1) I am a person who gets very enthusiastic about something or totally despondant, there is no happy medium.
2) My wonderful wife Maggie, who I met at a local nightclub and have remained married to for 22 years keeps me focused on the things that really matter.
3) I have a real problem remembering birthdays, and important dates, my mother, sisters and wife are supposed to tip me off a couple of days before and they haven’t been doing this lately.
4) I hate being late.
5) Left to my own devices I would alternate my time between my garden, my usual “rock related explorations”, travel and writing.
6) I have a few good friends and like it that way.
7) Idle chatter for the sake of noise is most tedious to me, if there is little of substance to say, dont bother saying anything at all.
8) Politically I am all over the map, I have views that tend to either end of the spectrum, some days I scream for public hangings, other days, life in jail or just a good flogging would be sufficient.
9) I used to work as a foreman of a shipping crew in a busy factory, I dont really enjoy telling people what to do, nor do I enjoy harassing them (contrary to popular belief) but I do like to set goals and work toward accomplishing them. I resent anyone standing in the way.
10) I was debarred from University for partying too much, I hardly attended a class at all during my second year but proudly managed a 50% in some classes???
11) I returned to University while working in my factory job and managed to finish my degree by studying as I worked. Thankfully my foreman was sympathetic to my goals. I addended correspondance at several Southern Ontario Universities.
12) I had been under the impression that a degree guaranteed the recipient a classy job, it turned out not to be the case and I was a little disappointed when I found myself still working in the same factory six months later. Opportunity soon came knocking and I opened the door and have never looked back. I am a firm believer now that education is never wasted (wish I came to that opinion sooner)
13) I studied gemmology with the Canadian gemmological Institute in Toronto, not because I thought that it would make me rich but because i loved the subject. I am now qualified as a professional gemmologist and professional diamond grader (by education not profession).
14) Strange how life flip flops around. I had once thought that I wanted to be a soilder. I had started out on a trial basis with the Canadian army as a cadet in Germany. It seemed a little tame so I joined the British Infantry. Now that was an experience that I wont soon forget.
15) I have a scar on my forehead that I got when I was in a tank crash. This particular vehicle, a Leopard A3 main battle tank bottomed out in a shell crater at about 60 kilometres an hour and I head butted the gunnery site in front. The only person left concious was the driver and he reversed out and kept driving. I fainted shortly thereafter and recall seeing my legs sliding toward this hatch that opened and closed depending on the turret position. Was sure that I was gonna loose my legs but as you might notice on my blog, I still have them.
16) I served three years in the Queen’s Regiment (1st Battallion) having been moved onto active service as soon as I passed out of basic training. It was quite a shock after highschool in Edmonton just six months before.
17) dont speak to me in the morning, I take a long time to wake up.
18) I am a ravenous collector of books. I have an entire room in the basement devoted to books, my study is packed solid and they are all around my bed in piles. Maggie says we have enough but I keep secretly buying more and hoarding them in a dispersed way so that she wont notice.
19) I AM A TERRIBLE PROCRASTINATOR.
20) My grammar and writing are pretty bad, when I was 9 or ten they told my parents that I should have to attend special classes for people whose writing is totally unreadable.
21) I used to be the class clown. I took great delight in coming into the class soaking wet after having fallen through the ice in the nearby stream (grade six). My friends and I used to like jumping on a particular patch of ice until somebody fell through. The water was waist deep and because I was the heaviest I was always the one who fell through. I also used to like telling jokes that only I found funny and then I would laugh at them myself and tell another or make one up on the spur of the moment. The teacher said I was very imature. In retrospect, it was grade six. Im am not sure what she was expecting, I just enjoyed myself and just because it was not her idea of fun, didn’t mean it wasn’t fun.
22) If I seem a little confused when I meet you its probably because I dont remember your name – Dont be insulted, I dont remember anyone’s name.
23) My best ideas all come while I am soaking in the tub. My book, Rockwatching; Adventures above and below Ontario” was almost completely written from the bath tub.
24) My car is an absolute pigsty, it reeks of wet dog and the back seat is totally filled with empty Tim Horton’s cups and old donut bags.
25) I have been scared of the dentist ever since childhood and am unable to shake the fear. Just sitting in the chair brings a sweat out on my palms.
26) I am not so good at housework but fortunatly Maggie is. This leads to a lot of cruel and hurtful accusation.
27) My kids usually have to help me with my computer problems, i am not so technically adept but am getting better.
28) Left to my own devices I will eat until I explode. I have to resist endless snacking on a day off and try to keep myself on a strict diet over the week.
29) My theory – don’t ever turn an opportunity down. Looks like I have some pretty significant challenges.
30) One of my colleagues pointed out – I like to dangerous things safely – well I’m in the right place for that.
31) My third book is now in print – “Caving in Ontario; exploring Buried Karst”. It reveals the odd and secretive world of caving. Fortunately it is an unfinished story as the caving saga just continues.
32) I presently work as a training manager in a large industrial facility.
5. Marvelously interested in rocks
6. Marvelously willing to squiggle thru dark, cold, tight places far under the earth….
Thanks for visiting my blog and your lovely compliment! I’m having a good time with my blog. Sounds like you are too. I’ll be back to read more about all things rock-related. It sure is an interesting world out here! Hasta luego,
Saratica
Sounds a little vain, I dont know who typed that there, I will fix it tomorrow but bask in the compliment a little longer. mick
Nice pictures! Caving.. i think i’m uncomfortable caving :D well in small caves atleast! But you’ve got some nice articles! Have a nice day!
