I don't want to change the world. I want to be an example others want to follow. If everyone walks their talk, the world will change itself.

~*~

I've been a writer all my life but only recently (if you call several years recently) decided that's what I want to do to pay the bills. For now, I'm continuing to work at a regular job while I build a blog. I think this gig is probably 10% writing and 90% marketing. So far I've only done the 10% part because that's more fun. I hope five years in the future I'll be able to say "I marketed the shit outta myself!" I guess that would require me to actually DO it tho. Procrastination is my constant companion.

My mother was a single parent most of the time I was growing up, which would allow a therapist to label me as a Latchkey Kid of Generation X if I was into that sort of thing. Mom pioneered the Raise Your Child by Phone movement, but her executive status in the corporate world was really a learning experience for me as well. She taught me critical thinking and problem solving (not to mention plain old survival in suburbia), which I've found to be more valuable than a piece of paper proving you endured 4+ years of academic torture in a quest for "higher" education. Having a degree does not make you smart. (However, that paper is a much better shoehorn for job interviews! Do not try this at home. I'm a professional on a closed course. Be cool, stay in school.) Her side of the family is where I get my gypsy gene and creative thinking, and the reason my opinions lean to the liberal side.

My father is the complete opposite: a conservative Republican that's lived in the same place all his life, and done the same job since before graduating college. Good thing he loves being a CPA. He's certainly been a huge success at it. He is the most stable person I've ever met, and would easily (and accurately) be described as a pillar of the community. I'm very proud of both my parents, but for far different reasons.

Having access to such a broad range of viewpoints, I've found my personality straddles the middle of two extremes. Does that make me well-balanced? I like to think so. I've certainly learned to fit in anywhere from a hillbilly barbeque to a black tie event.

Since history will repeat itself, I've been a single parent myself since I was 20. My daughter, Katy, is now almost that age herself. Yes folks, this year will be the big 40. Hard to believe really since my maturity level stopped advancing somewhere in my mid-20s.

I've lived all over the country including Philadelphia, Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta, the NYC metro area, and now San Diego. I figure I still have the Northwest to go, but I don't think I'll ever live in the Midwest. Nothing but tornadoes and corn fields out there, which is fine if you like that kind of thing.

I've never been married and not sure if I want to be. I like the relationship part plenty, but that gypsy gene comes with a non-commitment clause that gets in the way. It would take one helluva Prince to put up with me, but sometimes my Cinderella complex whispers in my ear that he's out there. I guess all we can do is wait and see.

I'm not any particular religion. I just like to live the Truth. I think all organized religion is really saying the same thing anyway, so once you've sorted through the bullshit, the truth is really all that's left... or right. :)

Mostly I write about things going on in my life, and the insights that follow. I hope you enjoy reading about them, because that's what makes an excellent writer - excellent readers.

My goal is to be somewhere between Dooce and Augusten Burroughs. Like at the Pulitzer Awards dinner. That would rock. :)