Matthew

Well, I'm 24, studying mechanical engineering at UMass Amherst. I live in Belchertown, Massachusetts, 01007. I chose to live in Belchertown because of the name. I mean, it's beautifully whimsical! I love traveling, flying in small aircraft and helicopters (as well as jets, but the view is so much better from choppers and Cessnas), riding motorcycles, hiking, playing frisbee and pretty much anything that doesn't involve sitting around stagnating. A big part of me is pretty dorky, so I have an amateur radio license, I LOVE NPR, I see beauty in math and science and I love reading and the relentless and everlasting pursuit of knowledge and comprehension of this world and its creatures. Speaking of creatures, I absolutely love animals. I never run over anything. There are people (sick bastards) who say you sometimes can't avoid hitting a squirrel or chipmunk, etc. Actually, I drive a hazardous materials truck, full of over 20,000 lbs of propane or petroleum, and I have yet to hit a squirrel or chipmunk or any animal. In fact, I was rolling down the highway last summer and there was a turtle in the road so I quickly stopped and snatched him out of harm's way. He had been hit by a car, so I rushed him to the wildlife clinic at Tuft's Veterinary School and they evaluated him. Apparently turtles are very tough little reptiles and he was just fine. Now, I have to say, sometimes there are circumstances (although very rare if you are actively driving, actually watching for things all along the periphery of the roadway) in which an impact is unavoidable. These are tragic and heartbreaking. I hit a porcupine on a backroad at night once and laid him to rest in the woods off the road. Anyway, yes, I love all creatures (maybe even non-human animals more than humans) and I protect them at all costs. Maybe it's because I'm such a big guy and I feel I should protect all things that I can. Moving right along, I love to drive my car (2003 Honda Civic Coupe) on backroads and I put performance tires on it so I can go fast comfortably and safely. I'm doing really well in school (3.6 gpa) and I am thinking I'll work on getting my fixed-wing and rotorcraft pilot licenses so I can both design and test planes when I finally get a real job. But driving a giant truck is so much fun! Think Carmageddon, or Midtown Madness, or Grand Theft Auto, but in real life, in and out of ghettos and carrying lots of cash and working when it's 10 degrees and the windchill is -15. I think for the uninitiated, riding with me in a tanker when I'm in a hurry would be like an amusement ride of death. I wish it would snow more this winter! I haven't gotten to play in the snow or ride and snowmobiles or trains through the woods.