Personal

I started my career as a graphic designer and digital typesetter in the late 80’s, but my interest in computers and technology began at a much earlier age, when my stepfather brought home an Atari 800 in the early 80s. My buddies and I started programming BASIC on the 800 and the Radio Shack machines in the summer of our 8th grade year. I’m from a NASA family, and between myself and my friends we had just about all the different flavors of computers around at the time. I combined these growing technical skills with my interest in art just as “desktop publishing” was beginning, and I clearly remember doing the tutorials in the first version of Adobe Illustrator, way back in the day.

I went to Portland State University and worked various jobs on campus to support my design habit. I worked for several years backstage at Lincoln Hall rigging lights and stage managing shows. I’ve worked 50 feet above most of the stages in town.

I started rock climbing when at PSU, with the PSU Outdoor Program and have a long history of backpacking, camping and climbing around the NW and in California at Joshua Tree. I can’t even count how many nights I’ve spent tented out at Smith Rock. I cross country ski and still love the outdoors, but now my 9 year old son goes with me on trips.

When I hit 40, I started taking Tae Kwon Do at Kim’s. My original goal was just to make it through a class in one piece (jumping kicks!). However, I found out that I’m much more skilled than I thought, and I’,m currently a brown belt, working for my black belt hopefully by next January.

I have a long history as a computer gamer, and you can find me on XBOX Live as Markalope, of course. Feel free to send an invite to hook up for multiplayer. I play all the Halo games, GoW2, Fallout and RPGs. I’m highly skilled at Zuma, and play Magic: The Gathering on XBOX Live and offline. I’m just finishing up Dragon Age Origins, which is a great game.

Nerd. Dad. Gamer.