I had a job as a mechanic for a while. I was saving some loot to cover expenses while I did some things in the former Soviet Bloc. Later, Stateside, I dropped out of PhD school to play in an alternative country band. After we put the record in the can and voided the warranty on the van, I spent some time writing and editing a local arts and entertainment magazine in my hometown of Columbus, OH. Now, I run a small, not-for-profit catburglary firm and wallow in existential angst.