Phil

Tangential randomness AKA stream of consciousness are how my conversations seem to be sometimes. I never grew out of my High school and college years and have kept that outlook even now. I LOVE MUSIC and watch far too much FUSE TV for my own good (daily download, Steven's Untitled Rock Show, 7th Avenue Drop...), that is when I'm not working overtime. If you don't know me, I may seem or look like the meanest person, the most polite person or the nicest person you've ever met, depending on the exprssion I have on my face or if you've met me or not. Beneath the wacky or very straightlaced exterior lies a sometimes very serious, sometimes very unexpected personality (or "ies") that one wouldn't think would reside within. A bit of kink can be a good thing;-). I'm still working on the design for my first tattoo and am still thinking about getting pierced - I'll leave it to you to guess where and what either or both may be. The one thing I got from the movie "Roadhouse" is my motto: "Be NICE, until it's time to NOT be nice." While I'd do whatever I can for friends & sometimes for complete strangers, don't ever underestimate me or try to take advantage of that. Never take politeness or niceness as a sign of weakness. I will move only so far, then you meet the brick wall, so be forwarned! As for the geeky side, I own far too many books (nah) and enjoy reading a wide variety of subjects when I have the chance, especially math, science and family history/general history. My hobbies off and on through the years included powerlifting, rock climbing (esp. bouldering & buildering), camping (former Boy Scout & Asst. Scout Master), hiking & trail running, yoga and mind/body "stunts", car repair and racing (backroads and the pine roads in NC where I spent the last 2 yrs. of HS.). While I dislike Jersey traffic, I do love a long drive down the backroads to a park or sight (or site :-D) of interest. I'm still getting used to my Canon A95, but I've taken hundreds of slides and pictures with either my Olympus Pen half-frame camera (60's vintage) or my Olympus OM-1 35mm (esp with the Tamron lens), or my Polaroid Spectra. I've taken pics in Hawaii and Cali. to Yellowstone Nat'l. Park, Indian Mounds in Ohio, the Great Smoky Mts., Acadia Nat'l. Park in Maine and many other places, but have slowed down in recent years as I haven't found as much of interest to photo - the cameras want more action than taking tombstone photos of relatives long since passed.... I have more posted on my xanga site which I may give you the link for (sooner or later)if you're a nice person. They're not great shots, but I do claim them as my own. I'm intrigued by mysteries and treasure tails and have been gold panning in VA and NC, as well as panning for ruby & sapphire in NC. I also love Militaria, Antiques & maps (both paper and the song by the "Yeah Yeah Yeahs"). I was in the California Cadet Corps and the Naval Jr ROTC for a while at different schools. Since I was a "military brat" (Pop is U.S.M.C. through & through), I went to 12 schools while growing up and spent Jr. High in 4 different schools - 1 in NC, 2 in Hawaii and 1 in Cali. yet I still managed to make the NHS in HS, although I had to quit the wrestling team my senior yr. Too much conflict with Honors English and John Milton's "Paradise Lost":-( Anyway, I'd like to get to know more people - especially people that might like to go hiking locally(and/or letterboxing - still working on a stamp for that - if you're not sure what it is - ask - I'm easy.) If you want to just hang & discuss (with an open mind), life, the universe and everything - I'm up for that too, or anything else as the case may be. You're most likely to find me hanging at Stephens hiking or relaxing by the river, that is, once the days are a bit longer and I get out of work before it gets dark and they close the park. You may also find me at the Del Water Gap, Tilman Ravine, Hacklebarney, Allamuchy Mt., Jenny Jump or???