I'm 34 years old as of April 20th (which makes me both Aries and Taurus but I favor Taurus traits). I was born in 1969 in southern Ohio and I grew up in Gallipolis, Ohio, right on the Ohio River. Every chance I had I could be found on the banks of the Ohio either fishing or just enjoying the solitude of watching the river flow by. As I grew older I would have beach parties with my friends, building campfires with the driftwood, going skinny-dipping and floating on inner tubes. I guess I had a little bit of a Huck Finn complex, which eventually evolved into a Daniel Boone complex.
I still keep my camping gear in my trunk so I can take off whenever I get a chance. I also now have a kayak in which I love to explore small tributaries, salt marshes and anywhere I can put in.
Back in 1994 I worked at a summer camp in Maine for 10 weeks where I filmed the camp's promotional video and taught videography. In the summer of 2000 I worked at another camp for children with special needs as the Health Center Director. This camp was in Cape Cod where I was only 30 minutes from Provincetown. It was a beautiful experience. I especially enjoyed kayaking in the salt marshes and snorkeling around the bay.
I worked as a travel nurse from 1998 to 2000 doing assignments lasting 3-4 months. My first assignment was in Cincinnati, Ohio. Burlington, NC was next, followed by Cape Cod in Massachusetts. After the Cape I moved to Maine where I worked in Portland and lived in Old Orchard Beach right on the beach in a beautiful condo on the sixth floor. I had a view of the ocean on one side and the salt marshes on the other. I experienced some of the most incredible sunrises and sunsets.
After my assignment in New England was finished I came back home to Ohio and then did an assignment in Charleston, WV. Upon completion of my assignment in Charleston I moved to Point Pleasant, WV and started working there full time. I've now relocated to Columbus, Ohio, living with some college friends in Pataskala and working at a hospital on the orthopedic unit which ranks 34 in the entire nation. I really do miss New England and I can see myself going back there someday to live permanently. I feel like I left part of myself there. Also, living so close to Columbus now, I feel a little smothered with all of the asphalt and concrete.
I attended the University of Rio Grande where I triple-majored in college, studying Nursing, Psychology and Fine Arts with a concentration in Photography. Not long ago I had some of my photography published in a book about the Mothman. In college I won numerous awards for my work in the spring art exhibits. I am pretty fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and I can speak a little Spanish. I study different philosophies and I have found that I prefer Taoism, the Chinese philosophy of life. Implementing these lessons into my life has given me more direction and understanding about the world outside and inside.
I have one sister, Dora, who is six years older than I am. She was basically like my second mom. She watched over me and helped to keep me out of trouble (although at times she would be the first to get me in trouble, such as my first cigarette and my first alcoholic drink) At least I was with someone I could trust, though.. I realize that I don't tell her often enough how much I really love her... I hope she knows.
In college I joined a sorority as a little brother. I became so close to all of the sisters that they "promoted" me to being a sister instead of a little brother. LOL! It was a wonderful time. We partied more than should have been allowed, but the memories (and some pictures that shouldn't be in circulation!) of those times are well-cherished. Some of the friendships I have forged through the sorority can never be broken.
One of the sisters shared a house with me throughout college. Her name is Jill and she became my best and dearest friend at that time. We got along so well and did so much together that everyone thought we were either dating or married. After college we went our separate ways and don't see each other very often... She was a major influence on my life.
