Paul Manol:  

I worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for over 34 years. (Yeah yeah....I know what you're thinking - Agriculture??? HUH??? Pretty good for a city boy, eh? LOL) While I started my career in Toledo, I have lived in Philadelphia, PA; Savannah, GA; Hartford, CT; and the Washington DC metro area (Northern Virginia). In April 2007, I voluntarily transferred back "home" to accept the Executive Director's position for the USDA Farm Service Agency in Monroe, Michigan. On December 2, 2011, I officially "retired" (at least from USDA) . Thank God for "buy-outs!" ;-) My travels, both work and pleasure, have taken me to 44 States and to several foreign lands, including Europe (Ukraine, Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, & England); Asia (India); South America (Brazil); Africa (Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, Uganda, & Tanzania, the latter where I was "stranded" after 9/11); Mexico (love both Mexico City & Cancun) and the Caribbean (love St. Maarten even more as you can really "pack lite" for the stay there...if ya know what I mean). ;-D While each was interesting in its own right, I know firsthand just how truly blessed I am to live in the best country in the world. Most people in the U.S. really take things for granted. If they only knew... I have been married to 1978 Whitmer grad Kathy Halbert for over 33 years. She truly is the love of my life and my soulmate. I'd be lost without her. We have two wonderful children. Our daughter Courtney is 29 and lives with her husband and our two grandchildren (Brady, 5 & Lexi, 3), in Honolulu, HI. Our son Joe is 27 and a security analyst wit...Expand for more