Update!
The latest update is, I will not be doing any updates! Instead, I have chosen to start a weblog where I can do regular updates much easier & hope to be able to stay current on what's going on. My goal is to eventually find a way to merge my archives from this site, photo albums, & weblog into one site so that I can keep regular updates on my blog, & still maintian old files for your amusement.
Feel free to sit and stare at this site as long as you want. When you are ready to visit my blog you can find it here: Blogspot
****Now, back to the old stuff****
Thanks for stopping by. I've put this website up to let those who are interested know a little about me, & the things that are important to me. Well, I also put it up just because it was fun! You can learn more about me below, and you will also find some navigational links at the top of the page to jump to other areas of the site quickly.
My name is Michael. Currently, I am 33 years old & living in Independence, MO USA. I have been married to my wife Alison for over 7 years, & we have one son, Jackson, who recently turned 2 years old.
I have worked for the last 7 years as a Structural Designer, doing drafting & detailing of steel buildings, structural concrete, & bridges, with the majority of my experience being in pre-engineered metal buildings. After a successful search for a new firm, I now work with Butler Manufacturing at their world headquarters in Kansas City. After spending nearly 2-1/2 years at home caring for our son, my wife is considering re-entering the medical field. She has worked as a medical assistant/office manager and is experienced in medical billing. If you are an interested employer in the Independence area, you can find out more information about her skills by clicking here.
I am also a Christian, & I consider that to be one of the most important aspects of my life. It may be that you are visiting this website & you don't know much if anything about the Christian faith. Or maybe you are a person who's had ALOT of experience with Christians & you do not agree with what you see. Maybe you are a Christian yourself. Or maybe, you have heard something about Jesus & the Christians & you want to know more. No matter what your opinion, I would love to share my personal faith with you.
Another aspect of my life is that I have a health problem known as Endolymphatic Hydrops, sometimes called Ménière's disease. This is a disturbance of the inner ear which in different people can cause problems such as hearing loss, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, and/or (as in my case) severe vertigo which brings on nausea & vomiting. This is all due to chemical imbalances in the body. It is not contagious, congenital, or known to be hereditary, but at this time seems to almost be random with little known about the causes, although it is estimated to affect approximately 1% of the population. although it's been a long process, I am now under the treatment of an excellent doctor who is a pioneer in the field of neurotology, and am nearly symptom free. To learn more about Ménière's, my experience with it, and my treatment of it, please click here.
One of my favorite pastimes is an obsession with all things Japanese. I am currently studying the Japanese language, but I am only a beginner! ^_^ I love ANIME & manga, what I can get ahold of here in the midwest. I am intrigued with the Japanese culture (historical & modern). If you are also interested in these things, please visit my Japanese Stuff page. And if you are native to or experienced in Japan/Japanese, I am always looking for new friends!
Lastly & most importantly, I have a page to share about my wonderful family. Here is where you will mainly see pictures of my crazy son goofing around.
