I am New Orleans girl living in Northern Alabama. It's certainly not NOLA, but it's okay. I am a happily married and mom of a teenager. Family is my priority, but somehow I manage to maintain my sanity as a FT university professor. I teach literature (absolutely LOVE it AND my students). Reading and Writing are my PASSIONS. I enjoy giving and making (simple--digital and handmade) bookmarks, cards and digital scrapbooks for family and friends. I love photography (taking pictures and looking at them). I also love water, flowers, nature (in general), parks, bayous, etc. and taking walks--though I don't consider myself the outdoorsy type. Much to my hubby's and son's chagrin, camping is NOT appealing to me.

I lost two sisters to breast cancer--Karlette, one of my baby sisters, in 2013 and Lori, one of my older sisters, in 2018. Both left this world far too soon with so much yet to do. These losses have had a profound impact on my life and some days I still find it difficult to breathe. They were both very beautiful and giving people. I honor their memories by sharing beauty and kindness and by sending notes of cheer and love to breast cancer patients and survivors: Karle's Wings.

NOTE ABOUT SWAPPING AND RATING: Swap-bot has been a wonderful experience--I've met really awesome people and learned a few new things along the way. I send swaps on time. If you have not received a swap from me in a timely manner, please send me a PM. Some things simply take longer. (I sent a PC to Russia that took nearly 3 months to arrive). I typically rate as soon as I receive a swap. If I haven't rated you, I haven't received the swap. I will not rate you as a "no send" without attempting to contact you.

Music is my first love. I like classical, jazz (instrumental and vocal), inspirational, gospel, some R&B, neosoul, traditional blues, calypso, reggae, New Orleans music, etc. The list goes on...Anything with meaningful lyrics, but no heavy metal, gangster rap, or hard rock.

I love far too many books, far too many novelists, poets, writers, etc. Here are some of my loves...

• The Holy Bible--where else can you get drama, narratives, history, creative nonfiction, romance, parables, poetry, prophecy, self-help, mischief and mayhem under one cover?
• Everything William Shakespeare has written
• Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon and Beloved
• Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages
• Howard Thurman, Meditations of the Heart
• C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce (and everything else)
• Edwidge Danticat, Breath, Eyes, Memory
• Bessie Head, A Question of Power
• James Joyce, Ulysses
• Homer, The Odyssey
• Dedra Johnson (a good friend), Sandrine's Letter to Tomorrow
• Nawal El Saadawi, Woman at Point Zero
• Amy Tan,The Joy Luck Club
• Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy
• Ngugi wa Thiong'o, A Grain of Wheat
• Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God and Jonah's Gourd Vine
• Tarshia Stanley, The Book of Ephesus
• Christian Fiction (love Lori Wick and most of Francine Rivers)
• Literary Theory/Criticism

Poets

• Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• Robert Browning
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning
• Shakespeare
• Rita Dove
• Emily Dickinson
• Lucille Clifton
• Alice Walker
• Nikky Finney
• John Donne
• Brenda Marie Osbey
• Gloria Wade Gayles
• Jericho Brown
• Jerry Ward
• Nayyirah Waheed
• Derek Walcott
• Gwendolyn Brooks
• Langston Hughes
• Mary Oliver
• Amiri Baraka
• Maya Angelou
• Soooo many more

Again, too many to name...

• The Fisher King
• Eve's Bayou
• The Caveman's Valentine
• Beloved
• Sugar Cane Alley
• Imitation of Life
• Daughters of the Dust
• Xala
• Black Girl
• Schindler's List
• Nights in Rodanthe
• P.S. I Love You
• Women of Brewster Place
• Brown Sugar
• Love Jones
• Mona Lisa Smile
• Stepmom
• Steele Magnolias
• Fried Green Tomatoes
• Pretty Woman
• Redemption
• Crooklyn
• Bamboozled
• Malcolm X
• The Color Purple

• Teddy Bears--I collect figurines only; had too many stuffed bears, so I gave most away)
• SUNFLOWERS
• the color purple
• the color pink (after a few family rounds with breast cancer, pink has become a favorite)
• stickers--I use them in my journals and of course for letters and postcards
• pretty paper and notebooks
• journaling
• cool/nice/pretty pens
• postcards
• colored pencils
• craft scissors--I think I have every cut--even though I haven't quite mastered cutting straight with them :-)
• humorous quotations--not profane or crass
• meaningful quotations
• spiritual (as in religious quotations)
• silly/funny children's poems and stories
• photography
• digitally created scrapbooks and artwork
• all things Apple
• Photoshop
• poetry
• music
• books
• reading
• writing
• long newsy letters
• history--especially non-mainstream
• art
• simple vegetarian/vegan recipes
• Dr. Seuss
• Winnie-the-Pooh
• Care Bears (Grumpy Bear)
• anything that keeps me organized
• humans--most are interesting and fun!

I enjoy making photo postcards, handmade envelopes, and ATCs. I also enjoy receiving these items from others.

I dislike:

• horror and gory stuff
• witchcraft and sorcery/fortunetelling/tarot zodiac/horoscope
• cigarettes
• alcohol
• profanity
• dogs and cats (quite ironic since our family has every other animal imaginable)
• crass, rude, profane, racist, sacrilegious humor
• nudity
• scraps--ripped and/or torn things
• edible items (too many things I don't eat, so better not to send)
• meat or anything that glorifies meat. (I've been a vegetarian MOST of my life. I don't judge others for eating meat, but I don't want it thrown in my face).

• Inspirational quotes and stickers
• teddy bear stickers
• ideas for cute/pretty/elegant/beautiful card-making * easy vegetarian and vegan recipes
• organizational ideas or tips

My husband, son, and I are allergic to and/or hypersensitive to:

• Cigarette smoke
• pet hairs/dander
• dust
• pollen

Please be mindful of this when sending. Thanks!

Hubby is easy--since most things he likes are too large to stuff in any envelope: foreign currency and old US currency.

Son likes: animals in general, elephants, ferrets, turtles, and frogs in particular; reading, drawing, postcards, filmmaking, journaling, photography, world languages, and so much more.

I prefer postcards naked, stamped and written on (but if you're sending a PC that you don't want marred by postal machines and handling, I will not complain if you place it in an envie).

I am not too picky about postcards--but my favorites are (not in any particular order):

• literary postcards
• sunflower postcards
• artsy postcards
• whimsical postcards
• cultural (icons/myths/stories) postcards
• map postcards
• touristy postcards that teach me a little about your history or culture--building, bridges, statues, monuments.
• fun, humorous and quirky cards.

Surprise me and I'll be pleased. But please no nudity or profanity--my son enjoys the postcards with me. Thanks!

Your PCs: I love well-crafted PCs made from your photography AND well-crafted "homemade" PCs, so if you're into making them, please send me one. I won't rate you down for not sending a "store-bought" one! Do note that well-crafted PCs involve more than cutting a picture from a magazine and gluing it to a piece of card stock.