I have almost always been self employed in some field of art. For a while I worked for the Six Flags art department. I am a sign artist by trade, but much of my work involves murals or commercial rustic decor, including log furniture and accents which I build. I also set up my big truck at craft fairs or on street corners where I sell custom personalized car tags. (license plates) I write quite a bit of poetry, which is available for reading at my website: www.rhapsody.homestead.com/index.html

A good match for me would be someone sensitive and kind, intuitive and soft spoken with a sensual nature, who is slender, athletic or average build, but much smaller than me so she will not be able to beat me up (except for in the morning).
I enjoy table games like Scrabble, Probe, Upwords and Boggle. I also might enjoy some of the games you like to play. I would like to spend more time on the lake this summer and floating the Elk River. I would love doing a trip on the Buffalo as well. In the evenings I like watching movies at home and occasional TV, but I also enjoy dancing, and midnight walks beneath the stars or full moon.
I like to cook things in the crock pot so the house smells like a home all day, and I don't mind doing dishes, or at least let me help. I like Southern Home Cooking which include fried foods and sausage gravy so if you are a vegetarian or health food enthusiast we will probably not be sharing the same meals although we can sit at the same table. I make my bed each morning, pick up my clothes and towels behind myself and put the toilet seat down. I still sometimes accidentally leave the valve on after my shower so you better check it, or plan on getting your hair wet. I am building a log faced house while living in a two bedroom mobile home across the road, but progress is slow due to limited time and finances. I have two goats and 7 chickens which I get eggs from. I am trying to get the chickens to teach the goats to lay eggs but so far, no luck. It got so windy up here on the mountain top, I watched one of my hens lay the same egg three times. It was a sight to see.

The outdoorsey type is a better match for me than a girly-girl, but extremes in either direction are not really desireable. I have lived in quite a few places and was married once for a long time (29 years) and again for a very brief time (1 1/2 yrs). I had 5 kids by my first marriage and they are all grown and living productive lives on their own. My second wife badgered me until I sold my two horses and then she left. I really miss those horses. They were loyal friends and even if I got thrown once in a while they never stepped on me afterwards. I enjoy fishing but not hunting, but am not interested in organized sports. I do enjoy hiking for the sake of finding interesting things for the yard. My favorite place to hike is along dry creek beds looking for cool rocks or driftwood pieces. I exercise daily by being active in my work and have stayed reasonably fit by keeping busy and productive.

I was the oldest of 5 siblings and was raised in a country setting outside a small town near Chicago. Our family spent summers in either Mississippi or Colorado, where Mom and Dad were raised respectively. I have a largely cross-cultural frame of reference. I was raised Baptist and went to a Baptist College but never finished because that school discontinued their art program. After that I went to work in the college print shop and later got into making signs which I enjoyed more. I am not nearly so conservative as my upbringing might suggest. I love nature ( but not more than the Creator) especially being on or near the water and have three boats which I am usually too busy to take out. Can you encourage me to change that? There is a nearby private lake where I like to fish sometimes but they have canoes already there. Wanna go?

My friends say that I am the most creative person they have ever met. I have a well developed sense of humor and a quick wit. I have done stand up comedy and puppetry, and am not afraid of a large audience but I prefer small groups for the sake of socialization. If more than a dozen people show up at my house I usually leave to make more room for them. I might ask you to go with me so we can talk one on one.
Yahoo Messenger is also good for that, using this same ID. I am not much for small talk though.

I have learned by experience that Internet chat is probably the worst way to get to know someone UNLESS it follows a first meeting. That way false hope and illusion is not permitted to build. I am quick to ask for a coffee shop initial meeting with anyone who is of mutual interest. It need not be long in duration but is a vital thing to see eye to eye and determine initial chemistry.

Thanks for reading... steve

Here is another poem I have written... I hope you enjoy the metaphors...

Oh, Firefly, drifting o'er the meadow,
with golden flame aglow...
would you embrace this gentle wind
and some sweet pleasure know?

Could you let me lift you high,
dancing in the breeze?
Would you receive my soft caress,
gliding through the trees?

Please listen to my whisper,
"Come fly with me tonight.
Hold me close and dance aloft,
til early morning's light."

Or could you be a candle bright,
as breezes soft caress?
Would you build into a flame,
Love's sweet passions to posess?

Oh come and dance with me sweet flame,
and passion's magic share,
then resting in love's sweet embrace...
abandon every care.   Send me a message!

Profession: Commercial Art
Interests:  woodworking, scrabble, word games, table games, fishing, nature, bowling, poetry, creative writing, kissing, romance