 | Welcome | Jun 4, 2006 |
I like to write, play with my pets, read, and watch decorating shows on TV. I am Secretary of our neighborhood association (Tillicum Centennial is Aug 2010, on the finance committee for that), Treasurer of county Citizen Corps Council. I am very involved with disaster planning on the city and county level (emergency sheltering with pets during flood season). I have taken many FEMA classes and have a HAM radio license. I judge for rat shows (all over the northwest) and rescue pet rats. I am a Vietnam-era Army veteran with a service-connected disability, my husband is disabled with Friedreich's Ataxia (support MDA for a cure!), and my youngest son is a teenager (my older son is over 30). As a kid growing up in Texas, I had the run of about 1,000 acres (original homestead of Great grandparents). I rounded up cattle on a quarter horse, rescued injured animals, played army and went hunting for supper. I studied Fortran programming and data processing in high school, back when computers were very big. Got a scholarship to Trinity Univ in San Antonio where I majored in Math, minored in Computer Science. Dropped out of college to go to work since my first husband couldn't or wouldn't keep a job. I worked in the computer and accounting fields mostly (including my time in the Army). Spent a few years in Dallas working for some oil companies as a geophysical drafter, making maps and interpreting seismic data (Until the industry crashed in early 80s). Moved to Arizona and became a bi-lingual private-duty nurse (certified nursing assistant, CNA) after training and working in a nursing home. I also worked as a cook for a wealthy couple while in AZ. Went to University of AZ and majored in Linguistics, minored in Oriental Studies while working for the AZ Geological Survey. Took some graduate level classes in TESL (teaching English as a second language). Also met my current husband there (trip to Vegas to get married in 1989). I took calculus in high school, and everytime I enrolled in a university, took it again (revs up your brain so it functions better). I have tutored math thru calculus (jr high thru college). As a volunteer, I have taught, tutored, and developed teaching plans for foreign students needing to learn English. I have studied Spanish, German, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese. My last paying jobs were Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, and Executive Secretary/Accountant. I also had a half-time job for 6 months (2000 - 2001) at LESA (Law Enforcement Support Agency) mostly doing data entry. I was a full-time caregiver for my husband for over 10 years, until my physical health declined and I couldn't do it anymore. We live in Washington near Olympia. I homeschooled my son from 4th thru 6th grades. He is now in high school, class of 2012. I also collect 1/6th scale dolls and action figures. I play with them, sew clothes for them, build rooms/diorama boxes, and do photo stories (internet soap operas or shows using dolls and their props). I am into genealogy, tracing our families ancestors and putting things together in heritage books (scrapbooks with family history). I am a huge Sci-Fi fan (books, movies, TV). I love Stargate SG-1 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (especially Spike), and was a "Trekkie" in the 70s & 80s. I have read tons of sci-fi books, now I mostly read mysteries. I like to read forensic mysteries and love all the CSI TV shows. I also watch Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, Dr. Who, and lots of other shows. We also have a dog, cats, rats, 2 ferrets, and 1 mouse. A neighbor sometimes brings his horses over to eat the grass in the back yard.   | Karen's Photos | |
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 | Video | Oct 12, 2007 |
 Funniest Video I have seen in a long time. Thanks Bob. |  | Notes | |
| |  | Reviews | Feb 20, 2010 |
Fantastic story idea. They put most of their money into the special effects and almost lost the story line. It is more horror than sci-fi they way they filmed it. Could have been so much more with less emphasis on special effects. About 1/3 to 1/2... more | Blog | Dec 26, 2010 |
A few weeks ago I spent two days at a Green Cross workshop. One day was for "Compassion Fatigue Educator" ; the other day was "Compassion Fatigue Therapist". Compassion Fatigue is similar to Caregiver Stress, but more intense. ... more | Music | Jun 27, 2006 |
I like many different types of music. My playlist includes Japanese bands, listen on MySpace.com. | Guestbook | |
| "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace... for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." -–Melody Beattie Have A Great Sunday and Week Ahead!~Cyn  |
| What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have. - Ralph Marston  |
| ARE YOU COMING DOWN FOR THE ARMED FORCED DAY PARADE HERE IN BREMERTON? I KNOW LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL BAND ALWAYS COME! IT'S THIS SATURDAY! |
 | Yep, still here but was offline with a broken computer - had to save the money to buy a new one, but Christmas flights had spending priority first. Miss my wee rat Turner -it's hard to think of getting another, almost succumbed to a pair of adorable baby hoodies - but just not ready yet. I think i's wonderful that you rescue them. People just don't appreciate what wonderful pets they are. |
 | Hi! I'm still here. I've been busy so haven't had much time to post anything lately. |
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