A few days ago, Weblogs Inc. editor Brad Hill approached me about blogging for BloggingOhio. I couldn't wait to say "yes," because Ohio is a place I cherish. This is a beautiful state with diverse landforms, climates, cities, and industries. And the people who live here absolutely love it. Ask any Ohioan how they feel about Ohio, and you'll more than likely get the same response. For my part, moving to Ohio eight years ago was the best move I've ever made.

Let me tell you about that. I grew up in Detroit, and by Detroit I mean the city of. Crack houses, casinos, and what I considered to be, at the time, a complete lack of a future for my young family (those are my kids Maddie and Jake in the photo).  Fortunately, one day in the spring of 1998, I landed a job here in Cleveland, and I've been a Clevelander ever since.  The thought of moving back home doesn't appeal to me any more, because Ohio has become my home sweet home. This place grows on you.  I didn't even mind when the Buckeyes pounded the snot out of the Wolverines last fall, because, hey, I'm an Ohioan, after all. (Now let's just hope the Browns pick up A.J. Hawk in the draft, huh?)

Today, I am an independent consultant working in the fields of advanced networking and Voice over IP.  I've been writing blogs for Weblogs Inc.'s voipfan.com for a year now, and O'Reilly Media has published two of my books about the subject of Voice over IP. 

I'm especially interested in local music, the local publishing and radio industries, fine dining, and, naturally, local technology stories. As part of the "Ohio 5" series, here are a few questions I'd like to answer, so you can get to know me!

1) You and your town: a marriage of love, convenience, or necessity?

I call Elyria, OH home. This is a very quirky town indeed. The mayor never had a full time job prior to being elected, and he lived in with his mom well into his adulthood. Local politics are frustrating, economic opportunity is limited, and my house hasn't gained one red cent of value since I bought it three years ago. But this is a very affordable town, and I live near I-90, so zipping onto the freeway is a snap, and heading east to Cleveland is only a quick thirty-minute affair.

2) A mysterious benefactor gives you $75, with the condition that you
must do nothing productive. Where in town do you go, and what do you
do?

Maybe I am a glutton at heart. Or maybe I just like gourmet food better than a trip to a Cavaliers' game. Either way, I think I'd take my wife to the Nemo Grille in Avon, Ohio, for a cheese plate, a filet mignon, and a chef's presentation of seered salmon.  OK, maybe that's *slightly* more than 75 bucks.

3) You are your town's tour guide, on a tight schedule. What is the one place you show visitors? OK -- two places.

I'd probably take my guest to the Stocker Center at Lorain County Community College for a stage show or concert (especially if the Elyria Fiddlers are playing), and if it were a Friday night in the fall, I'd head over to an Elyria Pioneers or North Ridgeville Rangers high school football game.

4) The mysterious benefactor is back, this time with $500, three days off, and the condition that you must not leave the state. What's your plan?

Day one, a Tribe Game at Jacobs' Field followed by drinks at Cooperstown, the joint owned by aged rock star Alice Cooper across the street from the Jake.  Day two, eighteen holes at Spring Valley Country Club. Day three, prepare an all-organic meal after stocking up on fresh produce goodies at Trader Joe's at Crocker Park in Westlake. Too exciting for you, isn't it!

5) You're an Ohioan. What about that makes you proudest? The flip side of pride is shame; go there too if you want.

I'm actually quite proud that such great opportunity exists in Ohio for a technical businessperson like myself. Believe  me, doing Silicon Valley work at Black River Valley costs is a heck of a lot more economical than living in a shoebox apartment in San Francisco, where tech jobs are in abundant supply. Here in Ohio, it may be tougher to engage in my line of work, but I have a four-bedroom house for a fifth of what it would cost to buy one in tech central.  Of course, the local political process in Cleveland is often shameful. But I keep reminding myself: it isn't Detroit.  Oh yeah--it sucks having to drive all the way to Columbus or Pittsburgh to see a pro hockey game!