I gave up paper-pushin' as a university administrator to pursue my dream of working in the booze business fulltime in 2000. After working as a bartender and front of the house restaurant manager, I put my big ole house up for sale, sold my car, loaded up a moving truck and headed to New York City. After working retail in Manhattan, then trying my hand at beatin' the streets as a wholesale salesperson, I decided it was really time to make my dream of my own business a reality.

I opened LeNell's Ltd in 2003. The store won much acclaim as one of the greatest liquor stores around. Unfortunately, like many small businesses in NYC, a new landlord refused to renew the lease, forcing me to shut down.

After looking for the right business home in NYC for over two years, I have decided to leave New York and head south of the border. My darling Demian and I have decided to set up home in his country, choosing the very lovely city La Paz, Mexico, the capital of Baja California Sur. We are working on setting up a haven for folks to come and let us take care of them. Stay posted as plans unfold.

I continue to write, educate, and mix drinks. Check me out on AOL Slashfood and stay posted for my upcoming book on the history of eggs in drinks.