If you could choose any place in the world to live, where would it be?

This is tough. As a Sagittarius, I have wanderlust. I imagine someplace mountainous, beside the ocean. Perhaps in Ireland or Scotland, or a warmer place in Italy, Spain or France. Gee... *that* narrows it down! Let me do some more traveling, and I'll get back to you!

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Nancy Drew or Amelia Erhardt.

Your occupation now?

Depends which hat I am wearing... I am a Realtor, a writer, and a

What are some of your interests and hobbies?

Antiques. I love junk shops and flea markets. I enjoy gourmet cooking. My big passion is old airplanes, especially warbirds of the WW II era (with radial engines). I am a student pilot, and spend a lot of time around aviation and old planes. They have a certain smell that I love, and nothing sounds as good as a radial engine. I also enjoy photography, genealogy and making crafts, reading, and (obviously) writing.

What would you say are your character strengths?

Honesty, to the point of bluntness. I am pretty good at understanding what makes people tick, and analyzing people and situations. I have a great deal of empathy. I am able to do what I feel the *right* thing is, even if it hurts to do it. I find that quality very rare, and really appreciate it in myself, as well as others. I am an optimist, and have a vast collection of silver linings.

Weaknesses?

Well, there is that aforesaid bluntness bit. This isn't always such a strength! I have absolutely no patience, and I am hyper. I find it difficult to stay focused on things, unless it is something I am passionate about. I am fairly distractible. And I really love chocolate. Sometimes I wonder if being an optimist is really such a good quality, after all... but I think it belongs on the strengths rather than weaknesses list.

Do you have any quirks you think are strange or amusing?

I can pick things up with my feet... I can even write, albeit sloppily, with them. I have a very quirky sense of humor. I also have a weird tendency to be a sort of wish grantor... this may be pure coincidence, but it's still uncanny. People have said they wanted some particular thing in my presence and then gotten it shortly thereafter with remarkable recurrence. Maybe it's the Celtic heritage.

Who is/was the most influential person/role model in your life?

My mother is a big one. She is a very brave and honest person, and I admire that. She never pretends to be something she isn't.

What are your achievements/accomplishments that you are the most proud of?

My first logbook entry (towards getting my pilot's license). It was in a 1942 BT-13A, which is a WW II trainer. This was very cool. I am also very proud of the fact that I wrote and published my first book of poetry. This is something I have always wanted to do. Recently, I also completed NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month, during which authors must write a grueling fifty-thousand words between the first and thirtieth day of November).

Are you currently single, involved, or married?

Involved.

What qualities do you find the most attractive in other people?

Strength of character. I admire people who are very honest with themselves, and are not prone to self pity. I like a person with a lot of "sand", someone who doesn't quit in the face of adversity, even when things are really hard. It's pretty easy to be a great person when things are wonderful (or even just pretty decent), but when the deck is stacked against you, and you still walk with grace and dignity... well that says something.

What is one thing you would change about the world?

It bothers me when people think they *deserve* things. We are all just here, and it is up to each of us to live a good, decent life; to be responsible for our decisions. It really irks me when people waste time being jealous of each other, or lamenting over what they don't have. Each of us has something unique unto ourselves. It isn't a contest.

What is your favorite food?

I'll take Foods that begin with the letter "C", Alex. You know, chocolate. Cheese. Cheese cake. Chocolate chip cookies (tollhouse, of course). Cornbread dressing (Paul Prudhomme's). Crab Casserole (my mother makes this). Crab cakes. Coq au Vin. Cafe au' lait. Chinese food. Quesadillas (ok, that isn't technically a "c" word, but it "sounds like"). Did I mention chocolate?

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose?

I'd be very curious to talk to Amelia Erhart. I'd like to know where she went. I'd also like to interview several of my ancestors, since genealogy is one of my hobbies. It would be mighty interesting to get the first hand accounts from many generations, find out how they really lived and what mattered to them.

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you do with the money?

I'd start collecting old airplanes. Buy my own private air strip. Fly the warbird circuit (air shows) during the warm months, and hang out on exotic beaches in the winter. Then I'd write those checks... just kidding. I would pay every bill I have first, and probably my parents' and a few close friends' as well.

Do you consider yourself a spiritual person?

I am very spiritual, but not in what you'd call the traditional way. Churches and organized religions make me nervous. They aren't for me... that's not to say I don't respect them. I have my own very close relationship with God, to use the common word for that concept. I get a little edgy about discussing my religious ideas with people because it takes a lot of energy and effort to explain my views, and I don't want to offend anyone in the process. I believe, very deeply, that each person must find their own truth, and we don't have to agree on it. But mine is very important to me, and I try very hard to live by the principles of that truth.

Is there any particular historical era that you feel drawn to?

