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Charlene

Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim. -- Nora Ephron

About Me

Hello everyone. My name is Charlene and I bake. I've recently gone back to school to get a culinary degree so that I can finally open that little bakeshop that I've always wanted. I've always focused on being a mom, but my daughter's grown now so I'm taking a chance on me. I work hard, laugh harder, and am fiercely independent. I've been told more than once that where men are concerned if I seemed more needy (less intimidating), I might have a man in my life. But the basic truth is that, while I really do want a man in my life, I don't need one to take care of me. I'm smart, sarcastic, inquisitive, and sentimental. I love and respect my family and friends and I'm humble enough realize that I've only kept my sanity through the tough times because of their support. I've lived in the great state of North Carolina for most of my life. We have mountains, beaches, and beautiful countryside in between. Raleigh has enough music, arts, sports, and culture to keep you entertained, but it also has enough small town charm to make it feel like home. I guess that's enough for now. Thanks for letting me ramble. Hope to speak with you soon.This profile was created using Profile edited with CricketSoda's Myspace Editor

My Interests

I knit, garden, repurpose furniture, write, sew, make jewelry, and bake old fashioned cakes better than you can buy at any bakery. I love photography, especially black and white (it really makes you look at the subject instead of all the pretty colors), and can work wonders with PhotoShop. I was blessed with the ability to do all things crafty, but don’t expect me to make hand cut doilies or jello molds, I’m no Martha Stewart, just very creative and good with my hands.

I'd like to meet:

Anyone who can hold my interest, deal with my hectic full-time school schedule, part-time work schedule, and is secure enough to let me have my alone space sometime.

Music:

I listen to everything from Billy Holiday to Johnny Cash, My Chemical Romance (great for cleaning house) to Chris Isaak (try the Baja Sessions on a lazy Sunday afternoon). I like Harry Nilsson, Ben Harper (if you’ve never heard his collaboration with The Blind Boys of Alabama you are missing out), Leela James, Amos Lee, Marvin Gaye (but who doesn’t love Marvin Gaye), Van Morrison, Kasey Chambers, & the Monkeys (my guilty pleasure).

Movies:

I love movies that make you laugh, cry, think, or move. Movies that take you outside of the narrow world you live in everyday and experience something different. My collection runs the gamut from sweet old fashioned romance (Sleepless in Seattle) to westerns (Tombstone), adventure movies (The Professional) to art house films (Secretary), classics (Roman Holiday) to the supernatural (Stigmata). Basically, I love movies.

Television:

Some days I want to watch a show that makes me think and other days it needs to be a guilty pleasure with no obvious merit. Good Eats w/Alton Brown (cooking and science in one show!), Grey’s Anatomy, Coupling (BBC), Criminal Intent, the Discovery Channel, Desperate Housewives, Monk, Extreme Home Makeover, and anything showing how monster structures were built (the airport on a man made island off of Japan was the best).

Books:

I collect really old or unusual cookbooks (the kind that might tell you to place the cake on an asbestos mat to cool) and funky odd “how to” books (my newest is “Hospitality Under the Influence” by Amy Sedaris). When it comes to novels I like the classics or new books written in a classic style or feel good writers who write about people who could easily be your neighbor and place their stories in towns you feel familiar with.

Heroes:

My Grandmother.