I'm a musician, some kind of a writer, and I am a delivery driver for my daily bread. (That's sort of a pun, I drive for a bakery).

I've been playing guitar since I was 14 and I am in my late forties, so somewhere along the way I got pretty good. Also play mandolin, sometimes fiddle and other instruments. Used to be a seriously traditional folkie but not so much any more. Been playing music as my reason-for-living for so long that I lost my fire for it in the past few years. Still enjoy playing, but I don't sit around by myself for hours learning new tunes and songs, have to force myself to do that. More of a habit now. I play in two bands currently, so that keeps motivating me.

I am not sure why I am getting onto this site...must be looking for new friends. Actually it started with clinking on a link or two from friends' Livejournals, writing a test or four, and pretty soon I was hooked. I am world-class at wasting-time-on-the-internet. One of my chief areas of expertise.

I am inquisitive, pragmatic, and happily leftist

Living in the sticks, getting older daily. Getting up early. Looking for gigs for The Skirmish. Driving a whole helluva lot. Making sure that the women in my life (three generations) get what they need.

Playing guitar, writing and editing, playing mandolin. Keeping my head and figuring out the priorities in a crisis.
Keeping old cars going.
Finding my way on water or backroads, or in the bush.

Depends on which facet of my life they encounter me in:

(a) I'm trying to carry a box of baked goods into a store (and it would be nice if it occurred to them to open the door). (or if all stores had automatic openers, or those big opener buttons you can push with your elbow).

(b) I am a bit uncomfortable in social situations but if you manage to engage me...I might look like a logger (although I usually put on an unripped shirt and shave before I go to town!) and sound like an Ottawa Valley boy but I can converse on almost any topic. Largely because due to my lifelong short attention span, I have had almost every job it's possible to have. With the notable exceptions of anything requiring a tie, or more of a uniform than a delivery shirt.

(c) I am a good guitar and mandolin player. I can play along with a song I've never heard, which is easier than it sounds once you've learned to recognize standard chord progressions. Or as Marge Piercy described a character in one of her many novels: "Riley had talent but lacked ambition and therefore was a natural accompanist."

I have read a lot of John Le Carre, Larry McMurtry, Annie Proulx, Roddy Doyle, Elmore Leonard. To name a few.

Movies: It's weird, I watch as many movies as I can but not too many really stay with me. Some on that short list are The Ice Storm, New Waterford Girl, The African Queen, Almost Famous, and now Brokeback Mountain. More recently Winter's Bone.

I like the types of music that I play, which could be described as alt-country, Celtic and jazz. Lately I've become obsessed with Sam Cooke; I listen to classic soul and Motown music to hear its groove, which is what every types of music needs.

I'll eat almost any damn thing especially if it's seafood.

Guitars, honkytonks and loud loud music.

Having several different members of the mandolin family at hand. (A-style, octave, mandola, and I need a new F-style).

Getting together with my friends to rip through some tunes.

Going down east, not nearly often enough.

-things that I intend to do but will never get around to... -whatever I'm obsessed with at the moment.

-really tired because I just drove to Toronto and back.
-sometimes doing something social anyway cause parties tend to happen on Friday nights and I'm used to tiredness
-getting home, drinking one beer and then flaking out.
-another week older.

private.

-you feel like it--hey, maybe I'm playing in Ottawa with some band, probably The Skirmish, and you'd like to come see us.

www.myspace.com/theskirmish

you're looking for someone to ski with, (especially weekdays at Calabogie) or kayak with.

-you suddenly realize you know me from somewheres...