Who R U?

All right -- heading for the 500th post. Here goes.

Just a simpel guy -- two only children (one is 28, married and with one child) the other is 4 and one-half and beautiful. Trying to make up for the mistakes I made the first time around in some ways. They're both wonderful though, the eldest is a school teacher.

Anyway -- got the real audio bug in the Army in Germany early 70's. Listened to and bought some interesting stuff. Dumped it off and on and just migrated back into the hobby.

Only started tube-rolling with the current rig (nothing to brag about actually -- deference to my spouse -- however I have hung onto some key pieces that I dearly love.

I'm on track to get the final "replacement" piece for what I once had -- R2R deck -- Revox. That way I can play the stuff I recorded oh so many years ago again. It'll be interesting to hear it through the new stuff.

Oh yeah -- Southern CA is my home, always has been. It's amazing what a little disposable income will put you through these days. I always look to maximize the limitations set on by home arrangements and spousal requirements. Otherwise it would be dedicated room etc. Still, I see, smell and taste the ocean everyday when I wake up because I spent the money on the home in the location not on the available space to do the audio thing.

Still in mid-fi mode by most accoutns but I love what I've got (probably want to do something with speakers soon though).

Fathom7- Simple guy? 2 kids? I don't see how that is possible! Don't kids make everything an adventure? I don't have any and am not planning for any at this time, but I can only imagine life becomes anything but simple. :) In any case its nice to have you "jump start" this thread and let us know a little about you and your system, there are a number of people here on the 'gon who live in the south cali. area. You should try to track some of them down, its always nice to meet others who are local to you who share the same wackiness :^)

I'll work o nthe tracking down thing. Just as a follow-on I just initiated my first round of tube rolling. It's more fun and rewarding than I imagined. I'm two-thirds of the way through and have found the process amazing. The steps I've used include replacing a set of tubes and allowing for burn-in and then critical listening then roll in the next set (not in place of the first). Thus I'm two sets in place with one more to go. Great stuff.

F7

New to Audiogon, but like the commentary and community.

39 year old technical writer. Live in NH, squirreled away in a log home surrounded by woods (but close to civilization - the best of both worlds). Stumbled into tech writing about 13 years ago - and despite its often humdrum nature - it pays the bills and I'm competent enough at doing it. Work isn't really that important to me.

Married for 15 years (together for 20) to a mostly wonderful woman who has glimmers of getting "it" (mostly the music), but for the most part is too busy for such frivolity. Her father was a music professor for 30+ years, jazz band leader/occasional gigger, and a somewhat accomplished composer and arranger. I had on a Paul Desmond/Gerry Mulligan disc a few weeks ago, and he recalled playing with one of them (don't remember which) back in the day. Apparently also a harsh musical task master, so maybe the wife just spent too many hours with the metronome. :)

Two children - girl 5, boy 7 - who are not too far past that irritating stage of having to hear the same song 72 times in a row. I still love them dearly.

Anglo-American by birth. Seven years in England (3 at boarding school), five years in Sri Lanka, and the rest right here in the USA, split between NH and CT (UConn grad).

My own musical experience is HS and some college chorus/chamber groups. Haven't sung in years though, and fear I have lost a once reasonably good tenor voice.

Hobbies include reading (mostly fiction), movie-going/watching, board games, road biking (Bianchi TSX), running when my knees can stand it, downhill/X-country skiing, travel (Brazil/Argentina, Costa Rica, Greece, Japan, Austria, Italy, UK, Canary Islands, Canada, France among other places) and music.

Decidedly low-to mid-fi, and enjoy my system for home theater as much as music (don't really have the time for quality listening, given the energy expenditure required to raise two young ones).

My "System" includes Mirage OM-7 as mains for music/HT, Mirage OMC-3 center channel, and two recently purchased Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 70 Anniversary speakers for rears/spare stereo pair. Couldn't pass up the e-bay price.

Onkyo Integra DTR7 receiver, Panasonic DVD player, an old Onkyo turntable purchased in college (but at least I still have it and use it occasionally!), a Sony mid-grade tape deck, and a Sony 5 disc CD changer that my wife picked up for free at the swap-shop at the dump. It beat our 13 year old single-play Magnavox CD player hands down! Oh - and a 25" Monky Ward color TV that's still going strong. I guess I'm here for the same reason that I have a "Sterophile" subscription (nice to fantasize), and to hopefully glean something meaningful from the cheap tweak brigade.

Musically, probably enjoy British pop of the low-fi/emo/pastoral/jangly variety most of all (XTC, Mull Historical Society/Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Badly Drawn Boy, Martin Newell, Francis Dunnery, World Party, the Blue Nile, Del Amitri, Trash Can Sinatras among others), but enjoy much more. Last two CDs played: Dennison Wittmer's "Recovered" (great remakes of 70's SoCal and other rock gems) and Rickie Lee Jones "Pirates". Last rock concerts attended: Steely Dan at the Tweeter Center (Everything Must Go tour), Sanata's pre "Supernatural" tour (last summer), and Badly Drawn Boy at the Avalon Ballroom in Boston (a GREAT show).

Peace,
George O

BTW, the moniker "Regiolanthe" is a nod to "Reginald Iolanthe Perrin" (RIP), a character created by author/scriptwriter David Nobbs both in novel and TV form (late 70's Britcom). I can identify with his ongoing quest for search for enlightnement/meaning in an often meaningless and routine world. If you appreciate the term "Bolivian Unicyclist's Jockstrap" as it applies to frozen desserts, well, Reggie's the guy for you.

My name is Mike Chaiko, 42, and I'm a terminal audioholic with little hope for recovery. I live in central NJ, where i've been nearly all my life. I'm a full time Army National Guard helicopter Instructor Pilot and have been flying both airplanes and helicopters for the past 23 years. Amazingly, I'm getting close to retirement from the military and will be looking for a flying position in the civilian sector shortly. I've been married to a wonderful wife for 11 years (although she's got little appreciation for high-end audio) and have a 5 year old son and a 4 year old daughter. My hobbies include soccer (although I haven't played for years due to knee injuries), competitive cycling (have a Moots Titanium/Campy racing bike), homebrewing beer, cigars, and obviously home audio.

My earliest musical memory was going to my best friend's house one day to listen to his parents new hi-fi. His older brother played guitar and just bought Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" I was 6 years old at the time and still remember listening to that album all day long. I borrowed it to show my parents and they absolutely flipped when they saw the cover and heard that "monkey music". I guess part of me liked the reaction and the newfound connection to rebellion and rock-and-roll.

My musical tastes have since expanded to include jazz, blues, and clasical. I'm still on cloud nine after seeing Pavarotti last night in Trenton, NJ. I've always been a fan of live music and feel connected to the emotion that musicians convey on stage.

I've found audiogon an incredible resource for the upgrade path i've chosen over the past year. I appreciate all the responses i've received and am happy to "meet" all you goner's out there. Happy listening!!