While it would be super cool if the person you are meant to be with would just walk up to your door and announce themselves, I haven't found that to be the case (damn!). I think that while our paths are meant to cross those of the people we should have in our lives, we also have to put forth some effort to make that happen. So I thought, why not try this? Maybe this is how our paths will cross...

A little bit more about me that’s not covered in those generic questions above… I have a steady job that I have been at for 6 years, and I own a house (well, I will someday when the mortgage is paid off ;) ) in Irondequoit. As far as looks go… My hair has gotten pretty long (relatively speaking- I‘ve had my head shaved)- it’s a bit out of control and I’m not sure what to do with it but I am going to try to grow it out, at least so I don’t have bangs. I hate bangs on me, but, I DID tell my hairdresser, "do whatever you want!", so, bangs it was. Right now my hair is a curly crazy mess- closest to the pedicure pic. I have a couple of tattoos and some piercings- but the only ones most of you will be able to see are my labret and both of my nostrils. I do wear glasses most of the time, unless I’m up close and talking with someone. I am definitely curvy (I am mostly Italian).

Some things that I like to do include taking my dog for walks in the park, going to festivals/fairs, seeing live music, going to farmers markets or the public market, going to garage sales, renting a boat and going out on the bay while playing hooky from work on a summer afternoon, reading, watching a good movie, going out to eat (I love to try new foods and new restaurants), cooking at home (I guess I really just love to eat!), having friends over for a game night, taking day/weekend trips, and going to see a show (a comedian, a play, a movie at ImageOut, etc.).

I am absolutely looking for someone to settle down with- I want to find the woman I’m supposed to share my life with; to come home to and wake up with. That being said, I’m not looking for that to happen five minutes after I meet someone. It seems that the people I meet want me to commit for life right when I meet them. I can tell very quickly if there is no potential for a future, and as I am looking for something that has long term potential, I won’t continue to see someone if I don’t think it will work. I don’t believe in being with someone just so that you aren’t alone. I also don’t believe in being with someone just because we happen to share a sexual preference and are single - i.e. a relationship of convenience.

The qualities I believe my best girl will have include a sense of humor, a kind heart, thoughtfulness, a reasonable amount of intelligence, and manners. I am attracted to women who look more feminine- I like to be with *women*- not scrawny girls, or butches, or bois or whatever. I like women with some curves- I like to have something to hold against me. There must be a mutual physical attraction- no matter what anyone might say about looks not mattering, they do. Or, I should clarify, mutual chemistry has to be there. Otherwise, what differentiates it from a friendship? We should be ravenous for each other!

Things that I do not want: a barfly (I don’t drink much, and definitely do not go hang out at the bars on any sort of regular basis, so, if that’s your idea of a fun night out, we aren’t a good match), someone with kids (this isn’t an absolutely deal-breaker, but, I’ve dated women with kids in the past and upon breaking up it killed me to not have the kids in my life any longer- that was super rough), and someone who smokes (I smoked for 15 years and just quit recently, so, if I’m not going to be smoking any more there’s not really a reason for me to be around smoke…I am 420 friendly, however!). I also probably won’t respond to someone who writes me two lines, or doesn’t have anything to say, or clearly didn‘t put any thought or effort or spell checking into their message. When you are first meeting someone, they don’t know you at ALL…how can you have nothing to say?? I also am not interested in getting involved with someone who still has one foot in a previous relationship. If you are still living with your ex, I’m not interested. If you just broke up with your ex last week, again, not interested. I’m not looking to be anyone’s rebound, or first, for that matter.

I am nowhere near close to being perfect, and I hope you aren’t, either. But, I do have a lot to offer, and have a lot going for me. References available upon request. ;) I’d love to find who I’m supposed to be sharing and enjoying all this with. Maybe it’s you.

What I would do for a first date? Like, stalk someone, or send a ransom note holding something hostage in exchange for a date, or get on my hands and knees and beg and cry? Wow, none of those things! :)

On a first date, I would prefer to do something low key- go get lunch or meet for coffee, something along those lines, so that we can talk and get to know each other a little bit. There are tons of things to do on subsequent dates (and I'd love to do them!), but, I think that the first date should be about gauging your compatibility with a potential love interest, so, you have to be in a situation that allows you to do that. ;)