just Bob

let's see. i was born at St. Alban's naval hospital in Queens, NY. since until i was 10 my father was in the army(spec. 6 or 7 i think) we moved quite often. St. Louis, El Paso(twice), Seatle, some where in California, Germany and of coarse NY. After his discharge we settled in Brentwood, LI. when i was in 8th grade we moved to upstate NY were i finished high school, married( at 17, 2 weeks before graduation). i was granted permission to pursue my degree independently of any particular NY. college or university by the NY. state board of regents. after 3 months in this pursuit my oldest was born and i quit and went to work to support my family. became a blacksmith(no, i did not shoe horses). as a member of a community of artists, craftsmen an inventors i chased knowledge where ever i could. hmm...2 more children, divorce after 9 years, gold and silver repair for Jostens in Santa Barbara and some other jobs while creating useful objects as well as art in my own shop. married again for 16 years, kids finished high school(i was granted custody when the kids were 11, 4 and 3) did some sculpture for a famous cellist, the Robert E. Lee museum and the local Masonic Temple among others. fast forward to 1992 and the news of MS. move to Fla after divorce in 1999 and set up shop under a tarp, trained a helper and started selling ironwork in Mt. Dora outside Orlando(yes, in my wheel chair). after 5 years i moved back to upstate NY. (heat and humidity, sand, bugs, gators and snakes beat me up). maybe the time line is a little off. and here i am, 2006.