Happy is still a novelty that I am trying to understand. It had been a very, very long time since I had known what happy meant, so now, I am tending to revel in it... Life lately has been all about transition.

I am moving from the working world into the student world. Homework is a novelty still, but time consuming. Even though I have taught for a long time, I am trying to prove to the state that I know what I am doing.

I have been described as compassionate, tender-hearted, genuine sort of person by others. Those friends are few and flung across the entire country (hey, look alliteration!) But those that are considered friends are friends for life…

I like TV shows, but rarely have the time to watch it, though I do try to catch Mad Men, Project Runway (hey, I am a former costume designer!), and Big Bang Theory. I am a member of the Art Institute and the Milwaukee Museum of Art - so yes, art is something I love. Yoga and bellydancing are two things I would like to find in my life again...but, who knows...

Balance is what I am striving for lately. Between self, homework, and my relationship with the world. Sometimes I find it, sometimes I don't.

Getting through the homework. All the homework. Was this grad school thing a good idea?

Oy.

I am very much looking forward to getting back into yoga and found a belly dancing studio nearby too.

Old Town School of Folk music reminded me how much I love to sing. I really need to do that more often. Anyone know of a good voice teacher?

Teaching folks - adults and kids.

Either my eyes or my smile.

Oh and if you haven't figured it out, I am a larger woman. People use the term BBW (big beautiful woman), but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I would try one of these words instead to describe me -Fat, fluffy, voluptuous, zaftig, overweight, plump, curvy, lush, ample, robust, buxom, sturdy, abundant, chubby, bountiful, large, full-figured. Much more realistic in description, don't you think?

I read everything that is put in front of me. Boxtops and billboards included. Right now, it consists of a lot of educational textbooks. However, there is no way that I can ever stop reading for pleasure.

Movies - Amadeus, Eternal Sunshine, Garden State, Up,Lost in Translation, The Dark Crystal, V for Vendetta, Red Violin,any James Bond flick, Sin City, Closer. It really is a mix, except for horror. My imagination won't let me do that.

Music - Same as movies; except I don't tend to deal well with harsh rap. Pandora has the Ditty Bops, Honey, Honey, Cole Porter, Mediaeval Baebes, Over the Rhine, They Might Be Giants, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Mozart, Cowboy Mouth, and Mika to name a few. I'm incredibly lucky to be able to see opera four times a year at the Lyric Opera. I'm a little bit all over the place with music, I guess.

Food - Lately, it's been a lot of cheese.

Family - related to by blood and otherwise

Music - all kinds to fit all moods

Books - my weakness

My glasses - I like seeing the world clearly

A mode of transportation quicker than my feet - particularly now as I am healing from not one, but TWO knee surgeries and it hurts!

And....and....um, something else?

Such random things. I can do without a lot. But when I loose those things mentioned above, I seem to loose my moorings.

Why people are so harsh with one another.

Education and how I can take the concepts that I am learning presently and incorporate them into the classes I already teach.

Not very typical anything. Might be doing homework, preparing for a class, reading a book, taking a drive, out for a cup of coffee.

I am still trying to find people to explore this world with on a more regular basis.

I have an iPod. I have no idea how to use it.

You choose to. I will write back.

Oh by the by, if my mind is not interested, the rest of me won't be interested either.