New here and introducing myself

I have been lurking in the WF for a couple months. I have been an IM observer off and on for nearly a decade. I wanted to finally get it in gear and do something and found this incredible resource. Through the inspiration I have found here, I am finally taking action. This started for me with Steve Crooke's excellent adsense thread. I am finally finished being a bystander.

A little about my background. I have been into computers my whole life. I got my first degree in Graphic Arts with an emphasis in new media. This was in the 90's. I did multimedia, web design, video production and a little animation. The reality was, I hated doing it as a job (for other people) and I worked my way from web designer to web developer and eventually to software engineering. I got caught in the dotcom bust and went back to school for my CS degree. Like so many other people, you can do what you love, but the rat race can really take all the fun out of it. So, I am trying to find a way to escape. Through the generous and knowledgable contributers here, and consistent action, I hope to make that a reality.

I hope as I learn more from the great people here and through my own practice and experience, I will be able to quit lurking and give back.