| Well thank you for being brave enough to take this leap of faith. Hopefully this won't be too boring. Here we go. I was born and raised in Iowa. I was born December 17, 1971. I am the youngest of two. My older sister is four years older, married, has two kids and teaches 4th grade for a living. I am a direct person and I don't believe beating around the bush. Be prepared for some blunt statements and thoughts. I grew up in a small town in Iowa of 1200 people at its highest point. The nearest major town/city was 1/2 hour away which had a population of 25,000 people. During my childhood I was fortunate to do alot of traveling throughout the US which gave me the bug to get a degree in Travel and Tourism. But I will get into that later. I went to a school that had 300 total in 7th - 12th grade. And the same in elementary. I graduated from a class of 63. I participated in quite a few activities in high school. I was an athletic trainer for football. I participate in vocal and instrumental groups including the fall musicals. I try to forget about my high school years because they were filled with horrible memories. But as I look back to all of those kids that teased me mercifully I want to thank each and everyone of them. I don't think that I would be as caring, loving and generous if I wouldn't have lived through those seven years of hell. So to all of you that participated in the daily torture of my being i say thank you!!Then reality came at me like a tidal wave in 1990 when I graduated from high school and continued on into College. I went to a small private school in the NW corner of Iowa and received my degree in Travel and Tourism Management. I did the accelerated 18 month course and graduated in Feb 92. In March of 92, I moved to FL for the first time where I got my dream job with Disney as a houskeeping manager. Got laid off and moved back to Iowa in Dec 92. I buried my grandma no Valentine's Day in 93. Took a job at the grocery store in town to make some money. While working there I took a job at the local bank as well. I quit the store to go full time at the bank. A month after that i got laid off from the bank. So I took a job cleaning offices. Did that for 6 months when I quit to take a job with Gateway 2000 as a technical support professional. That was in the fall of 95. Worked there, N. Sioux City SD, for a little over two years. I was in a near fatal car accident in the beginning of Sept. 97. After I went back to work I was laid off there at the end of Sept 97. Moved to Dallas, TX, Nov. 97, and worked with MCI. I buried my Aunt in June of 98. She lost her battle with cancer. They merged with Worldcom in December of 98. I was laid off a week after our company Christmas party. Moved back home to Iowa mother's day weekend 99. Took a job in June with United. Where I traveled the world many times over and used my benefits to the fullest. My favorite places were Germany and Australia. Everything was going great until 9/11 happened. It was the worst thing I have experienced to this date. It happened on a Tues, the following Tues we had the funeral and the Tues following that I was furloughed. After moving back again to Iowa and sending out over 20,000 resumes in a 6 month period of time, I took a job with ATA out of Minneapolis. I moved there in 2002 and worked with ATA through Feb 2004 where I quit and moved to FL again. I am now working for an internet based travel company. It keeps me out of trouble and I look forward to growing and moving up the corporate ladder. Even though I have had quite the sorted past as far as jobs goes I still remain upbeat and know that there is always something bigger and better for me around the next bend. And I continue to strive for that and look forward to every day in hopes it will bring bigger and better things into my life. Well that is what has created the person that stands before you today. A generous, loving, caring person who will do what they can for you!! Here is a list of a few of my favorite things that I enjoy! Favorites: Food: Seafood, Italian Beverage: Vodka Tonic, Turtle Mocha Movies: Object of My Affection, Titanic, First Wives Club Music: Pop, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Classical, Country Snack: Chocolate, Cheescake Flower: Birds of Paradise Author: John Nance, Dale Brown Book: Turbulance, Blackout Restaurant: Cheesecake Factory, Melting Pot And for those who want to know the perfect date: A nice dinner at one of my favorite restaurants so we can talk and get to know each other more. Sit on the shores of one of the many lakes in town and talk. Or go home and put in a movie, cuddling on the couch and enjoying each others company. Well I have yammered on long enough about my life. This will hopefully give you a some clue as to who I am and why I am the way I am. I wish you all the best in whatever you are striving for and keep the faith!! God Bless... Rick "The Dream is the fuel that pushes man forward in life!" |
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