My Hobbies

I have a very eclectic set of hobbies and interests, so I’ll just list some of them out.

• Gaming

  As you can probably tell by my Pacman link, I’m a lover of video games. I actually built my own 4P arcade cabinet to be able to enjoy some of the classics in their intended glory. I recently acquired a Steam Deck and it’s fantastic. Having a portable Linux PC that can also be used to game on is wonderful.

• Scuba Diving

  I'm an advanced open water certified diver with aspirations of eventually getting into technical diving. I enjoy diving around the greater Tampa Bay area and I've also been fortunate enough to dive some truly beautiful locations such as Cozumel. Diving is the only hobby I've ever had that has made work feel like work because it's always the thing I'd rather be doing than working :)

• Lockpicking

  Honestly I love solving puzzles of any kind, but there’s something especially cathartic about picking locks. I think it also helps improve visualization skills, as feeling each pin set and envisioning the sheer line in your head requires a decent bit of thought and consideration. It’s also a pragmatic skill that has saved both myself, and some of my neighbors (with their permission of course) a decent bit of cash!

• Jetskiing

  After spending 14 years in MN, I love to take advantage of the sun down here in FL. I spend a lot of time on our lake with my wife jetskiing around and tubing.

• Marksmanship

  I’ve participated in several precision rifle competitions. As my wife put it, “It’s like yoga but with loud bangs!” There’s something calming about being forced to control your breathing, nerves, and heart rate to try and hit a target from a great distance. The first time you put a hole in a piece of paper at 1,000 yards you’ll feel like a wizard!

• Technology

  If I were being honest, I don’t absolutely love writing software, I do it because it’s interesting and it pays the bills. That said, I do have a real love for technology and computing in general. Putting together this server to host my own private cloud, building arcade cabinets, tinkering with Arduinos, these are the sorts of things I have a real passion for.

• Scotch

  Something about getting older just miracuously makes Scotch start tasting good. I tend to prefer very peaty Scotches, with my favorite being Ardbeg Uigedail. If you’re a Scotch fan, let me know your favorite!