View all favorite photos

Hometown

Born & raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Places I've been

Pretty much everywhere in both peninsulas of my beautiful home state of Michigan. From the Porcupine Mountains to Mackinaw Island. From Copper Harbor to Escanaba, don't forget to stop at the Hilltop Bakery for a cinnamon roll on your way! From Mackinaw City (see the bridge at night and never miss buying the fudge) down 127 to the state line. From Grand Haven (beautiful dunes and sandy beaches) to Port Huron. North Port (don't forget to tour the wineries), Traverse City, Ludington, Muskegon, Holland, Saugatuck, all along the Lake Michigan coast line - gorgeous! All the continental United States except Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. New York City, DC, Smokey Mountains, Hilton Head, Savanna, Atlanta, Orlando, Cape Canaveral, Tampa, Panama City Beach, St Louis, Gatlinburg, Phoenix, Reno, Houston, Dallas, Great Salt Lake, Grand Coolie Dam, Grand Canyon, Mount St Helens (before it blew,) Mt Hood, Beartooth Pass, Missoula MT, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone (before it burned,) Portland, OR, Mt Rainier, Seattle, Olympic Peninsula, WA. I'm sure I'm missing several other wonder places I've been in the good ole US of A. What a grand country we live in! Ontario, Canada (Sault Saint Marie, took the Algoma Central Train through the Agawa Canyon to Hearst, Windsor, London, Toronto) Japan (three times): Osaka, Nagahama City, Torahime

More about me

Please sign my guest book and say "Hi!"

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1951. Lived in Michigan all my life but have traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada. Just returned from my 3rd trip to Japan this summer.

Youngest of 3 children. Happily married for 28 years to the same wonderful man. Two grown children. One lives in Atlanta for his 1st job. I miss him terribly! Youngest in college (only 20 min away.) It helps that we see each other often. Two senior furkids (Grizzabella the Glamor Cat & Sophia Love Cat.)

Commute daily to work as a 6th grade ELA & Social Studies teacher. Love my job . . . most days. Plan to retire in 2018. Wow that sounds a long way off! Better to say 10 years.

In spare time I love to read, cook and bake (especially soups and yeast breads in our cold Michigan winters!) play in the water & sun, take pictures, work out at Curves, power walk with my hubby (who is my best friend), lay on my boat at night & star gaze, drink champagne, red wine, & Guinness, eat dark chocolate, fresh fruit & veggies and good cheese, spend time on Eons, do Sudoku, but most of all spend time with my family & friends.

I love to entertain my family on holidays. I have done this for over 20 years bringing together both my family & my husband's for every major holiday. It's a lot of work & true labor of love. I feel so blessed that everyone in both of our families enjoys the company of each other. It's the least I can do for those who mean the most to me.

We are avid Michigan State University Spartan fans. In the fall we participate in banquet style tail-gates for 30-60 people on every home football game day. We also attend most home hockey games & basketball games when we can pick up tickets.

Go Green!

Favorite Movies

Of All Time: African Queen, Fiddler on the Roof . . . Recent: Love Actually, The Holiday, Under the Tuscan Sun, Somethings Gotta Give, Hitch, Elf, National Treasure, Shrek, The Di Vinci Code

Favorite TV Shows

Old: The Muppet Show, Friends, Northern Exposure . . . Recent: Lost, Big Brother, American Idol, Amazing Race, Ghost Whisperer, Numbers, Cold Case, CSI, Criminal Minds

Activities

Reading, working out, walking, photography, traveling, being outside enjoying this amazing world or ours

Favorite Charities

Race for the Cure, UNICEF, local food bank, Zulu Basket Sales

Favorite Music

I like some aspects of all genres of music but I mostly listen to alternative, rock, pop, and jazz.

Favorite Books

I enjoy any book that is well written. Like music, I appreciate the best of all genres but mostly read fantasy, mystery, historical fiction, and books with international or cross-cultural themes. I also love to read and collect cook books!

Favorite Quotes

"Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself." - Chinese Proverb . . . “There are no excuses only choices.” - Unknown "When you choose the behavior, you choose the consequences." - Dr. Phil

Favorite People

My family!

Favorite Places

Higgins Lake, MI; Lake Michigan; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Washington, DC; Hilton Head Island, SC; Atlanta, GA; Orlando, FL; Florida Panhandle; San Fransisco, CA; Napa Valley, CA; and Japan (would like to see Hawaii, Australia, Italy, and Ireland and maybe I could add them to my list of favorite places!)

Favorite Animals

My two cats. I also love Labs (black, chocolate, or yellow - love 'em all!)

More "About"