Where in the world is Vince?

Who:

My name is Vincent. I was born in “Clifton Spa”, New York in 1949. My mother and father and I lived together in Palmyra, New York until I was two, when they divorced. I then went to live with my grandparents on my mother's side. I lived with them in Palmyra until I completed college. My father's parents were first generation Americans. Although I was never able to verify it, based on when my dad's ancestors came to America (in the 1820's), where they settled (Palmyra, New York…once known as Tow Town because of the Erie Canal), and the fact that they were Irish, I surmise they came as canal diggers…but that's just my theory. Tracing the family tree back on my mother's side of the family seems to be a total dead end. Ah, sweet mystery of life!

My childhood in Palmyra was idyllic. Unfortunately, the same could not be said about my middle and high school years. After high school I first went to the Rochester Business Institute for certification in computer programming. However, my real desire was to teach, so I transferred to Monroe Community College and then the State University of New York College at Brockport to pursue my degrees and licensure in teaching middle and high school geosciences.

I taught in New York State for a couple of years before moving to Maryland, where I taught and lived for about seven years. At the same time I pursued a post-Masters degree in school administration at the University of Maryland. I then moved to Virginia and taught the geosciences before becoming a successful school administrator for over twenty years. I retired from the principalship of Longfellow Middle School in Fairfax County, Virginia in 2008.

If for any reason you'd like to contact me -- perhaps for travel advice for Thailand -- please email me at vincentlynch.moonoi@gmail.com.

What:

This website will consist of several sections:

"Blog": About what I'm up to.

Photos: Updates on my photo collection.

Thoughts & Info About Travel In The United States And Thailand: Hopefully some helpful advice.

Links to these sections at the bottom of this page.

Where & When:

As of this writing, I'm retired and living in Colorado Springs, Colorado! After retirement, I lived in Bangkok, Thailand for a little over a year, beginning in May of 2009. Lots more thoughts about Thailand...mostly negative...see below.

Why:

Why am I setting up this website? To “keep up” with technology a bit, stay mentally active, and share some of my journeys. Hopefully it will be fun for me and interesting for you. Feel free to "borrow" any of my photos, although I'd appreciate if you give me credit as "Moonoi" (that's Thai for "Little Pig").

Links:

Blog/Journal: Occaisional musings about anything from travel experiences to politics, to life in general.

Thailand: Learn about traveling to Thailand from someone who has made about 16 trips there since 1985 and who lived there for over a year! The good, the bad, and the ugly...and recently, it's gotten very ugly!

North American Travel: Suggestions from my travels throughout the East Coast, the West, and the Canadian Rockies.

My Photography: A sampling of my photography is available on-line at pbase.com (a wonderful site where dedicated amateur and professional prhotographers display their work. This link will take you to my page where you can see what's at pbase.com, both old and new.

MY BIRDS

I can't leave this page without mentioning my beloved companion birds that I had to leave behind when I moved to Thailand. I had three.

Bilbo was my rescue bird -- a peach front conure (left, with my mother). A lovely family couldn't keep her because of an allergy problem. She was born in 1995 and is the sweetest pet anyone could imagine. She wants to be with you 100% of the time! Unfortunately, in her infancy she learned to be a feather chewer (not a plucker), so she's not as beautiful (on the outside) as one might wish. But her gentleness, kindness, and loving attitude more than made up for it. Bilbo was the pet of a lifetime, and leaving her was the most difficult part of my transition. I think of her daily.

Dino was a spunky maroon belly conure. He (or she?) was about 8 years old when I left for Thailand, and beautifully feathered. A little nippy unless you took control. A handsome bird! Dino's birthday was the 4th of July! Dino left for his new home earlier than the others and was doing wonderfully. Recently, however, Dino apparently fell off his perch and began having convulsions. He passed away rather quickly. Rest in peace my dear little friend. Someday I will see you again over the Rainbow Bridge.

Komo was my Timneh African Grey parrot. He (or she?) was also about 8 years old when I left for Thailand. Most of the year, Komo was beautifully feathered, although during the winter and early spring he did some mild plucking (fortunately, never down to the skin). A very gentle bird that didn't like to be petted, but loved being on your shoulder, particularly in the kitchen. He was too shy to talk publicly, but if you were out of the room you were apt to hear over two dozen words or phrases. Komo's birthday is Christmas Eve. Komo recently had pneumonia, but is back to great health again!

I was very fortunate to find a wonderful new owner for my beloved companions. I am in her debt for keeping the bird family together and loving them in my place.

Teddy (right) is my new feathered companion, now that I have returned to the States. He's (?) an orange sided conure, similar in species (but a different variation) to Dino. Named after my favorite uncle, Teddy was born at a breeder in Florida in October of 2010, and after being fully weaned flew to Colorado and I picked him up the next day. He's a sweet little guy, colorful in feather and in character. A cuddle bug! (Right).