minboost

The Basics

I’m a web developer, designer, and business consultant currently living in southern California.

I find it hard to describe myself, so I will just post up some random facts about myself and let you form your own opinion…

Cool / Interesting Things I’ve Done / Experienced

• Surfed in Mexico, Hawaii, Jamaica, and (ofcourse) So Cal.
• Blasted down PCH in a Ferrari 360 Modena F1.
• Driven a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale.
• Jumped out of an airplane @ 12,000 ft.
• Went to the 1999-2000 NBA finals game 7, where the Lakers won the first of their three-peat (first basketball game I’d ever been to)
• Went to the Superbowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, FL. (first football game I’d ever been to)
• Fished for Halibut and King Salmon off the coast of Alaska.
• Driven my cars (’91 MR2, ‘02 S2000, and ‘04 S2000) on various racetracks (Willow Springs Track A, Track B, Buttonwillow, Spring Mountain, Las Vegas Motorspeedway).
• Volunteered to help feed the homeless on Thanksgiving.
• Shot 12+ different handguns and rifles.
• Visited 12 of 50 states: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Virginia.
• Went clubbing in a different state each weekend, for four weekends in a row (Oahu, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Orlando).
• Ridden a rollercoaster 40+ times in a row when the park was empty (Montezuma’s Revenge @ Knott’s Berry Farm).
• Saw a famous DJ (DJ Roonie-G) spin using video and music!
• Swapped the engine and transmission in my car, by myself, and manually spliced the wiring harness together (5SFE -> 3SGTE in my MR2).
• Been snowed in at Big Bear.
• Been water skiing and jet skiing in Lake Eufala, OK.
• Got out of my car to help a blind man cross a driveway (he looked like he needed help and told me he couldn’t hear the cars backing out).
• Broken my both of my wrists while snowboarding and once falling off a bicycle.
• Had my jaw wired shut for 6 weeks and had to eat liquid food through a straw. I lost 15lbs.
• Drank coffee at the world’s first Starbucks location (I splurged and got a venti).
• Met the guy who gave Bob Marley his first guitar.
• Rode a high-speed train (first class!) from South France to Paris and across Korea.
• Stood atop the Eiffel Tower, gazed upon the Mona Lisa, stood in the Colosseum, and looked up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
• Crossed the busiest intersection in the world in Shibuya (Tokyo).
• Ate live octopus in Busan, Korea (and got food poisoning as a result).

Cool / Interesting Things I Hope To Do

• Tour Europe some more
• Live in Korea for a year (or more)
• Surf in Costa Rica and Brazil
• Visit all 7 continents and all 50 states
• Go to South Africa for World Cup 2010!
• Get my motorcycle license and get a motorcycle
• Fly in a fighter jet (if you can make this happen, email me!)
• Take a long rode trip with friends - with no plans in particular
• more to come…

Hobbies

Surfing

I started surfing when I was in elementary school. Well, actually I started body boarding at Seal Beach. Then I started surfing in Junior High. I went pretty often, but then I stopped in 8th grade. I didn’t pick it up again until about 2000, and even after that it has been an on-again / off-again affair.

Now I go pretty much every week, when I can sneak in the time. As blasphemous as it may sound, I view my surfing sessions like church. Sitting quietly in the ocean, feeling as close to the earth as I imagine anyone can. That’s my prayer. And the waves I ride, that’s my offering. It keeps me balanced and sane, and helps me to deal with the stresses of life. I get really anxious if I don’t go surfing for a few weeks.

Running

I started running several months ago, after I had discovered a nice track at the park near my house. I started partly because I want to be remain healthy as I grow older, but mostly to clear my head in between surf sessions. The “runner’s high” is a great feeling.

I recently got the Nike+iPod to track my runs, as you can see by this cool widget below (DISCLAIMER: I sold my iPod Nano, so I can’t record my runs anymore):

Driving

I’ve done time trials at nearly every race course in southern California and southern Nevada. I’ve spun exiting a turn doing over 120mph. I’ve run in rain and hail. Of all the physical activities I participate in, this is the most tiring. Always being on the edge of disaster. The high pitched scream of the engine, so intoxicating that it can move your soul. The turns that come at you one after another, each seeming faster than the last.

Paintball

I don’t do this often, maybe only once or twice a year. But I love it. It’s a challenge, physically and mentally. It’s a rush. The sound of paintballs zipping just inches from your head. The teamwork and focus in a chaotic situation. The single focus of defeating your opponent that discards the physical pain you put yourself through. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it.

Snowboarding

I’m not that great, but I can do jumps and I recently bought all of my own gear for about $600+. Now, I’m pretty much committed to this hobby just so I can recoup some of my money I’m currently working on managing the big airs, more speed, and doing 360’s.

Personally, I’d rather surf than snowboard but if the waves aren’t pumping at least the mountain still works.

Video Games

I’m not a hardcore gamer, but I can get really into some games. I was addicted to Halo, Halo 2, and now Gears of War. I guess I can try to deny it, but I am a pretty big geek. I’ll play into the late hours of the morning, eyes glazed and blurry, and starving from having skipped dinner so I could continue to play.

Current Game: Call of Duty 4
XBox Live Gamer Tag: minboost562

Other Things I Like That I’m Not Too Serious About Yet

• Playing guitar
• Skateboarding

Odd Facts People Never Suspect

• I’m really good at roller skating. I’m not talking about roller blading, I mean the old school roller skates from the 80’s!
• I know how to make bullets (or “reload” them) - I used to do this as a kid
• More to come…