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My Interests & Hobbies |
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Hi there!,...
So you're probably wondering what kind of stuff I do in my spare time? Yes,..ok...so you weren't wondering. Well,..that's the beauty of this being my page...I can tell you anyway. *giggles*
I guess first and foremost would be my music. I've been playing music since grade school. I played sousaphone and tuba for my years in school. Once leaving school and after my Marine corps experience, I discovered the world really didn't NEED any sousaphone or tuba players, so I experimented with Bass guitar. I loved to sing, but had always been too shy. One day right around Easter in 1979, some guys I went to school with, got together to jam in my cousin's old warehouse. We learned that we liked each other a great deal and began rehearsing regularly. We formed a group called the Blitz. We went nowhere, no thanks to my cousin's ferocious lack of any real talent, but changed members a bit, dropped the cousin, and became known as Twelve Train. Two years later, the "front man" for the band left and we changed our name to the Midnight Express Band. We've been together ever since. I play Bass guitar and sing about 50 percent of the leads in the show. We've played throughout New England,...from the smallest red-neck bars to some nice outdoor Concerts and many, many weddings along the way. |
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What else? Well, I am learning photography. I really enjoy it and I thank my dear friend Mikey D for being a good and a patient teacher. I really enjoy wildlife and nature photography. People are ok as subjects, but I draw inspiration from nature. I feel closer to it. Two years ago, flowers were just something I never paid much attention to. Now? I have albums FULL of flowers. I've always enjoyed sunsets, but now I capture them and hold them close....savoring them on those cold, wet and lonely days. I see things differently now. I think differently now. I find beauty and the nicest treasures in the most unlikely places. What is even nicer? The fact that my son is now a budding photographer himself...just learning and discovering....and even more quickly than I learned. It is one thing we can share. I see the first inklings of interests in my daughters eyes now too. I'm so glad I had such a terrific and talented Mentor in my friend Mikey. Thanks Mikey! Want to see some of my pictures? Then click on the spinning camera below to go to my Photo pages ...and be sure to check out my FAVORITES page at the bottom. |
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Click the camera to go to my Photo Page |
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Other things I like? Well, I like to do target shooting and marksmanship. It's something that I do to relieve stress. It also teaches mental discipline. I was raised in a family where the males were always taught to hunt and to fish, so I've been around firearms most of my life. I found out in the Marine Corps, that I had a talent for it. Even qualified "Expert" with the M-16 and the .45 cal sidearm. Over the years, I've lost my desire to hunt wildlife. I don't begrudge or belittle those who enjoy it though. It seems in these "politically -correct" times we live in, that it's in vogue to "bash" anyone who is "pro-gun". Well folks,...I am pro-gun. BUT I am ALSO pro-responsibility, pro-training, and pro-safety. A gun is a tool. Nothing more...nothing less. In the wrong hands,...especially the hands of an unsupervised child or a criminal, a gun is a very dangerous thing. However, in the hands of someone trained to use it properly, safely, and RESPONSIBLY, a gun is a good thing. I taught my son to shoot and I drilled the safety and responsibility into his head. I STILL do every time I take him to the range with me. He is a very good student and a responsible young man, but I still keep my firearms locked up and secured when he visits. I pray the day never comes where I will ever NEED my gun, but I have the confidence and the training to use it effectively, should the threat ever arise. But all in all, I really just enjoy hitting the target and doing it well. If you also consider yourself "pro-gun", then I beg of you to PLEASE be careful, get your training, and ALWAYS remember to THINK about who might have access to your guns. I don't worry about burglars...I do worry about unsupervised and untrained children. That's just plain irresponsible and extremely dangerous. I believe in the Second Ammendment,..just like I believe in all the other Ammendments. It is not about hunting...it is about protecting our freedom and I beg of you to be safe and responsible. |
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Let's see...what else? Well, I enjoy learning and working on the computer. The internet has opened up the world to me and broadened my horizons. I come from a generation that knew very little of them, but about 3 years ago I used one for the first time and was hooked. I bought my first PC two years ago and I spend a fair amount of time learning, working, and yes..playing on it. I went from being a TV junkie to becoming a PC addict. I might watch 2 hours of TV a week now. What's really neat is that I am able to stay in touch with my kids and my friends more now. I feel less isolated and alone and I guess that's worth something.
I enjoy fishing, mostly Bass fishing. It's something I can do with my Dad and it is very peaceful. I throw back almost every fish I catch. I take pictures of my trophy catch now, then toss it back. What the heck,...I never really liked the taste of fish all that much anyhow.
I am also a Ham radio operator now. I got my license a few summers ago. Some might think of it as a hobby for Geeks, but I've met some really nice people. My callsign is N1ZPQ and I hold a Technician-class license. I'm working on learning more so that I can do more in other bands. Right now, I primarily work in the 2-meter and 440 bands. It's a hobby...but it can and does save lives every day.
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Other interest? I enjoy songwriting and poetry. I enjoy movies and reading. Especially Sci-Fi. I'm a Trekkie, or at least a fan of the original series, and to a lesser extent, the Next Generation. I enjoy political discussion. I love a good mystery. I love cooking and do pretty darned well at it, or so I'm told by those who have tried my cooking. (At least nobody has died yet!) I enjoy gardening and flowers, and I'm again, grateful to my dear friend Mikey for teaching me so much about it and making it come to life for me. I really enjoy making things grow. Goodness knows, I've killed more than my share of plants while learning, but I am getting the hang of it. I enjoy candlemaking, especially making free-form (moldless) water candles. I like whales and other ocean mammals and I find that, the more I learn about them, the more precious they become to me.
Well, I'm sure there is more, and I'll add it in here as I find what I've left out. My plan at this time is to start a diary page where I can put my thoughts and share my creative flashes, and crashes with you. I think sometimes it just helps to put your thoughts into writing. You can look back later and see that you were either a fool or a genius, depending on your view.
Being a normally, very secretive Scorpio, I used to keep my thoughts and feelings hidden from the world. I suppose in person, I still sometimes do. I have worked hard to overcome this stupid need I feel to keep my feelings bottled up and keep my thoughts hidden. I really hope that this website demonstrates how far I've come from those days where I was timid and shy and tried to blend in. Life is about living and discovery and savoring the experience and that is, looking at it now, exactly why I am trying to do with these pages. I may inspire some, enrage others, while putting still others into a deep sleep, but this is my life. Welcome to it. I'm learning to love it. I hope you at least learn to like it a little.
Take care and be well!
Peace
OX-Shawn |
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Home |
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