ID: George E. Lenker Jr.
George Lenker, ID, with his 7-year-old cairn terrier, TJ. KEVIN GUTTING Purchase photo reprints »
George Lenker, ID, with his 7-year-old cairn terrier, TJ. KEVIN GUTTING Purchase photo reprints »
George Lenker, ID, with his 7-year-old cairn terrier, TJ. KEVIN GUTTING Purchase photo reprints »
George Lenker is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in publications across the United States and Europe, most notably in The New York Times. He’s also a musician who is involved with animal rescue: He recently released an album of songs, “If Dogs Could Sing,” written from dogs’ points of view. Half the profits from the album will go to help shelter dogs.
Full name: George E. Lenker Jr.
People know you as: Geo
Date and place of birth: May 6, 1958, Chicopee
Address: The mean streets of Northampton
Jobs: Rogue journalist living by his wits. Raconteur
Who lives under the same roof as you? TJ, my dog, and a host of characters in my head
Children: Are lovely and wonderful members of other people’s households
Education: Ongoing, at the School of Relatively Soft But Annoying Knocks
Pets: I count TJ as my best friend, so I’ll say no
Hobbies: Facebook. Thinking. Drawing. Writing and recording music. Soothsaying
Book you’d recommend to a friend: “Consider the Lobster” by David Foster Wallace
Favorite movie/television show/musical group: “Wings of Desire” / “Wilfred” / The Beatles
Five items you can’t live without: iPad, iPhone, American Heritage Dictionary, Garner’s Modern American Usage, guitar
Last thing you purchased just for fun: A political strategy game app for iPad
What’s at the top of your bucket list? I don’t have one, but I’d like to move to Ireland
Life-changing experience: Rescuing my dog, TJ, or going to Ireland for the first time
Strangest job you ever held: Writer/reporter. I doubt a stranger job exists
Current Facebook status: “I had a date with the Handmaiden of Destiny, but she stood me up”
A little-known fact about you: I can print totally legibly backward with my left hand as fast as most people can print forward
Dumbest thing you ever did: Ignore my better angels
One trend you’d like to see return: Grammar, or maybe etiquette. Let’s say, “The polite use of proper grammar”
What really sets you off? People who hurt the innocent or helpless. I’m looking at you, Michael Vick
If you could spend the day with a celebrity from any time in history, who would it be? David Foster Wallace, even though he was a contemporary, or Soren Kierkegaard — just because they were so brilliant
Best advice you ever got: “Be that self which one truly is” — Soren Kierkegaard
Favorite place to get a bite: Joe’s or Sierra Grille
Favorite athlete: Galway Tribesman in Irish hurling. Hurling is the greatest sport, even better than U.S. football
What does your ideal weekend look like? Blurry, furry, green-gray and with a creamy zen center
One thing you would change about yourself: The fact that it’s so hard for me to change sometimes
What gives you the creeps? Honey, because it’s bee vomit. You can look it up
People who knew you in high school thought you were: High, but I actually never was. Seriously
Whom do you most admire? People who make sacrifices or put themselves in harm’s way or go above and beyond the call of duty for others, and make the world a better place: first responders, Armed Forces people, teachers, volunteers, parents
Parting shot: If everyone would take a little more blame, there would be less of it to go around
Editor’s Note - To suggest someone for ID, email Keri-Ann Aubin at kaubin@gazettenet.com.
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