I am basically a quiet person, but I am NOT all that shy. (Ask Karla. She'll tell you; she knows me like a well-read book!) I do, however, have my private time, and this is when I like to indulge in some of my interests and various hobbies.

For one thing, one may have already guessed that I'm into music, BIG time. I LOVE country/western music, and I also love Cajun music. I also like some rock, rap (AS long as there are no NASTY lyrics in it!!), classical, and even African (I have Karla to thank on THAT one!!). I also love gospel and Christian music (although I seem to prefer the older hymns and classics).

Another thing I love to do is draw or write stories. I have created several characters, and I am trying to come up with a story that fits these particular characters (but am NOT having that much luck; it's a LOT easier drawing them than writing about them!!). One of these characters is a little 9-year-old girl I have christened Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux. As one might guess from her name, yes..she is a Cajun. Another character I am working on is a young, shy Maasai woman named M'buti Ayala Moore. M'buti is originally from Kenya, Africa, and she has had a lot of heartache since arriving in America. She is struggling to adapt to married life and now motherhood (and is NOT having an easy time of it). M'buti and Ronee' may not seem to have a lot in common, but in a way they do because both are struggling with serious health problems, and they are good friends. (They met while they were in the hospital.) Another character I have created is another little child, a 9-year -old boy I have named Johnathon ("Johnny") Sandusky. He, too, has his health woes and is often in the hospital as a result. Johnny and Ronee' are brother and sister--adopted, but they are still brother and sister.

I also enjoy reading. I always seem to have a book in my hands, and there are many books out there I like to read ("Still Woman Enough" by Loretta Lynn as a prime example!). I am ALWAYS at the library: if I'm not reading I'm playing on the computer (as I am doing right now).

Another hobby I enjoy is attending Cajun and country music concerts. I have seen many legends and superstars in concert: Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn, Reba mcEntire, "Alabama," Alan Jackson..too many to count. (I have met most of them, too.) Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties and lack of transportation I have not been able to do this as of late. The last time was back in February, when Loretta Lynn was to be at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, but she became ill all of a sudden and had to cancel. Concerts are NOT cheap. But I still enjoy them whenever I can have the chance and go to one!

I also like to travel (but, again, due to lack of finances, I am not able to do as much as I would really like). I have been to nearly 22/23 different states across this great nation, and I have even been to Canada (and would like to return to Canada again). I would LOVE to go to someplace like Norway or Switzerland, or maybe even France. I would also like to go to Kenya or Tanzania, in Africa, mainly to see the Maasai people and to experience the Maasai culture--and to see the wildlife in their natural state (in particular, the CHEETAHS!!!!).

Still another hobby I enjoy is riding roller coasters. (I know, I know--I may have arthritis, but that DOESN'T stop me from riding those thrill machines--although I DO have my limits on which roller coasters I wish to ride or not!) I have ridden some of the baddest coasters around--Magnum XL-200 (THAT one nearly did me in, but I WILL ride it again when I get back to Ohio!), RAPTOR (my FAVE: that one is AWESOME!! Again, this one is in Ohio; in fact, the Raptor and Magnum are siblings; they are both located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio--in addition to 13 other coasters--talk about a BIG FAMILY!), and the Judge Roy scream here in Texas at Six Flags over Texas.
I have also ridden various other thrill rides that are not of the coaster kind (like the Cliffhanger; I nearly had a STROKE on that bad boy!! I did NOT like that one AT all! Or The Power Tower--another Cedar Point attraction; that one literally raised me to new heights!! WOO-HOO!!!!!!!).

Now Cedar Point is about to unveil its newest roller coaster--"Wicked Twister".
This one is not like any of the other coasters. This guy is the nation's FIRST "double-twisting vertical coaster". Just from the looks of it has me quaking--I will NOT ride that one, you can bet on that all the way to the bank!!!
I'd probably DIE if I rode that bad boy! NO WAY, MAN. You WON'T catch me rIding "Wicked Twister!"