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shelleybean

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me


"We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will." -Chuck Palahniuk
Well, at the very least, I am a storyteller and an art lover...especially ceramics!! I have a huge pottery collection, lots of one of a kind jewelry, and a few original paintings. I am particularly drawn to earthy colors and fluid forms that are rich with texture. My collection includes a breadth of artistic translations of my favorite forms, bottles and bowls.
Trite as it will seem, clay epitomizes to me the malleability of the human spirit: twisted, molded, pinched, pressed, shaped, scarred, and smoothed as we are by those who move in and out of our lives. The artist's glazes slide across the surface...coating, pooling, flowing, adding color and texture...much like life's experiences. Then in an amazing dichotomy, tremendous heat, the firing, "freezes" a single moment in time, each piece picking up traces of its environment where it is captured for eternity! Powerful!
There is so much to be said about the strength yet fragility of each piece as it BECOMES something. A vessel that holds something precious, a platter asking to serve, a bottle from which blessings pour forth...functional aesthetics...perfect!



I am a college instructor and sign language interpreter currently working video relay...I feel blessed to be one of the few people in the world who not only loves her job, but loves them BOTH!!!
"Nothing has been taught until it has been learned."
--Author Unknown
I am admittedly self-absorbed, yet forever working on that ugly side of my self with God's help. I will say that my biggest challenge in life is balance. I am eternally curious, but not always about truly important issues. I am good with words, but sometimes supercilious (like in my use of the word "supercilious"...ahem), therefore not great with relationships. I believe in right and wrong. I crave sincerity, and hate lies. I love to laugh...the kind of laughter that takes hold of you when you least expect it. I am disgusted by and fear the evil that exists in this world in the form of prejudice, abuse, denial, and apathy. I am far from perfect, yet have high expectations of myself and others and am, therefore, sometimes over critical. I am never finished learning and grow more and more through every moment I live, and every person I meet. I harbor few regrets about my past because I believe that all I have been through makes me who I am today. I seek to be valued for who I am and strive to let those I love not only feel, but know, my love for them. In that, I have experienced the power of words...and am learning to use them wisely.
"Tis better to be hated for who you are, than loved for who you are not... --Anonymous
Hubby and I have no children, but are permitted to share our home with two very spoiled dogs! If you are touched by romance, follow the link to NIEDERWALD...

My Interests

In no particular order: great conversation, art festivals, shopping (pottery, jewelry, flea markets, eBay, antiques, art, and auctions -- I have expensive taste, much to my hubby's dismay!), American Sign Language (ASL), trees, writing (I am published!), cookies, fabulous leather handbags, reading, changing seasons, working, teaching, eating (ahem...much to MY dismay), games, anything coffee flavored/scented (iced, hot, desserts, candles), live music, and spending time with friends

I'd like to meet:

I'd like to meet other professionals or students in the field of Deafness...education or interpreting. I'm also eager to meet pottery and jewelry artists...especially if they have work for sale! (wink) Truthfully, anyone who can inspire me or make me laugh is worth meeting!Layout Provided By FreeCodeSource.com - Myspace Layouts Just type your comments here!

Music:

Like I said, live music! Some people are surprised that my music of choice is the blues, and I love the Beatles!!! Mix those up with anything acoustic...and I'm happy! Less surprising to those who have known me any length of time is my affinity for 80s alternative music...the rest of you may be surprised! Some current favorites are all the good ol' blues guys, then U2, Nickelback, The Fray, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Jack Johnson, Five for Fighting, Goo Goo Dolls, Saving Jane, Coldplay, Stevie ray Vaughan, Mercy Me, Counting Crows, R.E.M, Foo Fighters, Johnny Lang, Casting Crowns, John Mayer, Joe Bonamassa, The Wallflowers, Maroon 5, The Cure, Depeche Mode...and, and, and...

Movies:

Aarghh! I have to list titles?!! I'll keep it simple and say that I've little patience for just plain dumb. Don't get me wrong...I love to laugh...I just prefer smart humor where the laughter sneaks up on you. I am not into sci-fi, or horror and gore. Honestly, I typically see the good movies long after they've left the box office...thanks Blockbuster!

