For years I have tried and tried to find a reasonable way to describe myself, and have always come up short. Sure, it's easy to describe others based on personality, values, dreams, and relationships; but how can I describe myself in such a way, at least within a few sentences? It turns out to be extremely difficult to even *view* myself through this lens, let alone write anything.

What I have instead is a bunch of descriptors. I am honorable, dependable, passionate, and silly. I am close and loyal to my family and friends, and am always looking for more. I cheerfully walk the path less traveled, and always hope to bring others with me. I always have a story to tell.

On the practical, things-that-as-far-as-I-know-girls-are-looking-for side of things: I am employed, happy, and healthy. I cook and clean for myself. I like kids and pets of pretty much any type. I have a strong personality and plenty to talk about. I grew up in a feminist household, and have such beliefs pretty well ingrained in my core. And while I may not have a great idea how to start a relationship, I've done a pretty good job once I'm in one.

And, perhaps most importantly: I am best experienced in person, where I can tell my stories, readily go on tangents, respond to your reactions - and I can talk of my friends. If you get a chance to see me through my lens, I suspect you'll rather like me.

Since I moved out to the Bay a couple of years ago, my life has become more... let's call it "self-sufficient". I still hang out with friends on a regular basis, but there's fewer of them, and I have only a little bit of family to fall back upon. I am by no means anti-social, but I am not yet where I once was. (It seems to be just a matter of time...)

I work as a Unix sysadmin and software developer for Ye Olde Major University (we're supposed to at least pretend to be a bit anonymous here, right?). While I have been known to gripe about the specifics of the work on occasion, I love my job and my overall career.

For hobbies, I hang out with those friends that are here, and keep track of the remote ones; I spend time taking care of my little corner of the Internet; I play board games; I scour used book stores to sate my reading habit; I indulge in digital photography; I play the occasional video game; and I go to garage sales when the seasons are right. I'm teaching myself to cook, I write movie reviews, and if I can find a troupe I indulge in improv comedy.

I love to travel, but it's more fun with friends. Playing tourist is fun, be it around the Bay with visiting friends, or as the visitor myself as I visit friends and family across the country. I also tend to take what excuses I can to get out of the country (though it's been a while).

I am remarkably adept at organizing a social group. If you understand where this skill came from, please let me know.

I can hold up my side of a conversation on just about any topic except reality television. No, really, try me! Just don't be too surprised if I reveal my geeky side in odd ways in the process.

I look young. This is a blessing and a curse - it's nice to look youthful, sure, but it's a bit harder to be taken seriously. My beard helps somewhat, but only inasmuch as without it I look even *younger*.

I don't use smileys. Okay, perhaps that's difficult to actually *notice*, but trust me, your mind will pick up on it.

Books: I read about a book a week, which qualifies in most cultures as "a lot". In general, give me sci-fi (Stand on Zanzibar, Hyperion) and history (Guns, Germs & Steel) and I am happy; but I've been branching out lately, since I've been "using up" genres. My history urge has been sated lately through the use of the Great Courses lecture series.

Movies: I make it to the theatre about once a week. My guilty pleasure is big, loud, violent, *bad* movies - you know, just about everything that comes out in the Summer. (Yay, Bad Boys!) But I also like good movies, meaning both art flicks and Oscar pics, and the less-acclaimed genre of Absurd Comedies (Clue, Shaun of the Dead).

TV: I love a good ongoing drama (The Wire, The Sopranos, The Shield), epic sci-fi (Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica), or a truly funny sitcom (Arrested Development, The Office). I also enjoy a good background show (Law & Order series, say) when multitasking.

Music: techno in its myriad forms is my constant companion, with an emphasis on Happy Hardcore and various sub-genres of trance. I don't really listen to the radio except for NPR. And for whatever reason, I keep coming back to the Star Control II soundtrack.

Food: I am not particularly picky, except for a general aversion to chain restaurants and pizza-vegetables (onions, mushrooms, etc). I'm especially fond of Indian lately, and need to eat more sushi and Mediterranean food.

In no particular order:

1. My cats.
2. A never-ending supply of books.
3. The Internet.
4. Regular contact with friends and family.
5. A TiVo full of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.
6. Regular breaks from all of the above.

Okay, maybe the last one is ordered.

Unrelated to the organized points, but probably more important than the rest, I cherish my personal honor, as described by Lois McMaster Bujold: "Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself."

I oft contemplate whether a different style of profile is in order, something flashier and more likely to attract visitors. But somehow, being direct and honest seems a better strategy. Instead, I just wish I could change my username to 'badgerbadgerbadger', or somesuch.

I spend a lot of my spare cycles contemplating politics in its myriad forms: congressional, electoral, international relations, Illinois, California, local, school boards, red-vs-blue, right-vs-left, science-vs-religion, psycho-vs-not, academic, interpersonal, group dynamics, etc. I'm a bit obsessive around election times.

With larger blocks of time, I try to figure out how I can keep my life more organized. I am willing to spend twenty hours working on a problem that will save me five minutes a day. And most people are shocked to see how organized I keep my apartment.

Typical! Ha! Lately, my evenings have involved eating Indian food out with friends, going out to movies (so that I might write my reviews), playing board games (especially 18xx), playing with visitors, working a bit too much, watching The Wire or Mad Men with a small group of friends, and relaxing in front of my TV with a laptop and a pair of felines. I couldn't begin to guess which of those will remain "typical" in the next few months.

I lived in New Zealand and Australia when I was a kid. I enjoyed Sex and the City. I am obsessed with Cane Toads. I don't own an iPod. I never finished Super Mario Bros. I'm demi-vegetarian. I accidentally caused South Park. I hope that this is a reasonable sample.

...you are a quirky, geeky, board-gaming, cat-loving, international, well-read academic with a scientific/engineering/library background, a wicked sense of humor, a loving and accepting outlook on life, a lifestyle slightly more active than mine, strong family loyalty, and the will to both share your life and stand up for yourself in any given situation. Named Lana, if at all possible.

Okay, perhaps that's a *whee* bit picky, some kind of platonic ideal of Skirv's Type. Really, my tastes are not based on any one particular detail. I find willpower, intelligence, and humor attractive (and a strong intelligence an absolute requirement), but none of that is important without being able to handle your personality. I'm looking for a partner; as such, loyalty, kindness, honor, and drive are vital, while the rest is negotiable.

And while I'm certainly here trying to find a long-term relationship, that's certainly not all I'm interested in. I've come out of her with at least one new friend so far; I'd be happy to make more. In fact, I suspect that this is a necessary step on the path...