You know that guy at the party who parks himself in one spot all night and quietly smiles and drinks his beer, letting the evening wash over him as friends stop by to chat? Totally happy to just chill out?

That's me.

Hi there. I saved a seat for you.

I'm a non-worrier sort of fella. I don't worry about the weather, politics, the environment, Hollywood, or what kind of hat the Pope is wearing today. There are only one or maybe two things I'm willing to take seriously at any given time, and those tend to be the kinds of things I can directly influence. I tend to find the rest of it quite funny. If you get my sense of humor, you probably will too.

No, I'm not one of those soul-dead, apathetic zombies. Quite the opposite, in fact. If I don't limit the things I'm willing to care about at once, my brain gets paralyzed, and then it's back to the padded room again.

I spend my free time watching crime dramas or something on the History Channel, playing shooters on my Xbox, reading technical books, listening to music, taking walks in the woods nearby, or taking a drive to some sort of museum or theme park. That or just jumping in my car (whose name is Lorraine, by the way) and going for a drive to nowhere in particular.

When I was a kid, I used to ride my bike through unfamiliar neighborhoods with the express purpose of trying to get lost.

I spend a lot of time in my own head. Most people would consider me smart and/or creative. I'm working on a fantasy novel and expect to have it published by the end of 2009. I played the clarinet in my high school marching band. I don't sing in front of people.

I'm a semi-lucid dreamer and, let me tell you, telekinesis is an awesome superpower to have.

I was an eagle scout. I can still tie a one-handed bowline.

I'm a bit odd. Don't ask me to explain it, because I don't quite understand what it is that sets me apart and nobody will tell me. I've never been chased down the street with torches or pitchforks or anything like that, but I've noticed that a lot of people don't seem to know how to react to the things I say and do. If they stick around long enough, they discover that I'm a sincere, helpful, and loyal friend and most are glad to have me around, but my first impression has been described as a bit off-putting.

What am I looking for? Well, we all have our ideals and, like most, I value honesty, a sense of humor, and excessive beauty (even if only to my eyes). I tend to fall for the girl-next-door, but there exceptions to every rule. I've got a serious weakness for the oddballs (you know who you are).

I will say, however, that she has to know who she is and what she wants, even if those things are very simple. I'm looking for a partner, not a passenger, if that makes any sense. I also think smile-lines say a lot about somebody.

Oh, and she should probably think I'm totally awesome.