About Me: I believe a perfect Saturday is equal parts outdoorsy, foody, brainy and pajama-y based activities. I'm a nature lover but I catch my breath as often at the beauty of the natural world as I do in an urban landscape. I love to cook. I have a strange affinity for ramen noodles. I don’t schedule my life around TV shows but have been known to blow through whole seasons of The Wire on a dreary Saturday. I just bought A.A. Bondy for my iPod. I am a bit of a geek and sometimes confuse clever with nerdy.

I can hold my own in a conversation on climate science or the causes of the Civil War as well as why small batch craft ales are just, plain, better. I know where to recycle your old computer monitor. I do not know who Justin Timberlake or Brittany Spears are dating. I can, however, make an apple crisp that will make you want to slap your Grandmother. I appreciate wit and sarcasm.

I love my job and chose Education years ago because I think it makes the world a better place. (I develop programs at a science-based area non-profit.) I go to a small church in the city that has changed me. After nearly giving up entirely on church, I found a faith community that models grace, accepts its own humanity and acts bravely in Love.

I am not an athlete, but I have pretended to be during 5 & 8K races and one small triathlon and probably will again. It would be awesome if you wanted to do that, too. I ride my bike in the city, use my legs or CTA to get around and dig that I can live in a city without owning a car.

I'm deliberate, yet love adventure; 6 years ago I sold everything I owned and moved to another country for a job (it wasn't a pre-mid-life crisis, I promise!). I am comfortable with change but I don't switch things up without some fairly decent consideration.

I am well-traveled and although my family is all still in California I have found Chicago to be home. Most vacation dollars are spent there; I don’t want miss my nephews and niece grow up! I love those kids gobs and am totally into how at ages 11, 9 and 7, they are becoming their own people. I am also a recovering sports fan…so if your profile name is “bearsfan001” or something, just be prepared to be gentle with me at first.

About You: You are curious, confident and you make me laugh. You think I'm funny, too. You want to go for bike rides with me (and will let me beat you every now and then). You recycle…or at least know why you should. You are protective and encouraging. You like both thought-provoking and silly movies, want to laugh most of the time but also know how to cry. You eat your vegetables. You are generous with your affection. You are not afraid to sweat doing yard work and have smashed your thumb more than once in life with a hammer. Your possessions do not possess you. You like museums, avocados, science, cilantro and kissing. And you have a deep and undeniable faith in something bigger than you.

First dates are totally simple and get-to-know-yous: a drink at an area pub that isn't too pretentious works. Simone's in Pilsen has a great beer list and isn't filled with jerks. If it is a date in the daytime, heading to a park or checking out a show at a museum works. On a first date, I'm just looking for chemistry, ya know? I want to be impressed by who you are, not by what you do or don't buy/do for/show me. Don't get me wrong, if you want to take me to Green Zebra, or plan a picnic on the lake, I won't complain. But feel free to save that for a second or third date. I'll be certain then that you know exactly why I'm worth the trouble. =)