Maria Shaker, 32
Resident at University Hospital
The perfect date: Has a nice balance of conversation and laughter. If it's one-sided, I'm out of there.
Something most people don't know about me: I was once a horrible figure skater. I was too afraid to try a single axel.
My passion: Making the world a better place one day at a time. Being as positive as I can be and hope it's contagious.
Biggest turn-on: Somebody who appreciates my independence and challenges me to achieve my goals.
Biggest turnoff: Somebody who's boastful or pompous
I own too many: Hello Kitty collectibles. But I don't have a room dedicated to her.
My favorite ... place in Cleveland: Cleveland Botanical Gardens. I'm an aspiring gardener. I like to think I inherited a green thumb. ... book: Ferdinand the Bull. He liked to stop and smell the flowers. ... musician/band: U2. I've seen them live three times and every time it's a life-altering experience. ... sports team: Cleveland Indians and Yukon Huskie girls volleyball team. I used to play for them. ... TV show: CBS Sunday Morning, a good mix of news and entertainment. ... vacation destination: I'm a sucker for Central America. I've been to Guatemala and Costa Rica. I love the cultures there. ... dessert: Tiramisu. I think it means "pick me up" in Italian. ... blog: I'm not really into blogs.
My usual hangout: Presti's in Little Italy.
In high school I was ... trying to figure out who I was.
And now I'm ... pretty sure I found myself.
My best feature: My smile
My bad habit: I'm easily distractible. And I try to multitask too much.
My first kiss: In Mexico in my early teens
My guilty pleasure: Elvis Chill smoothie from Liquid Planet. It has bananas, peanut butter, honey and yogurt.
How my ex would describe me: "Too focused on my career and family"
Going out or staying in: I love both.
Early, late or right on time: In school they taught us if you're on time, you're late. So I strive to be early.
Dogs or cats: Both. I'm an animal lover.
Dancing ... yes or no? Yes! We need more dancing venues in Cleveland.
Twitter ... yes or no? I hate Twitter. I don't understand it.
My longest relationship: 2 1/2 years
Beer, wine or martinis: It depends on the season and what I'm eating. I love a red wine in the winter and margaritas in the summer.
Roses or chocolates: Dahlias. There are so many blooms and sizes.
My No. 1 dating rule: No talking about exes on the first date.
My deal-breaker: Smoking
I hate when a date ... talks and talks and talks and doesn't ask me one thing about myself.
But I love when a date ... greets me with a hug.
Worst pickup line: One of the football players at UCONN used to say, "Hey, big thighs" to me in the weight room.
If I could date anyone: Nathan Fillion from Castle. He's so handsome. And his character is so witty, creative and sensitive.
On a first date I never ... kiss.
Best place to meet someone: The patio at L'Albatros. I think it's one of the most romantic places in Cleveland.
Most unusual place I've met someone: At a beach volleyball tournament at Edgewater. He was my opponent. I caught his attention because I could dig his spikes.
My take on Cleveland's single scene: There's so much to do and see. You just have to be proactive about planning your itinerary and making the most of the Cleveland scene.
What I find sexy about myself: When I converse with someone, I try to focus on making them feel like they're the only one in the room and the only thing on my mind.
Why I'm single: I'm an independent woman and career-oriented. And some guys are intimidated I'm a doctor.
