Five Fun Facts About Me (Part 2)
Tried Stand Up Comedy in New York City
For about two and a half years, while I was working towards my dream of being a famous actor, I decided that it would be fun to give stand up comedy a try. I spent years admiring comedians like Brian Regan, Jim Gaffigan, and Jerry Seinfeld for there family friendly comedy style and thought that if I could do what they did, that would be amazing. So, in 2003 I took a stand up comedy class to learn how to “do” stand up comedy. My teacher, Tom Shillue helped me to craft what would end up being my opening set for the years to come. Who knew that jokes about Seattle and rain would get so many laughs, but I guess Seattle is funny! During the next couple years I got to perform at some of the most iconic clubs in New York at Caroline’s on Broadway, Gotham Comedy Club, & NY Comedy Club, but mostly you could find me 4 to 5 times a week at open mics, variety shows, and anywhere I could get a few minutes in front of the microphone. You may be asking, if I was funny? Well, I didn’t get heckled very often and most people left my set with a smile on their face.
Completed Half-Ironman
Completed several triathlons in 2018, but taking on a 1/2 Ironman was a whole new challenge! For those unfamiliar, it's a competition that consists of a swim, bike, and run totaling 70.3 miles. Training for it required a rigorous routine of 4:30am wake up calls, swimming, weight training, running, and biking - all while maintaining a healthy diet and taking care of my body. The hard work paid off- I may have gotten my butt kicked, but I finished with little pain and was ready to race again in just 3 days! Huge respect to those who participate in long distance racing, it takes a lot of dedication and effort to accomplish such a feat.
So grateful for the support of my triathlon team of coaches and fellow racers at Paulo Sport! You are the best! Special thanks to my great friend, Eric Plantenberg who agreed to race with me and provide moral support. Also, thank you Cheri Plantenberg for looking after my sick buddy, Elvis the Pug during the race weekend.
Competed in US Memory Training Championships
On March 29th, 2014, after years of teaching memory training techniques, I decided to challenge myself and compete with the best Memory Athletes in the US! Inspired by Joshua Foer's book, Moonwalking with Einstein, I participated in the event which had four preliminary rounds, including memorizing names, numbers, poetry, and a deck of cards. The top 8 advanced to the elimination rounds, where only one winner emerged. Although I didn't make it to the final round, I was proud to have cracked the TOP 20 in the US for 2014! Who knows, maybe I'll try again and beat my score from then. Check out the link HERE to learn more about each event!
Comic Book Superhero… I’m Batman!
During my time at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I had the opportunity to meet the talented comic book artist John Van Fleet. I ended up being the model for several of his comics, which led to me being the face of multiple comic book covers, including playing Harry Block in the American Century series, Star Trek Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, and even the featured lead character in a 2-part Batman graphic novel. Yes, you read that right - I'm Batman! It was a surreal experience seeing myself on the covers of these iconic comics. Can't wait to see what other adventures lie ahead!
If you want to get a copy of any of these comics, here are the links below. And, who knows, maybe if you see me around, I would be willing to sign that copy too….
American Century: #5 The Protector American Century: #6 L.A. Woman American Century: #7 Hollywood Babylon American Century: #8 Meet Me at Third and Fairfax Star Trek: Other Realities Batman: The Ankh 1 & 2 Kia Asayima’s Dark Angel: Phoenix Resurrection H-E-R-O - No.1
Played Captain Hook in Peter Pan
As a former Central Washington University student, I had the honor of playing various memorable characters for our annual children's theater tours. From the cunning Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood, to the whimsical Hare in The Tortoise and the Hare: A Rock Musical, each role brought me immense joy. However, my favorite role by far was that of Captain Hook in Peter Pan. The opportunity to portray such an iconic character was a privilege, and watching the children cheer for Peter and his friends while jeering at my character brought me an immeasurable amount of happiness. I am grateful for the chance to have entertained and inspired thousands of young children through our shows, and I hope to replicate this experience again in the future.
