I'm a home-based businessman, husband of 1, father of 3, and grandfather of 4. My wife and I have been married for 1/3 of a century. I've been self-employed on a full-time basis since July 1987, so 21 years without a full-time job or boss.

I much prefer the security I have being self-employed, especially when I hear of people in my age group (50+) who are having difficulties finding a job once they have been laid-off.

I'm involved in B2B sales, calling on a wide range of business, industry, and gov't buyers. I found my niche selling promotional advertising, and have scheduled my retirement for my 97th birthday (Lord willing and I live that long.)

I enjoy big band and swing music of the 1920's to 1940's, especially Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, The Dorsey Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme (yes, he had his own band and Ella became the "frontman" for her band when the previous frontman died unexpectedly.), Harry James, Will Bradley, and many others. My swing tastes run from the Mills Brothers (Java Jive) to Louis Prima (Jump, Jive, and Wail - which was brought back in the New Swing era of the 90's by the Brian Setzer Orchestra). I could list many others whose music I love, including Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Artie Shaw.

The younger generation owes a debt to Rod Stewart, Ken Burns, Manhattan Transfer, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, and many others groups who have brought big band and swing music to their attention. Rod Stewart's 4 independent albums of Great American Songbooks cover a wide range of the vocal hits of the 20s to the 40s, following on the success of Willie Nelson's Stardust album. I could go on about Boogie Woogie, Zoot Suit music, and West Coast Jazz, ala Dave Brubeck, but they only allow 10,000 characters for this section.

I also love going antiquing with my wife. She's into old sewing machines, while I collect antique kerosene lamps, mostly from the 19th century along with the Aladdin glass models. Because of my career in promtional advertising, I also hunt for and collect old advertising specialties from Coca Cola to the kitchen matchbox holders and old fashioned hand fans.

My wife and I combine our antiquing with travel, whether on a long weekend in our region - Texas to Mississippi and Arkansas, then back home to Louisiana. This past October, we flew to Syracuse, NY and had a 10 day, 7 state vacation, driving from the Adirondacks through Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Mass. to Rhode Island, Connecticutt, then back to Syracuse and our flight home.

Glenn Miller, Will Bradley, Harry James, and many others named above. It's not so much the individual groups as the sounds of swing and big band music. I call it my mood music. It puts a little bounce in my step, so I listen to my "golden oldies" on CDs in my car during my drive time to see clients.

Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Kelly's Heroes, and Swing Kids.

Monk, House, and hoping for another full season of 24.
I have the entire 6 season set of Hogan's Heroes on DVD.

Favorite authors would be more accurate - Tom Clancy, Jack Higgins, Ken Follett, Robert Ludlum (The Jason Bourne series), John Grisham - If you can find it at your local library, pick up a copy of his "Christmas with the Kranks" on cassette or CD. Save if for a long trip, as you'll need at least 3 hours of drive time. Warning - Make frequent bathroom stops as needed, cause it will have you laughing. The bad part is that you can't roll on the floor laughing while trying to drive. Also, hot coffee coming out of your nose is worse than milk taking the same route. So be careful when enjoying this audio book - It's 10 times funnier than the movie version.

From the old Burma Shave signs on the side of the road in the 40's and 50's

As you travel down life's hiways,
Whatever be your role,
Keep your eye upon the doughnut,
And not upon the hole!

Burma Shave