Call me Frank.

The quick of it is that I am a geeky, kinky, martial artsy, computer geek. I've moved to the Bay Area from Maryland, and I'm looking for cool people to hang out with. You're cool, right?

When I'm not fixing a computer system (or breaking it), I can be found gaming, reading random Wikipedia articles, running outside, climbing things, exploring outdoor spaces, or just generally trying to find trouble.

(Yes, I'm a geek who does lots of things besides play video games. Uncanny, I know.)

A wise man once told me, "If you are bored, you are boring." Not wanting to be considered boring, I've taken those words to heart.

Currently, I'm doing the day to day thing. I graduated from UMBC with a degree in Computer Science, so I spend some time recovering my spirit from my soul-sucking days spent in college. I'm always looking to meet new people.

I exercise regularly, ever trying to get my rock hard abs back. I train in the martial arts, and they will always be part of my life. I'm a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I also train in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu when I get the chance. Lately, I've been enjoying Crossfit more and more, also.

I love doing geeky things. I've enjoyed roleplaying, and I'd like to start doing it again. I play Magic the Gathering , even though it's probably a bit more expensive than I need it to be right now.

I've been working on my poker game recently. At the moment, it's my favorite game. It's also the hardest game I've ever played, without a doubt.

I've found the time and the money to begin pursuing my musical interests, so I've been learning to play bass. I've always had a thing for learning to play music. Unfortunately, all of the music classes at my college were at the same time as my computer science classes. Oh well, better late than never. If you need a bass player, send me a message.

I'm polyamorous. I've got a girl I met through this site, femgen, and I'm very crazy about her. She's recently moved in with me, and I couldn't be happier about it.

Hmm. At the risk of sounding uncharacteristically not-modest, here follows things I strive to be good at.

As a card carrying geek, I have to be good at a lot of things, so, generally I can do whatever I need to do. In no particular order, this includes things like fixing computers, fighting, making crying people smile from time to time, learning (that's a big one; I'm really good at learning), climbing things, solving puzzles, lending an ear or a shoulder to a friend (but not my kidneys, because I need them), or fighting off zombies.

I can also change a diaper, plan an invasion, write a sonnet, balance accounts, set a bone (my own, even), comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal (one of my favorite things to do for people I like), and fight efficiently. Hopefully, I'll die gallantly when the time comes.

I'm very good at the video games I entertain myself with (fighting games and FPS, mostly). I have beaten Nethack once (I ascended a Monk who never hit with a wielded weapon). If you understand the accomplishment that is, you rock! If not, go find out about Nethack.

I'm good at being diplomatic when everyone around me is angry. That includes myself. I don't yell at people, even the one dude I hate. I'm really good at not getting angry, and I'm really good at handling my anger when I do get it (although this ususally just entails me leaving the situation, I find it's usually preferrable to yelling at someone).

I'm good at getting what I want. It's easy to do when a) there isn't much that you do want, and b) you figure out how to get it. Buddhists believe that the desire of things we cannot obtain is the root of all suffering. While I'm not quite enlightened enough to escape suffering, I do my best to live with humble means and humble desires, so as to escape the cycle of material desires as much as possible.

A recent survey of the people in this room tell me that, as far as initial impressions, people tend to think I'm cute. They also notice the self-confidence I have, so I'm told.

The black bucket hat on my head which says "hacker" is probably very quickly noticed, as well.

The following lists are non-inclusive. In fact, they probably paint a grossly inaccurate picture of what I'm really like. Oh well. :P

a) My current stack of books to read includes a not-so-random assortment of science fiction, poker books, programming books, music theory texts, a weightlifting book, and the rest of the books in The Dark Tower series.

b) I like good movies, what can I say? Don't ask me to see a chick flick with you, cause it won't happen. I love action movies, whether the action is guns or martial arts. The Godfather probably ranks as one of my all-time favorites, and I enjoyed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as well. The Matrix rocked my mind the first time I watched it, and, of course, I loved the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Throw in any of John Woo's Hong Kong movies, and we have a good start as to what I like. I laugh at horror films. Dawn of the Dead (either one) was a laugh. The scariest movies I've ever seen were Minority Report, Enemy of the State, and Gattaca. Let that say what it will. If you're curious as to why those are my scariest movies, I'll be more than happy to enlighten you. Oh, and real men love The Fifth Element.

c) I love classical. I love metal. I love combinations of the two, or other blends of styles. Favorite bands currently include the likes of Dream Theater, Kamelot, Nightwish, Luca Turili, Symphony X, and other power metal bands that I can't really think of right now. Other metal bands that I fancy include Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Megadeth, and Iron Maiden. Bond also is the most kickass string quartet ever. Overall, I tend to like anything with a really musical quality. Except for country. I can't stand most country. Even rap is ok, from time to time, but I don't like country. Or pop. Nickelback can die in a fire.

d) I like a wide variety of foods... except for the red-meat variety. I plain don't like red meat (beef, pork, etc). I was mostly a vegetarian during college (I'm not anymore), and I learned to love tofu, especially fried. I would also use seafood, especially salmon, as an alternate source of protein. Blessings to the inventor of three-bean chili, by the way.

