Age - How old are you?
43
When did you start your Web site?
1997
Marital Status?
single and looking
Occupation - What kind of work do you do?
I have a neurological disorder since birth related to autism, so I receive disability payments each month. I am a senior at the local university where I am not far from a Bachelor's Degree in History.
Hobbies - What do you like to do, besides keep this site?
I enjoy mountains, deserts, seashores, and forests. I read, mainly non-fiction but sometimes science fiction. And of course I ride my guitar while playing the bicycle (yes, I said that right).
Location - Where are you from? Where are you now?
I was born at Travis Air Force Base and lived in the neighboring town of Fairfield, California until my thirty-fifth year. I now live in Cloverdale, California, about ninety miles north of San Francisco.
Why did you start writing your Web site?
I wanted to put the lyrics to my original songs online, to share them with the world. My band was still going at that time, and I hoped to get publicity, gigs, and recording contracts too.
What is your site about?
It started as a showcase of my lyrics, but now has essays I have written for college and university, pages about my car, my bicycle, my cats, and there are still more sections in the works.
Why do you write a site about your interest or hobby?
I want to put myself out there for all to see, to offer my perspective to others as I enjoy contemplating others' perspectives in print, online, and (rarely) in person.
Do you communicate with readers of your site?
Yes. School children have written me for help with projects about the Red Baron or Native Americans. Adults have written me on these subjects too, as well as about cats, beagles, Ford Falcons or Rancheros, and Schwinn bicycles. I just started corresponding with some World War II veterans who are willing to let me post some of their memories online. They served in the same theater as my late father.
How much email feedback to you receive from your site? Is it mainly positive or negative?
I don't receive much feedback, maybe three or four e-mails in a good month. It is mainly positive.
Have you met any new friends because of the site?
I want to meet friends. I may have a few people I can correspond with by e-mail now, but I don't know how close to true friendship we are.
Has your motivation changed over time?
Not really. I started out by wanting to share what I have to offer, and that is still my primary motivation. I have a faint hope of meeting a girlfriend who likes what I have to say.
How has it changed your life?
The internet in general has greatly added to my resources as a scholar. As for my web site, I don't know if it has really changed my life, except that I have spent an awful lot of time tweaking the code for the pages.
Do your friends and family know you keep this site/read it? If so have you had any really negative experiences as a result? If not why?
I don't know who reads it. I'm not sure I want to know. I did have to edit my blog recently because of a negative comment.
How has your Web site benefited you? Your friends? Or total strangers?
For me, my web site has been a hobby to divert my mind from domestic, academic, or financial crises (sometimes all three at once). I link to some friends, hoping to add to their traffic. Total strangers have written me and thanked me for some of what I have posted.
If you had to do it over again from the beginning, what would you change?
I would make sure to have good organization and consistent navigation. Those are what took the most correction to my original web site design. Valid HTML code and attention to accessibility issues are also important.
