The Paul Michaels

Click on images to enlarge for full effect.

Paul Michaels is a popular name.  It was already taken, so I had to add ‘The’ to get a Blog with my name.

All the photos in this post and hundreds more are located here:  www.PaulMichaels.us

Hello,

I’m a Screenwriter, Poet, Traveler, Inventor, Clothing Designer, Web Site Developer, Photographer, Videographer, Scuba Diver, Harley Owner and Adventurist.

Even in the early years, I was different.  Why was I turned sideways?… should have known then.

I wonder if these days a kid could wear a Bourbon Street shirt to school?

Later, I was a 9 time consecutive Texas State Lifeguard Champion.

I worked for the biggest and best Water Park in Houston, TX.  And yes, it was as wild as you think,… and then some!

The SoftBall Team I Coached won Many Championships and even went Undefeated for 2 Years.

I was even asked to fly out to L.A. and train guards for the newly opening Hurricane Harbor with Kyle Stith, the Manager.

I worked for Six Flags, WaterWorld during and after Graduating College, for many years.  It was the best way to spend your youth.

I’ve created a Blog for my LifeGuard friends from those days… very interesting reading.

www.TheWaterWorldDiaries.com

For those interested in my Water Park Resume, here it is:

http://thewaterworlddiaries.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/waterworld-resume-113/

McNeese State University Graduate – 1988.

During my 20′s, I enjoyed some of the craziest jobs.  Here I’m the cop in a Halloween Production for Six Flags Amusement Parks.

Later, I was a top rated MotorSports Tour Guide for NASCAR, the Indy 500 and Drag Racing.

Rick Hendrick, Team Owner,  just cracked a joke.

The company I represented paid Millions for Sponsorship.  It was my job to get the bottle of Oil in his hand and get this photo created.  Pretty important stuff, I’d say.

And yes, that’s a young Mark Martin and Jack Rousch.

I had Credentials for every Race that allowed me access to areas restricted to regular fans.

I conducted Tours of the Pits and Garage Areas for all the major Companies and Teams in all the major MotorSports.

I’ve attended every Major Race.

I’ve been in too many Winner’s Circle photos to remember how many.

I’ve been to every Track on the circuit, many times.  This is Phoenix.

This is Duane Sweeney.  He was the Starter for many years.  Notice how back then he was actually on the Track.  Never happen today!

He would come by our Suite and we would visit.  He died a while back.  R.I.P. Duane, my friend.

Indy 500 FIREHAWK Mascot.

Now I travel and record my visits with photos and video for my sites

www.ContraGear.com

www.ContrabandFilms.com

I’ve traveled to every major city in the U.S. and many of the smaller ones.

New York – Battery Park, near the Statue of Liberty.

Fisherman’s Wharf – San Francisco, CA.

New York, Central Park.

Horseback Riding while attending a NASCAR Race in the Pocono Mountains.  Beautiful.

I’ve seen a lot of Monuments in this great land.

I traveled to Vegas many times a year for conventions, races and shows.  It was always a blast.

I was lucky to go many places and do many things.  Here’s the Indy 500 Parade and then the Daytona 500.

Some may ask why the black T-Shirt all the time.  When you wear starched uniforms every day,  your free time is much more relaxed.  I chose this shirt because it’s simple and easy to pack and also it’s my nod to Einstein for wearing the same outfit and not having to put thought into it.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with and meeting some of the most beautiful women over the years.

Los Angeles Raiders Cheerleader – NFL.

I was also asked to be a Judge for Bikini Contests on the road.  Then they asked me to run the whole contest.  Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Canadian Babes, Misty and Janelle.  Misty’s taken a ride in my ride!  And they both love my newest idea and want one immediately.

My Team was the best,… they loved fun, practical jokes and traveling.

I had a tough job being the Minority, Lol!

This is my friend Mark.  I met him while working on NHRA Drag Racing.  I hired him the next year to work with me.  He was Great!  He now drives a big rig for NASCAR.  He brings the Sprint Vision Big Screen to each Track.  Pretty important job!

We were in many Winner Photo’s.

I’ve attended MotorSports Championship Banquets at the end of the Season.  This is from the limo in New York for the NASCAR Awards Ceremony.  Tons of Fun!

This is at the NHRA Awards in L.A.

I also worked with many celebrities over the years.  All were great to be around and they’re just real people when you meet them.

John Walsh – America’s Most Wanted… Got me! Lol.

Rupert from Survivor.

Jim Nabors aka Gomer Pile.

Olympic Gold Medalist Bart Conner.  He was on the team I worked with.  We would always meet on the Track the morning of the Indy 500.

Patrick Dempsey – Grey’s Anatomy.

The Racing Brothers, Tony and Cruz Pedregon.

Tommy Lee – Motley Crue.

I’ve met and talked with Gene Simmons from KISS, twice… nice guy.

Hall of Famer, Junior Seau and NFL Coach, Jim Harbaugh.

