OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

-708 Don Stern <djstern@p...> 1970‑01‑01 Bio and personal stuff

Okay, since all you old toolies seem to have gotten fairly detailed about 
your personal bios, I'll expand mine for the record.

I'm slightly younger than Methusalah and getting my sights set on
retirement within the next ? of years, however, my youngest (of 4) still
has college in front of him. All the others are great kids but somehow 
the youngest is always something special. The Mrs of 25yrs is the light 
of my life and makes sure my ego never gets out of hand.

For a living I work for the US Dept of Agriculture as a research chemist
and we do all sorts of investigations of any food or food related product.
My current project involves developing some unique new products from
surplus wheat starch. I've been doing flavor research for over 30 years and 
it has taken me into many areas from the flavors of food to insect
attractants.

I'm located in Bezerkeley, CA just a few hundred miles up the coast from 
this group's cofounder. My interest in woodwork began quite a few years 
ago when I started a project that, had I any sense, wouldn't have tried 
but have never regretted. We had an old house that needed a new back 
rear stairway, off a 2nd floor and with some noodling it turned into an 
elevated deck. As a dedicated acrophobic, I developed ways of working 15 
ft off the ground and fooling myself into not being paralyzed. The deck 
will be there long after we're gone. Posts were 6x12 doug fir and beams 
were 4x12 20 footers, with t&g redwood decking. Don't ask for details but 
the cost was minimal compared with buying material today, it was all 
salvaged from an old warehouse built on a San Francisco pier.

As usual one thing led to another and after a number of remodeling 
projects on our own place and others we have owned I am currently doing a 
remodel on our kitchen/family room. It's taken too long but been great 
fun, especially when my youngest was enthusiastically helping, but alas he 
had school and sports obligations too.

As usual, one tool lead to another Craftsman and finally, most recently
thru plane talk to purchasing a couple of items from Mr. Leach's
collection, with a couple more to come. I've blathered a lot already in a
couple of postings about my out of body experiences with these jewels but
I sure like the shhhhziiip sound they make as I do the curly.

My other avocation is tennis, which I've been playing creditably for 
about umpteen years, started in my thirties. I sort of look at using 
planes in the same way when it comes to learning; practice, practice till 
you get a good feel for what you're doing, read some books, ask some 
questions but have fun. I'm sure having fun.

Regards to all

Don Stern
djs@p...

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Recent Bios FAQ