Blog Tag: 5 Fun Facts about Justin Cutroni
This week I was ‘blog tagged’ by Avinash Kaushik and have decided to share a few facts about myself. I also need to tag 5 others. I’ll start by tagging Dylan Lewis. I met him at Emetrics and he is a very interesting guy.
Here goes…
1. I have thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian trail is a 2,167 mile hiking trail that starts at Springer Mountain, GA and ends at Katahdin, ME. On April 8, 2000 I started walking North from Springer Mountain with a woman I had known only 4 weeks. 5,000,000 steps, 183 days, 14 states and many blisters later we climbed Katahdin in Maine and completed our journey.
Needless to say this trip changed my entire life. Most notably, I fell in love with my companion, and she is now my wife. Everyone said we would either love each other or hate each other at the end of the trip. I’m glad it was the former.
2. I am a Rocket Scientist
Seriously, I am. I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Aerospace engineering. I received my degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
To graduate, each student needs to complete a thesis called an MQP (Major Qualifying Project). I did my MQP with a brilliant young woman at the NASA Glenn Research Center, it was titled Sub-Kilowatt, Electrothermal Plasma Source Development. My partner and I studied the optimization of arcjets which are small thrusters used on satellites. How’s that for geeky? :)
3. I am a fanatical Red Sox fan
I grew up in Boston, MA and, like every good Bostonian, I am a fanatical Red Sox fan. I obsess over every player move, front office change and statistic. For example, this month I am IRATE that the Red Sox have changed the radio broadcast team. After 14 years Jerry Troupiano has been booted from the broadcast booth. Nice job guys!
But my relationship with the Red Sox is personal. Why? When I was growing up baseball was a family activity. We went to games almost every weekend and every game was quality family time. To me, the Red Sox will always be warm summer afternoons at Fenway Park with my family. I can smell the hot-dogs now….
4. I love the outdoors
Plain and simple. I love to hike, ski, canoe and fish.
5. I dig live music
I really got into music when I was in college. I started seeing this band called Phish. Me and some friends would travel from city to city (when we had time) and see as many Phish shows as possible. The band opened my eyes to many kinds of music including; Jazz, classical, bluegrass, etc. To me, it’s all about the creative energy between the musicians and the fans. That’s something you can only experience at a show.
Justin: This is fantastic. Having met you a couple times I would probably have only guessed two of the five things, even in those you have surprises.
Thanks for playing along, I have discovered that it is a great way to know a bit more about the person behind the blog.
(Little known fact: I have hiked 5 miles of the Appalachian Trail and had one blister! I have so much admiration for the fact that you and your wife did the whole thing!).
-Avinash.
Justin:
Another class of 2000 AT hiker here. I started March 7 and finished on August 21. The other day one of my buddies produced a shelter register from Massachussetts - from a shelter near the East Mountain Retreat Center (about 20 miles south of Upper Goose Pond). Shoot me an email with your trail name, and I’ll see if you signed the register.
Sorry to say I’m an avid Yankees fan. (well - I’m not really sorry) I hiked with another Red Sox fan in 2000 - Hollywood Mike. He finished the same day as me.
I’m also a music lover and fan of the Dead from back in the day. My first show was in May ‘78 in Philly.
So, it looks like we have some common interests. Nice site!
Happy Holidays!
Take care,
Jeffrey Hunter
aka Little Bear
GA-ME 2000
Hey Jeff!
Congrats on the thru hike! Sorry to say that I have not heard of you. My trail name was Fenway and my partner was ‘Tough as Nails’.
Justin
Yeah, I was ahead of you the whole time. I had a deadline. I’ll check the register and see if you made an entry, and let you know.
Only 6 weeks til pitchers & catchers report!
Found a shelter register entry dated 8/9/2000 by you in the aforementioned shelter register as follows;
Fenway & Nails tented here. Now we’re off to hike in the rain :-(. Psyched for some time off @ home with our families (Fri, Sat, Sun). Happy Hiking!
Purple & Dammit signed in the same day, as did Yak & Yeti, Nemo, Sherpa & Marie. Thebes was there the day before, and was pissed about the side trail tothe East Mountain Retreat Center being obliterated. So was Fritz.
I know none of these folks since I was in the area a month earlier.
Take care!
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