Quixotic

quix-ot-ic* (kwĭk-sŏtˈĭk)

adjective
1. Idealistic and impractical.
Through quixotic flights of fancy, the best of times possess the potential of becoming the worst of times and that is what makes a good story.

Synonyms: chimerical, chivalrous, dreamy, foolish, impetuous, impractical, impulsive, romantic, starry-eyes, unrealistic, utopian, visionary.

* I cannot list this word without also reflecting on the brilliance of one of my favorite books**, which defines the word as follows:

QUIXOTIC, adj. Absurdly chivalric, like Don Quixote. An insight into the beauty and excellence of this incomparable adjective is unhappily denied to him who has the misfortune to know that the gentleman's name is pronounced Ke-ho-tay.

** This is Project Gutenberg's link to the Devil's Dictionary, of course.