I've been accused of having entirely too many hobbies.

Depending on who you ask, I've been a Naval Aircrewman, Search and Rescue Swimmer, a Sheriff’s Deputy, a detective, a handyman, a carpenter, a race car builder, a drummer, an amateur historian, a guy who still stops to read every historical marker on a road trip, and - according to my wife - a professional collector of cars, tools and other useless “artifacts”  I "absolutely needed."

They're all right.

I've always been fascinated by learning how things work; the why and how. Sometimes that's a hundred-year-old piece of trim in an historic home. Other times it's the silent precision behind the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, or why one house stays cool in July while the one next door sends the electric meter into low orbit.

Curiosity has a funny way of leading you down rabbit holes and I've spent thirty five years in various disciplines wandering down quite a few of them.

So what is this column going to be about?

Honestly...I'm not completely sure.

Some months we'll talk about practical ways to make your home more comfortable or things to watch for on/in your house and car so you can stay operational (Mission First!).  Other months we'll wander into history, craftsmanship, old tools, traditions, fish stories or one of the countless subjects that makes life interesting. Every now and then I'll probably tell a story about a project or even a life lesson that didn't go according to plan - not because I enjoy admitting my mistakes, but because they're usually a lot funnier than “I installed a cabinet and it came out perfect…the end”.

I don't pretend to know everything. If I did, I'd have finished every home, car and drum project years ago...and possibly my garage would actually have room for a vehicle instead of looking like a lumber yard and a junk yard had a kid together.

Mostly, I hope these articles leave you knowing one thing you didn't know before you started reading and if they make you laugh once in a while, even better.

Until next time, stay curious. Life's a whole lot more fun when you occasionally wander down the rabbit hole...get lost, figure out where the rabbit got his waistcoat, argue with the compass and somehow end up three steps behind where you started. If that sounds oddly specific, let's just say I've had a lot of practice.