Well things are barreling ahead, and it's exciting.  Without a doubt my luck has changed... I went from being dead broke to being worth over a million dollars in only 8 years. I still feel poor and live modestly though. We live in a trailer home, and drive an F-150, often working 90hours a week for very little take home pay. I've always been generous, and charitable to my friends and Shire.

Never have we had help or a handout, we are the opposite of the Occupy crowd...we thrive DESPITE the governments interference, Earned what we have, and proved hard work and intelligence are ALL you need to make it in America. We never graduated from college, but instead got our Masters degree in life investing in our marriage, business and hobbies.

Life's going good.  In 5 years I'll have a Medieval Manor in Bozeman, and the Castle Tortosa outside Bozeman (in Three-forks) will be complete.  I'm not building the castle for me..it's for my Shire, and to reinvigorate medievalism in my state. They will have a small village and "Tavern" to hold events that will be better than they ever imagined, and in town we will hold events in my Manorhouse in Bozeman.  I've done the 40 yrs of poverty so I feel I deserve to be rich now.

I'm an arrogant man who knows his limitations and strengths. I like outdoing others...it's a horrible personality flaw but I do enjoy it. Taking a project just a level above others drives others to do better as well. I've done it as an artist, as a businessmen and even as a medievalist.

I'm success driven, and don't waste my time (My wife always comes first). I devote a lot of time to Medievalism, as it's my hobby...but I manage it carefully and thoughtfully.    

As a leader I was never suited to be a squire, often leading to problems with my Knight. He found me to be a know-it-all snot-nosed kid, but soon made me the households mercenary Captain while my brother was head squire...in time I became head squire as well but no longer seen myself as some shield-man and more of a Independent force.

My knight expected much, and I just did not have the time.  I've seen SCA Knights spend years to get the white belt and even more time and money trying to become "King". Honestly I realized in my 20's that I'd never have the time or dedication to be a Knight...so I decided to become the Lord they serve.  I did this by earning wealth, earning lands, getting a castle,  a manor, etc.  

I was "Granted" Tortosa at Pennsic but we Earned it. We bought  the land, did the research and assembled a team.  After 26 yrs of courts in school lunchrooms and public halls I need to bring my dream to fruition and take the hobby to the next level.  I know of many medieval projects that failed before but that's because they were non-business types that just did not have the life skills to do this...but I do.  

We are going to earn a million dollars over the next couple of years by hard work and brilliant thinking and get this stuff done. I want to get my Shirefolk playing again and see what happens when they become a village. So far everyones reenergized as now they know theres a goal ahead that's important, that will be theirs.

New skills will begin a Bozeman renaissance medievally speaking that I hope will inspire my Kingdom of Artemisia and broader SCA to do likewise.