About the host

I grew up in Richmond, VA. I am the eldest of three siblings. My sister Lana lives in Eagle valley Colorado, and my brother Jeff lives in a rural area outside of Richmond (where we grew up). I have a BA in Economics from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC where I was one of the founding fathers of the Epsilon Mu Charter of Pi Kappa Alpha (Pika or Pike) social fraternity. I have authored several publications, including intellectual properties research directories in such fields as Environmental Air Waste Management, Biotechnology, Advanced Engineering Materials, Optoelectronics and Semiconductors. I have also written several marketing books and workshops, countless essays, articles and marketing/advertising copywriting, several short stories, poetry, personal biographies, and am currently outlining my first novel. As a naturalist with a passionate environmental agenda, I love the outdoors and enjoy camping, hiking, nature walks, SCUBA diving and I fly small general aviation airplanes. I also a semi-professional photographer, having done a lot of work with modeling portfolios, nature and architectural photography... and yes, I have even shot a few weddings and parties as well. I love both the mountains and the ocean, and am looking for the perfect spot on our Mother Earth where I can enjoy views of both simultaneously. I believe that San Fransisco would be the perfect spot for that (among its many other amazing landmarks). I am a History buff as well, and am fascinated with Mayan, Egyptian, and the U.S. Civil War in particular. Music is particularly spiritual for me. My taste would be defined as diverse, yet particular. I'm a major Dave Matthews Band fan along with U2, Indecision, Coldplay, Phish, The Grateful Dead, and R.E.M. I also have an insatiable appetite for great Jazz, Reggae and Classical. Although my politics are moderate, I'm a tree hugging, granola crunching hippie when it comes to animal rights and environmental legislation. I enjoy good movies and even better books. I'm a big college football fan although I practically grew up on a tennis court and a baseball field. Nothing is more relaxing to me than listening to the rolling waves of the ocean, the summer night cicadas, and a breeze blowing through a pine forrest. I love candles and incense and watching thunderstorms moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico. The Southwest Florida sunsets are among the most beautiful in the world, and (lately at least) I try to catch as many of them as I can. I have a deep compassion for life and everything living. I'm a big time animal lover who cannot stomach ANY form of cruelty and/or neglect of all of God's wonders of life. I am 5'11" with an athletically slim physique. I am an extremely honest person, and an unconditionally loyal friend. I love intelligent and philosophical conversations, and I'm just intelligent to know that I have far more questions about life and the universe we live in than answers. My head is filled with a lot of useless trivia and factoids, though I am an expert in nothing. I love with reckless abandon, and consider myself a hopeless romantic. I'm one who truly enjoys spending time with others, but cherish my privacy and 'me' time as well. I neither thrive or despise attention, though I am a rather shy observationist (if that's even a word). I have a dry and witty sense of humor, and greatly appreciate that rarely found gift in others. I am generous to a fault, and tend to put the needs of others before my own. I am currently separated from a wonderfully amazing and beautiful European lady who is and quite possibly always will be my very best friend, regardless of the ultimate outcome of our marriage. We have been married close to four years and don't have any children. She will always have a very special place in my heart. I truly believe that we are capable of manifesting anything and everything we could ever dream of into our lives, and I also believe that every day is a new opportunity to re-invent ourselves. The reactive mind is a powerful source of thought, and can often be our worst adversary. Proactive thinking is the key to manifesting and bringing your dreams and goals to a happy fruition, and for me, it is as simple as training our minds to operate in that manner. It took a lot of personal trauma and pain to stumble upon that realization, but it HAS arrived in my life... and not a minute too early. It is my intention to utilize this blog to unveil many of the things I have learned and personally experienced, so that I might discuss and share with you many of the techniques that can be utilized to 'make lemonade' when life calls upon us to do so. I'm excited about this forum. I know that many wonderful discussions will reveal personal insights that anyone can successfully implement into their 'life strategy' and prove that we all have the ability to be who we really want to be... and to do what we really want to do... and to have what we really really really want to have present in our lives to elevate us all to a higher level of understanding of what happiness and enlightenment truly mean.