Getting To Know Each Other

[PhilDernerJr]

I thought it might be nice to, as we all get to know each other through our hobby, to learn a little bit more about our real lives. For those willing, maybe sharing something that about ourselves that others may not have previously known.

For me, when I was a young boy (ages 5-6) it was thought that I had an intense learning disability. My speech was poor, I was not interacting much/well with others, and I couldn't manage the use of items like scissors. They began giving me all of these tests to determine my ability to think and reason and calculate because they wanted to place me into some different educational programs.

They determined that my learning was fine, but it turns out that I was having speech problems as a result of problems with my teeth (I had a fall when I was 5 that mangled my teeth) and intense dust allergies that caused nasal issue. Both of which affected my ability to speak. My scissors issue was because no one realized that I was left handed, struggling with right-handed scissors. Socially, I was just shy because of how I talked. They decided to send me to speech therapy and an allergist, which eventually cleared up my problems and I went on to have very good grades through elementary school. Junior High and puberty....well that's another story.

Just one little part about me.

[NIKV69]

Phil I would much rather hear the DeL Taco story.

Little trivia with myself is I got Bacterial Meningitis in 7th grade. I had a headache to end all headaches, was burning with fever and basically couldn't move. My mother brought me to the doctor who had a long staircase to get to his office. I never made it. At this point I was barely conscious and all I remember is hearing my doctor say we have to get him to Good Sam.

Next thing I know I am lying on my side in the hospital and I hear something that I am getting a Spinal Tap. Which felt like someone shoved a telephone pole in my back. Shortly thereafter I'm told I have meningitis and of course the worst kind or something. Also that my mothers quick thinking probably saved my life because left untreated even for a short period of time you could be a goner.

I couldn't remember anything for three days and lost a lot of weight. After another week I was allowed to leave and still couldn't go back to school for a long period of time which I didn't understand until I could barely get off the couch for a while. I made a full recovery but it was a heck of a ride!

[jerslice]

I started off terrified of flying, so much so that I wound up delaying flights on two occasions due to my freaking out. I'd shake like a leaf and get sick to my stomach the day before we flew out -I blame it on too my Dateline scare episodes. I got over it in my early twenties...and since went on to enjoy flying quite a bit, obviously!

[Gerard]

Just celebrated 30 years of marriage.
Work in the same job for 37 years.
Afraid of heights unless I am inside (plane, building).
Would have been drafted in 1973 if Draft hadnt expired.
Father was NYPD officer for 31 years.
Cancer survivor and still fighting!!

[Gerard]

Work in the same job for 37 years.


Ha quick clarification......same COMPANY for 37 years!! :tongue:

[Gintaras B.]

My first flight(as a passanger, of course) was when I was about 20, Vilnius(VNO) to Moscow - Sheremetjevo (SVO) on TU-134...Back then, it were 2 Sheremetjevo airports - International and local - within USSR...
Few years later I got a job that required a lot of traveling all around USSR...Longest flight was 9.5 hrs on IL-62 - one of the best airplanes I've ever been on, flight: Moscow-Vladivostok...
My favorite airplane back the was TU-154, I flew on TU-154 once in a stewardess seat, since no tickets were available on that flight, but I knew someone @ airport, who put me on that flight and on that seat....

I do work for same Co over 15 years.
Single(separated for about 10 years)...I've even brought once, early fall, a girlfriend to Bayswaters park...I wanted to take photo's, she got kinda bored...Well, we no longer together....:eek:

[megatop412]

Some of you know that I am also a musician and recently got the chance to head into the studio to record an album with my old heavy metal band. We had recorded some demos in the 90's and played some live shows in the midwest before breaking up. We never got signed back then, so when a label expressed interest in a one-album deal, we made the record we had dreamed of making 15 years earlier. I cannot tell you how gratifying that was. AND, we got James Murphy to guest solo on it, how freaking cool is that.

I am also a solo artist and write and record acoustic/hard rock/speed metal originals in my attic studio. I usually keep the airplanes and music separated in my life, they keep each other balanced out and interesting.:cool:

[Gintaras B.]

Some of you know that I am also a musician and recently got the chance to head into the studio to record an album with my old heavy metal band. We had recorded some demos in the 90's and played some live shows in the midwest before breaking up. We never got signed back then, so when a label expressed interest in a one-album deal, we made the record we had dreamed of making 15 years earlier. I cannot tell you how gratifying that was. AND, we got James Murphy to guest solo on it, how freaking cool is that.

I am also a solo artist and write and record acoustic/hard rock/speed metal originals in my attic studio. I usually keep the airplanes and music separated in my life, they keep each other balanced out and interesting.:cool:

You did trick me in....

