Dedication and Introduction

My first blog! please bear with me as I learn the intricacies of this unique form of communication. First, to give credit where credit is due. Elroy Schuetz was the original author of "Words to Ponder", which was a regular article in our church newsletter. He was a great friend, mentor, counselor, and spiritual guide. He taught me more about life than anyone I know. Sadly, he passed away several years ago but his memory lives on in me. It is to his memory that this page is respectfully dedicated.

After Elroy passed away I have thought many times about resurrecting the column in our church newsletter but as so many of my ideas, I start out with such great and noble intentions only to have them sputter and die before they ever get started. Hopefully this blogging endeavour does not turn out to be another such idea. The thing that frightened me the most was having a monthly deadline to follow, I don't do well with deadlines. I didn't know if I wanted the pressure of having to create something every month. That's why I felt the blog site was a good idea, no pressure!

I was born in Fargo, ND and moved three times before 3rd grade before eventually settling down in Mandan, ND where I still am today. I've lived here so long I consider myself a native and Mandan will always be my home. I've always been kind of a technology junkie and cut my teeth on video games and practically lived at the roller skating rink and arcade every weekend (note that I said roller skates, not roller blades which are different things entirely) I always dreamed of writing computer games back then. That was my idea of a dream job.

But we all grow up whether we want to or not and after reality set in I settled on a career in Computer Science. It wasn't computer games but has been rewarding and something I enjoy. I was also very fortunate to be able to find a job that would allow me to live in the town where I grew up. I enjoy traveling a great deal but have never wanted to live any place else.

I married my childhood sweetheart 20 years ago this month and we have 2 wonderful children. Other than being too much in debt, like most of us I am sure, life really could not be any better. I am, and always will strive to be, an optimist. No matter how bad things get, I must always look for the bright spot.

So that is me in a nutshell, time will tell but hopefully at some point I will manage to create something others consider worthy of reading. My gratitude goes out to those of you who managed to make it to the end of my first blog. THANKS!