What's this guy's story?

[RangerWickett]

I want to meet every person on these boards. All 30,000+ of them.

Tell me who you are, give us a bit of your life story, and we can get to know each other.



For my own part, I'm a writer of fiction who has never had the patience for poetic forms. I prefer to experiment with prose structure and personal essays, though I admit I am jealous of those who have the restraint and artistry to create poetry under rigid rules.

I have a wide circle of friends I have met through my alma mater, Emory University in Atlanta. Many of them are leaving now, heading off to careers or graduate programs, but I intend to stay here as a librarian and writer, hopefully getting a break with Cartoon Network or a publisher, once I finally finish this novel I'm working on. I started just over a year ago, right before I graduated, and I'm nearly done, but I've never explored the difficulties of publishing fiction.

A lot of you also might be familiar with my gaming writing. With E.N. Publishing I have written or produced nearly a dozen D&D books, plus three issues of the short-lived EN World Gamer. If I'd chosen a more profitable niche to publish in, I'd be considered rather successful, but we don't have the capital to expand our operation. Still, I'm damned proud of my work, and I keep learning more with every book I put out. I'd love to expand to publishing fiction, but I'd hate to turn the company into a vanity press.

As to why I started this thread, it ties in with a conversation I had just today with a friend of mine who's leaving Atlanta. I've known him for five years, and we met thanks to gaming. This good friend of mine pointed out that if I have a persistent problem in my life, it's that I'm too friendly and casual with people. With strangers I can be amiable and casual, and with good friends I'm very comfortable and close, but with just casual acquaintances, I sometimes assume we know each other well enough that socially taboo topics of conversation are okay. I have to stop myself from discussing a weekend's drinking party with my 30- and 40-something coworkers, and with my friends I'm blunt about who I really am, including the things I'm a little ashamed of.

Now, I'm not trying to share naughty details of my life with you (but I have those, and heck, if you're curious, just ask). Rather, I'd like to get to know you on whatever level you're comfortable with.

So, who are you? What's your story?

 

[Crothian]

I'm Batman!!


I'm the guy on the parkbench watching people. I'm the kid at the back of the class that blows the grading curve. I'm the guy at work that talks football and weather and little things but doesn't really make a lot of friends. I'm 30 now, I have a good number of people I know but my friends are fellow gamers since it is my number one hobby.

I come from a great family. We are very traditional mid western. Mom is a retired school teacher and dad is also retired now. I went to a small elemtarty school but watched the local farms sale off for housing so by the time I got to High School we were over crowded. I went to the Ohio State University and really learned a lot about how not to run things by working with some computer labs. Wow, those were fun times and terrible managment.

I have a good job, I'm single, I live on my own with no pets, but I have quite the gaming collection. I am proud of it, it isn't the biggest on these boards by far, but I can honestly say I've read every book I own (minus a few PDFs that are still on my review to do list) and from what I know not a lot of people can make that claim.

I'm a huge movie buff having worked at a local video place for many years and maxing out my free rentals the whole time I was there. By the time I left I only had the latest new releases to watch having go through the whole old film section. I like TV and I like movies and I'm not afraid to admit it. I like books too and do agood amount of reading on the side.

I hate talking about myself so this is all you're getting out of me at the moment though

 

[warlord]

I'm a very bored 17 year old who is sleeping his way through high school(except english and drama classes). I also write fiction when I'm not watching Buffy/Angel or playing the respective rpgs. I'm one of those people who kinda just wants to be left alone. 'Course you would too if you could only find one person who has remotely similer intrests. Its just so hard to find RPGers/Aspiring writer/actors in St. Paul MN. Although most of you were introducved to me as the Anti-Tolkein guy I have since expanded my veiws and have become(i hope) a useful member of the online Roleplaying community.

 

[RangerWickett]

Crothian, we all know you were actually born in 1995 and that you've just somehow managed to live at triple-speed. How else could you get so much done. I mean, dang, I've tried to watch a single movie my roommate rented this week (Ghost in the Shell 2), but I keep on finding other things that are more pressing, like cleaning, or watching other TV. No writing, sadly.

Warlord, 17 was my best year, and my ex-girlfriend's worst. If you aren't already planning it, I heartily recommend you go to college. I had, like, 5 good friends in high school, and I've got about 30 now, just because college folks are 1337 and such. *grin* What kind of stuff do you write (I don't have time to read it, but I'm curious what you're interesed in)?

Oh, and I would have never thought it at 17 (or 18, or even 22), but now that I'm 23, I've discovered that basketball is really fun. Especially when I'm playing with my gamer peers and not the athletic kids from high school. Not that that wouldn't have been fun too, but it's always good to feel like you're contributing.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I am a 29 year old male taking the time to discover myself by separating myself from the stress of of work and school. I enjoy listening to music while computing (mostly country lately). I do what I want within the confines of my parents rules, when I want. I have discovered that at the core I am a very loving person with the capacity to not wish harm on anyone and think everyone deserves the cahnce to redeem themselves.

I have a very small circle of true friends and many acquaintances. I have developed the ability to read people quite well. My friends and my parents say that I am wise beyond my years. I know it to be true. I let my heart guide my actions, not my head. I am a thinker but I truly believe that when you completely turn yourself over to a higher power, love fills your life and many wonderful things happen. I have determined that to make the most of my life and to best serve humanity, I should apply myself to psychology. I am going to be back to school in December to achieve this goal.

I want to have more of a spiritual life than most would care to have, possibly entering the ministry as well. There is no way I'd ever become a Father, as I have way too much love to give a potential mate, so if I do I'll defintely choose to become a Deacon.

I also have much love for music and would love to have a few albums put out before I die. Either country, rock and roll, Spiritual (or all of the above), as I definitely have the voice for it.

