My name is Cliff, and I live in that amazing stretch of time between "able to buy beer" and "midlife crisis," when you’re old enough to have learned the rules, but still young enough to defy them. I’ve chased thieves in Madrid, explored vine-choked ruins in the Caribbean, crossed blades with a master swordsman in the high desert, climbed the blustery heights of Maine’s Mount Katahdin, fed full-grown sharks with a flimsy pole, and braved Los Angeles' infamous 405 freeway…at rush hour.
The most important thing people should know about me is that I have an enormous amount of energy. Because of this, I have more hobbies than any sane person should. Most of them are really far out there, and all of them are really different from each other.
For example, I study Japanese sword -- the hardcore, four-feet-of-cold steel, in-your-face version called kenjutsu (as opposed to the sporting derivation called kendo). Think "The Last Samurai" and you'll get the idea, except that I'm not plotting rebellions and killing people.
I keeps snakes, partly as a small business. (I own nothing that will get bigger than six feet.)
I collect and create horror props, especially graveyard ones -- mostly for a Halloween party, but it's just a cool hobby in general.
I play games, from kid stuff to adult -- lazer tag, board, etc.
I love food and beer, from sushi to Thai to burgers.
Finally, and most important, I love language -- reading, writing, and words themselves, their sound and shape and smell.
I have no free time. (I wonder why....)
Anyway...welcome to my world.
