So as not to TJ another post, I am starting a new topic. Someone posted their profile on another thread for feedback.

I tried e-Harmony and had a terrible experience (actually had a guy that bordered on stalking), so I decided to take more control of the process instead of leaving it up to the 20 dimensions of compatablity, some significant ones that I believe are noticeably absent. (Don't get me wrong, I know a lot of people have had great luck on e-Harmony...my cousin met his wife and my XH met his now fiancee there).

In drafting my profile, I looked at other profiles and read a number of articles on Yahoo (I think you can find them under Dating Advice on Yahoo personals) addressing what makes for a good OLD profile. My profiles were listed on both Match and Yahoo personals. I had A LOT of "traffic" and averaged 3-5 e-mails or winks a day. I was very selective about who I actually met. I met the man I have been dating for the last 5 months on Yahoo personals and it is amazing the role my profile played in getting us started. Everything in my profile squares up with him, his interests, his values, etc.

So, I thought it might be helpful and fun for us to share our profiles to get each others' input on the process. So, I'll be the first...here's my profile:

Water baby loves to have fun in the sun!

For fun:

I like keeping active and enjoy most things. I am a water baby, love the sun and anything you do on or in the water. Although its been a few years, I enjoy snow skiing and scuba diving. The list goes on and on...just ask me!


favorite hot spots:
My favorite "hot spot" is anywhere I am with good friends. I am easy going and pretty flexible about venues. I love to travel and would like to see more of Europe and the Caribbean than I already have.

favorite things:
Indian food, Chinese food, spending time with family, being out in the sun, getting dressed up for special occasions, the movie The Princess Bride, watching any type of sporting event, especially college football - go Buckeyes!

last read:
I love any type of thriller - Jonathan Kellerman and Patricia Cornwell are my favorite authors. The last book I read was Tuesday's with Morrie and think it should be mandatory reading for everyone.

About my life and what I'm looking for:

Life is an adventure with many lessons to learn. I have had my share of adventures and learned many lessons - some great, some not so great. Regardless of whether they were good or bad, I have taken something positive away from each one of them. The most important thing I have learned is that what's on the inside is far more important than what's on the outside. My job allows me to interact with the highest levels of management within my company and I am comfortable in that role. Yet, I am VERY down to earth and accept people as they are provided they are honest with both themselves and me about "who they are". I am honest and sincere and live life with passion.

My friends would describe me as classy with sparkle. I am average looks, nice figure (Size 2, 5'5" and 120 pounds), and an attractive, trendy dresser. I am as comfortable in formal attire as I am in shorts, jeans or workout clothes...my favorite attire is a bathing suit because it means I'm somewhere near or in the water - whether at the beach, on a boat or just the swimming pool! I also do cold weather and have already booked my trip to Telluride for next winter.

I like to travel and have many places on my list that I would like to visit. I enjoy keeping physically fit and working out not just for the physical benefits but, also, for the natural high it gives me. I recently bought a road bike and am taking on cycling - I hope to complete the 2009 MS150

I enjoy all types of entertainment venues, from the opera to a country western, jazz or R&B joint. I am no stranger to museums (my favorite work of art is Jules Bastien LePage's Joan of Arc), I enjoy any type of dancing and sporting events of all types. I absolutely LOVE college football!

I have a 6year old son who is the light of my life and my first priority. His father and I have a good relationship and he spends a good amount of time with Dad, as well as Mom.

I've read hundreds if not thousands of profiles (yes, some people get beyond the pictures!) and have worked many revisions of my own. I'll post mine when I have the time because I would like some feedback on it.

For yours, I'll offer a few comments.

This line:

The last book I read was Tuesday's with Morrie and think it should be mandatory reading for everyone.


I would revise to read:

The last book I read was "Tuesday's with Morrie" and would recommend it to everyone.

Most everything else is very good, with one exception that will probably be hard for you to understand and will make you a bit defensive, but here goes. I would leave all mention of your son out this. It's certainly not important at the introduction phase for anyone to know anything other than that you have a child. As a man, when a woman says that her child is her first (a better choice of words than top) priority, that tends to give me pause, thinking, will I ever be her first priority? Will she always exclude everyone else from being her first priority?

In general, I feel people go on too much about kids and heaven forbid posting a photo of a child of less than legal age on your profile. The same for pets, I don't give a hoot about a cute puppy picture. I am not interested in the puppy. Same for landscapes, hey, it's great that people travel, but to show a landscape without the profile owner in it adds no value. Note that these remarks are general in nature and not directed specifically at anyone. As they say, if the shoe fits...

Let's see, this is taken off of Match and is the main text:

So you're out here looking too. Is technology a boon to dating? I remain unconvinced, but again, here I am, realizing that it only takes one good match to make all of this worth while. Are you that match?

Do you have a sense of humor? I try to tell good jokes and occasionally do, let's just say that my delivery is good and the material is sometimes lacking. That probably explains why I'm in software rather than a stand-up comic, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate someone else's attempts at humor. Humor is the grease that keep life sliding along, apply liberally!

I might be a slight anomaly among the competition in that I both like to eat and to cook. I'm in the elusive search for the perfect homemade pizza crust. I also like my vegetables and growing up on the east coast, I have no fear of seafood, although occasionally mushrooms scare me a bit, come on, they're fungus. You’re telling me you’re going to put fungus in your mouth?

I’d have to say for things I’m passionate about, excepting you of course, music and movies would be at the top of the list. I like a lot of different genres in each. Bonus point will be awarded to you if you’ve seen “The Seventh Seal” and listened to DeVotchKa. Eclectic, no, diverse, yes.

I found at a few years back that I have a green thumb and every spring is plant-mania time. I’ve got a 1-year old home, so there’s plenty to be done along the landscaping front and I truly enjoy getting my hands in the earth. I even find myself every February longing to mow the grass.

I have most every power tool known to man and know hot to use them, must have spent too much time watching “The New Yankee Workshop” and trying to keep up with Norm. Of course, the real challenge is remembering what neighbor borrowed what tool.

I have been described as very outgoing and as having some sort of aura that tends to make people want to talk to me. I’ve never met a stranger, can tell a good story, have equal skills as a listener, and love to meet new people and have long, meandering conversations, about the important and not so important things in life. Shy, retiring, hot-house flower-types are probably not my best match. If you can talk my ear off, I want to hear from you!

Yeah, I’ve been in the software business a long time. Pocket protector and black horn-rim glasses? No, I don’t think so. Am I always logical, rational, and reasonable? Not always, I do prefer a plan but some of my best weekends have been totally spontaneous events. Am I a cold and emotionless high priest of computerdom? No, I’ve been in touch with my emotions for quite a while and am not hesitant to express them. I can emote! There are things that make me cry and there are things that make me beam with joy. I prefer the latter.

What else can be said in a relatively short space? Well, we’ll have to leave some things to discuss in person. If there’s enough attraction at work between us, I’d rather meet sooner than later. Not everyone will be or will want to be a candidate for a relationship, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be friends. One can never have enough friends. It’s really all about connection and connections.

Oh, and I’m not like the other guys that you’ve dated. And if you’re interested, I can supply references!

Good luck!

Booka,

I love your profile...it made me smile and its clear you have a great personality! Bet you get lots of traffic with it!

Regards,

BB