I was born in Dallas, Texas but when I was 6 weeks old, my parents took me to Redondo Beach, California. I was about 3 when we flew across the US to Silver Spring, Maryland. I lived there from about 1964 to 1997 when I returned to Texas.

In my time in Maryland, I graduated high school (John F. Kennedy High School, class of 1979), got my Associates Degree (took me about 13 years after just taking a bunch of classes) in General Studies, and worked at a few interesting jobs. I was a bank teller and quit after the 2nd bank robbery, I helped plan War Games for the Naval War College, transcribed messages coming from US Submarines, kept track of finances for the Challenger Space Shuttle, and was a secretary for 2 departments at the National Institutes of Health, Divison of Research Grants.

I also suffered from Major Depression and was in and out of hospitals. I ended up having to retire from the Federal Government on disability in 1993. I could not afford to live in Maryland on disability and I moved to Round Rock, Texas where my parents had retired to. I worked some part-time jobs, mostly with the Round Rock Express baseball team (AAA minor league team to the Texas Rangers) in various positions: cashier in concession stand, in the gift shop, Marketing assistant, and scoring the games. In 2005, after returning to college, I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in History/minor in English. I also started having problems with degenerative osteoarthritis.

I became a Certified Nursing Assistant in 2009 but have since stopped doing the physical work of a CNA. I am now a Caregiver and I love it. My arthritis is bad enough where I go to physical therapy and pain management, and I take several medications each day. I also have Fibromyalgia, Spinal and Cervical Spondylosis and chronic nerve damage in my neck. I get the nerves burned in my spine and my neck and regular injections. The vertebra in my neck and my spine are collapsing. I have had to have my right jaw joint replaced due to arthritis.

During my disability, I managed to eat enough to gain 109 lbs. and have since lost it with the help of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) and SparkPeople.com. I became the TOPS 2010 Texas State Queen. Keeping the weight off is the real challenge!

I was engaged twice and broke it off both times. I am single, have two cats and own a home in Jarrell, Texas. I try to stay optimistic even through chronic pain...which sucks, by the way!