: About Me

My writing career began many years ago in high school. I entered a short story writing contest for the local newspaper and placed third. Completing my thesis in graduate school gave me confidence in my abilities to thoroughly research a topic, ferret out the most important information, and pull together a collection of researched facts resulting in a cogent and organized written product.

I have been published more than once in a professional journal and also in a newsletter with a circulation of 15,000+ in a mid-western state. I have written several reports and manuals for various job roles in former professional positions. More recently, I composed newsletters and grants for a state university. The research aspect of writing articles on a wide range of topics for Helium is very appealing to me.

My passion is ...

Researching anything and everything.

I know too much about ...

Angst.

My parents always told me ...

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

My childhood ambition ...

To be a teacher.

My favorite memory ...

When my son was about 4 or 5 years old, he often worked out in the garden with me. He loved pulling off the tender, green tips of the green onions and munching on them. Sometimes, he played in the garden alone. He would pick a flower and bring it in, proudly presenting it to me. When I would lean down to take the flower, he usually gave me a kiss. I could smell green onions on his breath. This is my sweetest memory ever.

Why I write ...

It's a personal challenge to create an interesting read.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Reading Slaying the Dragon: the History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America by William L. White and Tokyo by Lonely Planet. Watching Court TV, 48 Hours Mystery, and most movies. Listening to Andrea Bocelli and the Beatles.

My first job ...

Babysitting at age 14.

My best moment ...

My son's birth and meeting my husband, Bill.

My inspiration ...

Family, reading, surfing the internet, traveling, and nature.

Personal Finance > Smart Spending How to fight high energy bills in the summer

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When summer comes around, and it will come around again, how are you going to keep from breaking into the savings account to pay the energy bills? The cost of energy is only getting higher. According to the Energy Information Administration, the cost of natural gas per thousand cubic feet will increase by 5.7% this winter in the U.S. And the average home used 920 kilowatt hours of electricity monthly, with appliances usurping nearly 65% of the home's energy. Here are some tips to fight high energy bills this summer: 1-Energy efficient water heaters are a must. Think about how much you use ...

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Writing:

• 1Writing Contest Winner
• Therapist/Counselor
• Marketplace Premier Writer
• Marketplace Approved Writer
• 11Marketplace Articles Sold
• Helium Charter Member