Don't take me seriously. Seriously.

I use hyperbole, like, a billion times a day.

Angry people just piss me off.

I don't give a damn about apathy.

I think profanity is such bull$&!#

Procrastination: Do it. NOW.

Am I romantic? You should read my poetry. Sample below (en español, sorry if you don't read Spanish)

Can I make you laugh? Guess that depends on how easily amused you are ;)

I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I....

I work in the Department of Redundancy Department at Kaplan University in Boca Raton.

Outgoing, simple and sincere man, I can often be caught in goofy acts (it's a cultivated art). I'm a captain in the National Guard living in Boynton Beach, Florida. I'm recently divorced and have 4 beautiful children who live with their mother. I love music, soccer, reading, poetry and literature, travel, Bonsai and growing things, going to the beach, snorkeling, cooking and many other interests. I've been to about 30 different countries and consider myself very fortunate to have seen some amazing things. I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge of all types. I want to write at least one successful book during the next few years.

======================================
FIRST DRAFT

Sometimes I wonder what the world is thinking,
As it carts this rabble 'round the sun.
People like you and me, scheming and slinking.
You'd think we'd all just stop and have some fun.

I reject all paradigms in their totality,
I don't even like to think outside the box.
I wear a paperclip in my ear to assert my individuality,
It's been six years since I owned a pair of socks.

I show the world around me two-thirds of my underwear.
(They're just clean enough that they don't smell.)
I still think it's funny how the folks stop and stare,
If it didn't take so much effort, I'd rebel.

I spend the livelong day just contemplating the wall,
And I ask myself if I should get another 'tat.
My nipple rings get so itchy it makes me crawl,
But we don't have to talk about that.

Well, this old world continues in its turning,
And I just stay here, sittin' on my ass,
'Cause I know that old sun will keep on burning,
And I remind myself that this will surely pass.

©2007 by... me
The preceding poem is not to be taken literally as a description of the author. He has neither 'tats nor piercings, and most of his socks are abundantly crammed into a dresser drawer next to his marble collection.
=======================================================
I’m really good at:
I've been a Spanish Translator and Interpreter for about 12 years now, and I love to write poetry in both Spanish and English. But Higher Math escapes me.

The first thing(s) people usually notice about me:
My eyes and my smile, also my sense of humor (super-sized with extra cheese).

My favorite books, movies, music, and food:
THIS IS NOT AND CANNOT BE A DEFINITIVE LIST! It's easier to list the things I hate:
Capers. Yellow Toenails. YMCA (the song), Air Supply (the band).

Things I love:

Books and Authors: Lord of the Rings, Don Quijote, El Alquimista, 100 años de soledad, Robert Heinlein, Ayn Rand, Stephen King, Dylan Thomas, Robert Frost, Lord Byron, Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, C. L. Dodgson.

Movies: The Bourne series, The Illusionist, Wild Things, Pan's Labyrinth, Orfeu Negro, Something About Mary, Hellboy, The Count of Monte Cristo AND Lord of the Rings (yeah, I read the books first), etc.

Music: Classic Rock, Jazz, Latino, Old School Funk R&B, New Age, etc. King Crimson, Adrian Belew, Atlanta Rhythm Section, 3 Doors Down, Yanni (Acroyali/Standing in Motion); Pink Floyd, Cameo, George Clinton, Pachelbel, One Way (Cutie Pie!), Zapp and Roger, Mannheim Steamroller, Nirvana, Green Day, Bare Naked Ladies, Los Lonely Boys, The Gipsy Kings, David Bowie, Maroon 5, The Cars, A Flock of Seagulls.

Caveat: Old School Funk is the only "Old School" music worth listening to. I kinda got irritated when some younger generation started referring to it as Old School, 'cause that meant that I was... you know. (FUNK R&B is the preferred genre that somehow morphed into rap/hip-hop. Bad move.) If it has more than 10% turntable scratches and/or samples endlessly from someone else's music, then it's garbage and should be treated as such. That's a generalization you can live by! On this subject, however, I am resolved to maintain a rigid state of flexibility. My apologies to Will Smith, The Beastie Boys, Run DMC and Sugar Hill Gang, all of whom I revere. Vanilla Ice, well, no comment.

Food: Cuban, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Japanese, etc.
YES I CAN COOK!!

I've voted for Spongebob Squarepants in all federal and municipal elections for the last 3 years.

The six things I could never do without:
Love, Laughter, my children, my car, my books, paper and pen to write with.

I spend a lot of time thinking about:
Poetry, music and being a good person.

I seriously contemplated at one time living in a tent out in the middle of the Arizona Desert, but then I realized I wouldn't be able to get Big Macs or go rollerskating, so I backed out of the whole deal. My apologies to the Bedouins.

On a typical Friday night I am:
Probably Open Mic poetry reads, or any number of things, hopefully not work. No typical Fridays here, I´m doing whatever I need to do on any given day or evening, but I prefer to spend my free time with someone special.
=======================================
MI MORENITA

Quiero saber si te acordás
del tiempo que fuimos
a jugar en las cascadas
sin cuidar de lo que hicimos.
Vos, mi musita morena,
gozando del sol y ocaso
con la radio tocando
nuestra mejor canción.
No puedo olvidarte,
en la luna que me miraste;
te juré mi vida, amor,
y nunca saber dejarte.
Tomamos de un solo vaso
nuestra botella de vino tinto,
tus labios me buscaron
y bebí de tu capricho.
Y los años… los años…
Ahí te vi hoy, caminando,
¡y cómo has cambiado!
Mi bella trigueña,
tu recuerdo me apresa…
Bailaremos una vez más
esa balada bajo las palmas,
y te contaré de tantas lunas
que no me duraron nada.
Y en tu tristeza, amor,
tu sonrisa me dirá
de lo que perdimos
sin pensar en lo que vendrá.
Y el son del bajo, y afligida
la guitarra nos acerca,
y olvidemos, mi morenita
lo que nunca… nunca pasará.
Que el recuerdo de nuestros
tiempos juntos me acompañe
en los senderos de mi solaz.
Ay, mi bella,
morena de mi corazón,
¿te acordás?

©2006 by... me

First date? Let's get past hello first. OK, but the first date will have something to do with TALKING to each other without loud music or too much alcohol. I enjoy open mic poetry reads, and I often participate onstage. Maybe you'd like to come along?