I know a little about a lot of different things and am always happy to learn a little more. I'm the Quiz Queen, and have somehow managed to store all kinds of strange information in my head.
I have an ambition to go "Church-Crawling" in search of ever more ancestor memorials.
My Big Thing, obviously, is Genealogy.
I started doing my family tree in about 1978 and have been fairly consistent in that since that time.
The last eight years has seen a massive shift backwards on my mothers maternal grandmother's side that joins me to the Plantagenet Royal house, and further back in history to Charlemagne and beyond.
I now help others rediscover their English roots.
I love museums, cathedrals and churches and all kinds of historical architecture etc. I believe passionately in the importance of libraries and archives being available to all.
My work has already been cited in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as a new biographical source on the life of Sir Martin Folkes, my Great, great, great, great, great, great Grand-Uncle. Soon I will also be credited as a new source on the lives of Francis Peter Plowden and Archbishop William Wake
Music
I'm a huge Weird Al Yankovic fan. (waves to Al) He absolutely rules.
I used to be a massively obsessive music fan, but I gave it up because too often it adversely affected my mood, particularly invoking painful memories and contributed to depression, so until I discovered Weird Al, my world had fallen silent for about 5 years. I have now learned that good music doesn't have to be so serious and "Important" and its nice to know there are people out there who do what they do for the fun and the love of it, rather than be some sort of contemporary prophet, or arbiter of "cool" or whatever. I have added a second player to my profile. A lot of very personal music that carries plenty of emotional baggage in there..... a big part of my story
Humour is a powerful healing force... and when it's wrapped in top quality music of every genre executed by the best in the business, what more do you need?
I am currently raving about the music of my MySpace friend Pamela Richardson.. Please, those of you who enjoy grown-up, intelligent and tuneful music, check her out. I don't think you will be disappointed
I still love all my old music though. Particularly Buzzy Linhart (Hi there Buzzy and Xeno!) Buzzy has been a hero of mine for years and years. Buzzy's music never gets me down
Please check my two players for an idea of the kind of things that interest and excite me musically
Mad props to DJ John Rose of UIC Radio.org for getting me back into being interested in listening to a lot of that classic stuff again through his "Hidden Treasures" show which airs on a Monday (afternoon for him, evening for me) Check it out... Get educated about all that rich vein of music that is out there but doesn't get all the mainstream airplay and mix in a generous helping of breathtaking classics
My other great musical hero is my friend Buzzy Linhart, of whom I have been a great fan since I was a teenager.
He is a great guy. I would love to see more people taking an interest in his wonderful music once more. Recently I have had the immense privilege of getting to know him in person, albeit over the telephone, and we have become very close personal friends. I Love you Buzzy! If I make it to the West Coast, I am definitely going to visit. I wish it could be right now, but that's not possible just yet, sadly
Love You Buzz...
Since getting broadband, I have been getting more and more into watching amazing Flash animations like these on the web. In keeping with my theme, and with the gracious permission of their creator, Ryan Krzak, I am proud to have these two gems. Sit back and enjoy!!
Favourite Films
It used to be "Withnail and I" and I do still find it funny, but I also appreciate its tragic implications, so I no longer rejoice in it, despite its masterpiece status.
So now? Well you can't go far wrong with Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, can you?
and I love the Harry Potter films
and any Jane Austen adaptation going.
I'm also a big fan of Studio Ghibli output (Hayao Miyazaki)
Television
Anything with Bill Bailey in... (Check him out, those who haven't heard of him. He is truly a class act.)
Here you can view Bill's live show "Part Troll"
.. I love costume dramas, although I feel the standard is certainly slipping with revisionist dramatizations. I love anything about history, obviously.
I seem to watch far too much of "Friends" because it's the only thing my daughter and I can find as a compromise between our wildly differing tastes
Books
Ahh.. I'm not a big fiction fan. I like History and silly things like old phone directories, Burke's Peerage etc. I have a great 1864 edition of Chambers "Book of Days" that I always enjoy looking at. Likewise, I have a complete run of "The Strand Magazine" containing all the original publication of the Sherlock Holmes stories
If I do want to read a story, Jane Austen is my "default setting"
I live in Southern England with my daughter. I am currently single (divorced in 1999).
I am involved in genealogical research, and have a great interest in all aspects of History and trying to understand and connect with the lives of our predecessors.
This is something I get pretty nerdy about! :-)
I hope to write a book when I can. I had some poems published a long while ago, but I don't get into all that so much now, as too much introspection can be so unhealthy.
I've pretty much kicked most of my vices now (that makes me sound bad!) and I am looking about for inspiration to get me out of the "Mom" rut a little, now that my daughter is growing up.
I suppose some people might find me a bit "unusual" (though I have no idea why... get to know me and tell me please?) because I have kind of a very solitary life.. a lot of the friends of youth are dead or Elsewhere, and it'd be great to get to know some new people, so
Getting the WBUL treatment from Weird Al, the Sexiest Earthling in existence.
I had come all the way from England just to see him, the first time I was ever in an aeroplane even..and I wasn't disappointed. I got to see plenty, as you can see. Worth every penny and I'll be back as soon as humanly possible.
Weird Al. You are the best
Who I'd like to meet: Nice pleasant people! Weird Al fans, Genealogists, Historians, anyone at all really!:-)
LC Pavilion, Columbus Ohio. Sun 20 July 2008
Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania.Wed 23 July 2008
On the 20th and 23rd July I realised my ultimate dream of meeting Weird Al Yankovic, something I had to fly to the States especially to accomplish.
I also met all of his band and that was just as much of a thrill as I had a chance to really get to know them and hang out. What a bunch of nice people. Thanks to Al himself for making me feel so special at the Columbus gig and to Jim, Steve, Jon and also Ruben for being so very nice to me. You all rock my sox off. Thanks guys.
My friend, the AWESOME Jim Kimo West. In my opinion, the most versatile and talented guitarist in the world
My dear friend Stephen Jay; bassist and multi-instrumentalist, polymath, Renaissance Man, musical genius and all round good guy
I'd love to hear from anyone seeking advice on tracing their family tree, especially English connections. I may be able to do a look-up for you.
Please, no offence, but I'm not really looking for a relationship; also, if you contact me, and your profile is pretty much empty and tells me nothing about you, please do not expect a response. ... Sorry.
I need to find a job. HELP!. I need to get money to get me back to the USA asap
Mahalo Louise, Yes, I now have my Christmas CD up on Amazon and CD baby. It's a bit early for CHristmas shopping but I have links on my website for them. Aloha, JIm
