User:Pub biographer/Kris Craig
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biographical Archive Data:
Full Name: Kristopher David Craig
Informal: Kris Craig
Website: www.KrisCraig.com
Profession(s): Web Engineer, Talk Radio Show Host, Small Business Owner, Political Campaign Manager
Location: Olympia, WA
DOB: 05/09/1982
High School: Black Hills High School, Tumwater, WA, 1997 - 2001
College: South Puget Sound Community College, Tumwater, WA, 2000 - 2001; The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, 2004 - Present
Additional Information:
Kris Craig hosts and produces a weekly public affairs radio show on KAOS 89.3 FM, Olympia, entitled "The Pacific Progressive - With Kris Craig." It covers local and national current events and political issues every Friday night from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The program often features a notable weekly guest, and takes live listener calls. The show's pilot episode first aired in early February, 2007. Mr. Craig had previously done work in internet radio. This is an unpaid volunteer job.
Kris Craig also runs his own web design and engineering business called CraigCom Communications. Though he would not release specific information regarding current clients and projects, citing non-disclosure agreements, the company does boast many notable past and current clients, including OfficeMAX and the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, WA. Mr. Craig estimates his sole-proprietorship will gross upwards of $100,000 for FY 2007-2008.
Kris Craig also runs a local grassroots political campaign in Washington State called Citizens for Universal Health Care, pushing a ballot initiative he authored and sponsored that would create a system of full, single-payer universal health care in the state. The campaign appears to have floundered in 2007, however, due to a lack of funds and volunteer support. Mr. Craig has played this down, insisting that this is only a temporary setback and that he expects to be in a better position to drive and fund the campaign in 2008.
Kris Craig presently resides in Olympia, Washington, about a block away from The Evergreen State College, where he currently takes evening and weekend classes. He was single as of the time of this interview and lives alone with his cat, Michelle, which he says he named after a Beatles song. Mr. Craig is currently estranged from most of his family, including his mother, maternal grandparents, and brother, though the latter he has had some recent online contact with.
Mr. Craig suffered a stroke in 2005 that led to permanent blindness in his right eye. This ocular stroke was caused by a malformed heart valve, a genetic defect known as Valvular Aortic Stenosis, or narrowing of the aortic valve. He suffered for many years with worsening chest pains. He said that, by 2005, he could barely sit up in bed without "feeling like I was having a heart attack, and not being able to do a goddamn thing about it." He says he even commented to some of his friends at the time that he almost felt like his body was shutting down around him, quietly wondering if the end was nearing. Still, he managed to go to school full-time during all of this, though beyond that he spent most of his time in his apartment trying to avoid unnecessary movement. Craig blames this in large part for causing him to gain weight and lose muscle mass, something he insists he's working to correct now with better diet and excercise. He avoided getting a valve replacement surgery for years because he was worried about not being able to pay the bill. The stroke was the "wake-up call" that changed his mind. In September, 2005, Mr. Craig had a mechanical aortic valve put in. It was a major open heart surgery, one that took him months to recover from. He still managed to attend classes full-time less than a week after the surgery, though he admits his attendance was "probably around 50-60%". Craig now has no chest pains, and is able to run and do other activities that he was never able to before. He even plays on a church softball team now, though he was rather adamant about stressing that he is "thoroughly Agnostic."
Kris played the trumpet from the 5th grade all the way through high school, specializing in jazz. Though he says he hasn't had time to practice in several years, back in 2005 he did MC a memorial service at BHHS for the late Frank Minear, who was his band teacher throughout his 4 years in high school.
When asked what he's most proud of thus far in life, Craig said, "I guess it would be how well I survived my years of homelessness, as well as the years of physical and emotional abuse prior to that. I guess it's like.... Well you saw what those Columbine kids did like 10 years back, right? What I went through was way worse than those two, so why didn't I turn out crazy and full of hatred like they did? I dunno if I can take credit for that or not, but I'm proud of it just the same. I kept smiling and laughing through the worst of times, and I was still able to find minor ways to help those around me in the darkest hour. I'd like to think I came out fairly intelligent as well, though some may dispute that.... I guess I'm just proud that all the negative crap that happened to me didn't turn me into some kind of angry, bitter person; but that I came out as a nice guy, perhaps with even more empathy because of the.... Umm, well you know, because I went through the worst of times myself. I always think that if even one person can have a better life because of me, then all that suffering will have been worth it."
The interview then ended with Kris Craig being asked what his biggest regret is in his past thus far. He hesitated for several moments and made a few attempts to change the subject. After pressing the question a few times, he eventually responded, in a much more serious tone than before, "Well jeez I really don't like dwelling on old ghosts in the closet, but what the hell. I have a few really; not sure how to pick, so I'll just briefly list 'em if that's ok. I'd say the biggest regret stems back to the 8th grade, this girl I'd fallen in love with named Anne. I won't go into details out of respect for her; but suffice it to say, I made an ass of myself, and aside from a few words here and there she never spoke to me again. I lost a dear friend when that happened, one who can never be replaced. She's long gone now, living her life who-knows-where, as am I. I almost never think about her anymore as this was a very long time ago, but still a part of me will always miss her, you know? I hope she's doing well in whatever direction she's going in life.
"I guess the other big one would be neglecting my heart condition to the point where I almost died. I know I couldn't afford it, but still there was no need for me to suffer all those years with the horrifyingly excruciating chest pains. It took a stroke causing permanent blindness in my right eye back in '05, caused by the defective heart valve, before I finally went to get the surgery done. The doctors did not mince any words in saying I was unbelievably lucky to still be alive after letting this go for so long. I guess 'toughing it out' isn't always the best answer....
"And of course, I regret my poor relationship with my mom. I know there's really not a whole lot I could do about it, but why haven't I called her all these years? Am I afraid or what? I miss her, but I just can't bring myself to disturb the status quo right now. I guess even the bravest people can be absolute cowards in their own regard."
Final Thoughts:
Coward or not, Kris Craig is a very unique individual whom I have had to pleasure to interview for this project. He never seems to be short on ambition or optimism. What I think is really amazing is how you wouldn't be able to tell any of this from his modest, somewhat nerdy appearance. He's short, slightly overweight, and wears hawaiian shirts in the dead of winter. I never would've guessed he'd been through all this, let alone be able to survive it! And he's already made a fairly decent life for himself it seems. Where will he go from here? You can never be sure, but I have little doubt that I won't be the last person to interview Kris Craig.
J. Davis, student
