True or false? -- The answers

[bigmacbear]

1. I sang in two performances of the opera Aïda.
   TRUE. Back in November 1985 with Opera/Columbus. They needed choristers so I got to sing a baritone role in the Priests' Chorus.


2. I've written a newspaper column for several years.
   FALSE. You may have seen a column in your local newspaper about marriage or a reference to Marriage Savers. Same name, different person.


3. I was raised Roman Catholic.
   TRUE. 'Nuff said.


4. I have in the past been an avid, if not competitive, swimmer and was trained in lifesaving.
   TRUE. I got swimming and lifesaving merit badges in the Boy Scouts. Of course I don't get much swimming in nowadays, unfortunately.


5. I have run for elected office in the City of Rochester.
   FALSE. Again, same name, different person.


6. At some point in my adult life I have sung each of the four commonly recognized men's voice parts (tenor I, tenor II, baritone, and bass).
   TRUE. From high school onward I sang second tenor, occasionally dropping to baritone while in college (including the opera). I sang first tenor in a barbershop quartet, then back to second tenor upon first joining RGMC. After a period of a few years not singing regularly, I dropped to baritone on returning to RGMC and now sing bass.


7. I've served in the United States Navy.
   FALSE. I once got an e-mail from someone who read my motto of work on my web site -- "This is not the U.S. Navy. It's not an adventure, it's just a job." -- and assumed from that I'd served in the Navy. No, I got that from a public recruiting slogan from some years ago, suitably turned around.


8. I've never had chickenpox nor a broken bone.
   TRUE. I came close to the latter when my sisters pulled my arm out of its socket at a young age, but haven't had to wear a cast or anything. I'm told chickenpox is really scary if you get it as an adult, though.


9. I began reading at the age of two.
   TRUE.I don't clearly remember the incident but my mother and aunt were astounded when, while traveling under a railroad overpass, I read the Union Carbide logo off the side of a rail car. I then began reading the headlines in the newspaper, and getting mightily confused when the front page read "REDS DEFEATED IN VIETNAM BATTLE" and wondering what the local baseball team was doing in the Vietnam War. ;-)


10. I have a Bachelor of Music degree.
    FALSE. My degree is in Electrical Engineering. My knowledge of music has been picked up in practice, a couple of theory courses I had in my high school Glee Club coursework, and lots of advice from accomplished musicians in the RGMC.