![photo.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYWLEjC5zgA5zBhgV6cAyJWx5aUd7KrvJByDVvRK5BytR/photo.jpg)

(Picture from my recent trip to Ireland)

Seems I am late in posting an introduction.  A friend who thought this was a great platform to learn from others, share experiences and be able to bounce ideas off others who may have a different point of view; referred me to Steemit. Thus far, (limited experience) it is a bit overwhelming, there is so much info, so many people and the knowledge that is freely given is great.  

So a little about me, I grew up in West Virginia (not western Virginia).  Went to college to be a photographer, until I realized it was not for me and joined the military, was in for 8 years before getting out.  From there I moved around the east coast as required for my profession in IT.  Started at the very bottom of IT with physically pulling cables, learned and was promoted; now I am a VoIP engineer at one of the world’s largest IT companies.  I have lived in a wide variety of places, everything from very liberal to very conservative, Large cities to places it would be hard to find on a map (without Google’s help), and traveled to a foreign country or two, all offering a different perspective, and a learning experience.  In my opinion if you are not learning things, and making memories, you are not taking in the world around you.  

My main hobbies include hunting, traveling, brewing (mostly ciders), gaming and I just started blacksmithing (forging). I will make follow up post on each of these, and go a little more in depth.