Dirty Paws

I’m a daughter of the West. My heritage stretches back through time to an era of pioneers and uncharted frontiers. Much of that spirit lives on within me and I’m very proud of my ancestry. I have in my lifetime been a cattle rancher, a farmer, and a tamer of wild horses. Nowadays I’m simply a large woman with red hair, green eyes, and glasses living in rural Florida on five acres of wetland.

My interests tend toward the eclectic and center around the intellectual or philosophical. I’ve got a mad creative streak which often lies dormant for months only to surge forward and commandeer the keyboard for hours at a time, days on end. The rest, as my favorite science fiction author says in her biography, is subject to change without notice.

Personal Interests

Last.fm: My favorite streaming radio station on the ‘net. Last.fm uses a music recommendation system which tailors music played to the tastes of the listener based on what the listener chooses combined with a survey of music already owned by the listener.

Operation Beautiful: This is a positive image site designed, among other things, to create awareness of negative body images and to replace them with acceptance. Notes with positive body image messages are placed in public restrooms and other locations where mirrors are found.

Science Fiction Book Club: My favorite source of first print, first edition and hardback science fiction and fantasy books. I’ve been a member of this club off and on since the early 90s; the quality and selection has never disappointed me.

World of Warcraft: I’ve always enjoyed those dungeon and fantasy games which provided a rich tapestry of lore, puzzles, tasks, and graphics. World of Warcraft is among the best of its kind. I’ve been playing over a year now, have several characters on both sides, and I’m still not tired of it.

Other Sites

Crazy Coyote Creations: My on line jewelry store. Still under construction, it will feature hand made and custom pieces in a variety of styles using quality gemstones, bone, and wood. I do not customarily work with resin, plastic, or glass but can do so if requested.

Fran @ Facebook: I use Facebook primarily to keep track of classmates from Colorado and I play the games there. Several of my other accounts, including YouTube and Twitter, do tie in with it.

Fran @ LiveJournal: My primary journal and Internet presence. Most of the posts, with the exception of competition writings, are locked so that only friends may view them but if you drop me a polite note telling me who you are and what you want, I may add you back.

Fran @ Photobucket: I’m an amateur photographer and I especially like scenes with dynamic poses, interesting colors, or remarkable textures. I also enjoy chronicling my life and the things around me with the camera. It’s badly in need of re-organization but I invite you to take a look anyhow.

Fran @ SparkPeople: Quite possibly one of the best, easiest to use, and most positive weight loss site on the ‘net…and it costs nothing to use it. I’ve found the community supportive, the articles helpful, and the entire site just plain fun to use. It isn’t so much about losing the weight as it is creating a healthier lifestyle.

Fran @ Twitter: I use Twitter primarily for random things I see while out and about which I do not want to forget but which do not, in and of themselves, necessarily warrant a journal entry. I will also use it as a travelogue of sorts when I’m on road trips to chronicle where I am, the unusual things I see, and the candid shots I take.