I was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and have lived in Toledo, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Cleveland, Mississippi; and currently live in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. I was adopted at 2 weeks old, from the Edna Gladney foundation. My parents told me early on that I was adopted, but that doesn't make tham any less Mom and Dad. I am so lucky to have these people as a family. I could have been adopten anywhere, but I was placed in the hands of a couple who have given me a wonderful home to grow up in. All the while putting up with my dirty handprints on the wall, after working on this n' that...

Mechanical things have always fascinated me, as has biology. When you get down to it, there are many similarities... Just as staying up on the ins and outs of technology helps one maintain and take care of cars, computer, and other equipment; a good basic understanding of biology and medicine is an important step twards better health.

I started tinkering with go carts early on, and that started me on the road to where I am now. The rest of this site covers my tinkering and tampering, so I won't repeat that here. This is about me as I percieve myself. Maybe others percieve me this way, maybe not.

In person, I'm shy. I can overcome it to a limited extent, (typing this text), but there's no denying it. This made it particularly hard to cope with gradeschool. Why am I this way? Kids don't accept anyone who is different... They said I have attention deficit disorder, whatever that is...

I have a mind for details, it won't allow any situation to pass, without considering the possible outcome of each decision, or analyzing what might have happened. Some say I think too much. I think deeply, but there's no such thing as too much. Even though I have my own unique opinion on many things, I'm open minded. Nothing is more annoying than someone being a "closed minded fool" about some petty thing. Like the man who died waiting for a liver, even though they found three matches. He turned down the first one because it came from a Jew, the second one because it came from a gay guy, and the third because it came from a Russian.

Other peoples feelings play a big role in the way I feel. It troubles me deeply to percieve someone as hurting emotionally or physically. I'll do just about anything to help.

My education has turned toward industrial electrical/ mechanical/ fluid power maintenance. My senses are so in tune with "systems" this stuff comes naturally. I hate to boast, but I can almost "feel" how a system is functioning (or malfunctioning). It's very hard not to let myself apply this same type of "feeling" to other people's feelings.

Travel is fun, and I take my cars on long road trips. One of my cars has been to every country in north america, the other is getting there... Running fast on the Interstate is my favorite way to travel, but side roads are where the charm, and enriching experiences are. I'll pick an interesting looking exit on the Interstate, and just go exploring for flea markets, secondhand shops, appliance junkyards and other areas of interest. Many priceless memories come to mind now. In my basement, on my old "gothic" air compressor, is a pressure guage from the 1970's. I found it in a junk shop in Greenville, Texas. I think I paid $0.50 for it. The old junk man and I talked for an hour about the antique fans he "rebuilt." Now every time I walk past and see that old rusty, but perfectly functional gauge, I am back in Greenville...

Another place that I find oddly charming is the plain old automotive junkyard. It saddens me to see cars destroyed, and see where people have been hurt or killed. It also makes me happy to know parts are being reused and recycled, giving new life to otherwise "dead" cars. I can spend all day at a junkyard, buying odds and ends for my cars, looking for good blackberries to eat (yes I eat stuff I find at the junkyard!) or other interesting finds. last year, as I was removing the engine computer from a badly wrecked Camaro, I cut my hand slightly. No big deal, I was very happy to find a good part. I coudn't help thinking of the pain and suffering the driver had gone through, during that wreck. As I removed the last clips and wires of the ECM, I noticed a few drips of my red blood had fallen in a patch of the driver's dried blood. For a few fleeting minutes bringing it back to a liquid state, as this used part would breathe new life into my old car. Days later, I noticed that same car again. In it was the patch of soiled carpet, with darker, redder spots in the brown stain. A little bit of me will follow a little bit of the driver of that ill fated car to its final resting place. The mixed blood stain just as inseparable, and useless as the ECM is forever separated from the destroyed car, and allowed to continue its "life" as a part of my car.

Now you see how I can loose a whole day at the junkyard! ;-)

Who drives their car without music? Nothing beats good, hard rock for travelling music! My favorite all around genre is alternative rock. A wonderful station near here plays just the perfect mix of both. They're called WRAX, 107.7 The X. I also like some of the less twangy country, and most anything with a good message I can relate to.

Just as driving and music go together, so do music and eating. My food philosophy is based on this: Peppers are good. Always. There isn't an entree in existence that a little heat wouldn't improve! Give me Mexican, Cajun, Chinese or any other hot, spicy dish! If it isn't hot, and I mean truly mercurial, I either won't eat it, or it will be swimming in Tabasco sauce before I find it acceptable! I was understandably interested in FireGirl's website, I suggest you give her site a look-see. If you're ever in Tuscaloosa, stop by one of my favorite restaurants, La Fiesta. They have plenty of potent sauces! Including but not limited to El Yucateco and Cholula. Are hot peppers addictive? I say yes. It's been said they're "good for you," and I hope they are, or I am in for an untimely demise. All I can say is, I like the way a good capsaicin overload makes my insides feel! :-) I'm not overly supersticious, but I do have a "lucky pepper" hidden in my car. When I had the wreck in my last car, I found out that my lucky pepper had deteriorated beforehand, and was no longer protecting me. (yeah right!)

When travelling, I almost always stop and try to help if I see someone with car trouble. I've had some pretty exciting fortnights this way, but the satisfaction of helping someone outweighs the occational misfortune. I’ve given folks used junk I happened to have in my trunk, to get them going, let them use my jack, 4way lugwrench. Sometimes just talking to them as they change a tire seems to be reassuring.

I like reading about people, so I figured it was time to return the favor. I hope I haven't bored you here. My friends have put me up to making a page like this...