Television:

Law & Order, Criminal Minds, Rescue Me, Numbers, Ugly Betty, most HBO series, a few sitcom reruns... Though, these days, not much time for TV!

Books:

I mostly read courtroom dramas and mysteries. And even though I don't have children, I really enjoy children's literature. I like to read provocative stories that will move my emotions/spirit, while challenging my thinking. Your suggestions are welcome...

Heroes:


Jesus Christ who died for my sins,Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, strong/loving mothers and fathers, teachers, soldiers, police officers, and firemen... All those who stand strong against injustice are heroes in my eyes.
"Every single person has at least one secret that would break your heart. I think if we could just keep that in mind, there would be a lot more compassion and tolerance in the world."
-UNKNOWN
Just wondering: Is eating one hot dog every 10.9 seconds for 12 minutes, as Joey Chestnut did to win The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on Wednesday, really an athletic achievement?
My admittedly altruistic $0.02: Eating should not be a contest until no child in America and beyond goes hungry.
---Jennifer Engel in the Fort Worth Star Telegram
...be the change you wish to see in the world...
---ghandhi
"Faith" is standing at the edge of a cliff believing that when you take that next step, one of two things will happen: there will be something solid on which you can stand, or, you will be taught how to fly.

My Blog

Remote Access To My Soul

(For Eric: A tongue in cheek tribute to poetry slams when challenged to create something on the spot...)   Disconnected. Yet connected. Thru fibers and webs of time and space Separate, yet join...
Posted by shelleybean on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:19:00 PST

The Art of Not Being Offended

Borrowed from a friend's page: There is an ancient and well-kept secret to happiness which the Great Ones have known for centuries. They rarely talk about it, but they use it all the time, and it is ...
Posted by shelleybean on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 08:06:00 PST

Cuz we all need to laugh...

Wednesday night, we received a frantic msg from Matt's mom on our answering machine, asking us to help her with critter removal...here's the tail (I mean, tale...)   Picture this...  ...
Posted by shelleybean on Sun, 22 Apr 2007 02:54:00 PST

James Lipton Style Interview

All you theatre types and theatre groupie types should fill this out and repost! It's fun! Most of us will never get to meet James Lipton...What is your favorite word? There are too many&I LOVE words!...
Posted by shelleybean on Sun, 07 Jan 2007 10:06:00 PST

REGRETS

re·gret [ri-gret]verb, -gret·ted, -gret·ting, noun verb (used with object) ..> ..> 1. to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.): He no sooner spoke than he regret...
Posted by shelleybean on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 05:47:00 PST

When I Say I am a Christian...

  NOTE: Though this work is often credited to Maya Angelou, that is inaccurate. It is actually a revised version of an original poem by Carol Wimmer...nonetheless, it speaks for me!&nb...
Posted by shelleybean on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 07:38:00 PST

Life's Most Important Lessons

Though I don't have children, I have had the opportunity to work in the fields of education, mental health, medicine, and my current work which brings me intimately close to people's private lives.&nb...
Posted by shelleybean on Sat, 30 Sep 2006 02:30:00 PST

The Messengers: Struggle

We know it's the struggle that strengthens our minds, bodies, and souls. Yet we fight against it, complaining, railing, sapping ourselves of the very energy we need to make it through! Just as someone...
Posted by shelleybean on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 06:34:00 PST

The Messengers: Charity

They call it charity "Help for the needy" But the disparity Lies in how we giveWhat they needOur wisdom saysTheir mouths, we feed With daily bread Yet still they hunger.Their souls, still emptyTheir n...
Posted by shelleybean on Tue, 08 Aug 2006 07:48:00 PST

Loyalty

Seems that life has had a lot to say to me lately about "loyalty," raising more questions than answers: Most of us get the basic concepts of loyalty among friends: honesty, trustworthiness,...
Posted by shelleybean on Thu, 27 Jul 2006 04:35:00 PST