When not goofing off with computers, either at home or at work, I enjoy a variety
of diversions.
Despite the way American society tends to treat fine art, I decided that it was enough of an interest to me, that I spent three years at UCSD earning my Bachelors degree in Visual Arts: Studio. (As they put it.) My preferred mediums are acrylic paint and ceramics. You can see some of my paintings here. I dabble in drawing and sculpture as well. I don't really know if my art has much in the way of formal influences, for I as of yet have to find another artist that is similar, but I particularly enjoy Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, and Vassily Kandinsky.
I am an avid science fiction and fantasy reader. The novels fill most of my available shelf space, to the point that my collection has become something of a library for family and friends. Some of my favoirtes include Robert Asprin (The Myth Series, Phule's Company), David Eddings (The Belgariad, The Mallereon, The Elenium, and The Tamuli), Alan Dean Foster (Any novel set in the Commonwealth), Anne McCaffrey (The Dragonriders of Pern), Larry Niven (Any and all of his novels.), Spider Robinson (Would that Callahan's really existed...), Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash - 10+), Tad Williams ("Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" and Otherland!), and Roger Zelazany (Amber and beyond.). This addiction extends to the point that I was an officer in UCSD's science fiction club, Darkstar.
I have been working the Southern California small renaissance faire circuit for about eight years now. The character I portray, Captain Corwyn Amberle has recently become a council member in Ireland, due to the inheritance of the Kilgore family lands, much to the chagrin of his older, half-brother, Seamus MacLeod. Despite being a landowner, Corwyn continues to sail the high seas in his ship, The Infinite Jest, under the employ of the Vrijbuit Shipping Company.
I have been playing role-playing games since I received a copy of the original second version of Dungeons and Dragons. However, I have since moved on to other games. (10+ years of AD will do that to you.) Shadowrun, Earthdawn, and Changeling: The Dreaming have become my usual games of choice. If one looks carefully enough, I can be found working at the Strageticon gaming conventions held in Los Angeles each year.
