Sunday, February 16, 2025

Toledo According To Curtis A. Deeter

Years lived in Toledo: 15

Occupation: Tax Accounting Manager at the Lucas County Auditor’s office, coordinator of Of Rust and Glass, and author.

My story, in one sentence: I’ve taken a winding, haphazard path to get to where I am today, but I’ve finally discovered what my passions are and how to realize them.

One song lyric to describe my ideal self: “Yes, you are a product of your environment, but change is always there if you want it.” We Ride, by Strapping Young Lad.

Cover

What I’m doing and what I want to achieve: Of Rust and Glass, a Northwest Ohio creative community, I started around the focal point of a quarterly e-zine (the first issue to release 1/15/2020). Through it, I hope to provide support to our local artists, writers, poets, photographers, and more, promote the incredible work being created every day in and around our city, and strengthen the bonds between already established pockets within the arts community. While it’s in its early stages and sort of a part-time gig of passion for me, I’m confident Of Rust and Glass will continue to grow and complement the impressive arts and literature scene the Toledo area already has.

Most people know me for: Either my passion for music and craft beer or my kindness.

I wish more people knew me for: Of Rust and Glass, and my writing.

The best thing I’ve ever eaten in Toledo was: While this is a difficult question to answer, as I’ve had so many memorable dining experiences in Toledo, I have to go with my first time eating a pizza at Home Slice.

The street I drive on/walk on most often is The Anthony Wayne Trail, to my job downtown from my family’s home in Maumee.

The best time I ever had in Toledo was at any of the live, local concerts. Both the bigger venues like the Civic Center and Seagate, and the smaller, more intimate places like The Village Idiot and the Ottawa Tavern. We need more of that sort of thing.

If I could change one thing about Toledo, I’d like to see more engagement with local businesses. We have too many chain restaurants and big-box stores, which seems silly when we have so many talented, dedicated artisans here.

If I knew I could get away with it, I would buy something from every single local artist.

The best view in Toledo is either from the box seats at the Glass Bowl or from the top of One Government Center where I work, especially at sunrise.

When I’m craving pizza, I go to Home Slice or The Village Idiot.

The artists and musicians I love are Sir Cadian and The Funk Factory.

What my ideal day looks like, from morning to night: Wake up with a hot cup of coffee, play with my 9-month-old son, write for a few hours, go for a long walk at one of our Metroparks, spend some time at the bookstore/library, grab a nice dinner with a craft beer or two, and call it an early night with a great book.

The reason I am most proud of myself right now: I’ve always talked about doing big things, had these grand epiphanies, but never followed through. In the last few years, I’ve started taking steps to make things happen. For example, I was talking to someone about six years ago about the arts culture, and she mentioned she knew about a lot of events going on around town but didn’t dare to participate because she didn’t know anyone involved. That’s when the idea for Of Rust and Glass first culminated. It sat and rusted in the back of my mind for far too long, until early 2019 when I could no longer let it fester.

Three negative adjectives to describe Toledo, three positive adjectives to describe Toledo, and the adjective of that list that best describes me: Self-loathing, lacking confidence, and overly-reliant on big business. Vibrant, caring, diverse. Out of those, I like to think of myself as caring.

The last time I had a serious-oh-my-god-my-stomach-hurts-now belly laugh was probably late at night with my wife. One of those moments when we should both be sleeping, but one of us says something silly, and we laugh until we can’t breathe.

When I was in high school, I probably would have been described as an underachieving, sort of a goober.

If you could have a drink with any person or character— fictional, real, living or past— who would it be, what would you drink, and why? Sir Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series. We’d drink brandy and talk about the way the world works. He’s a big hero in my life. Despite fighting Alzheimer’s late in life, he wrote incredible stories, spread joy wherever he went, and never stopped asking questions.

My favorite local people to follow on social media are: I like following a few of the local groups, like Close to Home Toledo and The Art and Artists of the 419. Everyone should follow both of them. And, Of Rust and Glass.

On a typical day, I wear: At work, button-down, and tie. At home, Star Wars shirts and polos.

