Who I am - words that describe me:
Outgoing: I'd almost always rather go out than stay in. Sounds like a dog, doesn't it? I truly do like to meet new people and try new things.

Resilient: I've had several setbacks in my life -- I keep fighting back. It's not enough just to survive. You've got to live-- and hopefully have some laughs along the way.

Resourceful: McGuyver's got nothing on me.

My personal challenges:
I am so lucky because I have this great big, noisy, wonderful family of four sisters (Diann, Linda, Anita, and Vicky) and two brothers (Jay and Mark). Several of my brothers and sisters are nearly 20 years older than me. My parents were in their 40s when I was born, so I have always had sort of a warped perspective on aging. When I was 18 all my friends thought 30 was totally old and out of it. But since I had fun, active, lively sisters and brothers who were well into their 30s, I knew better. Now that I'm in my 40s and my sisters are nearing their 60s, it's amazing how young 60 sounds to me. My dad just turned 90, and for the first time in my life I've thought, yeah, he's sort of getting old. I am a true believer that age is a state of mind. No one in my family looks (or acts) their age. Thank goodness -- maturity is overrated! My goal is to become one of those mountain-climbing, scuba-diving, Harley-riding Grandmas.

My career challenges:
"I defy gravity" -- Actually, perhaps what I defy are limitations, both the kind you inherit and the kind you unwittingly impose on yourself. If I catch myself saying, "I can't do that," it really makes me mad and forces me to do it!

When I first accepted a position at Paws, Incorporated (headquarters for the world famous comic strip cat, GARFIELD) in 1984, it was in a rather limited area as Jim Davis' personal secretary. That meant handling correspondence, keeping Jim's schedule, and generally helping him keep his life organized. The irony was, and I never told Jim this, I was terribly disorganized myself. I was one of those people who locked myself out of my house, accidentally left meat in the trunk of my car for days, (I wondered why that pack of dogs kept chasing my car) and had to return home once in awhile during the work day to make sure I had turned the iron off.

But, since I was determined to prove to myself that I could handle the job, I worked very hard at getting organized. Not only that, but eventually Jim gave me more and more projects. My favorite was as Associate Producer of "Garfield and Friends" which ran on CBS-Saturday mornings for seven years. I continued to defy the limits set upon me as "personal secretary." Now I'm public relations director for Garfield, an enviable position since almost everything I get to do is fun! Just this summer I served as the historian and curator for a 5,000 sq. foot exhibit at the International Museum of Cartoon Art in Boca Raton, Florida that celebrated Garfield's 20th anniversary in comics. And now, here I am doing the Scott Carpenter Mission in Key Largo. Life is good.

My career:
My job is to spread Garfield gossip, news, and propaganda. I'm getting pretty good at it, too, even though I've had no "professional" training. I post news to our Web site (www.garfield.com), write a bi-weekly newsletter that goes out to our licensees and agents worldwide, compose a bi-monthly newsletter called Big Fat Hairy News for our Club Garfield fan members, and work on lots of public relations projects that involve literacy (Literacy Volunteers of America), character building (Boy Scouts of America, Character Counts! Coalition), and wellness (Tenet Healthcare Systems).

Likes/Dislikes about career:
I'm very fortunate to be doing public relations and publicity for a well-loved, well-known character. Garfield still makes me laugh, even after having been in his inner-circle for the last 14 years. I'm so lucky to have a job where entertaining people is the main goal. One of our company mission statements is to "Have fun!"

If I could change anything about my career it would be the work hours. I'd take Garfield's advice and abolish Mondays. Yep, that seems like a solid idea to me.

Influences:
My parents have been the most influential people in my life. My father just celebrated his 90th birthday. He has definitely defied gravity. He is what is known as "a character." He always has a joke to tell and a witty remark for almost any situation. He has stayed active playing golf and working in his garden. He inspires me on a daily basis to keep moving, stop griping, and do something, even if it's wrong! My mother is also very young for her age. I swear she invented jazzercise back in the 1960s! She's constantly on the go, always involved in some sort of community activity, and she's never in a bad mood. Amazing.

Future goals:
I would like to read all "the classics" in literature. There are dozens and dozens, and I keep a list that I found on the Internet that are considered the "essentials" for a person graduating with an English Literature degree. For personal reasons I was not able to attend college just after high school and I have always felt the need to educate myself beyond my high school experience. It helps that I like to read.

My thoughts about space exploration:
Have you ever seen that commercial on TV where the lady is soaking in a bubble bath and says, "Calgon, take me away!" Well, that's how I feel about space -- take me away! Actually, right after I saw the movie "Close Encounters" I went home from the theater and laid out in the back yard under the stars hoping an alien would beam me up. (Must have been locked out of my house again.) I just really like the idea of exploring. I'm always ready to crawl through a cave, climb to the top of the mountain, or put on SCUBA gear and discover that world. I think it's the pioneer spirit in me. It's either that or I've got ants in my pants.

Personal information:
I have a wonderful husband (like I'd say he was rotten on the Internet for him to see!) and two brilliant children (ditto). My 14-year-old son John is a talented artist who won a Silver Key (second prize) at the National Scholastic Arts competition this year! He tools around on a skateboard and listens to techno-pop music. I like to hear his music because it makes me feel young. Daughter Katie is perky and pretty. She's 12 going on 21 -- a real go-getter. No moss will ever grow under Katie's feet. I also have 3 stepsons: Sam, Caleb, and Luke. They're all handsome, smart, active, and funny. No kidding. I lost my first son, Josh, in 1991 in an automobile accident. He was 16. He was coming home from school with two other friends when they were hit head on by a semi. I tell you this not to depress you, but just to remind any teenagers out there to please please be careful. Losing Josh almost undid me, it was tempting to give up. I'm glad I didn't.

I love to garden. In fact, some people think I'm obsessed. Is it obsessive to pull weeds at 4:00 in the morning? Doesn't everybody deadhead their rose bushes during an electrical storm? Anyway, I do like to play in the dirt.

I have four pets: Two dogs: Doctor Jones (yes, he really has a Ph.D.) and Ed (a girl who iss badly named); and two cats: Smoky and Bean. Don't ask how Bean got his name because I don't remember. In retrospect, we should have named Smoky "Frank."