HELP, HELP!… I'm being held hostage in my father's body and I can't get out! Bald, bifocals, and the hair on my arms is 50% (okay 75%) gray! Welcome to middle age. If I still think like I'm 18, act like I'm 18, and most of the time feel like I'm 18, then what in the hell am I doing in this old carcass? Enough of this graphic prelude, how about the rest story?

Greetings, classmates! I hope this message finds you in the same health and good fortune that I enjoy today. I can't decide if I'm the luckiest man on earth, or if for some dumb reason God has smiled on my stupid, humble existence. Jokingly, when people ask me what I do for a living, I say that I'm a "Professional Adolescent; I spend my working time on fast cars and computers." (What teenager doesn't like these things?). When I'm not at work, I love being with my bride of 18 years, playing with grandchildren, doing community service, or feeding my addiction of building home additions.

But, before we go any farther it is time for a reality check. Where were you at 3pm on September 11, 2001? I don't know where you were, but I need to thank my wife for trusting me and standing by my side. At 8am that morning we were packing our bags (not unusual in our hectic lives). Jean (my wife) was on her way to Lansing MI and I was to leave an hour later for Kansas City, both of us on our separate businesses. Of course, the air travel was halted before we got off the ground. But, by 3pm we were both in my truck somewhere in Texas on the way to test a dumb racecar in Kansas or Missouri (who really knows for sure). Thank you Jean, for dropping everything in a time of crisis to help me chase a dream.

To catch you up from the last reunion, I still have the software business "www.auto-ware.com," (check out the Corporate Info - Company Information section for a funny bio on books published, my magazine column and other spare time activities). In addition to the software business, I serve as the Team Engineer and Director of Competition for a NASCAR Winston Cup team. Typically, this requires at least two road-trips per month.

Back to the thesis statement. When I'm not working, Jean and I are avid antiquers (we know the best shops from San Diego to Detroit). Next, of course, grandchildren are truly God's reward for not killing your children. For those of you currently enduring teenagers, hang in there, the best is yet to come! I now proudly hold the title of "Grandpa, He Can Fix Anything." I'd love those boys anyway, but they sure know how to push my buttons. Stop by some time, or catch me in the store and I will proudly show you a plethora of pictures like Grandpa and Dane in the picture above.

For those of you who knew me as that mean-shit-head of a character in school, trust me, I'm trying to work my way back into heaven. Since then, I have served in nearly every position (including President, Treasurer, Director, Club Chaplain, Sergent at arms, etc. ) of Duke City Civitan. We are the largest Civitan club in Albuquerque and the Southwest District, typically providing over 1000 hours of service per month to our community and providing funding to various agencies. We help local organizations such as Hogares, Special Olympics, Barrett House, UNM Children's Hospital, ARCA, ALT, and many others. If you, too, would like to make a difference in our community, please call me at 899-1520 or email me at autoware@aol.com.

Now, what is this "Addition Addiction" you might ask. It could be a weird guilt thing (you know the parents did pay for that Architectural Degree), or it could be the frustrated Architect trying to break free. Once again, I have to thank Jean for enduring 5 (yes five) additions to our current house. Hey, everybody needs a hobby, mine just happens to be home improvement! There have been antidotes straight out of the movie "The Money Pit" and there have been moments equal to the thrill of victory, but all in all a man's home is his castle and this sucker has filled the lot to every setback plus a zoning variance!

Don't be a stranger. Come visit, email, phone.