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| My favorite movie, It's a Wonderful Life, is a beautiful story about the importance of the individual and the power of friendship. This section of my homepage is dedicated to the friends who add wonder and joy to my life.
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Paul and I have been friends since high school. In the picture above, Paul and I are standing next to one of the old movie projectors we salvaged from our hometown's old theater. We're a couple of audio/video geeks and the two of us have been fortunate to make a living using A/V technology. During my teenage years, I spent a lot of time with Paul and his family. Now, months go by between our visits, but I still consider Paul a close friend. In some way, I know he'll always be a part of my life. |
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Bill and I began our friendship in the late 90s via an online community known as WBS. Unfortunately, that community vanished, but thanks to email, we've been able to keep in touch. We're a couple of modern-day pen-pals. One of the reasons Bill and I are such great friends is the fact that we're just a couple of big kids. We have a lot of fun when we're together - maybe a little too much fun. |
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Bryan is another friend that I made via the online WBS community. The Internet has been very good to Bryan. His web page hobby turned into a full time business. Bryan and his online photoJournal were the inspirations for my eJournal. Together with Bill, the three of us are mutual friends. |
Dean and I have never met in person, but we've known each other for years. Like Bill and Bryan, I met Dean via the old WBS web page. Dean and his partner live way up North. Yes, that means he's a Yankee, but I don't hold that against him. |
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James can be hard to describe. He's an author, artist, philosopher, and one hell of a great editor. James is the last of my four online friends.
UPDATE: James is currently working on a graduate degree in Tennessee, but we still keep in touch thanks to email. |
Glenn is one of my closest friends. I can honestly say that I can talk to him about anything. He is sincere, honest, caring......AND SINGLE! (Hint! If you know someone looking for a great guy......)
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Brian, paging Dr. Brian! I remember when Brian was getting his undergrad here at A&M. Since then, he went to medical school and is now a working as a doctor in Florida. Despite the distance, we've remained close (thanks to Brian's cell phone). Sometimes, I just wish he lived closer. We've had a lot of adventures together. |
| UPDATE: In the spring of 2006, Brian got married! *sigh* I just wish Brian and his partner, Aldo, didn't live so far away. |
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When my ex, Jeff, and I moved into our first apartment, we became friends with our neighbors, Loren and Kellie, and our lives were never the same since. Over the years, Kellie and her family (brother - Jon, parents - Mary and Ed) became our second family. They're an amazing group of fun-loving and caring individuals. Over the years, we witnessed the developing relationship between Loren and her boyfriend (now husband), Shane.
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| UPDATE: For some crazy reason, Kellie left the great state of Texas to pursue her career in Charlotte. During the Spring of 2006, I had the chance to visit her and see her in action. |
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UPDATE: With their digital camera and email, Loren and Shane have kept in contact over the years. Like Kellie, they left Texas to work on the Eastern part of the country. Still don't know why they left Texas. ;-) |
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| Bill became my boss back in 1998 when I first started working at the Viz Lab (it's hard to believe it's been that long). I consider myself lucky because I've always had great bosses. Bill is no exception. When we're not talking about work, we're usually discussing photography, politics, or trains. |
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Kevin and I do our best to keep the lab up and running. I'm fortunate to work with people I can be friends with. We may not always agree on how the lab should operate, but that doesn't affect our friendship. Kevin is also a fellow photography enthusiast, and Eagle Scout. |
| Margaret can either find a party where ever she goes, or start one. Margaret is like the lab-mom. She does an amazing job of coordinating lab events. Margaret is one of those friends that I sometimes have too much fun with, especially when margaritas are involved. |
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Pat and Kim will always be my favorite Vizzers (nickname for Visualization Science Students). Pat was my first graduate assistant at the lab. I became friends with him and his girlfriend (now wife), Kim. I still keep in touch thanks to email and my eJournal. *sigh* I really miss those two. |
UPDATE: In 2005, Pat and Kim introduced Sydney to the world, making her the first viz-baby (offspring of two former vizzers).
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Brad is the best "hometown" friend of Jeff, my ex. After graduating from high school, Jeff went to Texas A&M and Brad went to Stephen F. Austin. While Brad was in college, he met his future wife, Sheri. Jeff had the honor of being in Brad's wedding. Since that day, I've become friends with Brad and Sheri. Eventually, Brad and Sheri added a third member to their family with their daughter, Macy. I usually receive photos of Macy every month via email. These two are very proud parents.
