Today's spotlight is on .... Rick

aka: unstablemonster

Occupation: I am retired after working as a professional land surveyor for about 35 years.

Family: My wife Linda and I have been married for more than 29 years. We have two children: Adam who is 20 and Debbie who is 16. Both of them are still here at home.

Characteristic that describes you best: Patience or tenacity or perseverance or whatever you might want to call it. My family would probably describe it as being a pain in the ass, but that is only what it may look like from their point of view. When I start something, or decide that something has to be done I eventually get it done. There may be lapses in my effort but I always come back to it until it’s finished. I tend to expect the same of others.

Interests/hobbies: There are many of these. My greatest interest is probably in reading and writing, but a very close second to these is woodworking. I am currently remodeling our kitchen and will be making everything, cabinets and all, myself. It will be a long slow process but it’s the cheapest and most satisfying way to do it. At the present time I am working on a hutch for that kitchen. I also enjoy gardening and yard work, walking, camping, baking (breads), movies, American history and a whole lot more.

Places you've been to: Within the United States I’ve been to about 30 of the states. Outside of this country I’ve made short trips to Canada and Mexico as well as having spent a year in Vietnam.

Favorite Place: This is a tough one. I very much enjoy being at home and working on the things I love to do, but I am a nomad at heart. The perfect life would include constant roaming in nothing faster than a car. Because of this I’ve been to many delightful and interesting places within this country and picking one as my favorite would be impossible.

Proudest Accomplishment (NOT including your children): I suppose this would have to be getting some of my writing published, especially my first published story because that was in Boys�?Life, the national magazine of the Boy Scouts of America. I am especially proud of this because I’ve never had any formal training in writing. In college I was an engineering major and colleges, at least Penn State where I went, could care less if engineering types can read or write. I taught myself in order to show my kids that they, or anyone else, can do whatever they would like if they are just willing to work at it.

Future Goal: I don’t know. I guess I’d like to be able to write some more and maybe someday live in a free country like the United States used to be.