Orange Cat Speaks

Hello and welcome to my blog.

First, I should tell you something about myself. I am a 37 year old Canadian male, currently living on an island near Kingston, Ontario.

How did I come to live on an island, you many ask?

Perhaps a little more detail regarding my personal history is in order.

I grew up in Toronto, Ontario and still think of that city as home. After high school (notice I am skipping a few years for brevity's sake) I went out east and majored in drinking and carousing. While I excelled at these ventures, the University of King's College at Dalhousie University refused to recognize my achievements, and while I passed (barely) my year, I decided the academic life was not for me. So I took a long train ride from Halifax to Toronto (google map it!) with a $5 bill and not much else in my pockets.

Upon returning to the city I worked as a daycare assistant for almost 3 years; a job I loved and had they payed a living wage, I might still be there. However, I was offered the opportunity to work in Toronto's burgeoning film industry and leaped at the opportunity. I was thrilled! At last a place to put my skills as an apprentice alcoholic to use! I was employed as a set dresser for almost ten years before I finally decided I had had enough of that life. I met many brilliant and wonderful people in those years, many of whom remain close friends. The main problems I encountered with the industry were long hours, relentless partying, and no significant work for the winter months. In short, it was a brilliant part-time job, but outside of Hollywood, not a particularly realistic way for me to make a long term living. For some, it was perfect. But, being somewhat disposed to being, well, irresponsible, I had to move on.

In 2001 I was working on one of the worst TV shows ever made: Doc. With Billy Ray Cyrus. With the mullet.

I had reached rock bottom personally and professionally.

I left my job and my friends, said goodbye to Toronto and eventually headed east and a little north to the small city of Peterborough, Ontario. There I enrolled at Trent University, a small liberal arts university and re-started my academic career after a ten year hiatus.

My life changed.

I found in this academic community a place not only where I fit in, but a place that challenged me both personally and academically. I loved it and thrived in this new environment. I chewed through books of history, philosophy (many of which I still don't fully understand!), english literature and political theory. I was in my element. I pushed myself hard and finished my 4 year BA in 2.5 years.

After graduation I went to Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario and did a Master's degree in history, and my focus was on American (US) religious history. I chose this line of inquirey not because I was religous (more on that to come) but precisely the opposite. I have never been a believer in god or the supernatural. I chose my area of study because I was trying to understand why people held these beliefs, and why the United States in particular has held such strong religious views while its neighbor to the north went resoundingly in the other direction. I have always been curious as to why religion plays such a vital and integral role in American public life.

From Queen's I moved back to Toronto and began my doctoral work at York University, studying, you guessed it, US history. After two years I have become tired and burned out. Personal difficulties, illness, and family matters have made my studies increasingly difficult, and for that reason I am on a leave of absence this year. I will be returning to my PhD full time in September 2009, much refreshed and ready to kick some academic ass.

That is the short explanation as to why I am living on an island (for the duration of the summer!)

Because I am a driven, obsessive type, I cannot totally divorce myself from my academic pursuits. So this is where my blog comes into play. Part of what I hope to accomplish in this blog, but I will in no way restrict myself to this topic, is to futher my understanding of American religous culture. This, dear reader, is where your feedback and comments will be greatly encouraged and appreciated, no matter your country of residence, or religous beliefs (or lack thereof). I firmly believe that discussion, argument, and conversations in even the broadest terms makes all of us a little bit richer for having engaged in the process.

But thats not all. I need to keep in the habit of writing in order to improve. I also want to use this blog as a forum for some of my other interests; in particular, politics (US, Canadian, and European - well, from just about anywhere really!) and literature, again, from anywhere in the world. I am a US political junkie (GO OBAMA!!!) and a voracious reader. I am always looking for book suggestions and I am always pleased to recommend books I have read.

I am an open book. No question is out of bounds, should you care to ask. I cannot gaurentee you will get an answer, after all, some things really are personal! But always feel free to ask.

I aim to post a few times a week, using text, links, and even photos from my time on the island. I hope you will enjoy reading my comments and that eventually enough people will read this to have some kind of ongoing discussion on religion, atheism, books, politcs, and just about anything else that comes up!

Thats all from Buck Island....for now.