UNSCRIPTED

Let’s skip the polished version for a minute.

You already know I’m 5'5", that I have a PhD, that I’m into science, sports, good food and probably far too many random things.

Useful information, I suppose.

But it doesn’t tell you much about what I’m actually like.

For that, you’d probably have to sit across from me.

Preferably somewhere with good wine, low lights, and no reason to check the time.

Because I’m much more interesting when I’m not trying to explain myself.

I THINK TOO MUCH. THEN I SAY TOO MUCH.

I’m naturally curious.

The kind of curious that can turn a simple question into a three-hour conversation. I love learning how things work, why people behave the way they do, and conversations that suddenly go somewhere neither of us expected.

I like intelligent men. Not because I need someone to impress me, but because I genuinely enjoy being challenged.

Make me think.

Change my mind.

Make me laugh when I’m taking myself too seriously.

That will get you much further with me than trying to show me how clever you are.

I’m also very direct.

Possibly too direct.

If I think something, there’s a decent chance it will eventually come out of my mouth. I’ve learned that this is not always a universally appreciated quality.

I’m working on it.

Slowly.

I’M A PERFECTIONIST WITH A SLIGHTLY CHAOTIC SIDE

This is where things get contradictory.

I can spend an embarrassing amount of time making sure one tiny detail is exactly right.

Then forget where I put my phone.

While holding it.

I like beautiful things, thoughtful details and doing things properly. I can overthink a decision that absolutely does not deserve that much thought.

And then, occasionally, I’ll do something completely spontaneous because it feels right.

I suppose I like control...

...until I don’t.

I LIKE WOMANLY THINGS

I like feeling feminine.

I like getting dressed for dinner, wearing perfume, taking my time getting ready, and that little moment when you catch someone looking at you and neither of you immediately looks away.

I’m affectionate. Playful. A little flirtatious when I like someone.

But I’m not particularly interested in being delicate.

I can hold my own.

I lift weights. I cycle. I do Pilates. I walk a lot. I like having energy and feeling strong in my own body.

And then I’ll happily spend an entire evening doing absolutely nothing productive.

Balance.

Or perhaps just selective discipline.

FOOD, TRAVEL & BAD IDEAS

I love food, but I’m not a foodie in the pretentious sense.

I just really enjoy eating something delicious with someone I actually like.

Peruvian ceviche. Japanese sushi. A tiny restaurant nobody seems to know about. Somewhere by the sea where the table is slightly too small and the conversation lasts much longer than dinner was supposed to.

Those are the things I remember.

I’m also much happier getting slightly lost in a city than following a perfectly organized itinerary.

Give me Madrid, Barcelona or New York and a free afternoon, and I’ll probably ignore the map.

I like discovering things.

Places.

People.

Sometimes trouble.

Usually the interesting kind.

I DON’T REALLY DO GAMES

I’m not looking for someone who knows all the right things to say.

Actually, I’m suspicious of people who always know what to say.

I’d rather have someone who is comfortable with himself. Someone curious, emotionally intelligent, confident without needing to prove it.

A man who can have a serious conversation and then completely derail it with a ridiculous joke.

Someone who knows what he wants, but is still open to being surprised.

And chemistry matters.

A lot.

You can have the perfect résumé, the perfect photographs and say all the right things...

...and still leave me completely cold.

On the other hand, sometimes someone says one unexpected thing, looks at you in exactly the right way, and suddenly you’re much more interested than you planned to be.

I like that.

THE PART YOU CAN’T PUT IN A PROFILE

I can’t tell you if we’ll have chemistry.

I can’t tell you if we’ll end up talking until 2 AM.

I can’t tell you if I’ll make you laugh, annoy you, intrigue you, or some combination of all three.

And I certainly can’t promise I’ll behave exactly as expected.

That’s kind of the point.

I’m not looking for a checklist.

I’m looking for that feeling of...

Wait.

Who is this woman?

If you’re curious enough to find out, come say hello.

I’m much better without the script.