About

Photo Credit:
Bruce Moore

One-Line Bio

What the hell good is a one line bio?  I'll give it a shot:

Happy, confused, satisfied, curious, comfortable, distant, cantankerous, sad, amiable, grasping, self-confident-neurotic, bald, tragically divorced (sort of) lonesome, quite-comfortable-alone guy has lived about 40 years and screwed up almost as many times as he hasn't, but not nearly as many times as he intends to.

About "Lake County"

There are twelve Lake Counties in the United States.  They are all over.   I'm sure they are all different.  I'm sure each is unique in attitude and personality.  But I'd bet they all share a few commonalities too.  I live in one of them and it doesn't matter which. It is Lake County.  You know what it is.  And that's where I am.

Interests

If I am honest with myself, I must face the reality that my "interest" appetites ebb and flow in direct proportion to my ability to satisfy them.  For example, it is hard to race sailboats on an inland ranch and equally challenging to garden the way I want to garden in a high-rise waterfront condominium.  And since nothing is more frustrating to my general feeling of well being than an un-indulge-able chosen interest, I find that I am very prone to switching focus as my life situations change... as they often seem to.  When they do, I find something else and then, as a very insightful friend of mine once observed, I go deep and fast in a new direction.  In a quick self-survey of my last twenty years I find that it is almost as though my main interests lie in continually finding things to interest me.

But some things - like dogs - are constant and fundamental.

Birds confound and amaze me.  I bribe them for their attentions when I am able.  Sometimes I get their attention anyway.  I have some goofy opinions about birds.  I've only shared them with one other person.  I won't share them again.  Suffice it to say that I like having birds around.

I can live without gardening, and have done so.  But I'd rather not.  (I got into some trouble once and was "sent up" for a "two year stretch" in a Gold Coast townhouse where there were very limited gardening oppurtunities.)  Getting dirty in the gardens makes me happy.

Horses.  What are the words that apply to Horses?  All of them.  The only truly clear thing I can write about Horses is: Horses are not dogs.  Beyond that, the mystery continues for me.

Sailing and yacht racing are special luxuries which surpass in worth all of their costs.  But those costs are endless.  Both cruising and racing are keen interests of mine, but as true luxuries, these interests must be indulged at a discretionary pace (although I've learned that it is NOT a good idea to say this OUT LOUD at a yacht club fleet meeting).  One day all of the peices will be in place for me to do all of the things on the water that I dream of.  My sin is not my inability to afford the sport, it is my unwillingness to recognize my inability.  Ready about?

Wood.  I have a disease and I'm not sure if wood is the symptom, cause or cure.  I love wood.  All things wood.  Trees.  Boats.  Furniture.  Paneling.  Trim.  Fences.  The older the better. Fine old wood is treasure to me.  Responsible forestry is critical.  Preservation is also critical.  Wood is good, renewable and gorgeous.  I love wood.  And I love lemon oil.

Comments

[Eric Shackle]

Hi Hannk. Greetings from Sydney, Australia.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the world's largest tomato was grown in 1986 in Edmond, OK, by Gordon Graham. It was a Delicious variety, and weighed a massive 7 pounds 12 ounces.

I'm writing a story about large tomatoes, and would like to
find out more about Graham and his monster.Could you or one of your friends please help me?

If Graham is still alive, I'd like to know his email address, so I could interview him.

Any info you can send me would be much appreciated.

Best wishes from: Eric Shackle, eshackle@ozemail.com.au Author, "Life Begins at 80 on the Internet,"

ERIC SHACKLE is a retired Sydney journalist whose hobby is searching the Internet and writing about it. He writes a regular column for senior citizen webzines in US, UK, Canada, South Africa and Australia, and is copy editor of Anu Garg's Seattle-based A Word A Day newsletter, which is e-mailed five days a week to more than 600,000 wordlovers in 200 countries.

[anna maria]

Hi Hank,
I don't think I've ever read your one-line bio before, or is this a new one? Does the "sort of" modify tragically, divorced or lonesome ? :)

[livey]

Hi, found your blog from a series of links originating from Nancy's Garden Blog. I was born and raised in Lake County Il. Round Lake. My mother worked for the Lake County Highway department for a long time. I now live in the northwoods. Near Minocqua.
I'm looking forward to reading your blog and getting to know you.