The greatest "interest" of my life, actually more appropriately called an involvement, is my family.  My wife with whom I live and to whom I have been married  31 years, my two children with whom I no longer live (empty nest?), my son-in-law, my daughter-in-law, and my three granddaughters and two grandsons  (see Family Information/Links ) are all precious parts of my life.  Likewise are my parents and my in-laws who are thankfully all still with us, my four brothers and two sisters, and assorted in-laws and nephews and nieces and Godchildren and cousins and aunts and uncles and so forth. 

There are a number of diversions that occupy portions of my time not devoted to family and work and work related activities.  Included among these are such things as:

• Photography

I have been taking pictures since I was a kid (a long time ago!).  A few years ago this penchant for dabbling in taking photos, in particular photos of flowers, animals and other things nature, led to the establishment of a company called "PhotoCron" for printing, matting, framing and selling some of my pictures.  Summer of '99 was the maiden voyage of the PhotoCron tent, which was seen at the East Lansing Art Fair, Springtime in Paris, and the Labor Day Art Festival in Big Rapids.  You may see us at select sites again in the Summer of 2006!

• Community Theater (and theater in general)

My introduction to community theater came when my parents participated in founding a group in Carson City, Michigan, in the 50's.  I have enjoyed theater as an audience member, working backstage, and being in front of the lights ever since.  Most of my most enjoyable involvements in community theater productions have been those in which my family have participated as well.  I have been fortunate to have this occur a number of times.



My wife and daughter and I were in the summer of '99 STAGE-M production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."  The summer of '01, my daughter and I shared the stage again as part of the cast of STAGE-M's "Little Shop of Horrors."  I really like musicals, and have enjoyed past performances in such shows as "Man of la Mancha", "The Music Man", "Oliver", "Annie", and of course as Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady."  My involvement in community theater has included Grand Haven, Big Rapids, and Canadian Lakes .  In the spring of 2001, my wife and I performed together in the Canadian Lakes Players production of "Bell, ,Book and Candle" (I know - not a musical!).  In the spring of 2002 I portrayed Barnie Cashman in Neil Simon's "Last of the Red Hot Lovers."  Again in spring, this time 2004, I had the pleasure of portraying Yvan in STAGE-M's production of "Art."

I (we) make it a point to get to productions whenever we can, and in the past few years have enjoyed both trips to Broadway for sight- and show-seeing and season membership to The Broadway Theater Guild in Grand Rapids.  Like everyone, I have my favorites and not-so-favorites .
 

• Travel

Traveling has always been enjoyable to me, even if it means long automobile rides.  I love to fly, so that is the preferred method of getting around.  I have enjoyed too many trips to mention, and keep looking forward to the next one.  If there's family and entertainment and good food associated with it, all the better!
 
• Sports

Of all kinds.  Whether it be participating or just watching, I've been into sports since childhood.  Not always good at it, as my Little League batting average will attest, but optimistically and enthusiastically participating.  I have those teams that I particularly follow, as do all true sports enthusiasts.  This would include, for me, the Wolverines of the University of Michigan.     And, since I have lived most of my life in Michigan, all the Detroit pro sports franchises, but in particular the Tigers  and the Lions.    Part of the attraction is the fact that with sports naturally comes statistics.
 

• Statistics

I've always loved numbers and playing with numbers and data and formulas and so forth.  Games and sporting events were really only invented so that there would be facts and figures to keep track of!  Naturally this has spilled over into my professional life as well.
 
• Animals 

In particular, wild animals like zoo-type creatures.  But really, most any (with the distinct exception of cats - not large cats, for tigers are my favorite, but house-type cats, to which I am sizably allergic).  Tigers are definitely one of the best, and it's very sad that they are so endangered.      If you're a supporter of animal life, and are fearful of the disappearance of such fabulous species as the Siberian tiger, you can help out.      One of my all-time favorite places had been the National Zoo in D.C. because of the pandas.  It was sad when the older ones passed away, but now they have a new pair from China (Mei Xiang and Tian Tian), which I have been lucky enough to visit twice already.  You need to just sit and watch pandas snack on bamboo for an hour or so some day.    I certainly hope their baby survives and that I get a chance to visit the zoo again and see it before it has to be returned to China.  The San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Park is also high on my list.
 
• Casinos 

Games of chance are very intriguing and their allure has not escaped me.  I have spent many an hour leaned over a craps table or sitting in front of a blackjack dealer.  Not a big fan of the "one-armed bandits," I devote little valuable casino time to the slots.  Prefer to have just a little more control than that over how my money goes.  Naturally, then, one of my favorite places is Las Vegas.  Not nearly as big a fan of Atlantic City.  Owing to proximity, we have spent a fair amount of time at Soaring Eagle .
 
• Fishing

  I have for years appreciated the peaceful serenity of a calm lake, occasionally interrupted by the splash of a bass striking a lure or the ripples from a bobber being bothered.  I like to eat fresh fish, so there's an additional reward - particularly perch and bluegills.  A bonus currently comes from living right on a lake with an ample supply of fish.
 
• Camping

What began with the Boy Scouts and with family trips has continued throughout my life, an appreciation of time spent in the woods.  A nice evening campfire with family and friends gathered is a thing of beauty.  While communing with nature does mean dirt and bugs and critters and rain and cold, it's still a great way to spend a vacation.  Over the years we've come full circle, from tents to pop-up camper to a trailer, back to tents, and now a trailer again.  All have their positives and negatives.  Maybe a motor home is next (??).
 
• Gardening

Again, a hobby cultivated over many years.  As a  young child it meant vegetables in the lot adjoining our home.  Since then, small vegetable gardens and occasional ornamental trees and shrubs and flowers have been recipients of my TLC.  Our current residence has no intentional grass, as the whole yard is one big flower garden, except for the sections with ground cover.  As a result, weeding is a continual avocation.
 
• Games

Growing up in a large family in a small house, we of necessity spent a lot of time playing games - games of all sorts.  We had the customary Hide and Seek and Tag and so forth, but board and card games became staples.  Sorry and Clue and Parcheesi and, if you had alot of time, Monopoly all got worn out.  As I got older,  the games got more sophisticated (and expensive, probably, too) but have remained important as a means of personal and family recreation.  Our game closet is full of all of the fad games that have come and mostly gone, although still get occasionally revisited.  We still have about 7 or 8 versions of Trivial Pursuit!  Card games are common, like Pinochle and the Michigan staple Euchre, but there's nothing like Bridge, my personal favorite.  Ever since I learned from my Grandmother while a pre-teen, I have been fascinated by the ever-present challenges of that game.
 
• Movies

A good movie on a big screen is always a great source of entertainment.  I have enjoyed most trips to a movie theater, even those where the choice of what to see was not too discriminating.  How many of the top 100 movies of all time have you seen?  Or the 100 most romantic ?  Or better yet, the 100 Funniest Movies of all time?  and what about the movies' 100 greatest heroes and villains?

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