»Hoss«: I guess this question is an invitation to tell a bit about myself from my perspective....
Okay, a short bio.....I'm a 48 year old circuit board designer living in a small mountain valley in
Northern Utah. I'm married (30 years) to my high school sweetheart with whom I've have raised
4 kids, all adults now and "generation Xers". My formal education ended with high school, and
induction into the army in 1966, I consider myself to be pretty much politically aware and basically
conservative. I'm basically an old cowboy, breed and raise horses in my spare time, and am
an avid reader, and hard core chat line addict.
Question: We've met through the chat server Hotel Chat. Why do you spend so much
time there?
»Hoss«: In reality. I tend to be a loner, and have always had somewhat of a hard
time relating to others on a personal one to one level. I find that the chatlines give me the ability to
express myself without the pressures of
personal interaction. Also, being involved in the computer industry professionally, I'm extremely
interested in these new forms of communication.
And last, but not least, I find the chat lines a great venue for escapism
and self expression. Most people watch television for relaxation, I chat!
The L'Hotel chat is my preffered chat line as I like the format and
simplicity of the server. I've been online for a little over a year, and
have met many really good people online.
Question: What's it like to be married to Starr?
»Hoss«: "Starr" (Lynne) is a wonderful woman, who has been down the road with me,
and has probably put up with more bullshit than anyone should have to live
with, we've seen some really hard times, as well as some really good
times.....In reality, I don't think our marriage is much different than that
of most other people unless you count the fact that we have been together for so long.
She tends to be the buffer in my life, the reality check that I need
occasionally, and all in all, a damn good partner.
Question: Through our conversations, I have found out you've been a rodeo hand,
done a bit of the rodeo yourself, and now you're a computer designer. How
did you ever make the leap from one lifestyle to the other?
»Hoss«: I don't view the change as a leap, but more of an evolutionary thing. When I
was discharged from the army in 1968, there was a lot of change taking place
in the world, and I think I grasped onto the rodeo as something that let me
experiencce the wild recklessness of youth and at the same time hold onto
the traditional values that made this country what it is. It isn't easily
explained, but my roots are buried deeply in the Western way of life and
traditions. I came from simple people, who were the true pioneers of this
country, they are the force that has molded and shaped this country with
mostly just a lot of sweat and labor. I've always held dear the concept that
I or you or anyone else can accompolish whatever we set out heart to do. In
my life, I've seen computers evolve from the magagiants of the sixties that
filled entire buildings and had the power to do simple mathmatical functions
to the desktop and portable wonders that they are today. Somewhere along the
line, I just decided that I wanted to be part of that evolution, and
dedicated myself to learning what I could about them. A lot of research,
reading, and practical application later, here I am, part of a team that is
very busy developing the next generation of machines that will be more than
ever before a necessary and practical tool in bringing people of the world
closer together.
I realize, that these two concepts would appear to be in opposition to each
other, but I can see no reason for that, I honor and cherish the traditional
way, while at the same time want to use and make the most of the new
technology and am proud to think that in some small way I may be responsible
for the new tools comming down the road to help make life a bit easier and
fuller for everyone.
Question: The Internet is filled with many younger people, most of whom have no
children. Explain what it's like to be a father.
»Hoss«: Being a parent is something that I view as part of the natural way of
things. It's something that you do as a necessary part of fullfilling your
mission here on this planet. It's much more than a physical process of
creating new life, it's part or ones personal growth and is inbred into the
very being of everyone. It's a proccess whereby both the parents and the
child grow and develope together.
Question: One of your daughters is now a mother herself. What's being a
grandfather like, compared to a father?
»Hoss«: Being a grandfather is a relatively new experience for me, but I view my
role as entirely different than that of a parent. Now it's my daughters time
to develope and grow through the raising of her children, and it's my
responsibility to step back and allow that to happen, for better or worse!
I've already made my mistakes and hopfully learned from them. I just want to
try and be a stable post that she can lean on in the process of making her
mistakes, and hopefully be there to help smooth out the peaks and valleys in
their lives to some extent. I don't want to be a dictatorial force by any
means, but merely something stable that they will always know they can count
on whenever things are tough. I just want to be there whenever they think
they need me!
Question: What has the ethereal world of the Web brought to your life, and how has
that changed your outlook on life?
»Hoss«: I view the web to be the greatest communication device in the history of
man! It has made the world a very small place indeed. I have at my
fingertips, the ability to meet and come to know people that I couldn't
otherwise hope for. I think that that is my attraction to the chat lines,
they are filled with people, of all walks of life, and geographical
locations. It's probably the best tool I've seen for learning first hand
what this ole world is really all about!
I don't think it has changed my basic outlook on life at all, but rather has
reinforced my beleif in the basic goodness of people. I guess I'm somewhat
of an eternal optimist, but I look for and am usually able to find honesty
and sincerity in those with whom I talk and get to know. I think my biggest
regret at the present time is that I find I'm unable to get to know more
people and the time constraints. Everyone out there in this ole world has
something of value that will make me a more whole person, and I wish that I
could explore these things with all of them!
Question: You enjoy music, with a penchant for Country and Western. Is there a
song that you see as your personal theme, either in the way you view life,
or how life has treated you?
»Hoss«: I'm glad you asked that question, and think that in answering it, I can give
the reader a pretty good idea of what I'm all about.
The song that I view as my personal theme is "Amarillo By Morning". In the
song, we find an old cowboy who is able to take the ups and downs of life,
roll with the punches and push foreward. Never losing sight of the goal, and
ultimatly accompolish whatever it is that he strives for! He doesn't seek
pity or help, he simply pushes foreward and takes life as it comes!
George Strait has a new one out currently that reflects the same theme to
some extent with "I Can Still Make Cheyenne". The key here, is to not look
back and dwell on what might have been, but to constantly strive foreward.
And is so doing, I'm convinced that we can all accompolish thost things that
we feel are the most worthwhile.
I know for a fact, that with a little bit of luck and the good lord willing,
I'll be in Amarillo by morning!!!
Question: What is the strongest force you know of, and why?
»Hoss«: I think the srongest force in the world is the ability that we all have to
laugh at ourselves. By recognizing our mistakes and being able able to laugh
them off we enpower ourselves to accompolish the impossible. I personally
enjoy laughing at others, but could never be able to do it unless I was able
to laugh at myself first. None of us are perfect by any means, and in
laughter we can minimize our weeknesses and maximize our strengths thus
enabling us as individuals to move mountains!
Question: What's your favorite food?
»Hoss«: My taste in food is rather simple, I can be easily pleased with a few
beans, some red meat, and an occasional potatoe washed down with a cup of
strong coffee or a beer. I don't want gourmet cooking, detest all wine, and
crave simple stick to your ribs cooking.