I only recently returned to the US after serving as a volunteer with the Peace Corps. It's been awhile since I've been on the dating scene and it seems strange starting all over again after having only a couple long term relationships and then being overseas in almost a decade. Fall is the season of change, so now seems like a perfect time to rediscover all the good things in life.

I'm a big picture guy, but notice the little things and they really do matter. Here's a bit about me:

-I like my peanut butter crunchy and my orange juice with pulp.
-Dancing is a part of life, do it everywhere at anytime--especially in a warm rainstorm or in the car.
-Goals keep me going, even the little ones....makes sure I finish what I start.
-Often I feel that the little world we live in is just a bubble and we're ignoring the greater world around us.
-I would love to go and explore that greater world around us....and I will.
-Cameras are great, I can spend hours finding things to photograph.
-Know that patience is a virtue and don't mind the wait.

-A good way to learn about something is to get your hands dirty and try it.
-I'd rather be outdoors than inside.
-Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's when we can be as creative as we want, to transform ourselves into anything, and have fun doing it.
-October is my favorite month...the leaves erupt into a blaze of colors and the wind howls.
-Warm rainstorms are great to dance in and thunderstorms are great to cuddle down with someone.
-Fast food really isn't my style; I'd rather cook....but I'd rather cook for more than one. ^_^
-I'm a vegetarian, but break occasionally for sushi.
-I'm the guy who's not really into major sports or cars.

-I value my education...and I'll never stop learning.
-I'm an eco-geek, call me a tree-hugger with a tie.
-I'll still occasionally jump on the swings at the park.
-Science is great, it feeds my curiosity.
-Music is the rhythm of life....a heartbeat if you will.
-I'm a text message junkie. ^_^
-I still believe in spontaneous flowers and random gifts.
-Wine is better than beer.
-I've got a blue collar attitude and a white collar mind.
-I've got a soft spot for animals and I love reptiles.
-I like carnivals and the silly games they want you to play.
-Couches were meant for cuddling.
-Why use lights when we've got candles?

It's only fair that I admit upfront that I'm a bit of a nerd take your pick. :) That isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I think it is rather cool to be able to work on electronics, understand geeky science stuff, or have a flair for random bits of knowledge--even if is does mean a dependency on comics and sci-fi stuff.

Glad you're still reading. There is still so much more to me--these silly profile barely scratch the surface. I will probably be looking to move into Chicago by next fall at the latest as I pursue graduate/law studies, but for now am content in the NW suburbs.

My music interests greatly vary and I have countless hours of tunes to prove it. Depending on my mood I'll switch it up from Rock to Dance to Classical. I like music from around the world as well. I listen to so much music I couldn't really list it, but if you toss me a genre then I'll tell ya what I like in it. Music is the rhythm of life. Sadly, I don't have any talent for singing or playing instruments, but that just makes me appreciate musicians even more.

First dates have the potential to be rather awkward even for a confident person like myself. We would probably have talked quite a bit on chat, email, and text message long before we got on a date. So you'd know that I'm a person big on hugging and greeting. Handshakes are for business.

What we probably won't do are movie theaters, concerts, sporting events, and other loud places where the attention is off of each other and hard to hear. Instead, we may go for coffee. Sure it is corny, but I think it is a good way to just hang out without expectation or stress. Perhaps we'd go out for dinner--something exotic or hands-on to keep it fun. I do like nice/formal dinners, but I'd rather focus more on you than the meal.

Follow-up dates can get more adventurous. If the weather is good (toss a coin Chicago), we might go for a hike and picnic or see if there is a carnival in the area. Trips to a comedy club, jazz bar, or small shows are good. On days we have far too much energy, we could hit up a museum and add our own captions to the various exhibits or make up our own scavenger hunt.