Subject: Member's autobiographies
Posted by: satguru
Date: Dec 08 13
I remember the old blogs when we had an autobiography day when we all posted a summary of our lives, but as they aren't here any more I thought it would be nice for those who are slightly more hungry for fame like me to give as few or as many details as they wish so we can all get to know each other better.
I was born in London in 1960, still live there (two roads from where we lived till 1965 in Kingsbury), and despite many attempts over more than three decades am still single. Following a winding path of subject changes and imposed diversions I managed to get a law degree, and while teaching returned (after a short period of evening classes for a master's in sociology which knocked the stuffing out of me and had to stick to the paid work for practical reasons) to my first choice of career (after entertaining), psychotherapy, which I do now.
The entertaining was always my first interest, but totally unreliable as a career, so although I went to many classes and did some amateur work, without major hours in a year could not get the required union card and had to put it on the back burner after starting my degree onwards. My first love is comedy, doing characters and impressions, and add some piano and guitar into the mix which I have done at parties since I was 16. I also had a strong interest in the supernatural, which I pursued fully when I left college in 1991, joining a psychic development group, followed my meditation classes. I know a little more now than I did but know the vast amount remains uncertain. In case anyone hasn't noticed I'm a cat lover, having them since 1968 onwards, taking in strays as well as our white Persian Snowy who was with us till 1986. I don't have one at the moment but only as I'm away at weekends.
I discovered the internet around 1996, doing searches on supernatural topics and cars mainly, and using the free service at the library as home internet and computers were beyond my range. In 2000 my neighbour delivered an old Compaq PC to my house to do his accounts on, it had a 4gb drive, and got online on the 17th of February, the first site I joined was here as I'd had a list of trivia questions for years and had the chance to get them answered, which 90% were within a day. I then found a supernatural forum, which sadly packed up two years later, where I spent a lot of time answering people's questions (as I had been practising for some time in the area by then), dropping in here whenever I thought of new questions and answering others, as till 2003 my internet was charged per minute.
In 2003 we got flat rate, and I read all the forum threads I wanted to back to the beginning, and could fully participate everywhere, and was made a chat board moderator from 2004-9 which was a very rewarding job, and kept a good number of members from leaving in a huff as so many say they will. In 2005 I finally got a digital camera, as they were now able to match the film ones, and spent a lot of time since using it to its full range, starting with local scenes, and then as far afield as possible for the Ordnance Survey Geograph project. My current project outside that is my Information Revolution, created a couple of months ago after Russell Brand called for a revolution, and when asked what we'd do about it I said the easiest way is through information, and now have over 50 entries on my site.
The entertaining side was never fully dropped, and in 2006 used my professional side to get four TV spots on satellite programmes, hypnotising people who thought they'd been abducted by aliens, and as most come up with very similar stories whenever and wherever it happened is unlikely to be an inner fantasy. All that takes us up to today, as I keep working on getting more media work (I did have my first and only publically published article a couple of years ago as well on my hypnosis work) and looking for the far more elusive woman. My experience is business is planned and can keep trying over and over again till you get it right, while meeting people is random and whatever worked with one doesn't help with the next. I have never found any formula or method there and why every single relationship either ended in disaster or never took off so far. But I can never give up on that one.
Posted by: satguru
Date: Dec 08 13
I remember the old blogs when we had an autobiography day when we all posted a summary of our lives, but as they aren't here any more I thought it would be nice for those who are slightly more hungry for fame like me to give as few or as many details as they wish so we can all get to know each other better.
I was born in London in 1960, still live there (two roads from where we lived till 1965 in Kingsbury), and despite many attempts over more than three decades am still single. Following a winding path of subject changes and imposed diversions I managed to get a law degree, and while teaching returned (after a short period of evening classes for a master's in sociology which knocked the stuffing out of me and had to stick to the paid work for practical reasons) to my first choice of career (after entertaining), psychotherapy, which I do now.
