What is your name and where are you from?

My name is Rhys (pronounced 'Reese') Alexander. I'm originally from Florida, though I have been fortunate enough to spend the last year in gorgeous central Oregon.

Where are you blogging for CW? Since when?
I started writing for CW last year, and am fortunate enough to write about two of my passions: education and health. You can find my work at the 'Educate Me' category and at Daily Diabetic.

What would you like to tell about yourself?
Yikes, that's a tough question. In short form, I'm a teacher, writer, outdoors lover, and animal advocate. And a klutz. A major klutz.

How did you discover the blogoshpere ? Why do you like to blog?
Years ago, I was encouraging my students (I'm an English professor) to discover how fun writing can be: it's not just research papers! We were studying different formats and I found my first blog online...and my passion took off from there.

I began with a personal site and then moved on into the professional sphere.

I like blogging because it allows so many people to have a voice. And you meet great people that way.

How did you become a blogger for CW?
I'd enjoyed reading several of CW's blogs for quite a while, and then one day saw a 'call for bloggers' announcement. I sent in some writing samples, and was lucky enough to be hired.

What experiences did you have with CW? Do you like working with CW?
First of all, let me say I love working with CW. If anyone is considering joining this wonderful team, I highly encourage them to do so. They'll love it.

As far as my experiences: I've experienced getting to know the talented, kind people who work here, benefited from the encouragement of a fantastic boss (Torsten is swell), made friends with, and received information from, our wonderful readers, and have enjoyed reading some of the best writing on the Internet in our blogs.

What are you occupied with when you are not blogging?
Hiking and camping, every chance I get. Walking is my stress reliever and the one activity that makes me the happiest. In fact, I'm in training to undertake the longest walk of my entire life. Next year, I'll be hiking the 2,668 mile long (4,294 kilometers) Pacific Crest Trail, from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, in one 'thru-hike.' I'll be raising money for the Humane Society with this trip; I'm setting a goal of raising at least 20,000 dollars for our furry friends. I am planning to write a book about my experiences, and maybe set some sort of record for being the first hiker to professionally blog from the trail!

What would you like to get or do ?
I'd like to successfully hike the Triple Crown, and save all the homeless animals in the entire world.

What opinion have other people about you? Give a quotation, please ...
This is what came to mind, since it happened just yesterday. I was hiking up a small mountain (2 miles up and down) for the second time in a row and passed a woman struggling along on the trail. She said she was impressed that I was doing it twice, and that she could never do it. I told her of course she could.

Well, she did! Afterwards, she was so kind and said that I had inspired her. Then (this is a direct quote) she called me a "little angel." I must say I'd never been called that before!

Are they right?
I'm afraid not, though it was certainly a nice thing to have said about me.

Do you like to make a final remark?
Hmmm...just that people are capable of so much more than they think they are, so give that 'crazy' goal a try. You just might surprise yourself.