It’s been several years since I’ve done this but since we now have a shiny new high performance Chatter I figured what the heck. I warn you, I can be long-winded, especially when caffeinated. After the intial introduction I think I’ll just start firing out random facts.

I have been posting here for about seven years now. Hard to believe its been that long. 

I am a happy guy most of the time, and I feel very blessed for all that I have.

I live in an awesome suburb of Columbus, Ohio with my family which consists of my lovely wife Leslie, Son Noah (5), daughter Bethany (10 months), dog Murphy (10), dog Nika (12), cat Daisy (7) , four hermit crabs (3?) and two fish (age unknown). Back in 2005 Leslie and I sold our condo and then went and found the perfect lot in the perfect new subdivision and built our house. For a long time we were the only house on the entire street but now its almost full and we couldn’t ask for better neighbors.  The construction has died down and we are now surrounded by nice lawns, tons of trees, ponds, and fountains.  It’s a beautiful area. Les Wexner (owner of Victoria’s Secret ect…)  lives just down the road a few minutes away on a sprawling estate. I love to tell you he invites us over to hang out, but we don’t see much of ‘ol Les.  A recent article in Money Magazine listed our surrounding area as one of the 100 best places to live in the United States.

We live in the fastest growing school district in Ohio. There are twenty kindergarten classes starting in September which Noah will be a part of. This is triple what there was just three years ago. The growth in our area has just been unbelievable. We sit nestled in between about four other nice suburbs in an area that used to be fields and forest.  So yes, it is kind of a shame that all that is gone now…however, it makes for a great place to live and they did leave much of the natural landscaping so they sort of built the community into the land rather than just tearing it all down.

Leslie and I both work for the same company, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, and are both analysts although we work in different departments. She works for National Accounts and I am in Quality Management for National Customer Operations.  I am proud to work for a great company under strong leadership. Working for an ethical company with a strong set of values is very important to me. Fortune Magazine just ranked us as the most admired company in our business sector among our peers.

I know I keep throwing out magazine references but I didn’t want you all to think I was making this stuff up! To quote the wise and eloquent Foghorn Leghorn, “ You can argue with me, but you can’t argue with figures, son.”

So now you know a little about me, if you didn’t already….random fact time!

I have seen BNL about 8 or 9 times I think. I’ve met them all once and they were very nice. Leslie was very excited. That night Bethany was conceived. The two events may or may not be related.

I love BNL, but it is completely different from most of the music I listen to. I listen to metal, real metal. Unfortunately real metal is no longer made in the States for the most part. The best metal right now comes from Sweden, Finland, and The Netherlands.  I suggest you check out bands like Scar Symmetry, Amorphis, In Flames, Within Temptation, and Delain. 

I also love 80’s hair band music. We have tickets for Dokken, Poison, and Sebastian Bach in July. I used to go to concerts all the time. I was a technical consultant for Ticketmaster and always hooked myself up with front row seats. I once had Ted Nugent sweat on me….not something I’m all that proud of.  I used to have a mullet, also not something I’m not proud of. Although as far as mullets go it was a nice one.

I am still friends with all the same people I was friends with in high school. We’ve been hanging out for over 20 years now.  About half of us now live on the west coast but we still keep in touch.  My friends are the best.

Leslie and I got engaged at Cinderella’s castle at Disneyworld, at night under the fireworks.

I absolutely love being married and being a daddy.  Being the best husband and father I can be is the most important thing in my life and comes above all else.  I would do anything for my family.

I love good wine. My favorites are Pinot Noir and Cabernet.  I also love a good chianti. I subscribe to Wine Spectator and like to learn all I can about wine and wine making, from the types of soil and grapes to the different types of barrels and aging process. Leslie and I love to visit wineries when we get the chance.

I am a beer snob. I can’t drink Budweiser. I just can’t, I’m sorry.

I love food. I eat everything. I also love to cook. I do most of the cooking at home. I am lord of the grill and pretty handy with the stove and oven too. When I have time I would love to take some specialty cooking classes.

I love movies and everything about them. I read everything I can about directing, lighting, and cinematography. This is what inspired me to learn photography.

I have had my own photography business for over ten years now which I do on the side when time allows.  The past few years its been very difficult to fit it into our hectic schedule but I did just upgrade to professional Canon EOS digital equipment.

My DVD collection is vast, the majority being horror films which are my favorite. I have seen more horror films than anyone I know.  Some of you might have read a few of my horror movie guides on my blog.

I have several friends who work in the entertainment business.  My friend Dave was just nominated for three Emmy awards for his work on My Friends Tigger and Pooh for the Disney Channel. He’s also done two music videos for Rob Zombie and worked on the Showtime Masters of Horror series and the awesome mummy movie Bubba Ho-Tep.

Some day I WILL make a feature film. I know a lot of people say this but I actually have enough contacts, resources and knowledge to make it happen. It’s a matter of finding the right time and going for it.

I have a huge comic book collection. I have not added to it in many years but there are several thousand books dating 1959 to the early 90’s. It is quite valuable and every few years I decide to sell it and then change my mind.

I’m an avid reader. I read mostly thrillers and historical mysteries.

