EPTAfter playing the demo about a million times, obsessing over Siege Tanks and Goliaths, I was hooked. Shane and I would dial into each others computers, and play long drawn out turtle fests. Each game started out with buzzing, booping, and beeping, only to come to an end by a mined out map, nuclear explosions, hundreds of tank shells, or a haze of cloaked wraiths. The next day at school after playing, my mind was always encumbered with ideas and thoughts of different strategies. After weeks of the demo, I just had to buy the game. I went to the local store in my small town, and promptly purchased the product. Little did I realize, I could now play a deeper story line, and play as two different races. My heart raced.
Delving into the story was incredible. For some reason it just stuck with me. It had me. It owned me. After playing the story at least two times, I started to get into comp stomps with my friend. Then BGH. Then mini tournaments with more friends. Now my school-day strategizing turned into classroom map making, designing maps I thought looked fun. After that, I turned to wanting to create a Final Fantasy 7 RPG in Starcraft. It never came to fruition, but it also never seized to make me happy, just thinking about which unit would be which character. Broodwar enhanced my love, with a fresh story and new units. My friend Richard and I would spend hours seeing how fast we could DT or Lurker rush. I always returned to this game after finishing others. It was truly the definition of replayable.
It was around this time that I decided I wanted my own computer. I had been working summers and saving money every chance I could. I went to the same small town computer shop, and told him I wanted to build a computer. I only had $700, so I didn't get much. Windows 98, Celeron processor, crappy video card, and some ram. I told the owner, that I wanted it built and tested, and then taken apart. I did my research, and was ready for the challenge. It was my technological lego. After assembling it back up, I was ready for Starcraft again. Later, this skill and passion with computers would translate into my current job, as a computer technician.
Fast forward many years, after numerous revisits to the campaign, and the ever so popular fastest map ever, it was finally announced. The only thing that could possibly excite me more than a Final Fantasy 7 remake for PS3, Starcraft 2. I drooled over the Battle Reports.
When the beta hit, I needed to get it. Needed. I watched all of the lucky peoples videos....Rise, Husky, Day9. Oh how I was jealous. When I got in the beta, roaches were still one pop with two armor. It was an unrefined, unbalanced game, but I knew it would be my game for years to come, just like the original. After watching what I considered to be mediocre casts from random people, I decided, I can try this. I did my research, practiced a few times, and casted my first game. Two weeks later, I had emails from companies wanting me to cast their sponsored tournaments. Being on the Day9 Countdown video, Steelseries America vs Europe, Co-pro casts with my home-country hero Huk (then on Millenium), and Morrows map making showmatches. It blew up, and I had the most exciting year of my life. Casting was clearly my new passion, which fed off my Starcraft and computer passion quite nicely.
Unfortunately, my time came to a bitter end, and I had to make the extremely uncomfortable decision to stop casting. Work, family, relationships, all obstacles I knew I had to balance with my dream of casting in the big leagues. The next year I was distant from Starcraft. Never missing a Day9 daily, or a single GSL match, I kept my eye and heart on the scene as much as possible without thinking too much of my failed dream.
My now fiance, then girlfriend, soon wife, has been the most supportive person in the world, and I cannot thank her enough. Attending Barcrafts, local tournaments, and giving me the courage to apply for the IPL 3 volunteer call (never got the opportunity), she hasn't missed a beat. When we talked about marriage, I made the joke "You don't get a diamond until you reach diamond league". That was her cue. She started playing the campaign to get into it. She shared my passion, and I knew I'd never share her, she had to be mine. As she worked off the missions, I purchased the ring. We went to a concert, and she had five missions left. I knew it was time. I told her she could put the remaining missions on IOU if she'd marry me. That was over a year ago. We leave in four nights to the Dominican Republic to get married with a dozen or more friends and family.
This year she bought a pumpkin and wanted to carve it with a theme. Somehow, she picked Starcraft. After she finished the Terran logo (my current race), I wanted to make 3 more. The Teamliquid logo, and the other 2 races. Here they are.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/qSePw.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IN7fB.jpg)
Recently I was on local TV for a Starcraft tournament, that shows episodes weekly. In January I will cast the King of the Prairies tournmanent. I can't wait. I still dream Huk could attend.
I used to have one passion, now i have two. Even though I never reached my dream of casting for a living, I have my dream girl, and still have my dream game. We both eagerly await Heart of the Swarm, to play the missions and laugh and kill Zergs. (This may pose a challenge for her, cause she hates those ugly bugs). Though, shes proven she can tackle anything. Maybe one day I will get to work with esports, and do some casting.
Here is a picture of us. It really makes me cherish the saying, shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you will still land among the stars. April is my Star, Starcraft, you're my moon.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/uhko6.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ppds2.jpg)
