I am a frustrated writer who pays the bill as a warehouse manager for a hardware company. Helium has given me the option to spread my views and receive ratings from my peers in the frustrated writer group. Thanks to those who rate me highly and curses to those who rate me poorly.

I am also a happily married (really, it's true!) father of three with a Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of California. Unfortunately History did not pay the bills. I do have old teaching credentials and hope when I figure out the financials to teach for a living, as I love to hear myself talk!

In any case, I welcome interaction with other writers or any feedback you have about my articles or anything else. I am glad to be part of the forum.

My passion is ...

My family, History

I know too much about ...

Dungeons and Dragons, Bronze Age Comic Books

My parents always told me ...

What the heck are you doing?

My childhood ambition ...

Astronaut?

My favorite memory ...

Probably not suitable for print...

Why I write ...

Writing is like a drug, and I need a constant fix!

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

George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire/ Heroes/ Radio Classics

My first job ...

Grocery Clerk/Boxboy

My best moment ...

The day I became a father

My inspiration ...

The light in my daughters' eyes

Personal Finance > Real Estate Five things you should know before buying a house

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The American Dream has always had a primary tenet of owning your own home. In the wildly fluctuating markets of our modern economy, it is best to be over-prepared before purchasing. It is a terrific time to buy a home, with inflated home values finally settling back toward reality and many current home-owners falling victim to "creative financing" and being forced to sell their homes to avoid bankruptcy or massive debt. Their loss is your gain. But before you strike this juicy target, there are some things that you should know...

1. How much do I have to spend? This is your most importan...

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