Music...well, it's a big part of my life...I'm a record - LP collector. I did work a couple years for some small indie label in NYC in 96-98...Yngwie Malmsteen's Magnum Opus was released on that label in US.
I've heard James Murphy...Speed Metal? I think, Marty Friedman/Jason Becker Cacophony 2 albums are a must in every metalhead's collection.
My #1 is Deep Purple(solo, related).
I do listen a lot of music - from classical to disco to heavy metal...
Lately got into jazz - pop jazz, vocal jazz...A couple months ago I was @ Sarah Brightman concert @ Radio City Music Hall, NYC - what a voice....

Anyway, if we meet, we could talk a lot about music...

[ANITIX87]

For me, when I was a young boy (ages 5-6) it was thought that I had an intense learning disability.
When I started Kindergarten, the district put me in ESL because my parents are from Greece and Switzerland, I spoke no English (only French/Greek at home), and I didn't know "American traditions" (the school's words). My parents both speak fluent (if accented) English and 6 months later I was out of ESL and then spent the rest of my elementary/middle/high school years in gifted/honors programs. I know it sounds conceited, but I speak better English than 99% of Americans despite it being my third language, because I learned it through school and books, rather than through speech, colloquialisms, and "spoken" language.


I made a full recovery but it was a heck of a ride!
Are you sure you're recovered fully? Sometimes I'm not entirely convinced your head is totally right...


I started off terrified of flying, so much so that I wound up delaying flights on two occasions due to my freaking out.
I love flying (and aviation, obviously) but I have a crippling fear of it. In 1996, I flew on N93119 on the day she crashed, coming home from ATH. In 1998, I flew on HB-IWF on the day she crashed, coming home from ZRH. Every since then I can't shake a debilitating ominous feeling. I also get severely airsick so that's always in the back of my mind and doesn't help calm me. Once the plane takes off, I'm fine, unless the flight hits rough air, and then I get sick.


Afraid of heights unless I am inside (plane, building).
Me too! This is very common, I find.


I've even brought once, early fall, a girlfriend to Bayswaters park...I wanted to take photo's, she got kinda bored...Well, we no longer together....:eek:
I brought my ex-girlfriend to Bayswater (and the Mounds, and Panera) all the time - Nick/Mark/John/Sergio/Manny/Phil all met her at some point - and she was always at least willing to humor me, even if she didn't have the same interest (she even bought me my 50D and my 100-400L). It's nice to find in a girl, and you and are I both going to have to find that in our next lady-friends!


recently got the chance to head into the studio to record an album with my old heavy metal band.
One of my bucket list items is to get into a studio and record a piece of classical music I wrote many years ago. The Lehigh Philharmonic performed it when I was at school there, but I want a good, professional recording done.


Anyway, if we meet, we could talk a lot about music...
Same here. Let's form the Official NYCAviation Orchestra!


Some more interesting tidbits about me:
I was born in Lansing, Michigan.
I speak fluent Greek, French, and German. I can get by in Spanish.
If money were no object, I would be a member of a professional orchestra for a living (right now, I'm an engineer working in train control systems)
Some people want expensive cars, or expensive homes. If I ever hit it big, I will only make one purchase - a full-size, 9-foot Steinway grand piano.

[Cary]

Here are some tidbits people might not know about me. I am Asian. I like turtles.

[gonzalu]

Here are some tidbits people might not know about me. I am Asian. I like turtles.

Isn't it Oriental? :tongue:

[Cary]

Isn't it Oriental? :tongue:

Northwest Orient..al.

[Gerard]

My #1 is Deep Purple(solo, related).


One of my favorite bands with one of my favorite guitarists (Steve Morse). Their new CD "Now What"? is excellent!! Actually bought the CD rather than download from Itunes!!
Progressive rock, hard-rock, jazz/fusion are my three music loves!!

[Gintaras B.]

One of my favorite bands with one of my favorite guitarists (Steve Morse). Their new CD "Now What"? is excellent!! Actually bought the CD rather than download from Itunes!!
Progressive rock, hard-rock, jazz/fusion are my three music loves!!

Steve Morse is great guitarist(How many times Guitar Magazine voted him #1 in a row? I think - 5)...First time I've heard Steve Morse, it was on 2 Kansas albums. "Now What" - prolly one of the best albums since Perfect Strangers. But I don't want CD, I want LP.
Most of my DP collection - LPs.
Prog? Porcupine Tree? Rocket Scientists? Transatlantic? The Flower Kings?...can't even remember them all...I like very much Steve Hackett...too many too to list...

