*So CJ, I hear you are a big fan of the Great White North?
--yeah, you could say that.
*Do you visit Canada a lot?
--absolutely, my friends and most of my family are there. No matter where I go, Toronto is always like home to me. It’s the greatest city in the world not to mention the best food and entertainment.
*Did you go to High School?
Yep, I went of course....I didn't think skating was going to make me a fortune, so I chased chicks, skated, raved and got good grades.
*Did you ever go to University?
--after high school, of course. I got a scholarship.
*For What?
--Academics.
*What degree did you graduate with?
--I didn’t?
*Why didn’t you graduate?
--Next question please?
*So, is it true that you were a mad shredding skateboarder in your teens?
--Yeah, I was the first skater at my high school, the first raver and the first to actually be different. I skated every day from the age of 13 to the age of 18. I was mad about it. Then I just quit.
*Why did you quit?
--Conquered every trick that was cool. There was really nothing left to do but do it bigger and even that did not seem fun anymore. It was weird, just had enough of it. Not to mention the broken bones.
*How many bones have you broken?
--More than 15. Ask my wife, she'll tell you the exact amount. I lost count. Lol.
*What’s your favorite color?
-Green, the color of money. Lol.
*I understand that you are a musician and songwriter?
--not really, not anymore.
*Why not?
--It’s not that I don’t want to make music or write anymore, it’s just that I am taking a long break from doing it.
*What kind of music do you play?
-I have always steered toward rock and pop.
*What instrument do you play?
--I play vocals. Lol. I play guitar, Bass, piano and some beatbox.
*Beatbox?
--no, I was just kidding about the beatbox.
*What Happened to June?
-ah, My June. How did you know about that!? For those of you who have never heard of June, which will be almost all of you, June was my first band. I was 16 and of course everyone was older and wiser, so I wrote an album worth of songs, performed them and then was fired. 8 months later, almost every song I wrote, ended up on their album. I think they are called Nameless now. So if you see them, give them all the finger for me. Thanks.
*Wow! Did you sue?
--couldn’t, no copyright protection. I got boned.
*That must have been devastating?
--I was crushed. I never really got over it.
*Do you think you’ll ever play music again?
--Well, I have been in a few bands since. I’ve recorded a few songs and even had one bought by United Artists in 2002. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO LAZY. But that was the last time I played music. I figure another few years and I’ll pick up the guitar again. As for the pad and pen, it may be soon. I have written almost 600 songs and I know that there has to be a few gems in there somewhere.
*You’re an emotional guy, huh?
--bite me!
*So you moved back to Florida when?
--Well, I decided to come back here full time in 1997. I got a great job offer to run the US operations for a Japanese based computer component company. It was really overwhelming.
*Operations manager at age 20?
-Well, yeah, I kinda told the owner that I was 25. I knew I would get caught eventually. Of course, it didn’t take long for them to see that I was not ready for something that big. But, it was fun while it lasted. I’d work all day and party all night. It was great.
*What’s this about being a Real Estate Guru?
--Lol, well, I got lucky that’s all. After I got fired, I studied the real estate market a little and started investing in foreclosures. Good thing I saved my money. Save your money kids!
*Do you still invest in Real Estate?
--Hell yeah, that’s what has put me through College for the second time.
*Let’s talk about family
--o.k.
*brothers? Sisters?
--oh yeah, I have an 18 yr old brother in Florida and a 6 year old and 3 year old half sister and brother. It’s crazy, but it’s fun. They still live in Toronto. My mom lives in Florida and my Dad lives up in Toronto. They are the greatest parents a person could have. I love them a lot. I also got married 3 years ago.
*What’s your wife like?
--She’s awesome.
*What do you mean, awesome?
--She’s my best friend; I can talk to her about anything. We have such a fun time when we’re together. She’s just a great human being and there is no one like her.
*Are you close to your 18 year old brother?
--as he would say, “mad close kid”. He’s a great kid and a great person, someone I am proud of. Life would not be the same without him here. He’s my main man. We hang a lot.
*You just launched a new political website?
--yeah, I did.
*Are you a Democrat?
--2 things I learned in the timeshare business, don’t ever discuss politics or religion.
Just go to www.electapresident.com.
*Timeshare?
--Yeah, I spent 6 years in that business. How do you think I kept buying property?
I don’t like to talk about those years.
*Let’s talk about this web design stuff.
--well, to me, it's more than just “stuff”. It is an untapped medium.
*Untapped Medium?
--yeah, rich media is something that is yet to evolve over all popular culture.
*Rich Media?
-Yeah, combo of video, audio, 3-d animation etc. Multiple platforms of visual creation rolled into one. That is what I think of when I think of Web design.
*Who are your influences?
--I really like Billy Bussey, gmunk, Hillman-Curtis and some of the artists on flashkit.com. There is some really sick stuff out there. Some of these people are really pushing the limits of creativity and usability.
*You decided to go back to school in 2003. Why?
--Well, I tried learning a lot of the graphic design from books and cd’s but it was so slow and mundane. One day I saw a commercial for International Academy of Design and Technology. I called the number and set up an interview. A week later, I showed up and saw some portfolios that blew my mind. I was sold.
*So it was easy deciding to go back to school?
--no, not at all. Even though I was sold, I didn’t want to spend a year and half driving to school.
*What made you decide to go back then?
--My wife. She made me write the check. Without her…
*So you now have a degree in web design, where do you go from here?
--well, I finished with a 4.0 GPA and the Presidents Award, so I guess Things will just come my way. Whatever happens will happen. I guess the next step is to make the move I have been wanting to make.
*Where’s That?
--Arizona or New Mexico, somewhere out West.
*Well wherever you go, I’m sure you’ll dazzle.
--Gee thanks, I really mean that.
*Any parting quotes?
--Let’s see, what can I say that would be profound? Uhh -
*I guess I should take back the dazzle comment?
--Never give up.
*That’s a nice one.
Finished.