I am a freelance writer that works on occasion on short stories, poetry and regional magazine articles when the mood strikes me. I dabble extensively in watercolor pencils and mixed media including pen and ink, airbrush and lead pencil. I photograph as another hobby. I am very sedentary in my daily life due to psoratic arthritis. It is the rheumatoid family, though my hands and fingers have been deformed at this stage. Osteoarthritis necessitated bilateral total hip replacements last year. Sciatic nerve damage in my left leg (associated with the advanced osteoarthritis causes me to rely on a cane. I am endeavoring to return to landscape art and photography so I am walking more now than before and expect to continue losing weight due to that increase in activity as well as a low carbohydrate diet. I am married to my wife of 44 years, with one surviving son of two.