Novice woodworker, tool-collecting nut, Trying to learn as I go using magazines, books, TV and the web as references. Live in Florence, SC. 63 years old/young (take yer pick). Will talk about nearly anything brought up, might know a little, or a lot...I just don't know! Got started on the path to woodworking several years ago when my wife Irene and I were in a high-end, really expensive "Exotic Furniture" store in Greer, SC. After watching me put my face down on the tabletops to gawk at how the grain leaped out at me, she said those fateful words..." Why don't you quit screwing around talking about this stuff and build me some things?" All I could do was to stop...slowly turn my head in her direction...and say........"Don't toy with me!!! If that's what you really want...be prepared....it's not cheap!" She said that if it got me home from work more often, that it would be worth it. My only regret now is that there is too little money for too much wood! I have told the kids (son Russ, 43 and daughter Courtney,40) that the only thing I want for any holiday or birthday is interesting wood, and in return, for their birthdays, they'll get it back, albeit in a different and hopefully more pleasing form. I am slowly learning (I guess you could call it being self-taught) from magazines and books and having an absolute blast doing it! One day I hope to design something that will stop people in their tracks, but if I only get a thank you kiss from my wife...that'll be just fine!