If you could choose any place in the world to live, where would it be?

Honestly, I think I would choose to live right where I currently live. A small town in Oregon of 1700 people, twenty miles away from a town with a population of 28,000 people. There are hills and mountains of green surrounding me. I live 30 minutes from the ocean, which would probably be my second choice of places to live, so this gives my town an extra bonus. Everyone out here has a country mentality with mostly conservative values. We have our own small town fun and everyone knows everyone else. It is a great place to raise kids.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was little I wanted to be a dancer. I had been dancing since I was 3 years old and was very ambitious and competitive. I always wanted to be on "Solid Gold". Though I never thought of it as something to be when I grew up, I wanted to be a mom and stay at home with my kids. My mom stayed at home with us and so that is moms do. As I got a little older I wanted to do something that helped people and that I could be the boss of though didn't know quite what that would be.

Your occupation now?

Now, I am an office coordinator at a child abuse assessment center. We are basically a doctor's office that medically examined kids who are being referred to us by law enforcement or child protective services because of allegations of sexual or physical abuse. The examination lots of times includes a videotaped interview. I am the hub of the small non-profit. I know everything that goes on and am the one who keeps the day functioning.

What are some of your interests and hobbies?

I spent so many years having no real hobbies. I spent my time parenting and reading books on parenting, being married and reading books on marriage. So, looking back I guess my big hobby was psychology? education? analyzing? If you call those hobbies than I definately still have all of them. But now I have acquired some more.......SKYDIVING, shooting my pistol, taking and analyzing personality tests.

What would you say are your character strengths?

I am ambitious, resourceful, logical, analytical, dependant, loyal, committed, strong hearted, optimistic, introspective, moral, genuine, problem solving, relentless, pragmatic, honest and efficient.

Weaknesses?

Since I don't view personality traits that way, I have no answer. I believe that if you think your have a weakness you should do something about it and that you should proudly own the traits that work for you. So, with that said, at the moment I have no weaknesses that I am in the process of changing.

Do you have any quirks you think are strange or amusing?

I can touch my tongue to my nose. Other than that, others would say that my OCD behaviors make me a strange bird.

Who is/was the most influential person/role model in your life?

Because of how I look at people and life, I don't have a most or least. I have a first, second, third, etc. But I think everyone can influence your life if you look for the lesson in every situation. And to choose one of those people/situations to be the most important????? I think they all build off of the previous one. The first person to have a huge influence in my life was my grandmy who told me that I was special and would turn heads when I walked into a room, that I command attention and should use that wisely. The second, was my friend Pagey who helped me to introspect and find out who I was. The third, was my ex-husband, who gave me the life situations I needed to be challenged and to also find myself. The latest most influential person is my fiance. He is helping me to bloom. All that I have gone through before now has a wonderful purpose.

What are your achievements/accomplishments that you are the most proud of?

The accomplishment I am most proud of would be that I grew up and did not become like my father was to me when I was growing up. That was my first goal ever and I have acheived it. My father was a mean man who doesn't know why he does what he does, just that he wants it. He was a tyrannical and selfish perfectionist. I have made sure that the inside of me, the part of me that makes the decisions, has the intent, and is the answer to why is knowledgeable and aware. I cannot become like him.

Are you currently single, involved, or married?

I am currently involved and will be getting married.....set for February 29, 2004 at sunset on the beach (west coast).

What qualities do you find the most attractive in other people?

Genuineness, honesty, morality, integrity and spice.

What is one thing you would change about the world?

I can't imagine that changing one thing would make any huge difference. I also can't imagine the world being any different. I believe there is a need for pain, suffering, oppression and every other thing that I would imagine people would change. I wouldn't change those things. There is nothing to change.

What is your favorite food?

Steamed crab for dinner with real New York style cheesecake for desert.

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose?

My father, who is currently alive and at home with my mother, when he was a little boy.

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you do with the money?

Tell my boss I am going on an extended vacation. Buy a bigger house on some acreage in this town that I live in. Set up accounts for my immediate family, buy other houses for different seasons/moods, travel around the world, start some kind of business or two or three (have lots of ideas - with no money to do them with).

Do you consider yourself a spiritual person?

I consider myself a religious person. I think the word spiritual has become a word that anyone can use to mean they believe in something whether that is the grass god or themselves as god? That isn't good enough. I am one of those black and white thinkers who believes there is a right and a wrong.

Is there any particular historical era that you feel drawn to?

Not really. I like the one I am in. Would be interesting to visit others but not to stay there permanently.

What are your favorite books and authors?

I don't read books the way others read books, so I don't have favorite books and authors.

What are your favorite movies?

The Godfather I, II, & III, Hunt for Red October, The Messenger, Star Wars (all), The Matrix I & II, X-Men I & II..........that is all I can think of at the moment.

What is your most prized possession?

I am not really tied to possessions. If I think of my house burning down I would try to save photographs. But the first thing that came to mind that is something that would devistate me to lose would be my engagement/wedding ring(s). They mean alot to me, very personal, very emotionally tied to me and my fiance, irreplaceable.

What is your favorite color?

Green overall, though I love yellow houses.

What are your favorite television shows?

Currently....Scrubs, Will & Grace, Friends, and ER

What are some of your pet peeves?

Bad customer service, stupid drivers, dirty kitchens, inefficiency, unconscious living.

What are some of the issues that you are passionate about?

Pro-Life, 2nd Amendment, sex offenders getting what they deserve, affirmative action - against it, and liberalism - against it, too.

Do you have any tattoos or piercings?

I have three tatoos. A daisy with a fancy design around my left wrist, a daisy with ivy stem around my right ankle, and a lily with fire coming out from the middle on my left inner breast. I intend to get more in other secretive places. I love them.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish before you die?

Be close to my family, have my children and grandchildren want to be a part of my life into my old age, die in my home with my husband by my side.

What is something you've always wanted to do/try but haven't yet?

A year ago I would have had three answers right off the bat, but I did them all within the last year. Now? I haven't made a list of things to replace them with.

Where do you see yourself ten years (what are your goals)?

Having my Master's Degree, having more children with my future husband, having a larger house on more acreage, driving a Ford Excursion, running a non-profit organization.

What is your favorite quote?

"It is better to be judged by 12 than carried by six" - don't know who said it.