During my years in MotorSports, I was able to drive some of the fastest cars on some of the biggest tracks.  I loved attending all of the driving schools free of charge.  Membership has its’ privileges.

Many times, I drove different NASCAR Show cars.  Fun every time!

I’ve driven and rode in everything out there.

This was fun,… and Fast!

I’ve even done the ‘Ride – Along’ at the major Tracks.

Al Unser even gave me a ride around the Indy 500 Track to show me the Racing Lines.  My top speed in a NASCAR was 153 mph.  Al Unser won the Indy 500 four times and is the only Winner to have a sibling and a son to also have won it.

I was Featured in an Indy Racing League Commercial.  I’m the Last Guy on the Screen giving a Testimonial.

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR7slwwpiN4

I traveled to Europe several times to document certain cities and things.  I plan on returning this summer for Rome.

Amsterdam.

I’ve even partied with ‘The Flyin’ Elvi” !

And the Blues Brothers.

Crocodile Dundee – Mann’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, CA..

Elvis and Ms. Monroe – Hollywood.

Ms. Monroe & Elvis, Los Angeles.

SuperGirl – Hollywood.

I was the Best BraveHeart Going,… until Mel went off on the Jews.  You should read my story, Halloween in Phoenix.  All about me as BraveHeart.

I’ve met some fun people.  This is from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, near Mt. Rushmore.

Indy 500.

Texas Nascar Race, Ft. Worth.

I’ve seen the craziest things at a Race. Here’s a racing Toilet that does wheelies!

I would bring the VIP’s down to the Start/Finish line and have them sign it.  My name has been on a lot of Famous Tracks!

I was lucky to have a job so many would want.

My days in Racing were some of the best.  I wouldn’t trade the 18 hour days, missing meals, losing weight, waiting in traffic, or any of it… I loved it all!

I was able to witness and photograph some of the best things around.  This is the view from the Suite in Phoenix prior to Race Start, during National Anthem.

I was able to take advantage of many photo ops.

Mr. Clean is Huge.

And I always had them sign To ContraGear.com

I’ve always followed ‘The Pirate’ way of Life.  I like the image, logo and everything about it and what it says, means and conveys.

I hope you enjoy my travel stories and poems.  I plan to add a lot more before I’m done.

I’ve alway loved Motorcycles.

This is my mom and I.  She passed away from cancer in 2010, two months after my father died.  She was a Hell Cat and I remember her fondly.

A parting gift from my dad.

Here are my $400.00 Custom boots while in Amsterdam.  Was called ‘Boss’ when I entered establishments.  You should read my Amsterdam stories listed on the top right side.

Here’s one of my Company Logo’s.  The story of its’ development is long and involves many years of taking photos and videos, traveling everywhere, Model Photo-Shoots, Testing and Re-Testing Merchandise, Hours and Hours on the Computer, several Vendors, purchasing expensive equipment, from Cameras to Computers to iPad and lots of beautiful ladies.

In my early 20′s, I began to fantasize about what I wanted to do with my life.  I looked at everything out there and decided owning my own Company was the way to go.  I always enjoyed Fun so I wanted to incorporate that into my Fantasy Company.  I studied other successful companies, franchises and their Founders.  I began to formulate an idea that would ‘Borrow’ the good ideas from these other companies and put them together in my own way and make it my own.

Some of my thievery is evident in the photos.  When I began the quest to start a Clothing Company, I used the model of Hooter’s Girl’s as a Marketing tool… hence, ContraGear has the ContraGirls.

There are many Skull Companies on the Web.  I spent the money and time to create logo’s that are superior to the competition.  Most these days are Alternative Skulls that have evolved into something different than what it began as.  I have made a conscious decision to create three of the original logo’s, only with updated computer technology so they are unbelievably detailed.

Another part of my Piracy was the idea I stole from the founder of Amazon.com.  He began by shipping books out of his Garage.  I thought to myself, “I have a Garage.  What would be more ‘Fun’ to do than ship books?”

I put the Hooter’s idea and the Amazon idea together and came up with this,… in my Garage.  You’ll notice my first name choice ‘Contraband’ but I had to transfer to ContraGear because of Trademark issues.  There have been many times that I have had to become fluid to make things work.

At one point or another, EVERY heterosexual man has fantasized about being Hugh Hefner,… I am in that group. Lol.  This was part of the ‘Fun’ I was referring to in my 20′s when I developed the idea.  In case you’re wondering, I’m trying to sell the hat! Lol.

If you would like to see a Music Video of some of my sexier PhotoShoots, go here:

www.ContraGirls.com

Another thing I ‘Pirated’…

Mark Zuckerberg, the FaceBook Founder, had this card made up when he was young and cocky.

I made the card better!  I have a front and back side.  The only difference is,… about 13 Billion dollars, give or take, Lol.

The reason I say I made it better is because,… I feel that a saying like that is better coming from a card with Skulls on it.  Just my opinion, Lol.

The back of the card utilizes a photo shot in my Garage, then I used Photoshop to create this logo.

