Most people recognize me as the caring, loving, intelligent, creative, Jane of all Trades that I am.

However, along with that person a slightly loud, and obnoxious dork shows up at times.

But Marilyn Monroe said it best, "If you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best."

I rarely have a mean bone in my body and am always trying to help those around me, sometimes to my own detriment (both personally and professionally).

I have a very hard time learning when to just say "No". Especially when it comes to the people I care about. I guess that is also what lead me to be a shopping addict, not being able to say "No".

My professional life has been a whirlwind of fun and interesting jobs which have made me a Jane of all Trades.

Having my daughter at 22 and an English/Writing degree, recently divorced, the only choice I had in order to care for the two of us was to become an English teacher.

For the next 15 years, I taught high school English and drama at lower socio-economic schools to kids that needed a mom/teacher. It was forever rewarding.

During that time, I earned my Masters in Administration and Ed.S in Curriculum Development and taught at the college level and was a high school administrator for a few years.

During the last few years of teaching, I opened a furniture consignment shop, which helped with my shopping addiction and filled a creative void also. Unfortunately, my health took a poor turn and I was forced to quit both.

I was incapacitated for a year while I healed. Once I was mostly healed, I craved the attention of social interaction and followed another passion the further knowledge, and then sales, of wine.

So for two years, I became a leading Sales Rep and then Branch Manager for an international wine company.

I loved all the people I met through this company who shared the same passion for wine as I did; however, this too was not meant to last, as more surgeries were in my future.

Now, I live in Georgia with my beautiful and supportive girl-friends in a historic 1880's home.

I guess one of the things I can honestly say about myself is that no matter what life throws at me, I will always find something to do to make me happy..

It is decorated with a mix of period-style furniture and mine, and my pretend wife's talented, Georgia O'Keefe-style artwork. It is here that I work from home, and I get to explore my first passion, that of writing.

As a freelance writer, I get to explore all different styles of writing, and I find myself the forever student also - learning about new topics to write about.

I enjoy being able to help people with their writing needs or give advice even if it's not taken, to be able to offer an opinion about another passion of mine has been wonderful.