I hold a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Washington University, and have performed with the Northern Lights Jazz Orchestra, Monkey Puzzle Orchestra, South Side Horns, and the Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Jazz Orchestra, among others.

My alter ego, Dr. D.D. McCloidsman emerged in the late '70s interacting with friends, developed into a stage personality at 2-bit talent shows in the '80s, and as author of Dispensational Jazzology in the early '90s. Dispensational Jazzology received an "Amen, brother" from the Washington Post, and was called a "work of genius" by the Seattle fringe music rag, The Tentacle. And Kenny G is reputed to have said "It made my hair stand on end."

In my other life, I consider myself a social permaculturist (exploring "invisible structures"), and am involved with the Transition Initiative movement as a co-initiator of Transition Whatcom.  Transition Training in 2008 from UK Trainers Sophy Banks and Naresh Giangrande, and Permaculture Design certificate earned at Inspiration Farm, 2009.  Introduction to Integral and Integral Sustainability from Alan Seid, of Cascadia Workshops. I have a particular interest in what I call Integral Permaculture, and Tim Winton's Pattern Dynamics.  I live in Washington State.

I am also known to be a "peak oil activist," and am an occasional contributor to Energy Bulletin, and have been a panelist at Seattle's Green Fest.  I initiated and served on a local city and county appointed Energy Resource Scarcity/Peak Oil Task Force, and I facilitate a "Beyond Sustainability" class at Whatcom Folk School.