I grew up on a tropical island in the Caribbean so intensity and passion are part of my genetic buildup. GOSH! How I miss the ocean and the mountains of la Isla del Encanto...(sigh!)

I enjoy having fun, traveling, discovering, exploring and stimulating the mind, body and soul in ways you probably haven't experienced yet. I'm an avid student of life. I'm an eternal revolutionary. I'm the devil's advocate. I'm the underdog your momma warned you about. I have stared at Death in its face and laughed back at it. I have co-created Life and nestled it in my arms.

Curiosity has taken me to 7 countries and 11 states and territories of the U.S. I speak several languages. I'm a voracious reader. Every single night I sleep to classical music (WRR 101.1FM), enjoy smooth contemporary jazz, roots reggae, salsa and Latin pop. I frequent museums, the opera house, concerts, enjoy playing the flute, bowling (although I suck at it...hee hee!), taking long walks in the park, swimming, target shooting at the range (pretty good at it too...), cooking, meeting people and having lengthy conversations about any and every subject.

But don't get me wrong...I just as well DO know how to change a tire, fix things around the house and get my hands dirty. I don't smoke, drink (no, not even "socially") or use drugs. No piercings or tattoos here either, ladies.

I believe in chivalry: opening car doors for ladies and pulling chairs out when dining. If you can't handle being treated right becuase you're used to being treated like dirt by your former or current partner, then go see the shrink or your marriage counselor and call me back in a year or two. Better yet..DON'T call me! No, I'm not from another planet, although some of my friends might have you believe that I am or that I'm perhaps from another time and age when gentlemen used to treat ladies right. I STILL do.

This gent is simply made out of flesh and bone just like you. I'm just as comfortable in a t-shirt and jeans as I am in a tuxedo and bowtie. Now, does any of this mean that I'm perfect? Of course not! Far from it. It just means that I'm for REAL and this, of course, implies that I have faults and imperfections as well. Plenty of them, too. But hey, I'm only human.

In essence, to live a balanced life is what matters most to me. Extremes and fixations are on my list of most wanted enemies. I don't get along with mediocrity, close-mindedness, people blindly fixated with their careers, sheer stupidity, racism and prejudice in any shape or form. Life is too beautiful and short for b.s. like that. Wouldn't you agree?

Some turn-offs include: ladies that can't hold a conversation even by email; profile headlines that read "Seeking someone real", "Looking for Mr. Right not Mr. Right Now", "ISO down-to-earth man", "Looking for a cowboy" or "Must love...(this or that)" (are you kidding?!); photos of gals with a bottle or glass of some alcoholic beverage in their hands (like THAT'S really sexy...), people whose concept of fun is getting wasted to the point of unconsciousness, 5 or 6 pics of pets, cars or bikes but just one or two of you (goes to show what you're trying to compensate with...); pics not rotated properly (my 4 yr-old niece can do better...), ladies who can't even extend the courtesy of a "Thanks, but not interested" email response, women who can't take a compliment and pathological sports maniacs or gym freaks (yes, I DID use the word pathological.) One thing is to like sports or to be health-mindful and another is to be unnaturally obsessed. And what's up with women who demand pics but don't even have ONE of them posted??!! So, there it is. E-mail me and let's talk. Shall we?

Where and what to do on a first encounter is entirely up to BOTH of us. It's called consensus between grownups. But consider this: clubs, bars, pubs or the movies are out of the question for a FIRST meeting because all of these places are too dark, loud or smoke-infested to appreciate your better attributes. And what the heck is it about Starbucks? It's just expensive, nasty tasting coffee. Nothing hip about that. So let's meet elsewhere.

What matters most is that you turn out to be a well-educated, drama-free, secure, intelligent, non-smoking, well-mannered and good-humored LADY.

You also need to be a good kisser. Actually, you MUST be an incredibly AWESOME kisser! I'll not negotiate on that. No exceptions. Kissing tells more about two people than intercourse (or any other form of intimate contact for that matter) could ever even attempt to. Don't believe me? Well, check out this article that came out on cnn.com on 12/03/07 about kissing:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/personal/12/03/bad.kissers/index.html

And please, have a fairly RECENT pic of YOURSELF on your profile. Can you believe the amount of people here with photos from the 70's & 80's? Now, how lame can that be? Oh, by the way, this site is to meet people, NOT cars or pets. Get it? It cracks me up to see how women here practically demand that one be real, yet they wear wigs or dye their hair, won't let you see them unless they have half a ton of makeup on, wear push-up bras or have had a boob job done and wear 4 or 5 inch heels to pretend they're taller than they REALLY are. Ladies, don't ask for something you can't be or do in return. How about if YOU keep it "real"...for a change.

Now let me tell you what I'm NOT looking for. If you're narrow-minded, uptight, a religious fanatic or zealot (and mind you, I certainly KNOW God exists), have unresolved issues, are schizophrenic, bi-polar, have OCD, are looking for a Texas man (whatever THAT is), are in search of Mr. Right (who the heck is HE?), is wanting a cowboy (sorry, they died out back in the late 1800's with the advent of civilization), can't spell English properly, take yourself TOO seriously, can't take a compliment or are hung up on racial issues...don't even bother. Oh, yeah...I must confess I don't date outside my race...the HUMAN race, that is. Hahaha! So Latinas, Asians, African-Americans, Caucasians and Pacific Islanders are ALL welcome!

Not a big fan of tats or piercings. But that does NOT mean I will prejudge or reject you because you might have them. It simply means that I believe the female body is perfect just as it rolled off the celestial production line.

Ladies, just have fun and be balanced. Talk to you soon. ;o)