Summary: My name is Eric, and I currently live in Medina County, south of Cleveland OH. As a living, I work at a local restaraunt, called Tony Roma's. It just opened on May 24, 2005, but hey, I'm not complaining--it pays the bills! In the near future, though,I hope to get all my writings finished and published. Part of my hobbies include writing, reading, working on the computer, and spending time with friends. I enjoy sci/fi-fantasy novels and movies the most. Also, I love to read about the old Celtic Civilization of Europe before the Romans pushed them out. My favorite type of music is Celtic Music. Yes, having an Irish background from both parents kind of gives one the tolerance for it. Currently, I'm attending ITT Technical Institute in Strongsville OH. Preparing to get in the IT field, I am taking courses in the CNS program there.

Growing up, my parents moved frequently city to city. My Dad was in the Coast Guard, and so, we moved quite a bit. My first trip to Ohio was in 1977, and I've lived here off and on since. My Dad was generally a strict father, teaching my brothers and I the "facts of life." We were disciplined much as kids, but I hold my father in high respect for his discipline and "tough love." It has taught me a lot about life! Looking around today, I see a lot of parents that DON'T discipline, and I wonder. I graduated from Maple Heights Senior High School in Maple Heights OH. I consider Maple Heights, my HOMETOWN, even though, like I said, "we moved a lot when I was a kid." I lived in North Carolina, Hawaii, and I have travelled to various states.

As a family, we did various things together. Many of our cherished times as a family involved camping with the Maple Heights Campers Club and for my brothers and I, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Also, my childhood street, Lewis Drive, was famous for its yearly block parties during the summer. At one of those block parties, I was exposed to D&D for the first time.

In 1996, I moved out on my own, and for half a year, I lived in Wisconsin. I had a job there, working as a chef. However, things did not work out as I planned, and I returned to Ohio in November, and I moved to Pinewood Apartments in Brunswick OH. My first job was working at a boat manufacturing company, where I assembled boat parts for yachts and various kinds of boats. The name of the company was "Racelite / Southcoast." When I turned 18, I was allowed to try some of the punch presses and tubular rivot machines. It was quite an experience! Thereafter, I've worked in various restaraunts. One of those places was with Bonanza/Ponderosa Steakhouse. For 7 years, I was with them. I began there as a simple Dishwasher and moved up the ranks beyond IST and RTC to Shift Coordinator. Befriending many of the managers and company associates, it really felt like home for me. Ponderosa was the longest job I've held (14 Feb 1994 - 26 May 2002), so in a way, it's like I'm still apart of Ponderosa wherever I go. The Chronicles of Tristan: A Revelation is dedicated to the "hardworking crew of #629 Ponderosa, Brunswick, Ohio."

On September 13, 1992, I gave my heart to Jesus Christ at the Gospel House Church in Bedford OH, and on February 7, 1993 I testified to the internal transformation through Baptism. Since then, it's been a trying but persevering time, and it has been the first time Someone has done something special for me. Jesus died on the Cross for our sins. By association, we are guilty of First Degree Murder when Jesus died, but He died to save us from the "Fiery Pit," where the fire is never quenched. There have been times where I've doubted God, but He truly does listen to us! To this day, my favorite holiday is Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Sometimes we must believe before we can see...

"Baen nhu osha, nharcíl pharagnain ohsa lá fhaaluír gra an eggoínaid, taebí aluín loád oleagh, í cHeam mharg inghaid go pleficadh oshan. I treffae lím olgcash bhuíl an go nuiman ber oshann - go líam Iósamh da Bhíbeseàdh, Hríaddar í Failte."

I went to college for one year at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago IL, where I endeavored to major in JEWISH/ISRAELI STUDIES. I love the Jewish Culture and I've always been fascinated by the Jews. I feel that the Jews alone have been the most persecuted race on Earth, and they deserve a home of their own and a nation of their own. My heart kind of goes to them

National Origin: Through my Dad's side of the family, which would've been Cheetham before the 1900's, my great-grandfather lived in Nottingham, England near Sherwood Forest. Family anecdotes insist that my great-Grandfather actually played in Sherwood Forest as a boy. Other family anecdotes survive from the time when Robert, the Bruce fought to free Scotland at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1304. One of the Scottish Clans which came down out of the Scottish Highlands was Clan Gillicattan, the "clan of the cat." This was one of the many Highland clans that hailed to Robert, the Bruce during his battle to free Scotland. Legend has it that this is the origin of the names, Cheetham and Chatham. According to a family historian, our roots originate in Clan Gillicattan. The name was later anglicized and became Cheetham, possibly to conceal the family identity of being Scots. Another possibility is that when the Scottish Highlands were cleared out in the 1800's, the family surname was anglicized to Cheetham.

Lastly, I have an ancestor who fought the Spanish Armada in 1588 with the British. His name was John Shrive (or, "Sheriff" possibly) and he was captain of the Cygnet, an English fire ship. As for my mother's side, I'm afraid not too much is known, but it is fact that her national origins are Irish.

Currently, we have a few family historians who would appreciate any information regarding the family. If anyone reading this site has any information regarding Family Anecdotes or Information for Taylor, Vincent (hard names to trace unfortunately), Shrive, or Cheetham, please send an e-mail to the appropriate link. The Taylor's possibly immigrated to the Cleveland, Ohio area in the late 1800's from Co. Dublin, Eire. The Vincents immigrated to Cleveland from Montreal, Quebec. The Shrives came over from England, settled in Marlborough, New York (then Cleveland), and the Chatham's came to Cleveland, Ohio from England in the late 1800's.