I've enjoyed traveling a lot. I've gone to

• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Moscow, Russia
• Kiev, Ukraine : Freenet, traveler's views, or official info
• Odessa, Ukraine - The picture is of the Potemkin Stairs, the formal entrance into the city from the direction of the sea.
• Sochi, Russia
• St. Petersburg, Russia
• West Berlin and East Berlin, Germany : Now, of course, unified into Berlin

On a light subject, I can describe my immediate family with happiness. I'm married to a wonderful man who I met over his BBS 8 years ago. True cyberlove, before the term became cliched. He has triplets from a previous marriage (full custody - she sees them 3 times a year, her choice.) The older kids are in 8th grade this year, and doing more and more reports on various topics. Big one right now is atoms and molecules. Last night, Dale-kid had to find common household items with elements listed in the ingredients (think: Hydrogen Peroxide or Aluminum Foil) and he went wandering around the house saying, "Mom, where do we keep the Plutonium?" On the other hand, I found myself spending an hour and a half with Billy, trying to find out everything we (er... he) could about Vietnam for an assignment. The assignment was to write a 5 sentence paragraph on Vietnam. We (er... he) had enough for a 15 page thesis. and I find myself having to hold back from doing the reports for them. I think that my ideal job is researching and creating. Maybe that's why I love doing these poetry pages, which combines looking up poems and web page creation.
So I'm on the computer a lot, because I really can't go anywhere else with the 4 of them and remain sane. It always takes 3x as long as it should to get to where you're going, and all the aggravation while doing it. I find that for pleasure trips, I go -alone- to the bookstore (Borders is my mecca). I can spend all day (and all my money!) looking through the sf/fantasy shelves. Occasionally I'll drop by the New Age to see if there's anything that captures my interest - I've found some good books there amidst the weirder UFO ones. I also like the Erotica section they have, which is much more than smut. I spend a lot of time in their coffeeshop too, they have a really wonderful coffee-chocolate concoction that is heavenly.

Sooner or later, I intend to publish my SF books. Here's my story site. The stories there are not my best ... I found that if you put your stories online, then they're considered to have lost their first rights, and any publication after that would be a reprint. (Heads up, fellow authors!) If you are an aspiring writer, you should consider one of the many online critique groups, most notably Critters for SF/F/H work. While I'm waiting for the royalties checks to come pouring in, I do computer work, quilting, and teaching. And here is an obligatory list of my family members

As for personal likes/dislikes, I am very much into music done by women. Doesn't really matter to me if it's country, alternative, jazz, or classical. I like hearing the woman's voice and viewpoint. Then again, I had always said when I was younger that I was going to marry Paul Simon. Now he's married to that New Bohemian chick. (sigh) And I do enjoy Barenaked Ladies, Red Hot Chili Peppers. Nine Inch Nails. And Harry Connick Jr. And Definitely, Of Course, Without A Doubt - Melissa Etheridge.
There's more, of course, but I'm not planning on a full autobiography. If you're dying to have more information, send me a message. I might even answer it.

My kiddo Jeremiah Forrest Mottram, and a clearer one with my son Billy and Jeremy

back home.