Name: Dave
Age: 42
Year started reefing: 2016
Why you choose your user name:
Back when the internet was a wee little thing barely able to walk, I taught myself how to build websites. That went quickly from a hobby to a job, and once I needed to start billing clients, I thought it would be better to use something other than just my name. So I looked up what it took to start a business and discovered that if the business name included your name, things were a lot easier (which may or may not have been/be correct - I was 14 at the time and Google didn't exist yet...). So I went with my initials and "Design" (because I did both graphic and web design back then). The string is unique enough that it's never already taken, so it gives me a constant username everywhere I go.
Why you choose your avatar:
I'm a Cubs fan. Can't say I always have been, but I am now (and was before they started winning). When the wife and I took a trip to see some games at Wrigley (this was BK - before kids), we had flight troubles and ended up missing most of the first game we were scheduled to see. The next day, we (I) decided to get there right when the gates opened so that we could wander the ballpark. When the gates went up, I made a bee-line for the closest beer stand (it was hot that day) and ordered two Old Styles. When I got our beers and turned around, there was a lady standing there with a clipboard and an employee badge. She asked me if I would like to be the "Old Style Drinker of the Game" that day. I felt it would be impolite to refuse, so accepted. The job did
not include free beer all game (nor even one free beer), so that was a bit of a misunderstanding. But I did get a cool jersey out of it (wearing it), got announced to the crowd with my "title", and got my name up on the scoreboard. This was before Wrigley got the modern digital wall installed, so it's actually rather hard to see my name - but it's there; trust me. But mostly; I got to stand within feet of home plate at Wrigley. That was awesome. I use this as my avatar picture anywhere that I want people to see me - which is rare, to be honest...
Favorite fish:
The ones that aren't dead, mostly. If it swims, I find beauty in it.
Favorite coral:
Again; the not-dead ones. I tend more towards softies than hard corals due to their hypnotic movement, but I appreciate any coral I can find.
And a little about yourself:
Married with two girls (currently 3 and 1), we also have 2 dogs (both female; a German Shepherd/Akita mix and Shiba Inu/cattle dog mix). I'm surrounded by women and wouldn't change a one of them. Luckily, we also have a turtle named Crush, so I get to talk "guy stuff" with him (he's a horrible conversationalist, but I take what I can get). My girls are my life and joy, basically.
Ever since high school, I've been a computer programmer. Websites back then; web applications now. It's been over 25 years now that I've been working on Internet software and I'm lucky now to be able to choose how, when, and where I work. Which is to say; I work from home as a contractor for various clients. It pays the bills and I don't hate what I do most days. I earn enough that my wife has the dubious ability to spend her days with the girls. Raising a toddler and an infant is harder than my work (and we plan on home schooling), so I'm not really sure I'd trade positions with her. :-|
I've not always enjoyed my job, however. At several points in my life, I've walked away from my career and tried something else (or sometimes worked multiple jobs at the same time). I've spent 10 years as a snowboard instructor - getting certified in the first year and working weekends the other nine. I attended culinary school at night (CCA in San Francisco) and got my degree, after which I moved to the Chicago area (became a Cubs fan) and worked at a sushi restaurant. I was the 6'2" white guy from California working behind the bar at a Korean-owned sushi restaurant in the outskirts of Chicago. We advertised that we had the only
real California Rolls in town. :-| I had another option when I finished school, however - I could have moved to Maui (where I had a place to stay practically rent-free) and work on the line at Roy's on the Beach. I sometimes wonder what my life would look like had I gone that route instead of moving to Chicago in the start of Winter, but I have zero regrets (I'd never have met my wife, for one). These days, I mostly use my degree for cooking dinner and the occasional dinner party or catering event (I've done 4 or 5 weddings for friends - one was because the hired caterer got sick the day of; I ended up cooking for 150 people while in my suit).
As far as hobbies outside of reefing, the most prevalent would likely be SCUBA diving. I started when I was 14 and never stopped. For a while, it was just something fun to do on holidays (eventually my entire family would end up certified and we took family trips for the diving). Over the past few years, I've been upping my certification levels and am now a Dive Master - which is technically a "professional" level of certification. So I guess that falls into "career" as much as hobby now?
And - clearly - writing is something I do, I guess. Except it's not really; I just sort of ramble on. And on. And. ON...
Build Thread Link:
Check the sig, though my current tank (525XL) is in the process of being mostly ignored (except when I use it to test out hardware or setups that I need for the new tank) while the new tank ("Water Lily") is little more than a plan and some equipment while the new house gets built...
