Physical stuff: (I HATE the term STATS!)
I am 43 years old (as of DEC97). I am about 5'11", a little overweight, and I wear glasses. I have long brown hair that I mostly wear tied back, a darker brown, curly beard with a few hard-earned white hairs showing up, a mustache and hazel eyes. Although the picture on the previous page was taken in '84 or '85, I look very much the same today, from what you can tell in the picture. I am looking for a digital camera I can take a shot or two of myself to post. I am of mixed heritage, my grandfather was half Armenian, and half East Indian, i got a little darkness from him that showed up when I used to tan, but I look very white most of the time. My ancestors on my mother's side were from Scandinavian countries mostly. My paternal grandmother was in the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), so I guess we were around this country for awhile on that side.
My personal life:
Well, I grew up as the oldest in a huge (9 kids) and dysfunctional family, and got saddled with a lot of responsibilities at a young age. My ex-father disowned me when I was 13, but graciously allowed me to stay around until I was old enough to get out on my own. All I had to do was to put up with the beatings, being choked to unconsciousness now and then, the occasional threat of being shot, and the constant reminder of how stupid and worthless I was. When I was around 16 years old, my maternal grandmother was murdered on a business trip. I wrote another poem in her memory. I know I did learn a lot from my childhood experiences, unfortunately not all of it was that good. I have spent a lot of time trying to unlearn a lot of the lessons from my early days, and it's tough work.
I am currently in a platonic marriage. It is probably in that condition as much from my not having any early experience with how to maintain a normal relationship as for any other reason. It is too late to bring it back to life, but I think I have learned some valuable lessons for the future. My wife knows what I do online, we have talked about it, and have reached an agreement that I am free to meet anyone I want to, if the occasion ever arises, since she doesn't have much use for me anymore. (more on this subject below). We have no children, but do have 2 dogs that seem to think they are our kids, and we treat them like it. Here I am reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to Jasper the oldest.
Here is a live shot of a canyon 2 miles from my house.
Professional Info:
I am a software test engineer in the R&D department of a computer corporation in San Diego. The company I loved to work for, where I started my computer career, was taken over by them in 1992, and I have felt like an economic POW here ever since. But, I do understand and believe in our product, which survived from the old company, more than the current management does. And the people I work with are a great bunch. I am toying with the idea of a career change, though. I think I would like to get into more of an educational related job, doing computer/internet tutoring, or even working in the company's education department. I currently tutor someone 3 hours a week for an adult literacy program run through the San Diego Library. It feel like it is the most rewarding thing I am doing right now.
Political:
I am farther to the left of center than liberals, and as you can see from my links area, I admire Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepard Society. He has rammed and sunk pirate whaling ships, painted the fur of baby seals to keep them from being clubbed to death for vain and shallow rich people, and many other actions in defense of the marine mammal nations. I also admire Earth First!, they stand up to all sorts of people in defense of the planet.
I like Phil Ochs observation on liberals. To paraphrase the intro he used for his song "Love me I'm a Liberal":
"In America, there are many shades of political opinion. One of the shadiest of these is the Liberal. 10 degrees to the left of center in the best of times, 10 degrees to the right of center when it affects them personally..."
I think Bill Clinton is a prime example of this liberal lack of committment, and Al Gore is a hypocrite if he thinks he can have as many kids as he does and be a real "environmentalist". There is a poem I really like, called "The Second Coming" written in 1919-1921, by W.B.Yeats. One line goes: "The Best lack all conviction, while the Worst are full of passionate intensity." If he wasn't describing Clinton and Rush Limbaugh, i don't know who would fit the line better!.
I have been arrested 12-13 times, from blockading Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, to chaining myself to the gate at Concord Naval Weapons Station at Port Chicago trying to stop arms shipments to El Salvador. While not as active now, I am still deeply concerned about those issues and many otherss.
Education:
I have been to college, still go for technical classes, but have no degree as of yet. I went to computer trade school after that, and have continued my technical and professional education since then. I was successful in obtaining certification from "The Quality Institute" as a "Certified Quality Analyst" in 1995, the only one in the San Diego complex of my company to do so. I have contemplated getting my college degree finished sometimes, but find no use for most of the classes that are required to obtain it, and feel that my time is better spent elsewhere. I might reconsider that decision, if it is the only way to get into an education related job.
Meeting Real Time (R/T):
Ok, some thoughts on meeting r/t. I have had had one experiance so far, and although things did not work out romantically for us, we are still good friends. And in fact, she has moved out here and is staying until she gets a job and gets going on her own.
I am becoming more aware of the power and seduction of fantasy, and the reluctance of some to shatter the illusion, the mystery of not REALLY knowing who it is that you are talking to. I think that this medium probably draws a high percentage of people who are more comfortable with that realm of the mind than the physical realm. I do enjoy stretching my imagination, and making love to a woman through my words, mind to mind, though it is not nearly as enjoyable as making love together in real time. My preferred form of cyber lovemaking is to really try to envision myself doing what as I would if we were really together.
Well, enough about me.(probably more than enough for most people!) If you still think I might be someone you would want to get to know, and maybe have some good times with, please e-mail me, A Sensitive Guy if you would like. I would love to hear from and/or about you!
