Introduction

Larry J. is an overeducated late-40’s guy who seeks validation as a stained glass artisan, accordion player and Master Gardener in Hickory, North Carolina, where he lives with his life partner and cares for the ashes of his dog, the ever-faithful Bull, safely ensconced in the top drawer of his nightstand.

He is the author of a number of technical and professional articles in necessary but mundane topics about which few people outside very narrow fields of interest read.

Recognizing that he is doomed to continue a life of quiet desperation absent publication of something read outside a dentist’s office with only the choice of “Municipal Government” or “Periodontal Monthly,” he’s decided to try his hand scribbling about his travels, observations on life in general and the occasional rant about various stupidities in the world today.

These activities are made possible only through the generosity of his partner who is usually very patient with the creative process, as long as something is produced on a somewhat regular basis.

His life goal is to write something that takes longer to read than the average visit to the bathroom and which might actually be referred to in an e-mail between individuals not related to him under the subject line, “You gotta read this.”