Apparently this is the place to check in, so here goes:

I'm a rather grumpy old man of 55 who thinks of himself as a flaming moderate. I've been a wide eyed liberal, a physically conservative Republican, and find myself deserted on all sides in my old age. I constantly wonder why the extremes on either end don't look for rational, practical solutions instead of just demonizing their polar opposites. I also wonder what happened to that wonderful country I was raised in and where did this rather inane cultural food fight start.

On the personal side, I'm a retired engineer from the aerospace industry turned outdoorsman, musician, handyman, and generally worthless bum, (ask my wife.) My remaining life goals are to see all my grandkids get married and live long enough to become a real problem to my children.

I was born a true Okie from Muskogee, (don't get me started), but escaped at an early age. After bouncing around for a while, I've been settled into Florida long enough to now be confused with a native. I've got 2 grown sons, 4 grandkids, and through some creative marriages, 2 great grandkids! I'm looking forward to expanding the collection.

And before anyone notices, I was an engineer long enough to earn my exception to knowing how to spell. That's why they invented spell checkers. It doesn't necessarily mean I don't know what I'm typing about, just that I've got rusty, underused communications skills.

Paul