: About Me

As youths, my older siblings would make up fables and fairy tales to entertain the rest of us. So when I was assigned to write and illustrate a fictional story in the first grade, I used one of my older sister's stories as inspiration for mine. I don't believe I was even aware of the fact that our stories were to be submitted to a state writing contest, so I was a bit surprised to learn that I had won. I remember how good it felt to be successful at expressing myself through writing.

I still feel the same way when I turn out a piece of writing, whether it is a helpful article or a creative piece. I've dabbled (lightly) in poetry, have about 400 pages of a novel written (it still needs another 300 pages or so), I've had stories published in numerous creative writing magazines and have also been published by Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine, the world's largest and most respected publisher of aquarium and pet related literature.

As an artist, I enjoy the creativity involved in writing. As a member of a family comprised primarily of scientists and engineers, writing appeals to the logical and ordered side of my brain. It's a win-win situation for me. Through most of my life, writing is something that I have done primarily for the simple enjoyment of doing it. Publishing my work has never been of primary concern, but having the occasional piece published has been the icing on the proverbial cake.

I have always believed myself to be unique. As I've experienced more of life, now I would say that I am unique - just like everybody else. Everyone has hopes, aspirations, challenges, quirks, eccentricities, strengths and flaws that make them like no other, and I believe that everyone has something to write about- something that would be worth reading.

My passion is ...

I am always wanting to improve things; to make them more interesting, more fun, more beautiful, more thought-provoking, more meaningful.

I know too much about ...

I know too much about way too many useless topics. Want to know about the feeding habits of the relatively insignificant Leporinus fasciatus? I didn't think so. Would you care to know how to encourage moss growth? Doubtful. Haven't you always yearned to know that giraffes have exactly the same number of neck vertebrae as humans? When will that piece of knowledge come in useful? I've no idea either.

My parents always told me ...

Don't eat those batteries! Actually, the thing I have been told the most through my youth, by teachers, parents, and leaders is the following; "You have so much potential, you're smart, you're creative, why can't you do better?" I guess you could say I measured my success in a different way than they did.

My childhood ambition ...

I always wanted to be both a marine biologist and an artist. Well, I don't live on a boat but I do make a living selling my artwork, so I got halfway there!

My favorite memory ...

My favorite memory was a family trip to visit relatives in California when I was about 6 years old. We went to the beach, Disneyland, Marine Land, played with cousins, and had a wonderful time.

Why I write ...

I write because I have so much that I want to share, why does anyone write? As we go through life we gain experience, insight, wisdom and humor, and it is natural to want to share this with others.

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

I'm reading the type on the screen, watching the words appear as I type them, and listening to the keys clack on the keyboard.

My first job ...

I've always had a love of aquariums, so my first job was as a "contractor" for an aquarium maintenance company, cleaning aquariums in professional offices, homes, restaurants, that sort of thing. I was getting $5.00 an hour while the person who owned the company got about $50 from my labor. After doing that for about 6 months I started my own aquarium maintenance business.

My best moment ...

I don't know about a best moment, but the one thing I'm most proud of is the way I've raised my children and the people they are becoming. In fact, I can't think of any possible accomplishment I could ever aspire to achieve that would bring me more satisfaction than to see them become happy, well adjusted adults.

My inspiration ...

I am inspired by so many different things, both big and little things. Watching my children take their first breath, watching my father take his last. I get inspiration from music, of all sorts. From cultural themes, from the beauty and deadliness of nature. I seem to find inspiration where others do not wish to look, such as in an old rotted piece of wood or a brittle animal bone. It all has beauty if you can but learn to recognize it.

Pets & Animals > Aquarium Fish Tips for creating a natural-looking aquarium

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What makes a great aquarium? That depends on what you hope to get out of it. As with everything else in life, different people prefer different things. Unfortunately, many people in the aquarium hobby have become "Fish Snobs", who look down on beginners or others who prefer, say, blue colored gravel and porcelain mermaids to a more natural looking planted aquarium. Likewise, many reef keeping hobbyists look down on those who keep freshwater setups. I can remember fondly my first aquarium; a ten gallon tank, with no cover, an outside air-powered box filter, blue and green gravel, a three di...

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