[Colin_Partridge]

Hi gang,
I know I always start these silly posts that get everyone involved. As you all know I am completely addicted to this message board someday I would love to meet all the people that I have become friends with. I was just sitting here looking thru all the threads and for some reason dont ask me why I began to wonder what the wonderful people on this board did before they became carvers? Also what you do when you are not carving. I will start it off and we will see how this goes.
At the ripe old age of 17 I joined the Canadian Forces in the infantry when I matured I decided that rather than walk everywhere I would drive. So I joined the transportation corps and have done everything from drive VIP's to instruct on Bulldozer, Grader, and Tractor Trailer. At the tender age of 45 with 26 years service I decided to make a career change and joined the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) yes I became a Mountie. It was always something I wanted to do ever since I was a boy to wear that red uniform and ride a horse. The horse complained too much and after a douple hip replacement I was forced to retire from I job that I loved very much. Not ever being one to sit around, I had seen wood carvings of woodspirits in Europe when I was stationed there with the forces. At that time I was too busy having a good time a chasing women that I never persued it. Now I am retired and too old to chase women (Not really just cant remember what to do if I catch one) I took up carving those woodspirits I saw 40 years ago. Carving has become my passion and the people that I have met through it are just wonderful people. I am interested to hear what all of you do or what you all did before you retired it will make some interesting reading I am sure.
Colin

[AlArchie]

Well, Colin, seems we have a similar back ground.. after high school. I crashed out of Mich. State U and then washed out of the US Naval Academy...not similar backgrounds yet. Worked as a diesel tech for Cummins for two years and then joined the Michigan State Police (blue shirt, garrison hat, and BIG POWERFUL VERRRRY FAST CARS). Horses didn't like me either, so it's a good thing the MSP didn't have horses any more! However I did like that line of work and stayed with it to retire 25 years later. Been a Scoutmaster, area director and Camp director, where I guess I picked up an interest in carving.

Al

[JIM QUILICI]

Colin,

I started heavy constuction in 1957 building hyways and byways in the summer, went to collage in winter. worked with a grade setter that carved ball and chains every chance he had, so I tried to do some for a couple of years then stoped.(Guess my knife got dull).went from a labor to a grade setter to a foreman to a general superintendent my best year I was in charge of moving 12 1/2 million cu.yd.of dirt plus paving a whole lot of roads and parking lots. and placing miles of pipe (water and sewer ).never had no time for carving between raising four boys and working. after I retired my wife and myself went on vacation to S.D. we went to custer and went to the carving museum . I told my wife I am going to try carving so bought 3 books and a knife. now I am hooked . been carving since sept 2003. my wife says it the best thing that I have done since I retired ( don't know what that means). she say it keeps me from paceing the floors. she is right this time. If I don't bleed to death or cut my hand off I should be carving for some time.

Just old Jim

[decoycarve]

Worked my whole life as an electrician. Used to work with my dad on weekends and the summer break from high scool. Int the early 70's I got tired of wiring buildings and went to school to learn about controls. I work a lot with PLC's (programmable logic control) which is the brain of most of industrial automation. I now teach motor control and PLC programming for the appenticeship. Journeyman Electrician Local 24. Computers became a hobby. I was at a computer club meeting and some one was showing around a carving that he did. I looked at it and said I wish I could do that. He gave a knife, a piece of wood and a pattern of a scarlet taniger and 20 years later I am still carving.

Got an idea for another thread,
Goody

[MelNM]

I joined the U.S. Navy when I was 18 I was in a Intruder Squadron in Oceana Virginia and was on carriers USS Independence, the Kennedy, and the Eisenhower. Got out and went to work as a Control Operator at a Power Plant for 20 years, now I'm a System Operator and just recieved a promotion to Transmission Coordinator.

As far as carving goes, I got started by reading an Article in Wood Magazine that Dave Rushlo in Arizona did a few years back and got addicted ever since, it seems like the last 5 years I have really gotten into it, I still want to do some big carvings like Colin, and also some relief carving.
So much to do and so little time

[Lightningbolt]

I agree. It's always fun to see where lifes sometimes mysterious road has taken us over the years. I am grateful to have had a childhood before the big information boom and video games yet during a time when you were held in high esteem among peers because you caught the largest fish or shot the most squirrels over the weekend, than by how many gangsta rap albums you have. So I spent most of my time as a kid living to spend as much time in the Great Outdoors and the woods as I could manage... and good decent parents had something to do with that too I suppose because I also grew up during an era where I actually had two parents who lived with my brother and I in the same house!

