* Motorcycles
I have been riding motorcycles since I was big enough for my feet to reach the ground on my fathers Honda Trail 90. It has been one of my passions ever since. My first vehicle I ever owned was a Honda CB200 that I bought from my brother in my senior year of High School. My next bike was 1981 Suzuki GS450T. This had to be one of the sweetest handling bikes I have ever ridden. Just think where you wanted it go and the bike was there. It was also very stable going down the street on just on one wheel. ;). This bike was totaled when a lady in mid 70's Mustang decided to do a U turn acrossed a four lane steet from the curb, ( I didn't fair much better then the bike did, but neither did her car). My third bike was another Suzuki, a 1982 GS550, which I bought from a friend that had to move back east. This bike though it looked very similar to my old 450, was a grave disappointment. Handled like a cow, wanting to hide side thru the corners and no matter how much it was tinkered with, the engine would never run properly, always needing the choke to idle. Even with all that I kept the bike for a number of years, though my work schedule didn't let me get out to ride very often. Finally one day while riding into the office, the whole electrical system fried on it. At which point I decided it was time to buy a new bike.

My current ride is a 1995 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500. Though not as light in the turns as my old 450 was, I have been very pleased with its handling and stability. Where as my 550 considerably damped my enjoyment in the hobby, the Vulcan has renewed it stronger then ever.

*Role Playing Games
For those of you who don't what this is, Role Playing Games are games where you take on the personality of some fantasy figure, like a knight or wizard. Using that persona you explore a world of make believe fighting dragons and evil lords. It can best be described as a sort of interactive novel. Where the author creates the world, but the characters have a life of their own. The best write up I have seen for explaing what all this is about is at Uncle Figgy's Guide To Role Playing

The most well known RPG game is Dungeons and Dragons , which I have played since around 1976. There a numerous other game systems out, and they are not limited to the swords and sorcery genre. The only limits are you imagination.

Here are some of the game systems I've played

  • GURPS - From Steve Jackson Games. This is an all purpose "generic" role playing system that lets you develop characters for almost any genre. It gives you a lot of flexibilty but can be a little complex at times.
  • Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Originaly published by TSR hobbies, It is now being published by Wizards of the Coast. This is the classic fantasy adventure game, that pretty much started the whole Role Playing Game industry. "Kill fair maidens and rescue dragons in distress", or is that the other way around.. I always get that confused.
  • Traveler - Wander around the galaxy exploring planets, trading trinkets to the natives for valuable cargo, fighting off pirates or ducking the customs ships. This game can be anything from an exercise in economics to a cliff hanging space opera, or anything in between.
  • Morrow Project - A post-apocalyptic world of the 21st century. by Timeline Ltd. (they don't seem to have their own page, but this one is a nice intro to the game). Your mission, which you have already accepted, is to restore order and civilation thru superior firepower and technology. Another good source for info on this game can be found at http://www.broadsword.com/mp/mpmain.shtml.
    The movie Damnation Alley (1977) gives you a good idea of what this world is like
  • RIFTS - Combines fantasy and science fiction into a world where a 'rift' in the space/time continuum (don't ya just hate it when those things happen) causes magic and alternate realities to 'leak' into our world causing massive destruction and generally ruining everybodies day.
  • And a few home brew ones I and my friends have created

*Books
I love to read. On average I go through about 1 1/2 books a week. Most of my free time is spent reading.I carry a book with me pretty much everywhere I go. You would be surprised how much you can read while standing in line, eating lunch or waiting for meetings to start. Most of what I read is Science Fiction and Fantasy related, with an occasional Mystery thown in.

Some of my favorite authors are:
Roger Zelazny Glen Cook Terry Pratchett George R.R. Martin
Dick Francis Aaron Elkins Philip K. Dick Laurell K. Hamilton

Occasionaly, when the mood strikes me and I have nothing better to do, I'll write up a book review of what I have been reading lately. These can be found on my book review page


*Other Interests
So many subjects, soo little time
In addtion to that above, I also have interests in :
Architecture Photography Astronomy History Science and Technology
None of which get any near the amount of time I would like to devote to them.