Ok...in keeping up with the ladies of the LILWA, I guess today is my turn to reveal a little about myself. Now, the question is: Where do I begin?

I was born in January of 1977, so I was only a few months old when what we know today as ANH was released. My parents really were not into SW and similar films, so I really did not become a fan until I was an adult. I do remember watching SW on I think it was Friday nights on CBS and being afraid of Darth Vader. I did not fully understand the story so I guess I almost avoided the saga for all of those years. However, now that I have discovered the saga, I cannot imagine my life without it.

I grew up in the "farm country" of Northwest Ohio, just across the field from my maternal grandparents' farm...the place where both my grandfather and my mother were raised. When my sister and I were nearing High School age, we moved into town so that we could be closer to school and our other commitments. I started playing the piano when I was about 8 years old, and then the clarinet a few years later. Unfortunately, I have not kept up with these, and often find myself missing the relaxing effect playing gave me. I do have a small keyboard (nowhere near the number of keys of a piano), and play every once in a while, but that is even difficult.

I graduated at the top of my class and moved to the "big city" for college. I decided that nursing was my passion, so I pursued that degree. Moving away from home was difficult, but I found comfort in new friends I made through my co-ed Fraternity...especially because one member (female) was a SW fan, and organized "cultural events" around the re-releases of the OT in1997. Here, my passion for SW began, but ended shortly thereafter . I also took up country line dancing, something that, to this day, I enjoy immensely. I graduated with my BSN and started working as a nurse in a facility in Northeast Ohio that cares for "Special Needs" children. I worked here for two years before I decided that I needed other experiences, and decided to work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a local Children's Hospital...I had taken one year off from school and then returned to work on my Master's Degree in Nursing. This took me another five years, and I became certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner last summer. I am continuing my search for a job where I can use this degree and certification. I also had a manuscript accepted for publication by a Pediatric medical journal, and am still waiting for the edition in which it will appear. Because of my commitments to school and work, I have not had time to date much, so I remain single. I know that one of these days I will "find" my Anakin or my Obi-Wan, or my Luke or my Han...whichever "type" fits me best, I do not know...but I know that day will be wonderful.

Last summer, my passion for SW was renewed with the release of ROTS. The weekend after I saw ROTS, I decided to watch the OT to "refresh" my memory on the story. Then I decided that I should watch the PT so that I knew the story leading into ROTS. I am going to admit this...I watched the PT backwards---ROTS, then AOTC, then TPM. I guess I had been so busy working on my MSN and working full-time that I had forgotten about the SW saga. I, like Rex0 (who said in a statement in his 50th blog entry), joined Hyperspace so that I could gain access to "Member's only" content on the site...I could not get enough of ROTS. I noticed the blogs earlier this year and started commenting on a few here and there. I had thought about writing my own, but was not sure about putting my thoughts and feelings out there for all to read. Then, Angel came along and, in her own way, inspired me to write...and not just in comments to others. So I took that "leap" and decided to put my thoughts down for everyone to read...which was a little scary for me since I tend to be a little on the "quiet/shy" side. Now, I have become "addicted" to this site and to writing. I never knew that blogging could be such a "release" for my thoughts, as I really do not have too many people to share this love of SW with...my family and many of my friends and co-workers do not understand my passion and do not understand the movies. Also, the entries by the LILWA keep me coming back because I have had fun with them and enjoy what they have to say.

I have also recently begun costuming, a "hobby" my family does not understand and that I cannot fully explain to them. I guess I felt that I needed something to fill my spare time, and this was what I chose...a very expensive hobby at that . I currently have two Padme' costumes finished (the battle outfit from ROTS and the nightgown she wears in the beginning of ROTS) and one in the "works" (the picnic gown from AOTC). I also have several more Padme' costumes and a couple of Leia costumes in the planning stages. I will eventually finish these, and will need to find something else to occupy my time. However, that is far away before that ever happens.

I hope you all enjoyed learning a little more about me, and I look forward to learning more about the rest of you. So...who's going to be next?

May the Force Be With You