Meet me on a playground and let’s laugh our way through a game of hopscotch with no lines, making up the rules as we go. Or join me in a conversation about this ever-changing, constantly shifting journey we call life. I am often searching for growth and meaning; what is the next place I should be spending my energies; how can we make some little corner of the world a better place. I am completely silly, I am utterly serious, I understand pain, but I can still laugh like a child.

My friends have said that I “have a wonderful sense of determination and enthusiasm for life." They've also told me that I'm "really smart and have a big brain" (which, oddly enough, fits into a very small hat size). Me? I would say that I’m creative and artistic and quirky, but I also love problem solving, ideas and rational thought. (Can you hear my right and left brains duking it out for dominance, with never a one winning over the other?). I'm also emotional. and sensitive. And I think these are good things; like Jewel sings, "Please be careful with me, I'm sensitive and I'd like to stay that way." Which isn't to say that I haven't take some hard knocks and come out the stronger for it.

Oh, and for those who care about these things: I'm ENFP. I've also got strong I and strong T, no S, and just enough J to get things done that have to be done.

What am I *really* doing with my life? Exploring. Creating. Looking around the next corner...and the next. And the next. I am trying to live it fully, though life rather frustratingly gets in the way with all too high a frequency. Translate: I have little patience for the repetitive; instead I am generally more interested in learning new things, playing, creating, exploring the world, embarking on a new adventure, immersing myself in fictional worlds, being active, or, OK, just plain goofing off, or petting my cat, or being a total smart-ass.

Career-wise I am on a trajectory to I am not sure where. It seems that where I want to be evolves at a faster pace than the rate at which I manage to make changes in my life. At present I am a designer creating an interactive online-science museum. Previously I was a professor, doing research in theoretical chemistry. Next stop? Only the future will tell, though I've got some ideas.

creating. problem solving. listening and being supportive. making a cauldron from paper mache. playing. communicating (most of the time, anyway). being insightful. math and science. art and design.

I'm not sure. Here are my best guesses:

(a) my presence (and I mean here something about the way I carry myself and interact with others -- I think I often come across as having confidence and "presence")
(b) my smile, and the way it reaches my eyes
(c) that I'm gay (which I'm not, actually, but I seem to give the incorrect first impression rather frequently, especially here in seattle)

I hate being asked to define "favorites." I especially detest those personal security questions that ask "what is your favorite vacation" "what is your favorite food" "what is your favorite movie" -- Like I have just one? Like my favorite book next week will be the same as my favorite book now? Like I could ever remember what I answered? That rant out of the way, here's a random short list of a few things I really enjoyed:

books: The Poisonwood Bible, Atonement, Touchstone (Laurie R. King), The Hours; Doris Lessing, The Cave, The Blind Assassin; I also read a lot of mystery novels in the Elizabeth George, Sujata Massey, Sarah Paretsky, PD James, Martha Grimes vein.

movies: Tivolu, Sense and Sensibility, Whalerider... more later.

music: eclectic. much alternative (once upon a time the Throwing Muses were one of my most favorites), but I've gotten bored with this genre, so have been exploring many different kinds of international music. I really like lebanese and egyptian pop.

tv: I don't own one, and I prefer it that way.

touch. compassion. friendship. art. cats. things to think about. creativity. laughter. Is that 6 yet?

There is no typical friday night. But usually whatever happens, it was probably planned about an hour beforehand, maybe two.

Why would I admit private things to complete strangers? Get to know me. I'm actually pretty open.

If my profile intrigues you. If you find intelligence attractive. If you are inquisitive. If you are creative. If you are silly. If you love to laugh. If you are interested in meeting me.