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UPDATE: In the Spring of 2006 Macy became a big sister to her new baby brother, Grayson
It has been fun watching Macy grow up through the digital photos that Sheri shares. I'm sure the same thing will happen with Grayson. |
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Tom and Mike are an amazing couple. I know they don't strive to be roll models, but I look up to them as people who know how to make a relationship last. I have learned a lot from them and they're also a lot of fun to be around. |
| Joey is....well....words just can't describe Joey. He's one in a million. He's dramatic, funny, caring, generous, and sometimes just plane ol' crazy. Time spent with Joey is never boring. |
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Michael is the male equivalent to Martha Stewart when it comes to interior decor and cooking. I first met Michael back in 2000. Shortly after that, his company transferred him to the Dallas / Ft. Worth area. I've had some fun times with Michael. I still see him from time to time when he pays a visit to Aggieland. |
Michael D. is a socialite of the Houston community. If I'm in downtown Houston, I know Michael will know what's happening.
I first met Michael while he was a student at TAMU. Over the years, Michael has been the source of a lot of fun memories. |
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Paul and John are a couple I enjoy spending time with. The three of us are about the same age, so we can usually relate to one another when it comes to living as adults in a college town. |
| Court and my ex, Jeff, were friends long before I had ever met Jeff, but I think Court and I have more in common, especially with it comes to computers. Court is another one of our very nice SINGLE friends. *hint hint* |
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John and Matt are a couple I met through Glenn. I took this picture of John and Matt at their 10-year anniversary celebration in 2003. Over the years, I have enjoyed a lot of celebrations at John and Matt's home in Houston.
While John has a passion for music, Matt happens to be another fellow photographer. I never realized how many of my friends also enjoy taking pictures. |
Becka, there's no one like her. Her life is never boring. I swear her adventures could be turned into a television series. I met Becka through James at the beginning of 2001. She's another one of those friends who left Texas. I don't know what I'd do without email. |
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Tina, another former Vizzer, decided to join the schnauzer club. She's pictured to the left with her baby, Macy. Tina also left Texas for the West coast, but then came back to Aggieland. Tina's another one of those creative souls I've met thanks to being a part of the Viz Lab. |
Charu and Brian are a couple of former-Vizzers who decided to become a couple. It was fun to watch their relationship grow. When they decided to get married, they had a traditional Indian wedding in Brian's hometown of Chicago. I always remind Brian that he's a lucky guy to have married such a sweetie like Charu. You can't help but smile when you spend time with her. |
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Paul (AKA: Mini-Marine) was not a Vizzer, but he was a student worker for the lab. During the years that we worked together, we became good friends (and we had lots of fun times outside of work). It was an honor to observe his commission ceremony into the Marine Corps. Paul's a very honorable person, and I'm very proud that we have people like him in our military. |
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| UPDATE: In the spring of 2007, Paul concluded a tour of duty in Iraq, and thankfully, returned to the USA safe and sound. |
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Through my involvement in Friend's Church, I've known Brian (pictured far right) since 1998 . Brian is another photographer-friend who takes his photography very seriously (he's a professional). Brian is also a Trekker (a fan of Star Trek).
In February of 2004, Brian and his partner, Chris, exchanged vows during their commitment ceremony at our church.
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"All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke
Lori is a friend who strives to do something good in this world (and have fun while doing it). Lori and her husband are part of an organization called Brazos Valley QueSt, that strives to unite gay and straight individuals in an effort to promote social and civil equality. The world needs more folks like Lori. |
Brad is a friend I first met through my ex, Jeff, when they both worked together at the Arts Council. Like Lori, Brad is an active member of Brazos Valley QueSt. Brads a nice guy who always seems to think about the needs of others. |
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From the very moment I started spending time with Melissa, and her two kids, Nathan and Sara, I knew they would become more than just friends. These three are like family to me. I used to spend a lot of time with them before Melissa decided to move.
UPDATE: In the summer of 2007, Melissa, Nathan, and Sara moved to Colorado, along with Melissa's new partner, Cinda. |
| There is a huge generation gap between me and my friend, Davin. I often tease him about his youth, and he has no problem reminding me of my "true" age. Davin is a sweet, creative guy with more potential than he realizes. Oh, and did I mention that he's single. *wink* |
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Clint and Travis are a couple of Aggies who happen to be a couple. I first met them when they were taking their first steps "out of the closet." They're an adorable couple, who are also a pair of geeks I can relate to. Travis (the one on the right) and I share a passion for old cars, while Clint and I are two computer/tech geeks. They're two smart guys with big hearts. |
In the Spring of 2004, I was finally reunited with an old friend, James. It was during this (overdue) reunion that I met James' partner, Travis. If he was good enough for James, I knew the odds were good that I'd get along fine with Travis, and that's exactly what happened. Travis is an artist at heart, with the enthusiasm of a kid. His laugh and smile are contagious. There's no doubt in my mind as to why Travis means so much to James. |
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Rob is one of my fellow geeks. After YEARS of going to graduate school here at TAMU, he finally got his Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology.
