About Me
Let's see...I was born in New England and I miss it very much. Spent a lot of time in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. The best part of living on the east coast is seeing the changing of the seasons...and feeling the changes in the air as well. I also miss lilac trees. There were several growing in the backyard of my childhood home and I loved their scent. I remember some brightly colored fushia flowers growing beneath the pine trees in the yard. I'm not sure what they are called but we always referred to them as Lady's Slippers. I haven't seen any since. These kinds of things make my home in New England special to me. It will always have a place in my heart.
I grew up in a small town...one where my family hung the laundry on a clothesline to dry...one where we shoveled the driveway with actual shovels (my sister and I even had our own child-sized shovels to help) and liked doing the task together. Every fall season my family would rake the leaves in the backyard and my sister and I would make a scarecrow or two with some old clothes. We then would set them up in the lawn chairs. One time my dog believed they were real people and started barking at them. Silly dog.
The roads were small and the streets were lined with huge trees. Plus, all the houses looked different! We didn't even live anywhere near a mall. I loved riding my bike all over the place. In fact, I just loved being outdoors. My mom would practically have to drag me inside to eat lunch. Then I would eat fast and run back outside. In the summertime during the early evening, my sister and my friends would wait for the ice cream truck before turning in for the night.
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Hmmmm...what else? I love Halloween. Maybe it is because the holiday takes place during the Fall (my favorite season, by the way). Or maybe it is because I have always found ghosts and the paranormal interesting and fascinating. Click the word Halloween to learn more...and maybe get a little spooked.
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Autumn in New England ...the colors, the sound of the crunching leaves, the crisp, cool air, the smells...my favorite time of year. I've never seen a prettier Autumn anywhere else. Click Autumn in New England and see more of her beauty for yourself!
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Lake or Ocean? I like both but if I had to make a choice, I'd choose a lake. I've spent many happy days by lakes when I lived back east...Walden Pond and Lake Cochituate, both in Massachusetts and Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. My family had a boat and we would take it out on Lake Cochituate and dock on one of the islands for a picnic. A few times our dog came with us and he really enjoyed the wind in his furry face as we sped all over the lake. It was fun waving to other passing boats. I even got to drive our boat once in a while...as long as there weren't too many other boats in our immediate vicinity.
Walden Pond
On the other hand, the ocean holds many memories as well. I always enjoyed visiting relatives on the coast of Maine. When I was little I even went out with my Great-uncle once on his lobster boat. He was a lobster fisherman by trade.
Ocean View
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I've spent a lot of time doing volunteer work at Carousel Ranch with mentally and physically challenged chldren using horseback riding as therapy. We used vaulting techniques to help the kids strengthen their limbs and minds. Each day I would come home tired and dirty but very happy. Those kids were and are amazing. Every year a show was put on at the equestrian center spotlighting the kids and their horseback riding skills. Aside from the show, there was also a fund-raising event where the kids and their families raised money by getting sponsers for a five-mile walk.
One time we had a group of at-risk kids come to help us out on a Saturday. It was part of an outreach program to help rehabilitate kids who had been arrested for a drug offense. A police officer was with them as well. Those kids just loved helping with the lessons and taking care of the horses. I took two of them with me to show them how to groom and prepare a horse for a lesson. All of them just jumped in with both feet to help and seemed to have a ball. During a break I was sitting with one of the kids and he started telling me about himself and why he had been arrested. He told me it was the third time he was arrested and he felt it was his last chance; that he had to no choice but to make it this time. I remember him telling me that after participating in what he did that day, he thought he might like to work with challenged children as a career. He certainly was good with the kids.
Imagine this...the rocky road that one kid took to discover what he thought he might like to do with his life. I certainly am grateful because as of today, there might just be one more person out there helping a child.
If you wish to learn more, please click the brown Carousel Ranch above. ,
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I also did volunteer work with theWildlife Waystation. This facility takes care of wild and exotic animals that had been abused or hurt or even just abandoned somewhere. Some had been domesticized and, with their trainer/watcher, you could pet them. Some, of course, being wild you couldn't touch. One time when I was taking care of the fox cage, someone walked by with a white wolf on a lease. He let me pet her. She was beautiful and very loving. Being as gentle as she was, she couldn't be re-released into the wild. Tours are held to educate people on wild animals and why they do not make good household pets. Sometimes, I assisted with the tours. During the times when visitors were allowed into the facility I would sometimes be asked to "stand guard" or follow behind the tour line to be sure that people would not stick their fingers in cages. I even spent time stuffing envelopes with flyers asking people for help in saving and caring for the animals.
Click on the brown-colored Wildlife Waystation above to learn more about this facility.
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Nature offers so many gifts to enhance the spirit and lift the heart...the smell of lilacs, honeysuckle, and jasmine; walking barefoot on a beach feeling the water lap around your feet or walking through cool summer grass; the briskness of an autumn breeze; the bright vibrant colors of fall leaves; the sound of the ocean; a star-filled sky; the first snowfall of winter; birds chirping in the morning; so many wonders. Experiencing any of these simple wonders of nature makes me feel so blessed and at peace.
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Things I dream about doing someday......take a hot air balloon ride, fly over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter, go on an Alaskan cruise, bicycle throughout Ireland, visit Ellis Island and have my family's name inscribed on her wall, make a wish and toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain, travel throughout Europe seeking out my roots, locate some old friends from my childhood, explore a haunted European castle (or any other haunted location)...and sing the National Anthem at a AAA baseball game...preferably a Red Sox game (yeah, that last one will happen...lol).
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I've always been interested in film making and all the aspects regarding putting one together. But, it was the costumes that really captured my interest. I had even dreamed once of becoming a costume designer for motion pictures and went to college to study Fine Arts with an emphasis in Costume Designing. I took all kinds of classes where I got actual experience outside the classroom in order to understand the different facets of film making (aside from designing and creating costumes) -- directing, acting, lighting, sound, voice, casting, diction, etc.
But, my path led a different way when I graduated. I had loans to pay, etc. But, I don't regret it because of all the experiences I had and friends that I have made along the way. I have no idea what my life would be like now had I not had those experiences and I really don't want to waste time "looking back." Even though I didn't become a costume designer, I did work in the entertainment field in one way or another and have enjoyed all that I did. In fact, right now, I am currently seeking a new opportunity within the same industry. I've worked for all the major studios with the exception of one -- mostly in the areas of Human Resources or Publicity or Tours (big differences, huh?).
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Psssst...and I LOVE chocolate !! (Click chocolate to drool.)
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And in regards to baseball...
RED SOX RULE!!!!
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Oh, and by the way...
I'm also a ...a Fall sign...and a...
