Play Time

Cello

I started cello lessons at the same time that I started my Ph.D. I fell off my bike a week later and could only practise bowing for the next 3 months. Despite the ignominious start, I have played with the Counterpoint Community Orchestra, the Hart House Chamber Strings and a piano trio. My instrument is from The Sound Post and I studied with Carey Domb. The dragon on my scroll comes from El Puppet (416-487-4072).

Rock Climbing

Although I've been climbing less than two years, I'm completely addicted. I especially like climbs with overhangs. I tore my rotator cuff in December, 2001 and it's been slow coming back, but I'm back to climbing 2-3 times per week. My friends and I climb at The Rock Oasis and on the Niagara Escarpment during the summer. Rock climbing is hard on the fingers, so it's tricky to combine it with cello playing. However, they're complementary because climbing makes my fingers strong and cello keeps them flexible.

Elephants

I am a big fan of elephants. When I was a kid, people would ask me what was my sign on the Chinese zodiac. I would answer elephant, even though this animal wasn't even in the cycle.

LEGO(tm) Donations accepted.

I acquired this hobby quite late in life courtesy of my significant other. The introduction of many of the new specialized pieces has been very controversial. I like the new critters such as the dinosaurs, dolphin, and manta ray. However, I could do without some of the others, such as the BURPs (Butt-Ugly Rock Piece) and CRAPPs (Crappy Ramp And Pit Plate). The new Star Wars (TM) sets are a nice (though expensive) reversal of this trend. There are lots of great LEGO sites on the web including the LEGO corporate site, and LUGNET (the LEGO fan site). A couple of my favourite personal sites are Suzanne Rich's Baseplate, and Henry Lim's Sculptures.

More Playing

I do lots of other things during my play time including:

• role playing,
• scuba diving,
• tattoos,
• cooking, and
• multimedia storytelling.