Hello. My name is Geoff. And you can STILL call me Buddy. It's a special name -- for special people. You already knew that, but I am getting ahead of myself again so lets do this the right way.

Let me introduce myself. Physically I'm about 6 foot 1 inch tall but often I feel much much shorter. I've always thought of myself as smaller than I really am. -- I used to get upset when I was a young boy that when we played hide-n-go-seek, the best hiding places were way too small for me to get into. I'd look at, say, the kindergarten dollhouse and think to myself, "you can hide there" and then I'd get caught while I was trying to squeeze my somewhat chubby 8-year old self into there. And it worked. I hid out until the threat of eating egg-salad sandwiches had passed…. I hated those pasty sandwiches so bad I'd rather take licks.

My hair is mostly black - or more accurately dark brown -- but lately it's begun to get spots that are quite a bit lighter, I'm tempted to say it's it's gray but really it's gotten white especially my chin, around my mouth and my temples.-- and it makes me look older than I am. Personally I like it. Salt & Pepper is what Id been hoping for now I just pray it'll all turn white before it falls out. And it IS beginning to fall out (at least in the front). I have a receding hairline. I don't much mind it -- it seems sortta natural & so I keep my hair cut almost military-short. Believe me it's MUCH better than one of those God-awful comb-overs!!! J

Periodically I wear baseball caps (although less frequently these days than in the past two years) others have told me that I look attractive in a cap and I enjoy wearing them. (Secretly I wonder if it isn't the caps' that are "rubbing" off the hair on either side of my forehead!) Others have told me I look younger without facial hair so I've begun experimenting with come creative uses of facial hair. I'm sporting a beatnik-look right now but don't think it'll last - especially if I get an interview any time soon. I'll have to at least PASS the entrance exam of looking the corporate part.

As of this writing I weigh 185 pounds (to be exact!). That's up a bit since before surgery and down from nearly 280 pounds back February last year! I started exercising regularly back then and without a whole lot of effort the weight has just fallen off. Since stating I've cut back over 12 total inches in my waistline alone!!! WOOF!!! Man I am looking GOOD! -- and getting good looks too. It's great to feel this good about my body and get this much attention.

My motto had become L G N (Look Good Nekkid!!!). -- And it's working! Although I'm finding myself moving a bit away from always being nekkid at home. Perhaps my travel schedule or the recent fires in the complex have gotten me being a bit better prepared…. Just in case.

I've completely quit smoking cigarettes now. Rarely indeed do I take a puff off of a passing buddy's light. More and more despite their alluring smell, they just don't' DO IT for me anymore. It's been kind of tough to say you're a smoker but that you don't smoke. I've always felt that I was a smoker - guess I'm in remission. And to be honest, I'm amazed it's lasted this long - never has before. Worse still - I've become one of THEM. You know the holier-than-thou-ex-smokers. No, it's not that you can't light up and sit next to me (in fact I kind of like that), or that you cannot smoke in my care (A/C off and ALL windows down please), but I do ask that you don't smoke in my house - I have a nice patio out back and a balcony-porch upstairs you are welcome to use (no littering please). SEE!? See how condemning that sounds. I hate that. But it's where I am for now, be patient, I'm a work in process.

And despite being a bit slower just now 'cuz o' my hernia surgery, I look and feel much younger than I have in years!

And speaking of years -- chronologically I'm 39 years old. Kinda bothered by that to be honest - wish I was 40 already. Thirty-nine just seems like almost but not quite - it's a tough one on your psyche. Once someone told me that I had "ancient eyes" so I suppose my soul may be very old. At times I'm quite sure that the overwhelming sense of deja vu I get is because I've lived much of this experience once before. Either way it doesn't really matter how old I am because I don't FEEL old at all. In fact My passion for life, love, and learning is as great now as ever before. I continue to relish the opportunity to learn about and/or experience new things.

But that's enough of a description of this shell that houses me! For I am more -- much much more than you could ever know by sight or words alone.

