My day job is technical support for the US-EPA at their National Computer Center (NCC) in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) in Durham, North Carolina. I also am in-between positions now and taking on web development for various EPA Intranet and Internet web sites, including the EMVL project.
When not on the day job I also develop web sites for various other organizations including a Catholic Church in New Orleans where we are originally from, before/after Katrina hit (another story).
When I am not busy with that I enjoy time with my family going camping, hiking, biking, fishing, and just plain ole outdoor activities. We also like to watch movies, play games, and enjoy our animals and gardening.
Oh, and we like to find new recipes and cook at home too. My previous profession was as a chef and in management in the restaurant industry for 18 years, but I only cook for fun now!
Cheers,
Ryan
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
I am a 24/7 caregiver to my wife of 50 years. She has had progressive M.S. for about 35 of those years, finally going on disability in '89. I get to model in fits and starts anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour at a time if she is napping. Two or three train shows a year with my Free-mo modules is a break given to me by my daughter. Maybe once or twice a year I get out for some Salmon fishing with my brother and Brother-in-law. jc5729 John Colley, Port Townsend, WA
Well, if it's not modeling then it drawing and taking pictures. I like going around and getting pictures of older buildings and equipment on the railroad for reference in the future. I also have quite a talent for drawing. Out side of that, I am with the family enjoying a leisure time away from work.
Happy railroading
James
gear-jammer wrote:This may sound a little different since it is from the female perspective.I am a dental hygienist which allows me to play hard. I raised quarterhorses when I first was out of school. I started mountain climbing which branched into rock climbing. I still climb every week at a local rock gym. I was a skier and that branched into backcountry/telemark skiing. I also mountain bike, ride dirt bikes, lift weights, collect guns for target shooting, quilting, and last summer my husband and I bought a telescope, and have added astronomy to our interests which is limited due to our Pacific Northwest skys. On our farm we have beef cattle, and noble fir christmas trees.Was that windy or what?Sue
This may sound a little different since it is from the female perspective.
I am a dental hygienist which allows me to play hard. I raised quarterhorses when I first was out of school. I started mountain climbing which branched into rock climbing. I still climb every week at a local rock gym.
I was a skier and that branched into backcountry/telemark skiing. I also mountain bike, ride dirt bikes, lift weights, collect guns for target shooting, quilting, and last summer my husband and I bought a telescope, and have added astronomy to our interests which is limited due to our Pacific Northwest skys. On our farm we have beef cattle, and noble fir christmas trees.
Was that windy or what?
Sue
Yah! another Washongtonian
perry1060 wrote:
Cool! But....where do the daggers go?
Normal stuff for me i.e. raise kids, work a 40 hour week, go 4-wheeling, mountain biking, swimming, etc...
One of my other crafts is designing and building my own daggers. Here's a few pics...
Here's one of my bird house designs...
H HH eavvvey
d ri nki ngg
jeffers_mz wrote: The lady was travelling and we ended up having a long technical discussion. Because of her background, she was able to isolate and ask a 64 dollar question which was the heart of a (privately) classified system I was working on at the time and which business security prevented me from answering. Her asking was a signal that she understood exactly what was going on and intended to clue me that she understood and agreed with the physics involved, in short, a whole conversation in one six word sentence.Between that kind of intelligence, the way she carried herself, and the business she was in, there could have been a real future there, except she was already married, to a guy who drove Indy cars. Not your average driver, one more involved in design and engineering from a mathematical standpoint.Many technical fields are close-knit, and a lady like this would probably not be forgotten by many who met her, even once, even more-so on account of who her husband was. When two steely-eyed missile men popped up here in the forum I decided it was worth the chance, nothing to lose, right?Pleased to meet you too. So....whatcha whistlin'? :-)
The lady was travelling and we ended up having a long technical discussion. Because of her background, she was able to isolate and ask a 64 dollar question which was the heart of a (privately) classified system I was working on at the time and which business security prevented me from answering. Her asking was a signal that she understood exactly what was going on and intended to clue me that she understood and agreed with the physics involved, in short, a whole conversation in one six word sentence.
Between that kind of intelligence, the way she carried herself, and the business she was in, there could have been a real future there, except she was already married, to a guy who drove Indy cars. Not your average driver, one more involved in design and engineering from a mathematical standpoint.
Many technical fields are close-knit, and a lady like this would probably not be forgotten by many who met her, even once, even more-so on account of who her husband was. When two steely-eyed missile men popped up here in the forum I decided it was worth the chance, nothing to lose, right?
Pleased to meet you too.
So....whatcha whistlin'?
