Tell us about yourself!

[TazKristi]

@Doc Dan suggested that we have an area where forum members can share more about themselves. Keeping within the forum rules, please share more about yourself in this thread.

What do you do for a living? Hobbies? Can you cook? Do you create art/music/tech? Do you like dogs or cats? Ford or Chevy? Coke or Pepsi? You can share as much or as little as you'd like (but please abide by our rules).

[Candyman]

Full name is Rich Cox.
I make candy for a living. I’m currently the Chocolate Production Manager for a company out of Northwest Indiana called Albanese Confectionery.
I have two daughters that also have been bit by the “Spyder” and collect with me. Annabelle and Aisha. I post pictures with them on the “Official Spyderco Facebook Group”
One of my hobbies is going to knife shows all over the United States. I don’t do it to get knives, I only do it to hang out with friends and meet people.
If I didn’t live in Northwest Indiana I’d absolutely be living in Florida as the majority of my vacations are spent there.
I used to fish for salmon and trout quite a bit off Lake Michigan and the tributaries but not much in the past few years as a lot of my money and time has been focused on traveling.
I had testicular cancer in 2019 but after a surgery and a short round of chemo I’ve been in remission since!

[RustyIron]

The name is Rob... but my friends call me Rob.
When I'm not lurking on Spyderco Forums, I might be found catering to the whims of my wife and two border collies. If they tire of my tomfoolery and kick me out, I'll usually end up riding my mountain bike, playing with my collection of antique stationary engines, or going up the mountain to work on historically significant telescopes.

In the spirit of staying somewhat on topic, I'll leave you with a quote from another guy named Rob:
“When analytic thought, the knife, is applied to experience,
something is always killed in the process.”

[TkoK83Spy]

Dang Rusty, if that ain't mountain biking then I don't know what is!

[RugerNurse]

Full name is Rich Cox.
I make candy for a living. I’m currently the Chocolate Production Manager for a company out of Northwest Indiana called Albanese Confectionery.

That’s down in Merrillville right? I’m live right n South Bend, IN. I’ve driven past Albanese a couple of times!

[Doc Dan]

@Doc Dan suggested that we have an area where forum members can share more about themselves. Keeping within the forum rules, please share more about yourself in this thread.

What do you do for a living? Hobbies? Can you cook? Do you create art/music/tech? Do you like dogs or cats? Ford or Chevy? Coke or Pepsi? You can share as much or as little as you'd like (but please abide by our rules).

Thanks, Kristi!

[Doc Dan]

I currently live in Malaysia. My wife is from this country. During my spare time I write books under the pen names of Dan "Doc" Thomas, Lanier Thomas, and DL Thomas. I got started doing that after my last motorcycle accident. I have ridden motorcycles since the early 70s and never had an accident. I come over here and have three bad ones. Crazy drivers! I was a university lecturer until that last accident forced me to retire early. I missed the classroom but not the politics. I do tutor students from time to time. It's a shame that students in America and other countries such as this one are not able to read. In fact, most are not even required to read a single book all the way through any longer. I also teach UNHCR refugee children on a volunteer basis. These people are in no man's land. They are not allowed to work. The kids are not allowed to go to school and they cannot go to another country because they don't have a passport. They're stuck. So we do what we can to give them a good education. We also helped buy food for them because many of them don't get anything to eat except when they come to class. Some of them have parents that don't work because they can't and some that wouldn't anyway. And they don't take care of the children very well. So as I said, we do what we can.

Anyway, about writing books, there's no money on writing books, but it's fun. It's mostly a hobby. I have written some religious books, but mostly I write science fiction, but I have written three mysteries. I have also written two monster books and those are really fun. I enjoy reading them myself! I find it fun just to get out there and let my imagination take flight, along with real science.

[RustyIron]

I also teach UNHCR refugee children on a volunteer basis. These people are in no man's land. They are not allowed to work. The kids are not allowed to go to school and they cannot go to another country because they don't have a passport. They're stuck. So we do what we can to give them a good education. We also helped buy food for them because many of them don't get anything to eat except when they come to class.