The entertaining was always my first interest, but totally unreliable as a career, so although I went to many classes and did some amateur work, without major hours in a year could not get the required union card and had to put it on the back burner after starting my degree onwards. My first love is comedy, doing characters and impressions, and add some piano and guitar into the mix which I have done at parties since I was 16. I also had a strong interest in the supernatural, which I pursued fully when I left college in 1991, joining a psychic development group, followed my meditation classes. I know a little more now than I did but know the vast amount remains uncertain. In case anyone hasn't noticed I'm a cat lover, having them since 1968 onwards, taking in strays as well as our white Persian Snowy who was with us till 1986. I don't have one at the moment but only as I'm away at weekends.
I discovered the internet around 1996, doing searches on supernatural topics and cars mainly, and using the free service at the library as home internet and computers were beyond my range. In 2000 my neighbour delivered an old Compaq PC to my house to do his accounts on, it had a 4gb drive, and got online on the 17th of February, the first site I joined was here as I'd had a list of trivia questions for years and had the chance to get them answered, which 90% were within a day. I then found a supernatural forum, which sadly packed up two years later, where I spent a lot of time answering people's questions (as I had been practising for some time in the area by then), dropping in here whenever I thought of new questions and answering others, as till 2003 my internet was charged per minute.
In 2003 we got flat rate, and I read all the forum threads I wanted to back to the beginning, and could fully participate everywhere, and was made a chat board moderator from 2004-9 which was a very rewarding job, and kept a good number of members from leaving in a huff as so many say they will. In 2005 I finally got a digital camera, as they were now able to match the film ones, and spent a lot of time since using it to its full range, starting with local scenes, and then as far afield as possible for the Ordnance Survey Geograph project. My current project outside that is my Information Revolution, created a couple of months ago after Russell Brand called for a revolution, and when asked what we'd do about it I said the easiest way is through information, and now have over 50 entries on my site.
The entertaining side was never fully dropped, and in 2006 used my professional side to get four TV spots on satellite programmes, hypnotising people who thought they'd been abducted by aliens, and as most come up with very similar stories whenever and wherever it happened is unlikely to be an inner fantasy. All that takes us up to today, as I keep working on getting more media work (I did have my first and only publically published article a couple of years ago as well on my hypnosis work) and looking for the far more elusive woman. My experience is business is planned and can keep trying over and over again till you get it right, while meeting people is random and whatever worked with one doesn't help with the next. I have never found any formula or method there and why every single relationship either ended in disaster or never took off so far. But I can never give up on that one.
24 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
mensa58 
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Great idea! I was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1958. I always was a nerdy type -- bit of a loner, smarter than many classmates (yes that's egotistical but it's what I perceived). I was skipped from first to third grade and at least I had a bit more of a challenge. I probably drove my teachers crazy; if I liked a subject I got good grades, but if I didn't like it I did just enough work to pass the course. I got along better in high school because we had accelerated courses and weighted grades. Anyhow, I went on to Georgetown University and got a degree in humanities (real useful, huh?) I was a secretary for the first few years after college and have been a paralegal for almost 30 years. This year I struck one big thing off my bucket list, being chosen to be a Jeopardy contestant. Free time? I play FT, do needlework, and read like books are about to be outlawed. A few standard trips each year are Wyoming in the summer, Salt Lake City in December (if I get a ticket to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert) and Chicago in October. Jody Reply #1. Dec 10 13, 9:00 PM |
satguru
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Reply #2. Dec 10 13, 9:20 PM |
| satguru
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Reply #3. Mar 30 15, 8:25 PM |
Jazmee27
