I am a fun-loving, easy-going gal born and raised in the midwest. I've been living in Chicago nearly 10 years, coming here from Wisconsin by way of Philadelphia and Paris. After studying architecture, I now use my technical knowledge in a consulting role. I have a lot of interests and like to try things for myself - so it's a fairly safe bet that i'll try almost anything once. I enjoy running, and have completed four marathons. I try to find time for my artistic side with painting and photography, and keeping up with dancing, an interest I've pursued my whole life. I pursued ballet, pretty seriously, until grad school required all my free time. I also like to cook and my friends are the happy recipients of this, frequently. My taste in music ranges from classical and jazz to mostly alternative and alt pop for current stuff.

A good deal of my adult life has been dedicated to setting and meeting personal and professional goals. I have been lucky to be successful professionally and hope to find the same kind of luck here, personally - so if you're reading this and consider yourself 'a catch', I hope you'll drop a line. My friends would say I'm honest, loyal, open minded, positive, spontaneous, up for a challenge, and fun...then they'd probably tell you some embarassing stories. Luckily for me, those you'll have to wait for. I'm close to my family, but none of them live in Chicago. Here, my friends are my family.

I'm looking for an educated, grounded, down to earth, honest, adventurous guy who's not into playing games and who is looking for a relationship. It's important that you have direction in life and a lighter side. I like to laugh, and hopefully you do to. Close to your family is a plus and great friends of your own is important. Watching football on fall weekend afernoons (I like college and NFL), spending time of all kinds outside in summer, wine and a movie on a quiet weekend night, or a lively dinner party with friends on the deck in the summer are all things you'd find me doing. You don't have to like all these things, but it's important you're ok with my interests and with me pursuing them. Hopefully, you're a person with varied interests of your own and you're open to sharing yours with me and trying a few of mine...and determining what we might have in common. Ideally you're also a person who will help me continue to expand my horizons as we find new common interests together. I'm looking for a partner, someone to share things with and to support me, and that person will get my support in return. I love to travel and would love to find someone who shares that passion and the special moments and memories made in the times away from home, whether it's a town away, a state away or a world away. I also find comfort in the simple things - the greatest pleasures in life, for me: the smell of coffee in the morning; fresh clean sheets; the smell of lilacs; a roaring, crackling fire; crashing waves; rain on the roof; cobblestone streets...

if you're still reading, hopefully you're interested in contacting me. if not, good luck on this website and on life's journey!