All About Me (Or, the Exciting Life of a Tech Junkie)

I was born in northern California and spent some time in Malaysia as a small child, but spent most of my childhood in Oklahoma City. All in all, it was a good place to grow up. Lots of space, good people and great conversations. However, by my senior year, my heart had grown restless and I wanted to see a new place.

So, I left Oklahoma City for big adventures in the Windy City after high school. I attended DePaul University and graduated with a degree in Computer Science in 1999. I stayed on with the university in the IT department through 2001 as a software developer.

During that time I experimented with the idea of a for-profit theater company. My friend Scott Burtness and I started a theater company called MadMonk Productions. We decided to put on Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16th at the Chopin Theater. He was to be the director and I had the lofty title of producer. For two guys who knew almost nothing about theatre business, it was a great success. We had good houses and the show got at least one good press review (the rest of the reviewers had no taste).

However, I should have made it to see the musical of The Producers before I started my little undertaking. In the first act, the consummate producer Max Ballystock informs his young protégé of the two cardinal rules of theater producing, “Never put up your own money, AND never put up your own money.” I ended up losing my shirt on the deal, but I had a blast doing it.

Well, combined with that little financial setback and a well advised decision to quit my job during the height of the tech bust, I found myself broke, destitute and without prospects. So with a lump in my throat and my tail between my legs, I made my way back to Oklahoma City.

I worked briefly as a janitor in town while staying with my folks. However, I soon found employment as a contract programmer at a small start-up called Advanced Academics that offers online high-school courses for students who want to catch up or augment their regular curriculum. I’ve been with the company now for over five years now and have risen to the title of Director of Information Technology.

I’ve also purchased a little house in the heart of the city (my parent’s old place to be exact) which suits me well. I’ve got a great library, a huge yard and just the right amount of peaceful solitude.

Most people say I work too much, and they are probably correct. But I’ve got my pastimes too. I own a 2004 Mini Cooper named Dominique and when ever I feel like the world is closing in, I can always jump in my car and head out into the wild open of some deserted highway, seeing the sites and hugging the curves.

I also have a couple of websites, which admittedly have been sorely neglected lately but hopefully, will have a glorious rebirth soon. My personal site is over at www.radicalwacko.com. I also have a Tom Waits news blog called Tom Waits for No Man that is supposed to keep everyone up-to-date on my favorite musical artist.

Beyond Tom Waits, I enjoy a wide variety of music but especially jazz. I keep season tickets to the Tulsa Opera which is always a wonderful experience. I also still greatly enjoy the theater, though don’t try to pitch me any scripts.

If you’ve gotten this far, I’m a bit surprised, but still very grateful. For the time being, the future looks bright. I’m about to take my first vacation in three years for a two and a half week road trip out to Long Island to see some old friends. So, after many a set back, I remain a tech junkie ready to hit the road . . .