Meme from labelleizzy

[fbhjr]

This is like the 5 questions one, only with 2 bonus questions.  So, if
anyone wants 7 things to write about, let me know.
These are what labelleizzy gave me:


1)    What got you into doing swordplay?
A while ago pallid_regina asked me about the whole sword and
fire thing, and I went on about it at length (as I’m prone to do) so I will defer to that
answer.    `

2)    Tell me a happy story from adolescence... yours, your kids' (you do
have kids, yes?) or a favorite family story.
No kids of our own I’m afraid, so I’ll have to use one of my own:
There is one big life lesson my father taught me when I was very young.
Until his office moved out to Westboro when I was 7, he worked in Boston
and took the train every day.  One day one of his coworkers needed a ride
back to his house from the train station and I was invited along.  That was
a big deal for a 4 year old, and I happily climbed in the back seat behind
my dad.
The man, named Rodger, raised chickens and said his chickens had some
illness that made all of their feathers fall out.
“Chickens without feathers?” my father asked.  “That sounds pretty strange.
Would you like to see that Frank?”
I nodded enthusiastically.
We got to Rodger’s house.  He got out.  We drove away.
“I’m surprised you didn’t want to see the chickens,” my father said.
“I did,” I responded.
“Why didn’t you say so?” he asked.
“I nodded,” I told him.
“I can’t tell when you nod!” he said.  “Your head doesn’t rattle you know!”
This might well have been the most important lesson of my life.  Folks
won’t know what you want unless you tell them.  And, if I don’t tell them,
then it’s my fault, not theirs.

3)    Best birthday present ever (past or future)
One year my wife made up coupons for things like kisses, hugs, back rubs
and things like that, put them into balloons and hid them various places in
our apartment for me to find.
It was my best present ever as they were all little hand drawn bits of her
artwork done for me for the things I liked.
I’ve never “cashed” them in as they are worth too much for me as they are.

4)    Unicorns, dragons, or manticores?
I’ve never given much thought to manticores, or unicorns.  My wife was born
in the year of the dragon, so I’m certainly leaning towards that one.

5)    What do you do to stimulate your creativity glands?
Talk to my wife.  She is very good for coming up with ideas.  25 or so
years ago she and I did a (very, very, very) small comic book together.
She did the art and I wrote the stories.  But, I wrote the stories when
we’d sit down together and she’d say “explain how this thing we talked
about would happen” or “Why does this work that way?” or things like that.
And, we still do a lot of things like that, only now it is for the sword
shows.
Creating things with her is one of the best things in my life.
But even with other people I like brainstorming, throwing out ideas,
following down where they would lead even if it isn’t where you’re going to
end up.
It’s the best part of engineering as well.

6)    Describe the most important qualities of a trusted friend.
Honesty is by far the most important.  I am not after yes men, toadies or
anything like that.  If I’m making a mistake, I want to know it.  If there
is a better way to do something, I want to hear about it.  If I’m told how
I’m doing, good or bad, I want to know that what is being said is really
what is meant.
That doesn’t mean I’ll agree.  I might well argue back that my way is
better and explain why.
That’s about it for the trusted part.  For the friend, have some things in
common, have some things different so we’ve got stuff to talk about.  Help
me when I need it and let me help when you need it.

7)    What makes you feel loved?
My wife.
Especially when I am sad and she holds me and tells me things will be all
right.