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Not great at this, and very much a loner. Ah, well, here goes: Born in 1983. Was diagnosed with Leber's (discrepancy as to whether it was congenital amaurosis, which makes more sense since nobody in the family has it--talking about Mom's side of the family--or heredetary optic neuropathy, which I've already explains doesn't make sense). Exhibited "roaming eye," or nystagmus when I was one and a half, which started years of testing and frustration (some doctors told Mom I was "going through a phase" and would "grow out of it;" others were convinced I had a brain tumor, which years later was proven unlikely with all the "normal" MRIs I received over the years). I began learning Braille around age 3 or 4 (not sure), as well as how to use a cane (which I can't use now due to peripheral neuropathy). Went to a mainstream public school, where they did "cclustering" sometime during my fourth year I believe it was. So kindergartners and first graders in the district went to one elementary school; second and third graders to another; and grades 4-6 in another building (which had three stories). Mom's allergic to cats, so though she loves them (and so do I) she had to get rid of them. I don't remember any of them, but know several stories. Apparently, at one time we had a bird and cat... talk about disaster. The poor bird was traumatized (and I didn't exacctly help). I graduated high school in 2002, and worked briefly at a place making "toilet air freshener," or "deodorant cakes." I worked there twice a week, where I either bagged the smelly stuff or made boxes. I hated the work, and, well, got myself fired due to my blasted temper (I only worked there year and a half, if that). I started community college in fall 2004, bounced from subject to subject (social work, human services), and finally took a career development class. That's when I got fixated on becoming a writer. Unfortunately, I encountered obstacles with the transportation company as well as the school itself. Moved out on my own in 2010 (January 29), so I'm on one level. Can walk, but require a wheeled walker to stay balanced. I live with my budgie, Tobi (Mr. Tobi Parakeet is his full name). Unlike my previous birds, "Mister Pretty Bird" talks. Reply #4. May 25 15, 5:58 AM |
| satguru
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Reply #5. Jul 01 15, 5:27 PM |
Shadowmyst2004
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My name is Dave, I don't use the blogs/message boards around here much, but I've been on the site a long time. Enjoying getting back into the site now after a decent length time away. Reply #6. Jul 03 15, 1:52 PM |
Aryan13AKS
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I am not going to say anything too much, just basic stuff.And I don't even have much as I am only 13 and been in around for 9 months in FT.I am an Indian but I spent the first 3 years of my life in Kyrgyzsthan. Obviously ,I was too young to tell you about my experience . Then I spent my next 3 years in Warsaw where I started my education. After that ,I lived in my homeland for 3 years.(from 1st to 4th standard)Then, i had a very nice time in Abu dhabi for 4 years .Visiting Dubai often . It was a multicultural community in there with my countrymen being the majority in there. I returned back to India a few months back and I;m studying in 8th standard now. I am trying to refer my friends to this website continuously soi that they can enjoy the trivial world. Reply #7. Jul 11 15, 10:32 AM |
| Aryan13AKS
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I think I have mentioned the places I lived in, only. My favourite things to do when I'm totally free are:- Play FT,do some combustion experiments with magnifying glass or some chemical experiment if I got the materials round, reading fiction AND non-fiction. I like reading novels and I finish the abridged books in a few minutes.I am living in India now so I enjoy chatting with old friends from Abu Dhabi. Reply #8. Jul 14 15, 4:58 AM |
Mixamatosis
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I'm retired now and had a long career in the civil service where I had different roles over my career including a one year secondment to the NHS. Before settling on that career, while I was still at school and later as a student, I had a variety of temporary/holiday jobs. My Dad died when I was 16 and my Mum was a widow and a pensioner by the time I was 17 as I was a late child. Just thinking about the early jobs I did there was a great variety and I'm glad I had those experiences before finishing my degree and settling on a career. They included: Waitress in a cafe, waitress in a store restaurant, shop assistant in Woolworths, shop assistant in BHS, barmaid in a pub and in a church community centre, cleaner in local offices, working in a laundry and a bottle factory, shop assistant in an off-licence, youth worker in a youth club. The last of these job was the best of them. I grew up in Birmingham, moved to Liverpool to do my degree and to London to take up a Civil Service post. I met my husband at an archaeological dig (Roman) in Shropshire which I had gone to for a couple of summers with a friend. I also did a dig in an iron age hill fort on the Wrekin, a hill in Shrosphire which is a few feet short of a mountain. We walked up it to work every day, and I did a dig in York (Viking). I loved archaeology but it wasn't paid well enough to survive on and you really needed to be able to drive to make a career of it and to do a degree in that subject. I live in London now. I love being close to all the things London has to offer but if I was starting over I know I'd never be able to afford to live here. I'm busy with house maintenance, gardening and growing fruit and veg on an allotment. I like to be creative, making things and drawing and painting but I haven't found much time for it so far. I'm hoping funtrivia games will keep my mind sharp as well as being fun. Reply #9. Jul 22 16, 1:46 AM |
