America is my country, and Paris is my home town. — Gertrude Stein
My (Mostly) Non-Writing Life
Date of Birth: 12/31/67; only child “who’s spoiled?”
Lived in HI, IL, MO, MI, KS, OK, TX; prefer central time zone
Dog: pom named Sir Gallahad XIII; called “Tramp”
Great Teacher: Mrs. Woodside, First Grade
Won public library reading contest, 3rd grade
First plane trip: to Disneyland; fond of “It’s a Small World” ride
Heroine: “Mighty Isis,” featured with “Shazam” on Saturday AM TV
Favorite Play Place: woods behind house
Family vacations: summers in Estes Park, exclusively
See Famous Person for First Time: Dolly Parton
Begin life-long desire to visit Dollywood (still haven’t)
4th grade career goal: magician
First kiss: David Somebody on cheek; broke up next day. Alas!
Wrote “Dear Gabby” advice column for 6th grade paper
Great Teacher: Mr. Rideout, 6th Grade
6th grade nickname: “Olive Oil”
Spend every Weds & Fri night rollerskating
Great Teacher: Mr. Bigler, 8th Grade Social Studies
YMCA cheerleader, 5th-9th grade
Favorite Singer: Donna Summer
Favorite Band: Meatloaf
“Inappropriate” Donna S, Meatloaf lyrics pointed out to Mom by Uncle Al
First car date: “Two of a Kind” with John Travolta & Olivia Newton John
First post-babysitting job: making popcorn for movie theater
First car: red ’68 Mustang coupe (fave high school boyfriend had white classic Mustang coupe)
Favorite hang out: Minsky’s Pizza
Often called “Cindy Lou”
Great Teacher: Mr. Pennington, AP European History
Took tap, jazz, & ballet until 18
High school varsity cheerleader
Editor, high school newspaper
Waitress, Mexican restaurant
Dated boy called “Panama”
Graduated high school, 1986
Pledged Alpha Delta Pi
Majors: news/editorial & public relations
Concentrations: English, history, human development and family life
Took financial inactive status at sorority
First apartment has Murphy bed
Minority issues reporter, campus newspaper
Great Professors: Houston/Franklin “Children & Television”
President, KU chapter of Public Relations Student Society
Great Professor: Mary Wallace, “Reporting II”
Great Teacher: Tom Eblen “Reporting III”
Graduated college, 1991, walked down “The Hill” with cousin Stacy
Summer starter, law school, first met Ivy Leagers en masse
Study abroad, Paris (okay, went to Paris, didn’t so much “study”)
Senior editor, feminist law journal; which was shortly thereafter sued
Engaged to Greg, 7/3/93 in Dallas, Texas
President, Native American Law Students Association
Graduated law school, 1994 in one piece but serious debt
Moved to Chicago 5/94
Married, 9/4/94 by husband’s uncle, a Presbyterian minister
Federal employee “yikes!”
Moved to Austin, 2/95
Full-time writer, reviewer, teacher, happy person AKA world’s shortest legal career
Tutor for migrant student program, St. Ed’s University
Moved Back to Chicago 2/97
Adopted by Cat: grey tabby, “Mercury Boo”
Moved to back to — guess where? Austin, 2/99
Adopted by Cat: another grey tabby: “Sebastian Doe”
Receive historic castle from very cute husband for Christmas; plan to keep husband
Breakfast at the White House w/ Reading on the West Lawn
New kittens: Leo & Blizzard; Total of four kittens.
Release of Greg‘s debut novel, NINJAS, PIRANHAS, AND GALILEO
Chatted on Delilah — Love Songs; & she played “Dancing In the Dark” for me!
9/4/04 Tenth Wedding Anniversary
Absolutely fave superhero: Oracle (the original Batgirl)