My name is Abe Mathews.  I currently live in Melbourne FL, where I work as a
semiconductor process engineer.  I have a wife and two cats.  I'm originally
from northern MN, then went to Michigan Tech for 6 years.  I am a relative
newcomer to woodworking.  I've been lurking for a bit now and trying to absorb
what I can.

Other hobbies include guitars, WWII aircraft (WarBirds, anyone?), firearms
(SWMBO and I shoot sporting clays 1-2 times per week).

I'm a wannabe-Normite in a 12-step program right now.  I've watched NYW often
over the past few years, always thinking "someday".  My limited space and lack
of funds for a router, bandsaw, drillpress, tablesaw, and power mortising tool
were enough to discourage me from trying anything.  I never took the time to
consider that most of the furniture the flannel-clad one copied was made
before the advent of power-anything.

I guess you could say I'm recently bitten by the wood bug.  This past October
I got a chance to work with my grandfather and father on a small project.
It's the only thing that I can remember the three of us working on together.
We made a small (same size as a deck of cards) cribbage board.  It turned out
pretty well, and several people have said they wanted one. So I'm going to try
to make them on my own this time.

I've got your basic home-repair kit - hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, but
almost no woodworking equipment.  I've got a reloading bench that will work OK
for a wood bench for a while.  I've put a bunch of thought into what I need
for this first project.  I think I'll do OK with a good saw, a block plane, and

either 3/8" or 1/2" chisel.  I've been talked into new chisels and a ryoba saw
from Japan Woodworker by a professional cabinet and furniture maker.  For a
block plane, I'll probably end up with a new Stanley 9 1/2.  I put a bid on a
Millers Falls model 16 on eBay yesterday, but someone put in a $.50 higher bid
than mine with 30 seconds left to go in the auction.  I never had a chance to
counterbid. :(

Which brings me to a question about Galoot status - can one be a Galoot in
spirit while using new tools in old methods?  Or is the status conferred only
when one has a collection of well-experienced powerless tools?  I'm hoping that
I will be able to find some good stuff soon.  After all, I live in the state
where all Yankees go to die.  :)

Pleased to make your acquaintance - now I'll hide back under the porch for a
while - this time AWAY from the spitoon!
Abe Mathews