The movie Heathers is based upon Westerville North High School. I went to Westerville South High School and we were bitter rivals with North. The high schools were only about five minutes apart from each other . Westerville now has Westerville Central High School as well even though I believe it is the farthest North of the three. So Central is North and North is really Central.

I love sports cars and I am especially passionate about Datsun/Nissan Z cars. My first one was a 1973 240z that I completely restored. I have owned many since then but I am without one right now. The next one I buy will be a 90-96 twin turbo 300zx which is the fastest Z ever produced. Unfortunately, finding a pristine example is tough because they are becoming increasingly rare and sought after. The new 350z is a nice car but it lacks the power of the 300zx TT

I recently traded in a Miata on a Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Edition. I love the Expedition which is something I never would have imagined just a few years ago. It’s not fun filling up at the gas pump but it’s the perfect family vehicle and I can drive over anything., even smaller SUVs.

I will be buying a boat soon, probably an open bow wakeboard/ski boat.  This is because I agreed to let Leslie get another puppy. She gets a dog, I get a boat….everyone is happy.  I’ve decided to take up wakeboarding. I love everything about it. If you don’t have a lot of wakeboarders where you live…..its like snowboarding on the water being pulled by a boat. It’s best on really smooth, protected waters without a lot of chop. You use the wake from the boat to do flips, rolls, spins and all that stuff.  Or, you can just fail miserably and hit the water with 3000 pounds force or catch the edge of the board on the water and do a horrific faceplant.

I love to be on the water. Leslies aunt and uncle have a huge houseboat on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky and going for a weekend on the boat is one of my favorite things. Its two days of nothing but eating, drinking, water skiing & wakeboarding, drinking, eating, drinking, drinking, a little more eating, and some drinking.  Let me tell you, food on the houseboat accompanied by a nice cold beer after a long day of being out on the ski boat is the best ever.  Steaks, brats, Italian sausages with some onions and peppers…getting hungry just thinking about it.

I have a fear/phobia about stubbing my toes which is why I wear shoes 99% of the time whether I’m indoors or out.

Clowns freak me out, as do costumed characters like the ones that walk around Disney. If I saw one coming toward me quickly I would probably take off running.

I competed in powerlifting contests until about 1994.

I became a certified personal trainer in 1991.

I met Leslie in 1995.

We got married in 2000. I know I should have married her sooner but I wanted to wait until 2000 so I could always remember which anniversary it was. Its so easy….whatever year it is….that’s the anniversary. I’m smart like that, thinkin’ ahead.

Las Vegas is my favorite city. We used to go a couple times a year but its been a while. All of my cares vanish the moment the plane touches down in Vegas. It’s like magic.

Leslie and I both love going to Murder Mystery dinner theaters, especially when on vacation. Fine, make fun of us if you want but I still say its fun.  I love being seated at a table with a group of complete strangers from all over the country or sometimes even the world. By the end of the night you’re all laughing and joking together like you’ve been friends for years.  Someday I want to do one of the murder mystery weekends that take place over the course of several days. We’ve also thought about trying to do one ourselves using one of those How to Host a Murder kits.

Halloween is my favorite holiday.

Well I think that should do it for now, plenty of randomness to last for a while.

Peace out. Word.

wow… that's a hell of a lot! :)

never say you're sorry you can't drink Budweiser! ;)

<-- beer snob as well.

I already knew you were cool…but now I see that you're WAY cool!

Have you checked out Skeletonwitch?

http://www.myspace.com/skeletonwitch 

Hey those guys aren't bad at all. Sort of a cross between old Metallica, Cannibal Corpse, and Cradle of Filth. I had not heard of them before.

Story, Wakeboarding magazine just did an article about wakeboarding in Isreal on the Sea of Galilee, or there I think its called Galilay Sea or Kinneret Sea. There is a wakeboard shop there called E-Extreme.

I went to high school with the lead singer, Chance Garnett, he was a few years older than me.  We were both in (marching) band.  He played the quads.  His younger brother Nate (N8 Feet Under, also in the band) was a few years younger than me. 

I think they are currently touring in Europe.

They play in Columbus fairly often, but they tour all over the US most of the time.

Ooooh…I just realized I was with you guys on the night Bethany was conceived AND she was *supposed* to be born on my birthday.  Tho' I do need to clarify that I wasn't there for the conception part.  Just the warm-up.

Uhoh…just realized my parents did the same thing on the same night too…ick

Well not the warm up either…but the other stuff.

Wow…that was a late night…and a work night…Leslie is a much better person than me!

Holy Crap..that's quite a profile and an excellent read.

From what I've read on this chatter over the last 8 some years, you are a great guy, loving husband and an amazing dad.

I feel lucky to have been able to meet you and Leslie back in the summer of 04.

And I can't recall knowing you had 73 Datsun 240Z?

My brother has I think a 74 that he bought about 20 years ago and keeps in top shape. I'll have to find some photos of his and send your way.

Oh and glad to hear you are a card carrying member of the beer snob club. It's not that we are snobs, I just like to support the local brewers instead.

Great profile.

David, if its a 74 it's the rarest of all Z's. The 260z, only made in 1974. Damn good cars, last of the carburated Z's. Starting wth the 280z in 1975 they went to fuel injection.

We have some pretty decent local brews around here. Next time you're in town we should hit Barleys for some scotch ale and fried saurkraut balls.