Home of Ray Lyons

Welcome!! Glad you finally found my page. This page will be a work in progress, So, not only will I tell you something about myself but also I'll update it regularly to include some entreprenural ideas or any other Hair Brained Idea that I may have. I welcome your Feedback and Any Input that you may have to either make this Page look or work better or to hear about your own Ideas or Schemes. So Check Back Often, or Never again depending upon your outlook on what you read.

I Started Out as a Child
Back in 1951 my Folks had a Brilliant Idea. Thank God they used the Rhythm Method. Good Catholics, all. This was in Albany, NY. Well in September of that year I peeked out to take a look and decided to stay. All went well for the first 20 or so odd years of banging around the Back Streets of Albany, I lived through Catholic Elementary School, I lived through Catholic High School, but I wasn't ready to live through Catholic college so I entered the State University of NY "System" Hmmm....Party Time!! After getting out of School I found out that a Liberal Arts Degree just didn't cut it in the Real World. So off to Chef's School I went. My family had a catering business so this was a natural transition. At this time as well I decided that Marriage was in my Future, so I tried it out too. As Marcel Proust was proud of saying " I tried and I Lost". My marriage was 2 of the happiest years of my life, unfortunately I was married for 5 years. The Percentages weren't working out in my favor on this one. So>>>>

Into the Real World
After "Getting Out" of My professional Training I Became a "cook". Man what a let down. But I knew that if I set my goals I wouldn't always be trapped behind a grill. My goal was to be a Chef in 5 years. Well I made it, after 3 years working my up through the ranks I landed a Job as a Chef at a Hotel in the Adirondacks on Saranac Lake. I was pretty sure I had arrived, this was Cool, literally cool. The Adirondack Region has some of the Most severe Winter weather in New York State. I soon tired of the 4 wheel drive life and moved South. I've been in the Washington, DC / Baltimore area since 1979. I came where with BeefSteak Charlies Restaurants as a General Manager. I spent 14 years in the Food Business until I realized that "maybe" I had been working for Somebody else other than me all along. Time for a Change.

Things Change
I remember Sitting in the Lounge of the "Pancho Villa" Restaurant in Rockville, I was the General Manager, it was 3 in the Morning, the Books were done, I was ready to go home. I didn't have to be back in until 10 the next morning, so I knew I had at least 4 hours of a good nights sleep in front of me. Only one problem, my clean-up crew had decided to Flood the Kitchen, this was their way of cleaning I guess. At that Point I knew Sales were in my Future. And the easiest way to get into Sales was, you guessed it, Used Cars. Well not used exactly, new. I eventually ended up at Rollins in Springfield, selling Home Alarm Systems, in a year I was promoted to Sales Manager and set my sights on bigger things. I now have a Home Improvement Company specializing in Basement Waterproofing. My office is in the Historic Savage Mill outside Columbia, MD. I've been doing Home Improvements since '89 and enjoy the lifestyle of being "Self Sufficient" That is until the next Job comes along. It seems that working for yourself, you are always unemployed.

And now "The Rest of the Story"
About me personally. I am presently Single, I live in Laurel, MD which is mid-way between Washington and Baltimore. I've grown up to be over Six Feet, All that Mexican food has made me weigh 185#, but I try to stay in Good Shape by working out Regularly at the Sport Fit Clubs. Unfortunately at 45 years my Blond Hair is starting to turn White around the edges. And my Green Eyes can't see as far as they used to. But I do like to stay busy. My Hobbies include Motorcycle Touring(have calmed down since the accident), Photography, Cooking(I can still whip up a full course meal in 20 minutes) Biking( I've got a Hybrid Mountain bike that I like to take on the C&O or Down to the Mall), Guitar(I've playing for about 25 years, great stress relief to "crank up the amp") and of course Computers. And with all that said; Life is Good. Well -- if a Home Page is supposed to give all the Background and insight into a User, I feel that this is a Start. I'll tweek it as I go. Thanks for Stopping By!!