Have some fun; it’s infectious.

Favorite website

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newmichael/

When it comes to peace, how would you describe yourself?

I am a born activist

What do you believe are the 'burning issues' today?

Violence

What must we overcome to achieve peace?

Greed

More

low self-esteem leads to an inability to love, so self gratification becomes a medicine for an inadequate life. It's a struggle for attention and a false sense well being that will keep a soul in the dark. It's a time for LOVE.

Can we change the world?

Definitely

More about me

I’ve lived a somewhat different life from the usual American dream. I discovered very early that I had a talent for art. I actually started selling my work in the 5th grade. Having worked a few jobs when I was in college, I realized that I didn’t want to work under a boss or be managed. I felt that I was clever enough to work for myself. The same was true with my living situation. After renting for a while, I didn’t like that arrangement either. 

In 1970, I bought a piece of property on top of a mountain, with an ocean view. I arrived there with a tent and some tools. No power, no phone, no water; it was back to nature. I lasted about three years, building and doing odd jobs for the few neighbors; before I realized I needed more skills in order to raise my living standard. So off to college I went, to try and figure out what I could do to create a livelihood and live independent, in a remote location. After testing the market with paintings and drawings, textile work, cabinets and furniture; I arrived at the conclusion that if I did fine woodcarving I would have a unique skill that is rather rare in our culture. 

One day noticed that while wandering around the forest up in the mountains where my property was; that there was lots of carve able wood lying all around on the forest floor. I decided to carve up a box full of samples of my work, and take it off to the gift shops, which were all up and down the “Avenue of the Giants”, in the Redwood Empire. The first place I walked into took the whole box and asked if I could do more. I soon realized that I could probably do better financially, if I retailed my carvings at crafts fairs, instead of wholesaling to gift shops and galleries. This also did wonders for my social life. I would book shows in resort towns on holidays; stay in hotels, and eat in restaurants with the friends that I would meet on the crafts fair circuit. Then it was back to my remote property on that mountaintop, to create more inventory. 

That was a fun life for years and years. Later I was able to buy another piece of property and turn it into a rental. Then along with a friend, I bought an Inn on the Mendocino coast. It was a beautiful place, right down on the water. It was twenty acres with farm animals and nine rooms and a restaurant. We did breakfasts and dinners. My partner was the chef and I was the waitperson, and I made all the desserts. In between courses we would play music to entertain our dinner guests. I would play the standup bass and he would play the grand piano. A year ago we sold the place, and now I’m retired and live at that mountain property.

Promise to respect others and refrain from spamming?

Yes