The Real Short Version

I live in the Washington DC area and am an instructional designer for a government contractor. I love reading books and comics, and in my spare time I run marathons.

In the Beginning…

On March 26, 1973, I was born in Pennsylvania, and lived most of my first two years in North Carolina. To be honest, I don’t really remember much of those years. Ok, who am I kidding, I don’t remember any of that. But then my family moved to Vienna, Virginia, a (then) little suburb of Washington DC. Considering how most people in the DC area moved here as adults, this practically makes me a native, complete with claims on sacred lands.

I was able to read newspaper articles when just 2 1/2 years old, which should have been a big red flag that I would end up with more money spent on books than clothing in the years to come. I went to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology which taught me one very important life lesson above all else: I absolutely did not want to study science and technology in college. (Thus a narrow escape from my original plans as a math major.)

Gainful Employment

I went to James Madison University where I graduated in May 1995 with a major in English Literature. What this really means is that I have a license to make things up. After graduation I spent three years as a grocery store cashier, cash office manager, store manager trainee, office temp, comic book journalist, and an online game company press agent before stumbling backwards into my current job as an instructional designer and programmer for a government contractor. This means we design and develop training for different government agencies here in Washington DC; I hit my ten-year anniversary in May 2008, and I absolutely love it and can’t imagine doing anything else.

I’ve sold a handful of short stories for professional publication, and while that’s something that’s temporarily stalled out (my fault entirely), I do hope to get that part of my life rolling again shortly. I’ve written for a number of publications (print and web) about comic books, and spent three years as the Executive Director of the Small Press Expo (SPX), where alternative and independent comic book creators and publishers showcase and sell their works.

And In My Spare Time…

I’m a voracious reader these days, of books as well as comics. I adore science-fiction and fantasy (and attend Lambda Sci-Fi’s book discussion group every month), although that doesn’t stop me from reading other genres as well. So long as the book is good, I’m almost always game to give it a try.

Musically my tastes are extremely varied, although a surprisingly high number of CDs in my home seem to be by female singer/songwriters like Tori Amos, the Indigo Girls, Suzanne Vega, k.d. lang, Melissa Etheridge, and so forth.

Saturday mornings for six months out of the year are devoted to marathon training as I run obscenely long distances with my pace group. (The other six months are me running just because I enjoy it!) I’ve run seven marathons to date, plus numerous half-marathons and below. A far cry from the guy who before 2001 would only run to try and get the last doughnut.

I’m really enjoying rediscovering DC’s performing arts. A combination of season tickets to DC’s Shakespeare Theatre and the DC Opera has opened my eyes to all sorts of great actors, directors, plays, and music. I’m kicking myself for not having done this sooner.

Now if I could just find that elusive 36-hour day, I’d be set.