I work on and with computers (J hence my nickname J) at my place of employment which is Erlanger Health System (more information about this company can be found by clicking the link below). I have been with Erlanger for 19.5 years as of January 1, 2001.

I have witnessed some great events and some tragedies since I started work there. One of my best friends and a father figure to me was a man known as Kenneth Lee, the man who first helped me get a job at Erlanger. Ken was the Captain of Security at the Hospital and was due to retire about a month after the day he passed away in 1997, and I will miss him dearly. I work with his son, and though I have never said so to him. I am proud to be his co-worker, so Ken, if you are reading this, I am saying it now J.

I started reading Science Fiction and Fantasy when I was about 7, the same year I started noticing girls. At the time Science Fiction and Fantasy had a more profound impact on me (J wasn't I silly!?! J), because it offered a means for me to excape into the worlds and dreams of some of the greatest story tellers our century has to offer. I remember that one of the first authors I ever read was Andre Norton and I had the unique pleasure of meeting her and being her escort to the state of Tennessee in 1997. I will be attaching the story of that experiance later. I have read a great many books, most of which I still have... I started going to Science Fiction Conventions in the 1970's and the first one I ever went to was Chattacon, and I have not missed a Chattacon since. I worked on the Board of Directors for Chattacon for 4 years and was the head of the Huckster Room for the whole time. I have worked in the Huckster Room of various conventions since then and have always enjoyed the experiance. The three conventions on my home page are all local conventions and I am proud to be a part of each of them in some capascity.

Having been a part if the Science Fiction Convention crowd I have met and talked to a great many authors and artist and gotten to know them as people and friends. I started getting them to sign my books since the 2nd Chattacon I went to and so many of the books I have are now autographed by the authors. I also collect comics because this is another area that allows a reader to excape into wonder, though the pictures do take away from the imaginative part of the story.

It was at one of these conventions that I met Nancy Fowler, the lady I fell in love with. She is no longer among the living and I have placed the poem that she asked be read at her Funeral on another page that can be found through a link on my home page.

Once, when my mother was still alive I bought a membership for her into Libertycon. And I was introducing her to Timothy Zhan, a well known author in the Science Fiction feild and a personal favorite and friend. I had already introduced my Mother to Tim, and was introducing Tim to her when, instead of saying Author, I said Artist. Tim was quick to remind me that he was an Author. And I in turn told him. "Tim, a great Author IS an Artist". To which he and everyone around us who heard this yelled back "Great come back!!!" J , or "Good Save!!!" J this response included Tim. But, you know what? It's the truth. If, like the song goes, A picture paints a thousand words, then how much greater the artist, who, with a thousand words can paint a picture? This is one of those moments that will always stand out in my memories. J Now more about how I treat life and it treats me. J

I am a Potentialist, and I like to think I am a person with Enlightend Self-interest. What this means is that I always look for the "Positive" Potential in any situation. And, being a person who realizes that all of us humans are beings of self-interest and try to focus mine so that everybody benifits J... What I mean is, human beings are survivors and survivors HAVE to make the ME number one, so in realising this, I use my self-interest in such a way that, though it benifits me, it will also benifit others. But, don't think that this means that I am a pushover. It just means that I will do everything in my power to ensure that I will help others not that I will let others roll over me, I did say enlightened not stupid didn't I??...J

If you want to know more about where I work then --

Click the above picture to enter the Erlanger Site.

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