I like to laugh and to make people laugh. Humor is an important part of me. I enjoy learning and sharing that knowledge to help others. When illness strikes a friend, family member, or acquaintance I get lost in exhaustive research in a quest for a treatment or cure.
I love listening to music, especially the Philadelphia Sound of the 1970s (Gamble & Huff); sea kayaking; car camping; traveling to less seen foreign lands in search of the perfect photo op; museums; reading; attending lectures; badminton; volleyball; planning my goals in life; and sharing everyday concerns and my deepest desires with my partner. Communication is very important to me.
My passions in life revolve around the federal budget, energy conservation, learning, and supporting causes based on my principles, regardless of their popularity.
I am an avid reader of anything related to current events, the environment, science & technology, psychoneuroimmunology, dental tissue regeneration using Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS), investing, human behavior, people, places, or things. Pretty much anything that helps me understand how the world works.
While my brain is my strongest asset I also do a lot of push ups to avoid looking too much like the typical Microsoft/Boeing nerdie girlie man.
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of Americas Wealthy (by Thomas J Stanley & William Danko) Tells how most people become wealthy in American society.
The Power of Myth (by Joseph Campbell) Campbell describes themes and symbols common to religions, mythologies, and legends across human history and from one continent to another. This book taught me the value of traditions which we seem to be losing in our society.
I also enjoy listening to popular music from foreign countries I visit. And when things are going wrong and I'm feeling pretty low, nothing does it for me like Abba. I consider Dancing Queen to be a healthy alternative to Prozac.
New Scientist is a 50 year old British science magazine. While the articles are more in-depth then those of Popular Scientist they are still understandable for a bright non-scientific oriented reader.
Mensa
is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the
world. It is open to people who score at the 98th
percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other
approved intelligence test. Mensa was founded in
England in 1946 by a couple of British lawyers who must have
enjoyed hanging out with other brainiacs.
While I'm not into their social activities, which tend to revolve around board games, eating, and tests of knowledge and mental competence, I do look forward to attending the monthly lectures and annual gathering.
I'm a member of the Mensa of Western Washington Chapter. 
Save
the Childrem is an international
non-governmental organization that promotes children's rights,
provides relief, and supports children in developing countries.
It consistently has the highest rating on
Charity Navigator because of its efficient use of
donations received and effectiveness at helping those who are in
dire need (due to no fault of their own). I've made
Save the Children a primary beneficiary in my estate planning.
This makes my efforts to build a financial fortress in
preparation for retirement worthwhile regardless of when I die.
Banff, Jasper , and the Canadian Rockies
Mount Rainier is a favorite local site.
If you love waterfalls, Foz de Iguacu is hard
to beat as a vacation destination. On top of that
there is the pleasure of dealing with Brazilians, who are
some of the most delightful people I have ever met.
Iguacu Falls , Brazil &
Argentina
The colonial town and Unesco World Heritage Site of Ouro Preto Brazil.
Cities:
Paris
France
Moscow ,
Russia
Vancouver,
British Columbia , Canada
In 2010 I attended the
Olympics in Vancouver, BC. Attending an Olympic Games has
always been a dream of mine. Through patience and a bit of
luck I was able to pick up some cheap seats for Short Track
Speed Skating and Curling. The cheap seats actually turned
into prime seats do to no shows and a friendly conversation with
an usher.
The Olympic torch and a very lame, "Victory Ceremony," at BC
Place.
Oh no, no gold tonight for Ohno.
After living in the Seattle area for more than 25 years I finally
saw the Skagit Valley tulips blooming during April of 2014.
The flower colors really are this vibrant.
As the predicted 12 year maximum for solar activity approached I
headed to Yellowknife, NWT in search of the elusive Aurora
Borealis. Yellowknife is one of the best places on the face of the
earth for seeing this phenomena due to its location directly under
the Aurora circle, clear skies due to a continental location, and
relative ease to reach (at an inflated price). I spent about $600
for a round trip ticket to cover 2000 air miles while the previous
year my 5,000 mile round trip from Seattle to New Hampshire was
only $330. There are also half a dozen different websites which
make it possible to predict when an event is likely to occur.
During the peak seasons you must be prepared for bitterly cold
temperatures since -30 F to -40 F is a normal range for January
through March.
This is how it typically looks to the naked eyes. The bright
fluorescent green of many Aurora Borealis shots often fail to
capture what the human eye sees.
Shots from the 2nd night of viewing.
Trying to capture the peak fall foliage reminded me of my efforts
to catch the Aurora Borealis. It requires timing and a
bit of luck. My timing was a bit off and the weather
failed to cooperate so I missed the great shots I was hoping to
take. The rains and winds blew many of the leaves from the trees
before I arrived, as shown below.
On a Vermont lake close to the Canadian Border/ Mount
Mansfield
More shots in dreary weather.
