I retired as a Master Sergeant from the Air Force after 20 years service in 1992. I was an aircraft mechanic on C-130's. They are mainly used as cargo planes and do troop and cargo air drops, but also have many other uses. They were first built in 1953 and are still being made today. During my years in the Air Force I did get to travel overseas. I have been in 3 countries in Europe during 2, 2 month temporary duty assignments. I also spent 30 months stationed in Japan were I saw 9 other countries while I was there. I love to travel and sometimes miss the Air Force.

The last 5 years of service is when I started getting involved with computers. Mostly just data entry for aircraft maintenance and I got my first home computer during that time.

After I retired I worked another 7 years before I became disabled. My last job I worked for a manufacturer’s representative agency for plumbing products. I was in charge of the warehouse, shipping and receiving, did some of the computer repairs, and a lot of other odds and ends around the office. I liked the job and the owners were good people. I still keep in contact with them and stop in the office but not so often to be a pest. While working there I started working on computers on the side.

I became disabled because of my lungs in October 1999. Mayo Clinic says there is no real name for what I have, but they have seen it before and it has been fatal for some. I am not getting worse, yet will not get any better. This is when I started to work on computers for something to keep me active and support my computer habit. It is sometimes necessary for people to carry computers to and from my van or carry some of my stuff if more than a few stairs is involved as I tend to get out of breath. It has caused more than one person to be concerned when I tried to do too much for myself. I do have oxygen in my van, but it doesn't help much as it is more weight to carry and I could stand to loose about 20 pounds.

The doctor I see at Mayo explained it to me like this: Lungs are like a wet sponge and can be compressed and expand easily. My lungs are more like a dry sponge. They don't expand enough for me when I exert myself and need the extra air. This is why I get out of breath so easily.

In October of 2004 I finally received a new hip and I am walking now without pain. My left leg is a little shorter then the right and by habit I still tend to favor my left side. I still have my electric scooter and I am glad I do because I have to walk so slow or I get out of breath. The scooter is real handy when we go to the State Fair or shopping in bigger malls.

November 2004, shortly after my hip surgery, my diaphragm weakened and is causing me more breathing difficulty. It is barely moving for me and I am relying on my chest muscles to breathe. The trouble with that is, when I go to sleep, so do my muscles. My diaphragm is too weak to keep up my oxygen level when I sleep. I now have to use a Bi-Pap machine to help boost air into my lungs for when I go to sleep or take a nap.