I have a kind soul. A loving spirit. I cry when it's appropriate (at patriotic commercials, parades, lost pet signs, and books -- okay - call me a sap!) and I feel the emotional pain of others very deeply. I'm a worrier, a thinker, a feeler, a talker. I enjoy being outside. I love animals - my website is named after a very special buddy I had once. I cry thinking of this.

I'm stable - emotionally and financially. By all accounts, I am a bright, inquisitive, sensitive, and loving fellow. And sometimes I'm a bit too analytical. I'm a warrior for my loved ones rights and dreams. I encourage growth and try to foster safe environments for people to share and be nurtured to find and explore their dreams.

I support others when they need it and I offer my friendship easily but not casually. Only special people get to enter my life and stay. I am critical -- but not nearly as much of others as of myself. I expect a lot from myself. I hold myself to a very high standard and I believe in constantly trying to improve. Some times I'm hard on myself and unforgiving.

Typically I have a good job. I'm a bit of an intellectual and I have for many years been a student. I have a college degree (or two). I am a slow reader but I enjoy reading and have begun to spend nearly as much time doing it as I would like (I have long been secretly envious of those who make the time!). I am goal-oriented and driven -- but I can handle shifting priorities and changing goals just as easily as changing clothes.

I can handle a hammer, screwdriver, wrench, and pliers like a pro. I know proper safety with power tools. I like to refinish furniture. I love to bake desserts. I know traditional Chinese cooking techniques, and I can cook some really good white-chicken enchiladas (but haven't for some reason in years) -- but stay away from my disastrous French Toast!!!

Sometimes I'm indecisive -- at the last minute before leaving the house, I may go through the whole closet changing shirts over and over again before I find that "just-right" fit for the mood I'm in. And I can be that way with people too. My friends know this about me and tend to be patient and kind. They understand that much of my indecision comes from my desire to be perfect - but more often than not, it comes from my feelings of my insecurity (like my realization that I can never really live up to my own expectations).

I have open arms. And I love to share hugs. I have always enjoyed the human touch -- and despite having had a very bad person 'touch' me in a bad way once, with patience and love, I was taught how to snuggle!!! And I really like it!!! J

I too have fears -- fears of failing (and succeeding) -- fear of the dark -- of being physically hurt (again) -- of being alone. Over the years I've begun to address these fears and for the most part I can cope with the oh-too-familiar choking and fluttering feelings I get inside when confronted with uncomfortable situations like those. I like to keep a night-light in every room (extra bulbs and batteries for the flashlights are easily accessible too).

But I am dogged, determined and persistent. I do not run away from difficult issues. I am confrontive and communicative and sincere -- I talk through things till I'm blue-in-the-face. Sometimes my mouth moves faster than my thoughts but my heart is always true. I am the kind of person you can always count on to be honest -- and frequently direct and/or blunt. I've been hostile and hateful at times, manipulative and controlling at others -- but always my intentions are clear -- loving and hopeful.

I'm the kind of friend and lover that lasts a lifetime. Someone that gives his heart completely.

I am patient. -- Of all the things I am -- this is the one thing I definitely am -- patient.

I am forgiving and trustworthy. And I trust others easily. I am seldom naïve -- I am experienced with people. I'm a watcher. I watch and study people -- I learn from seeing what they do -- mimicking the behaviors I think are good and seeing the outcomes of their less-desirable behaviors so that I can avoid these myself.

I try hard. I work daily. I am continuously trying to improve myself (lately I'm trying to drop the "F"-word from my vocabulary), to listen more, to be open to new ideas. I am in a constant state of growth. And I'm working on Personal Mastery.

I am a loving person, a true friend, and a quality partner.

Yes, I am human too. Not perfect -- but willing to flex -- and willing to try. Willing to heal the rifts that inevitably will rise up between us as we move along on this journey.

I am a special person! -- You can call me BUDDY.