I love - and thrive on - living an interesting life. Below are a few of my hobbies.
AUTOMOBILE COLLECTING, RESTORING, ENJOYING. Okay, this is the obvious one for most who know me, so it's only fitting that it come first - and not just because it would have alphabetically, either. I've been a car nut since the Bburagos and Matchbox cars I had when I was a little boy. I started saving money for my first car purchase before I even became a teenager and worked all through high school to make the dream a reality. The first car I bought was a Fiat Spider and I've never looked back; I've always had at least one Italian car since. I've owned multiple cars (simultaneously) since I was 17 years old, and started collecting in earnest in 1995 when I moved out to Tucson and had the time and yard space.
BICYCLING. Again, started when I was a little kid and never stopped. I was building my own bikes at 13 or so and riding them all over Long Island and the coast of Maine. I had just gotten good enough to receive an offer to join a formal racing team/organization when my driver's license came along and sidetracked those plans.
CAMPING/HIKING. Always loved the outdoors (see other interests for proof of that!) and in high school got into hiking seriously. Was the President of Chaminade's Hiking Club and one of the leaders in number of miles and number of hikes. One of only a handful to win the Chaminade Ironman trophy for completing all of the most difficult hikes (including 2 50mi and 1 75mi) in one year. Still get out and enjoy hiking when the time and situation permit it. Hope to introduce Madelyn to my love for the outdoors as she grows up. Been camping annually at a beautiful lake in Southern Oregon for many years now.
MUSIC. No, unfortunately, the early piano lessons didn't work out and I don't play anything today. Well, except for CDs, Cassettes, and LP's, of course. I've got a pretty substantial music library and enjoy listening to and learning more about it. We currently have two CD jukeboxes linked in series, one a 200-CD unit and the other a 400-Disc changer; so you never know what's going to come out of 600 CDs on random play! Someday I hope to expand the site to list some favorite artists, albums, concerts, etc. For now, here's an old photo of my early days in stereo. Nice Roos, eh? Also note the photos on the wall of the cars that I hoped to own someday...that someday is now!
PHOTOGRAPHY. From my first "110" Kodak camera when I was a boy through today, hardly a day goes by that I'm not snapping pictures of something (lately, the baby!). I'm definitely a Pentax diehard and have been for almost 20 years; the current collection of cameras includes a K-1000, a P3n, an SF-1, an SF-10, an Optio W20, and an Optio W30. There's also a good selection of lenses, flashes, tripods, etc. that accompany the previous list. I also have taken several formal classes and know darkroom technique and processing, but these days that's obsolete as nearly everyone (myself included) has gone digital. Some day I hope to be able to show some of my photographic work on this website.
SAILING. I've been enjoying sailing since I was in my mother's womb. My Grandfather bought his Sailstar Corsair 24 (Bristol hull mold) fixed-keel fiberglass vessel new in 1966 and it was in the family until 2007. Countless good memories aboard the "Mystique". When my parents were still married, they had an original orange Hobie Cat 16 as well as a Lightning. After their divorce, my Mother purchased a 17' O'Day cuddy-cabin day-sailer to continue our love of sailing. Had we lived closer to the ocean, there's no way the "Mystique" would have been allowed to slip from our family's ownership.
TRAVEL. As is seemingly the theme here, I've enjoyed travel as long as I've been alive. I lived in Germany for a while when I was very young, and have been back to Europe a few times since. I've visited Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and England and have driven all over Canada, Mexico, and the United States. I have probably driven from coast-to-coast approximately 30 times already and have never gone the same way twice. In 1995 I began formally tracking these routes on the following map. I saved the last state to visit for my honeymoon; Nanci and I explored Hawaii (Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu) last year. I've had the great fortune of having driven to/from Alaska twice, and have crossed the Arctic Circle twice on the way to the Arctic Ocean (once by Dalton, once by Dempster). For the past 14 years, I have driven from coast-to-coast at least once per year, a tradition I would like to continue. We live on an amazing planet...get out and see and experience it!
TRIVIA AND GAMES. I don't know how to explain it...I love learning and remembering interesting stuff. I try to never miss "Jeopardy" at 7PM each evening and usually do pretty well at that and similar game shows. I'll never turn down the offer to play a somewhat intelligent game. And the level of Scrabble competition is legendary on my Dad's side of the family.
WRITING. Many of you are familiar with my adventures rescuing old cars on the West Coast and driving them home by sheer wits and willpower. Although several tales have already been written, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Someday I hope to author the rest of them before those memories fade.