KazooPKL's profile

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Relationship

Married. Interested in meeting people for friendship and meeting people for networking

Hometown

Muskegon, Michigan

Places I've been

LIVED IN: Muskegon, North Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Richland, Galesburg, Battle Creek, and Augusta, MI FAVORITE VACATION SPOTS: Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Florida (esp. Orlando), New Orleans -- pre-Katrina :0( and anywhere there are friends, music, & fun!

Education

• Western Michigan University - B.S. & M.A., Behavior Analysis, Sociology, Clinical Psychology - 1974 to 1980
• Muskegon Public Schools (MI), McLaughlin Elem., Nelson Jr. High - 1960 to 1971
• Reeths-Puffer High School - GO ROCKETS!! - 1971 to 1974

Work

• Kalamazoo Public Schools, Title I, Family Involvement Specialist - 1996 to 2005
• Kalamazoo Public Schools, District Homeless Liaison - 1999 to 2005
• MI Dept. of Education, Special Education, Education Consultant - 2005 to 2007

More about me

Just another ol' Hippie tryin' to enjoy life, learn a few things along the way, and make the world a better place where we can all live in peace.  I am a proud progressive liberal, and believe that EVERYONE should be involved in the politics of this country - read, register, vote, and respond to your reps!  I love music - rock & roll, blues, jazz, even classical... but  NOT country/western twang!

I have Masters & Bachelors degrees in Psychology, and work for the Michigan Dept. of Education, Office of Special Ed. & Early Intervention Services, in Lansing. (Yes, it IS a L-O-N-G drive from Augusta... ) I've always worked in educational settings, esp. with families, parents & kids. (Yep, I even like toddlers & teenagers!!)

I'm interested in hearing from old & new friends who don't have anything to SELL, aren't into WHINING, still have some fascination for LIFE, and who still believe that all human beings are basically good folks facing many different struggles that shape who we turn out to be.

Activities

Progressive politics, reading, education, education of homeless kids, raising teenagers, mom stuff, family stuff

Favorite Charities

People for the American Way, Planned Parenthood, Food Banks, Homeless Shelters, National Public Radio, American Heart Association

Favorite Music

Rock & Roll, Blues (down & dirty), Jazz, Classical, John Mellancamp, Bob Seger, Rob Thomas, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Ethridge, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, Motown

Favorite TV Shows

Lost, The Daily Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, Saturday Night Live

Favorite Movies

Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood, The Notebook, The Big Chill, , It's a Wonderful Life, Stargate, Star Wars movies, Star Trek movies

Favorite Books

AUTHORS: Anne Tyler, Jodi Picoult, Margaret Atwood, Ellen Gilchrist; Mitch Albom BOOKS: Picture Perfect; Nineteen Minutes; The Secret Life of Bees; The Glass House; Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant; The Handmaid's Tale

Favorite Quotes

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." ~~ Nelson Mandela (1918 - )

Favorite People

My kids - Kyle & Erin; My Grrfrenns; People who are authentic; People who can laugh at themselves; People who are tolerant of differences between folks; People who can have fun w/o hurting themselves or others or being unable to remember it the next day

Favorite Places

Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Lake Michigan beaches, Pike Lake Resort, Mall of America, Florida, Orlando, Disney World, Sea World, Discovery Cove, my "reading chair, " a cozy, warm bed

Favorite Animals

Dusty, our Chow mix dog; puppies, in general; koala bears; giraffes

More "About"