Some of my earliest musical memories are of me dancing to the music my dad was listening to in the living room while he did paperwork. He listened to a lot of classical music, Sousa marches, ragtime piano, instrumental jazz. One of my favorite dancing-records was Eugene Ormandy directing some orchestra playing Russian music-pieces by Tchaikovsky, Khatchaturian, Shoshtakovich, Rimsky-Korskov and the like. My parents also exposed my 2 younger brothers and myself to live-music concerts. We grew up in Maine, so I actually got to go to Boston and hear the Boston Pops directed by not only the famous Arthur Fiedler, but John Williams as well! I remember seeing the Navy Band when it performed nearby, and since my dad sang in the church choir and was a member of the local theatre guild who put out a musical each year, I was exposed to a lot of music up close and personal. It was at church that I first decided I wanted to take piano lessons. I was 6 and I liked to sit close to the organist so I could watch her play. When my parents inquired, I was told I would have to wait 2 years because she didn’t teach students younger than age 8! I was crushed, but the day I turned 8 I had my parents sign me up for piano lessons. Four years later I started accompanying the Middle School and High School choirs and you can read the rest of my history at the FAQ link!
Some non-musical background. I grew up in the state of Maine where I lived until I moved to Kalamazoo to go to Western Michigan University. I am a huge animal lover and animal-rights advocate so all of my past and present pets were strays that I rescued. Currently we have two male tiger/tabby cats we rescued: Figaro (8), who insists on sitting in on all the lessons; and the newest addition is Felix (1), who has overcome his role as the original "scaredy-cat," and now delights in sitting on the laps of anyone who sits in on lessons!
I am also an advocate for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. I would like to start CASA training as a volunteer child advocate for the court systems. I firmly believe that more resources need to be directed into programs for our youth, and that if those programs help kids when they are young, a lot of the problems they get into as adults will be drastically reduced.
Daughter Morgan was born three months early in 2000. She has more than made up for her very tiny stature at birth! She will be entering Second Grade this Fall and enjoys dancing, music, horses and playing with buddies.
In my free time I enjoy doing little home-improvement projects; I am a voracious reader; and I enjoy swimming in the summer and skating and skiing in the winter. I have included links to some of my favorite websites and also links to some of the causes that I believe in and support. For my fellow readers, I also have a link that has a list of my all-time favorite books. Enjoy!
by Mitch Albom - A feel good book about life after death.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood - Futuristic possibility, good movie, too.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood - A possible future written from headlines of today. I loved this book!
Clan of the Cave Bear Series by Jean Auel - Gripping saga from the neanderthal times. I have read the books in the series so many times the pages are dog-eared.
Mists of Avalon by Marian Zimmer Bradley - Aurthurian Legend told through the eyes of Morgan Le Fay, whom I named our daughter after.
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - Predecessor to The Davinci Code.
The Davinci Code by Dan Brown - Fast-paced and controversial; it’s just a STORY.
Timeline by Michael Crichton - The dangers, and excitement, of time-travel; the movie didn’t do it justice.
Too Deep for Tears by Kathryn Lynn Davis - My favorite historical romance of all time!
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - Excellent story from the pages of the Bible.
Esau by Philip Kerr - What if there really is an "Abominable Snowman?"
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - A Must Read, ‘Nuf Said.
It by Stephen King - Each time I finish this book, I miss the characters.
The Stand by Stephen King - Great book, decent mini-series.
The Harlot on the Side of the Road by Jonathon Kirsch - Forbidden Tales from the Bible. Who wouldn’t want to read something forbidden?!
Watchers by Dean Koontz - Government project gone horribly wrong.
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - Do you remember reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? The rest of the books in this series are equally outstanding.
The Elegant Gathering of White Snows by Kris Radish - Every woman should read this!
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling - What can I say? Isn’t everybody a Harry Potter fan?
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz - A wonderful way of looking at life.
Bless the Child by Cathy Cash Spellman - This book has the best of everything: suspense, romance, history, past lives, the occult, drama. Probably my very favorite book.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls- This book is an amazing testament to the resiliency of childhood. This is my must read book for 2007.
