Timothy Burton:  

I have had the great experience of helping raise 6 children (Her's, mine, ours) and now have 14 grandchildren. (Update 09-18-2023) One of my granddaughters just let me know on Saturday that she is pregnant, so I will be a great grandfather soon! I am currently living in Phoenix and plan to retire soon (I own 20 acres in Ash Fork AZ where I want to build a small ranch). Twice married and twice divorced, I have been single now for 17 years. My first marriage lasted almost 13 years until she decided to run off with a younger man. The second lasted 17 years. I have spent the last 51 years working on computer systems, in simulators, in nuclear power plants and in various IT jobs in other industries and will be grateful to turn my attentions to other more important things in life. such as my hobbies and getting the ranch built and running. It's been an interesting journey through life. I have lived, worked and trained in several states such as Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland (Washington DC), Washington state, California, Arizona, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Iowa and Illinois. My first state of choice is Arizona as I have spent most of my life there. My next choice would be Montana, Kentucky. and Washington. Two states I have not spent time in are Alaska and Hawaii. After my time in the Navy (10 years), I worked for Arizona Public Service Company (14 years), IBM (10.5 years), TEK Systems (2 years) and have been back at Arizona Public Service Company since 2008. I was an extra in "Officer and a Gentleman", worked on a political campaign, met a lot of interesting people, some famous and other extraordinarily intelligent people in the course of my life. I have lived on an island for 6 years and enjoyed just about every minute of it (first marriage is the exception as she put a damper on most things I enjoyed). If you check the photo gallery which I am working on, you will eventually see some of the things that I have done, my (our) children, my career and eventually I will be posting pictures of my ranch as it develops. I have placed the photos into Albums. You will have to click on Gallery and when that displays, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Album link. There are currently five albums. Those who are looking for me in the 69 Accolade can find me on page 99 top photo second row, second from the left. My name is listed as Jim Burton (misprint) and I guess the optical character recognition software and subsequent posting left the 69 Accolade out of the Gallery. Important lessons I have learned in life: Don't mix too many types of alcohol, or imbibe too much, you may wake up next to the wrong person and/or do things you regret later in life. Don't drink too much beer, I did and it lead to a bad proposal and subsequent 12 year plus hangover. It happened to me when I was 20 and I have not had a beer since. I do have the rare drink every so many years when it is appropriate, so I did learn my lessons early in life with alcohol. Disclaimer: I "Had too much" at my bachelor party December 8, 1989. The differences I have noticed between men and women: One phrase I leaned in Venusian: "I need my space" translates to I have someone else that I want to be/am involved with despite having a long term relationship with you. I have experienced that a few times in my life. Martian is far less subtle, such as "I met someone else". If there are any ladies out there that can help me interpret other meanings for it, please let me know! Women to this day are a fascinating mystery to me. I do enjoy a good mystery though! Never open your mouth when you are hurt or angry. This applies to personal and business relationships. Unfortunately I can't seem to get this right in business, as a couple of my former managers can attest to. Again ladies, just because a man has nothing to say when you are "discussing" personal matters doesn't mean that he does not care or isn't listening. He cares for you and will not say something that will hurt you hopefully. (More Martian speak) Another Martian thought regarding men visiting doctors; when I was asked by a lady I worked with in Chicago why her husband refused to see a doctor, I told her quite simply that he was afraid of bad news. She did ask her husband if that was the case, assuaged his fears and got him to go to the doctor. Men are really quite simple beings....don't look for hidden meaning, most men don't have complex reasons for things. Things to avoid: Three places never to have your picture taken: The Motor Vehicle Department, work, and Navy boot camp! You are never at your best in those situations and the photographers love to catch you at your worst. I have posted a few examples in the work and hobbies album. I think maybe they all learned photography from the same teacher. Funny Short Stories: When I worked as an extra in An Officer and a Gentleman, they were filming a bar scene. The extras were Navy and Marine Corps personnel. They filled all the glasses in the scene with real beer! Needless to say by the time they finished filling most of those that were filled were quickly emptied! They admonished everyone to not drink afterward! Needless to say I did not drink mine as I had already sworn off beer (still on the 12 plus year hangover with the first wife!). A designer I worked with at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station had an artificial leg. He came in one morning not realizing that he had his underwear around the ankle of his artificial leg......awkward! Needless to say, he corrected the oversight immediately. He was "Briefs Boy" from that day on. Good thing they weren't "Budgie Smugglers" as the Aussies would put it! I worked with a group of guys in the Navy that liked to bowl. They would break for lunch and go bowling. This same group of guys liked to prank others and so one day we took their bowling balls out of their bags and put in three five pound bags of sugar. Some of pranks did get out of hand so we curtailed the pranks. (Kids say the Weirdest Things): My youngest daughter, 3 or 4 at the time, was playing some games with her grandfather (my in-law) and she said I love playing with you papa. He then asked her what would she do when he died. She replied "Then I will play with your bo...Expand for more