Years lived in Toledo: 15

Occupation: Tax Accounting Manager at the Lucas County Auditor’s office, coordinator of Of Rust and Glass, and author.

My story, in one sentence: I’ve taken a winding, haphazard path to get to where I am today, but I’ve finally discovered what my passions are and how to realize them.

One song lyric to describe my ideal self: “Yes, you are a product of your environment, but change is always there if you want it.” We Ride, by Strapping Young Lad.

Cover

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What I’m doing and what I want to achieve: Of Rust and Glass, a Northwest Ohio creative community, I started around the focal point of a quarterly e-zine (the first issue to release 1/15/2020). Through it, I hope to provide support to our local artists, writers, poets, photographers, and more, promote the incredible work being created every day in and around our city, and strengthen the bonds between already established pockets within the arts community. While it’s in its early stages and sort of a part-time gig of passion for me, I’m confident Of Rust and Glass will continue to grow and complement the impressive arts and literature scene the Toledo area already has.

Most people know me for: Either my passion for music and craft beer or my kindness.

I wish more people knew me for: Of Rust and Glass, and my writing.

The best thing I’ve ever eaten in Toledo was: While this is a difficult question to answer, as I’ve had so many memorable dining experiences in Toledo, I have to go with my first time eating a pizza at Home Slice.

The street I drive on/walk on most often is The Anthony Wayne Trail, to my job downtown from my family’s home in Maumee.

The best time I ever had in Toledo was at any of the live, local concerts. Both the bigger venues like the Civic Center and Seagate, and the smaller, more intimate places like The Village Idiot and the Ottawa Tavern. We need more of that sort of thing.

If I could change one thing about Toledo, I’d like to see more engagement with local businesses. We have too many chain restaurants and big-box stores, which seems silly when we have so many talented, dedicated artisans here.

If I knew I could get away with it, I would buy something from every single local artist.

The best view in Toledo is either from the box seats at the Glass Bowl or from the top of One Government Center where I work, especially at sunrise.

When I’m craving pizza, I go to Home Slice or The Village Idiot.

The artists and musicians I love are Sir Cadian and The Funk Factory.

What my ideal day looks like, from morning to night: Wake up with a hot cup of coffee, play with my 9-month-old son, write for a few hours, go for a long walk at one of our Metroparks, spend some time at the bookstore/library, grab a nice dinner with a craft beer or two, and call it an early night with a great book.

The reason I am most proud of myself right now: I’ve always talked about doing big things, had these grand epiphanies, but never followed through. In the last few years, I’ve started taking steps to make things happen. For example, I was talking to someone about six years ago about the arts culture, and she mentioned she knew about a lot of events going on around town but didn’t dare to participate because she didn’t know anyone involved. That’s when the idea for Of Rust and Glass first culminated. It sat and rusted in the back of my mind for far too long, until early 2019 when I could no longer let it fester.

Three negative adjectives to describe Toledo, three positive adjectives to describe Toledo, and the adjective of that list that best describes me: Self-loathing, lacking confidence, and overly-reliant on big business. Vibrant, caring, diverse. Out of those, I like to think of myself as caring.

The last time I had a serious-oh-my-god-my-stomach-hurts-now belly laugh was probably late at night with my wife. One of those moments when we should both be sleeping, but one of us says something silly, and we laugh until we can’t breathe.

When I was in high school, I probably would have been described as an underachieving, sort of a goober.

If you could have a drink with any person or character— fictional, real, living or past— who would it be, what would you drink, and why? Sir Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series. We’d drink brandy and talk about the way the world works. He’s a big hero in my life. Despite fighting Alzheimer’s late in life, he wrote incredible stories, spread joy wherever he went, and never stopped asking questions.

My favorite local people to follow on social media are: I like following a few of the local groups, like Close to Home Toledo and The Art and Artists of the 419. Everyone should follow both of them. And, Of Rust and Glass.

On a typical day, I wear: At work, button-down, and tie. At home, Star Wars shirts and polos.

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