:-)
The only blond lady in my professional work worked for IBM, Binghamton, NY, in the early 90s, also in classified work. I can tell you that it was not AAM missile heads at that time, but she certainly would be capable of that. We never discussed personal things, so I have no idea who her husband was; and at this moment I can't remember her name.
I was whistling Troika from Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije Suite.
Wow great thread ...Now that I have time on my hands I have been trying to design my Model Railroad (medically retired from the Military since 2000) it is slow with all my health issues and Honey do's but I get alot of great information from this site thanks guys
That is what this site is all about. Good luck with it and keep us posted.
cordon wrote: jeffers_mz wrote:A lot of interesting people here.I am surprised by the number of musicians, construction types, and technical types, though, considering both the creative and technical aspects of our hobby, maybe I shouldn't be.To the rocket scientists...either of you ever meet a gorgeous honey blond who designs AAM seeker heads and was married to a well known Indy car driver?They still together?Got her number?Tell her the lightning guy says "hi". ;-) The part about the Indy car driver really has me stumped. I'll have to say, "No."I'm so impressed with all of your inputs, and extremely pleased to meet you.
jeffers_mz wrote:A lot of interesting people here.I am surprised by the number of musicians, construction types, and technical types, though, considering both the creative and technical aspects of our hobby, maybe I shouldn't be.To the rocket scientists...either of you ever meet a gorgeous honey blond who designs AAM seeker heads and was married to a well known Indy car driver?They still together?Got her number?Tell her the lightning guy says "hi". ;-)
A lot of interesting people here.
I am surprised by the number of musicians, construction types, and technical types, though, considering both the creative and technical aspects of our hobby, maybe I shouldn't be.
To the rocket scientists...either of you ever meet a gorgeous honey blond who designs AAM seeker heads and was married to a well known Indy car driver?
They still together?
Got her number?
Tell her the lightning guy says "hi".
;-)
The part about the Indy car driver really has me stumped. I'll have to say, "No."
I'm so impressed with all of your inputs, and extremely pleased to meet you.
zeis96 wrote: UP2CSX wrote: LOL. You must still be a young guy. I liked chasing the bad guys when I was in my 20's but that got old after a while, especially in LA, where they would shoot at you. How long have you been on the job? I guess you must be working two smaller departments while waiting to get on with the Big City. Good luck, I hope you're at the top of the eligibility list. I'll be 30 in December but I've only been a police officer for 3 years now. I always planned on starting small and getting my feet wet and then going to a bigger dept. Plus, one of my best friends got hired by SPD last year and he loves it. I couldn't imagine working in the major cities!
UP2CSX wrote: LOL. You must still be a young guy. I liked chasing the bad guys when I was in my 20's but that got old after a while, especially in LA, where they would shoot at you. How long have you been on the job? I guess you must be working two smaller departments while waiting to get on with the Big City. Good luck, I hope you're at the top of the eligibility list.
LOL. You must still be a young guy. I liked chasing the bad guys when I was in my 20's but that got old after a while, especially in LA, where they would shoot at you. How long have you been on the job? I guess you must be working two smaller departments while waiting to get on with the Big City. Good luck, I hope you're at the top of the eligibility list.
I'll be 30 in December but I've only been a police officer for 3 years now. I always planned on starting small and getting my feet wet and then going to a bigger dept. Plus, one of my best friends got hired by SPD last year and he loves it. I couldn't imagine working in the major cities!
I was born in Springfield , many years ago, 1947 to be exact. Grew up on South Grand, Grandmother lived on Bunn ct. near Bunn park of course. Been back a few times for family funerals. Town has really grown out toward the west and south.
Jerry SP FOREVER http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
Lillen wrote: I used to be long distance runner. I got home from work, as a mailman who ran and biked all day and then run an additional 7 miles, each day, even in blizzards even though I had to walk then. My other passions have included and still do, Astronomy(I have a nice Meade telescope), war gaming, and of course history, which I'm now divulging my self further in as I'm getting my education ready to become a teacher. The last year it's been trains. I have probably read 200 books about American trains the last year even though I study two educations at once and work part time as a truck driver for the post office.Magnus
I used to be long distance runner. I got home from work, as a mailman who ran and biked all day and then run an additional 7 miles, each day, even in blizzards even though I had to walk then. My other passions have included and still do, Astronomy(I have a nice Meade telescope), war gaming, and of course history, which I'm now divulging my self further in as I'm getting my education ready to become a teacher. The last year it's been trains. I have probably read 200 books about American trains the last year even though I study two educations at once and work part time as a truck driver for the post office.
Magnus
Well, can't say that I recognize myself in the running part - I do play land hockey at a team at work once in a while to get a little exercise, but I clearly fall in the category "more enthusiasm than skill", and I would probably die somewhere on the second mile if I tried running 7 miles after work these days - having taken on a somewhat more rotund shape than I used to have prior to marriage.
