Who R U?

Garfish, there actually are similarities between hang gliding and hi-end audio. As you say, they're "soaring" in the sense they lift one spiritually and physically. They are both escapist pastimes in the sense of providing a release from the anxieties and troubles of life. Where they most parallel each other, though, is in being equally expensive hobbies! Hadn't thought about it until now, but my audio system costs the same as my HG gear! Great, just what I needed, a new expensive hobby. The two are mutually exclusive, too. I've flown while listening to a Walkman; the rythm of the air almost never coincides with that of the music. BTW, though a HG pilot for a dozen years and avid music fan for many more, it wasn't until recently that my dream audio system became reality.

Well, I am a relative newcomer to Audiogon, but here it goes anyway. I am 36 years old (for a few more weeks!), and was born in Havana, Cuba. I moved from Cuba to Spain in 1976,and came to the US in 1978. After a few years in (where else?) Miami, I went off to college in Atlanta (B. S. Chemical Engineering), then on to grad school in balmy Wisconsin (M. S. Chemical Engineering). I have worked for Procter&Gamble ever since graduation in 1989, spending 5 years in Cincinnati, followed by 3 years in Rome, Italy and close to 3 years in Brussels, Belgium. I am now back in Cincinnati and am an Associate Director of R&D. Work has allowed me to travel to many countries, with some memorable stints in Russia, Poland, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa. I got into the hobby almost by mistake when I was transferred to Italy. I wanted to buy a decent stereo that would work overseas AND eventually in the US when I returned - and all I could find in Cincinnati to fit the bill was Linn. If I had only known about the "upgrade bug" back then, I would have waited till I got to Rome and gone straight for Unison Research!. Well, at least I had the good sense to eventually buy Sonus Faber speakers. I am married (to another P&G employee) and have 3 Siamese cats i.o. kids (they'll never ask for a car when they turn 16 or want to go to college and, when properly positioned, do a pretty good job on those first order reflections). Besides hi-fi, I love convertibles (had to leave the Alfa Romeo behind, but consoled myself w/ a BMW M Roadster), karaoke singing, single malt scotch (goes well w/ the karaoke!) and gourmet cooking. I am a moderately serious wine collector as well with a modest (500 bottles or so) but carefully selected cellar, and I am an avid reader. BTW, I sold all my Linn gear (except the LP12!) when I moved back to the states, and made my first foray into vacuum tubes (BAT, Aronov). Musical tastes range from opera to jazz to latin music, and I spend a least an hour listening to music every night (preceded by 45 minutes of amp warm-up and, usually, LP cleaning duty!)

Fpeel, you are right. I have over 200 military free fall jumps, and, after enough of them to reduce the adrenaline rush to a level where one can really feel it.....you can try to become Johnathon L. Seagull. A truly awesome experience. And to you, David99, you are my new hero, you lucky SOB [:)] Best of luck. Charlie

Thanks Charles!! This thread is coming real well.Not a single fight yet!! Maybe getting to know one another better will finally help us to all get along better.My girlfriend is getting a kick out of this also.She likes the hardware part of this hobby too and we went to a shop yesterday and looked at some cool tube gear and some B+W Naultilus speakers.We just wish we could afford some!!