Hailing from Russian, Polish and possibly French ancestry, I was raised by a house of music and books, aided by two dedicated parents:  a flutist/journalist father, and a visual artist/interior-designer mother. At an early age, I was thus scandalously and irrevocably seduced by the world of art. Rocking my crib rhythmically at age 2, and nearly down a staircase in an absurd mode of transport (cribs had wheels then and parents were missing a few gears), I was tagged as musical, and by age 6, having started piano, was heard correcting my mother's plunked piano notes from another room, evincing perfect pitch. I could have played baseball, but hitting balls to anywhere has never been of interest, though I took an untoward liking to tetherball in fourth grade.  At age nine, I began a scrapbook, composed my first piano piece, and at 11, performed that piece in recital, and began my diary (which I still maintain). I became hooked on positive feedback, both external and by extension, internal.  A chemical imbalance in the brain has rendered me a depressive, although I have no diagnosis, and am now, in midlife, a walking ideopath, a contellation of ridiculous, teasing symptoms, and a near-complete insomniac. I suffer (or benefit, am unsure) from lucubration.  Muses torment me chronically, to my delight and damnation.  My greatest influences in literature, in developing a social conscience (earth's ecology), and a more general one which remains ineffable were high school teachers:  Florence Crooke (literature), James Stephens (science) and Carol Umphrey (math).  I became passionate over T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, and literature in general, with a special place in my heart (I don't believe in hearts, so, basically, mind) for poetry. I edited the high school newspaper and co-edited the literary magazine.   In college, I  double-majored in English and Philosophy, graduating from the University of NC (Chapel Hill) and Emory University (Atlanta), with Master's work in both English and (a half-go-round: 9 courses) in Psychology.   As an adult, I have performed compositions in concert in Georgia, Florida, and Colorado, to which I relocated in 1993. I married a brilliant man, also a poet, who has nurtured my writing and composing, and at age 40 took up painting and have had many shows.  Struggling with short stories and children's books has gone nowhere; everything shapes up to a poem. My greatest poetic loves include of Lawrence Durrell, John Keats, John Donne, Dylan Thomas, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Robinson Jeffers, Conrad Aiken, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Delmore Schwartz, Sidney Lanier, and Leonard Cohen, to name but a few.  A member of Poetry West, serving as past Salon Co-ordinator and current Co-Vice President, I have had the extreme pleasure of meeting several incredible poets there, Yousuf Zaigham, Lois Beebe Hayna, and Karen Sucharski among them.  I am a member of Columbine Poets (Colorado's State Society of Poetry, under the national umbrella of the National Federation), Academy of American Poets, and the Poetry Society of America.  Currently, I am self-flagellating to keep a New Year's resolution to write a poem a day. I call these PODs. I am a severe and relentless reviser.  Art is my god, and god must be good.  The real world is my inspiration and nemesis.  I am currently posting chapters in an autobiography called The Plums of Childhood.  I've been told I can't call it a memoir, as I'm not dead yet.  It's sub-genre would be "humor."  I perform poetry whenever possible, am working on my first manuscript, to be published, hopefully, by March 2009, and my favorite outlet at this time is poetry to the background of acid-rock jazz.  Go figure. Generally, there is no real explanation for the creature that is I.

I am a licensed professional proofreader, and have a nasty habit of editing everything from quotidian conversation to (inwardly) dastardly grammar in books, have edited one book, graduated with honors, was one of two graduation speakers (high school), won various awards, was selected as one of two Emory University undergrads for the promotional booklet seeking new students, with accompanying scholarship for excellence in writing and music, hold office (mentioned above) in Poetry West, a thriving Colorado Springs-based group, have been given the honor of performing poetry and music at the Classically Alive Music salons, and have been commissioned to compose and perform music based on the poetry of Yousuf Zaigham. For three years, I volunteered a lengthy Pet of the Week article, and have a passion for rescuing and spreading the word concerning animal overpopulation. But perhaps my greatest achievements are my two daughters, age 21 and 9. My eldest is a voice/drama/philosophy major, is an awesome artist and poet, and my youngest has also performed poetry publicly, and studies guitar and saxophone. But these accomplishments are not what makes them great. They are great because they are. A rose is a rose.

The Classically Alive salon with compositions will take place Nov. 2 or Nov. 16, 2008. My most recent art show (33 works) was at Paragon Ballroom, and the art is looking for its next venue. Finding venues is easy; finding time is a devil. Website is under construction at this time, detailing editing/writing services, music services (including teaching piano), and artworks for purchase.

Creative Thinkers International
This site embraces all the arts, and most of my artwork can be seen there, along with another bio. It is wonderful to correspond with many around the globe. You can hear music on this site too.

Colorado Poets Center
This site has many wonderful poets on it, and gives information as to availablity for workshops and/or readings.

CSlitlife
On this site you can see some video of my slam poetry; it's the only site where a camera takes OFF pounds! It is a site about literary happenings in the Colorado Springs area.

MySpace
Another place to check me out. I need to update my events. I hope to post a video of music compostions/poetry here or on YouTube.