| Mixamatosis
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P.S. I did ballet as a child and when I was very young (about 3-4 years old?) I appeared on the stage of the Hippodrome in Birmingham in a ballet routine. I remember being embarrassed as I mistimed it and finished a few seconds after everyone else. I got an extra clap for that. I was also involved in an amateur dramatic company run by my best friend's Mum. We had to dress as harem girls for one production. The troupe went round to old people's homes to entertain them but I've never done anything like that since having long had a fear of performing in public. I don't even like having to give presentations or training sessions. Reply #10. Jul 22 16, 2:07 AM |
brm50diboll
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Both my parents were native Texans, but I was actually born at the White Sands Missle Range base in New Mexico because my father was stationed there while after having been drafted in the Army. In those days, they drafted college graduates, and my Dad was a mechanical engineering grad from Texas A&M when he was drafted. About one month after I was born (September,1963), my dad was discharged from the Army and my parents returned to Texas. We moved around quite a bit when I was a young child: College Station, Ft. Worth, Aledo (all in Texas). My brother and sister were both born in Texas, unlike me. My brother is two years younger than me, and my sister six years younger. When my dad was laid off by General Dynamics late in the Vietnam era, he took a job (as a civilian) with the Army Corps of Engineers in St. Louis, Missouri for a year and a half. I was in second and third grades during that "exile" from Texas. Dad really wanted to return to Texas, however, so in 1972 he got a job with an engineering subsidiary of Temple Industries in Diboll, Texas (a small town in East Texas). Diboll is where most of my growing up occurred. From fourth grade through high school graduation, we lived in Diboll. My mother was a housewife when I was very young, but after moving to Diboll she went to college and became a RN and eventually a school nurse for Diboll ISD. I was valedictorian of Diboll High in 1981, and a National Merit Scholar who went on to Texas A&M (my father's Alma mater) as a Chemistry major and graduated there with a BS in Chemistry summa cum laude. During my A&M years, my dad's company in Diboll relocated to the Houston area, so the rest of my family relocated to Kingwood, TX in the summer of 1984 following my brother's graduation from Diboll High (he was also a valedictorian.) To leave a little mystery in my story which I may clear up later as this post is already getting too long, I will skip what I was doing over the next several years while my parents lived in Kingwood. But when I was 29, around Christmas of 1992, my father (aged only 54) suffered a massive heart attack out of the blue. He went to emergency bypass and lingered on for a few days, but too much damage had been done and he died in January of 1993. I was certainly an adult by then, but nevertheless, it was the most traumatic event in my life, then or even now. Things changed after that. I may pick up on this story sometime later. Reply #11. Jul 23 16, 3:44 PM |
| satguru
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Reply #12. Jul 24 16, 8:14 PM |
| brm50diboll
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So I thought I'd continue my story with a few pieces of information about what happened to me between 1985-1992 (but not all of it). After graduating from Texas A&M in 1985, I then went on to complete a doctoral degree (but I am not yet ready to say from which university or what the field was except it was not in Chemistry, my undergraduate major - I am good at more sciences than just Chemistry.) Then in 1989 I went into the US Army, where I spent six years as a Captain. Who enters and leaves the Army as a Captain, you may ask? Someone with a doctoral degree. I will not say exactly where I was stationed during that time (if I told you I'd have to... - just kidding!), but I never left the United States and so even though the Persian Gulf War occurred during my time of service, I am not a veteran of foreign war, though I am an honorably discharged veteran. It was during my Army service that my father died. I was on emergency leave to be with him as he dwindled. They kept asking me when I was coming back, but I couldn't tell them, not until after he died, January 6, 1993. I finished up my active duty service in June of 1995. Reply #13. Aug 10 16, 7:40 PM |
SisterSeagull
