I am a bit of a shy creature. Shy and introverted in the beginning, but kind of a rascal once I start feeling comfortable with someone. Kind of mischievous really.

I am a very curious person, especially intellectually, and probably a lot more romantic than I'd care to admit.

I am pretty damn queer. I could try and describe what kind of a queer I am, but you can probably tell from the pictures. Some of my friends tell me I look like Arthur Rimbaud--I don't know about that, but it might be the coolest compliment I've ever received.

I love putting my body into nature, especially water--swimming in the Aegean (whenever I have the opportunity) has been one of the most thrilling experiences of my life.

I am adventurous, I love to take risks, especially ones where I have a feeling the experience or encounter will push me in a new direction. I don't ever want to become too comfortable in life.

I love to travel whenever that is possible. I am also creative (I am poet in the spirit of Gertrude Stein, Walt Whitman, Arthur Rimbaud, Emily Dickinson, Wallace Stevens, Hart Crane, Sappho, and the other great Greek lyricists). One of my ambitions for 2013 is to learn French so that I will be able to translate (respectably) some of my favorite 20th c. French poets. I would also love to go to Paris someday soon.

Moving from the ridiculous to the sublime, and back again.

During the day I work with scientists and engineers at UC Berkeley and, coupled with my life as a poet, it makes for quite a balancing act--you could say that my life long ambition is the synchronization of my left and right brain. But I do enjoy being in the deep waters every so often, that is to say, out of my comfort zone.

I like to get outside and go for hikes and cycle and go for long, exploratory walks in some of my favorite Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco neighborhoods. I'd also really like to hook up with someone who would be interesting in exploring California with me, i.e. weekend trips!

being generous to others, being playful, daydreaming, lifting heavy things (I am freakishly strong) nurturing things, as in people, flora and fauna, line breaks (as in poetry)

My eyes, sometimes they are blue, and sometimes they are green and they are (I am told) never the same pair of eyes twice.

My hands and how I use them. I have unusually large hands for my size and people often ask what I do with them (i.e. play the piano). Sadly, I do not play the piano and wish that I did.

Favorite recent film is the documentary on the amazing life story of Detroit musician Sixto Rodriguez, "Searching for Sugar Man." A beautiful story of a beautiful human. At the moment, Rodriguez is my alpha and omega for music. especially song writing.

I recently finished reading _Coming Through Slaughter_ by Michael Ondaatje, and can't believe waited this long to do so.

Now I am getting primed to read _Bury Me Standing_, a history of the gypsies by the amazing Isabel Fonseca.

I think I am watching Mad Men way too much right now and often find myself asking myself, "What would Don Draper do?"

which likely translates into--briefly questioning myself, perhaps feeling some shame and regret, and then just keep doing it some more.

I am pretty crazy about foreign films especially Pedro Almodovar!! and queer cinema.

A few of my favorites are: Spirit of the Beehive, Man Facing Southeast, Satantango, Andrei Rublev, Alphaville. I also adore Agnes Varda and her films (The Gleaners and I, The Beaches of Agnes). She is one of my heroes. But I also love good American classic films too, anything Hitchcock, Tarantino. Pretty much anything involving Paul Newman. Chinatown, To Kill A Mockingbird, A Place in the Sun.....

I really love good food (who doesn't) and am very accommodating should I find myself in the company of vegans and vegetarians. I've been to Greece several times and so I have a special place in my heart (and tummy) for Mediterranean cuisine.

Music: Rachmaninoff, Johnny Cash, Beethoven, Patti Smith, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Springsteen,

My intellectual curiosity: it's like my qi, life force, it keeps me moving in the right direction.

My legs: I love to wander. "We are wanderers and that is where we stay." --Robin Blaser
I walk a lot!!

The color blue, especially indigo. Disovering that color must have been a thrilling experience.

Poetry and art.

Avocados. (I am originally from Minnesota where there is a serious avocado deficit). I feel fortunate (for many reasons) to live in the Bay Area.

My mocha (with real whipped cream) in the morning.

Living near a body of water. I grew up around 10,000 lakes (most of them are swamps don't let them fool you). I just like knowing and seeing water nearby.

bio-diversity, the next poem, snowfall, stars and sex.

How one must have the mind of winter...

The last few stanzas from Frank O'Hara's _Meditations in an Emergency_

4

Now I am quietly waiting for
the catastrophe of my personality
to seem beautiful again,
and interesting, and modern.

The country is grey and
brown and white in trees,
snows and skies of laughter
always diminishing, less funny
not just darker, not just grey.

It may be the coldest day of
the year, what does he think of
that? I mean, what do I? And if I do,
perhaps I am myself again.

You'll definitely have to contact me on this one to find out...

I've been arrested for doing something kinda bad, but not THAT bad.

you are curious about anything I've mentioned here...and if you're an adventurous, free-spirited person...and/or you speak French fluently and you'd be willing to tutor...I am completely open to an exchange of services ;-). I've been mostly attracted to femme women, but I keep an open mind because meaningful connections often come when you least expect them.