Hi everyone. I think most or you guys already know what my mind set is, but I thought I should give you a better idea of what makes me who I am.
I am 45 years old, (yeah I know, ancient!) married and have three teenagers, two daughters, 13 and 14, and a son who is 16. I have a great family who is very near to my heart.
I have a great wife who is 10 years my junior. She is very smart and you guys know her as teethandclaws. She always amazes me with her insight and I take what see has to say on most issues seriously. I mention the fact that she is my wife because it is only fair that everyone should know our alliance.
We don't agree on all the issues but I think our main purpose for being, and speaking up for that matter, is our family. We are loving and understanding parents and I probably should mention overprotective. I worry each day that my children go out into the world.
I grew up in a small New England fishing village. My Mom was Portuguese
and my Dad was English. Both of their sides of my families came through Ellis Island, my Mom's side from the Azores and my Dad was born in England. I went to an Episcopal Church growing up and was an acrolyte and in the chior. I always had a passion for learning yet some stuff would not seem fathomable in school. I was over weight and got pick on which for me was distracting.
Later I was diagnosed With ADHD, although they then called it hyper-kinetic. I got the belt for everything and my Dad had very little patience for my impulsive behavior. At 15 I was kicked out of my house and it was not easy. Getting a job at that age back then was impossible and I had to steal and deal pot to be able to eat. I truly hated the stealing part and eventually got caught at 16. I was still ADHD and probably didn't grow out of it until I was about 25. Once I had a name for myself with the local police I was in and out of trouble for stuff I did and ocassionally for stuff I didn't do. During that time I guess you could say I was a screw up and saw half of my life between 16 and 27 in jail. At 17 I was able to get my GED in jail. I also was the acrolyte in the Protestant church when locked up. While out of jail I would make an honest attempt with some BS job until I was caught for something I did impulsively. While this went on I was one of the people you see on the side of the road spead across the hood with the cops searching them. This went on every time they saw me.
At about 24 of 25 I start taking a long hard look at my life and it was not looking good. I decided to move to Fla but ended up hooking up with the wrong people in Daytona Beach and started doing Diladas. Not sure on the spelling but it is basicly synthetic Morphine. I was strung out on these things for about, luckily, only a month. I was arrested and got put in jail in a medical seg cell. They had me there about three weeks and then my lawyer got me out because the cops searched my apartment without a warrant.
I knew how bad I was getting and had a pretty rude awakening in that cell as I battled with physical withdrawals. That arrest may just have saved my life. I didn't even go back to Daytona for my clothing and started hitchhiking back to RI. I got here and there was a warrant for me. I ended up with 3 years in a maximum security state prison. I took advantage of the college courses there. I got an education in business and psychology and really took another good look at myself. I attribute my success to my being able to get an education and later, me being lucky enough to meet my wife.
I got out and got a pretty good job right away. I was in control of my spastic behavior by now and managed to stay employed for about a year. I was not happy delivering donuts third shift and just started going through a bunch of jobs trying to find something I liked. I met my wife while working at the donut place. It was not easy for us at first as we didn't see eye to eye on much. I bounced around... I was.. a fisherman on a deep sea scallop boat, a form carpenter, a framer, a dock builder, a bouncer, a bartender, a fish cutter, a lumper(unloading boats of iced fish with a shovel, that was a fun one), let see, A nuclear waste tech at a reactor fuel rod plant(I lied about my record and they didn't check) that is still on the superfund list, a deep sea lobsterman, an inshore lobsterman, and a crew member on a inshore dragger.
We have moved around alot too. We lived in RI, CT, FLA, CO and N.H.
In 1990 we lost a son to haemophilis influenzae type b. He was 6 months old and we still really miss him. The day he past away I was not home. While away I prayed for the safety of my family and up until that point still kind of had Christian beliefs in place. I had always prayed over every thing as I was brought up religious. I think this is about the time that I decided that my energy being spent on prayer is a waste of my time.
Then when living in N.H., in '97, I pinched a nerve in my neck while lifting a box of steamers at work. I went through all kinds of pain and was pretty much useless for a couple of years. I went through physical therapy for what seem like forever. I'm still not right but am better off than when it happened. I now survive on what I make from my home business. I do wholesale stuff but not really big time or anything. I do have an SSI case pending as I did get hurt at work. My wife is employed by a non-profit group so Her pay isn't the best, but she loves her job and that is key.
I do have a really great summer gig though. I dock boats at a resort marina and I make about $200 on a good day in tips. Our life is pretty good and we have much love. This is the key to Our happiness.
I am telling you all this so that you can try and understand my perspective on the issues. I am certainly not proud of my past but I do feel I am one of the few examples of someone who has been in the trenches and took it upon themselves to crawl out. I do not think I know everything and I certainly am wrong sometimes.
We all know about the Patriot act and I'm am SURE with all the hit words in my writings (and maybe yours for that matter) Uncle Sam knows how I feel. So for the record, I mean no ill will to George Bush or anyone in our government. I say what I say because I feel if this is America I should be able to. I just wish you would get your shit together George.

tyreay, just like your wifes, that was such a detailed introduction. It seems like I know your whole life background now. I can now see why you stand for certain political issues.

I'm am very sorry about the loss of your son. Even though you might not practice religion anymore, I will pray for the family. I was also an acolyte for five years at an Episcopalian church.

When you were kicked out of the house at age 15, that was probably the main thing that lead to all the troubles during your life. Most people have parents to pay for school, food, and a roof a roof over their head. To fend for yourself at 15 is just an astronomical task. I am very glad that you have found someone you love and you have three kids. That is a very happy ending to your story.

I didn't even notice that your wife was teethandnails. This is Defending the Truths first to have a couple on board! Unless their is a couple on board that I don't know of

Glad to have you and your wife here on Defending the Truth!