fishbait49's profile

Eons member since

Feb 09, 2007

Age, Gender

59, Male

Relationship

Married

Hometown

Brainerd, MN

Places I've been

I grew up in a small town in north central MN, of about 11,000. Probably about 13,000 now. The population triples in the summer as it's a very popular resort area. I graduated from my home town high school in '67. I went on to serve in the Navy from '68 to '71. Trained as a jet mechanic and served on a plane maintenance crew in California, Tennessee, back to California, then in Hawaii until discharge in '71. Pretty good duty for the time. Married my first wife while in the Navy. First child was born in '69. I was divorced 3 years later. Married my current wife in '73. She had 1 child. I started college in '74 at a junior college in Minneapolis. Earned AA/AS degrees. Worked for awhile and then enrolled in a college in St. Paul and earned a BA degree. My major was in Counseling and Human Services. I worked in a number of counseling and treatment centers for about 15 years. Left that field and worked several different jobs over the course of several years. Then on to my current environment, in a local college system, where I've been mostly, in some capacity, since '89. Lived in the Twin Cities from '71 to '94. Owned the same house for 21 years and raised my kids there. In the summer of '94 we moved to our current location about 35 miles NE of St. Paul. It's a pleasant rural farm setting much like where I grew up.

Education

• Metro State University St Paul, Human Services - 1976 to 1981
• MCTC Minneapolis, Chemical Dependency Counseling - 1973 to 1975
• Century Technical College WBL, Environmental Sciences - 1995 to 1996
• Kaplan Schools St Paul, Home Inspections - 2005 to 2007

Military

• U.S. Navy - 1968 to 1971
  Rank: 3rd Class Petty Officer

More about me

Hello, it's FishBait49 here. My friends call me Bill. I'm 58. I'm married. I have two grown kids and two grand kids. I'm still employed full time but would just love to be full time retired. I joined Eons because I thought it sounded like a good resource for people born, raised and who had grown up in the same era as myself. My main reason for being on Eons is to communicate with others, gain resources that might be helpful and to share and exchange ideas about aging and moving through lifes many changes.

Favorite Movies

I'm not sure I have favorite movies. There's a few that I watch over and over when I get the chance or tis the season. Wizard of Oz and all of the 'old' Christmas classics.

Favorite TV Shows

I don't subscribe to cable or satelite so my options are limited. But I just don't want to pay for either of those. However, mainstream TV has gotten pretty dismal. If I like a program, seems like it will ultimately be canceled. Some of my favorites have been Jericho, Men in Trees, Globe Trekker (still running on PBC), Journeyman, PBC's Mystery, just to name the main ones. Many years ago I was a faithful Dr. Who fan. I hate so called 'Reality TV'.

Activities

I engage in many activities. Some of them are; hiking, biking, gardening, landscaping, flying (small plane), kayaking, fishing, camping, day trips to small towns, spending time with my grandkids, antique shopping, going out to eat, being creative, having fun with my wife, being childish with my dog. Some things I want to learn how to do are; welding, blacksmithing, ceramic tile making, turning pots on a wheel, and creating a nice web page.

Favorite Charities

There are a number of charities that I give to each year. Sometimes they change from year to year. I usually keep my giving local. Even in the richest country in the world there are more than enough people right close to home who need help with one thing or another. I'm not a highly paid worker. I'm never going to get rich but I believe it's important for me to support others in need as much as I can. I also try to give of my time as much as I feel comfortable with.

Favorite Music

The music I listen to sometimes depends on the mood I'm in. I like most jazz except for what I refer to as schizophrenic jazz; makes me crazy! I like blues, some country western, a little rock-a-billy, especially that sung/played by women musicians, most folk, especially the old time era. I listen to a lot of 50's to 70's rock and roll.

Favorite Books

I don't have favorite books as much as I have favorite authors. I recently acquired the supposed last of the Easy Rawlings novels, Blonde Faith, by Walter Mosley. That series has brought me a great deal of enjoyment. One of my all time heroes has been Kurt Vonnegut. His novels had a certain influence on my life as I was growing up. I felt like I lost a friend when he died. Edward Abbey, that redical, activist park ranger was another of my favorites. I only wish he had lived longer to continue to write. My most recent favorite book is probably The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. I recently completed several historical books about the history of some of the small town areas around where I live (the St Croix River valley). And Robert Frost is probably my favorite poet.

Favorite People

People who are open minded, tolerant, friendly, willing to discuss issues, interested in new ideas, playful, willing to be childish, have a sense of humor and are not afraid to express it, appreciate nature, have a sense of themselves and embrace life to the fullest.

Favorite Places

Any nice trout stream, out in the middle of a quiet lake in my kayak, any place within sight of Lake Superior, looking out over a nice picturesque valley, looking out from the highest point in any small town.

Favorite Animals

Beavers, they're such industrious little buggers. Pileated wood peckers, they're amazing to watch on my suet feeders. Bald eagles, they so much make me wish I could soar on the thermals. Otters, they can give such great lessons in playfulness.

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