I'm a native New Yorker and have lived here all my life. I grew up with cats and dogs (my parents were real animal lovers), and was fortunate to have good and loving parents who were also my friends. My Mom taught me to read by the time I was three, but it was my Dad who really jump-started my love for reading (which is ironic, because he hardly...more »

I'm a native New Yorker and have lived here all my life. I grew up with cats and dogs (my parents were real animal lovers), and was fortunate to have good and loving parents who were also my friends. My Mom taught me to read by the time I was three, but it was my Dad who really jump-started my love for reading (which is ironic, because he hardly read anything other than a newspaper). When I was around eight years old, he told me all about the adventures of Captain Nemo in Jules Vernes' Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea - after reading that book, I was hooked forever. I graduated high school shortly after I turned 17, and had an unsuccessful three years at college. I returned to finish my education two years later and took a full course-load at night while working full time. I completed 60 credits in two years and got my degree. During the 1970's I worked in an office for an insurance company and for a now defunct clothing conglomerate. During the 1980's, I worked in the financial district. When I was 40, I took a 10-month weekend culinary course and changed careers to become a chef. I started at the bottom and finally worked my way up to the job I enjoyed most - First Cook. That's the guy who prepares everything you see on a menu when you go to a restaurant. A few surgeries forced me to retire on Social Security Disability a couple of years ago. I am separated from my second wife and live in a small apartment with my 19-year-old son, Louis. Finances are always tight, and sometimes I have too much time on my hands for my own good. But life is really, really good, and I appreciate every day. I've had a 30-plus-year fantasy about writing a baseball book. I've hit on an idea which is quite novel and one that I haven't seen out there. The research is mind-boggling and the writing is difficult. I've gotten away from it for quite some time, unfortunately. Then a friend of mine introduced me to shelfari. WOW!!!!! It has not only awakened me to the joys of reading that have been dormant for so many years, but it has also rekindled the creativity I seemed to have lost as of late - and I'm starting to do my research and write again. I think it was James Michener who said, "I hate writing, but I love having written." My sentiments exactly. While trying to figure out what kind of research to do, and seeing if I can weave that into a chapter telling a story, well, it's like pulling teeth. But when I finish a chapter, and do the re-writes, and I'm finally satisfied with what I have written, well, lemme tell you - it's a natural high, the best I've ever had. My soul DOES soar over the clouds. Let's see, what else can I tell you. Hmmmmmmmmm. I love listening to music - I enjoy almost everything from heavy metal, to classic rock, to easy-listening, to jazz (especially saxophone), to classical. My son and I have a lot of the same taste in music, which is interesting since there is almost a 40-year difference. « less