I'm an engineer, I kind of swear a lot, and I love to argue (in the debate-sense of the word).

I enjoy whitewater kayaking, motorcycling, dark or unfiltered beer, sake, guitar hero, rock band, baseball, billiards, wiffle ball, hockey, ice skating, and all sorts of other aspects of life -

*** This personality quiz was so accurate ***
*** that I had to let it be in my summary- ***

My Enneagram type is EIGHT - The Asserter
(aka "The Challenger").
Asserters are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me:

-1) Stand up for yourself... and me. -2) Be confident, strong, and direct. -3) Don't gossip about me or betray my trust. -4) Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side. -5) Give me space to be alone. -6) Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me. -7) I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack.

What I Like About Being an EIGHT:

-1) being independent and self-reliant -2) being able to take charge and meet challenges head on -3) being courageous, straightforward, and honest -4) getting all the enjoyment I can out of life -5) supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me -6) upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being an EIGHT:

-1) overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to -2) being restless and impatient with others' incompetence -3) sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it -4) putting too much pressure on myself.

I am candid, energetic, rational, and creative

I recently took an engineering job at Kollmorgen Electro-Optical and it's working out marvelously.

I've been accepted to a graduate program in Mechanical Engineering at UMass - but I've deferred my admission for the 2nd time in a row - this time to the Fall 2011 semester. I really need to decide whether I should go for an MBA, an MS in ME, or no further degree for the time being.

I'm an ACA-certified whitewater kayak instructor with the UMass Outing Club and you can find me teaching at the Totman Pool Sessions every week during the school year on either Tuesday or Thursday from 7:30 - 9:30pm. If you're interested in kayaking you should meet me there! Drop me a message and ask which day I'll be showing up. ^ ^

Crossing the line/pushing the envelope, inspiring humor, bantering, listening, flirting, surprising people, video games (esp. Rock Band and Guitar Hero), photography, athletic activities -

Not sure - my height, I guess -

Books: I'm not that into reading - my bookshelf contains many Mechanical Engineering texts, George Carlin's three books, and a couple others that I'm not interested enough to list.

Movies: Boondock Saints; Watchmen; Dark Knight; almost anything by Kevin Smith; Lost and Delirious; Fight Club; Super Troopers; Attila; martial arts movies esp. Kill Bill, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers; Riverdance, Pirates I, II, III; and, now that I have no expectations for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I'm starting to love it, too.

Music: Typically adrenaline pumping or thought provoking stuff: Rise Against, Deadmou5, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, Dropkick Murphys, Dark Lotus, Lonely Island, New Found Glory, James Gang, Joe Walsh, Barenaked Ladies, Beastie Boys, Hootie & the Blowfish, The Killers, Moby, Offspring, Sublime, That Handsome Devil, Jimmy Buffett, Mindless Self Indulgence, Marylin Manson, Chopin, Rob Zombie, Billy Joel, Blues Traveler, etc; I could list everything in my iPod, but I feel like that's a futile task, because I like much more music than I even own -

TV: Anthony Bourdain, My Name is Earl, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The Office, 30 Rock, Venture Brothers, Big Brother, Metalocalypse, Scrubs, South Park, Two and a Half Men, Spin City, House, Lockup - also, just throwing it out there: Netflix streaming is the way to go.

Food: Sake, Microbrews, BlackBush, Chinese, Tacos, Lazy food like chicken pot pie, chicken soup (homemade!), shepherds pie, 'tuna noodle glop', hearty stuffing, and casseroles.

I reviewed my six things that I listed here two years ago and realized that this question is bullshit. I shall rephrase and then answer:

The six things I wouldn't want to do without.

My Kayak. [gets it's own line]

My Motorcycle. [gets it's own line]

My computer, mint oreos, the UMOC kayaking community, and keeping the rest of the people I care about close to me.

The immediate (1 to 5 year) future and various other things that substantially distract me. I have extremely fervent opinions pertaining to almost anything I think about and I am a staunch defender of said opinions (providing that they are of sound reasoning).

I am always seeking the truth and will speak out when I encounter something which I believe is in the wrong (even when I say it). In summary, if you do not enjoy having discussions or debates about things then you may get irritated with me. :)

I range from low key to high energy. Sometimes I'm at a party, sometimes I'm in bed by 9. Give me a reason to be anywhere in between and it'll probably work out in your favor.

I was born with CF and acquired diabetes around the time when I was learning to administer my own IV antibiotics at the age of 14.

I've made the difficult decision to quit a high school that didn't have the resources to accommodate my schedule, attended community college where I studied art, attended university where I received a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and I now work a full time engineering position where I earn the benefits required to keep myself healthy, active, and contributing to the society in which I live. In addition, I've operated a successful fine art and wedding photography business since completing my formal art education. I've overcome a lot in my life and yet strangely there are people out there who view my genetic affliction as a more significant predictor of my life than the perseverance of my spirit.

I implore you, do the entire world a favor, including yourself, and think about that when you encounter people with all sorts of afflictions different than your own.

You should message me if you'd like to hang out, enjoy conversation, kayak, and/or play some video games.