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So here is some data you wanted
or didn't want to know about me.
/begin short history we hope
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I have been living in North
West Indiana for most of my life. Except for the time I moved to
Florida for 9 years (more on that later). The area I grow up in was
country but nice. I graduated from Chesterton High School in 1987
and then proceeded to live near Valparaiso University. Now, I didn't
got to school there but my good friend Marty had an apartment that he shared
with me. After and excessive amount of partying I up rooted myself an
moved to Florida. On the day I was to go to my going away party, my
friends were having for me, I got second and third degree burns on my face
(stupid car). This delayed the move for about a week. This, of
course is not the care that did the damage but a car that I owned in
Florida; 64 Ford Fairlane...boy, I miss that car. However, like lots of
old cars I could not afford to replace the motor in it for a second time so
I had to get rid of it for a 280 Z. No I will not tell you the
craziness that happened in that!
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Florida was much fun! It is
not the intention that I have fun in Florida but it's hard not too once your
there. But seriously, it's not all fun and games when you move there, you got to work you know? Then as t an as you are you decide that it's
too much work; I got over it about 2-3 years after being there. Plus,
with my face being burned in 1989, it was like a babies ass. Burn baby
burn! It still burns quickly to this day.
Oh and can you say burn out on
Disney. It was all like, "Hey! We are coming down to stay with
you. How far are you from Orlando? Great! You can show us
Orlando and go to Disney with us." /sigh Good thing they change
that place all the time; I was going there like 2 times or more a year for
about 5 years. The picture to the left is one that I am very proud of.
I have always enjoyed taking pictures (since high school,
yearbook/newspaper). In this picture is looking thru a hole in the
wall over looking and Aztec like area at Disney. Those are people down
in front eating. Let me tell ya something! This place is pitch
dark. You could not even really see the people when you were standing
there. This is what happens if you keep your camera shutter open for a
long time.
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So with various jobs (stock leader for 6
years) I decided to go to ITT for computers. Boy was I silly....I
got talked into something that I really didn't. At that time there
was really not to much out there for schooling in computers so I went to
Electronic Engineering which was ok. What I really learned from
that nightmare was that I was really much better at school. I
mean...when there is a test and I'm the first one out (that never
happens) in like 20 minuets and it's a 1.5 hour (up to) test. I
was sweating when I left. The first one to leave after me was
about 40 minuets later. The good news is that I scored a 99% on
the test and it just kept happening like that. It got to the point
that the teacher said ... don't stress if you don't walk out in 20
minuets. I can't explain it but it just didn't seem as hard as it
did in high school.
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Which brings me to a story about
ITT and the projects that we did. Our first 6 months there was
a contents in the school. Normally they do not let people that
had been there only 6 months do a project to compete but they let
us. That said that we would get a robot in about 1 week to
work on then have 2 weeks to come up with an idea and present it.
We got a board with flashing LED lights. Disappointment.
But, Scott (guy in blue) and I turned it around and got top grade
and winner of the contest. We got parts from a flea market,
assembled it and came up with the idea of robots helping fire
fighters. It shot water as if it was a hose. Too funny! |
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The next
year this girl and I tackled doing
a drink mixer. Yes! Finally! Something that would
make drinks like rum and coke or pour shots or change the bottles
out and make different drinks. Yes you too can make yourself a
drink and hold a conversation because all you have to do is push a
button. Alas, it was a bigger project then we could pull off.
The idea of the project was sound but we lacked the know how to get
it done. We also lucked out because it was not a contest.
We had it working for like 2 pours but then it would fail...wouldn't
you believe that it didn't work at all in the lab! Instead we
ended up pouring 2 - 2 liters of water all over the lab...water and
electricity does not mix! We got an A for originality and
mostly because we had a great presentation to go with it.
Again the idea was sound and the professor said we were about 9
weeks a head in thought....in 9 weeks we would learn what we could
have used to make it work. AHHHHHH good times!!!
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About this
time I was ending or coming to the end of about 5 years of server
depression. I had a strange calling to come home. I
really could not explain it at the time but it all adds up now.
After moving back to Indiana and not long after that my Dad (Vernie
Dooley AKA Vern or Doc if you were fishing on the river) died at 54.
I actually can remember when he stop being my parent and started
being my father. The picture is of him and I on Clearwater
Beach Florida. His only trip to Florida to come see me.
Florida is not his gig.
I can't
remember the amount of times that people would say that I looked
just like my dad at his age. When I was young it was always
... you look just like your dad when he was 12 or whatever. It
really made me mad but I think that was because it was true and I
really didn't like him much then. But then I grew up and thro
out the past and found someone that I looked like and acted like.
Funny how live works out that way. I can say here, no matter
what my Brothers and Sister say, he was a man that cared and that I
love and miss very much. |
 Since we are on
the subject of parents I want to give some history on this subject.
I was raised by Bonnie Dooley who married my father when I was like 3 or
4. I have to give her some perks for marrying my dad with 3 kids;
they had one together. So 4 of us. Now that may not seem
like a big deal but I think it was HUGE. We are very, very, very
close and more so since my dad past away. I think if someone asked me,
"What one friend would you talk to and could trust no matter what".
It would have to be her.
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 More
on the parents! My maternal mother is Janet Granzow. I can
remember her coming to visit or to pick us up for visitations. We
used to do some wild stuff but after a while our lives changed and I did
not see much of her after that. One of the greatest and strongest
memory (as a child) I have is of camping at the Dunes State Park here in
Indiana. What a wild time that was. I was lucky enough and
man enough to get back together with her in Florida. I love her as
my mother but it's a different love then I have for Bonnie. We are
also very close. |
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Well, that
about brings us to present with out going into too much detail. At
this point, I met the man of my life. It can be said that there is
a person out there for everyone. I would have, in the past, said
that seems a little odd ... what are the chances? Well, I'm here
to say that the chances are pretty good. Life for me has, in hind
sight, been preparing me for this event of finding a partner for me for
the rest of my life. If this had happen any sooner then I would
have screwed it up some how.
Drum roll
please. I would like to introduce to you Matthew Williams-Dooley.
We were married in Toronto Canada on July 7, 2006 (not on a soap box but
don't get me started about marriage in the U.S.). I am hoping when the USA catches up to them
our license will just transfer down here.
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