These pics are of my 2 sweet cats, Sam & Lucy.  Sam is the Maine Coon type and Lucy is the black and white.  Both were rescued by me -- Sam, 3 yrs ago, and Lucy, 2 yrs ago. Sam had been badly abused as a kitten and also hit by a car, dislocating his hips and as a result has a bit of a strange walk now.  Doesn't matter, he's supremely happy.  As for Lucy, she was one of 2 cats that survived a shooting and poisoning of 18 cats.  It's amazing that she lived, but she is soooo affectionate with everyone and loves her Sam to death.  Both are the lights of my life and have taken over my bed and pillows -- I get the space inbetween.  They both wake me with nudges and face kisses every morning and I love it.  The only drawback is that I'm starting to have a "hairball cough".....lol, just kidding (maybe).  I can't imagine life without pets, EVER.

Hobbies: Gourmet cooking, dancing, music (everything from classical to rock and blues -- but not rap); the beach, mountains, golf, good old movies or great comedies. Animals, animals, animals (all of them); and I write poetry.

Favorite Books: Tuesdays With Morrie, Chesapeake, How-To books since I like to fix things myself, biographies, and far more books than I could list.

Favorite Music: Depends on the genre. I love everything from classical to rock. For blues, I love Etta James, John Lee Hooker, and many others; for a jazzy latin-type blues it's Santana; for country blues, it's Chris Rea. Also love anything with a latin sound, and classical guitar. To knock me out, put on the video of Yanni doing The Rain Must Fall and I'll lose my breath with the bass guitarist and the violinist. WOW. Just a dancin' fool here.

Favorite TV Shows: Boston Public, Grey's Anatomy, I'm a sucker for Dancing With The Stars, Will & Grace (in fact I own all their seasons), Dateline, Primetime, and if I had cable there would be more, I'm sure.

Things I collect: Well, in the dept of collections...hmmmm....stray animals, cooking gadgets, antique first edition books, friends, nice antique furniture pieces that I've fallen in love with.

Languages spoken: English, and "Cat-ese"....I have cats

My beliefs: The Golden Rule, and your friends are the stars in your life.