Pittsburgh Homes Daily

I’ve been tagged twice now (by Columbus Best Blog and Realtio) for the blogging craze, 5 Things You May Not Know About Me.  Here’s the scoop:

1. I’ve just moved. 
I’m now living on the North Shore of Pittsburgh in a great old victorian house that we’re just finishing fixing up.  So expect a big housewarming party in January when everything is ready for company. 

2. I held a Grandmaster in chess to a draw once.
If you know anything about chess, you’ve probably guessed that it was in an online simul.  For those not familiar with chess, that’s where a great player plays against a number of opponents (think 50 to 100) at the same time.  It’s a really impressive thing to watch a GM or NM do.  I used to play alot during college, but I’ve slowed down since then (read: 3 games in the past 3 years).  I’ve got much more impressive wins then this one, but the draw was my first really impressive “victory.”  If there’s anyone out there that would like to meet online or in person to play, I might be interested in dusting off my chess board.

3. There are more dogs than humans living in my house.
A pack of shih tzus came with my wife and they’re great.  You never know what crazy thing you’ll find them doing.  We found this photo op during renovation of my prior house.  My wife called the picture, “Any Port in a Storm.”

There’s a park near where we’re now living.  I’ll be the one being dragged by my dogs!

4.  I’ve been fishing since I was three.
I was born at a hospital next to a great river for catching salmon, which must have started my obsession.  I’ve never really owned a boat (I don’t count the inflatable boat that sprung a leak on our second trip out), but that hasn’t stopped me from having a lot of fun.  Perpetually fishing from the shore, my father used to joke that I had no need for a boat since I was always fishing on the land anyway.  I had taken a lesson from Jimmy Houston and I was fishing near the structure.  Since I was standing on the structure, that involved dropping my bait as close to the land as possible!  I’ve tried fly fishing, and hopefully one day I’ll go trolling on the Great Lakes.  I was here in Pittsburgh during the Bassmaster Classic in Summer 2005, but I haven’t yet done any fishing.  Something I’ve got to put on my list of things to do in 2007.  In case you are wondering, play more basketball is also on the list.

5. I almost ran over myself with my own car once.
Don’t try this one at home.  It takes true talent and is best left to professionals.  Let’s just say that there was a small hill, a dead battery, and me.  Fortunately, no hospitalization was required.

I’ve picked 5 Pittsburgh blogs which I need to do a better job of keeping up with in 2007 to tag:  I heart PGH, Pittsblog, I am PGH, Liberty Tubes, and Eat it and Love it.