My First Entry

Hello All,

This is, hopefully, the start to my blogging life!  You see, my partner, Andrew (andrew-thornton.blogspot.com) is doing a 30-day artistic challenge.  So, since blogging is something that I think may be useful to me, I figured I'd take the time to try a 30-day blogging exercise.  I'm expecting my friends to hold me accountable for the next 30 days, too!

I'm not sure what this first entry should be about really, so let me just tell you a bit about myself.

I was born in a small town in Pennsylvania.  I really grew up in a wonderful place for kids.  We didn't have many neighbors around, but my brother and I really had a lot of open spaces and even a lake (very large pond) in our backyard at our disposal.  I mostly remember good things about my childhood.  For the most part, I liked school.  I liked learning (and still do).  I grew up thinking that I was going to be a lot of things in life.  I first wanted to be a Chef (my, how that has changed now!).  Then, I was going to be a businessperson (I was young…I didn't know what kind of business, but I knew I wanted to be in charge!).  Then I thought that I might try being a lawyer—before I realized how much drama was involved.  In high school, I took every maths class that I could take.  I took drafting with dreams of being an engineer of some sort.  I also loved languages and took as many years of Spanish as I could in high school.  Then, during my senior year, my love of languages took over, and I focused more heavily on my English and Writing classes than I did on Calculus (something I regret at bit to this day, as I should have made more time for it; I feel it's the only math that I didn't quite grasp during my high school years).

Moving to college at PennState, I knew that I wanted to study language(s).  I started, actually, with French, as all the Spanish classes were taken at my level.  I had, simply, the most amazing French prof that you could ask for.  She ignited my pure love of the language, and set me on the path to attempt to master it.  Then, I added Spanish.  I took a lot of history classes, despite the fact that I didn't (and still really don't) like studying history.  But, I found the cultural part of the classes too interesting to drop every time.  Then, as the years went on, I added some German and Japanese classes to my schedule.  It became a lot, and, sadly, I had to drop German and Japanese after only two semesters of reach.  But, after having days filled with four different language classes at one time, it just wasn't working…I had to focus.  So, I finally graduated with BAs in Spanish Literature and French Language & Culture.

So, you'd think that I'd use my languages more, but, alas, I don't.  I thought I'd go on to be a medievalist or a linguist.  But, I needed a break after five years, and made the choice to take time off. And, with the help of one of my best friends, I moved to New York City.  Immediately upon moving, a small French clothing boutique took a chance on a country kid from Pennsylvania and hired me to sell up-scale French women's clothing.  I loved the job (I also dreamed of being a fashion designer once).  I worked there for a few years before moving on to a few other jobs.  But, by far, that was one of my favorite jobs in NYC up until my last, at Apple.

I grew up with a love of technology.  And, thanks to my family, I was able to have a good deal of tech from a young age.  I started out with a DOS computer, then moved on to Windows 3.1 before upgrading to Windows 95 (which I had preordered—I was very excited about it).  At the same time, I had been working during high school in a publications department using Apple equipment.  I fell for them.  Hard.  I loved the system and the simplicity.  I loved how I didn't have to reinstall the operating system every so many months (as I had come to do with my Windows 95 computer).  So, my next computer was a PowerMac 6300—I was in love.  And every since, I've been an Apple fan.  I realized there is a device for everyone of all sorts, but for me, it'll always be Apple.

So, I started working at Apple because I believed in their products.  I was so excited to be accepted into that family (it really was like a family), and I loved everything about working there.  I did a lot of things there after starting as a Specialist (seller).  It was a beautiful experience, and the best job working for someone else that I ever had because it really hit home for me.  Technology is one of my passions; I have a real weakness for a nicely designed piece of tech!

Then Andrew and I made the decision to move to PA near my family.  I was especially tired of the craziness of NYC, and needed to get away, but leaving Apple was an exceptionally tough decision—but one that had to be made for my sanity!  After moving here, we happened upon a shopkeeper in Ligonier while out one night and were offered the chance to rent out part of her space.  We jumped at it.  And now, we own a bead store, art gallery, and jewelry store all in one.  Allegory Gallery has become our life's work. We both are fully dedicated to continuing the work we've started there, and it has become a sort of home base.  No matter what is going on, the store grounds us in the community.  It is a meeting place for friends during our bookclub meetings.  It is a place where people can come to learn a new hobby or craft during one of our many classes.  Mainly, it's a place to be among like-minded, creative people.  A place to share ideas, and a place to learn new things.  I've met so many interesting people and so many awesome people who have been on this journey with us for nearly five years.  And, honestly, I can't wait to see where it all takes us.

So, where does that leave me with this blog?  I'm not quite sure.  I don't really have a path charted out for it (which is strange for me, as I'm a planner).  Sometimes I may talk about something I learned that day.  Maybe I'll post a few pointers on using Apple-related things.  Maybe I've put up some simple Spanish or French lessons for those who want to know a bit more.  In any case, I hope that you find it interesting, and I hope that you'll join in on this journey with me.

Very best with gratitude,

William