I was born at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado, right after WWII - dad was career Air Force. Moved to USAF bases in Louisiana, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, & Great Britain. Dad retired in Illinois. Have 2 children (both boys) & 3 grandchildren. Oldest grandaughter just graduated from the Univeristy of Illinois. I graduated from college in Illinois & taught school for 10 years. Then I moved to Missouri & went to work for a defense contractor. After 30 years there I was laid off in May of '08 (fortunately could retire). My younger son & I are General Contractors in the Residential Home Improvement/Remodeling business. So, since we are busy, I'm not really retired. We also "flip" houses & we have a couple of rentals. Lots of Repos in the St. Louis area - so sad - too many layoffs. Lots of big industry here - or should I say "used" to be a lot

Interests:

I like to read mysteries & science fiction & I love to cook. I also garage & estate sale. Have decorated 3 houses in the "eclectic" style. I love to garden & I do all the landscaping for our Home Improvement Company. My brother who lives in Santa Fe, NM is a landscape artist & has given me some VERY interesting ideas. He's into native/natural plants & water features - does all his own sculptures. Their Santa Fe Botanical Garden just did a big "feature" on some of his work. Also, I volunteer at the local Humane Society w/my vet who does a free clinic day each week

Music:

Love MO Town & Classic Rock & Roll

Movies:

Anything with suspense or mysteries

Books:

Lots. Getting ready to read "turtle feet", A Memoir, The Making and Unmaking of a Buddhist Monk, by Nikolai Grozni

Television:

I don't have time to watch TV. If I do have time, I'm on my computer "playing"