1) I studied osteology a *lot* in college. Used to be, if you died I could identify approximate age, sex, and some interesting tidbits about your physical lifestyle and disease history from your defleshed bones. I make a hobby of studying faces and looking at bone structure even now. I’ve always dealt better with dead people than live ones…
2) I spent about four years working in a small auto customization shop. I can tint windows, calibrate cruise controls, install stereos, roll bars/brush guards, fix power windows and door locks on most models, install and service Ram/cold air induction, do basic maintenance, and I can clean a car like nobody’s business. I’ve driven everything from six figure brand new Mercedes and Porsches to rolling wrecks that would be hazardous to your health. The stories I could tell you about that place would likely make you laugh or cry depending on how into cars you are, and how much you understand the retail business.
3) I absolutely love a good story. I have books all over the place wherever I live, and I read and re-read constantly. I like everything from classic noir to history to philosophy to biographies to comic books, but the bulk of my library is popcorn pure pleasure books- s/f, fantasy, and some popular fiction. My family has some great story tellers, and I used to tell stories just to get a rise out of the family (outrageous, completely unbelievable excuses as to why I was late, etc.), but I know I’ve not got half the talent my grandfather has. His stories are *awesome.*
4) I can cook. I love to make experimental italian dishes, and want to learn to bake my own bread someday. It’s not as easy as it sounds, what with balancing the humidity during the actual heating and all. I like the challenge of it, and I like even more getting to eat the results. My best dishes are sweet basil pasta with sundried tomato garlic bread and spicy trail biscuits. I also dabble at fondue- cheese fondue mostly, with some chocolate when I’m really in the mood and have company to appreciate it with.
5) I spent a little over a year as a volunteer ring boss for an independent professional wrestling promotion. You know, the fake one. Considering I’m a little guy- about 5’9" and 150 in my stockinged feet- setting up and working with the ring and directing the workers- most of whom outweigh me by 100lbs at least- was hilarious fun. When working there, I quite literally ran rings around my workers. I got to set everything up from the big arse corner posts (which weigh about as much as I do) to the chain come-alongs beneath the ring that nobody else would touch, to tightening the ropes themselves. In addition, I got to do a lot of behind the scenes work- playing the music (which I was not very good at), tacking down props, and managing the egos of about 30 guys who get hit over the head with steel chairs for *fun.* It’s a rather unique scene, and not one most people have experience with.
I’m also rather wordy, and tend to ramble on and on (in print- I’m rather quite in public)… *grin* I’ll stop there, so as not to reveal *too* many secrets. And grace- the Fairfield dig is loads of fun. Is your daughter going into historical archaeology? If so, suggest UT to her- they’ve got the best anthropology department around, and their osteological stores are a great place to get experience with bones. The people down there were very good, and it’s a nice line on the resume if you’re going that route.
- July 9th, 2009, 10:53 pm