hanging out with me is <i>a lot</i> like doing so with a labrador
retriever. like the lab i'm sorely lacking in worldliness, devoid
of urban sophistication and by no means the
sharpest-knife-in-the-drawer. on the other hand, i compensate with
a good-natured core that's easily amused and ready to scramble on a
moments notice. you can easily steer me towards any desired
destination, but gimme the lead there's no telling where we'll wind
up. i respond well to simple suggestions like "walk", "drink", or
"eat", but if you mention anything along the lines of the symphony,
fusion cuisine, or post-modernist art you'll get little more than a
puzzled look and a quizzical tilt of the head.<br />
<br />
i'm better at listening than talking, gravitate towards
neighborhood and/or dive bars rather than trendy lounges, and
prefer deep one-on-one conversation rather than chatting sparsely
amidst a big group. more blue-jeans-and-cotton-hoodie than sport
coat and slacks, and craves half-pound burgers rather than haute
cuisine. savors life's simple pleasures while (usually) eschewing
costly indulgences. i keep a low profile, avoiding excessive
attention while giving a wide berth to people who thrive on it.
commonly found in the company of the elderly, the married, the
rich-of-heart and the poor-of-spirit yet noticeably absent from any
assemblage of the young-and-the-beautiful. i truly enjoy
socializing with mankind, despite having what charles bukowski once
described as "a terrible itch for solitude". half latent child,
rapt with simple pleasures, natures wonders, and the inner workings
of all things mechanical. half wizened curmudgeon, still subject to
whims of the flesh yet mindful of natural laws regarding foolish
actions and unforeseen consequences. logical and pragmatic on the
outside.....but deeply introspective and emotional within.<br />
<br />
and lastly, despite tending a lowly spot on the economic totem pole
of the snazzy neighborhood wherein i dwell (noe valley, if you're
curious), i never cease to be thankful for what i have, what i do,
and for the fact that i get to live in this most <i>kickass</i> of
cities...<br />
<br />
footnote:if you're taking the trouble to write and your expectation
is for myself to drive to where you live, please, be somewhat
near-by...meaning south of san rafael, north of san mateo, and west
of the caldecott tunnel....perhaps farther if we can meet near a
bart station. i've been contacted by plenty of perfectly nice
people that live farther away, and my track record for coordinating
with them is presently running around 2-for-19. also, you need to
be in decent physical shape. if you aren't, it's highly doubtful
that you'll be able to hang with me.