bio of john r. allen
The pictures and writing on these pages are an attempt to share something of myself with others. There is a certain warm feeling associated with creative work, whether it is cooking a good meal or painting a landscape. That feeling is magnified many times over when you share your creation. I doubt this site would ever have been created if not for the inspiration given to me by a new friend, whom I value very highly.
(added December 21, 2007) Since this page was first written I had moved to Mississippi to be with the person mentioned above. She went into the hospital shortly after I arrived. She passed away recently, after twelve long months, three major surgeries, and a battle with a 'super bug'. Her courage in the face of such adversity and her unflagging love of life were a constant inspiration during that difficult time. I will miss her sorely. The world has lost a wonderful person. Everyone who ever met her immediately wanted to be her friend. And, I won her heart. This is humbling beyond belief. She will continue to be an inspiration to me until the day I die. I pity those who never had the chance to know her.
A little background:
I am a born and bred Midwesterner from the land of the Great Lakes. This probably colors everything I do.
I've spent most of my life in the Flint, Michigan area. My hometown has gained a rather negative image in the last 20 years. While some of this image is true, much of it is overhyped. Any area is only as good as the people that live there. The Flint area has in the past, and continues to this day, to produce world class athletes, writers, artists, filmmakers, doctors, charity organizations, and entrepreneurs. Those who count us down and out (Michael Moore, et al) will be surprised by what the people in this area will create in the future.
Growing up in Michigan has given
me a strong love for the outdoors, especially the water. 
Fishing,
hunting, camping, canoeing, and hiking have been a part of my life
as far back as I can remember. Because of this, almost all of my early
photography was taken in the field. Someday I may add some of those
early pictures to this site.
Reading has also had a major impact on my life. I started reading at an early age and have continued to read on a daily basis for my entire life. The earliest books I can remember reading on my own were Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey. I read both of these in the 4th grade. The stories of ancient wars, monsters, and mythology were fascinating to a ten-year old boy. This experience hooked me on reading for life. Since then, I've read thousands of books and probably just as many magazines. This has given me an outlook that is wider than my background might imply. It has also made me more open to new people and places than the average person.
Another favorite pastime of mine is cooking. Sometime soon, I hope to add some favorite recipes to the site. Many of the conversations I have with my son and brother, who are also passionate about cooking, are about food. My son obviously knows I like to cook, since he gave me a 6 quart cast-iron dutch oven for Christmas.
Interests: family, friends, computers (programming, building, repairing, graphics), Internet (web site development, programming, browsing and having fun), photography, reading, writing, art, music, cooking, sports, fishing, hunting, pool, card games of all kinds, canoeing, camping, ...