[Gerard]

Steve Morse is great guitarist(How many times Guitar Magazine voted him #1 in a row? I think - 5)...First time I've heard Steve Morse, it was on 2 Kansas albums. "Now What" - prolly one of the best albums since Perfect Strangers. But I don't want CD, I want LP.
Most of my DP collection - LPs.
Prog? Porcupine Tree? Rocket Scientists? Transatlantic? The Flower Kings?...can't even remember them all...I like very much Steve Hackett...too many too to list...

Porcupine Tree and Transatlantic excellent!! Dream Theater for Prog/Metal.
Saw Morse 1st time with Dixie Dregs back in late 70s at the old Lone Star Cafe in West Village. Forgot how many times saw them over the years. Also have seen Morse w/Kansas, Solo, Purple and last year with
Flying Colors (the Mike Portnoy, Neil Morse collaboration kinda Prog/Pop, quite good). Actually met him once backstage, friends of mine knew the late Dregs keyboardsist T. Lavitz!! Steve is a very nice guy AND
quit the rock scene many years ago to fly as a commercial airline pilot!! Not sure but I believe he flew Regional airlines!! Flying is still one of his passions!!

[Gerard]

Sorry guys we kinda hijacked this thread with our music talk. :eek:

[tlabranche]

As a child, I had was diagnosed with an awful 'lazy eye' in my right eye. I had to wear an eye patch and Rx glasses over the patch from age 2 - 7. I spent Kindergarden, first and most of my second grade years getting ridiculed more than a kid should endure at that age. Thankfully, there was no social media back then, so the bullying was nothing compared to today's standard.

Anyways, after I couldn't take the insults and name calling, I refused to wear the patch anymore. My muscles in my right eye never strengthened to correct to 20/20. Today, I can go take an eye exam and at best, I would guess somewhere around 20/100 and I am extremely near sighted in that eye. Thankfully, the patch straightened my eye out and it no longer points to my nose bridge. No surgery can fix the issue and if I wear a patch again full time, I can probably strengthen the muscles, but I have lived with pretty much seeing out of my just my left eye.

Another issue I have with the eye issue is flying. I have a Statement of Demonstrated Ability Waiver (SODA) to fly with one eye. While I only fly privately, I can get an ATP rating with one eye. The only issue I have is when I renew my medical, I have to go up with a flight surgeon from the FAA to endorse my waiver. I have to do some touch and go's, judge distances and show an overall proficiency with one eye.

[bonanzabucks]

Some random facts about me:

*I've been to jail before...but not for the reason you'd think!
*Big time wrestling and soccer fan.
*I've lived overseas before in South Korea and London.
*Been to more than 40 different countries and I try heading overseas at least once a year.
*My mother is from Greece and my dad is Canadian, but Jewish. I have US, Canadian and Greek citizenships. They're still happily married.
*Born in SC, but also lived in DC, MA and Canada before moving to NYC 14 years ago.
*Big time gamer, especially at my age.
*Love mobile technology.
*And this one is really personal, but I'm a heart attack survivor. And no, I was not close to being slightly overweight, not that old and I have always been in good shape and ate pretty healthy, plus early heart disease is not in my family history. I was lucky to get to the hospital when I did and there was minimal damage and I have normal heart functionality. Doctors were clueless as to why it happened. Since then, I have focused even more on healthy eating and exercise and have lost 20lbs since it happened about six months ago.

[Speedbird1]

Some facts about me. I had polio as a kid; there was no Salk vaccine back then. I am left-handed so I was made fun of plus I was called "4-eyes" for wearing glasses. The polio left me with a limp. I have scoliosis which made me 4F for serving in Nam. I have OCD; explains why I get obsessed with spotting. Flew on Concorde G-BOAB back in '79. Babysat actress Mariska Hargitay once back in 1964. Have been spotting since 1977.My very first flight ever in 1970 to SFO on a TWA B747 made a crash landing at JFK due to a blown tire; didn't bother me. Collect airline memorabilia; used tickets, luggage tags, timetables, in-flight mags

[Ari707]

First flight I was 4 in 1971 JFK-LAX on AA 747, I still remember I had to wear a suit, and the captain took my Grandparents on a tour of his new plane.
Grew up under LGA RWY 31 expressway Vis. approach and 31 take-off, back when most of the flights were much nosier, remember many EA L1011's and AA and UA DC-10's loved the sound of EA Electra's, and windows rattling from 727's.
Love to SCUBA dive. I've dove many of the local wrecks off Long Island though now with 3 kids diving time is much harder to find.