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My name is Steve and I have been a member here on Funtrivia since December 2010. I was born at home in Weymouth, a small seaside town on the southern coast of England in the beautiful rural county of Dorset on the 2nd of August 1960. I’m of Welsh and Scottish descent so, being born in England, you could say that I’m something of a ‘Heinz 57’. I started school a year earlier than usual at the age of four for a couple of reasons and was already reading the ever popular ‘Janet and John’ books; this put me a couple of years ahead of my classmates in reading but unfortunately, when it comes to mathematics I’ve always been something of a dunce! My father was a member of the Royal Navy and my mother was the homemaker. Contrary to popular belief back in the early 1960s, a child could come from a broken home and still be happy as I was, although I don’t think my younger twin sisters fared as well. I was always something of a loner as well (this seems to be a common thread with some other responders here) and had just a few very good friends. As a youngster I would spend much of my time on my own fishing and collecting/breeding butterflies and moths which was a hobby that I would expand upon many years later engaged in voluntary work for the Devon Wildlife Trust. I had always wanted to be a soldier as a child and so I joined the Army in May 1977 (still as a child) after telling my tutor at college that I didn’t care for his homework or his attitude and that he could stick his Higher National Diploma where the sun doesn’t shine. I served across the world as an infantry soldier firstly with my county regiment, the Devon and Dorset’s, then for a couple of years with the Intelligence Corps before returning to the infantry and real soldiering again with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. I married in November 1982 and was divorced in July 2014, my ex and I still remaining very good friends. I left the Army in August 1990 as an NCO on the very day that Saddam’s Republican Guard marched into Kuwait City. Since leaving the Army I have been employed by the NHS working principally in rehabilitation services having gained a number of engineering qualifications. I am currently working, still with the NHS in glorious Devon, for a community alarm service after deciding that, with just a few years to go before I can retire, it was time to slow down and take it easy… Life is good! Plans for the future? Well, when I finally retire I intend to purchase a static caravan in Cornwall as a holiday home. My partner’s daughter is expecting her first child in February 2017 so I shall have my work cut out with entertaining and taking the little one rock-pooling, fishing and to archery club as soon as they are old enough to do so. I have just rekindled an interest in photography, I have my trusty old Yamaha guitar that I’ve neglected somewhat over the last few years and, of course, I have Funtrivia to keep me occupied; my aim is to have reached a total of 200 quizzes on line by August 2020 so at a rate of twenty a year for the next four years I should just about get there. Reply #14. Aug 11 16, 1:22 AM |
Govannon8
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Good idea, satguru! We are very close to the same age. I was born in 1961 in Canada, northern Ontario. I am a bachelor too, still looking, not very encouraging dating scene here. I am a Toronto ex-pat. My interests are eclectic, from engineering and science to psychology (college minor)/sociology and photography. I discovered the Net in 1995, and after 2000 was on it regularly. I like some of the things about the `first years' better than they are now. I have worked in manufacturing and construction, and currently, I am in my sixth jog sector, security work. As well, I am a staunch supporter of the Vets and military. My favourite subject is all aspects of war history, as well as physics/maths, though they are quite different, of course. That is all for now, I think I will look into starting a blog here too. Happy Easter everyone! Gov Reply #15. Apr 17 17, 1:28 PM |
sadwings
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Wish I had taken a closer look at this blog sooner, it looks like I'm in some nice company here with you guys. Name's Kevin - most folks just call me Kev - and I was born in 1962 in Dallas, Texas. I was still a baby when we moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where we lived until I was 9, so I guess you could say I'm a real live Okie from Muskogee, for those who are familiar with the Merle Haggard song. Finished my growing up years in Fort Smith, Arkansas - the town where John Wayne's character was going to take the bad guys to hang in True Grit. I just love westerns! :-) Anyway, I knew right out of high school that I didn't want to go to college and I didn't want to work for peanuts all my life, and since I have always been very patriotic, I figured the best thing for me to do for many reasons was to join the military and try to learn some kind of trade. Well, I did a gig for Uncle Sam's navy department from '80 to '84. I wanted to get my hands dirty and learn something I didn't know about, so I decided to try to become a machinist's mate. However, after using a little deductive reasoning, which I just adore, I determined that the reason the navy sent me straight to school right out of boot camp to be a payroll clerk was because my math scores on my entry exams were probably ones that they didn't see very often, so I wound up being a nerdy little office boy payroll clerk, or "disbursing clerk" as the navy called it. I did, however, have a fairly manly General Quarters station where I was jacking 70 lb. rounds into the gun chamber of one of our 5" guns that we had on our