If ever asked if my idea will work, I offer three pictures of three different Tracks in NASCAR.  These Flags are everywhere at a NASCAR Race.  I have many stories of the Drivers and their affinity for it because of their ‘Life Threatening’ Jobs.  There are 75 Million NASCAR Fans.  If ever I was to get the 17 Million dollars to Sponsor a car, the Fans would go Crazy!  The merchandise sales would pay for the Sponsorship.  I personally know Dale Jr. loves the Skull Logo.  If it were on ‘His’ car, I would be retiring early,… and rich!

This car would sell more Merchandise than any other.  This is based on seeing the Race Scenario played out many times at many Tracks, in my Professional opinion.

ContraGear.com has already been on race Cars… This is Racer Kenny Tran and myself in Denver, CO.

My ContraGear Cowboy Hats are always a hit!

My sister, Karen.

I am currently working on Merchandise for the E – Store opening soon.  I will continue to move forward,  until I hit the Lottery or gain major exposure.  There are many more ideas of my own and those that I have ‘Pirated’ and made better, that I want to execute.  Wish me luck, it’s not easy building something Special.

I’m currently adding my decal collection to my vehicle.  Many more to go…

This is where all the magic occurs.  I’ve spent many hours here learning skills to save on bills.  I do it all myself.  I’ve mastered Video, Photo, Computer Tech and Web Knowledge to accomplish my goals so far.  Great ‘Command Center’.  All of my 4 sites are represented in the picture on a screen.  The fifth is the e-store and I have 2 more in development.  All total I have 7 sites,… 4 active and 3 in development.  Will end up with 7 different sites going public.  This does not include the 50 sites I own that are Hibernating, hint… much more to come in due time.  I also own at least 5 each of FaceBook, Twitter and YouTube accounts to represent my products, merchandise, photos and videos.

Not bad for a small town kid from Louisiana.

I mentioned at first that I was a Screenwriter and Poet.  So far, I have about 80 Poems and 4 Screenplays.  One of my Screenplays, won awards and I was even invited to Hollywood for an Awards Banquet.  It will never get made into a Movie because the Subject Matter is too Taboo for Hollywood.  America is not ready for my Movie.  Curious?  Maybe more later…

I have invented a new Shot Glass.  It is called,… ContraShot.  It will redefine how we drink alcohol and be on the Market soon.  This is from the 50 hidden websites.  Imagine what else is there.

Thanks for reading this.  You can view my life in photos here:           www.PaulMichaels.us

Here’s my Web Presence…

www.PaulMichaels.com – Blog, Homepage

www.PaulMichaels.us – Personal Photos

www.ContraGear.com – Clothing, Photos, Homepage

www.ContrabandFilms.com – Videos

www.TheWaterWorldDiaries.com – A Collection of Memories

more to add when they become active…

Well, well.  I’ve started the 3rd Phase of my Life.  The First was WaterWorld, the Second was MotorSports and the Third will be ContraGear.

Met the Co-Founder of Twitter, Biz Stone.  Gave him My ContraCard.  His left thumb is touching it in his rear pocket.  He made jokes about the Skulls and Sexy Models.  He will not forget me.  One Tweet from him and I explode, overnight.

I have also Challenged a Blue Belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Martial Artist to a Fight.  I have 3 months to Train.  More as it develops.

During my Training, a Supplement Company has contacted me to try their Products.

I will chronicle My Training and Weight Gain for them and My Fitness Book I’m writing called, “The Digital Scale: A Fitness Program”

I dropped down from 200 lbs. to 155 lbs.  Then hope to build up to 170.

Visited The Mouse House in Anaheim, CA with my Sister.

Helping out in the WareHouse.

In Galveston with Misty for a Conference.  Love the Canadians.

Always ‘On Point’.

I visited New Orleans (NOLA) for Mardi Gras and took over 1200 pictures in two days.

http://contragear.smugmug.com/Travel/NOLA-Mardi-Gras-2012/21607833_cDHPT6#!i=1723514482&k=zNP5x3x

When we arrived, we were locked away from our Hotel by the Parade, so I just pulled up and parked on the Parade route and shot Pic’s out of my Sun Roof.

You think I had Fun?

Met many Fun People.

Also visited the Houston BBQ Cook Off in 2012.  I took over 500 Pic’s in 7 hours.

http://contragear.smugmug.com/Events/Houston-BBQ-Cook-Off-2012/21640011_Vrt9Tv#!i=1725981863&k=N7rSZ3L

More to come…

These are my poems and stories, I love the most,

For my writing, I’ll be your host.

My opinions, are in each story,

If you disagree, then I’m sorry.

To each his own, his right to say,

I use Poetry, to do it my way.

Words can be weapons, dangerous ones I wield,

Able to penetrate, any shield.

Many tell a story, and have a moral,

One’s even about, something floral.

I hope you enjoy, what I have written,

Of them, I’m very smitten.

Thank you, for your time,

For reading this rhyme.

- Paul Michaels