1. I am married to an Automotive Technician
Most people call my husband’s occupation a mechanic. But, he prefers to be called a technician. From his many explanations on the difference between the two, I can say mechanics tend to be the people who deal with mechanical problems, while technicians deal with those mechanical problems in addition to the computer, software and wiring problems modern cars have today. I spend a lot of free time at his shop. When we first met, I drove a 1996 Honda that was literally rusting and falling apart. We spent many hours fixing brake lines, coolant hoses, the alternator, dashboard and radio wiring issues. When the transmission, water pump and fuel lines began to go, we gave up on the car. Someone miraculously came in to the shop wanting to get rid of their old BMW, so the Honda problem was easily gotten rid of. Since my mess of a car, I have helped him fix cars when he needs a second person around. But, do not get me wrong, I am not even on the amateur level when it comes to fixing cars. I understand simple things that are wrong, but I am still learning.
2. I am a museum enthusiast
This enthusiasm may come from the many museums and historic sights my parents dragged me to as a child. But, usually if I am in a new place I will try to find a museum nearby to go to. I can always find something interesting at a museum, whether its a niche tourist town or small town museum or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I currently work for a contemporary sculpture museum, so I have the benefit of getting into a lot of museums for free. Also, I used to be an intern at the Franklin Delano Presidential Library and Museum. I loved working there and starting the day walking through the history exhibits. When I lived in Florence, Italy, I bought a skip-the-line and free admission pass to the state museums, which I used to go to all the High Medieval and Renaissance art museums I lived down the street from. I was in museum heaven there. However, where I grew up in the Hudson Valley is a great place to find many museums, as well.
3. I love to travel
I caught the travel bug when I was young. My family lives all across the country from North Dakota to North Carolina. My parents were avid enthusiasts of the cross country road trip, so every holiday or summer break we would drive to visit relatives, stopping at tourist or historic sites along the way. I grew up listening to my parents’ stories about living in different parts of the country and the world. My dad served in the U.S. Air Force in the early 80’s, so he has stories of being stationed around the world. He has lived in California, North Dakota, Texas, Hawaii, Germany and New York. In contrast, my grandparents on my mother’s side do not tend to live in the same place for long. To this day it is a miracle for them to live in the same house for more than 3 years. Thus, my mother grew up in many towns from Kentucky to Virginia to Connecticut. I follow in their footsteps taking local, cross country and cross-Atlantic trips.
4. I am a dog person
I grew up with a German Shepard, but my sister turned out to be allergic to the dog, so she was given to another family. My sister eventually grew out of her allergy, so we finally got another dog, a yellow lab named Bayli. She is nowadays about 8 years old. But, I do not live at home anymore so I have a dog of my own. My husband and I adopted a husky mix, named Frankie. He came with the name Frankie. We tried to change it, but he is a husky so he is a stubborn and opinionated dog. So he kept the name Frankie, because he would only respond to that name. He is a great companion for hiking or just long walks. Frankie was abandoned, so every time my husband and I move he freaks out a little, but as soon as we bring him with us in the car he is so excited. He is great with other animals and even small children.
5. I have survived two major car crashes
The first happened in 2013, when my close childhood friend and I were driving back from New Paltz. My friend had just bought her first brand new car a few weeks earlier. We were waiting at the red light in Highland, right before the exit for the bridge, when a drunk driver plowed into the back of my friend’s car. Fortunately, we were able to walk away, with burns, cuts and other little injuries. We, at least, survived. We both have some continuing issues that doctors think were caused by the accident, for me it is my knee. The second accident was not as bad, but it was caused by a driver who was texting while driving. She didn’t notice traffic had stopped. I was again a passenger, but in my roommate’s car. I have nerve damage from the seat-belt in the car, so sorry if my handwriting is a little messy!
6. I am an amateur photographer
I used to draw before the car accident with my roommate, but it is not the same. I have since switched to photography. I used to photograph and stitch together 360 degree images of artifacts for my college archives. I do enjoy taking digital photos and manipulating them through Photoshop. Yet, I also enjoy black and white 35mm photography. I learned film photography at a summer camp in high school and used those skills when I brought my 35mm camera to Italy with me. Sadly, the film jammed in the reel, so I wrapped it in my suitcase so I could open it up in a dark room at home. It popped open on the trip back, so when I unpacked the film was exposed and ruined. I still had one good film roll though.