This is my biography... or a little bit about me:

• I love the ocean and have lived on both US and Canadian coasts, as well as the southern-most island Kyushu in Japan

• One of the first jobs I had while during high school was teaching English to Japanese 5th Grade children

• I played center on my high school basketball team for two years - might have to do with my height of nearly 6' tall (I'm 182 cm)

• I've been doing genealogy since the 1980s - before computers were in every household and it was done the "old fashioned way" - writing letters, books, transcribing, all things relatively speaking

• Japan is formed with several connecting islands and many get around on bikes... it is efficient - feel the wind and less noise. I prefer bicycles to automobiles. It would be a dream to bike on the Shimanami Kaido (しまなみ海道, Shimanami Kaidō Expressway. 60 kms connecting the islands by bike!

• At my grade 7 science fair, I earned a second place medal for plants and radiation using beans taped to the walls inside and outside of my mother's veterinary office, and in doing so discovered a radiation leak at her office as a result

• I was going to be a Solid Gold dancer when I was 8 #stilllovestodance

• I'm what they refer to as a "Gen X"er - born in the early '70s

• I have an eclectic musical ear! I love listening to jazz manouche - (gypsy jazz, such as Django Reinhardt), electro swing like Parov Stelar, Swedish / Dutch EDM, old 1920s & 30s jazz, Broadway Musicals and Showtunes... and of course the Gen-X classics - we all can name them within 3 seconds of coming on the radio

• I've written (and published) a few books, short stories, and poetry - and one day will write a play

• I dislike vulgar language and swearing, litter, and drunk people who drive

• I've hiked several mountains to their summits

• I've swam with sharks in the Pacific Ocean of California and had to be rescued a la Baywatch style with the red lifeguard suits and everything after being caught in a rip tide undertow

• favourite celebrity I've ever had a lengthy conversation with was Dr. Sylvia Earle and it was about humpback whales

• my favourite books are The Hobbit, LoTR, Fried Green Tomatoes, and anything by Ruth Jones

• my favourite flower is the daisy

• I have the "Greek toe" - where the second digit is longer than the big toe

• I was once a speed skater on roller skates (quad skates - more disco, less derby - think Xanadu)

• I was president of my service sorority Epsilon Sigma Alpha in university for a year

• Large jigsaw puzzles are my specialty: 1000 pieces or more of entirely gold prism rainbows, glow-in-the-dark, no edges, I love puzzles and a good challenge

• I have a level 160 Lore Master in Lotro with an eagle pet named after the eagle that rescues Gandalf and the hobbits

• I spend more time than the average living person in cemeteries, transcribing and photographing gravestones for genealogy

• In about 1985, I had a course in HS called 'Typewriting' and learned to type on an actual typewriter and remember the sounds vividly, something which lacks on a computer keyboard.

• I don't like cilantro or sushi - least favourites.

• My fave food is tacos - any especially fish tacos, or chimichangas, or burritos... Mexi is my all-time winner... YUM!

• Pineapple does belong on pizza

• I'm an avid crocheter in the winter and make a long 6' blanket each year

• I've haven't been to Europe yet though all of my ancestors were Viking and Celtic

• my favourite colours are yellow and blue

• I sometimes have intuitive moments with those who have passed - makes for fun genealogy

• For several years, I have studied palaeography and volunteer to transcribe cursive or old documents from the 17th century onward for several genealogy organizations around the world

• Japan left a profound impact on me during my teenage years. I have adopted many of its ways and cultures, including removing shoes in houses, cleanliness, honesty, order, respecting elders and each other

• I am an advocate for Autism and Multiple Sclerosis, as I have many family members with both conditions #actuallyautistic - see my children's book on Humphrey.

• Neurodivergent is such a weird word. You know what's better - Neuroawesome! Yeah, proud to be neuroawesome #actuallyautisticbutprefersneuroawesome #doesntlikelabels

• I have endless gratitude for this life I've been given and make each day count. Robin Williams' character was right when he said - "Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!"... O' Captain my Captain

• Thanks for reading! .