Jim's World

January 2000 

I was born February 16, 1961 in Lakewood, California, the third child of three. I have a older Brother, Bill and a an older sister Janet. Unlike most of my friends, I lived in the same house in Buena Park from the time I was born until I moved out at age 18. I attended one elementary school, one junior high, and one high school. A product of the Buena Park School District, I attended Grand Ave Elementary School (name changed to J.B. Sullivan in about 1968),  Jacob Calder Intermediate School (grades 7 & 8 - now called Buena Park Junior High) and Buena Park High School where I graduated in 1979. 

Picture of us three circa 1966 or so. (Me on the right)

While in High School, I participated in some extra curricular events. The Buena Park High School Band is where I spent much of my first couple of years. Playing Baritone, I kept pretty busy with Marching Band, Concert Band, Pep Band and such. I also goofed around with Track and Field, but soon learned I really had no talent. I kept involved with the sport as Team Manager.  I also started working too early in my life. I started out at the local Baskin Robbins where I worked three nights a week for the great sum of $1.65 per hour. Looking back, I should have enjoyed my High School time instead of working, but I figured I needed the money at the time. From Baskin Robbins to being a mail clerk in a Credit Bureau, then on to working in a Machine Shop (I really sucked on that job!), to finally a FUN job working for the YMCA of North Orange County.   Later, I worked for the Greater Whittier YMCA as a Site Director for their after school program. That was probably the most fun a person can have and get paid for it. Playing kickball and such, being outside in the sun, wow, what a job!

I moved to Alaska the first time in 1979, right out of high school. My best friend Bob and I decided we needed to see something different, so we packed up what we could into Bob's 1972 Subaru and headed north. My sister was living here, so we had a place to stay, but it was still an adventure. Picture two 18 year old boys driving nearly 4,000 miles on their own. It's the stuff memories are made of.

After an 18 month return to Southern California, I returned to Alaska for "good" in 1983. My dad and I drove that same Subaru back up the highway. Talk about fun (not), as it was late October, colder than SHIT and dark. We had two vehicles to get to Alaska, my Subaru, and a VW van belonging to my sisters then boy friend. That VW shouldn't have been on a city street, let alone the Alaska Canadian Highway! Luckily for us, the VW finally died in Haines Junction, about 1100 miles short of our Anchorage destination. Ever drive a VW van in the winter? They basically have NO HEAT! We're talking -15 out there, and NO HEAT. Life is an adventure.

I've been working in with computers and technology for about 17 years now. I went back to get some additional training in Computer Programming, and then figured out I HATE programming. I did GREAT in my classes, with 100% average, but it was not what I wanted to do. I worked for the Anchorage Times (now out of business) for a couple of years, then to the Anchorage Daily News for a while. Right around then, the infamous Exxon Valdez event took place. This event created such a shortage of technical workers that my career took off overnight. I was thrust into Management, first with VECO, who was the primary contractor on the spill recovery team, then with Cold Weather Contractors (now out of business). The biggest break in my career was landing the job of Systems Manager with a local Architectural / Engineering firm USKH. This job gave me real confidence in my work and my ability to work in management. After six years, I moved on to Anchorage Telephone Utility, which became Alaska Communications Systems in 1999. I worked first in Marketing for them, then as an Applications Engineer, and finally as the Manager of Internet Services Operations Manager. While it was a good job, I just simply didn't fit into the mold of what they wanted, and finally left in July of 2000. I joined Acclaim Technology shortly afterwards, and currently work as the Account Executive for the Entire State of Alaska Region. 

Jim and a Pelican ham it up on the pier at Santa Cruz December 2000

Gary and I met originally in 1979, when my sister took me to a friend of hers that cut hair. Gary was the stylist's roommate. I wasn't quite sure of my identity at that time, and Gary figured I was WAY too young for him. We got together again in 1983, and have lived together since then. There's more about us on the Gary & Jim Page.