I've been enjoying all of the introductions here, and I guess it's time to share mine. I just love the friendliness and banter on LCT---what a great place!!!

I'm a babyboomer (I'm 53) and I get a kick out of a lot of the nostalgic posts I read in various topics here!! I was born and raised in Baltimore, Md., but came to California in 1969 to go to college here (in Claremont)...and just never left. I later got a Piled Higher and Deeper (Ph.D) degree also at Claremont in Psych/Educ. The biggest accomplishment about getting that was making it through being a dicorced/single mom and holding down 2 part time jobs while going through school....some of the most difficult years of my life, but it gave me a real sense of self reliance..

I work as an investigator for a county Child Protective Services agency---a combination of real detective work, law, police work and social work. It's exciting and NEVER, ever boring, but sometimes really demanding and draining, as you can imagine. It's hard not to get cynical...it turned me into a conservative (moderate, I suppose) pretty quickly, LOL....

I LOVE being in my 50s---and I intend to enjoy every minute of it!!! There is so much richness and wonder to life, whether you find it around the corner at the grocery store, or on an exotic cruise to a far off place.

I'm treating myself to the Nov 8th round trip (L.A./Tahiti/L.A) on the Navigator. It'll be the trip of a lifetime for me, and I'm so excited about it!!! I'm thinking about Alaska for 2006....

I'm twice divorced, and currently have a long term boyfriend (we're on and off) who reminds me of the main character in Out of Africa...he's a real adventurer, Zorba the Greek type-- looks like Eernest Hemmingway and lives like him, too...travels a great deal for his work, all over the world and the U.S.....He MAY join me on the Tahiti trip (if we're on rather than off), but if not, I'm also excited to go by myself....

Hobbies are cooking, food/wine, horseback riding, hiking, music of ALL kinds. I'm active in the Episcopal church (I'm the Youth Minister at my parish)....I love working with teens b/c I have a lot of that joie de vivre in me, yet balanced by adult, mature wisdom. The kids and I love each other, and I feel really blessed to have them in my life. They're all descending on my house this coming Sunday for lunch and a movie.....

I have a grown son, 30, who will be starting on his MBA in the fall. He lives in S.F. Like my b/f, he's a traveler and is currently spending 2 months in South America. His girlfriend who's an M.D. (we tease her about being a "fake" doctor, b/c she's in research rather than practice) will be joining him there for part of the trip. I adore her and keep hoping and praying that they'll get married...she and I manage to sneak in conspiratorial conversations when my son's not around, LOL.

The love of my life is my dog, Abigail. I got her at the pound almost 9 years ago. I also have a crazy Cockateil (Sally) a rescued mutt (Harley) and a horse (retired, now), Porkchop.

Well, that's about all....I really enjoy this place (LCT) and I look forward to getting to know you all.....will definitely be at the Queen Mary brunch in May for the SoCal crowd!! Liz