I am a thoughtful extrovert. I enjoy being with people, from dinner parties with a few good friends to major social events, but also seek quiet times with a joyful, loving man.

I'm a writer (everything from movies reviews to catalogs to my own short stories) and an educator (middle school English/Journalism teacher with a great sense of humor).

I love to laugh and am easily amused. My personal mantra is "Life is rich," though "timing is everything" is a close second.

Though I enjoy nature and being outdoors, I'd rather hike a trail or walk a cityscape than bike, boat, row or sail. But I've done all of the above and am open to rediscovery. I have never golfed.

I'm cosmopolitan with a little touch of country (loving critters and fresh produce.) I gave up camping of any kind after my son left home. I make regular visits to NYC, the Dry Creek Valley, LA (my hometown) and Jacksonville, OR.

I' m looking for a caring person who loves to cuddle. I want a man of physical and intellectual confidence, with a lively sense of self and humor. Someone who cares about his work, but is ready to play after a week well done.

MY PERFECT SUNDAY: Doze and dawdle in bed, maybe get up for an early morning stroll or stay home for lattes with the Times book review section. Late, late breakfast, long afternoon hike with dog(s) or indie film (wo/pets) depending on the weather. Folding clean laundry in the evening while watching The Good Wife or streaming a current Netflix. I would love to have someone to join me.

Savoring every day as a writer/educator and mom to a grown son. I walk or hike with my new dog every day as a knee injury may sadly have taken me out of the dance studio for good. And I get to the movies as often as twice a week.

"...a note's just a note till you wake from your slumber, And dare to discover the new melody." "Sweet is the Melody" by Iris DeMent

Writing
Singing in the car
Laughing
Salads and vegetables
Making friends and making them smile
Helping others
Dressing up or down!

My smile and my ease at being with people.

Authors: The modern: Jonathan Lethem, Michael Chabon, Tobias Wolff, Alice Munroe, Ann Patchett and the classics: Faulkner, Joyce, Roth, Updyke,
Books: The Dubliners, Plot Against America&The Human Stain, Motherless Brooklyn&Fortress of Solitude, The Things They Carried, Regeneration Trilogy, Adventures of Cavalier and Klay, Poisonwood Bible, Cutting for Stone EXTRA! EXTRA! Let the Great World Spin has just entered my all-time top five.
Movies: The Godfather-Parts 1 & 2, Tootsie, LA Confidential, The Commitments, The New World, City Island, Every Little Step, West Side Story; Tarantino, Coppola, Malik, Kathryn Bigelow, Rob Reiner, Mr. Hitchcock, Preston Sturges
TV: 30 Rock, Modern Family, Justified, The Good Wife, Curb Your Enthusiasm (often a deal breaker!) and all things HBO: The Wire, Deadwood, Sopranos, Treme. Big Love.
Music: Usually the singer-song writer: Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, U2, Randy Newman, The Clash, Dave Matthews, Jack White, Emmy Lou & Gram, Lucinda Williams, Johnny Cash and his darlin' daughter Roseanne, Iris DeMent, Steve Earle, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Shawn Colvin, Van the Man, Joni, and Marvin Gaye (god rest his soul.) Jazz, if it's live and very sparing amounts of classical. No opera.
Food: Healthy and heavy on the vegetables--Thai, Mexican,
nouvelle Italian and bistro French.

My son
My dog (A new little rescue mutt who keeps me hopping!)
Music
Books
Films and plays
Vegetables
Sunshine
And the ability to count to six.

What brought me to this day, this moment and how I will move forward, with mindfulness and compassion, to the next.

And who the heck would post the results of a Slut or Penis Size test?

"Vej-ing out" after a busy week, with take-out food and video. I usually hike Saturday afternoon, then am ready for anything on Saturday night.

I've been eating far too much kettle corn at the movies. Trying to go cold turkey.

In reality, it would never be posted on a website, though may turn up in one of my short stories. More likely to be whispered to the one I love.

It would be wonderful if you've known the joys and challenges of marriage and the intimacy of raising children. If not, you must like children. (BTW: mine is grown, "launched" and living in Seattle. Grandkids are on the distant horizon.) Hopefully you have a soft spot in your heart for animals, especially the canine sort. You'd like to share the great outdoors and music, films, museums, plays and books with me.

Also, I am a life-long, tree hugging liberal and proud of it. I would not be a match with anyone who considers Fox News a legitimate source of information. And please don't invite me to a tea party unless you are serving scones and Earl Grey!