Welcome!

Hmm... Well, perhaps this is a welcome to myself for finally joining the blogging community. I anticipate that it will take me a little while to get used to this whole blogging and online publishing thing, so please bear with me while I learn my way around.

A little about myself:
I am from the wet and rainy part of Oregon. While I miss the sunshine desperately during the winters there, I LOVE the green, green land. Mountains, valleys, rivers, rainforests, beaches, and ocean cliffs -- this is a beautiful place to live! I am close with my family and even manage to keep in yearly touch with most of my extended family -- quite a feat, since I have more than 26 first cousins. In my immediate family, I have two younger brothers, my mom, and my stepdad. My father passed away in 2002, and I miss him daily. I love rottweilers, and miss my dog, Shila. I have been voraciously reading for fun -- mostly fiction -- since my mother cleverly tricked me into enjoying books during 3rd grade. I didn't used to think of myself as a creative person, but am learning that I am very creative in modes in which I am comfortable. I am a social introvert. I love to dance, especially casino salsa (not Vegas - Havana, Cuba). I am also enjoying Krav Maga -- my new passion in the last year. I enjoy conversations about spirituality, identity development, and what it means to be socially responsible.

The purpose of this blog:
In starting this blog, I hope to provide a forum for discussions with friends, family, and colleagues about some of my passions, starting with student affairs and making jewelry. I also plan to use it as a networking tool.

It took me a while to get started, and I need to thank a few people: BH for helping me think about it as something not scary, but fun to try (it's your turn now!); Patty for her help with the name; and my family and friends for their support of my craft-y endeavors.

Well, let's see how this goes!