Born in Washington, DC. Went to school in Eastern WV. Worked as a plumber through college. Spent 27 years with the Defense Department, mainly at Headquarters Marine Corps. Fun meter was pegged from being burned out at the Secretariat and split (too young to retire....just watch me). Working 12 hours a day 6 days a week just played hell on my personal life.

Retired along the banks of Back Creek since 2003 perfecting the art of being a grumpy recluse....except when I need to raise funds for my toy collection and then I become a DC lobbyist on land use issues. The goal is to not have to do that too often, but I do love my toys

My main challange these days is in halting the hand of those trying to sweep away the old in the name of efficiency. Traditional buildings and land use patterns developed because they made sense and the current rush to replace everything is too often a failure to understand the natural efficiency of the old and embracing the new as the politically correct way to go. And no I don't think the malling (mauling) of America is an improvement.

Old guns, old cars and old houses....all of which are more interesting than factory new. I collect vintage Corvettes and Morgans (the handmade sports cars, not the horses), among others. My daily driver is 26 years old, which if nothing else shows that I'm quite comfortable living behind the times. My firearms collection focus is military and I'm working my way back in time. Hopefully will stay alive and healthy long enough to get back to the stone age. My main interest is getting these historic arms back on the range and helping others do likewise. During 2007/8 I primarily spent my time rebuilding my ramshakled post and beam farmhouse from the ground up....woefully neglecting my hobbies. At this point my focus has shifted back to my cars in summer and gun collection the rest of the year.

Many of my projects involve preserving what is old and worn out at a cost equal to or exceeding that of buying a new modern replacement.....so don't expect rational economic reasoning from me when it comes to cars, guns or houses. Those that place a fixed priced on history and culture are doomed to appreciate and learn from neither.