biking, ski & snowboard, aspiring surfer, according to some authorities on assholes: apparently an asshole, reading, swimming, restore cars, sailing, racing cars, traveling, reading, keeping up with current events and the news, technology, the beach, having fun, art, photography, metalwork/welding, volunteering, painting, architecture and design, traveling, Peet's coffee and Tea, NPR (Democracy Now!, Morning Becomes Eclectic), property/renovation, giving gifts to my loved ones, hanging out with my family whether back in Michigan or down in San Diego.
Speaking Spanish, German and Japanese.
Animals (cats and dogs) are a big part of my life. I've always been involved in some rescue volunteer activity or another, usually involving community activism or animal causes.
Other: my vintage Caballero skateboard, enjoying flicks in my HDTV/home theater, driving fast, wine ... visiting wine country (Santa Barbara County is my favorite for now ... anyone ever up for a trip, let me know ... always game).Would love to camp more and get my kayak out a bit more often.
Recount of some recent wins by my team (the two cars crossing the finish line): Car and Driver article
I'd like to meet:
Good people (not aliens ... well, maybe, aliens too, and if they abduct me, that would also be interesting as long as I can come back to earth. but if I like it up there better, I reserve the right to come back at my own free will) and maybe some dogs, too, if you have a dog. Or a cat. My cat's name is Max. He's pretty cool.In general, people that are decent, deep, thought-provoking would be good. None of the wishy-washy So Cal flakiness for me, thank you.
Editor's note: having been here for almost three years now, I have to add that really almost nobody in California is FROM California, so I have to reformulate my thinking on the latter paragraph. I'll get back to you on that one.
Music:
There's some pretty crazy shit in my music collection. It's just that ... a diverse collection. From Hip hop to Acid Jazz, to Classic Rock to Rap to Top 40 to 80's, Brit Rock. You name it and I probably have at least some sample of it.
Movies:
Fletch, Caddyshack, Beverly Hills Cop, Citizen Kane, Ferris Beuhler and basically any John Hughes (born in Lansing, MI, did you know?) film, Risky Business, Vacation, The Godfather, Shawshank Redemption, Meet the Parents, Apocalypse Now, Shindler's List, The Wall, Bourne Identity, Enron: the Smartest Guys in the Room, An Inconvenient Truth, Borat, ...
Television:
Generally I avoid TV (lack of time is my usual given excuse) and don't have cable but there are some exceptions to the lack of TV in my life. Present/past notables are: Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Simpsons, The Family Guy, Ali G, Prison Break, Entourage.
Again, here I am not watching TV, instead typing and listening to music.
Books:
Authors, really: Ayn Rand, Dan Brown, David Sedaris, Mitch Albom, Tom Clancy, Phil Roth, Steven Covey, Steinbeck, Keith Ablow, Jon Krakauer, lately Michael Connelly.(Here is a philosophical question: does a book transcend its author(s) or is it the other way around? Give me an example or two. I have a couple in mind. Please don't say "The Holy Bible".).
Heroes:
Those who make or made or world, our history, history or defied it and thus made history or impact that will be known throughout time:Hans Stuck, Enzo Ferrari, Ansel Adams, Ayn Rand, Bill Clinton, Steven Covey, JFK, RFK, MLK Jr., Al Gore, Henry Ford (this is a tough one ... ask), Gottlieb Daimler, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies Van Der Rohe, Leonardo Da Vinci, Leonardo Di Caprio (j/k), Mitch Albom, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Walt Disney, Soichiro Honda, Ferdinand Porsche. I know a couple of these names are startling, due to the perhaps exploitative nature of some of the activities of several on this list, but it's not a blind admiration. I have my reasons.
There are probably many more.
Also my grandmother. Because, up until the very end, when asked how she was doing she always replied, "Couldn't be better". Even in the end when her body was filled with cancer, she still meant it and was oblivious to the sickness.
