This is a collection of little tidbits about me, organized in a semi-coherent way. I've tried to include most things that are important that pertain to me; though in no particular order. If you think there's anything I've missed or if you're curious about anything in particular send me mail and I'll attend to it.
Name: My name is Frank Wong. No, it's not my legal
name, but it's the name I typically go by. I don't answer to my legal name; in
fact, I've been known to hang up the phone to those who refer to me by it.
Nature vs. Nurture: Genetically, I'm strictly Chinese. I say that with neither pride nor shame, just the fact. Culturally, I'm a seemingly random collection of bits from different cultures... predominantly American, with a swirl of Chinese, and some Latin American sprinkled on top.
Previous life online: I have done this before. A number of years ago I had started a personal webpage at GeoCities. I've kept it there though it remains there rotting into oblivion; though you're welcome to visit. I've met some of the most important people in my life through that page, and I'll never regret having done it. It's just that I feel that I've outgrown it. As much as I loved my older webpage when it was strictly GeoCities, I feel that Yahoo has effectively turned a good thing to shit.
Location: I currently endure life in the Seattle area; I've been here since 1991. I live east of Lake Washington. I'm what Seattlelites commonly refer to as an EastSider. Life here isn't bad here, though I still miss my hometown of Miami and would like to move back someday.
As for the past, I was born in Madrid, Spain, though I remember none of it. I was raised in Puerto Rico until I was ten and then lived in Fort Lauderdale through high school. I attended the University of Miami, which is less than an hour's drive from Fort Lauderdale.
Blood: I have two sisters: Terry, four years my senior, and Aileen, one year my junior. They, along with my mom, still live in Florida. I visit them at least once a year, during the holidays.
My father, who passed away when I was nine, is buried in Miami. I can never remember precisely where the cemetery is though I always manage to find it.
Age: I was born in Madrid, Spain... on June 1968 (you do the math...). This makes me a Monkey by Chinese Zodiac and a Gemini by Western Zodiac. Though I'm not superstitious, I identify more with the former than the latter. Monkeys have been described as intelligent and fast learners with good memory. I can't remember what Geminis are known for.
Tongues: I'm trilingual. Most familiar with English, followed by Spanish, and finally Cantonese... and ironically learned them in reverse order. I practice the US's version of English. I learned Spanish from Puerto Rico, where I grew up, and continued to speak it in Florida, whose Spanish speaking population is mostly Cuban. Cantonese is a Chinese dialect that is spoken in Canton (thus the name... Duh!) but was also widely used in Hong Kong, until China took it over in 1997. I can neither read nor write in Chinese. Whenever I misspeak in English, I frequently use the excuse, "Sorry, English is my third language..."
Pets: I have a roommate named Magic. He's a domestic long haired cat with black and white fur. Some say he looks like Sylvester or Geppetto's Figaro. We have been together since 1994 when he was a kitten. I often travel with him, especially during the holidays. My friend Trudy has quipped that Magic winters in Florida.
Marital Status: I'm single. I had been involved with someone who now lives in New Orleans. We remain good friends; I don't figure that'll ever change.
Occupation: I'm a software engineer at a software company. I moved to the Seattle area in 1991 for this job and have remained here since. I like my job, though like any other job, it has its peaks and valleys.
Ink: One tattoo... a drawing of Mickey Mouse, which I drew, he is leaning on my Chinese name. He is wearing a t-shirt, bermuda shorts, and shades. It's on my right shoulder blade. I got it on May 1996. I thought long and hard about this one and admittedly had it done at least partially in time for my high school reunion. Regardless, I think it fits me well.
Holes:
Two ear piercings... on my left ear (no
cartilage). I got them done separately when I was in college when I was about
nineteen. I remember my mom saying that she didn't want to see me with an
earring, so I covered it with a bandage for the first day or so, and then
she just dealt with it.
Two nipple piercings... I got the right one done on April Fool's Day 2000 and the left one done precisely a year later. Both done by Chuck at the Lucky Devil. Yes, the name of the establishment appealed to me; I'm funny that way.
Education: I was a double major in college. Okay technically I was a computer engineer who picked up computer science as a second major. I got them both from the University of Miami. I also picked up a psychology minor, and all engineers implicitly have a mathematics minor... Fifteen credits, do the math... No pun intended.
Sexual Orientation: In the interest of keeping an open mind, I'll say that I consider myself heterosexual; I am definitely attracted to women. I have never experimented with men, nor am I curious, but I'm not repulsed by the idea either. Maybe it just means that I'm not phobic. My friend Dan seems convinced that I'm bisexual.
Faith: First, I was baptized shortly after I was born in Spain. Next, I attended a Catholic school as I grew up in Puerto Rico. This is where I had my First Communion; it was part of the curriculum. Finally, my family attended a Chinese Baptist church in Miami; although, to me, this seemed more of a cultural blemish rather than a religious one. I remember shouting arguments with my family about attending this church. Despite all that I never developed my faith.
I'm agnostic. This makes me more of an nonbeliever rather than a disbeliever; there's a subtle difference. Generally, I have no problems with faith. I do have a tendency to shun organized religions. The rationale is that most folks who are merely spiritual don't have a need to fix (or save) me; this is not true of many religious folks.
As time goes on, I think I may lean more towards a philosophy-based religion, rather than faith-based religions. I lean more towards the pursuit of self-enlightenment rather than the pursuit of salvation. I may turn out to be a Zen Buddhist by philosophy and practice, though I haven't really researched it.
Vices: Gadgets... particularly electronic gadgets. They draw me closer... beckon me as I walk by... I suppose that it is part of being an engineer (and thus an applied scientist). I'm a night owl... I've said from time to time that my powerband is between 12am and 4am. I suppose I'm lucky that I have a job with fairly flexible hours. I'm a slob... picture a large mess... double it. Now, you're starting to get the picture.
Virtues: None! Well that was easy. I suppose I'm humble.
Politics and morals: I believe that knowledge and the capacity to understand and reason is humankind's greatest strength. I generally oppose anything that hinders people's right to seek such enlightenment. I oppose censorship, except in the rare cases where it endangers people. I support the separation of church and state; I oppose prayer in public schools and scripture posted in government buildings. I believe that burning the US flag is as strong a symbol of freedom as the flag itself.
Off the clock:
I draw... whenever I get the inclination,
which hasn't happened for some time. It's almost become a bit of a mental
block now. I draw cartoons... some penciled on paper, some inked on paper, and
lastly, some done strictly on my computer. I also do pencil sketches; these
are mostly portraits. Some folks have used the words talent or
art to describe my drawings... comments which I wince at.
I write... just entries in my online journal for now. Reading moves me the way few other things do, and when I was younger I had aspirations to be novelist. This changed when my guidance counselor politely pointed out that, based on test scores, I had the writing aptitude of a common house plant. Maybe it'll happen someday, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
I work out... not as often as I would like, but at least three times each week and typically four. I always do cardio first, and do free weights after about half the time.