My life is dominated by 5 crazy kids, 2 co-dependent cats, a Walker Hound, and 1 loving wife who still puts up with me and even seems to enjoy it.
I've been an on-again, off-again patzer, but when I get the bug I become totally obsessed right up until I burn out. I hope to short circuit that cycle so I can keep enjoying chess without the year or two gaps of non-playing. So far, so good, though some months my plays are definitely more mechanical than others.
I'm also into literature (see
http://www.librarything.com/profile/Tuirgin) and art film (Tarkovsky, Kurosawa, Bergman are at the top of my list), and artisanal breads (I make the best bagels I've ever tasted). I used to aspire to being a photographer, but have little time due to family and workâmaybe as a retirement plan.