2. My Bio in Pictures Presented by James Mason

3. Birth place Gainesville, GA. April 29, 1969 I was born in the Northeast Georgia Medical center in Gainesville, Georgia on April 29 th, 1969. My early years were spent in Gaines - ville, up until 1971 when we moved back to Virginia because of the illness of my grandfather and to help my grandmother with caring for him and her home. Upon my grandfather’s passing, in 1972 we remained to help my grand mother and in 1976 we moved from her home and into a house out by the lake where I grew up this remained my home till I graduated High School, in 1987.

4. Formative years Sanville Elementary School  Bassett Middle School Bassett High School  Graduation 1987

5. My own education experience as a student was an up and down affair and after my graduation I went to work to support my mother and grandmother who both had health issues. I returned to school many years later at the urging of my Fiancée and several family members who had always said I should have been a history teacher. If I had to pick a memorable teacher from my past, I would chose two teachers who both sparked my interests in learning outside the classroom and in particular my History teacher in 10 TH grade, who was the first to make mention of learning as a lifelong endeavor not something that would end upon graduation.

6. HOME I live in south central Virginia in a small community near the border with North Carolina, with my Fiancée’, Michelle and our two dogs(more on them later). We are right in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and only a few hours from the Coast, so whatever your preference its close by.

7. JOBS WORK After my school career ended my first real job began. I went to work for a construction company doing roadwork to help support my mother and grandmother who were both in poor health at the time. I have worked many jobs since then in manufacturing, and textiles, as a bartender, club manager and as a restaurant manager and even otr driver for a year till my most recent jobs as a customer service rep, and as a personal care assistant. Which brings us to where we are now and one reason why I decided to return to school and continue my education.

8. Hobbies HOBBIES My interests include a love of reading, mostly history and political opinion and satire, some science fiction, and fantasy. I also enjoy cooking and watching old movies, being outdoors for golf or fishing when I can find the time or just hanging out with the hounds. I am a huge Georgia Bulldogs football fan and a Braves fan.

9. COOKING More hobbies I love to cook and watching cooking shows and try new foods and recipes and grill and eat. Most people think I should have been a chef, and who knows maybe I still will. Only drawback I hate doing the dishes. Despise dirty dishes cant stand them and need a dishwasher in the worst way so if anyone has one or knows someone who actually likes to wash dishes let me know.

10. READING  EVEN MORE HOBBIES I read a lot, when I have time that is. Which I never seem to have. I like to read mainly Sci fi and History or the occasional spy novel, Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy. Just so many books and so little time really. If there was a class on the history of Star Trek or something I would be a shoe in for the deans list.

11. DOGS I love my dogs. Always have had one or two around. Love spending time with my pups and watching them play and have fun and acting goofy. They are all into something most of the time. My desk is covered with pictures of them and their antics. Right now I have two, Mister Dozer(at the right) and Lu-Lu (below).

12. Entertainment T.V. Time I watch movies when I have time, I like the old westerns and some of the new stuff. Sci fi movies, westerns, military movies a just of a few of my favorite genres. I watch a lot of Discovery Channel and History Channel and Natgeo( National Geographic ) AND Scifi Channel. And of course UGA FOOOOTBALLL! Don’t get to see a lot of football but when I do get the chance, I watch a game..

13. THIS IS THE END The END This is the end of our presentation, hope you have enjoyed our show. I’d like to thank the Academy (not really but I have always wanted to say that ). I’d like to thank Dozer for not jumping up here and helping me type, because he can’t type very well, and Lu-Lu for not chewing on my shoes while I’m typing because that’s a distraction. James Mason