Phil's Bio

Not much of this has changed over the last years.  I am still a 51-year old GWM (not "Guy with Money"). I retired in August of 1992. I am 5' 9" tall, weigh 168 pounds (on a good day), and wear glasses. I used to have a bit of definition but that went when I lost my lean muscle mass (AIDS-relatedwasting syndrome). I am balding and I keep what hair there is buzzed. My eyes (reportedly my best feature) and my hair are brown. I have a goatee that I keep very closely trimmed. I have one tattoo (Calvin). I have AIDS (diagnosed in 1988). I'm a recovering alcoholic (17+ years clean time).

I was born in Pittsburgh in 1951. I am the eldest of seven children. I have a partner, Matt,  a mom, a dad, four brothers, two sisters, two sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law, a second mom in Dallas, three nieces, and three nephews. Oh, and two cats - Belle and Smudge, who allow me to live with them in exchange for food and chores. There are six dogs-in-law, three cats-in-law, two birds-in-law, and assorted fish-in-law. A classic American "extended" family.   Matt and I bought a house in the Morningside section of Pittsburgh.  It is affectionately know as the "Herrington-Ometz Home for Wayward Girls".

I grew up in a little suburb called Dormont. My childhood was fairly typical except the air raid drills. If you went to school in the 50's or 60's, then you understand. It was frightening to this school kid. When I was a junior in high school, we moved to Bethel Park (in those days a social and financial step up). I fit in well and made friends quickly. I joined the choir and performed in my first (of many to follow) musical comedies. It was the "Music Man" - just the chorus and dancing but I was hooked.

I graduated in 1970 and started thinking about my future. I wanted to go to school and learn to be a dancer. But one morning at breakfast, my mother dropped a six pack on my instep and that was the end of my dreams ("hommage" to Lily Tomlin). No, really... my father pitched a fit and I changed my plans. The United States was still tangled up in Viet Nam. Like many other people then, I could see we were in a losing battle. I had always thought about being a minister so I registered as a divinity student and a conscientious objector (which also pissed off my father). I went to Mount Union College in 1970 to begin divinity studies. And to find myself. (story continues here)

 

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Updated: 22.03.2003