* My family.

Blood family is important, but I also value my chosen family just as much. Friends are the family you choose; they mean the world to me, and I would do just about anything for the people who would do the same for me.

* The internet.

I'm a geek, without a doubt. I imagine that, one day, I could be a nomad, wandering around whatever country I'm in, doing consulting work (or prizefighting in underground, illegal boxing rings or fighting cages for the money to gas my ride to the next city). I could have all my worldly possessions in whatever vehicle I would be owning at the time. One of those possessions would be a laptop, so I could stay in touch with the people who matter to me and keep my computer skils up to date.

* Physical affection.

I'm close with my friends. I hug as a greeting and as a farewell. Even dudes. I could consider it a wonderful time to be under a tree with nothing around but the star-filled sky... if I were cuddled up against someone I love whilst doing so. I love touching, I love hugging, cuddling, kissing, nibbling, biting... etc, so on, and so forth.

If I could choose the order I'd lose the five senses, touch would be the last to go. I love touching and being touched.

Ok, enough of that.

* Non-vanilla proclivities.

I love women. Without a doubt. I love spending time around them, in any and every fashion, as friends, and as lovers. I love wooing women, and I love pleasing them in bed. But. Seriously. Sex in the missionary position from now to the end of time, and I'll go bored out of my mind. I love ropes. I love whips. I love doing new, crazy things in bed with my lover. Life without bondage or S&M would be far less fun.

* Martial arts.

I kind of touched on this earlier, but I'm a physically active person, and I love the continuing self-improvement process which comes as part of the whole package.

Oh, yeah. And I love fighting, too.

* Games/fun.

Let's face it. There's plenty in this life that wants to take away our time. I value my time very much, and I value the time I have having fun. Whether it's video games, Magic the Gathering, ultimate frisbee, Munchkin, role playing, wrestling, submission fighting, or anything else physically or mentally stimulating, I couldn't do without my fun. Learning to dance is the current bit of fun I'm learning to pick up.

* Music

(Yes, it's seven, I don't care.) I've been making up for lost time by learning the bass and the piano (and I'll probably pick up the guitar when I have more time and money). I want to learn everything I can about music and the making of it.

Solving problems. Whether P equals NP or not. How many people I could beat in a fight without weapons/with weapons/with guns. Solving other people's problems. If I'm ultimately destined to be alone. If we really die alone. Why I'm polyamorous and not monogamous like everyone else. How to keep out extra string noise when I play lots of notes. Could I ever have a way of paying the bills that doesn't involve being in an office eight hours a day?

Is there such a thing as a typical Friday night? Friday nights have included for me (in no particular order) role playing, martial arts training, Friday Night Magic, bass practice, robbing people of their money in online poker rooms, movies, dinners with friends and ladies, grocery shopping, reading, working out in a gym, playing video games on my own, moonlight walks through the forest... I don't wait to do something just cause it's Friday. If I feel like having fun, I call whoever's around, and then I go do it.

What, I haven't already told you enough private things? I'd think I already had. Here's a few more:

MacGyver is my personal hero. (Ok, so that's not really private, but I didn't know where else to put this.)

I'm polyamorous, or poly if you prefer. Some people understand that we don't ever just love one person; I don't see why we can't love more than one person at a time.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains excite me.

I'm not vanilla, but I do love vanilla ice cream. Yum.

I don't drink. I have no problems if you do, though.

I'll admit to pretty much anything I've done, thought, or believed, if I know you well enough.

I'm not shy in person at all... but, for some reason, I'm a bit shy when it comes to this online thing.

OkCupid is missing a feature. It assumes that my sexuality and what gender I'm seeking are the same. I'm mainly looking for women and people who identify as female, and that's why I list myself as straight, but I'm not straight. Body parts don't really matter to me in a romantic partner. If I had a sexuality, I'd say I was a "beautiful person"-sexual. But, yeah, OkC needs to let me specify my sexual orientation *and* my preferred gender for searches.

I'm somewhat new to the area, so message me if you want to show me cool things in the Bay area.

Message me if you want to talk nerdy to me.

Message me if you're looking for a good friend.

Message me if you're looking for a novice bassist.

I put a lot of myself into this profile, including some pretty personal details. Message me if what I said didn't scare you off.

Or, message me if anything I said did scare you, but you want to know more anyway.

You shouldn't message me if you have no intention of ever meeting me. I'm short on people to hang out with right now; I don't need IM chat buddies, I need people to help me find trouble to get into. Don't worry, I won't bite you if we meet (at least not the first time we meet... unless you bite me first... ok, I might bite, so hopefully, you're cool with that.).

In any case, whatever you decide to do, feel free to use AIM to IM me at drhallstrom.