I'm wandering around Indy.com, getting to know how to navigate the site, and thought I'd take a break and tell anyone interested about myself.

I was born a poor black child.

Oh. Wait. That's someone else's story.

I was born in Eastern Tennessee, the son of the son of a Coal Miner. We moved to Indiana so my dad could fulfill the Hillybilly's dream...leaving the mines to take a high paying union factory job, which he did.

I never lost my connection to the hills, and even though I still make my home here, I travel south often. I have a great interest in folklore and folk storytelling of ALL cultures, but especially Appalachia.

I picked up music at an early age, and continue to perform when I get the chance.

I retired after 30 years as a FF/Medic, and now earn my living doing some tutoring, playing music, and writing a piece here and there.

I'm especially fond of small, out of the way, dive bars and small, intimate music venues, and spend much time exploring the back roads of Indiana looking for such places.

A couple of years ago, I got into Geocaching, and devote quite a bit of time to the hobby, and it's taken me to many interesting spots...pioneer cemeteries, old, one room schoolhouses, bits of our history I wouldn't have found otherwise.

But, mostly, I'm interested in meeting offbeat, quirky people, and hearing their stories.