June 29

United States Of America

Married

Catholic

Jewelry Artist, Writer, Professional Student, Homeschooling Mom

Ocala, Florida

I have been married for 14 years to Doug.  We are a perfect fit, soul mates, and we knew we would be together forever on our very first date.  He loves to work with his hands, makes beautiful wood projects, including our picnic table, a rocking horse (full size - I can ride it, and he made it when he was 12 years old), and a grandfather clock (work in progress) that looks amazing!!  He started his own business last year, too, setting up computers for his Internet customers (a company he shares) and doing a little web design.  He continues to surprise me - he achieves everything he tries... it's really fun to watch.

I graduated with a degree (BS) in mathematics with a concentration in statistics and took mostly art classes for my electives.  I continued toward my master's degree in computer science but had to stop when work took over my life briefly (seemed fair, they were paying for it) and had about the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in it.  Then I met Doug and never made it back to finish.  I did continue classes online at different sites, especially the Barnes & Noble University classes but even that stopped as the family grew.  I helped Doug go back to get his Master's degree (do you know how hard it is to study with a baby in the house?!) and not only did he graduate, he did it with straight A's.  I told you - achieves everything he tries... just amazing.

I have very lofty goals, I think.  I want my children to grow up and make a difference, make a positive dent in the world.  I want them to remember the field trips, the time spent together, the family gatherings, and I want them to forget that Mommy spends too much time in front of the television, back in her office, in pain.  This disease is a nasty one and while I have gotten used to the idea that it is part of me, pain and all, I want them to remember only that it was an annoyance, if they remember it at all.  We'll see.

I always wanted to meet Alfred Hitchcock... ever since I watched The Birds at an early age.  Since that really isn't possible any more, I suppose there are several authors I would like to meet, including a man who lives very near to my parents and has been an online presence in my life for several years - Mike Resnick.  Thanks to him, I discovered CompuServe (now open to the public online) - a wonderful group of writers known as the Imps.  I have learned more about writing from them in the few years I have been an Imp than I did in all those years of school.  I would love to meet more of them - so far, only three face-to-face.

Books, Writing, Television, Movies, Video Games, all kinds of crafts, swimming, bike riding.

Mostly fantasy, science fiction, horror (scary, not gory) and lately, history, both fictional and accurate.  I also enjoy biographies.  If you like writing, read the first line of Octavia Butler's Wild Seed.  Think about what you know after reading just the first line.  That's how I want to write.  (That's thanks to Mike Resnick, I believe, in one of his writing books.)

Dark Chocolate, especially a birth town brand - Esther Price... that's the best!  Pizza, this Lentil Soup the hubby makes, Ice Cream, Popcorn.

The 80's were the best time for music, some oldies around the 50's and 60's, good alternative stuff, BareNaked Ladies, early Madonna but nothing since, the Cranberries, the Pixies, Men at Work.

Finding Forrester.  I had no idea what it was about when I received it as a gift (from the hubby) and watched it from the edge of my seat.  I like silly romantic comedies as long as they don't get too dumb and goofy, epic fantasy, science fiction, and things that blow up.  If Arnold is in it, I'm there.

Favorite is probably Burn Notice right now, along with Pysch and Pushing Daisies.  Gilmore Girls, Charmed, Xena - good, entertaining series.  Torchwood is a good spin-off of Dr. Who, Robin Hood (recently have been enjoying the BBC), and some guilty pleasures - Nip/Tuck, Dirt.  I told you I watched too much television.

Writing is a big passion of mine, along with my art work.  Lately, the crafts have taken over.  My aunt (in-law) brought over a huge box of beads for the girls to play with and next thing I know, I have my own business selling jewelry creations and personalized Italian Charms.  It is growing all the time and I have had an offer to sell it in a store in Inverness, which I plan to do but the nasty kidney stones have been keeping me home, grumpy, and not on display.  Soon, if she will still have me.

My Mom.  My Husband.  Many of the nurses who helped with the delivery of my children - that is a job I could never do but they made all the difference.  My kidney doctor - he has come to the house when I feel too terrible to come to him and he continues to read and research about my rare disease in an attempt to help me, always making sure to be on the cutting edge in case there is something.  I have never known a doctor to do that - usually you are in and out and quickly forgotten.  He changed my life when I found him, after this disease knocked me down.