often filled with playful exultation.

...

I believe that simultaneous romantic love with multiple people is possible because love is not a limited, expendable resource; I believe that jealousy is an enemy, a function of possessiveness and insecurity, that should be fought with freedom and trust; and I believe that consensual sex can and should be an activity with no negative aspect.

I am embarrassingly fatalistic about the statistical unlikeliness that Intriguing Person™ is going to respond to my carefully chosen words.

I am a web programmer and IT Expert for the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Program Development and Evaluation Center. I'm pretty well paid and appreciated. I go through cycles of extreme slackatude and nigh obsessive focus.

On my off-hours I spend my time with people as much as possible. I am foremost a social creature. I go dancing two or three times a week. I go drinking more than that, although there is overlap. I adore parties and go to those whenever possible, and often host them myself.

I have a dinner party at my house every Thursday. I make dinner for all who attend and ask that they each bring something to contribute, be it an appetizer, drinks, dessert or willing hands for dishwashing. I've been doing this for about 5 years and its the highlight of my week, despite the effort it takes. I love providing a good time for people.

I have an uncanny ability to spot small somethings at a glance. I'm not as good at methodical searching. I think that might suggest a larger truth about me, but I don't know what.

I have very quick reflexes and well-honed hand-eye coordination. Those, along with my spot, let me catch, or at least deflect, small missiles with superhuman proficiency. Yeah, I know, now you TOTALLY want to do me.

I am really good at solving problems in interesting ways. I am practically religious about innovation.

I am a listener, and, if you like, a counselor. I love being told stories and sifting through subtext to discover an individual's myriad facets, which I invariably cherish. I love when I find someone who thinks differently than me, yet clearly enough to enlighten me on new paths of thought.

I'm devastating on a trampoline. In a good way. I have one in my backyard, and you are welcome to come use it anytime you like :)

I think I'm a reasonably competent cook, but the hordes I cook for on Thursdays are more complimentary and would call me "really good".

I'm getting better at:

• Mindreading.
• Dissembling that I care about my job.
• Expressing dissatisfaction without either cruelty or cringing.

I'm really bad at:

Tidying up after myself. My room has been a disaster area since I moved in. I'll only clean a space when I absolutely need a clear space to work, like before I cook for Thursday's dinner. I pretty much refuse to get a nice car because I'd feel bad trashing it the fuck up. Thank god for my magnificently understanding roommate.

Getting to work on time. Oh, but nobody cares. Sweet!

I am a giant. I am very tall and thick and strong. I am visibly Norwegian: blonde and pale.

Usually my smile is warm enough to make up for all the big-n-scary I carry.

The first thing I will notice about YOU is your walk. I am unusually interested in people's walks. That is, of course, if you're walking when I first see you. And you aren't wearing some kind of bodice that puts your breasts on a platter. I can politely ignore well-sheathed breasts.

Editors

• eptify

Books Talion: Revenant, The Blending, Harry Potter, the Drizzt Saga, the Vlad Taltos saga, everything by Orson Scott Card, Stephen King's Dark Tower, Le Petit Prince.

Movies Matilda, Groundhog Day, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Garden State, Original Sin, Untamed Heart, Labyrinth, The Matrix, What Dreams May Come Here is my netflix profile

Music Cake, NIN, Garbage, Liz Phair, Poe, Yanni, the Dresden Dolls, Mirah, Sarah McLachlan, Justin Timberlake, Lamb, the Postal Service, the Cardigans, Delerium, Dune, Roxette, VAST, Cyndi Lauper, the Shins, the Magnetic Fields, Ok Go, Metric, Beck, Annie Lennox, Eminem, Imogen Heap, Sigur Ros, the Knife, St. Vincent, Gregory and the Hawk

Food Tres Leches, Kaddo Bourani, lamb in any form, burgers with cajun seasoning, penne with vodka sauce, anything curried, most forms of ice cream, custards, peppers of all kinds (black, bell, habanero, jalapeno, serrano, etc), sushi especially alongside nigori sake, pretty much anything interesting!

This list used to be all esoteric and stupid so I've decided to change it to some things I think are awesome and that I try to enjoy as much as possible:

• Thai food
• breasts (of women; breasts on men are boring. And chicken breasts are sometimes delicious but only very rarely awesome)
• XKCD
• wikipedia; moreover, wikipedia accessed via my snazzy cellphone
• discussion about time travel and the media which involves it.
• Dance Dance Revolution
• Jacuzzis, fuck yeah.

Myself, but not because of vanity; rather, introspection and self-analysis. I am constantly worrying over how I can improve myself to best reflect my philosophical ideals. To quote a taoist principle: "Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power." I abhor self-delusion and am very dedicated to resolving conflicts between my ethics and my emotions.

"People often think that it is hard to do the right thing. It is not hard to do the right thing; it is hard to know what the right thing is. Once you know what is right, then it is hard to not do the right thing." -The Confession

Sheriff Bourne: You were truthful back in town. These are tough times. A man can get a job, he might not look too close at what that job is. But a man learns all the details of a situation like ours, well, then he has a choice. Mal: I don't believe he does. -Firefly, The Train Job

The human condition. And though I rarely preach, I identify as an extropian, a transhumanist, and a singularitarian.

Partying. With as many friends as are available. Dancing, drinking, and whatever other fun and wild hijinks as can be found.

More likely at my home than out on the town. I think there's alot to be said for having a good time in a safe, comfortable place.

Most likely surrounded by the color green.

Occasionally at the local goth night, collecting hugs or dancing my ass off among a bunch of people in much darker garb with much more ornate hairstyles than myself. I stick out wildly, but it doesn't keep me from having a good time. At least I don't wear Tevas! heh.

I'm willing to admit just about anything. Feel free to look at my journal.

There not much to tell about me that I don't tell in there.

But if you want to know something, ask away; I revel in traditionally awkward questions. I am extremely hard to embarrass.

Here's something: I'm a complete and total sucker for unnaturally colored hair.

If you think I'm interesting, or cute. Let me assure you: the odds are wildly in your favor that I will feel the same about you. I'm just about as friendly and accepting as its possible to be. If you want to go out on a date with me, I can pretty much guarantee at least one and as soon as possible (it's amazing how many connections I have lost to cautious delay). But if you're interested in me, know that I am polyamorous, and I currently have a girlfriend. If you can live with that, don't be dampened by it either: I am just as thirsty for new love as someone who is single. Ever does my heart grow more vast.

Other reasons for messaging me include:
If you have some thoughts on the detrimental impact of culture on romantic proactivity.
If you expect to be either hungry or lonely on a Thursday evening.
If you are in need of a dragonslayer.

I react positively to Woos. I understand how hard it is to write something substantial to someone you don't know. Send me a Woo if you want me to take the burden, I promise I won't think you lame for it--I will be flattered.

Feel free to IM me. My gtalk/AIM handle is Vicariance