Kids! Read the bold print! It's important. Please do not IM through POF. I had this at the bottom of my profile, but people with shorter attention spans than mine were missing the memo. Send me a fishmail. I always answer. Unless you are rude or obnoxious, in which case I won't. ;) If you send me a note that looks as though it could apply to any woman here, I will assume is a form letter and delete it forthwith. I have a thing for originality.

I always love it when some random twit sends me a fishmail I can't even begin to decipher. If you must write in code, please send me the key. If this is not possible, please make an attempt at coherency. (Is that a word? Did I just make that up? Whatever.)

Tell you about me? I'm a single mom with three amazing kids and the world's most adorable mutt. Shiny. (Bonus points if you can tell me where "shiny" comes from!)

I play in the SCA and love it. SCAdians are good people. I love history and being able to recreate a small part of it is a hell of a lot of fun. For those of you who send messages wanting to know what SCA is, it's Society for Creative Anachronism. In essence, selective medieval reenactment. Want to know more? Send me a message or visit the website. I love to meet past, present and future SCAdians.

I love to read...I don't have cable TV...I'm a beer & pizza chick...love live hockey...can't resist flea markets, thrift stores, or used bookstores....My hobbies are many and varied...I do not expect you to share my hobbies....I expect you to have your own. (Let me clarify: Sharing some hobbies is nice, beingthiscloseeverysecond, not so much.)

I'm flaky and funny and creative...and those are my good points. Nearly everyone I meet tells me I remind them of someone. I'm not so sure that is a good thing, but they seem to like me anyway.

What am I looking for? The love of my life, of course. I admit to having a crush on Sam Vimes and Mr. Darcy. So much so that sometimes real men just don't quite measure up. I love men with a sense of honor and fair play. Someone who understands that just because I can and will kill my own spiders doesn't mean that I don't mind him slaying those dragons for me on occasion. A man who can hold up his end of the conversation and make me think. Someone who can say "no" to me, but will still say "yes."

If you're looking for drama, do us both a favor and budge along to the next profile. I've worked hard to eliminate it from my life...so if you find that you have a need for that in your life, you may want to look elsewhere.

Sexy is from the neck up, in my opinion. I'm not discounting physical attraction... that does need to be there. I admit to a weakness for tall men with green eyes. Don't ask me to explain it. I can't. (And yes, I do date men who don't have green eyes.) I also have a serious thing for geeks. I can't help it.

About me? I'm 5'8", not skinny, not fat. Blue/green/grey eyes...the color changes on my mood, on lighting, and on color of clothing. I've got strawberry blond hair at the moment...although that is subject to change without notice. I typically have auburn hair, but it bleaches in the sun.

If I send you a fishmail, it's because there was something I found interesting in your profile. It may just be that I thought you sounded like fun to talk to...don't jump to conclusions...you might hurt yourself. I am a naturally friendly person, and always open to meeting new people. I'm not desperate, clingy or particularly needy. I have no hidden agenda. An email is what it is: an email. Read into it what you like.

The pics on my profile are fairly recent. The one with my dog is about a year old, the other one was taken 10/07. Cheers! Edited to add: Getting new pics soon. Will post them if they're not too scary.

BTW, I put "Dating" because I think that has to happen before discussions about "long term" or anything else can take place. Capiche?

I found this whilst re-reading old blogs:

COMES THE DAWN

After awhile you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open.
With the grace of maturity, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on
Today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And that you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn and learn ....
With every goodbye you learn.

-Veronica A. Shoffstall (You were right! Thank you, LB!)

The dinner/movie concept is so overplayed. And judging by all of the other "first date" blurbs, the beach at sunset will be far too crowded what with all the new couples walking hand in hand.

My ideal would be a good used bookstore followed by sitting around a tea/coffee shop, talking for hours.

Must not have messaged users looking for intimate encounters or sex.
Must not be looking for Other Relationship
Must not be looking for Intimate Encounter