Henry Kissinger was supposed to have said that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac; I humbly dissent. When all is said and done, and all physical resources are [at least temporarily] exhausted, what keeps the sparks flying is an abiding curiosity; a single, seemingly arbitrary question that starts a conversation spiraling into the night, synergizing, leading who knows where...

To paraphrase Ogden Nash, youth may be fleeting; but youthful immaturity can be perpetuated indefinitely...Lord knows, I try...

I Like to think I have some of the fire and conviction of Johnny Mac but without the profane self-absorption and solipsism...
I Like to think I can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same...

Self-promotion is not my strong suit; then again I don`t have many strong suits to promote. In fact, I can`t quite remember if I OWN a suit...I CAN tie a tie however.

If you tell me you 'love the sox and the pats' please be in reference to the comfy 'socks' with the little holes in the toes and the playful 'pats' of affection on the hand, head, back, fannie- I am tactile- and I am a participant, not a vicarious spectator; not that I don`t enjoy throwing a ball around...

Emerson said 'God offers to every mind it`s choice between truth and repose. Take which you please, you can never have both.' I`m nobody`s Emerson, but I try to deal in truths. So should you.

Emerson DIDN`T say 'Remember always, loud and obnoxious or quiet and unassuming anyone can be. Now, QUIET and obnoxious or LOUD and unassuming, THESE are talents...' but probably would have had he been alive today...

I can`t seem to locate my decoder ring, and I don`t think they come free in boxes of Quisp anymore; so please DO contact me, but please DON`T speak in the types of code that have become the apparent sine qua non of inter-gender communications. I will not be able to, nor will I be inclined to, decipher them. I do know some rudimentary Spanish, and speak near-fluent Pig Latin if you find plain English too pedestrian...

UBER BONUS POINTS if you have a sense of humor parabolically warped enough to answer this question, or even attempt to: What classical composer does study after study resoundingly show sheep to prefer? [Relax, this is rated 'G' for all audiences...]

Addendum: PLEASE don`t flag Dogheimmer! She is VERY sensitive and will sulk by chewing vehemently on my furniture, or my socks [with me in them]...Thank you.

First dates are supposed to be fun; and fun is the handmaiden of idle hands in the dominion of Lucifer. However in rare moments of jollity I have been known to interrupt my steady litany of durges with Holst`s 'Jupiter', remove my Hairshirt and eat stale, unleavened bread. You are welcome to join me as long as you don`t smile, laugh, or hog all the bread.