todc:me
I was born in 1968, in Seattle, WA. It's a beautiful place, and I had a nice suburban childhood there. I went to Renton High School, and then on to Western Washington University.
I enjoyed college tremendously. I made some great friends. Along the way, I went through a variety of majors (english, chemistry, biology, environmental science). I overcame my math phobia and became a chemist. Then I solved my biology phobia, and became a biochemist.
Now I'm a graduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. UAB is a great school, and the BMG department is wonderful.
Science at times has really sucked. I have hated it. Anyone who goes through a PhD program and doesn't confess to wanting to quit at some time is lying to you. I almost did.
Irreconcilable differences between my first mentor and I led to my termination of my first PhD project. I wrote it up as a master's degree, which I received in 1996. I then began my second PhD project, which is going much better.
The most important person in my life is my partner of more than 1.5 years, Tim. He is a wonderful, and I think we make a good team. We have yet to discuss how much of him ends up on these pages, so that's all I'll say about him now. Two other important people in my life are my girls, H.R.H. Edwina (shown in all her glory on the right, and Ms. Lucy, shown above. Both are adoptee pets, and have distinct, stimulating personalities.
I've become a bit of a nut in the last eight years, perhaps it's that "family" kook role that is so sacred in southern culture. Below are some of my nuttier moments, the first is my halloween ensemble, and the pink wig belongs to a friend of mine, and I always seem to end up wearing it after a few shots of tequila.
Below that is a picture of my younger brother Craig and his charming girlfriend Karen. You can see he is both taller and cuter than me, and he makes good money too. Below that is an ancient picture of me and Craig at EPCOT about a thousand years ago, and no, I am not the Rodent in the Fez.
Here, also, are some pictures of my house in beautiful Crestwood, a lovely neighborhood just east of downtown Birmingham. Also featured is my beautiful new pickup truck, of which I am inordiantely fond.
Now that you've seen these pictures, you are probably thinking, "What was he thinking?" and "Can he think at all?" Well, both are really good questions. Here are some lists of stuff I like, and next to it is a box which shows what I think about it, if you mouse over the item.
Now, I'm a longwinded sort, so give me some space to run my mouth, or keyboard (as the case may be.) For even more words, please take a look at my words page, which is where I've archived my writing. Writing is becoming quite central to my life, as I have become both a columnist and comentator, researcher and journalist. Yes, I'm putting on airs now, but just you wait
