Hello from Gilbert, AZ

When working, I loved what I did.  Now retired, I do what I love instead ...... and  it hasn't been easy :-)

Have spent most of my entire life in the food business one way or another, even though an Architect by training and a General Contractor by avocation.  Was born a farmer, raised in the grocery store business and riding motorcycles.  Right after college, I spent 10 years working in Butler Manufaturing's International Division working on all kinds of projects all over the world, many relating to agriculture, food storage or food production.   After Butler, 20 years was spent helping to designing and build fresh, frozen and dry food distribution centers - then getting to operate them as Director of Operations for a large specialty food distribution company.  This company, owned by the Irish Dairy Board (a co-op of Irish dairy farmers) did both food service, retail and also had cash and carrys.  Later, as Director of Real Estate and Construction for another larger food service distributor, we built even bigger FDC's.  Who knew folks have and need  500,000 SF freezers / coolers and million SF dry warehouses?  Blackstone bought that company - and I retired.

After graduation from K-State, I was stunned to find out I didn't know anything worth knowing about buildings or anything else for that matter.  That is the way I feel about this site.  Even though my first sourdough starter was born in 1973 and have been baking all kinds of breads with it since, I still don't know squat about bread.  But folks here do!

Besides making breads and pizza, I also grow my own citrus, herbs and vegetables (in pots), make cheese; yogurt, cured / smoked meats and sausages, jams, chutneys, mustards, olive oil, vinegars, pastries, cookies, ice creams, Limonchello, Aranchello, Minneochello, beer, wine, cakes, pies and just about anything else that isn't too complicated, difficult or illegal.  Cooking and making food of all kinds is my passion - some of it is even edible.  Enjoy making; BBQ, Oriental, Mexican and Indian especially but, will cook and gladly eat anything and enjoy it most always even if most others don't.  My wife says  that since retirement 3 years ago,  have become very sick, on multiple levels and too many ways to mention.  Thankfully, women don't men very well but still, she might be right in some teeny, tiny way. :-)

I just can't tell you how much I have learned these past couple of weeks on TFL.  This site is the bomb!  So much so, my wife is really worried now.  She is the one thing I would never try to make over, redesign, change or improve upon. You just can't beat perfection. Whew, that was close! She's gone now and so am I  :-)  but remember...............................The best things in life cannot be bought - no matter how rich you are and the things you can buy with money - are not worth owning.  Thanks to all of you.