HOLIDAY 2009 NOTE: For those who have been writing me in the last few weeks or so in response to my profile or an email I sent you, I apologize if I have replied back. I'm currently online sporadically spending more time with my family. Thank you for your patience. I'll be back soon, and I'll try to reply back as soon as I can.

Is that a nibble from you? Nibbling is good. I guess I should start trying to reel you in now...

Let's see... where to begin...

My friends would say that I'm not unlike a Tootsie Pop: if you're willing to take the time to get past the hard candy shell without biting it, you'll find a soft center. Okay, that might sound a little wrong or raunchy, but you hopefully get the gist. I've relocated back to Huntington Beach a year ago from the desert in Nevada after an amicable break-up with my ex-bf of 5 years. (We were friends before we were anything else, and it makes life a little less stressful and more drama-free.) We do remain best friends and share custody of a 1.5-year-old Blue Great Dane appropriately named Blue and a 7-year-old Labrador named Basie after Count Basie (She's the camera shy one -- so only one pic). We treat the dogs like they are our son and daughter (those of you who are dog lovers will understand why).

I'm here simply because I'm not much for meeting people in the bar scene. Been there & done that in college. I'm looking for companionship, but I know that in order for that to come to fruition, friendship must come first. If a long term relationship is where this leads, great! If not, then no harm, no foul. Although I tend to be a very independent female, I do believe in the art of chivalry & enjoy the company of a man who is just as much "very manly" as he is gentlemanly. I'm looking for the right "Renaissance Man" who is open-minded, willing to listen, patient, intellectual, artsy as well as straight-laced, someone who can talk sports in one conversation then turn around and talk about a play he watched. And most importantly, I'm looking for someone who is respectful with a sense of humor that can range from cornball to raunchy to almost completely offensive with the understanding that there is a time & place for particular jokes.

I'm not one who likes to play games. I try to be a person whose actions & words reconcile with each other. For example, if you invite me to dinner and I say, "I don't know," or "I am not sure yet," chances are I want to go but don't want to tell you, "Yes," and flake out. The only reason for something like that is an emergency or something completely unexpected & extraordinary & out of my control, in which case, I'd call you. But if I say, "Yes," immediately for an event or get together, then I'm committed to keeping my word.

I don't ask for anything from anyone that I don't ask of myself first. Isn't that the way it should be?

If you've read this far and would like to know more, then contact me. I tend not to post many pics on these things because I believe in person & online impressions can be 2 completely different things. My pictures are fairly recent (one from 6 years ago & one from a couple months ago), and I DO look like my pictures. No surprises. (Except that I do have tattoos on my back and really don't intend to get anymore any time soon.) And I've also been told I look a lot younger in person, and, yes, 9 times out of 10, I do get carded.

**SIDE NOTES ABOUT MY PICS & MY SELF PERCEPTION:
(1) For those who have complimented me about my looks and to whom I have yet to write: Your compliments are not ignored, but please don't take offense if I don't get to write you ASAP or at all. Although I know a few people have deemed me attractive in the past and yes I understand that looks do count for something as I've stated before, I'm looking for someone who goes past my pics cuz looks don't last. You must understand something; I'm not full of myself. I can be a pretty picture to some, but if I don't stand for something more than that, then I'm without meaning. There's more to my story than meets the eye, and to find that out, you have to get past the pics. If you get what I mean by all of this, then let's talk. (I don't think I'm better than anyone nor am I above writing a thank you, but sometimes there's just not enough time in the day to say thank you for your time.)
(2) For those of you who have made lewd remarks about my pics (e.g., commenting on body parts, etc.) and expected me to reply in kind to your notes: if I wanted those types of replies I would have stuck to the bar scene. Only your remarks are worse because you actually put them in writing. Be grown, sir. Be grown.**

That's me in a nutshell as best as I can put it. The rest can be discovered in time.

PS -- Just an FYI: If I have you marked in my favorites, it's for at least one of 2 reasons: (1) I'm interested & intend on writing you; or (2) I'm interested and am already emailing or chatting with you. If I have you marked as a favorite and have yet to email, PLEASE feel free to look at my profile and contact me if you are interested; chances are I probably marked you as a favorite, kept you there, and lost the nerve to write you -- I can be a bit shy in that way.

Open to suggestions, but typically I would like it to be comfortable for both parties so we can get to know each other without any pressure.