My Interests and Hobbies
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
"What are your interests? Do you have any hobbies?" These are questions that are designed to be ice breakers. To allow us to learn something about someone else to find common ground which can lead to discussions on subjects both parties can contribute to. For me, those questions are frightening. Not because I have no interests or hobbies; quite the contrary I never know where to begin.
Hot Wheels
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
When I was a very young boy, the Mattel toy company came out with what I thought was the coolest toys in the world. In 1969, my mother bought me my first Hot Wheels car. I can still remember that car, it was called Deora. It looked like some sort of future El Camino. The coolest part about it was that it had orange and yellow surf boards on the back. My brother had the Custom Fleetside and we played for hours with these cars.
Scuba Diving
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
If there were one word that would sum up my personality, it would be challenging. I am continuously searching for new challenges to master. In 1988, I was at a restless state in my life and in need of something new to challenge my mind and body. One day a friend and I decided we should try scuba diving. I had never thought of scuba or going under water before but I had to admit it did sound like a challenge.
Pin Trading
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
As I was growing up, I had the opportunity to play Little League baseball. After the regular season was over, there would always be an All-star team selected. These All-stars would form a traveling team that would play in tournaments throughout the region. I happened to be lucky enough to be selected to play on several of these teams which gave me the chance to meet other ball players from various parts of the country. Before we would leave for a tournament, our sponsors would give us lapel or hat pins to trade with other players. It became a big hit with the players as we soon would have pins from several different places. This was my introduction to pin trading.
Baseball
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
I have always loved baseball, as long as I can remember. The first piece of sports equipment I ever owned was a mitt. This was quickly followed by a ball and bat. The smell of a freshly oiled leather baseball glove, the sight of a newly chalked batter's box, the feel of an outfield of freshly cut grass; these are the memories of my childhood that remain with me even today. As I think back to when I was young, my earliest recollections are somehow connected to the great game of baseball.
Photography
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
For as long as I can remember, I have always had an artistic side. Early in my life, this took the form of coloring and drawing. Later, I began to paint with acrylics and oils. I took time to work in pastels and charcoal as my interest and talent grew.
Photo Equipment
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
I've always been facinated by electronics and toys in general. Little did I know that my interest in photography would lead me to accumulate several pieces of equipment. Each piece of camera gear was carefully selected to further my education and to meet a specific need.
Writing
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
Looking back, my love for writing was nurtured by the teachers I had in school. What is most interesting is that the two teachers I had the most difficulty with were also the two who insisted I keep writing. In fifth grade Mrs. Benton had her hands full with me in her class.
Cars & Bikes
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
Like most red-blooded American boys, I grew up thinking and dreaming of anything that had wheels. At a very young age I would watch all the older kids in the neighborhood as they learned to ride a bicycle. I would eagerly run behind them cheering them on as they wobbled down the street. I was still too young for a bike of my own so I got my wheel fix by collecting Hot Wheels cars. My brother and I would collect money taking pop bottles back to the stores for change. We would then use that change to buy Hot Wheels cars. For Christmas we had asked Santa for race track and we would create elaborate tracks and have all the neighborhood kids come over for race day. It was a badge of honor if you had the fastest Hot Wheels car on the block.
Motorcycles
- Details
- Written by: Jeff Summers
As a boy growing up in Idaho, I was always around some form of bike I started out getting a tricycle then quickly graduated to a bicycle. My father was an avid motorcycle rider and I remember the family going with him to the hills above town where he and his friends would ride dirt bikes. He made it look effortless as he careened down the walls of the canyon and shooting up over the edges of the hills. After he was finished riding, he would place me on the front and take me down the trails letting me feel what it was like to ride. These memories stuck with me throughout my childhood. Other priorities took over my dad's life and he slowly stopped riding his motorcycle.
