I grew weary of the compromises that made up my marriage. Now I love being solitary but never grow tired of finding new friends with common interests. . . . except that my interests are not all that common! I'm in no hurry to fall in love, and I have reason to believe I am not easy to get to know, so I plan to be patient and thoughtful with everyone who contacts me, as long as they are patient and thoughtful with me. I lead a quiet life, but I think it's too quiet and I need to make some changes.

I am sociable, independent, and quiet

I am blessed to have a job I love in a town I love. I work for a studio that makes stained glass windows. When I'm not working, I spend social time dancing, drumming and singing. Strictly amateur stuff -- I just do it for fun! Recently I have taken up target shooting with a handgun, and it is a satisfying hobby, if a little costly. Quiet time is spent doing needlework, reading and correspondence. I do not watch television. Period. However, I love movies! I own a country home, and I do a lot of the maintenance myself. Every year I make a stab at gardening, but I must admit I'm no good at it! Maybe someday I'll find a mentor to show me the right way to do it! I crave travel, but do very little of it because of the cost. Stained glass window-making doesn't pay a whole lot. I have raised a daughter who just got married, so all my spare time and money have recently been spent in wedding preparation. Now it is time for me to make those slow changes I want in my life. Hopefully this is a step in that direction.

I love working with my hands. I like to knit, crochet and spin (not very good at the latter, a wizard at the others!) and I'm a world-class seamstress. I've done well at every craft I have tried, but keep coming back to the needle arts, and stained glass, of course. When I was married, I cooked daily, and was often told I was good at it. But I burned out on it and now that I live alone, I only cook when I feel like it, and always very simple fare. People-wise, I have a gift for perceiving the motives behind most of what people do and say. Something like a BS-o-meter. I can tell when someone is sincere and when they aren't.

My enthusiasm for the activities I pursue. I can't help smiling when I sing, dance, drum, etc.

My current favorite authors are Barbara Kingsolver and Terry Pratchett. I devoured the whole Harry Potter series, as I did the Lord of the Rings 30 years ago. I sample self-help books, but there's so much drivel and so little that's new in that genre that I usually feel frustrated. My Top Ten-or-so Movies list constantly changes with my mood, but appearing regularly on that list are Shawshank Redemption, Color Purple, Contact, In Her Shoes, Secondhand Lions, Heartbreakers, Pride and Prejudice, A LEague of Their Own, Under the Tuscan Sun, Amelie, Princess Bride, Green Mile, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and many more. I love ethnic foods from just about anywhere, but diet restrictions make it tricky to eat. I also love salads, and steak, medium-rare. Music? Here's where I stray wildly from the beaten path! My favorite tracks are traditional dance tunes from eastern Europe. These also happen to be my favorite dances. A group of Bulgarian women called Kitka. Another called Mila. I also listen to recordings of ethnic drumming, mostly African. I sing Sacred Harp, but the recordings I have found never seem as satisfying as the music my informal choir makes.

Dancing. Singing. Drumming. Handwork. Learning. Friends.

I think a lot about spiritual matters. My personal beliefs are in serious flux right now, and I am trying to consolidate things into a personal credo. I have attended a variety of services, but so far nothing resonates. It's all too comfortable. Personally I think we're on our own, to make it or not, and no one really knows what happens after death. The universe is a beautiful, mysterious and somewhat dangerous place and we are feeling our way through. Humanity has a long way to go, and I hope we don't blow ourselves up or poison ourselves before we find our way.

Friday night is English Country Dance night in my town! I usually go, but not always. First Fridays are spent cruising the community-wide "Art Walk" which is like a once-a-month festival of music, food, art and shopping. Always fun. Art Walk night is also African Drumming night, so I finish out the evening drumming to exhaustion.

I seem to live my life on the fringes of everyone else's life, and I don't understand why. Sounds depressing, but really I love my life. It's just a little lonely. But I love living alone. Go figure.

If you want to ask about anything here.
If you want to share your thoughts about anything.
If you will not try to "save" me.
If you want to teach me to grow things.
If you want me to teach you to dance.
If any of this makes sense!