WW II is a very big deal to me. I am attracted to almost any period in history because it is gone, and I'd like to see many of them first hand. But there is definitely something about the WW II time frame that really attracts my attention. I think that was a real high point in our history, in many ways. There were an awful lot of ordinary heroes, people who believed in a thing and stood together. I also love Glenn Miller.

What are your favorite books and authors?

I like Ken Follett, Stephen King and Anne Rice. Stan is a pretty good poet, too (Anne's husband). I enjoy reading his stuff. I like Clancy, WEB Griffin and Dean Koontz. It's hard for me to list favorite writers, since I really love so many. I deeply love to read. I can't possibly pick just a few books to list. There are just too many. I have a long list of aviation related books I'd like to rattle on about, but this would most likely bore you, so we'll stipulate. As to other genres, I love psychological thrillers, spy stuff, historicals, legal thrillers, medical thrillers, true crime, anything with an absorbing plot. I've been known to read shampoo labels and cereal boxes when I run out of unread books. It is a disease.

What are your favorite movies?

"The Shawshank Redemption", "Apollo 13", most Meg Ryan movies... "French Kiss" was very good. "The Usual Suspects" was very good. I've enjoyed most films with Kevin Spacey. I like a lot of the "Golden Era" movies, such as "To Catch a Thief" with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. The remake of "Love Affair" was quite good. I also enjoy documentaries, especially about aviation or history.

What is your most prized possession?

Probably my opera glasses collection. I have some fairly unusual ones, mostly from circa 1880 to 1930. I have several ivory ones, and many mother of pearl, a few leather and other interesting ones. The most unusual, though, is a pair of brass opera glasses that were rentals in a London theatre long, long ago. They are marked "Property of U.A.D.C. Ltd, 9 Long Acre, W. C. 2, Fore hire in theatres only, must not be removed from the theatre - 5 to 25 pound reward will be paid for information leading to conviction of persons found in unlawful possession of these glasses". They were a gift, found on eBay. You can buy *anything* on ebay. Luckily for me, this company no longer seems to operate! I am also extremely fond of my collection of antique toy planes. Go figure.

What is your favorite color?

I don't have one favorite color. I like earthy tones, and lean towards deep, masculine colors in decor. I don't care for pastels very much. I like shades of blue quite a lot, and deep burnt oranges, ochres, that kind of thing. I like sage green very much.

What are your favorite television shows?

I don't watch very much TV. Usually, it's the Discovery Wings channel, or the History Channel. I love BBC's "Changing Rooms". I used to follow "ER" but lost track years ago. "Remington Steele" used to be a big favorite, when I was in school. I prefer movies or books.

What are some of your pet peeves?

You know when you are driving down a long, open road, and there are no cars in front of you or behind you, and some Jack (expletive deleted) pulls out in FRONT of you, really fast, then goes slower than frozen molasses? Well *that* really ticks me off. I also hate hypocrisy of any kind. People should have some consistent thread to their views and opinions. Double standards are a big no go. Can't stand liars or manipulators, either.

What are some of the issues that you are passionate about?

Aviation history. I am deeply moved by the veterans of WW II. I am very involved in a flying museum, a large part of the mission of which is to honor those veterans.

Do you have any tattoos or piercings?

My ears are pierced. I may pierce my bellybutton one day. I had a tattoo, but it has since been lasered off. I may, or may not, get another.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish before you die?

It would be nice to get on the best sellers list... but I'd settle for extensive world travel in my own warbird.

What is something you've always wanted to do/try but haven't yet?

Skydiving. I know this sounds ludicrous, but I am terrified of heights. I know, I know... the whole airplane and flying thing... this makes a lot of sense, right? And I was complaining about consistency in people's views. But here's the thing... the reason I am so scared of heights is that I am fascinated by them. I am afraid I will be mesmerized over the edge. I am also, upon occasion, somewhat clumsy (but only in the way that truly graceful people are, really!) and that makes me nervous on ladders. But back to the point, in an airplane, I am free to explore my fascination. It is an experience like no other, and in a plane, I am in touch with everything that matters. It is a religious experience. I could not hope to describe that adequately, so I'll leave it there. Skydiving is something part of me yearns to try, but I don't know if I could bail out of a perfectly good plane to do it.

Where do you see yourself ten years (what are your goals)?

I hope I have a long list of published books, and that they are selling well. I hope they are all *good* too. The kind of thing that sticks with people, makes them think. It's grandiose, but I'd love for that to happen. I also have an interest in having that warbird and touring with it. I see myself as semi-retired in ten or 15 years, doing things that matter to me (and others, I hope).

What is your favorite quote?

Can I give you three? These are my favorites from "The Shawshank Redemption", all spoken by Morgan Freeman's character, "Red":

"I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend. "

"I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope."

"Get busy living, or get busy dying."

I also rather like the aviation cliché': "How do you make a small fortune in aviation? Start out with a very large one."