CIAO

Welcome to my little bio page…Buon Giorno!

I am very excited to hear more about each of you this term. It is always fun to read your posts both on a personal level and in the Concept postings – to hear more about your own opinions and experiences with CMC. What most people don’t realize is that there are so many things “hidden” in the things you do on a day to day basis. I’m sure you will find that to be true as the term progresses.

A little about me.

I was born and raised in Milwaukie and live happily there with my two dogs: Travis, a Jack Russell Terrier, and Kizzie, a long-haired miniature daschund. Yep. Single. I have been teaching at PSU in the Communication Department for 10 years. I do this part time – and do so because I like teaching very much, but it doesn’t pay well unless you are on the “publish or perish” track. I’m not interested in that. So…full time I work for a 5 county collaboration – certifying and monitoring foster families who do foster care for children with developmental disabilities. That’s things like: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Autism, Attachment Disorder, Mental Retardation, and the like (not those cute little Down’s Syndrome kiddos). It is a challenging job.

In my free time I enjoy a variety of things: hiking, camping, working in my yard and around the house, cooking for friends, going out to fun places to eat, watching movies, snowshoeing, canoeing, and an assortment of things. I am very passionate about food – in particular how it creates meaning between people and the history of it, as well as the chemical workings of it. I have family in Italy that I visit on a regular basis and returned in January 2006 from 6 months there. I am working on a cookbook of all the recipes I am learning as that experience. My aunt, Mina, is a wonderful cook and a good teacher.

If you are out and about in Milwaukie, you’ll probably see me. I do a lot of community volunteering (my step-dad is the Mayor). So say “hello” while you are at it. And – a little plug – the Riverfest is coming 21-23 of July. I’ll definitely be there walking around and volunteering Sunday at the Farmer’s Market. And…you’ll see Travis, Kizzie and I walking in the Parade on Saturday.