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Today's Featured Biography

 
Michael Kessler

After graduation I started to work at Robber Joe's Records/Metro Music and Books. That was also when I started DJing parties, proms and weddings all over the state. I went everywhere. I was lucky enough to go back and dj the dances at Bartlett a couple of times. (Remember those in the lunchroom on Friday nights?) Then I turned 21, came out and started at The Blue Moon, which is now Mad Myrna's. I also was the dj for The Wave and some clubs downtown across from the Hilton. All the while still managing the music store. After working there for almost 9 years, I started with Eddie Bauer in 1996. After Sheila Holloway and Michelle Byrum were killed and I ended a 7 year relationship, I decided I needed a drastic change. Sheila, Michelle and I had become extremely close after graduation. The grief was just too much for me so I asked myself "What would be the complete opposite of Anchorage"?. I chose Houston, Texas. Mainly because E.B. was willing to transfer me. So, after 29 years of living in Alaska, I packed up my stuff in September of 1998 and drove 4,000 miles in 6 days by myself to a place I didn't know, ready for a new adventure. Living in a city of over 4 million people is definitely an adventure.

Since music and DJing have always been my passion, I tried to get my name out there and work in the dance clubs. It took almost 2 years but finally, in October 2000, I started in a club called Pacific Street, which at the time, was a very popular place to go. A couple of months later, another local dj heard me and offered to help produce my first live, mixed cd. I couldn't believe it! I dj'd every Tuesday, Friday and every other Sunday, PLUS was the GM for the largest Eddie Bauer in Houston. I was quite busy but having a blast! I made 2 more cd's and then another opportunity came up.

There was a local travel company that wanted to branch out and do large private parties on cruise ships, with great entertainment and a private dj. There are anywhere from 100 - 500 in the groups, on ships that hold up to 2800 passengers. Partying for a week, a couple times a year, around the world, with all those people? Hmmmm...could I turn that down? That was in June 2002. 5 years later, I'm planning for my 13th cruise in October and have released 7 cd's. Just about to start on my 8th. I've been able to travel all over the Caribbean, Mexico, Jamaica, Italy, Spain, France and back to Alaska.

With all this extra traveling and Eddie Bauer being sold off, I left them after 8 years and started with Banana Republic in January 2004. I'm currently the GM for one of the larger stores in Houston. I have 5 managers and 40 employees. They do a great job for me and it allows for all this extra stuff I get to do.

When I met Scotty in October 2005, I chose to give up djing in the clubs after doing it almost every weekend for 15 years. Scotty and I love to travel and I continue to do the cruise ships twice a year although I may start up again somewhere on a weeknight.(It's been a nice break but I do miss it a bit. It's in my blood.)

Scotty and I purchased a house a year ago. It's a nice 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom home near downtown. We like living there because of the convenience to everything. Houston has a lot to offer but the traffic and the heat can be a bit much at times. A lot of you got to meet Scotty at the reunion. He had a terrific time and thought highly of our class and mentioned that his reunion was not even close to how memorable this one was.
Scotty and I have been together for almost 2 years. He retired from the Air Force after 23 years of service and is now a Project Manager for a major HR company. He gets to work 100% of the time from home which is nice for me because he takes really good care of our house. We also have a sweet kitty named Ling.

Well, that pretty much sums up what I have been doing the last 20 years. It was fantastic seeing all of you. For those of you who could not make it or chose not to this time, I hope you consider going to the next one. We all had a great time and missed a lot of friendly faces. Take care everyone. Stay in touch!

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