shiny, almost brand new Spruance class destroyer. Got to see lots of nice places all over southern Europe as well as three awesome cruises to the Bahamas. Also did a little time off the coast of Beirut, Libya and Grenada. Wouldn't trade those four years for anything in this world. Got married shortly after I got out to a lady from Oregon and we soon moved there so she could be closer to her family. My marriage and my stay in Oregon came to an end after 5 years, and I came back to Oklahoma. Not quite a year after that, I wound up getting paralyzed from the waist down in a car wreck. Just like one of you had mentioned about losing a father, I was 29 years old and it was the most traumatic experience of my life. However, I have been fortunate to be able to live alone and take care of myself for all these years. I don't really get out much but I do love life and I love to have a few laughs and have good times with people. Guru man, I can so very much relate to your desire to entertain people. I was not just a class clown in school, I was royalty among the elite of class clowns. Though I am quite far from Rich Little or Frank Gorshen, I can do a few different things with my voice and that always comes in handy for clowns and entertainers in general. I have also very much enjoyed writing and for a long time I dreamed of being a comedy writer, be it for movies or tv or magazines or radio stations or whatever. I have let those dreams go now, but I will always love to entertain people with the things I say and do and write. In fact, I just recently started a blog called Thank God for Buddy Holly, and it really took off for a few days, then it seems it has suddenly come to a screeching halt and fallen flat on its nose! I'm thinking on one hand that maybe my sense of humor is a little too childish for the intellectual crowd, but on the other hand, I have entertained and amused people a great deal everywhere I have ever gone my whole life. I love FT to pieces, but in the regard that I just mentioned, this has been an extremely odd experience for me. Odd but not discouraging by any means. If any of you would like to take a look at the very first bit I did on my Buddy Holly blog about the Black Sabbath lyrics when you have the time, you can kind of get a rough idea of what kind of sense of humor I have, and maybe you will even stop in and say some stuff. You are all more than welcome! Steve, how is that new grandbaby doing and how are you coming along on your quizzes? Well, this has been most enjoyable for me but I should be off now, this is quite long. Later days, my friends.... Reply #16. May 22 17, 5:31 AM |
| SisterSeagull
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Hi Kev... I hope this reply finds you well and in fine fettle! Our grand-daughter arrived on the 16th of February and is doing great - she's a real cutie and I'm sure she will break some hearts in the future! Quizzes are coming along; I'm currently on 129 but I have a further 8 very close to completion now. I've taken my foot off the gas with regard to quizzes as it was starting to take over a bit and, to be truthful, I did lose some motivation for a period. Reply #17. May 22 17, 7:14 AM |
| Jazmee27
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I think all blogs have a "cooling off" period or something, or at least times when there is little to no activity. Life has been super crazy in past year or so, but no details here as I ave those for my own blog (newest called zNot So Normal.. I felt I should start fresh since so much time had elapsed between when I had another one and now). Reply #18. May 22 17, 7:19 AM |
| sadwings
|
Great news about your granddaughter, Steve. Looks like she and I have the same zodiac sign. My birthday is Jan. 28th. Not that I follow that horoscope stuff, it's all just entertainment. Two babies born at the same time in the same place are going to have as much difference in their personalities as any other two people. Strange what people believe in sometimes! I can't imagine making just one quiz, let alone 200. That makes my brain hurt just thinking about it! Yeah, Jaz, I guess blogs are like restaurants or bars or something - sometimes they are busy and sometimes not. I think sometimes I probably just get too impatient for certain things to develop. That and I know that I say a lot of things and make a lot of observations that are very amusing, and yet much of the time they will just drift away like a stale fart while people avoid them like they were such. Reply #19. May 22 17, 2:53 PM |
| Jazmee27
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Yeah, Kev, I get it. there are times I look at mine and think, “Are you kidding me?” But then there are days it’s so rewarding; it’s the interaction with others that really does it for me. By the way I ramble at times, it may not look it, and I fear sometimes folks just think I’m looking for attention (nothing could be further from the truth; I just don’t socialize well face to face). Aw, Steve, sounds like you have your hands full. That would explain the lack of motivation for quizzes, too (I could never have dreamed up a number like that, but I created a few years ago). Reply #20. May 22 17, 3:29 PM |
24 replies. On page 1 of 2 pages. 1 2
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