For a long time, I’ve had a fascination with the Luddites. Their valiant, but vain attempt to reverse the modernization of industry, and protect their jobs, has given them a place in history. Of course, today most people use the label “Luddite” to identify as someone seriously ignorant of technology. I, therefore, am a Luddite when it comes to most things that a computer can be used for. Since I went to college with an old typewriter under my arm, the word-processing capability of a computer have been my major use of the instrument. Graduate school, for my career, writing letters or newsletters for various clubs and organizations, and article submission. In this, I have excelled. Everything else, I scrape by. This blog is going to be a scrape by exercise as I teach myself how to use the technology to present thoughts on line.

Why do this, and why now? I think enough water has passed under my bridge to have some pretty well-shaped opinions on a whole range of topics that I could keep bottled up…or, I could release them out into the internet and see where they land. Maybe they spark a conversation, or some thought. I might throw down some recipes, some gardening and orchard tips, or thoughts on the geo-political situation. It really is going to be whatever is on my mind when I wake up and type.  

A little about me

I don’t plan to give a big biography about me, you’ll probably be able to piece a lot together if you read these posts, but the short version is…military brat, my Dad was a career naval officer and that provided me an upbringing unparalleled! I am an Agricultural Economist by education and will admit, there were no jobs in that field when I finally walked off campus! Spent some time as a farrier – I learned to use that term and not say “horse shoer,” since everyone heard “horse shooter,” and I had to explain myself again. And then, because I wanted to be different…I too joined the Navy, did a 30 year career, went off into the wonderful world of working for a contractor that supported Department of Defense work – something that did not fit my personality – and finally just bought some land and a tractor and a straw hat and became the one thing I always wanted to be…a gentleman farmer!! In between all that, I have served on attack submarines (where I grew my first, and most cherished beard), aircraft carriers – fossil fuel and nuclear – been a professor at one of the war colleges, and spent a lot of time in what is called “the joint world.” Not that kind… Joint as in Goldwater-Nichols Act. The Defense Logistics Agency – the folks that manage most of the part for the military, United States Transportation Command – the big cheese for movement of people and parts, and my last tour, the United States Central Command – the place that managed and mismanaged the war in Afghanistan while I was there, and fumbled quite a bit in Syria. Despite all that, I have found time to teach myself how to make booze, cure sausage, paint, write for all sorts of clubs – mostly bird related, get the most out of East Texas red clay and heat, and simply enjoy life. With a fantastic wife, numerous successful children, great grandchildren, and a collection of friends and other family that keep life very full.  

This new pastime is a way to sort of memorialize a lot of what has been, and what will be. Enjoy the journey.