I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that land known for its 10,000 lakes and mountains of snow. As a teenager, I developed a passion for computer programming but was convinced by my elders that I needed a nice stable education that I could count on for a real profession. I chose accounting, but as it turns out, programming chose me. My very first accounting job led to my very first programming job, and the rest of my 46-year career in programming is, as they say, history. And it really is history since I retired. Retirement has allowed my inner writer to step up and take the mantle. Writing has always been a secondary passion, and has proved both useful and fulfilling in several areas. I have written countless User Guides and Documentation Books as a programmer, but I have also written self study guides for both adults and children. I have created and taught classes in Personal Finance, Relationships, and Grief Recovery. I have written funny family articles as well as guides to dealing with some of the darker sides of human interaction. And I am ready for more.