Michael Kukuk:  

I have been living in Newport Beach, Ca. for many years, and have appreciated all life here has afforded me, whether via education or connections, soon I will be moving to Mission Viejo. While in OC, I have been able to do interface design, teach photoshop, learn voiceover, and became a public speaker. I have probably been employed in nearly every aspect of the commercial art field at some point. I certainly never expected to get or do so much, or live so long, for that matter. Very blessed. High school was a very difficult time for me. I was diagnosed at 7 with a disease called Marfan Syndrome, and 12-18 was especially difficult for many reasons (one was being 6'4" since about 12-13). At 7 I had been told I would quite likely die if I did too much physically, as my aorta could burst via dissection. There was no surgery for it in the 70's, (since '88 I have artificial valves and aortic graft, so that part is done and gone) it was a frightening time for me. Now geneticists call me a "pioneer", fancy that. Still, I had a lot of friends that cared a lot about me, and I probably wouldn't have made it without them. Thanks, Richard, you were one hell of an anchor. As for Shawn, well, he underrates himself as a great friend back then IMO. Add to the above a certain frustration, as I did not have a house to go home to for several years of high school. My family (mom and dad, for a 2-1/2 year period of high school) and I lived in a 30x8x6 foot travel trailer with a cat and a monkey. My parents traveled a lot when I was growing up. So, 20 scho...Expand for more