My good friend Peter Lytle introduced me to tabletop gaming around 2005.  Though I’ve watched people play many of the diffent games, there are two that I actually enjoy playing.

Warhammer 40,000 – W40K, as it’s often abbreviated, is my favorite of the tabletap battle games.  Purging alien scum from the face of the galaxy, while commanding the mighty Space Marines of the Adeptus Astartes, is just simply an enjoyable thing to do.  I have a ludicrously large collection of models and fortunately, several of my friends are happy to see them put to use in the occasional game.

Warmachine – Warmachine is a steampunk battle game in which giant robots and their sorcerous masters pound each other into oblivion.  The game is much simpler to play than W40K, but I find it lacks the sense of epicness instilled by its counterpart.  Still, there are few things more satisfying than standing on the brink of defeat, only to assasinate the enemy caster and win the game.

Outdoors Pursuits

Being a technology specialist, it’s true that I spend the majority of my time indoors.  Fortunately for me, between my family and my Boy Scout troop, I developed a healthy appreciation for the outdoors.

Camping – Over the years, I’ve gone camping with my family and Boy Scout troop many times.  I would say my favorite place to camp would be Harris Beach, near Brookings, OR.

Backpacking – As a former member of the Boy Scouts of America, I’ve gone on more than my fair share of backpacking trips.  So far, I’ve done 50 mile hikes in Yosemite National Park (CA) twice, Mt. Ranieir National Park (WA), Philmont Scout Ranch (NM) and the Three Sisters Wilderness (OR).  I’ve also been on numerous smaller hikes throughout Oregon, Washington and California.

Snowboarding – While I don’t get to go as often as I would like, snowboarding is definitely a favorite winter pastime of mine.  I have my own board and gear, so it’s not too expensive, but I really wish there was a mountain a bit closer than Bend, OR.

Shortly after my fifth birthday, my family moved to Central Point, OR to facilitate my dad’s job transfer. Though I don’t remember it well, I assume I spent my time in class at May Richardson Elementary or hanging out with my new friends.

Less than a year later, before my sixth birthday, my parents purchased a house outside of Medford, OR and we moved once again.  I transferred schools again, this time ending up at Orchard Hill Elementary, where I would stay until reaching middle school. I began to play soccer and enrolled in Aikido courses that allowed me to stay in shape despite the many hours I spent playing with my Nintendo.

When I reached the sixth grade, I began attending Talent Middle School, located in Talent, OR.  I stopped playing soccer and, consequently, had a falling out with many of my friends. To compensate, I immersed myself in band and the school chess club, even going so far as to win the chess club championship during my eighth grade year.

When I was fourteen years old, I began attending Phoenix High School, in Phoenix, OR. I attended soccer tryouts that first year, but sprained my knee and was unable to play. Later in the year, I picked up competitive swimming and continued to swim all four years at Phoenix High, placing eighth at State my senior year in the 100 Butterfly and 200 Individual Medley. I hooked up with my first girlfriend my junior year and had a grand time the rest of high school.

After high school, I enrolled at the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR, which I attended from September 2003 – December 2004. My typical day in college involved going to class, hanging out with friends and playing far too many video games. I also worked as the Assistant Webmaster for the Clarke Honors College on campus.

In December of 2004, due to my financial situation and my burgeoning dislike of attending classes, I decided to return home. I once again lived with my parents and little sister, and was hired full-time as a Technology Support Specialist for the Phoenix-Talent School District. In my free time, I began to familiarize myself with Linux and BSD and would also occasionally hang out with the few friends I had still living in the area.

Almost a year passed and I was able to entirely pay off my college debt.  Two months later, I decided to move back to Eugene, OR in order to live with friends I had met in the dorm.  Since moving here, I have been hired as the Network Administrator for both FOOD for Lane County and the Northwest Youth Corps.  I also began dating my second girlfriend, Ilana, and we continue to enjoy our relationship to this day.  I spend most of my time at work,  with Ilana or playing video games on a variety of platforms.