About Me

These are currently the most important things you should know about me:

1. My husband, Daniel, is my great gift from the universe, and our marriage is my most precious treasure.  I love that he makes me laugh from deep in my belly, and I love that this usually happens when we’re supposed to be asleep late at night. I am grateful for the way we complement each other because our strengths make up for the other’s weaknesses. My husband is the most loyal and loving person I have ever met, and having him always at my side encourages me that I can do anything.
2. My dog, Moose, is a kindred spirit to me. He understands me on levels most humans are incapable of, and I am grateful for his companionship. That he is the best dog on the planet is undeniable to everyone who meets him. He likes cats and cuddling, and if you pet him once, he will be your friend for life. 
3. I have a college degree. I’m the first (and only) one in my family to have one. It took four years to earn and five years of working outside of my field before I landed a job that actually puts my BA in Math & English to use.  I did a year of graduate study at seminary, but I did not graduate. I don’t know that I’ll ever return for graduate study, but if I do, it will likely be in something interdisciplinary in the following fields: Comparative Religion, Linguistics, Literature, Theoretical Physics, Cosmology, or Social Work & Counseling. If I ever nail my interests down, and if I become convinced that getting the piece of paper means something, I may do it. As long as there are people with graduate degrees slinging drinks at Starbucks, I’m holding out for a clear direction and better times.
4. I go to a United Church of Christ. I love that they are open and affirming (meaning they welcome LGBTQIA with lots of love and acceptance!). I love that they have welcomed me into their fold even though I’m Agnostic (on good days), Atheist (on bad days), and Buddhist (to get me through every day). If you’re in Knoxville and want to be part of a Christian spiritual community that welcomes and challenges you, check out Church of the Savior.
5. Politically, I think our government can do amazing things, but I don’t trust anyone who caters to the wishes of people with money (i.e., lobbyists, bankers, and corporations) as opposed to taxpaying constituents. That being said, I don’t trust anyone in government at this stage, and I think if something does not change fundamentally and radically, we will spend the rest of my lifetime in war and environmental & economic instability.
6. Random things I enjoy: Doctor Who, Music, learning languages for fun, hearing leaves crunch, practicing yoga, learning how to live peacefully, the smell of the cinnamon brooms at Kroger, being a grammar nazi, Argyle socks, reading, solitude, and candy
7. People who inspire me: Isaac Newton, MC Escher, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Ken Wilber, Dr. Ruth McDowell Lavender, Dr. Jill LeRoy Frazier, Marvin Glover, Rosemarie Shields, Brittney Love, Cora Bellamy Lowery, Gandhi, Thich Nhat Hanh, Martin Luther King, Jr., Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Mark Rothko, Benny Goodman, Patricia Rhoton, Joe Wilson, and James Owens.
8. Things I’d like to learn/accomplish: How to use the sewing machine I own; how to grow things; how to can the things I grow; decorating/furnishing my apartment; how to dress stylishly for my body type; running a ten-minute mile; and completing a half-marathon.
9. I grew up in poverty: material poverty, social poverty, and familial poverty. This has shaped my life in both terrifying and terrific ways. I have only climbed above the U.S. socio-economic poverty line in the last five years, which means I can now actually afford to pay for the debt I accumulated while I was under it. I’m still learning how to overcome the social poverty, and I’m becoming better at it with every small triumph over social awkwardness. I’m resigned to accepting my dose of familial poverty, and I know it makes me more grateful for the “family” I have acquired throughout my life.
10. I live with depression and anxiety. I’m sure a lot of this is directly related to #9. Life with these afflictions does not mean I’m unstable, undependable, or incapable of facing adversity. I’m not always depressed or anxious; and I have acquired a nifty bag of tricks that helps me cope with life.  Some people carry an epi-pen to deal with random peanut allergies; I run, do yoga, meditate, volunteer, and write to deal with my personality “allergies”. (If you struggle with this too, please visit Bring Change 2 Mind to learn some valuable tips and be part of a community working to erase the stigma of mental illness in our current culture!)