Hello:
I am a high school teacher.

That in itself should speak volumes. I have often said "I teach high school so that you don't have to." I must admit this isn't the easiest or most lucrative job in the world. People don't stay in education for the perq's. And please, spare me the "but you get summers off" comments. Anyone who has ever taught anything in an educational setting knows that summers are when we get to do the normal things, like have dental work done, or sleep, or paint our houses, that other people do the rest of the year. Teaching, when it's done right, is exhausting. If you go home at the end of the day feeling like you can run a marathon, then I am pretty sure you aren't doing everything needed to pass on knowledge.

I am married. In fact, I have been married to the same man for over 25 years. I am sure that in some circles that qualifies us a social freaks. We don't cheat, we don't run around, we don't play golf and we don't join stuff. It's not that we are anti-social, it's just that the politics of belonging is far more stressful than remaining on the edge of activity. If I can manage to make money through writing, my husband would be happy. He has made sidelong comments about my frequent blogging and this would placate his fears that I will end up in a web of political nonsense via my other blogsites.

I am a MOM. And a pretty successful one, in that none of my kids has a drug problem, none of them have been arrested, they are all in college and they all have jobs and pay their own bills, by and large. How many parents can make that claim? My kids are great people and they make me laugh. My daughter is a gifted dancer/choreographer who will graduate in May. My oldest son is a history buff who wants to coach soccer. (I have told him that teaching is a genetic flaw and apologized to him.) And my youngest,who will probably wind up a millionaire at some point, seems to be headed for a job in some sort of sales or promotion. He's running a Tee shirt business now, but has his fingers in a variety of indie band pies.

I am fairly conservative. I don't say this to put you off, but as a warning that I don't accept everything that is thrown at the public as gospel truth. I research quite a bit. And I understand far more than most folks expect. I am not unreasonable and I have my own particular points that I will support or oppose, but then, isn't that what free speech is about? I am a "Boomerette" which means I am a "fifty-something" sort of person. But since fifty is the new thirty, that makes me a mere tot, doesn't it?

My passion is ...

the arts, especially art history and anthropology

I know too much about ...

art history and pieces of nonsense that get stuck in my head

My parents always told me ...

look before you leap and wear clean underwear.

My childhood ambition ...

to be a famous artist

My favorite memory ...

having my first child.

Why I write ...

because I always have and always wanted to.

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

"A History of Art in America"

My first job ...

making Donuts at Southern Maid Donuts

My best moment ...

is yet to come

My inspiration ...

my family

Pets & Animals > Pet Ownership Tips for including your pets in your disaster preparedness plans

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Pets have become more than just necessary assistants to control rats and herd sheep, pets have become members of the family. Some of the traumatic scenes from the evacuation of the Gulf Area after Katrina, involved the immense sadness and concern that people experienced by having to abandon pets. While it is understandable that emergency facilities cannot and should not compromise human life and welfare to shelter animals, it is still a very disturbing image for animal lovers everywhere.

First of all, why you should plan ahead. Whether you live in an area prone to hurricanes, earthquake...

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