 

[Crothian]

Crothian, we all know you were actually born in 1995 and that you've just somehow managed to live at triple-speed.

Ya, I wish I was ten. I gamed a lot more when I was ten then I do now.

 

[Renton]

Nice topic choice RW!

Lessee...

I'm 32 now, was born in England (Hackney), moved to Houston when I was about 12. Moved out of the house at 17, and proceeded to spend way too many years in college, interspersed with working full time. Could never decide what I wanted to do for a living; my damn sense of ethics ruled out a lot of stuff. Remember the scene at dinner in "Say Anything"? That was me, but I can't kickbox. Luckily, I found a good gig as a Young Adult librarian, so I can feel good about what I do, even if it doesn't pay oodles.

I'm a pretty quiet guy. I spend most of my time in my own head, which some interpret as aloofness, but it's not. I have a few close friends, rather than a lot of casual acquaintances, which is the way I'd prefer things, given the chioce. Married, no kids, one greyhound and a coupla cats. Hope to have kids soon.

Aside from gaming, I'm a big music fan. I play guitar, and some days I'd say I was pretty good, other days that I was crap. If I got a solo gig it'd be playing folk/country blues, but if I was in a band I'd want to play power pop ala early who/kinks/the jam. You can't touch a well done 2.5 minuite pop song; they can hold their pwn against any other literary form. I'll listen to anything and everything though, occasionaly to wifey's chagrin.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I grew up in an Army family and dutifully did my hitch, narroly escaping Operation: Desert Shield.

I'm a Barber/Technical Writer/Private Investigator b trade(s)

My first marriage was an utter disaster. My second is phenomenal.

I have cool tattoos

My hair went gray at age 9

I Killed a man in Reno, just to watch him die (wait, that was Johnny Cash)

No, I didn't kill Johnny Cash.

I've been playing RPG's for more of my life than I haven't now (since age 22 actually)

I've tried writing prose as well. I'm told it's allright.

I punched the lead singer of The Cult unconscious in a bar once. The guitarist for the band returned the favor.

 

[kenobi65]

I'm a 40-year-old man.

I've got the ears of a 60-year-old (thanks to a Motorhead concert in 1985, where I was about 15 feet from the amps), but the eyes of a 20-year old.

I was born in California, grew up in Wisconsin, and have spent my adult life in Illinois. Someday, I plan to move back to Wisconsin, and maybe teach.

When I was a kid, they very nearly skipped me ahead a grade in school; I think my mom talked them out of it. For which, in retrospect, I'm grateful.

I was miserable in high school, but loved college, where I finally found people with whom I could fit in with my nerdy hobbies and interests.

I've got a bachelor's degree in marketing, and a master's in market research.

When I was 18, I was dating a 32-year-old divorcee. My parents weren't happy, but it sure seemed like the thing to do at the time.

I've been Catholic, I've been an evangelical Christian, and now I'm a Lutheran, and comfortable with it, and my faith.

I've got a beautiful wife, with whom I've shared the past 13 years. We weren't successful in starting a family, and we've finally come to terms with that. We have a blind dog, and a cat who acts like a dog.

I'm an ENFP.

I spent the first 10 years of my career working in market research, for two different consumer-products companies. I've spent the past 5 years working for an ad agency, doing much the same kind of work, but enjoying it a lot more. I actually had an interview with WotC to be their director of market research, though it didn't pan out.

An estimated 86% of my brain matter is occupied with trivia. My wife calls me "The Font of Useless Knowledge." No one will play Trivial Pursuit with me anymore.

I have Green Bay Packers season tickets, and a share of stock in the team.

I'm mostly Irish. When I went to Ireland a decade ago, I ran into a man who looked like he could have been my identical twin brother.

I've been playing RPGs for the past 23 years. Through the game, I've met more good friends than I can count on both hands and both feet, including the aforementioned beautiful wife, who loves RPGs, too.

And, yes, I recognize that I am one lucky S.O.B.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

I was born on a farm in Mendocino, CA in 1977. My parents split up when I was 2-ish. I've never lived in a conventional family, and yet somehow I've never done hard drugs, knocked anyone up, knifed anyone, or gotten into Satanism (although there was that brief flirtation with Cthulhuism in junior high, but it was destined to end in tears).

I had a profound religious experience when I was 14, but I got over it.

I started writing in high school, and for puerile 16-year-old drivel it rocked. I took some classes. I got a little better. Now I write puerile 28-year-old drivel.

School and I never got along well. I mostly thought it was a waste of time, and years and experience since then have mostly proven me right. I managed to scrape out a high school diploma, a few quarters at a business college, and went right into the job market. I recommend office work for anyone who enjoys having their personal comfort zone pre-defined for them with low walls.

What else? My girlfriend's pretty cool. She's always doing something to save the Earth, like separating recyclables and taking in unwanted puppies. She assures me that the long-term survival of the global biomass is intricately intertwined with cutesy-wootsy puppies.

I've got two brothers, they're pretty solid. My folks both married very nice step-parents who aren't at all like Terry O'Quinn. I'm a little upset that I don't get to see them all more.

I hold friendship in high regard and am constantly let down by my friends, but I've never quite worked up the wherewithal to go the hermit route. I enjoy cooking and eating, and I do too much of one and not enough of the other. I'd like to roleplay more, but it's become too much of a social event for me and I haven't been able to bring myself to play with total strangers. You can't talk about movies and music with me - that's pretty much my "politics and religion". I'm opinionated and I ain't gonna change. To wit:

I punched the lead singer of The Cult unconscious in a bar once.

Thank you TB. I hate that guy. Your check's in the mail.