Adopted when I was five by two California teachers who taught me to read, and didn’t let me have access to a television until I was about fifteen years old.

Figured out that I was an atheist when I was twelve.

Got an MA in English at CSU Sacramento. Spent four years pursuing a PhD at Washinton State, and then came to the conclusion that I had basically joined a cult whose sole purpose was to delude me into thinking there was actually paying work for Lit majors, if we could just stick it out for -one- more year. 

Married, left the cult. Moved back to Sacramento CA.  Got a job at a sewer district.  Bought a house and a pool table, and now revel in the light and happiness that is middle-class existence.  Consider myself an incredibly fortunate man.