Good on ya, mate. Sounds like you're doing some important work. I'm reminded of a saying by... someone whose name I don't remember... but they're really smart.

The purpose of life is to discover your gift.
The work of life is to develop it.
The meaning of life is to give your gift away.

Party on, Garth.

[ChrisinHove]

I’m Chris, from Hove (!) on the south coast of England. I’m a surveyor & property valuer, with a background in construction.

A lot of the buildings here are quite old (early 1800’s) so pretty interesting. I also get to work with banks & their customers, which isn’t.

I’m into motorcycles, play blues harp (badly) in a pub band, and learning to live without our daughter, who has left home after Uni (but doing fantastically in London). I’m also fascinated by interesting mechanical things.

[benben]

The name is Rob... but my friends call me Rob.
When I'm not lurking on Spyderco Forums, I might be found catering to the whims of my wife and two border collies. If they tire of my tomfoolery and kick me out, I'll usually end up riding my mountain bike, playing with my collection of antique stationary engines, or going up the mountain to work on historically significant telescopes.

In the spirit of staying somewhat on topic, I'll leave you with a quote from another guy named Rob:
“When analytic thought, the knife, is applied to experience,
something is always killed in the process.”



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Very nice Pivot Rusty, you definitely didn't buy that from Walmart!

[Doc Dan]

I used to live to hunt and fish, when I had the time. Though I did deer hunt some, I mostly preferred upland game: quail, rabbits, squirrels, grouse, dove, and etc. I miss being able to do that, but firearms are illegal, here, and the rivers and ponds are full of crocs, and I can't run that fast anymore. After all, a crocodile can grow 20 feet, but most only have four.

[RustyIron]

Very nice Pivot Rusty

Do you ride? This baby is the best handling bike I've ever owned--whether in the tight tech, gnarly downhills, or jumping far beyond my skill should allow. Frankly, I don't know how they did it. I suspect they have a shaman in the factory waving his grisgris over every bike that goes out the door.

[benben]

Very nice Pivot Rusty

Do you ride? This baby is the best handling bike I've ever owned--whether in the tight tech, gnarly downhills, or jumping far beyond my skill should allow. Frankly, I don't know how they did it. I suspect they have a shaman in the factory waving his grisgris over every bike that goes out the door.

I do, I have a 5” Kona Dawg, and a Jamis steel hardtail, both 26” wheels so pretty old tech.

[RustyIron]

I do, I have a 5” Kona Dawg, and a Jamis steel hardtail, both 26” wheels so pretty old tech.

Fun stuff! You guys have some pretty hills in your area.

[Candyman]

Full name is Rich Cox.
I make candy for a living. I’m currently the Chocolate Production Manager for a company out of Northwest Indiana called Albanese Confectionery.

That’s down in Merrillville right? I’m live right n South Bend, IN. I’ve driven past Albanese a couple of times!

That’s right!! Howdy Neighbor!

[benben]

I do, I have a 5” Kona Dawg, and a Jamis steel hardtail, both 26” wheels so pretty old tech.

Fun stuff! You guys have some pretty hills in your area.

I live 15 minutes from the Whitewater Center in Charlotte and 75 miles from Pisgah and DuPont National Forest.

[janodkrakow]

My name is John (Jan) Blacha. I am in Michigan but live in Poland as well.
I am a long time follower of Micheal D. Echanis. I am a martial artist and knife practitioner. I train in MDE principles from the 1970s'/1980s
Kind Regards

[Cowboyfromhell]

