NOTE: For the most part, this page has not been updated in a VERY
long time (around 5 years). When I get around to redesigning the
site I will update it.
basically, this page should tell you who i am and what i do. it has no structure or set organizational pattern...just random ramblings. the first part of this page should give you an overall knowledge of all that is otter. i will give each part a topic, so if you aren't interested in knowing about something, just don't read it. next you should see an on ongoing and constantly updated list of questions from those little "get to know your friends" e-mail surveys that were "cool" not too long ago. finally, you shall read whatever i see fit to tell you...beware
who i am and what i do
name
to start off, my name is joshua j.
smelser.
internet
in the land of world wide web i go by
OtterFreak,
SNZipperhead, & Joshua J Smelser.
places of residence
i was born in south florida, raised
in
south florida, and slowly conditioned to very much dislike south
florida. why you may ask do i detest south florida? well, everything
has an exception to the rule, but for the most part; the weather is
humid, the people can be
a little of the unfriendly side, and it's flat. i am much happier
living in
atlanta (where i have resided since 1994). just like florida, there is
an
exception to the rule; but atlanta has friendly populists, beautiful
fall
and spring weather, and you are never too far from a place that is
still
in its natural state.
school
i started off school at riverwood for
preschool.
after i had experienced all the life lessons that preschool could teach
me
i went to broadview
elementary.
my mom was the PTA president and for the most part i can say my
memories
of K-5 are fun-filled ones. i remember vividly the last day of
elementary
school, which was a not-so-happy memory....the girls in our class (mrs.
farmer
& mr. novajosky's) were in tears and were very upset by the fact
they
thought they would never see each other again. now that i think of it
it
was kind of like the last day of high school. anyway, after elementary
school
i went to a magnet school for computers called parkway
middle. it was a
hellacious
experience for me....i got in my first and only fight (which ended with
a
swift kick to the oppressor's jewels..i don't fight nice). i constantly
felt
out of place and i wasn't learning anything about computers that
i
didn't already know. the next year, i left parkway never to look back
again.
i attended to silver
lakes
middle
school for a short while before my family moved to georgia. i
continued
the 7-8th grades at tapp
middle school.
not a bad experience aside from the pepper spray incident & the
weekly
mile runs in p.e.. next up was high school, feared but awaited. i went
to
mceachern high
and
i can say that even though it had it's ups and downs it was a great
time.
i was involved in clubs, student council, plays and all kinds of stuff.
there
was plenty everybody complained about (even i complained sometimes) but
it
was a time i will never forget. i went to kennesaw state university from fall
99
until january 2001. from april 2002 until november 2002 i
was
a student at chattahoochee
technical
college
working towards a degree in web design. currently i am on an indefinate
hiatus
from school until i am ready to go back.
work
i've worked in the following
positions:
good mews animal shelter- shelter
maintenance
cat care hospital- vet tech assistant
petsmart- cashier
blockbuster video- customer service
representative
zoo atlanta- jr. zoo crew assistant
coordinator
kennesaw state university-
photography editor
of "the sentinel"
wherehouse music- store manager
spherion -
multi-staffing
employee (for ibm)
currently... ibm - contract
administrator
see my full resume
play
most of my time is spent at work and
school
but i do like to have things to do when i'm not at either of those
places.....
i had been volunteering in two places for about 6 years. the first was good mews cat shelter. it is a no-kill, no-cage cat shelter and is a wonderful refuge for homeless cats. the second place is zoo atlanta. i started off at zoo atlanta in a teen volunteer program called "the jr. zoo crew" for people 13-17 years old. when i finished my 5th summer there i became an an adult volunteer. work got in the way after high school, and i'm still trying to find the time to start volunteering again.
when i'm not working, i usually am
doing one of a few things.
1) as everyone knows i have a
"little" obsession
with otters. i like to work on my web page that i maintain about otters
and
keep up with latest in otter news. i also like to find old books and
otter
collectibles that i don't currently have in my possession.
2) i am a big music fan. i like to
listen
to my cds and go to as many concerts as i can. i like discovering new
and
interesting music and sharing it with anyone who is willing.
3) i am also a big fan of the arts. i
like
to attend theater productions whenever possible and i also like to
watch
movies.
what i look like
current and not so current pictures on
flickr
old school photos also on flickr
get to know me
Full name: Joshua James Smelser
Nicknames: Josh, OtterFreak, Otter Boy, Satan (it's a long story)
Date of Birth: 2-17-81
Parents: Susan And Steven Smelser
Siblings: Sarah
Marital Status: As single as they get
School: Not right now
Friends: (not in any order of
importance) Justin, Jennell, Tess, Kristin (Anne, Lauren, & Katie
too), The Fab
5 (Julie, Christina, Amanda, Kristen
&
Katie), Erin & Jarrod, The Wherehouse Salckers (Jeremy, Ben,
Shenoa,
John, Shane, and the rest), the Zoo Crew, and my family.
Pets (pictures)
/names: CATS: Mr. Bigglesworth, Persephone & Miko [RIP
Charles(1-24-01), Tigger(3-30-01) and Squeakers(10-27-05)]
BIRD: Taz
FISH: [ RIP Willow & Tara the lesbian goldfish (2002)]
[RIP Spike the Plecostomus (02-02)]
Hobbies: Playing on my computer and editing my web pages, Listening to my cool music, going to the movies, visiting my otters, Doing the Zoo, and Volunteering at Good Mews.
Things I collect: Anything that has to do with otters
Best advice ever given:
Word or phrase you use too much: otters
A non-sport game in which you excel: Mortal Kombat
Non-sport game you enjoy: Monopoly
Dream car/mode of transportation: The Batmobile (or any black corvette that looks like the Batmobile)
Coolest Experience: Playing with the otters in Statesboro
Scariest Experience: Being in the dark warehouse
Stupidest thing you've ever done: Spilled candle wax on the carpet
Favorite thing to do in the summer: Go to the zoo
Favorite amusement park ride: The Gravitron
Special skills/Talents: Know way too much stuff about otters
What I want to be: ????????????
Favorite music: All kinds! Rock, Pop, Trip-Hop, Alternative, Folk, Jazz, Hot Jazz, Big Band (see the Music section)
Favorite food: Any cool vegetarian dish
Least favorite food: Lima beans
Favorite subject: Theater
Favorite Actor: Jim Carrey, Oliver Platt
Favorite Actress: Liv Tyler (Please marry me!), Ana Paquin
Favorite Movie: Awakenings, Austin Powers, Magnolia, Amelie, The Royal Tennebaums, Empire Records, Nightmare Before Christmas (or anything by Tim Burton)
Favorite Cartoons: The Simpsons, Ren & Stimpy, Space Ghost
Favorite TV Show: Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Favorite Day of the Week: Saturday
Favorite Month: October
Favorite holiday: Halloween
Favorite part of the newspaper: Entertainment
Favorite thing to wear: Clothes
Favorite book(s): Ring of Bright Water
Tartar control or whitening: Whitening
Favorite cereal: Anything with fiber & fruit, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Captain Crunch, Corn Chex
Peanut or Regular M&M's: Peanut
Favorite Children's book: Rikki Tikki Tavi
Quote: "If you tell me you're
crazy maybe
then I'll understand" -- Tori Amos