Besides having a cheesy smile worthy of any salesman (which I'm not), I have a face best suited for radio.

I have always been interested in electronics even though I have been in non-electronic related jobs. My father is a retired electrical engineer. I grew up (before we moved) sleeping directly above his workshop. I never knew what I was going to be serenaded to sleep by each night. About the only time I worried was when it was quiet downstairs. My father spent a long time designing an electronic pipe organ circuit. This was in the day before integrated circuits became anywhere close to inexpensive. His circuit sounded quite realistic.

I started out by "improving" radios around my grandparents house. Dad had to "unimprove" them so they would work again. I started building all sorts of electronic projects. Some were noticed by our local police/fire/rescue dispatcher several miles away.

As I started learning how to have projects end up as expected, the fun really started! After we moved, a neighbor owned a TV repair shop. I got to get all the old TV's I wanted (which was more than my parents wanted). They did not stay in the basement very long. These sets were of the tube variety, and could be combined into a working TV with a little work. The leftovers went into the trash. That was a pretty good way to earn a few bucks.

College brought more fun. I became active in the theatre (not theater!) behind the scenes. I was light, sound, and special effects rolled into one. I forget how many productions I stage managed. My "serious" DJ days started then, too. It most likely was because nobody else could connect the light show and audio gear. I was not very coordinated, but still liked dances. Being the spin doctor allowed me to watch others have fun.

After college was the US Air Force. I had to enter in a field other than electronics. The entry station I went to set up the color perception tests under the wrong lights. Retesting at Basic Training showed my color perception to be excellent, but I was locked in the "open general" field. I went to dental assisting school! Fearing the worst in overseas assignments, I was a non-volunteer for overseas. I wanted Germany, but was afraid of getting one of the places that made the common horror stories. Well, on the day they were announcing permanent stations, I got a base in Germany!! I had two wonderful years there. Being an audiophile, I was in heaven with the fantastic prices on base. I modified a lot of the gear I bought. Usually, the mods consisted in building remote control (usually wireless) into a lot of the tape gear I bought. Riding my motorcycle all over the place was something I would love to do again.

I went to an extra year of training to become a Periodontal Therapist. Basically, that is similar to a Hygienist, but I could do a lot more. They offered the field an early out bonus shortly after the Berlin wall came down & I took them up on it. Not that I disliked what I did, I loved helping people, but it was time for a bit of a change. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome did not help scaling and root planing, either!

I got my ham radio license not long before getting out in 1992. I still love designing, modifying, and building all types of electronics. I remember Heathkit closing shop. That was a very sad day! Another sad day was Laffayette Electronics closing while I was in college. We had a Laffayette a quarter mile from campus. That dealer tried to hang on, but was not able to make any money afterwards.

I know you've read things that most likely made your eyes glaze over, and I've missed things you really want to know. But that is a little about the Webmaster of this site!