I (right) was born in West Chester, PA, 1959. Shortly thereafter we moved to Mt. Lebanon, right outside of Pittsburgh, PA.
It was an idyllic childhood. Very Midwestern feeling Pittsburgh was a great place to grow up. In 1973 we moved back to
West Chester. My Father was in advertising ~ a real 'Mad Man'! A very creative but transient industry. We moved to
accommodate his work. After the culture shock subsided, my teen years settled into Dazed and Confused. The Rolling
Stones looped endlessly on the 8-track, the days were filled with rock 'n roll, motorcycles and vans. Summers were
work in the cemetary I am pictured in, going 'down the shore', and later, bracket racing my '70 Cougar drag car.
In '78, living a Bruce Springsteen song became ponderous. I had an epiphany, then literally locked myself in a room and
immersed myself in art. Studying and creating. I still lived at home that year, and my parents were very supportive.
The greatest gift they ever gave me, of many.
After 15 years spent looking for something I'm not sure of ~in states from Vermont to Florida~ my fabulous and patient
Wife Maura and I unpacked our luggage in Louisville, KY. Instead of the usual t-shirts and refrigerator magnets, we collected
cats for souvenirs. Syd in Delaware, Zoe in Pennsylvania, Daisy and 6-toed Thumbs in Kentucky, And recently, Butterball, the
cat in the picture, this November. Maura said "NO MORE" after the last two, but one cold and rainy night, after seeing
him all wet and knowing the temperature was only going to drop, I snuck him in and hid him in my studio. We are definitely
the Crazy Cat Ladies® of any neighborhood we live. This is not by choice. They just know. They can sense an easy mark
with the precision of a time share salesman. I'm also an avid birder. I have set my back yard up to be an oasis
for birds. Still waiting on a Pileated Woodpecker, and I cannot get Crows! Any tips on attracting Crows would be appreciated!
I am a guitar fanatic! I have had many guitars and most likely will have a few more before the journey ends.
I would be rich were it not for this affliction. The guitars I've had and traded away in the 70's and 80's would have
financed my retirement had I kept them. I worked for a band that got a lot of opening work for some well known acts of
that era. The Philly scene was burgeoning with talent, and being immersed in a combination of art and music to get by made for
an absolutely profound and enlightening period of my life. To be surrounded by all these creative people was a gift. Later,
in Florida, I tried out for an MTV hair band that was reforming, but it crash 'n burned like the Hindenburg! I suppose I'll be
working a 'real' job for a little while longer. Still hoping my hearing returns some day, too ...
Finally, motorcycles ... Where to start? I have had many through the decades. It is a curse.
I try to stop, even moved on to scooters, but the addiction is too strong, I always come back for more.
Maura and I regulary succumb to our wanderlust and road trip whenever we can. Any road trip is going
to be an adventure, but when you go on the bike, its an epic adventure! I have made great friends and
had many memorable adventures on the motorcycle part of my journey through life. Maura and I's next
frontier is Europe. Start in Portugal and move Northerly to Ireland. There is nothing like traveling!
Travel by motorcycle gives you a happy outlook on life.
