Who is Barman

I am not even completely sure who I am so this might be interesting. I will try and stay away from the boring parts and see where this goes.

First the name. My initials are BAR and on a prior job a coworker first branded me with BAR and then eventually BARMAN. It must have stuck as that was almost 20 years ago and I am called Barman more than I am called Bryan except around the family.

Born, raised and always lived in Michigan. I don't get around that much. I have only been in 19 of the 50 states, some only to drive through like Mississippi. Well technically I parked in a parking lot over night and drove through Mississippi but the net result is the same. I have, however, been to Canada on many occasions and to Europe as a teen with the High School band. We toured Switzerland, Germany, Amsterdam primarily with a side trip into France. I have to go back some day. My Germany experience was not pretty and I know Germany is much better than that. Besides I have an Online friend that says I need to visit them.

I was born within 1 mile of Canada and spent more than half my life nearby. I hold a special place for Canada and Hockey and Curling and ... I did manage to Curl for two years if you want to call what I did Curling. I still carry my membership card to The Detroit Curling Club with me for some reason. There really is a lot more to the sport than you think and yes it is a sport. While we are at it with sports, I also love volleyball, racquetball, and walleyball. I am afraid I am no sports jock but I do enjoy my sports none the less.

I started band part way through Eighth grade and was stuck with the French Horn. I played all the way through High School. I was 4th chair so I was stuck with a lot of off beats and very little melody but I still learned a great love of music during that time. Even though I did not enjoy carrying the French Horn, I now have a deep love for the instrument. It is amazing what can be done with it. I had many fun times in band, at band camp, at Band-A-Rama, concerts, marching in parades, football half time showes and more. Some things I could have done without like all the senior guys getting kicked out of band camp and also the dreaded solo exams. My directory, James Skurra, has since retired and now directs the Downriver Community Band among other things.

I am single or as I put it "terminally single." I had an incident happen in High School that has marred me and I guess infuenced me. I should just get over it. I have been in relationships but none of them have been all that serious and, about 10 years ago, I stopped looking. Well I think it is more than time to jump in and see what is out there once again. I think my worst problem is a lack of self esteem. I am doing better in that category. How can I expect someone to love me if I don't love me? I am also shy although you might not know it by reading what things I have written. I am learning to be a little bit more outgoing but there will always be the shy part of me there. I am more of a home body than an adventurer although I do enjoy a good adventure. I love to try most things once, given the opportunity but I do not always make the opportunity to begin with. I have always had a problem with my weight and at the moment am very heavy but I am starting a diet and exercise program to do something about it.

I am a very easy going guy. I tend to go along with most things but on occasion will stand up and fight for what is important to me. I have a very strong moral system when it comes to me and how I judge myself. I make most things very black and white even though that is possible all the time. I believe in marriage, should I ever get there, as being forever. I believe in being kind and caring and honest with people. I try to look out for other peoples feelings. If possible I like to be the peace maker, the one that smooths things over, calms things down. I am a behind the scenes type of person rather then someone that has to be in the spotlight. I am that person in the background no one ever sees. I like to do for others rather than have done for me. I have been told I hug like a bear. I don't have a ton of friends but the ones I do are very dear to me although I do have a bunch of acquaintances. I would do just about anything for a friend. I have a devious side that no one suspects until it is to late and even then some people do not believe it. I analyze things deeply and get more out of things than most people. Sometimes that leads me heading off on a wrong tangent. I am very loyal to people and rarely say anything bad about anyone. I like to look for the good in everything. I guess in a lot of ways I am like a puppy dog.

I work in the computer field developing software systems although I did spend three and a half years working at a galvanizing plant. I have been earning a living with computers for 27 years now. For a while I was three and a half years and out on jobs, then I managed to go over 6 years on the same job and now I have been at the same place for 17 years. I was fired twice in my carrer. Once was as a stock boy at a party store. They were new owners and I was hired by the previous owners. I was doing a job I always did in the past with the old owners which meant I did not have the beer coolers as stocked as they should have been. They hired me back but still that was crushing. I also was fired from a computer job for I believe no good reasons. That was a big blow but with the help of friends I made it through it and am a stronger person for it.

Well this is getting way to long and I think it is a good start. Maybe I will come back and add some more in a future blog.

Oh, there is one more thing you should know about me. I am terrible when it comes to spelling and grammar. I will try and do what I can to watch that but if that sort of thing really annoys you, you may want to bail out now.


"A capitol T and the rymes with P and that stands for Pool" -- The Music Man