After graduating from high school in '74 I somehow managed to get a 2 year Associate degree but it took a three year struggle and I finally said that I wasn't going back until I decided what I wanted to do with my life and that was almost 30 years ago. Still haven't decided! Two days after graduating I hopped into my '68 Ford Falcon Futura (with power steering, thank you) and spent the summer/fall fulfilling the dream of my teen years by driving the most northern route across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territory, Yukon Territory, and finally Alaska.

It was a great time and I've been back to the Far North many, many times since then to explore, work, and just enjoy being free. Outdoor adventure soon became a big part of who I was so I hitched up with a wilderness camp program in 1981 and have worked there until today. I spent 4 years as a full-time counselor for at-risk kids, then 9 years as a resident supervisor, and the last 10+ years in the education department as a vocational woodshop teacher.

Although I got my first carving set at about age 12 I really got serious about carving when I was a full time 24 hour/day live-in counselor with 10 kids. We went on 400 mile/ 28 day canoe trips quite regularly so I developed a lot of my carving skills while on the river, day after day. While on property at our wilderness campsite you can only imagine the carving and building that took place and the kids ate it up... and I started to get pretty good at it.

All of this finally led to my present job of the last ten-ish years where I have developed an educational woodshop program and where woodcarving is a very big part of that program. The company knows that I get that wanderlust fever ever so often and they always grant me a long leave-of-absence whenever requested so that I can go hike, bike, or paddle for a few thousand miles until I have it out of my system and my job is always waiting on me upon return so I consider myself very fortunate and grateful for that.

Life's been good to me and if all goes as planned I might just take an early retirement in a very few more years, buy some more land, and build one last log home, build up a small farm, garden, hunt, continue to travel, and of course carve, carve, carve...

[Mitchell]

There was nothing before carving.....

Just kidding. I have been in the Textile business all of my life - literally as that is what my father did also. I don't have any of the glamorous background that many of you have (Service)....my health did not permit it.

I picked up carving after playing around with drawing and a little watercolor painting. I have not really concentrated on the carving until recently and I really don't spend much time on it - at least not enough. I actually started over 20 years ago, but have gone years without picking up a knive. Luckily, I some friends that carve that help keep me in the "hobby" - such as wood-whittler that posts here. Along with many new friends here.

Colin, at age 25 I started my current Coffee Distribution business and its what I've been doing for 26 years, carving going on my fourth year.

[Nancy_G]

My goodness - am I boring

No education, no training, nothing exciting. Always did flat painting before and after getting married to man in USAF. In '87 I saw Ron Ransom's first Santa carving book and never looked back.

And I'm STILL boring

[woodcarver55555]

Colin,
After High School Worked At A Heating Factory In City I Grew Up In For Two Years( Oneida Ny ). Then Spent Ten Years In The Marines Working On Aircraft Electronic Systems. In That Time Went Half Way Around The World. Well A Little More Than Half Way, Oz Rock- Down Under Is 13 Time Zones Away.when I Left The Usmc, I Stayed In Area I Was Last Stationed. I Have Been Working For The Same Yarn Spinning Corp For Almost 18 Years. Meet My Wife There ( 16 Years Married In Oct ),helped Her Raise Two Of Her Grandsons. Well Matt Just Turned 17 And Has Two More Years Of High School, Very Smart,hard Worker Too. He And David Both Call Me Dad, Neither Knows There Real Dad. We Did Cub Scouts, I Was A Den Leader ( Had A Lot Of Fun ). Then We Did Boy Scouts, You Guessed It, I Was A Scoutmaster Too. I Must Have Carved 150 Tie Slides During That Time And Gave All Them Away Except 10 Or 12.
About Six Years Ago Started Carving Gouges, Up Untill Then Everything Was Carved With A 2 Blade Or 3 Blade Schrade Old Timer. I Must Own Ten Of Them. Started In A Night Class 2 1/2 Years Ago That Teaches Power Carving Birds. The Teacher Is Out Standing And Keeps Trying To Get Me Enter Birds In The Two Shows In Our Area. Working On One For Show In Feb In Washington, Nc. I Could Have Carved This Message Faster With My Knife. I Peck On A Keyboard With One Finger From Each Hand.