I was born in a log hospital on the outskirts of the western town of Denver, Colorado. My childhood and younger adult years were divided between the eastern slope of the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Bay Area. I now reside north of Reno, Nevada in the Sierra Nevada foothills. I graduated high school in 1988, earned my AA in behavioral science in 1992, graduated from Sonoma State University majoring in History and minoring in Anthropology in 1996, and took my MA from SSU just one year later. I'm an Eagle Scout with a Bronze Palm, took 3d in United States Swimming at the Western Regionals in the 200 metre Independent Medley. I'm a member of the Phi Alpha Theta honor society. I'm an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow. I'm an Ordained Minister. I enjoy writing, reading, good or better stories of almost any kind through whatever medium; I love photography, particularly landscape and wildlife; I love music of all types, from classical to ethnic (i.e., Tibetan chanting, the Australian didgeridoo, Native American drums and flute, Indian ragas, &c.), to bluegrass, country, jazz, blues, soul, R&B, and rock of all shapes and sizes; and genealogy and genetics, which I've worked on since December 26, 1992, contributing my sample to the now defunct Genographic Project led by Dr. Spencer Welles.