Greetings to all!

My name is Josh Mandel, and I've been blowing and twisting balloons since about 1971. My Aunt and (late) Uncle took me to a restaurant in Chicago called the Pickle Barrel, and it was there that I saw Roger Siegel. He twisted me the first animal balloon I'd ever seen. We proceeded directly to Magic, Inc., where my Uncle bought me "One Balloon Zoo" by Jimmy Davis.

I put down the balloons in the late 80s, and really just returned to it this year. I'm astounded at the advances in twisting made since then, and I'm planning to open my balloon business by October of this year. To that end, my primary goal is to think of a name to call myself and my business.

Right now, my day job is -- as it has been for the past 25 years -- designing humorous computer games, and I suppose it's possible that a few people here may know me for my work at Sierra On-Line or Legend Entertainment. But as that industry has changed much over the years, I'm determined to take up balloon twisting full-time. No publishers to answer to sounds like heaven to me after all this time!

It's a pleasure to be among fellow twisters.

Thank you for reading!
Josh

Josh I'm sure everyone will be gentle with you, thanks for the little intro, always nice to read about people's balloon journeys.
Hope you enjoy the forum.

hi Josh, look forward to seeing some of your work, we're all a nice bunch here so make yourself at home

Hi Josh - welcome - i loved your intro.

Welcome Josh.
Enjoy the 'banter'