Work, work, work! How I wish I was independently wealthy, or had a money tree in the backyard... I do like my job, I just want to sleep in when I want to, shop when I want to, clean my house when I want to, visit when I want to, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera... How King and I of me!

I'm traveling to Alexandria, VA, next week to visit 4 of my key accounts. I called a couple of other accounts, to fill in some free hours, but they're traveling as well, so that didn't work... I've put together my sales kits and Jack will pick me (and them!) up this afternoon so I don't have to schlep them across town...

We're supposed to go to the lake tomorrow morning, but it's supposed to rain heavily all weekend; if we wait to go tomorrow, the wood will be soaked. So we changed our plans to go tonight - the rain is starting tonight. So now, who knows when/if we'll go. I have plenty to do around the house, so if we don't go this weekend, that would be okay. PLUS I have some shopping to do - the holidays are upon us, and I need some clothes as well.

I'm so happy I'm at 23 pounds and losing; I can really see it and feel it now. Now, if I could only get off my butt and exercise, too --- I just really have no desire to do it...

I guess I'll start my life story now... I was born to Mom and Dad in 1960. Mom's Polish, born and bred, and Dad's American, of Dutch, English and American Indian descent (Lenni Lenape, I believe). Mom and Dad were of the old school - I was raised to be polite and respectful, and I'm happy about it! We didn't have much money - what we had went to food, shelter and education for the three of us. P was born in 1965 and C in 1966. We all went to St. Thomas the Apostle School (grades 1-8) and to Paul VI Regional High School in Clifton when it was time for high school.

I skipped my senior year in high school to early admit into the Freshman Honors Program at the University of Delaware. We were housed on a satellite campus (Wesley College) my first year, then we moved on to the main campus in Newark, DE. And the stories begin...

I don't know who really cares, but here it is - my boring little piece of the world!

I'm 45, married (we're still as happy as newlyweds after 7-1/2 years of marriage, and 16 years together), with two step-children, 3 nieces, 2 nephews, a nephew-by-marriage, and two little second cousins who are my niece and nephew at heart (their dad is my first cousin but we were raised closely enough that he might as well be my brother!).

If you know me, you know I love to read. I surround myself with books. I always have at least two or three going at once. I carry at least one with me at all times and nothing makes me happier and calmer than a good book. I'd rather read than watch TV. I'd rather read, actually, than do almost anything else at all! I love romances, contemporary ones if I have my choice, but I also enjoy general fiction. I've been known to read a political book or two, when it slants my way (to the right), and non-fiction when the subject piques my interest. Some of my favorite authors are Jodi Picault, Tami Hoag, J.K. Rowling, Ayn Rand, Dean Koontz, Nicholas Sparks, Mitch Albom - yes, they're pretty much all over the map!

I've never considered myself very artistic but I've found a recent talent for scrapbooking. I also never considered myself to be an addictive personality type, but let me tell you - scrapbooking is addictive for me! I think it's because I like the pages I create, I tend to want to do it more and more. I never realized the push to create could be so strong.

I've always wanted to write - I used to swear that I had so many stories to tell - but I don't think I have it in me. I'm too self-critical. I tried once, tried to write a romance. I've read so many of them that, well, how hard could it be, right? WRONG! I came up with a story set in Alaska (my dream vacation), with a hero based on my teenage perception of who Mr. Right would be (not even close to my Mr. Right!), a heroine who was loosely based on Laurie Partridge in looks (yes, "The Partridge Family" was a big part of my preteen life!), and several pages into my first draft, what did I discover? The book had been written before - by another author, with more talent and imagination than I had.

Now I know that "art is based on life" and "there's nothing new under the sun" and I even know that Harlequin has an actual format for writing a romance novel, but I wanted it to be original, fun to read, good, darn it! And it sucked! So I tore it up!

I'm sort of insecure and secure in myself at the same time. I mean, deep down inside, who's really all that secure? But I know I'm loved, I know I'm a good person, I know I put others first, I know I'm not stupid - but deep down inside, in my heart of hearts, I'm that little girl who was a bookworm, without a lot of friends (but certainly I had a few!), who always wanted to be bigger and better than she was. Today I'm a wife, mother, daughter, sister. I have a job in a field I love (publishing - although who'd have thought I would be in sales?!?! But that's another story for another time!), and I'm doing okay at it. I have friends. I'm happy.

And now, now I have a blog. I have blogs on other websites, but I think I'm going to delete them and move that stuff over here, to one site, where I can put a little piece of me out there for you.

I'd love to meet you - write back!

More at a later time...