Anyway, to make a long story short, (too late), I dragged out my old graphic design texts from my Fitchburg days and read them repeatedly until I could quote them in my sleep. (This was particularly impressive in cases when the books contained only pictures, but I digress.)

With the fundamental design knowledge refreshed in my mind, I began teaching myself whatever computer applications were at my disposal, basically learning by doing. As a matter of fact, some of my favorite pieces from my early portfolio were created when I had no idea how to work a particular program. I simply knew what I wanted something to look like in the end and knew that there had to be some logical way to get from point A to point B.

Again trying to make a long story short, (again too late) after being without a permanent job for a year, I began working as a web designer for Luthers & Associates, a subsidiary of The Thomas Register of American Manufacturers.

While there, I got my feet wet in a baptism of fire. (I know. I am mixing my metaphors.) In the course of two years, I created Internet Catalogs and CD-Rom Advertisements for over a hundred different companies.