My first blog post

Welcome to my blog! I'm totally new to this, so tips are welcome. I figured I'd start by introducing myself with a short summary of what I've been up to the past 39 years. I now live with my husband, daughter, and 2 cats on an old farm outside of a small town in Sweden.

1969 I was born, lived in Fountain Valley, California

1972-73 lived 1 year in Switzerland then returned to FV

1975-76 lived 1 year in Taiwan then returned to FV

1982-87 summers at Arrowbear Music Camp (violin)

1983 parents got divorced

1985 began a series of part time jobs: hostess at a Chinese Restaurant, Taco Bell, Crown Books, Scribner Booksellers

1987 Graduated from Fountain Valley High School

1987-91 Attended UCSD in San Diego. Major: Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Minors: Writing and Music (1 class short of completing music minor)

1988 Stopped playing the violin and started singing

1989-91 part time job as research assistant at Scripps Institute

1991 got cats: Sienna then a few months later Ace

1991-92 SDSU Masters program in Nutrition & Food Science (did not complete)

1992-98 Research Associate at Molecular Biosystems developing ultrasound contrast agents.

1993 got married

1993 bought our first house in Clairemont area of San Diego

1994 got involved with wildlife tracking which eventually led to the founding of the San Diego Tracking Team.

1995 got dog, Freja

1998 sold the house and bought a farm (over the internet) in Sweden

8/29/1998 moved to Sweden with the pets and began fixing up the house, a task which I’m sure will never be completed.

1998-99 attended SFI (Swedish for immigrants) at Komvux (the local adult school)

1998-00 operated a home-based quarantine for dogs and cats.

1999-00 continued at Komvux in the regular (non-immigrant) classes

2000 got cats Harley & Deuce. Soon gave away Deuce since she was giving Ace a complex.

2001 got a job at Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings in Malmö as R&D coordinator (basically a secretary who knows chemistry in English)

2002 daughter born, quit job because of lack of childcare

2003 husband’s boss killed by terrorists precipitates return to San Diego.

2003 started working as the administrator for the San Diego Tracking Team

2003-06 lived winters (September through April) in SD and summers in Sweden.

2004 Sienna died.

2006 move back to Sweden “full time”

2007 start own business as a wedding photographer

2007 Ace died

2007 Got cat, Kattis who had 4 kittens the next day. Gave away Kattis and 2 of the kittens. Named remaining kittens Teddy and Dora.

2008 Freja died

2008 stopped working for the San Diego Tracking Team to focus on photography.