My goal is to find a soulmate, a life partner, a best friend and lover.
        A wise decision to marry requires understanding each other, so honesty is essential. {This is why my essays are longer than in most profiles, to help you decide if we might be soulmates; and in the long run it will save us time if we know more about each other, so we can decide whether to become more involved (by emailing, phoning,... and maybe meeting) or to move on.}

        I want to find a Christian woman who is loving and strong, honest yet gracious, wise with character (Proverbs 31), a pragmatic dreamer, physically and mentally energetic, adventurous, attractive, playful and fun to be with; intelligent (so we can talk about ideas), with lots of overlapping interests (but enough differences to keep things interesting) so we can be enthusiastic about each other's activities; capable of independence yet cooperative so we can build a life together with intimacy (emotional, mental, physical, spiritual) and help each other become better people, more able and eager to fulfill our potential for effective Christian living.

Well, that's what I want. But I realize that it may be impossible to find all of this in one woman. (and, of course, I probably won't be everything on her list, either)

        I'm enthusiastic about learning and thinking, dedicated to exploring the wide world of ideas. My favorite movie is "It's a Wonderful Life," partly for the quality (plot, dialogue, acting,...) but mainly for the message -- that each of us affects other people, and it's best if we affect others in a way that is edifying for them. ...
        and energetic yet mellow (a laid back go-getter?), usually cheerful and sometimes funny. Depending on the context (internal and external) I can be shy or outgoing. I'm reliable and (despite a tendency toward non-participation in people's lives, due to being busy with activities) kind and supportive. I've been in many shared-housing situations and have usually gotten along fine with housemates. By nature I've always been clever with ideas, and from experience (and with God's help) I'm learning to be more wise with people. ...
        and active mentally & physically, so my Satchel Paige age -– he asked “if you woke up and didn't know how old you were, how old would you be?” -- is 29. I'm coordinated, athletic (in many sports) and healthy, work out twice a week (ran a 7-minute mile and half marathon in summer 2008) -- I rated my looks "above average, good looking" not due to my face (it's average) but for overall face & body -- and Madison lets me ride a bus or bike almost everywhere (to school, stores, church,...) so I rarely use my car (in fact, it's in storage now) except for road trips.

For reasons partially explained in the "occupation" question, I've been a financial underachiever. But I'm thrifty (rarely eating at restaurants,...) and have money in the bank instead of debt on a credit card. And I've never gone hungry, so I guess that makes me rich compared with most people in most times and places.

Basically, I want to fulfill God's wonderful plan for my life, and (generally, but especially as an educator) help others fulfill their plans: Psalm 19:14, Romans 12:1-2, John 15:1-14, Colossians 1:9-14 & 2:6-7 & 3:12-14 & 4:5-6, am looking forward to Matthew 25:19-21 eventually.

After getting to know each other by email and phone, an in-person meeting could be informal, a chance to enjoy being together, check the interpersonal chemistry, and continue learning about each other. Casual would be good (something like a walk on State Street and UW Union Terrace, or...?), anything that would be fun, relaxed, and interactive.

conversations about a wide range of topics; experiencing a movie, zoo, museum,...; snuggling with a loving woman I adore, refreshing relaxing massage, music of many kinds (if it has good melody, harmony, and rhythm, whether it's pop, rock, jazz, classical, country, folk, or gospel), dancing (swing, ballroom, contra/square), juggling (as in Photo #3 from an "activethinker juggling video" I made just for fun), a variety of sports (doing, watching, discussing), and walks to breathe fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature and architecture.

        Although my job title is not "professor" it's the closest match (of the multiple choice options above) for the work I do. I'm an educator who has taught a variety of ideas and skills: chemistry, physics, juggling, music, tennis,...
        My full-time vocation, which I'm doing as an unpaid volunteer, is developing a website about whole-person education (for science, faith, worldview,...) for a respected Christian non-profit organization, the American Scientific Affiliation. I also have a "tentmaking job" working as a part-time instructor in the Chemistry Dept at UW-Madison.

        Do I like it? YES and yes. When I awake in the morning, YES, I thank God for the opportunity to work on the website. And when I'm teaching chemistry, yes, I like the students, the satisfaction of teaching them well, and the intellectual stimulation of teaching. But this doesn't compare with my enthusiasm for developing the educational website, and I wish it was possible to eliminate this teaching (that I get paid for) so I could devote more time to teaching in the website ministry.
        Two roads diverged...: God made me intelligent (allowing "best student" awards, 800s on GRE Verbal & Math,...) and gave me a love for thinking. In a conventional career path, this combination might have made me a college professor. But earlier in life, some decisions led me onto a "less traveled" road, one that -- although improving my actual intellectual productivity and range -- has reduced the perception (by others) of productivity. The contrast between reality and perception is frustrating, but I think it's temporary, and I have faith that God wants my work to be more widely used and more useful for achieving His purposes, and this will happen, in His timing.

Universities of California (Irvine), Washington (Seattle), and Wisconsin (Madison), majoring in chemistry, history of science, and education, but also learning many other things. Yes, I liked it, and my passion for learning continues.

Use time wisely (it's "the stuff life is made of" so it's valuable!) and become more willing to let God shape my character and guide my actions; find a partner in life and love, a woman with similar goals.

We weren't going to marry, so we parted as friends.
I've never married, mainly due to being "too busy" with projects to invest time in searching for a wife, plus indecision. There were missed opportunities earlier in life, in relationships with girl friends that never progressed into marriage, plus the women I never met due to being busy. But I'm ready for a change.
:<)

        Born in Iowa, also lived in California, Seattle, and Madison. In grad school and after, I traveled a lot on the west coast (up and down I-5 or 101), have been to all states (except Alaska and Hawaii) west of the Mississippi, and most on the eastern side except for 8 states in the deep south, mid-Atlantic, and far northeast.
        During the past decade I've enjoyed Washington and Charleston, Manhattans and Arkansas. In summer 2007 I traveled in Europe 4 weeks (Amsterdam, Edinburgh, London, Paris, Rome) and it was a great adventure, lots of fun. I'd also like to visit Hawaii, China,... { Currently I'm involved with the International Ministry at Blackhawk Church, especially with Chinese students and scholars. }
        In contrast with a jaded "seen it all" attitude, I'm an eager explorer, willing to be thrilled by new places and people, cultures and events, by the exciting adventures of traveling.

I'm not interested in "pen pal" relationships. For me, this wouldn't be a good use of time. But if you think there might be possibilities for us as potential mates (or if you're interested in singles ministries in Madison, or you're a fellow scholar who just wants to connect as colleagues) I'll be happy to hear from you.