User Profile

I am Don. Born in Winnipeg, Canada and, except for 3 months in Europe and 9 more in Vancouver B.C. when I was a teen, I have lived here all my life. I am retired from the work place to become a househusband and an artist... No one said I would be good at either one and so far they have proven correct. I am on here to chat with old friends and aquaintances. A journal came out of this. It is not very good but if you already know me then it will still be of interest. If you do not, well... take your time and start at the begining.

I am a graduate of the University of Winnipeg's Arts program (double major Geography and Environmental Studies). I had been accepted as a mature student. I did the entire degree through night courses over 13 years. Before that I managed about half a computer programming certificate from a local community college. It was the days of Hollerith (I have forgotten proper spelling... will fix later) cards and lots of key punching. Inflexible wrists and the wordiness of advanced cobol convinced me to pack it in. Who knew that it would all be replaced with key entry direct to a console (then later a pc).

I worked 30 years for the Canadian Wheat Board prior to my retirement. Split ~1/3 Information Technology, ~2/3 Grain Logistics.

Currently my journal will deal with my art, my memories, politics, things Winnipegish and whatever strikes my fancy. There will be little or no fanac as I have long since left fandom. Although I miss the people, I no longer have the time, money, interest in things sf/f nor the emotional resources to deal with it.

My politics are, in my view, centerist but then my political world view was formed in the Canada in the 1970s.

My religious/ethical views are a strange personal blend involving christianity, buddhism and atheism.

I have read a great deal on a number of topics though much of the non-fiction tends to be at the level of popular histories. I used to read a great deal of fiction, science fiction and mysteries in addition to non fiction but now my fiction reading is mostly limited to the occaisional mystery by favourite authors and rereading old favourites in all genres. Having said that I have recently start reading Glen Cook's Black Company stories.

I am also not using these pixels to discuss computer games, not LOTRO (Member of Legend: Silverlode server), nor World of Warcraft (Amok: Horde Sen'Jin server) nor any of the various Civ games (or their clones). I like these things. I just don't feel the need to make them the focus of a journal. They do detract a great deal from my reading/painting time but they do provide an inexpensive method (other than blogs) of keeping in touch with other people on a co-operative, non-critical basis.

Outside of LJ, I read and recommend some real life friends blogs:


http://www.robertpasternak.blogspot.com/
http://www.teenagedogsintrouble.blogspot.com/
http://site4redeyes.blogspot.com/

Friends (18):

Mutual Friends (16):

Also Friend of (1):