Places I have Worked: After a 20 month stint in the Army, I finally managed to graduate from Fox Valley Tech College in ''76 and a year later found myself still working for the government, this time with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, in the Natural Resources Conservation Service. I presently am a Civil Engineering Technician, with engineering duties primarily in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. I started in Northwest Wis., living in Rice Lake, Baldwin, and Eau Claire. We moved back to the "East coast" in '90, to Green Bay, where we presently live (Allouez, to be exact). From there, I worked in the Kewaunee and Appleton offices, until securing this position in '95.

Places I have Traveled: My first travel experiences involved moving about in the Army in Tennesee, Missouri, Viet Nam and North Carolina. Then in the summer of '72 I drove my '66 Chevy across the country to California to visit a friend I lived with in Viet Nam. The next two summers Charlie Cleaver and I travelled out West in his pick-up truck with attached camper. Those were the cheap travelling days!

After being in remission for 17 years, I finally picked up the trail again in '91 and have been doing a West trip every summer for camping and hiking purposes. Primary targets are Western N. and S. Dakota, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. My wife and I got into Polka dancing in the early 80's and have been to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and California going to festivals and meeting up with all the friends we have made through that activity.

About My Family: One wife, for 26 years now, and two cats. She works as a registered nurse at a cardiology clinic next to Bellin Hospital in Green Bay. The cats are unemployed, except for keeping the squirrels out of the yard.

Future Plans: One of the wonderful bennies with staying with the government is retirement with 30 years service and minimum age 55. So by the time I'm 56, I will say goodbye to this job and start another (hobby) career, hopefully in the field of aviation, even if it's only mowing grass at an airport! Flying is one of my hobbies; I am part owner of a Cessna 172 in Oconto. Where I'll be living in 10 years, I don't know, but it won't be in Green Bay if I can help it!

Are you attending the 50th BD Bash? No, due to a previous engagement (wedding of freind)

Response to Westend Pizza Get Together: How goes life down in the "southlands". Got your emails on the Oshkosh party. Unfortunately, its another date I can't make. I am picking up a friend from Massachusetts that evening and then going to a Christmas party. Hope everything goes good for you and the weather co-operates. Wish I could have made it. Been enjoying the pictures on the web site.

Haven't been doing much flying lately - due to the weather and other preoccupations. I need to get out soon or I'm going to lose my carryover hours. Must be getting on to wrestling season at the high schools. Do you get the urge to hit the mat around this time?!

Just got word the government is going to send me to Las Vegas at the end of February for a training session. I can handle that, especially the way this winter is starting out. Don't know if I can handle all the "worldly distractions" there. They never taught us about that stuff at LHS!.

Hope you and your family have a nice Christmas and Happy New Year. I'll be with you on the 18th for the Live Chat. Say "HI" to Terri and everyone who is there this Wednesday.