20 Questions: Christine Williams

Every year, MACNA brings in a big groups of speakers and these people provide a small image and a biography detailing who they are. Boring!! We want to get downright personal so we can know who they really are.

Sitting down with Christine Williams, the interview went like this:

1) Let's start off easy... What was your first job?
CW: Working for a company that made artificial limbs. It involved straps, velcro and other assorted items. (Favorite limb?) A guy that wanted a beer bottler opener embedded in his leg! It's important to have the right tool for the job.


2) What did you do before you became a famed MACNA Speaker?
CW: I sat in my sad sad apartment alone; I had no friends.

3) Who's aquarium build-thread do you subscribe to, your favorite must-read?
CW: I follow two builds: Paul Whitby's because it is spectacular, he's super helpful, and yet it was set up very simply. And Joe Burger's, which is well done with raging OCD; his reef system. For example...the frag tank is on a table with a lip on it that sits at a slight slope so if it were to leak, the water were to flow towards a drain. It's like the space shuttle, completely prepared for every possible contingency.

4) What size tank do you have currently?
CW: My main tank is a 36g tall cube. However, I'm about to switch over to a 46g bowfront. I love fish so it's about the colors and interactions. I'm not a stick forest kinda gal.

5) How long have you been in the hobby?
CW: My son is almost 9, so I've been in the hobby for 9 years. It was a great way to deal with stay-at-home boredom.

6) What's your best fallback act when you need your spouse's forgiveness for a hobby-related issue that consumed too much time/money?
CW: hahaha... I've honestly not run into that problem yet. He hasn't figured out that bad stuff going wrong is something he can complain about. Plus he likes to go to the conferences to learn more. I'm so lucky.

7) What's your favorite coral or fish currently and why?
CW: Right this second it is my Yellow Watchman Goby. He's been so shy, but lately he's been coming out to enjoy the holidays with me.

8) Where do you live, and where would you prefer to live if you had the option?
CW: I live on Long Island, NY. I don't think I'll ever move. It has everything I like, including the awesome aquarium. (The Long Island Aquarium, formerly called the Atlantis Marine World - the 20,000g reef tank.)

9) Each speaker gets to ask the next person one question. Here's John Coppolino's question for you: Why is it that you do work on your tank at 2 a.m. in your underwear? And to follow up... if you're saying you haven't done that, you're lying. I have pictures.
CW: Because I'm tired of wet sleeves.

10) What do you want to do most when you come to Dallas Fort Worth for MACNA 2012?
CW: Catch up with everyone. Seeing everyone scattered all over the country, seeing everyone you miss.



11) What's your favorite beverage?
CW: Eggnog, spiked with bourbon. Hold the eggnog.

12) What other pets do you keep?
CW: I have cats, plural. (Hanging my head in shame) One of them has no eyeballs. (I didn't request pictures)

13) If you could, what would you add to your bio to make it sound better?
CW: A Ph.D.

14) As the MACNA Diva you are, what food demand must be satisfied?
CW: The Kraken. This is a drink that tastes like anti-freeze. It makes your Crown Royal taste like champagne. I do have a request though: A hot tub. With a hot tub, who needs a food demand?

15) After MACNA, where would you like to speak next? What's next from here?
CW: Europe. I want to go there, but not for work

16) What club are you a member of?
CW: LIRA. Long Island Reef Association

17) Name one tv show you won't miss. And what's your current favorite song you're driving everyone nuts around you?
CW: Iron Chef - the Japanese version. I love it. A show that I absolutely can't stand: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It's the worst food show ever with the most annoying host! And my current favorite song is Devotchka's "26 Temptations" - it's this crazy Mexican war song. (I may have to look this one up)

18) What has been your greatest accomplishment in life?
CW: I hate these questions, because you are always obliged to say your child. If I don't , does that make me a bad mom? I don't know, I haven't done it yet. That's my answer.

19) If you were given 6 months to live what decisions would you make today?
CW: I wouldn't work so much, because I wouldn't have to worry about being fired. I'd spend more time with my family. AAAAAND I would get a cowfish! They outgrow your tank, but I'd be dead so it would be someone else's problem.

20) What question should I ask you if I wanted to get to know you better?
CW: When I'm staring off into the distance, ask me what is it I’m thinking about.


And...what question do you want to ask the next person?
CW: Can you approximate the salinity of your tank by how it tastes?... and if you say no you're lying...


Bonus Questions:
Who cut Van Gogh's ear off?
CW: It wasn't actually cut off. It was just a flesh wound.

Name your favorite website?
CW: Reefs.com

If someone gave you a million dollars for one project, what would you spend it on?
CW: I would give it to the aquarium to use it for a captive breeding program, and hire myself to work there.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
CW: I cook a lot. I do nerdy traditional woman things, like sewing.

Apple or PC?
CW: PC

Which MACNA speaker are you most looking forward to hearing? (So we can schedule them at the same time as your time slot....)
CW: I'll tell you when I've seen the full list of speakers.

What is the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow?
CW: African or European?

Which is better: crashing your tank with vodka or kalkwasser?
CW: Kalkwasser. That way you have the vodka to drown your sorrows.

Learn more about MACNA on the official website: www.dfwmacna.com
Read Christine's bio here: http://www.dfwmacna.com/attendees/speakers/

And lastly, register today so you won't miss Christine's talk! http://www.dfwmacna.com/register/