I don't want to live forever---only until Mt St. Helen's is restored to its former glory!!! Be the change you hope to see in the world !! Battle Ground High School (Diploma) Western Washington University (Bachelor of Education) Portland State University (Master's of Education) I've worked in education since 1966 and I've subbed in the Vancouver and Evergreen School Districts since 1971. I totally retired in 2011. A big love is my beautiful yard where I spend some of the best times of my life. My "bucket" list includes having Home and Garden magazine take (and publish) photographs !! Another "bucket list" goal is winning a photography contest. I haven't done so yet but remain ever hopeful !! My youngest daughter, Meredith, has twins born on May 26, 2011--Jackson and Morgan. She's retired after 5 years of teaching gifted and talented 3rd grade students. Oldest daughter, Beth, an AMR paramedic, encouraged me to start working out. "Mom there are lots of people older than you!" I found just how much I enjoyed doing so. I've come late to the Nautilus machines but have been "at it" for over 6 months and am starting to see results-- in upper body strength. We fast walk up Mt Tabor in Portland. Mt Tabor is a dormant volcano with beautiful old growth evergreens as well as huge oak and maple trees. The views are stupendous ! I've traveled to London, Paris, Caribbean, Britain, Hawaii, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bali, Jakarta, Lombok, Bandung, Taiwan, Macau, Bangkok, Alaska. A favorite drive is along the Monterey, CA coastline. A second favorite drive is along Cook Inlet from Anchorage to Seward, Alaska. Fairbanks to Valdez is lovely as well. And, yes, we've run into bedbugs in Bali as well as Bandung, Indonesia. Our hotel in Bali was the same one where President George H W Bush stayed so these were not "cheap seats". But with due diligence I've managed to come home minus the little critters. However, I now use flashlights to thoroughly check each and every new hotel room---including in the states !! In one nameless hotel in Bandung I found bedbugs before we even unpacked--of course this is the best time to find them !! The front desk was horrified to find that I'd hand carried 8 of the little critters to them on a business card. Our room was quickly upgraded to the "tower suite" which had been recently constructed and was critter free !! And, by the way, they're black, but are red if they've recently "dined". Another hobby, besides working out, horticulture, and traveling is "playing" the stock market. It's been great fun--mostly!! I managed to liquidate my holdings before the great recession in January of '08 and feel lucky (and informed) to have done so. From everything that I could see at that time nothing looked "good". Now I'm back in (slowly) with a well-rounded portfolio. I've been lucky and am in for the "long haul". Booyah !! Jim Cramer !!! I "hang" in Craig's List health, legal, and garden forums and write under the "handle"----well you'll just have to guess !! Whether you think you can--or can't---you're right !!