We share a passion for photography. While I take photos of people, Rob takes pictures of plants. We always enjoy our"geek" time together. |
| Most of my friends are younger than I am, so it was so refreshing to finally have someone from my generation to spend time with. This is what happened when I started spending time with Rob's sweetheart, Lamon. Yes, Lamon is a fellow 1969 baby! Yeah, it's fun when we start talking about something from the 70s or 80s, and no one else knows what we're talking about. Lamon is a witty, intelligent individual. |
| UPDATE: Rob and Lamon have become long-distance friends. Shortly after Lamon graduated, Rob and him left College Station so Lamon could start his practice as a veterinarian. |
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Karthik is another former Vizzer, whom I consider a friend. He remains passionate about issues of equality and justice, or the lack thereof, in this world. I enjoy listening to his perspectives (even if we don't always agree). When we're not talking about politics, you'll catch us talking about the stars and anything related to space exploration. |
| UPDATE: In December of 2005, Karthick and I participated in the same commencement ceremony as we both concluded our gradate studies at Texas A&M |
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UPDATE: In the spring of 2007, I had the honor of witnessing Karthik marry his lovely wife, Chaitanya. |
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| Steven is an online friend who eventually became a face-to-face friend during his last year of school at TAMU. During his last year, we had a lot of fun together. Now we've reverted back to our online-friendship status. Whenever we can get together to have a good time, we usually succeed in having fun. |
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Brian is someone I've known for years. He is the some of family friend. I never really spent any quality time with him until we discovered that we had a mutual friend in Stephen. It's a small world isn't it. BTW: Brian is a real sweetheart. |
| Ray became an eJournal reader, and email friend shortly after I visited his camping establishment on Lake Limestone - The Rainbow Ranch! I have got to find more time to visit Ray, and The Ranch. There's never a dull moment at that place. |
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Jerry is another friend I made at The Ranch. Thanks to instant messaging and email, we keep in touch. Jerry is a great sounding board. I guess he's a good listener because he spends a lot of time listening to his two adorable children Quinton and Madison. |
| Barrie is one of those friends who came into my life thanks to my eJournal. We started exchanging emails in the summer of 2005. While I was visiting Atlanta in the spring of 2006, we finally met face-to-face. When we spend time together in person or over the phone, we can't stop talking. She's and amazing person with two wonderful kids, Allie, and Nick. |
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Jeremy is a friend I first met in Aggieland back in 1999. Thanks again to the Internet, we stayed in touch over the years. I have a lot of fond memories of the fun the two of us used to have. There were times when I would just look at him and say "you're the devil." |
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| Matt and I are alumni from Stephen F. Austin. We didn't attend school there at the same time, but he's probably the only person in Aggieland who can relate to some of the experiences I had at that university. Matt is a quiet introspective individual with a passion for fashion and music. |
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UPDATE: In the Summer of 2006, Matt started a new chapter in his life when his adorable partner, Chris, moved to College Station to share their life together. Chris is one of those extremely talented individuals with a masters in vocal performance. In addition to being the choir director at my church, Chris also serves as a musical accompanist at TAMU. It's clear that Chris is passionate about what he does...and he's a real sweetheart. |
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| Jake and Cody are a couple of nice guys that I met through my friendship with Glenn. When they come into town to visit Glenn, I usually tag along. They're cute, but it's hard to imagine two conservative Aggie Republicans in a relationship. Oh well, they're kind hearted and always make me laugh. |
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Martin and Robbie are two of the most generous and fun-loving people I know. We've had all kinds of adventures together...from camping at Rainbow Ranch to cruising the open ocean. Time spent with them is never dull. |
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| Jefferson is another one of those long-distance friends. I first met him back in the late 90s when he was going to school at TAMU. Today, he is currently working full-time in New York City, and following his dream of becoming a professional actor. |
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Speaking of acting, my friend Robby is a theatre major at Sam Houston State. He doesn't need to be an actor. He's a real character in and of himself. |
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You never know when the souls you encounter will come back into your life. Back in the 80s, I used to spend part of my summers volunteering as a counselor at a church camp. While I was there, I worked with a camper named
Trent.
In the summer of 2006, our paths crossed again. While attending seminary, Trent became an intern at my church, and spent the weekends with me. Without a doubt, Trent is one of those intellectual-types |
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| I always enjoy our "deep" conversations regarding life and faith, and when we're not in the mood to be serious, our conversations transform into recited scenes from the film, Sordid Lives. |
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David is another friend that I first met back in the late 90s. He's the kind of person who seems to be smiling all the time. He has a close group of friends in Austin that I'd say are more like his family. Time spent with him is usually a group-thing, and David wouldn't have it any other way. He loves to entertain, especially through his amazing talents as a cook. |
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