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"Hot Chick (definition): A confident woman. She knows what she wants and gets it. She is aware of her flaws, but she doesn't obsess over them and instead thinks that maybe (just maybe) they actually add to her unique inner beauty. She is passionate. She loves life. She is comfortable in her own skin and owns her sexuality, but uses it purely for good. She does not see other women as her enemy and competes only with herself to do her best at all times and to be her best at all times. She is forthright, honest, and disarmingly herself. She never tries to be someone else. She is having fun and she is sexy and you just want to be around her to soak up some of those good vibes. She isn't perfect, but she doesn't care because she is hot. And so are you."
Wow - it has been nearly a year since I have updated this! So, here it goes - some is the same, some is updated:I was born in California and escaped with my dignity when I was six. My parents moved to Missouri and Mom decided to stay with us kids while Dad went on his way. Living in Missouri gave me a nice, midwestern, grounded background, but I still visited my Dad in Los Angeles (Riverside) and Grandparents enough for me to think of San Diego as home as well.
I used to work for 3M as a Project Engineer/Manager and still think of myself as an engineer - I know my way around a wrench and can even change the brakes on my car (even if I don't always choose to do so). Some of my little household projects were: 1)to install a garbage disposal unit on my kitchen sink where there wasn't one previously, 2) refinish a workbench and drag it into the garage, 3) hang all of my tools up, 4) install a coat rack. OK, I still need to build new shelves for the basement so I can store the crap I have been collecting for years and years and is still currently residing in my old house. I also want to install my water softener, which has been sitting in the box in the basement for the last year, install a new faucett out the back of the house, and install the ice maker line to my fridge. Unfortunatly, I seem to always find other, more exciting things to do instead.
I had a pretty low-key divorce that was finalized in September. My ex and I are pretty good friends still, and I think we would be even if we didn't have a 14 year old daughter to raise together. Our son, Eric, died of cancer in Sept 2005 after a long battle with cancer. This kind of brings two people together, and yet tears them apart at the same time.I graduated in December 2007 with a Bachelors of Science at U of MN in Genetics, Cell Biology and Development. I also have a BS Chem E from U of MO from 1991 and worked as a Project Engineer for 3M for way too many years. My original intention was to pursue a PhD in Immunology/Cancer Biology, but what with the divorce, I realize that I can't live in the manner to which I have become accustomed as a grad student. So, right now I'm looking for well-paying Engineering jobs, preferrably at 3M, since they have all my vacation, 401K, retirement, etc. Yeah, I was pseudo-unhappy at 3M before, but I think I can successfully pimp myself out to "the man" for a few years to reinvigorate my bank account. At least until Katy is outta high school. Then, I can do whatever I damn well please!
I've got one daughter - age 14 1/2 - and one son who will always be almost 10 (he died in Sept 2005 after a long battle with cancer).
I guess I define my life as pre-cancer and post-cancer. Or with Eric and without. As I am left somewhat traumatized, yet attempting to function at this thing called life, I am redefining, reshaping, reliving. And yep, even after another year, I'm still pretty traumatized, but I'm starting to move on and enjoy life a little more. I'm working out regularly and and beginning to think about the whole dating thing. I don't always do it properly, but hey, I've always been a bit unusual.
Here is a link to the Caringbridge Web page I have kept up since June 2003 - all the ups and downs:
Eric Dakota's Story
My rules for you: please don't try to sell me shit... I ain't buying. I will, however, look at books or music if they are recommended because you truly love 'em. Don't spam weird crap in my comments section. I'll just delete it. Same with bizzaro messages to me. I'm not looking for any sort of hookup, so don't even go there. I DO like interesting stories, antecdotes or even just the mundane little things that make life interesting. So, feel free to look around and say "Hi". Thanks~ K
