Actor/Narrator
Other Interests
A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist. -Louis Nizer
Visual and Utility art:
Back in the day, I was an art minor. I love art for art's sake, but am also a big fan of utility art, particularly when it means creating something out of someone else's trash (i.e. chairs found by the dumpster), because. . .RECYCLE!! :)
**Nerd Alert: I've collected stamps since 5th grade. Some of these photos are gifts made for friends/family using stamps (and sometimes trinkets) that represent aspects about them personally (i.e. $.05 Shakespeare for theatre friends, States/countries they've lived in, etc).
Animal love:
You may regret asking me about pets. Former pets include family dogs & cats, anoles, a veiled chameleon, a White's Australian Tree Frog, a guinea pig, and a beta fish. . . not all of those were by choice. Currently, my partner & I have a rescue pup from PAWS Chicago, where I've been a volunteer in various roles for over 10 years. Her name is Raffi and she was found on the southside of Chicago as a stray with 1 dog and a puppy. She was a year old when found, had been lactating (no one knows if that was one of her puppies), had roundworm and a URI. We started fostering her about a month later. She was on anti-anxiety meds (and still is, but at a much lower dose). She took the stairs like a champ (we live in a 2nd floor split-level), was quiet (relatively-- we've since discovered her deep bark vs. her high-pitched screeches), super trainable, and loves to play & walk. Needless to say, we decided she was perfect and adopted her 2 months later. We have yet to do a DNA test, but my phone says she's a Catahoula Leopard dog (my first knowledge of the breed), though I'm betting she's got some pittie in her too. We'll find out someday, but for now, she's our goofy, sweetheart.
Phebe's fav pic with FDR.
Also pictured is my old best friend, Phebe, who lived with me for 18.5 years before she shuffled off her mortal coil. It was just the 2 of us for 16 years before moving in with my partner. I don't think she forgave me for that, but I'm glad she stuck around to see me through my single years. I'll never forget the many "presents" she brought me during her indoor/outdoor life. I miss her prickly, playful, judgmental personality. She'll forever live in my heart.
A friend sent me this screenshot (in scrubs) after seeing it pop up on the PAWS Instagram site. I am a weekly Level 3 volunteer at PAWS Medical Center and usually work with Dogs. This is me volunteering in "TLC", which means hanging out with sick dogs & cats stuck in isolation. That little wiggle-worm is a dog, if you can't tell. One of my favorite aspects of volunteering with PAWS (besides lots of dog time) is the variety of opportunities like Intake-rescue missions (driving to other states to pick up dogs & cats who would otherwise be euthanized or living in poor conditions), working with lower-income communities in Chicago, Dog Training classes, and I'm currently a mentor helping to familiarize new volunteers to the med-center, so we can keep giving these pets the best care possible as we prep to get them into their furever homes!
Other hobbies and interests:
ASL; I stopped acting for about 5 years in my 30's and thought about becoming an American Sign Language interpreter. Along the way, I discovered I loved the culture and the language, but wasn't in love with interpreting as a profession. I met some wonderful people and try to practice and attend various Deaf events when possible.
Attending live theatre and music, watching films, reading, travelling, biking, exercise, kayaking, hiking-- anything outdoors.
Needless Knowledge:
I can roll my tongue upside-down.
I love whistling and have attempted concertos with said whistle.
Hopefully, a hoarding intervention isn't needed. . .yet, but I collect random things like pennies, did someone mention stamps (?), postcards, and quotes like this one:
Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly. -Rose Franken, author and playwright (28 Dec 1895-1988)