Short Bio

I am a 28 year old (born 29 December 1972, in case I don't update this as often as I should) graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara. I received my B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering in June of 1996. In the summer of 1995, I had my first experience with Microsoft. I interned in the Advanced Technology Division, working within the MITV group. That summer I designed and implemented a new testbed for the ITV performance test team. It was a fun and successful time. I loved it so much that I came back after graduation. Currently I am working in the Visual Basic Technologies testing group, specifically within the Automation team. My return has been without disappointment. I don't know where else I could come to work each day to be challenged, while surrounded by such good friends.

Outside of work I enjoy a number of things. Soccer is my most favorite sport. I have always said that I cannot just play soccer, I live it. If you are interested in chatting about the Italian Series A, or getting out to play ball, just let me know. However, I have to say that most of my interest goes away from the city. I love the outdoors. I have done a great deal of backpacking in the high deserts of California and Utah. This includes a number of trips where I acted as a guide. I also spend a large amount of time on the rock, doing a bit of climbing. Now that I am here (Seattle) I plan to start getting on the ice as well.

Just before arriving here on 1 September 1996, I spent the summer as a camp counselor at Gold Arrow Camp, a summer camp in the High Sierras of California, just above Fresno. There I was the head Ropes Course counselor, and a Rock Climbing specialty camp counselor. That was a blast, and I learned of another passion of mine: story-telling. I truly enjoyed telling the kids Native American legends and a few stories I picked up here and there. I am looking into joining a story-telling guild.

Unfortunately, my life as of late has not included many of these activities. On December 30, 1996 I was involved in a major car accident. I rolled my jeep and was pinned under the vehicle. A number of witnesses pushed the jeep off of me and saved my life. After a short stay in the hospital, I came home with a broken pelvis. Two months in a wheelchair, six weeks on crutches, and four weeks on a cane later finds me needing to concentrate a bit to walk, but walking on my own none-the-less. I still do not have control of my right ankle; however, the doctors and I are very confident that it will return. So keep an eye out for me if you are ever in the backcountry, you may be seeing me sooner than you might think.

(9/11/98)
Update to my healing: I still need to concentrate to walk. However, I have been playing soccer, as a goalkeeper, for some time now. I can do moderate hikes, and try to get out as often as I can. I am working as hard as I can in the weight rooms trying to strengthen my ankle again. The doctors really have not been able to tell me anything, so I have decided to not listen to them and do what I know I need to do. I am the one who knows the most about what my body needs, all I need to do is pray and listen. My efforts have been rewarded with slight increases in feeling. Unfortunately, this means more pain until my brain gets used to receiving signals from these nerves that are reawakening. I have been having some dreams lately of me walking without needing to concentrate and with full use of my ankle. I believe these to be omens, and my confidence is high that I will get full control of my ankle back in the future.

(11/03/98)
Another Healing Update: I have begun to get some more feeling in my toes. Kind of bizzare to feel my toes after nearly two years of not having that sensory input. I feel like I am getting more control of my foot as well. Unfortunately, I have not been as good as I should be about getting into the gym. It looks like the limiting factor to my ankle is strenght and not nerves right now. Not that I have full motor funtion back, I don't know about that; however, I feel that I have more motor funtion than my foot is strong enough to perform. I am actually able to jog around the soccer field for warm ups again. Two years does a lot to your endurance, let me tell you. One lap around the field and I am dead tired. Just two years ago, I could run up and down that field for 90 minutes straight and not be as tired as one lap makes me now. Well, just means I have a big wall to climb in front of me. Those of you who know me as a climber will know that I am all too happy to get on a long climb and work it! Well gang, that's about it for now. Keep praying and listening, I know I hear responses to my prayers often, I pray you all do too. Christ's love and peace touch you all!

Well that would be a very short bio. Hope it was interesting. If it was, why not let me know?

|| Home || Personal Information Index || Religious Slant || Personal Philosophy || Reason for Living || Photo Gallery || Journal || Credits ||