I thought that this would be a good way to let you know some of the things that keep me occupied in my spare time (laugh, laugh for those who know me.)
Drama:
I am drama director at Fairfield Church of Christ. Thank you Carla H. for doing most of the production, scheduling and detail work. We put on sketches for Sunday morning services as well as special events, dinner theaters, multiple act Christmas programs, and huge Easter programs, such as "His Final Week." I have played lots of roles in community theater with several companies, including Sharonville Center Stage, Shakespeare in Sharonville, and the Mason Community Players. Some of the roles I have played include Montague in Romeo & Juliet, Beverly Carlton in The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Felix Unger in The Odd Couple. I got into drama to have third party directors critique my personal presentation. Drama makes you very self aware of the smallest nuances of presentation.
Writing:
I am almost always writing something. Of course, writing is a part of my job. But I have written quite a few articles and am usually involved in some kind of creative writing project. Mostly, it is for personal consumption or for transmission to friends. I was poetry editor of Clifton Magazine for a year. Of course, now I have started this Blog. Art:
I enjoy painting. The extent of my skill is about sufficient enough to handle my projects, though. I paint murals on my kids walls (faeries, dragons, flowers and such.) You want me on your team if you're playing Pictionary. You don't want me restoring paintings at the Smithsonian. I keep at it, anyway.
Reading:
Are you kidding! I am generally reading about a dozen books at any given time. Usually, I read history, but there is other stuff, too. Books to support my adventure habit, books about plants, books about cooking, books that provide perspective on the lives of people in different cultures, professional books, and some fiction. I like Terry Pratchett.
Languages:
Languages are interesting. I speak and read English and Persian Farsi (about high school level) fluently. I also read with a fair level of understanding French, German and Spanish.
Cooking:
This. This I can do. I should add a recipe section. People always forget to use their nose when they are cooking. I can also cook on a stove, a grill or over an open fire in the wilderness. If you are in Canada and want a tasty meal, I'm your man. I'm not alone in this. My buddies Clark M. and Nick B. can whip up some mean pancakes or lake trout as well.
Bird Hunting:
I take clients as well as friends bird hunting. It is a fall/winter sport. I love being outside in the fall and winter. The colors or the snow. There are some things that a man can do. There are some things that a dog can do. This is a thing we do well together. It is beautiful watching a good bird dog work. The dog cutting back and forth, nose in the air or to the ground. The grey skies. The red and gold in the trees. The point! The flush. A ring neck pheasant. Julia and I love going to the lodge with friends in Michigan. We're blessed.
Adventure:
Now we are talking. I'm not happy unless I am on a trip or planning a trip. The further out the better I like it. I like climbing, hiking, canoeing, camping, cooking on an open fire, sleeping on the ground, fishing, portaging, seeing the animals, setting the camp properly to avoid bears, chopping wood, tying knots, working through problems, looking at the stars or satellites flying by.I like it all. I can really just barely tolerate hotels. A hotel is where you stay if you can't go camping. I'm really not a fan of big cities. Except I like the night life and sometimes the history.
Wood Working:
I like this especially because I get to spend time with my older brother, Mark doing this. He is the genius at these things. But I still like it. I tend to be the wood carver and bowl turner. If we're building stuff, he always shows me how.
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