Born and lived my whole life (>50 yrs) in The Garden State-- New Jersey. Really, parts of the state are quite beautiful, such as the shore, the Pinelands, many parks and forests. I live about 12 miles due west of New York City. Post September 11 I did some work with the Red Cross over there, as did many from NJ and all over the country.

I have loved reading since I was about 5. Some of my favorite books are Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard; The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles; Alive! by Piers Paul Read; anything and everything by Maeve Binchy; Beach Music and Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy and many more. There are books in every room of my house. I hate throwing them away, even if I know I'll never read them again. That's why bookcrossing.com appeals to me, as it must to you. I don't much like this oversized text box that I have to keep scrolling back and forth, though!

My work life has been in the graphic arts: photography, design, printing and now Web design and maintenance. I started working when I was 16, went to college when I was 30 and graduated summa cum laude at 33. Studied literature, arts and Russian language and culture. I've traveled in Europe, to Morocco and Egypt and a few times across the USA.

Recently, in a (successful-so far) effort to quit smoking I took up Counted Cross Stitch which I quickly became addicted to. And that's enough about me; I want to submit this "profile" and get going! See you around! J