Nice blog, Mick. Only one question.
Why are there only 25 things on the page titled “50 Things”? :D – Tim
Err… 26 things… 28 things… uhm… I think I get the picture. – Tim
I ran out of things and forgot to add more. Mick
hey there rock watcher i have a question for you but dont know how to email you. i am in kingston i have been reading abut a cave somewhere around glenora ont. that is susposed to be the site of hidden treasure. would you have heard of any such caves? its susposed to be high up on a narrow ledge oakleytile@live.com
Hi Mick,
Awsome Blog! Greg told me about it and I have enjoyed reading it.
I live in Arden now. 1hour from Marmora. Let me know when you are going caving again up here.
I can remember Rob Strachen (Should be Strachan) gasping something to the effect that this was “just like our own slice of West Virginia”
Rob
Hey Rob, strange how a few moments in time can be so pivotal to the bigger picture. I remember your words as plain as the day you said them, it was such an intense discovery. Will announce another trip to Marmora soon. It will be open to whoever from the TCG might like to attend. Mick
great pic in the grotto
I am new to caving RockW’er but it has always fascinated me. We used to climb anywhere and in anything we could in Nova scotia as children.
This saturday i have my first professional expedition to Rats nest cave in Canmore Alberta.
Bit of a touristy location but there is a 60 ft rappel i look forward to.
Articles are fascianating as are you. I read your entire blog from new all the way to the beginning.
Funny how blogs are one of the few things you read to the beginning not the end.
Keep up the great blog and stay safe ol chap.
Aaron Halifax (now Calgary)
Thanks for the kind words. Touristy or not I would very much like to visit Rat’s Nest Cave. Mick
It’s called “50 things” but it’s only 30?
Anyway, #7 same here. Small talk isn’t my thing.
I have been reading your ‘Tamarindo’. Pure genius! Your writing is fantastic and I can’t put down the book.
Thanks.
Hello Michael. I like your site and would like to connect with people having the same interest to do more cave exploration and share my caving pictures with rock watchers. I am looking forward to your new book release about caving in Ontario. I did many years of caving in Europe. Caves mean so much to me. Being surrounded by rocks is a spiritual experience for me.
If you need help in your new cave or want to capture these precious moments on film send me your contact info please.
Branko, Do you live in Ontario?
Yes in Misssissauga. I often travel to Peterborough county. I will be away on a trip to Texas and New Mexico to visit some famous caves there. I hope to bring back many pictures and memories to share them with the rock watching family and friends.
I had a trip planned for that area myself in about 2 weeks – the intent was to fly into Lubock and then by car down to Carlsbad area then up to Rowell and on to Santa Fe. I had also hoped to visit some caves there, but my wife is not a caver so I settled for Tulum instead.
Hi Mick. Pictures from Tulum look great. There is also an interesting water park in Mexico Xcaret and Xelha I visited some time ago. You can swim through the caves. The Texas and New Mexico caves I visited in May were fantastic. I really enjoyed them and especially the self-guided tour in Carlsbad Caverns NM. I made three presentations to share on-line. If you are interested click on the link, or copy and paste the link into your browser.
Hey Brother Mick,Good to see you are alive and well. I enjoyed your site. Hard to believe Mills was almost 20 yrs ago.
Chris
Is that Chris Canning? Good to hear from you.
Yes. Good to see you are still rocking/caving.
I see you are back from Baton Rouge. You should drop by next time you are in Guelph.
I have fund your explorations to be quite amazing! I am an amateur paleontologist/archeologist/explorer who is very interested in the science most scientist overlook. I believe lots is to be found still in our own backyards. This past two years I have devoted myself to finding and seeking bison bones and have found several good findings, I believe Canada is a vast unexplored wilderness and we are leading the way in discovery of new species and things unknown to people. Please email me at timtree@hotmail.ca as I woud sure love to show you my findings and would love to see more of yours.
Going to the abandoned mines with you was really fun. Can we do it again?
Btw the 32 things about you was hilarious! :)
Hey there Caver,
Just left macCormish Lane looking for stonness mine. Seems the entire road is private property. We stepped out of the vehicle just momentarily to get our bearings and see if we had found the right area. Just a few steps into the bush at my daughters feet was a huge crystal. It actually looks like a blue apatite. If not its a very turquoisy green apatite. Needless to say i was super excited to find the actual mine and keep searching. But before we knew it we were being asked to leave. The lady didn’t seem to sympathetic. Lol. And I dont if she was the property owner or not. Once we found the apatite I was pretty sure we were in the right spot however I didnt even have a chance to search for a nearby home before the lady spotted us. :( Anyway I screwed it up…I suppose I should have knocked on the door of the very first house on the lane way when we first pulled onto maccormish lane off highway 10 and went from there as far as finding out who to get permission from. Live and learn. Are you aware of who the land owner is? I really would like to go back and explore. Its quite close to my house too. I live in Kingston. So not that close but much closer than making the journey to some of the bancroft and area sites. Anywho any advice on the situation would be great. Also I absolutely can not get enough of your rock hounding videos. Keep em coming!
Best Regards
Mikayla Read
Mikayla_mary@hotmail.com