About Me
- About Me: I worked for Loudoun County Public Schools teaching Latin for 26 years at Park View High School until I had to take a disability retirement in June of 2003. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2000 and I continued to do what I love almost more than anything else in life. That love is teaching. It is difficult to explain what the loss of mobility does to someone who has enjoyed a full and active life. The onset of this disease usually occurs between the age of 20 and 40. In 2000 I was 51. It can also attack much younger victims, so being a teenager doesn't make you immune. MS seems to be different for everyone and we need to learn everything we can until no one has to suffer from it.
Movies
- Favorite Movies: This is hard because there are so many. I think when I was in high school Lawrence of Arabia was at the top of the list. There are many more. Of all the movies on Ancient Rome made during the 50's and 60's my favorite has to be Spartacus because it didn't deal with the often maligned topic of Christian Persecution. When talking about more recent movies, I would have to include Gladiator, Cold Mountain, Man on Fire, Braveheart, Walk the Line, and Good Night and Good Luck. There are still more.
Books
- Favorite Authors: This is more about authors. When I was younger, I really enjoyed novels by Alexander Dumas and Raphael Sabatini. As my interest in the Classical Word grew, I fell in love with Mary Renault's novels on Ancient Greece. If you are interested in Ancient Rome especially the Julian Dynasty, Robert Graves' novels, I, Claudius and Claudius the God, are very good. Taylor Caldwell's novel, A Pillar of Iron, is another novel on Ancient Rome that I think is good. This book as well as most of the others I have mentioned are out of print, but you can still find many of them on amazon.com. What am I reading now? They are usually adventure thrillers with plenty of intrigue, action, and endings one wouldn't think could happen. The authors that I am reading most often now are Dan Brown, Daniel Silva, and Clive Cussler. Two other authors that I have enjoyed over the years are Gore Vidal and Ken Follet.
Music
- Favorite Genre: Most any kind ranging from jazz to country. When I was in college, I liked groups like Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young who can forget Four Dead In Ohio and even Jethro Tull. That was a different time, but one we should all remember. I liked the movie Walk The Line, so I have been listening to a lot of Johnny Cash lately. I think my wife is getting a little tired of it though.
More About Me
- Nicknames: Hoocher Man
- Religion: Christian - The Episcopal Church
- Heroes: My Wife. Nicole, Erika, and AJ-my best girlfriends. Let's not forget Hilarie, my girl in the stars.
- Interests: Politics, Religion, Classical Studies, Reading, the Movies, and Computers.
- Expertise: My students always thought I was an "all knowing Sage". That I am not sure about, but only a fool stops learning.
- Occupation: Retired Teacher
- Industry: Education
- Website: http://www.hoocher.com
Television
- Favorite Shows: One Street Hill, Law and Order, NCSI, Battle Star Galatica, West Wing, Surface, Cold Case, and With Out a Trace. We do a lot of taping, and then watch them when we have the time.
High School
- School Name: South Side High School
- Status: Alumni
- Class of: 1968
- Attended: 1965 - 1968
College
- School Name: Ball State University
- Status: Alumni
- Class of: 1980
- Attended: 1975 - 1977
- Degree type: Masters
- Major(s): Latin
- Organizations: Alpha Mu Gama
Magister_26
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- Name: Magister_26
- Birthday: 8/12/1949
- Gender: Male
- Member Since: 4/28/2006
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