I thought I'd start this out by giving you a brief history of myself. A chronological approach seems the best way to start, so that's what I'll do.
My Early Years
I was born in the Midwest as part of the baby boom generation. When I was four my parents moved the family to Oregon. I learned later in life that my father had been stationed there in the 30's when he was in the CCC and learned to love the country. Although I say, I grew up in a small lumber town in the Oregon Coast Range. In reality I grew up and when to school all over the Northwest. My father was an electrician that specialized in heavy construction. Much of this construction was related to the wood products industry, but hydroelectric dams and defense installations also took me to small out of the way places.
New schools every year or less meant making new friends a constant exercise. In addition, mid-term moves often left me in the position of either trying to catch up in a class or being so far ahead that I was bored. Eventually, I did graduate from a new high school in Springfield, OR. That year at Thurston was fun and probably where I developed my first political awareness, as I was a major supporter of Barry Goldwater.
College - The First Try
After high school, like almost everyone else, I went to college. Electrical Engineering was my choice of major, but I never seemed to take any classes in that field. I tried out Accounting, Architecture, and a number of other fields and finally was put on academic suspension. Since this was the height of the Vietnam buildup, I decided that I'd rather enlist than end up in the Army.
Air Force - Here I Come
In 1968, I went to basic training at Lackland AFB. San Antonio looked like an interesting city even if I didn't see much of it. Oddly enough, I didn't see much of Gulfport, MS either even if I was stationed there for a year attending tech school. My first assignment was, maybe you guessed it, back in Oregon. Another year passed and I was transferred to North Carolina. Finally, I was seeing a part of the country I hadn't seen before. The transfer to California only cemented my intense dislike of anything Californian that exists to this day. This was the period when Oregonians wanted to put up border checkpoints and turn back the interlopers. Too bad they didn't! I got my discharge and went back to Oregon.
Colorado - Enjoying Life
My first job saw a move to Denver. Again, I was seeing a part of the country I hadn't been in before except to pass over at 70 MPH. My job took me all over Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. The travel finally got to me and I quit and moved back to Oregon. What is it about that state?
Back to School
With my GI Bill running out, It was time for me to return to college. I spent President Reagan's entire 8 years in school, but honed my conservative political viewpoint and picked up a couple of degrees in a field in which I've never worked. Isn't this about normal?
Home at Last - Nevada
After college, I got a job in Nevada and I've been happy here ever since.
