I grew up in a small town in the Texas panhandle. I was a holy terror as a child. I broke both my arms as well as my nose--more than once. If something could be climbed, I would be on top of it; if something was indestructible, I could find a way to tear it apart. My mom had a full-time job: housewife. She always had something baking, so I was never without at least a couple of accomplices in crime. My parents allowed me to be involved in everything; from Tee-ball and playdays--rodeos for kids--to Boy Scouts and school plays, I had an opportunity to enjoy everything that Small Town, U.S.A. had to offer.
     I left for college as soon as I graduated High School. I grew a lot as a person during those four years. I think the most important lessons I learned were outside of the classroom; things such as personal independence, financial responsibility, accountability, and–not least among them–direction. As my final semester grew near, I realized that I was no different from the rest of the multitude who would be graduating with the same diploma in the same field wanting the same job. I decided to enlist in the military for experience and a step up. I spent a few years in the service and learned many more valuable lessons in life. I realized that structure and discipline can help keep a chaotic world in order; I saw first hand that leadership and supervision mean being a living example to those your command--something too many corporate managers will never understand; and, I came to believe that there truly is nothing that a man cannot accomplish if he reaches down inside himself and puts everything he has into attaining the goal at hand.
     My military experience led directly into my current "civilian" career. I accepted a position with an agency down along the Southwest border. I lived under the palm trees for several years just a few miles from the Rio Grande River and "Old" Mexico. I learned a lot about other cultures during that time. Though not required by my employer, I felt that I could not be successful neither in my occupation nor in my social life without learning the Spanish language. Within a a relatively short time, I was a pretty good speaker. As time went by--without being consciously aware of it--my Texas twang dwindled away. It wasn't until a friend that I hadn't seen in a while told me that I had lost my accent that I realized it was all but gone. I could've cried.
     In 2002, I realized that I had reached my ceiling in my field. I felt it was time to get up and move on. Within a few months, I packed up everything that I owned and headed to Chicago. For the most part, I have enjoyed my time in Illinois. I consider myself very fortunate in the fact that my job allows me ample opportunity to travel extensively and experience the rest of the outside world. I do look forward, though, to one day moving back to the great state of Texas and buying a home outside of the city where I can have my horses and pets as well as peace and prosperity.

Something only my closest friends know about me

I like to spread juicy gossip like a little old grandmother at a Bingo hall.

     I graduated from West Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree. It still makes me smile when I think of the irony of spending so much time and money to get a BS paper certificate.
     Don't get me wrong. I absolutely loved my time at college. I grew and learned so much while I was there. I must admit that I changed majors more than once. In fact, they had to make me take the diploma and leave. I would have preferred to have spent four more years if they would have given me half a chance.

     I have grown up all of my life in the Church of Christ. It is not as prevalent in the North or upper Midwest as it is down South. There is at least one in just about every small town in Texas. I suppose it would be considered very conservative by Chicago standards. There are no creeds, statements of faith or national head.
     I consider myself to be a religious person, but I am not always able to go to church as often as I feel I should. I credit my faith in God for my success and well-being. I think that a strong, religious belief can help anyone overcome any obstacle. I believe that evangelism should be the priority of every Christian. Unfortunately, I have been in the 'public service' sector for so long that I have come to feel I cannot express my personal beliefs in a work setting.

      As you can see from my many different web sites, I have countless hobbies and special interests, but above all I just love adventure and travel and meeting new peoples and cultures. I've skipped through just about every state in the continental United States as well as England, Scotland, Wales and Mexico. I enjoy spending time with friends and, when possible, my family.
    For a quick distraction, I love to escape into the movies, especially on opening weekends. There is nothing like experiencing the raw, collective psyche of a crowded theater--the laughs are funnier and the shrieks more terrifying when you are surrounded by a mass of emotional energy. I enjoy all types of music, from classical to heavy metal.
     Ever since I was a young boy, I have been fascinated by the Medieval world. One of my dreams that I was able to realize was to commission for a suit of fifteenth-century Italian plate armor to be custom made for me. For a while, I was a member of the Chicago Swordplay Guild where I learned a great deal about the true martial arts of the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, conflicts with my work schedule prevented me from adequately participating, and so I was forced to resign.