This was my second visit to Munich Germany but regardless, it was a place I enjoyed to visit.  The architecture is beautiful, the people are wonderful and the history is nothing like home.  It was Munich’s 850th birthday and the party was just getting started when we arrived. 

 

The grand square, Marienplatz in the heart of Munich

 

While in Munich we went just outside the city to visit Dachau concentration camp which was an experience that left my family and me a little shaken up.  The stories of violence which occurred not very long ago left my sister to pose the question “How could the rest of the world let this happen?”  Being her older brother, I didn’t know how to answer except to explain that we live in a selfish world and people care about their own backyards. Probably not the best answer but at the time it really was what I believed, that the rest of the world shut their eyes to the horror which was occurring not to far away…

 

Arbeit Macht Frei - Work shall set you Free

Being the fortunate person I am, I was born into a family who knows nothing less than love and sharing.  We are the fabulous 5, 2 sisters, dad, mom and myself.  Dad has been in the travel business for over 20 years and the family has had the opportunity to visit many places together.  My most memorial times traveling were when I was with the family.  I won’t go back and write about things far in the past but I’ve been to many places such as Jamaica, Cuba, Columbia, Italy, France, Austria just to name a few.. I’ve traveled with friends to Europe in 2006 which was a great time but of all the times I’ve traveled, the time with just Dad and I to Italy was a time I enjoyed and felt like I was able to experience Italy and it’s culture in 11 days.

Traveling in style is how go about it but it’s just because the family owns the travel agency and we all love to travel.  We receive discounts and our desire for family experiences allow us to pack up quickly and travel often.  Needless to say, I’m now an employee of the travel agency after 10 years in the IT field.  I hope to do some traveling in the near future and experiencing more of this beautiful place we call Earth…

It all started over a dream to fly when I was young.  By 30 I decided I wanted to fly a plane and have a license to fly.  Hell, my family is in the travel business, I’ve been to many places around the world, why not!?! I’ve played flight simulators and they are just that, a game, but actually flying a plane would be something I’d enjoy to learn to do.  It’s not learning how to golf or riding a motorcycle, it’s flying a plane!!  I can travel by myself by taking the car to the airport, jumping in to the piper and flying away.  Of course it’s not an inexpensive hobby but that’s why we work, to do the things we enjoy and love….

On August 3rd I was in Seattle Washington visiting my dearest friend, while playing a game the question came up “If money was not an object, what would you like to do?”  My reply was quick and without thought “I’d fly a plane”. 

The next day was the day that a dream became a reality when we traveled to Auburn Washington by car to arrive to a small airport.  I was speechless, shocked, awed, didn’t know what to say but “Wow!”.  A brief discussion with the instructor and a walk-thru the plane avionics, the instructor explained the next hour.  “You will be flying today, you will take off, you can fly where ever you want, the choices are circle Mount Rainier or make our way to Seattle”.  Without hesitation I had wanted to head towards the city and off we went!  Down the runway and a even but firm pull on the controls launched us into the sky and off we went…. A day in my life I will never forget and the start to my desire to fly!

 

I was asked to go right and head towards Seattle.At 3000 miles up, this is Seattle Washington

What kid doesn’t like a superhero?  Who as a child doesn’t want to grow up to be strong like Superman or cool like Spider-man?  I was no different.. and as a child I started collecting comic books at the age of 13.  It started by asking mom for some money which I spent at the local variety store on St. Clair picking up Batman and Spider-man issues.  I read them all and took care of them since day 1.  All the money I earned at my first job at the age of 15 while working at Canada’s Wonderland was dedicated towards my comic book collection (and girl friend at the time.. <blah>).  Dad bought me my first vintage piece, Incredible Hulk #181, first appearance of Wolverine for $200 in very fine condition back in 1988 at a convention in Toronto at the Sheridan Hotel.   

In 2001 as I matured <haha> and had a little more cash in my pocket, my hobby and passion shifted from comic book collecting to original comic art.  My first piece was an interior page from Spectacular Spider-man #73 by David Ross at the same location that my Dad bought me the Hulk #181, Sheridan Hotel.  I’ve posted my art collection on comicartfans.com.  My prize piece

Batman & Joker including the story of Batman and how he came to be

I’ll discuss more details about the childhood passion which has grown to be a hobby I enjoy..