Hello, all ye who brave this land to read this small dissertation on myself. I apologize in advance if it is not of the caliber you would like to see-writing about myself is one of the things that I find hardest to do. I maintain that I am not interesting enough to write a biography, but Emily insists, and so I comply (but not without much complaining and procrastinating, which is my trademark).

    Trying to distill myself into a few paragraphs seems all but impossible, so I’ll try to simply hit on the highlights-hobbies, likes, dislikes, and whatever else I think pertinent. As to my character, if you really want an honest opinion on that I’m not the person to ask. Hopefully, though, through everything else I tell there will be at least a glimpse into what is important to me, and what makes me tick.

     My hobbies seem to be the thing to start off with, having been first in my previous list. As is evident by this page, I enjoy writing, though perhaps not for the same reason that my comrade-in-arms does. Writing is not meant only for the author; its purpose is not simply to have something published so that the author gets gratitude and a cleared mind from the chaos of a story stuck in one’s mind. The purpose of writing is first and foremost for the readers, and for them to take away something from the writing that they did not come with, whether that be a relieved heart (which is often times the case with humorous stories), a point of view that they had never before considered, or a new appreciation or knowledge of humanity. But I digress, since this is not a place for me to tell other people how to write.

     I have also recently (within the week of 09-19-03) taken up fencing, which is proving to be a very challenging sport. Despite the 'gentlemanly' nature of the game various forms of silliness abound during class, keeping a lighthearted air in the otherwise stuffy confines of our practice area. The sport is challenging and interesting, and I think I will have a lot of fun learning its quirks.

     Indulging in piano playing is also a pastime of mine, though I find very little time and ability to do it these days. Playing a keyboard just isn’t the same, and very awkward without a stand. Still, I have my music books and dream of playing it more often then I actually do. Parallel to the love of piano music, I also enjoy singing, in choirs of course. I am not vain enough to think that I have a good solo voice, independent of the fact that I don’t have the self-confidence for it. I am a tried-and-true alto, and harmony is my life.

     Favorites are more interesting, and more easily read, in chart form, so I’ll organize that in short order. I would like to discuss my heroes though, since they can not be given justice with simply a name. The first, and most prominent in my mind, is Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of England. This man was one of wit, wisdom, mental prowess, and courage. He knew, despite his position, politics have no place in a war. Churchill did not sugar-coat, did not make the truth seem better then it was, or take any flak from anyone. During one of the most difficult periods in recorded history, in one of the most challenging positions, Winston Churchill proved himself a man worth emulating.

    From that same era, Harry S. Truman, American president, holds much prestige in my eyes because of one action. It is said that one man cannot make a difference, but one action can. It is also said that doing something can get you killed, even doing nothing. Truman was a man of action, and was forced to make one of the most difficult decisions in history. He decided to level 90% of Hiroshima, killing 130,000 people and one third of Nagasaki, killing 75,000 human beings all to stop the killing from continuing (information from www.historychannel.com). The strength of character he must have had, even as people debate the humanitarianism of his decision to this very day, is an inspiration to me. Harry Truman made a decision that only he could, and he did not shy away from his duty. I can only hope that I can be half that brave some day.

    Lastly, I have recently acquired a new hero. S.Sgt. Joe R. Hooper will not be found in any history books read in school. To history he is a non-person, which is a great injustice to him. He has received the Medal of Honor, two Silver Stars for gallantry, six Bronze Stars for heroism, eight Purple Hearts, and the coveted Combat Infantryman’s Badge. These all come from the Vietnam War, but it is not his military record that impresses me. It is his ability to keep his humanity even in a time of death, destruction, and horrid atrocities. Though he has been credited with 115 enemy kills, he was not a cold blooded killer. He once took the diplomatic route, putting in danger his own life so that he could take prisoner 13 soldiers without firing a shot.

    “‘It was the greatest feeling in the world,’ he said later. ‘Nobody likes to kill people.’” He was quoted as saying later (from Very Crazy, G.I. by Kregg P.J. Jorgenson). Under his circumstances it is a testament to his compassion and humanity that he did not turn into a killing machine. His tight grasp of kindness, even to his enemy, is something that I hope that I can, in time, also achieve.

    Now, here’s a list of other favorites of mine, both on serious and non-serious notes. I have varied tastes, but don’t be afraid.

Click on links to find out more about the books a la amazon.com

¨      Very Crazy, G.I. by Kregg P.J. Jorgenson

¨      The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

¨      Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

¨      The Kobayashi Maru by Julia Ecklar

¨      Ender’s Game by Orsen Scott Card (also Pastwatch, Enchantment, and Ender’s Shadow by the same author)

¨      The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksander Solzhenitsyn (along with Cancer Ward)

¨      Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman

¨      M*A*S*H

¨      Star Trek

¨      J.A.G

¨      Babylon 5/Crusade

¨      October Sky

¨      No Man’s Land

¨      Gundam Wing

¨      Outlaw Star

¨      Gundam 08^th MS Team

¨      Musicals (especially Aida, Miss. Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Les Miserables)

¨      Hootie and the Blowfish

¨      Smash Mouth

¨      Savage Garden

¨      Five for Fighting

¨      Classical (especially piano)

      Unlike my fellow authoress, I have very distinct opinions, though a person may be hard pressed to get them out of me sometimes. Despite the cynical, harsh direction that the world seems to be going in, I have faith that the human race will prevail, evolve, and seek a higher plane of existence. Optimism is something that is lacking in the world and I believe that if there were only more of it the world might be a little lighter. That is everyone’s one, greatest purpose, to make the world a little better then it was when they came into it, to not only take but to give, and if my writing or another aspect of my personality achieve this, I am only a better person because of it.

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