Interests

"The rub is that the
pursuit of happiness, as an end in itself, tends automatically, and
widely, to be replaced by the pursuit of pleasure with a consequent
general softening of the fibers of will, intelligence, spirit."
--Whittaker Chambers

My Bio

I was, until three years ago, an officer in the Army. I returned home to the Chicago area from Hawaii five years ago. I am politically conservative (which means that I am a traditional American liberal . . .not a collectivist.) I like all kinds of music (especially Alternative and Classical), like to sail, surf, swim, ski, kayak (I own two), read (science fiction, history, law, politics), cook (I'm a reasonably good cook), love to travel & meet people. I am also Roman Catholic. Please visit my "Things Catholic" page.

I grew up in Chicago and the Southwest suburbs. I have a wonderful family: my parents, three brothers, two sisters, two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, seven nephews, and two nieces. Fortunately, they all live in the area of Chicago, so that I can see them often. I love them all very much. I especially enjoy time with my nieces and nephews. They range in age from four to eleven years.

I lived in Europe for a while. My home there was in Germany . . . but I did travel all over. I love it there. I speak German fluently & can survive in a few other languages with some brushing up. (French, Spanish, and Japanese.) I am attempting to learn Russian now, but am not yet very good. I have been able to travel all over the world (one good part of serving in the military): just about every country in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong, lots of Pacific islands, etc. I went to the university at the military academy at West Point...good school...best in the country. The second best is the naval academy at Annapolis...and they're a close second. ...of course I am biased.

I have recently been working with computers and networks. I was an operations officer and database manager for a company which does computer simulations. Most of our work was for the military. It was very interesting. I'm currently working at the International Human Rights Law Institute at the College of Law at DePaul University in Chicago. I will write more about this later.

My home is in a nice town just west of Chicago called Clarendon Hills. It is nice to be able to live in a pleasant, quiet community and still be able to drive to the city quickly. There is always much to do.

"I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp
of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the
past." --Patrick Henry

Interests

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the
unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious
endeavor." --Henry David Thoreau

Kayaking Very relaxing. I tend towards touring more than whitewater. There are a few places close to home that I can get to in 15-20 minutes. Click here --> It's nice to paddle a bit after work & watch the sun set. When I have a little more time, I like to hit Lake Michigan. The Kankakee River is close by too, and is good for a weekend camping trip. I've also done rivers and lakes in other states. I really enjoy the Spring River in northern Arkansas. Click here. --> If you are interested in kayaking, I recommend you visit Rutabaga in Madison, Wisconsin. They are one of the best kayak and canoe store in the country. They have a great staff - very knowledgeable and helpful. You can even try a kayak or canoe out back before you buy. My kayaks are made by Wilderness Systems.

Cooking This was acquired as a survival skill as a professional bachelor (just kidding). I like to cook, and that's all there is to it. Don't know if I could declare a specialty. I'll post some more of my better recipes soon.

Reading I read constantly. A little too much non-fiction (or so I've been told.) I will post a recommended reading list for good conservatives (good citizens, good people...all the same thing...just kidding.) I am currently working on the following:

American National Security by Amos A. Jordan, William J. Taylor, Jr., and Michael J. Mazarr

The Road to Serfdom   by F. A. Hayak

THE SHADOW UNIVERSITY: The Betrayal of Liberty on America's Campuses   by Alan Charles Kors and Harvey A. Silverglate

e-Business: Roadmap for Success   By Dr. Ravi Kalakota and Marcia Robinson

IN ATHENA'S CAMP: Preparing for Conflict in the Information Age by John Arquilla and David Ronfeldt

"Nothing ever becomes real till
it is experienced -- Even a proverb is no Proverb to you till your
Life has illustrated it." --John Keats