Welcome to the home of Donavon West. An independent consultant and Microsoft MVP. I'll be discussung things that are near and dear to me, including life, love, technology and politics. Are you looking for Donavon Stinson? Or possibly even Donavon Frankenreiter? (man, that dude is everywhere!)

This Blog | Home Server Hacks | LiveGadgets.net | The Swatch | VehiCROSS.net | Explore the Studio Space | Chuck Todd Facts

About Me...

Where do I begin? I'm a kid at heart who refuses to act my age. I was raised in Iowa in a family of 9 kids (6 girls and 3 boys). My ambitions brought me to Chicago as a young adult (Iowa is a great place to be from).

In my professional career I worked for USRobotics and later started my own software business named MagicSoft, which I later sold to WordPerfect. Currently, I am an independent software consultant living in Baltimore. My company LiveGadgets.net is one of the leading developers of Windows Vista Sidebar Gadgets.

I am engaged to my fiancee Alyssa, but we're in no hurry to get married. We're having too much fun!

Alyssa Calberg and Donavon West

I have a son named Evan (below), who turns 21 this year. Ahhhh! He's a lot like his father in many ways except he's a good 6" taller. I couldn't be more proud of him.

Evan, Donavon, Merle (L-R)

I still stay in touch with my two closest childhood friends: Larry Krough and Bill McVicker. Bill is a photographer that lives in Des Moines. Larry lives in Phoenix with this wife and son. Larry and I were born on the same day. Bill was born the same day as my son Evan.

Here we are dressed all circa 1988. Donavon, Larry, Bill (L-R)

Donavon West, Larry Krough and Bill McVicker (L-R)

And 20 years later. A few more pounds and a lot less hair. Bill, Larry, Donavon (L-R)

Bill McVicker, Larry Krough and Donavon West (L-R)

Profiles

Click on an image below to view Donavon's various profiles:

image image

Cars I've Owned

Cars have been a big part of my life and over the years I've owned plenty. Here is a list of some of the cars that I've owned (starting with my first car at age of 14).


1948 Plymouth Convertible

1956 Chevrolet 2 door Bel Air hardtop

1976 Mustang Cobra II

1978 Datsun 280Z

1982 Berlinetta Camaro

1992 Cadillac Seville

1978 Datsun 280Z

1992 Typhoon

1988 Lotus Esprit

1998 BMW 325

1999 Jaguar XK8

2001 VehiCROSS

2008 Infinity EX35

Places I've Lived

I thought it would be interesting to chronicle the various placed that I've lived. Criteria for making in on the list is "did I receive mail here". Of course that doesn't count when I was too young to receive mail. Click on the map below for an interactive map.

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18 comments:

Unknown said on June 9, 2008 at 6:40 PM ...

saw your story about adding drives to your HP Mediasmart. curious what brand cases the two external HDs that are standing beside it with the blue lights?

Thanks

Adam

 
Kenny Dee said on September 11, 2008 at 8:39 AM ...

It looks like Bill gain hair, Larry gain weight, and you lost everything. lol

 
Celebrity Digital Services said on October 4, 2008 at 1:40 PM ...

Terrific autobio. I wish other software authors would tell us about themselves...and with a sense of humor found in yours.

Regards,
Dennis

 
Unknown said on March 16, 2010 at 10:56 PM ...

Nice article on adding a VGA cable to the WHS server; I too am looking at doing this and am not sure the exact steps to build one. Do you have this or is there a How To? I have scoured the various MSS sites and haven't seen any step by step instructions including what parts I need. Could you help me?

 
BigCaddy82499507 said on July 22, 2010 at 9:52 PM ...

I guess I maybe in the wrong location but I had to say something about the two 280z's. I owned one myself and fell in love with them. I wrecked by T-Boning a fellow soldier while going home from PT at Ft Bragg NC. I hoped she could have been repaired but the frame had a slight krinkle in it and on a soldier's salary w/wife kids. I couldn't afford the repair. I ended up selling her along with new exhuast I had beem saving up to have installed for parts.

 
Unknown said on August 19, 2010 at 1:27 PM ...

I know it's been a year since you posted regarding the Crescent...I'm considering signing a lease and just came upon several awful rating posts...are you still there? Has it gotten any better/worse? Know anyone I should speak with?
Thanks
Lora

 
Unknown said on October 27, 2010 at 5:58 PM ...

Hey Donavan, I really enjoyed @whstweet but it no longer works.. Any chance a new version that works will be released? Thanks man!

-Chase

 
洪海龙 said on November 19, 2010 at 3:49 AM ...

windows 7 enterprise
I've read some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting.

 
Unknown said on January 8, 2011 at 4:13 PM ...

Donovan, I am Kerry Lee Riley, a professor who studies father/son height issues. When did your son get taller? Did he start wearing your clothing and shoes when he got taller? Did he tease you and call you things like "shorty"? Did the power change in your relationship? Thanks for answering.

 
dan m said on May 27, 2011 at 2:01 AM ...

i want to know more about the dark blue 78 280z. im thinking of restoring one and that one looks cherry. do you have any more pics? im curious about the treatments around the bumper areas.

thanks

 
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