I am pleased to be the new “Talk to the Hand” feature writer. This will be a series of interviews with the typist behind the anipal.  Interviews are loosely based on James Lipton questions used on Inside the Actors Studio. So, here goes!  P.S. I didn’t pay him for the last comment!

My featured “Hand” typist today is someone we know and love, @WisSmokeFan, otherwise know as Douglas Kimpel. Douglas lives in the United States, specifically in lovely Wisconsin.

What is/are your passion/hobbies?

It seems I’ve developed a Twitter obsession, but nearly everything in my life revolves around music. I’ve been playing brass, woodwinds, keyboards, and rhythm instruments as well as vocals (harmony and lead) professionally for 25 years. I have swing, classic rock and Gaelic rock/folk bands. Additionally, I ride Honda GoldWing motorcycles and spend time helping charities and my community as a Free Mason and Shriner. When work is added to that mix, something had to go — sleeping.

What is your favorite word?

AWESOME. It’s a great descriptive word, can be used sarcastically, and easily converts to an anipal word by adding a “p.” Pawsome.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Although I don’t write songs, I love reading and writing, and how words can turn and twist, and paint a picture more vivid than the greatest work of art. My spiritual outlook is that I appreciate anyone who holds to a true stand of right and wrong, and a spiritual connection to something greater than themselves.

I don’t show very much emotion. However, my little girl, who is actually my 16-year-old niece and has been like my daughter her whole life, went through some hard times. I’ve shed a lot of tears for and with her, and she is now as strong as ever. I am PROUD to show the “girly” emotions about my little girl who I would die for. It’s a new feeling. I like it. It showed me that true men are not the big tough brutes, but men who truly LOVE.

What turns you off?

I get upset over parents who don’t put their children first, monsters who harm animals for any reason other than sustenance, legalization of controlled substances and men who do not respect women.

What sound or noise do you love?

I love the sound of a thunderstorm when I am sleeping and the wind rustling through the trees when I take a walk.

What sound or noise do you hate?

Lawn mower blades hitting rocks. Weird huh?

What is your occupation?

I run a document management route for Cintas Document Management. (We secure and destroy confidential documents).

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

If I could make enough money to live, it would be the music, running a store, giving lessons, playing live.

What is your favorite color?

Purple. Since it’s my daughter’s favorite color, the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen, I know I’m right.

Who is/are your anipals?

Tiger Tommy (@theNascarKitty ) who shares my love of NASCAR… or at least the 4 hours of quality lap time a race provides.

Bill The Cat (@_Bill_The_Cat ) My Maine Coon at #RainbowBridge (RB), passed over because of cancer in Oct. 2010. May 24 was his 18th birthday.

Charlotte (@NaughtyChar ) She’s a perfect kitty specimen.

How did you decide to portray their personalities?

I took aspects of my personality and attributed them to each of the anipals to compliment their own purrsonalities.

@_Bill_The_Cat Bill, alpha male of the house, but he is as gentle as a little lamb… and the same size. MOL! He tweets from the RB. He is very intuitive, so his tweets concern enjoying life, counseling family members of pets who come to the RB, and having fun. While I can’t see him, I know he’s right here with me as I tweet, making him seem more alive.

@TheNascarKitty: Tiger Tommy was feral, and was the most ferocious hunter I’ve sever seen. I brought him home and is a  100% indoor kitty since. He’s now at least 17 years old. His Twitter personality includes a little of my naughty/flirtatious/fun/ambitious sides. He DJs, co-Chairs Anipal Academy Awards, and is a confidant to several humans . He’s also BadA$$ in a good way. He’s a rock star of kitties.

@NaughtyChar: Charlotte is a perfect adorable little monster rescue cat and kitten-like from the trauma. Her persona is a lot like my daughter, brilliant, cunning, allergic to gravity, allergic to sleep, sweet as molasses, with a slight naughty “oops…were my claws out?” side. She’s about 2 years old now. She allows TheNascarKitty to believe that he’s the head of the household, but deep down… LOL.

Any additional comments?

A year ago if you had told me I’d be addicted to Twitter, and actually tweet for my cats, I’d have thought you were nuts. People who are not Twitter anipals don’t understand us, but we are an awesome family of animal lovers, and we really are closer to our pets for the experience. I’d like to thank all the great Twitter anipals who have been so terrific to me and my family. We went through a rough patch with my father and daughter. While I was being the rock of support for my entire family, many of YOU were my rock of support to give me strength and even love, although most of you I’ve never met.

Twitter has made the world smaller, and we are forging friendships that will last a lifetime. Thank you.  Thanks to @MaggieTKat who shares a taste in eclectic music with me, and is about the most beautiful Maine Coon Tortie I’ve ever seen. XOXO

Tagged as: @NaughtyChar, @thenascarkitty, @wiscsmokefan, @_Bill_The_Cat