All about the Whislbabe...
I hate this part.
It is always a struggle to write about myself; not, mind you, because my life is dull and boring, but for exactly the opposite reason--because there is just too damned much to put in that I don't want to talk about.
I have led, as they say in the old Chinese curse, an "interesting" life.
But that's none of your business.
Let's start with the basics: why the name "Whislbabe?"
Easy one. Because I'm a part-time musician, and I play the whistle; also known as the pennywhistle, or tinwhistle. I also play the flute, the piano, the guitar, the harmonica and the bodhran, a type of drum played in Ireland. Oh, and also the spoons. Not too many people are virtuosos on the spoons. It makes dinner at my house "interesting."
So, do I have a real name? Sure. My name is Christin Keck. I live in Kent, Ohio, home of the famous Kent State University, where they offer degrees in everything, including dodging bullets. And before you ask, yes, I WAS there the day it happened. It's one of those things I don't like to discuss, although I will when you get to know me better.
I was born July 6, 1951. That makes me a Cancer, for all you astrology buffs (and I'm one of them.) It also makes me an old fart, but I hardly need to say that. If you're REALLY into astrology, a good place to find out more is on my links page. I have 4 planets in the sign of Leo, including my Moon (which is the ruling planet of Cancer,) so that makes me difficult. Of course, I hardly need any encouragement; I was born wearing a tee-shirt that read: INCORRIGIBLE - DO NOT INCORRIGE.
I work for the Federal Government in some capacity. It's not a secret job, it's just that Government jobs are sometimes difficult to define. Mine involves putting people into one of the major military services, and scaring non-commissioned officers. I like the place I work, but it's not very challenging; it has good benefits, which is why I stay there. It's within walking distance of my house, and I frequently walk to work--a very pleasant thing to do in our town, which is pretty, clean, safe and friendly. Because of the non-challenging aspect of my work, I have a lot of free time and a low stress level. This is the best bonus of all. I have also recently finished training to become a professional indexer--you know, a person who writes indexes in the backs of books. Yes, it's a real profession. (Heck, someone has to write them.) I am preparing to start thinking about transitioning out of the "real" work force into that shadowy realm of "self employment." It scares me, but then, I scare everyone else, so it works out evenly.
I have two sons, both much taller than me. One of them lives in Columbus, and works in the telephone switching industry. He also writes music, and plays guitar and drums. The other one is still in high-school, uses several pseudonyms, writes like a professional novelist, has published poetry, and is heavily into role-playing games where he dresses up in black and pretends he's a vampire. I love them both without reservation.
I also have pets: four indulged cats and an old, crotchety dog. The cats' names are Sammy, Junior, Mickey and Burgess, and the dog's name is Echo. During Spring and Fall in our house, everything is covered in a fine layer of fur--so if you have allergies, call before you visit, and I'll vacuum. Otherwise, you're on your own. There's a nice Maine Coon Cat link on my Links page; if you haven't had experience with this, the sweetest of all possible sweet cats, you're really missing out.
I'm also an artist. I paint, and sculpt, and make constructions out of household oddments. I have created a tiny little Anthropomorphic Personfication type of doll , which I call "Chriskins"--they appear in several of my pieces, and many of my constructions. My current love is painting "found" boxes--of all shapes and sizes--with fanciful designs, or eye-fooling simulations (i.e., I painted a box with a lid to look like an easy chair when the lid was raised.) My front porch is full of these oddments, as well as a dandy collection of origami geometric constructions, which I also made.
And, I'm psychic. I do something called psychometry, which means I can hold an object and tell the owner something about it, or themselves. I read Tarot cards, too. People tell me I'm very good. I enjoy tapping into the substrata of reality, but then, I also think anyone can do it. Just takes a bit of practice.
I have a lot of other interests--too many to list, in fact--but among the top few hundred are: hockey, skating, reading, games, including Scrabble (tm) and the Oddworld series of games for Playstation, cats (no kidding,) the occult, music (of course,) writing, the books of Terry Pratchett, the graphic serials of Neil Gaiman, gardening, origami and travelling. Like most crackpots, I collect odd things: moons, rings, tinwhistles and flutes, the bloopers you see on this web site, odd names, odd friends, odd experiences, and dust. Lots and lots of that.
So, now you know a bit about me. It's not the really "interesting" parts, but it's all I'm willing to put on the World Wide Web for now. Maybe some day I'll run for office, and you'll learn all my secrets. Maybe someday, pigs will fly.
The web site you're on now was created over several years of collecting newspaper bloopers, and odd headlines, funny items, and so forth. I've got a huge collection of these. Many of them are on this site. I especially like to read the personal ads, looking for funny ones. You've gotta admire people who put themselves "out there" like that, with such "interesting" criteria for relationships; I sometimes wonder how many of these are successful.
Well, that's it! Enjoy. If you want to give me some feedback, email me at shecrab@concentric.net
If you're really nice, (and some of you have been already!) I'll write you back, and consider you a new friend. This could be fun for you at Christmas.
Well, I suppose you'll also want to know what I look like. Hmmph. Too bad. I'm not in the least photogenic. But, I suppose if you must, you must, so steel yourself and glance below, if you dare.
Or click here to go back home. I'll understand, believe me.
This is me, dressed as the Entire Night Sky for Hallowe'en, a holiday I take very seriously. You don't really think I dress like this all the time, do you?
(Actually, I would if I could.)
But, underneath all that universe, this is what I really look like most of the time.
Remember, I warned you. Did you listen? No-o-o-o-o. Well, too late now.
You better go and visit the rest of the web site now. G'wan. Git.