The Blair Hippo Project: Narcissist Frenzy

Where Pete Blathers On About Himself

11/26/04: My Name Is . . .

Me? Really? You want to know something about me? Okay, if you insist . . .

My name is Pete Butler. I grew up in Iowa (Sioux City, then later rural Iowa near Waterloo/Cedar Falls), went to college in Illinois (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), suffered a major brain cramp and tried to start my career as a techie back in Iowa (Cedar Rapids, then later Des Moines) before moving to Pittsburgh in the early part of 2000.

I got moved out here by a dot-bomb that, in accordance with the fashion of the time, closed the R&D office employing me ten weeks after I started work. I'm not bitter; the company was your dot-com classic in that it married a wicked-cool idea to staggering business ineptitude. I've worked for a number of places since then, some good employers, others not so much. So it goes.

I love Pittsburgh. This place has flavor, character. Despite the incompetent local government. Despite a road layout that feels like some sort of cruel civil engineering prank. The restaurants, the music, the people . . . Pittsburgh has a lot to recommend it. Here's hoping I get to stay here a while.

I'm married to a wonderful woman named Melissa, who takes good care of me and supports this zany writerly dream of mine. The two of us have a dog (Footnote -- Dawg) named Katie, who also doubles as a door-bell.

Life is good.