Jim O'Brien:  

UPDATE 5/20/09: I've gotten relocated to San Jose, Ca. With the change in altitude and air density My hearing is actually improving. I'm starting to be able to understand voice again to a degree. 8/01/08: When It says I'm retired that actually means I am disabled. I walk, talk,see, and nobody thinks I'm disabled until they talk to me. What did you say? I've lost most of my hearing, hearing aids help a little. I recognize 1 out of 10 words spoken at normal level and if some one talks quickly, behind or on the side I probably won't understand anything said. I need to read lips as I listen and sometimes I look confused because I'm trying fit the right word into a sentence. IE: nice, price, twice, ice, dice, rice all can sound exactly the same to me. Other than that I've broken alot more parts of my body but that's what you get when you Live Fast and Play Hard. After a couple of years at De Anza, majoring in art/photography, I worked as a mechanic and got involved in SCCA roadracing in every capacity except driver. I worked on everything from production's, formula's, Can-am's, motorcycles, airplanes, etc. It was a lot of fun and no sleep. I always wanted to be a photographer when I grew up. My family thought that wasn't a good idea. As it turns out, they were wrong. I restarted photography in 1995 and have been at it since. I spent 8 years as a photographer for the "World of Outlaws" sprint car series, 2 years as an official photographer at Altamont Speedway. Photography has opened some unusual doors for me to do things that I wouldn't have normally done. When I am distressed and need to relax I sit back or lay down, close my eyes and imagine I somewhere else and reality is somew...Expand for more