Sheesh AM, how am I supposed to follow that? Born Yank, Grew up in Portland, Oregon of all places. Finished High School and spent a year in Phoenix, Arizona learning about electronics. Dreamt of going to Uni, folks couldn't afford to send me, so off I went to serve my country! Spent 5 years in the US Army as a Tactical Satellite Communications Technician. Spent 3 x 6 month tours of duty in Saudi Arabia ('94-'96). At least I got money for Uni... Did a few odd jobs, mostly electronic assembly work, modifying LCD displays. Somewhere in there, met the love of my life, playing on a MUD (multi-user dungeon; text-based role-playing game online) of all places. Who needs e-harmony? Talked my future missus into coming to Portland to study. Lived together 1.5 years while she did her Master's. She graduated right in the middle of a minor recession. No jobs locally, so she thought about moving back to Oz. Needed a Visa to join her. Best way was to get married...Go figure. She left to work for her former boss back in Oz less than a month after we were married. I had to wait 4 months for my Visa. Came to Australia in January 2001. Before coming over, I had enrolled in a BTech at Macquarie University, thanks go to the US Government for paying my tuition. Finished first year of Uni. Discovered IT wasn't my cup of tea (horrible at pure maths). Switched degrees to a Bsc majoring in Atmospheric Science. I could substitute maths for statistics (much better at maths application). Finished my Bachelor's in 2004. Not too many jobs in my chosen field at the time, outside of acadaemia. Had to make a choice on what to do. Started an apprenticeship in Commercial Cookery. It was around this time that the coffee bug had taken hold. I'd already secured a decent HX machine (at that time), and a Mazzer mini doser. Started dabbling in roasting. Been cooking ever since. Been roasting ever since. I now have to forge my future today, when I can no longer endure life in the kitchen.
