HELLO THERE, MY NAME IS MICHAEL VAN VRANKEN, AND I AM A NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, BORN BACK IN THE STONE AGE TIME OF THE 1960'S, IN SAN DIEGO.
I HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP IN A LOVING FAMILY THAT
I TRULY CARE AND LOVE FOR VERY MUCH.
IT HAS ONLY BEEN RECENTLY THAT I LOST MY FATHER, SO NOW IT IS DOWN TO ME AND MY SISTER AND BROTHER.
I GREW UP IN SOLANA BEACH ALL MY LIFE, ATTENDED TORREY PINES HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADITATED BACK IN '82, YES 1982, NOT 1882. I HAVE A LOT OF PASSION FOR
THE WILDERNESS AND THE OUTDOOR'S AND LOVE ANIMAL'S, ESPECIALLY CAT'S.
PLAYING MUSIC WAS A GIFT I WAS GIVEN TO ME AND AM A PRETTY GOOD PIANO PLAYER, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. MY FAVORITE MUSICIANS
WOULD BE PIANO PLAYERS THEMSELVES, BILLY JOEL AND ELTON JOHN.
I HAVE DECIDED TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER 30 YEAR'S AND REDEEM MYSELF AS A WORTHY HUMAN BEING AFTER BEING STRUCK WITH A DISEASE THEY CALL ALCOHOLISM. IT TOOK AWAY A BIG CHUNK OF MY LIFE THAT I CAN NEVER GET BACK, AND I HAVE 2 YEAR'S SOBRIETY TO CHEER ABOUT.
IT'S BEEN HELL FOR ME TO LIVE THE LIFE I HAD BEEN LIVING FOR THE LAST 25 YEAR'S AND I NEVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT SCENE EVER AGAIN. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PIECE OF CAKE AND I KNOW THAT, THAT IS WHY I HAVE TO KEEP TAKING IT ONE DAY AND STEP AT A TIME.
I PLAN ON GETTING MY A.A. DEGREE HERE, SO THAT IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND I WILL TRY THE BEST I CAN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I LOVE LIFE AGAIN, THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE ALWAY'S BEEN, I JUST HAPPENED TO HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THAT STEERED ME THE WRONG WAY FOR A TIME.
I LOVE TO LEARN, AND WILL DO MY BEST TO COMPREHEND AS MUCH AS I CAN WITH THE REST OF MY DINOSAUR YEAR'S LEFT.
I JUST HAD ONE THING TO SAY, "DON'T BE A FOOL, STAY IN SCHOOL.", A PIECE OF ADVICE I SHOULD HAVE CARRIED WITH ME A LONG TIME AGO.
