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Frank

If you're not comfortable with who you are, stay away or you'll disturb my calm

About Me

If you can't tell the difference between being direct and being rude then sooner or later I'll just end up offending you, so don't bother me.I can be mildly caustic and abrasive from time to time (kinda like a human version of Comet), but I'm also fairly brilliant and eclectic...not that the one is an excuse for or makes up for the other...just tellin' it like it is. Most people say they want honesty, but then when you give it to them they wind up turning away from you. Oh well. Now that that's out of the way, how about the short version: born and raised in San Francisco, joined the Navy at 24 to escape my insane family. Spent 6 years learning to be/being a reactor operator (think Homer Simpson, USN), then got out to pursue a post graduate degree. I was blessed with three wonderful daughters, whom I love and admire more than I could possibly express (and probably more than they know). I love my dogs because life is better with dogs...that's all there is to it. I am a trivia god (which is better than being a trivial god, I suppose) and like to play at BWW when I get the chance (which isn't as often as I'd like...I need better friends to hang out with). When is baseball coming back...I miss it. Nothing tastes better than beer at the ballpark on a warm spring day. Anybody up for a few beers at the ballpark? Oh, in case you were unaware, beer is man's greatest invention. "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -- Ben Franklin. Can't argue with Ben Franklin, can you? CAN YOU?? Didn't think so... There is a fine line between arrogance and self-confidence, and when people lose sight of that they often mistake the latter for the former. Self-confidence says "I can accomplish anything I set my mind to." Arrogance says "Not only can I accomplish anything, but I can do it better than you." I try to never display arrogance, but I'll never hide my self-confidence. My life has been in a state of flux the last several months, full of things that have seemed certain, then uncertain; with goals achieved and heart rending disappointments; and love given seemingly more than it's been received (why do I always end up in relationships where the more I love, the less I receive in return?). But the worst of the turbulence is behind me now, and I've begun returning to my center, ready to move forward again. Now if only I could get a little help with that... Oh, and I hate that "everything happens for a reason" crap. Things happen, no reason, get over yourself. Like people who get hit by buses get hit by buses for a reason...please. No master plan, folks, it's all just random chance!

My Interests

I like to restore/work on my cars, but I don't spend a lot of time talking about cars (but if you're a woman, and you know how to rebuild a carburetor I love you already). I'm not really interested in working out, but I do it anyway because the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience (is it a good thing or a bad thing that I'm 44 and in the best shape of my life?). Did I mention that life is better with dogs? I enjoy reading, and finding new music that is both interesting and at least semi-intelligent. I enjoy finding great bottles of wine for under $10...and drinking them. I was at one time in my life a certifiable sci-fi geek and comic book geek...yes, at the same time...kind of like a geek double whammy (though I was also in the chess club in Jr. High, so maybe that's more like a triple whammy). Don't worry, though, I haven't been a true geek for several years now...and from what I understand it's not really contagious, anyway. The standards are also high on the list of to-do: throwing darts, shooting pool, catching a show, walking the dogs at Antrim, etc. If I told you all the things I was interested in, where would the pleasant surprises come in later?

I'd like to meet:

The Dalai Lama...he seems cool. Doesn't he hang out around here?Of course, if he's not hanging out, then I guess anybody who likes playing trivia (and doesn't mind losing...heheheh...oh, wait, was that self-confidence or arrogance...lol), drinking beer, eating wings, going to ball games, and discussing the many and varied mysteries of life and universal interconnectedness. Can you relate to the following statement? "We are the universe made manifest, trying to figure itself out." If so, drop me a line.

Music:

Oh, I could list the music I like all day, but it would span the range from progressive rock (Spock's Beard, Dream Theatre -- I'll know I'm in heaven if I pick up a guitar one day and discover I can play like John Petrucci!) to punk (NOFX, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes) to emo (Alkaline Trio kicks ass!!) to metal (Metallica, Pantera)...with a little classical, jazz, hiphop and even a little country thrown in. I don't believe one's choice of music ought to be constrained by the labels that other people apply to it. I like what I like, and I know what that is when I hear it, not when somebody tells me where it ought to be pigeonholed.Here, try this on for size.
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Movies:

Action, SciFi, comedy, the occasional drama...blockbusters and indies. I prefer to watch them sitting on my couch in front of my big screen TV, though, because I hate Hate HATE being bothered and distracted by inconsiderate, cellphone-talking, baby-bringing, audience members. As a result, my DVD collection rocks.

Television:

As little as possible these days ("reality" television has ruined the medium for me), but I am a great fan of Lost and thought West Wing at the height of Sorkin's creativity was one of the best shows ever aired. It's a shame the passage of time takes things like that away from us. I enjoy the subtle genius of Boston Legal...James Spader and William Shatner have a rare chemistry when they're on screen together (but maybe it's just the cigars and the scotch).Heroes!!! Must be the (mostly) reformed comic book geek in me trying to get out.There really isn't anything else I watch on the networks (except American Dad or Family Guy when I can actually remember they're still aired on Fox and not just on [Adult Swim]), everything else is over on cable. Mythbusters rocks hard, as does the Daily Show, Countdown on MSNBC, Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Ignignokt and Er rule!), Deadwood, South Park, etc. Have been known to get sucked into the History Channel without knowing how to get out again.

Books:

If you've ever heard of Harlan Ellison, that's a bonus.