A few months ago I started writing for Helium as something to do in my spare time - now I'm making money AND I've become a steward for the Animal Rescue and Adoption sub-channel, and more recently, the Dog sub-channel as well. So much for spare time!

Currently, I'm looking at adding new titles and I'm going through the existing articles - I have a long list of people I will be bugging about writing more, because of their heart-felt passion and their extensive knowledge. I would also like to find more people with specialized rescue experience - exotic pets, disaster recovery and wildlife in particular.

If you have any suggestions for new topics, for charities that we might partner with, or anything at all to do with finding animals good, happy homes, PLEASE drop me a line.

Now the personal stuff. I am a 40-somethingish Michigander. Divorced, no children, parents deceased, a brother with nine kids and a sister with two. I have lived in Michigan most of my life, but have spent time in Ohio, Texas and more recently England (that little wet country across the pond famous for its beer, gardening and cuisine). I have also visited France, Ireland, Germany, Greece and the Canary Islands.

I love England and would go back in a heartbeat - slower pace of life, manners and really good beer! And living abroad - I was there for 13 years - really gives you a different perspective on the world - I highly recommend it.

I am currently un-gainfully employed, having left behind 20 years in the computer industry to start my own business making stained glass windows. However, no plan survives first contact with the enemy - in this case the Michigan economy - and I am getting back into writing. I spent 10 of my years in the world of computers as a technical author and since the glass isn't going to make my fortune, it may be time to return to a 'real' job.

My stained glass projects are mostly garden art and for some reason, little 4" stars that sell like hot-cakes. I belong to a local gallery, Art at the Market, in the Flint Farmers Market and will be doing art shows with them in the summer. I did some work for the local train depot restoration project and I am working on windows for the local telephone museum and the senior center my parents frequented.

I also help out at a local training kennel, working with rescue dogs, as well as dogs with happy homes. I've learned a lot there, and love working with the mutts, and the people too.

My two major hobbies are dogs and gardening.

I currently have three rescue dogs (Spudz, Mac and Clay). Last year I found a home for the fostered fourth - a lovely St Bernard named Lily who may go on to become a therapy dog. I'm currently fostering Blake, a Dane-Lab cross found wandering, half starved, in the country. She's a beautiful dog, completely house-trained and very willing to learn.

I am currently in the process of creating a dog-resistant garden where I can relax, the dogs can play and I can grow organic veggies. I grew up in a gardening family, but didn't really get into it until I lived in England, where they are gardening mad. I am trying to integrate a English cottage garden feel with a doggy racetrack and agility course, as well as a vegetable plot, on about a eighth of an acre. So far, so good.

Other things to note:

I read (and reread) a lot of science fiction and fantasy. My favorite book is "Fallen Angels" by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Michael Flynn.

I am admirer of Ayn Rand, but I disagree with many of her ideas.

I love to cook, and eat a variety of ethnic cuisines, which isn't easy in mid-Michigan.

Politically, I have Libertarian leanings. I believe in God, but I don't believe in organized religion.

I prefer to get my news from the "Daily Show" and "Bob and Tom", but I do further research on topics I am interested in.

I love movies, especially from the 30's and early 40's, newer romantic comedies and of course SciFi. The scariest move I ever watched was "Twister" (or possibly "Man of the Year"), my favorite movie is "Star Wars", my favorite actors are William Powell and Myrna Loy.

I currently hold or will develop an opinion on just about anything, and often take the other side just to get a debate going.

My pet-peeves include boom-boom car stereos, irritating and repetitious commercials (a clever ad will get me to buy a product), badly behaved children, badly designed packaging, squandered tax dollars and the abuse of the environment (including and especially animals).

My passion is ...

Common sense.

I know too much about ...

The lack of common sense in the world around me.

My parents always told me ...

Clean your plate - that's why I am 20 pounds overweight.

My childhood ambition ...

To be a politician - then I discovered what politics is REALLY about.

My favorite memory ...

A holiday on a Greek island with my good friends from England - including their two wonderful children.

Why I write ...

'Cause I can't get people around here to take me seriously.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

"Organic Gardening" by Geoff Hamilton - "House" with Hugh Laurie - "Bob and Tom" on the radio.

My first job ...

Baby-sitting, which is probably why I am not overly fond of children.

My best moment ...

Being kissed for the first time, by a chap I had fancied for a long time, in the middle of a busy English high-street.

My inspiration ...

The honesty of dogs.

Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Best states to live in

1 of 14

I am blessed to have homes in two States - one might say a summer home and a winter home, or a working home and a vacation home. Depending on what I need to be getting on with, I tend to travel back and forth a lot, and fortunately, they are close enough that I can 'commute' easily.

Since I work mostly from home these days, I can take my work with me, and can be productive in either State, which allows me even more freedom. I've even started making notes as I travel back and forth, thereby increasing my productivity even more.

The nice thing is that each State provides so much inspira...

More..

Donated to charity: $0.20