Edit in some info: Join date was October 9th 2002 I am the 188th person to register I believe. I am 35 years old Father of a 13 year old girl and a 6 year old boy. I have a wonderful wife and aspire to combine balloons and e-sports events!!!
Its been a bit since my last blog, life ..it has a way of taking over...The big news you might be asking yourself is ...where the heck are the balloons? Do not worry we will get there! But the Biggest news (to my e-life) is I just celebrated 10 years as a TeamLiquid forum member!~!
The internet, has for me, meant for a large part this site here. A forum and team of lovers of the greatest game of all time. BW!! Thats Brood War and Expansion for Starcraft. Thats Starcraft not Starcraft2 the game that the vast majority of you may be familiar with When I first found this site I was in awe with how close I came to some of the best foreign players out there and once in awhile they would actually interact with me!! I was so excited.
The age gap between me and most gamers was and sometimes still is one of the harder things to get around or to even find a common ground.I think in large part keeping me from being a huge poster here I always preferred to sit back and see what was going on and read about all the games I could not watch because of such low internet connections. Also I find it hard to write my thoughts out and make myself understood booth by getting all mixed up, or convoluted and my spelling is horrindeuos.. haha.
I got a divorce and things got crazy all my spare time was spent on Brood war, when I wasnt working or with my daughter BW was my depression sink hole. I got decent never great. For a minute I thought I had a chance. When the prelims in Vegas had a second shot, my sister living there, and the fact that 2 people showed up for the first Vegas event that year and got to go to Nationals I drove out. My dreams were crushed.... 24 or so showed up including, MnM, Froz, Evade, SupercondumUser,TF-Brad, Megabust and many others all who actually knew you could hotkey units and buildings (new to me) But with that event a love of the community was born for me. And so I went to other events. http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=15665
A couple WCG world Finals (none out of the USA ) A Blizzcon a few WCG prelims etc. And meeting members from here has always been great!! This community is so great so much a part of me. I always want to contribute and find I can not do so, not like I would like. Life 2 kids a wonderful Wife ...
I never had touched a balloon to twist it when I became a member here..OO It was just before WCG 2007 in Seattle when I had learned to tie a few basic balloons and I used them more as a challenge to see if anyone could blow them up. In 2009 I watched A documentary on Netflix Twisted . And a Love for balloons was born, with the exception.... Unlike BW and Magic (booth I loved yet sucked at) I was good at this!!!! Its amazing to find something I love to do...Feeling lost at with your life is never fun. I was always a good worker , Cook, Kitchen manager, Ice carving, Piercer,Book Seller, gas station attendant, Pizza cook, Fast food, Painter,Tile layer,video game store dude......But never found something I LOVED to do ... at 32 years old I had found something A: I was good at B: The potential for decent income with being own boss !! And Ballooning has been a huge part of me and all the attention I get here at TL!! If not for balloons I doubt many here would know me. I am so grateful for the attention and this community I wish I had more words for you all I love sharing my love of balloons with a community love and I truly Have grown up here, learned so much here, All around a game all around a shared love of one of the greatest games ever thats what is lacking with Starcraft2.... they are getting there but the lack of interaction and moderation (its almost here) is killing it for me.......
Sorry getting all rambly ...or more so...
Thank you TEAMLIQUID.NET !!! Thank you everyone all you old schoolers all you new schoolers..... and even you darn youngin SC2 babys !!! Thank you for being a part of my life and Loves for letting me share with you in good and bad (over 100 blogsOO) all my crazy confusing words!! and Cool balloons. And it all started with BroodWar.... Thats why BW ....... .......
I LOVE YOU <3 TL FuDD I had wanted to do more for 10 years but you all get hours of my work in picture form so...Im calling the no time you got balloons now shush card ^.-
Awesome! I certainly know what you mean about this place becoming a large part of your internet life. It's my one stop shop for news, games, philosophy and interblags.
10 Years. Wow. Wonder if I should try to do something half as cool for my 5th birthday here
Very nice blog post, I can relate with being an older dude and how competitive RTS has been a huge part of my life in as a positive outlet that fuels me to be better at everything I do. Thanks for sharing, and congratz! :D
With that mustache you kinda look like Tom Hardy in Bronson Very nice photo's. Especially that mousehat you're wearing. Gave me a big smile.
I have my 10 years coming up in just over 3 months. Yay oldtimers! It's always cool to hear how people grew and developed on/through this site. To bad I can't show something like you and everybody just has to be content with my ramblings on the world in general through my posts.
omg ur story is beautiful, and ur balloons are amazing, i was scared when i read the title and i thought you were going away or something but thankfully ur here to stay!!! whooo!!! more balloons more years on TL!
It's so hard to come up with something different to say in each of your blogs to describe how awesome you/they are, so I'll just give this a 5/5. I think we're all glad to have you here
Wow Thanks everyone I cant wait till I can go to another Esports event!! Sad thing is my extra moneys go to Balloon events now so Esports peeps hire me to draw in crowds, meet officials and make em smile with balloon caricatures and magic. Incorporating your very own msg or product!!
I will be in the St. Louis area Jan 30 thru Feb 3 if anyone in the are wants to get some drinks !! St Lours airport Marriot Hotel
FuDDDDD~~!!! Congrats on 10 years on TL, and as a member of the 30's club, I'd like to say that we're not old! Would be awesome to see you at IPL5.. only a drive away, right? :D
Holy shit, you just killed any chance of my own 10 year post in three weeks with your balloons- I have nothing that can compare High five for being old (school)
I saw the title and thought you meant that you were leaving now that you'd been on here for ten years: so glad that's not the case! Your blogs are always awesome. I'm so happy that you've found something that you love and that you kick ass at.
<: I've always been on the opposite side as you, looking up and aspiring to be involved and actually meet TL people (let alone the idolized BW Progamers), but always having age, finances, and restrictions preventing me from - just going there and doing it. And now, well, yeah. Its great, its cool, a few are linked, but for the most part, its no 2007-9, its not the same :/
Sick balloons, as always ... now do a Storkuuu dino one please <3
Maybe with people like you we could get the bw community to grow again. It probably isn't much different now compared to how it was when you signed up on TL. All of us spoiled new fans will have a harder time to adapt to this underground, amateur community... Much love to you and bw fighting!
Thanks everyone again!! I am keeping the stache at least until the end of November!!
Susie!! Wish I could join you in Vegas but I can not. Now if you can find a game company who wants to pay my way and pay me I would love to make anything they desired out of balloons, just a thought! HAHHA They did lift the ban on Busking though... next time if I have the time maybe Ill come down and do some street ballooning for tips, see how that pans out!!
Nazgul if you read this I plan on a dad blog for the next one! Life and times of my Biker dad!!
The mouse hat is worn by a twister from Phoenix, he goes by Arizona Rick fyi I would never wear a jean material top/jacket I am not Fakesteve enough.
I love balloons but they are not at this time, bringing in enough money to become full time with it. I have a interview in a couple hours for a wood carving position with a local family wood shop. Wish me luck!! Unless of course there are any esports travel jobs that any know of?
Thank you all again for the kind words the stars and giving me some attention I love it all!!!! I can not wait to meet all of you one day or another!!! IRL