The name is meant to make you think of "sail away", but with the idea that the boat has a leak. I consider it an apt metaphor for how my brain works.

It also rhymes with Rabelais, so that's a good thing.

Other than that, I am a completely fictional character in my own life.

Actually, That's Not True

I do exist. On May 3 in 1955, I turned zero - that was in Washington D.C. which is perhaps the only place in the US where you can be born outside of the US.

I have since lived in Oregon, Delaware, Virginia, Washington D.C. again, and now New Mexico in a passive solar home that my wife and I are allowed to share with our cat.

Right out of university, I had a job at which a fellow employee who was nearing retirement died at his desk. That pretty much ruined work for me. I have since held a number of jobs, generally in the field of engineering, and I am now allowed by my wife to think that I run a little land surveying company. It's just the two of us, and I do all the field work, which is great.

Roswell is just 70 miles to the East and whether or not you believe aliens crash landed there¹, it's a great place to get postcards to send and also little green alien head thingys to put on your car antenna.

What Famous People are Saying about pailaway

'Huh?'
George W Bush

What Not-so-famous People are Saying

'I always said he could do a lot better if he would just pay attention.'
Ms Marm, His Primary School Teacher²

Say, how about them Rimickles?

Have you not heard of these? Then you owe it to yourself to find out about them .

This is what people are saying about them:
'They're astoundingly hard on the ear.'
Leo

(Future) Guide Entries I am (maybe³) Working On

• Shovels - the Long and Short

Guide Entries I have Finished

• Atomic Guide Entry
• François Rabelais - His Bawdy Parts and Naughty Bits
• Great Circle Routes
• Roswell, New Mexico, USA
• Cycling Into the Wind
• Mandolin Jones
• Bowie Knife - The Choice of Legends
• The Barlow Knife
• Telling a Tall Tale - A Primer
• Telling a Jump Story - A Primer
• Making Carrot Juice

And two Guide Entries that I've Co-authored

• SETI and the Wow! Signal
• The Legend of Elvis Continues, It's Now and Ever

And one Underguide Entry that I'm quite proud of

• Passing Out Chilis

Some links I might do well to visit from time to time

• Stretchers
• Scout Recommendations
• Coming Up
• English Usage in the Edited Guide
• Editorial Feedback

Oh and for Goodness Sake, don't forget to check out:

• The Beeblecast

What good is an Introduction without a Quote from Mark Twain?

This is my favourite: "It is no harm to be an ass, if one is content to bray and not kick."

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¹ On the one hand, I can't imagine there aren't other sentient beings in the universe. On the other hand, those people who say they've actually seen aliens? - I don't think I believe them.
² George W's
³ Well, I am fictional, after all^4
4 (no I'm not)