Ok here goes....I am a 45 year old male who lives in new England entire life. I grew up in the 80s/90s and was the oldest of three raised by a single mom. Never met father he left when I was 2. I grew up middle class, played sports, etc. Went to college briefly- criminal justice. Met a girl and been with her ever since, celebrate 24 yrs together this month! Have one Daughter who is now 21 and on her own making her own dumb decisions we all made in our 20s. I have also been sober now for 17 yrs and no cigs for 8 yrs. I spent almost 20 yrs in construction and just recently have switched careers a bit late in life, I am a correction officer going on 4 yrs now working graveyard. Job sucks but money is good and pension at the end. I enjoy hanging out at home with my wife and 2 dogs (Capone - 9 yr old rottie and Dakota -5 yr old red nose pit.) Other hobbies include weight training (most of my life), meditation, tattoos, collect knives, guns, leather bound books, and Halloween masks ( I have a man cave full of them on display). I love the Holiday season with the families, especially Halloween. I love horror movies and heavy metal music. I like to read in the winter months and Also enjoy riding my Harley and dirt bike when time allows (not much free time sadly).....Can't wait to see what the next 40 yrs be like!.....

[Evil D]

Name's David
45yo, Ohio born and raised, currently live in Kentucky. Married with two kids, 21yo boy and 16yo girl. Been with the wife 19 years as of yesterday.

Work in the corrugated box industry, so I can tell you more information about "cardboard" than you would ever need to know.

Been a knife guy since I was old enough to hold a knife. I pretty much can't remember not carrying a pocket knife.

Other hobbies include:

Cars, I have an '85 Mustang that is a former KY State Highway Patrol car which was 1 of 10 ever built. These days it's more of a racecar than a police car. It'll never be finished because I spend too much money on knives.

I'm a bit of a gamer, pretty much only on PC these days and not as often as I'd like because I have a job and family and such. I build my own computers, which is even more of a money pit than knives and cars (at least if you try to stay up to date with the latest and greatest). I really don't do multiplayer stuff because I don't play enough to be good/competitive so it's solo games for me. Favorites are the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best game ever made.

I used to be really into art, my profile pic is actually a painting of mine. It's a wasted talent that I'm ashamed of not doing more with but they don't call it "starving artist" for nothing so I never risked trying to make a living with it.

Besides knives I also have a few guns and concealed carry every chance I get to. Strong supporter of 2A but also don't care if you're not. You do you, I'll do me, I'll never try to force my views onto you as long as you never try to take away my rights. It's really pretty simple. I mostly just enjoy shooting, it's pretty fun if you can get past the stigma that people place on firearms. I'll take anyone local who's curious to the shooting range and educate you on it.

I hate politics and I love this forum for weeding out all discussion of it.

I was hardcore into BMX up until I was about 22, when it became clear that I couldn't make a living doing it and I couldn't keep a job if I kept hurting myself. I still have a bunch of bicycles but don't ride much anymore.

I have a sleeve of tattoos on my left arm and some other stuff on my right forearm. I was almost a tattoo artist.

I love the heavier side of music and go to as many concerts as time allows. I'm old and busted but I'll still throw down in a mosh pit, at least until I'm out of breath.

I'm bald and I don't miss having hair one bit. I'd just assume it all fell out so there's none left to shave.

Never flown in a plane. Not afraid to, just always chose to road trip instead.

I'm less than 1% of society that has ever had tuberculosis in my brain. I've had a brain biopsy and have a bit of titanium in my skull. Any time I do something stupid I like to use the excuse that I technically only have 99.999% of my brain because of the wee bit they took out to biopsy.

I hate thumb studs on knives. I would own so many Hinderer and CRK knives but I refuse to pay that kind of money for a thumb stud.

How do you end this? I could ramble all day.

[apollo]

Name's David.

I'm a bit of a gamer, pretty much only on PC these days and not as often as I'd like because I have a job and family and such. I build my own computers, which is even more of a money pit than knives and cars (at least if you try to stay up to date with the latest and greatest). I really don't do multiplayer stuff because I don't play enough to be good/competitive so it's solo games for me. Favorites are the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best game ever made.
.

Great Taste in games!
All off them are favorites of mine aswel.
Red dead is indeed an amazing game but fallout 3 and 4 top it for me. There not as beautiful but i just can not have enough of the 1950's vibe. Walking around in the nuclear wasteland while chilling on the songs from the pipboy radio is so relaxing to me.
(Non gamers probably think i am crazy reading that last part... )