I moved down to Orange County from the Pacific NW in 1996 but I have managed to keep both my Portland and Seattle style about me. So whenever it rains I am in my glory as I head to the nearest coffee shop with a book under my arm. OK, sometimes it's a microbrewery but that's when I miss the Blazers (those were the good days), the Irish pubs - or the book isn't holding my interest that strongly. Along with a passion for literature I love the culinary arts and was a chef for many years in Seattle and Portland. But alas, now I program phones to ring all over the world - it's a great challenge but doesn't taste as good as the desserts I was known for. I also love to garden and create art in many forms (though true artists probably wouldn’t consider it art). I love nature, especially forests and wildflowers and enjoy day hikes and baking pies and bread.

I am looking for a guy who wants more out of his everyday life than reality TV, buying the latest fad do-dad and keeping up with trends. Someone who still wants to learn, read, talk - about more than American Idol or that Britney girl. A guy who votes - even in the primaries because every vote and election counts and it is one of the most important things that define us as Americans. And if you can make me laugh - that would be the icing on the cake. Reading more than the sports page or a hunting magazine gets extra points and I would probably cook your favorite meal better than you have ever tasted it. If you know your way around the kitchen I will be in heaven for sure.

Looks wise I am about average though more people than my Mom say I am pretty, have incredible blue eyes and am nicely put together. I am a 2nd generation Italian American so I am within my weight range but I could always lose 5 pounds. I have long wavy reddish brown hair with some gray that I just can't seem to cut short or keep colored so the gray doesn't show through.

I was born in Seattle and spent my school months there and my most summers in upstate New York so my edge is more New York than anything and I consider myself bi-coastal. Combine that with 12 years of Catholic education and I have that artsy-fartsy Annie Hall kind of look down so good that it seems to drive my older brother nuts. I remind him that the "Italian way" would have me in all black because I have been married. Though I do look good in black because I have more of the Northern Italian features with the fair skin, lighter colored hair and blue eyes.

So if you are looking for someone who isn't afraid to be herself and who wants to meet you being yourself please write me.

I think a great start to any date is a cup of coffee at a coffee shop or small cafe. My Grandfather gave me my first latte when I was 4 years so in my life all good things start with a cup of java in some form. But there is something very close and romantic about sitting together over coffee and getting to know each other, relaxing for a moment together, before we set off to play.

Then onto an event like an art show, street fair, lecture, an outdoor concert but something that interests both of us. Movies are also good but they aren’t as interactive.

Well, then comes food. The chef-ness in me is often hard to put aside so I maintain a long list of restaurants in OC and LA that I long to eat at but Jane Austen would have the meal match the activity - especially for the first date. She was a master at setting the perfect romantic scene but alas, that was a perfect world when ‘taking a turn around the room” was something to get dress up for - besides she didn't have the food choices we do now. I love food from all over the world so if it is a good restaurant we are on the way to a wonderful first meal together and I love surprises.

After dinner, maybe a walk together or - if you are also a bibliophile - a trip to a bookstore with very late hours - some other late night go-to like that. A cup of coffee or tea or a nice glass of something else refreshing to wind down our time together would bring us full circle.


Or we could just go to Amsterdam, Rome, or Paris for the day - I'm pretty easy to please.

Male
Age between 45 and 68
Live in United States
Live within 75 miles.
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