But the other things Magnus mentions I can relate to. I did a few astronomy classes at the U, and have been a fan of pretty much anything related space exploration since I was a small kid in the late 60s and early 70s. I have been devouring Science Fiction and science fact books ever since I learned to read.
I also love history - I read a lot of history, especially military history. Probably comes from growing up as a military brat - my dad retired some years ago after 30 years in the Norwegian army. I did consider making a go for an army career myself, and I also considered going for a career teaching history, but got interested in computers during my army service year, and went for a master's in computer science instead.
I've also done a fair bit of (board) wargaming, but not the last 10 years or so - getting married and getting two kids have pretty much put paid to spending half the night gaming.
Workwise I do troubleshooting on IT system problems for a MIS (Management of IT systems) company. Which is to say - most of my work time is spent trying to get people to communicate clearly with each other to remove misunderstandings, and to get agreement on how to do fix problems or change stuff. Work is sometimes pretty aggravating, but never dull
Smile (I do), Stein
Model RRing is a big part of my life, other things I do is work weekends and some weekdays and weekday nights as a carry out/cashier at a Home/Garden center near my house. I also like to go out to our cabin and ride our go-cart and shoot trap, I also hunt. I hope to someday be a locomotive engineer for BNSF out of La Crosse or Twin Cities. I am also in the boy scouts but working weekends has limmited what campouts I can go on.
Joe
Another at least soon to be cop. I've noticed a disproportionate number of police officers and fire fighters who also like model railroads. Don't know what the connection is there. I also do SCUBA and noticed a lot of other folks do the same.
Funny story. I became a Field Training Officer (FTO) after four years with LASO so I was given new guys to watch over. I worked graves for a few months in a beat that was also where I lived. My trainee was also a model railroader so we'd sneak over to the house and have a little operating session at about 0400. Told dispatch we were out doing accident scene training. With my skills at that point, there was always at least one derailment so I wasn't really fibbing too much. Ahh, the days before CAD and GPS. Now the dispatcher knows just where you are and how long you spend there. Takes all the fun out of it.
I've worked as a Lifeguard for 12 years and a personal trainer for just over a year. Just graduated college with BS in Exercise Science, but am applying for a position at the local PD as patrol officer. Change of heart with two semesters to go-might as well finish!
Other things I do? Triathlons, strength competitions (Bench Press, Leg Press, Squat), swimming, biking, hunting (bow/gun and small/big game), fishing (ice and other kinds too!), writing websites, mentoring youth, Boy Scouts, off-roading, SCUBA diving, rooting for the Eagles (Philly!)...and planning my wedding (next fall!). Not much...lol!
Dan
my MR hooby time is almost non-existant. i've been trying to make more time to mess w/ it. i guess i'm afraid to mess up, so i don't even start!
for the last 5 months i've been running my t-shirt screen printing business full time from home, before that, i did almost 10 years w/ my dad's sign shop.
i've got my 4th child due in november (i'm only 27!), so family occupies most of my time.
i have a 56 beetle that outruns vettes, a 61 buick station wagon that will have air ride suspesion and sit just a couple inches off the ground. cars are my main thing, but trains became a bigger part of life as my boys are getting older. i had a layout when i was 12, so they rekindled it for me. i watch the dallas stars and drag racing when i have free time. tv is a time-waster, but i like discovery channel stuff when i feel like it
this is cool, very diverse!
What do I do Outside the Hobby?
Hmmmm... Let's see...
http://www.undecided1955.spaces.live.com/
George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
Very diverse and interesting group. I am 45 run a paper machine in Maine, working 12 hour shifts. Have 3 kids (23,16,14) and will soon start the adoption process on a 18 month old baby girl (we ave been her foster parents since she was 6 weeks old). Wife and I have been doing theraputic foster care (kids with a serious health problem) for a little over 4 years. I like to fish, canoe, kayak, camp, and bike in the summer. Lift weights and work with trains in the winter.
Kevin
Well I work 3rd a a distribution center for Dicks Sporting Goods. Not a bad job, but I have my nights. Other times I'm not at work or on my layout/weathering I like working in the yard. Most of the neighbors try to keep up with each other. Like the other day, The chief of police was cutting his grass, then I started to cut my grass, and then the neighbor started to cut his to. My wife thought it was a comedy show.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
I over see work on coal fired power plant boilers as a construction project manager.
All so my wife, son and I are in the process of developing 5 of the most technically advanced ethanol plants with co-generation capability that will produce 100 M gal. and 49 MW of electrical power each in the Midwest.