Domestic Geek

My eyes change colors depending on my mood or my surroundings, I'm not sure which. So, they could be chameleon eyes. Anyway, It's weird. The color changes were more dramatic when I was younger. They can be bright blue. silver, green, almost brown. My birth certificate and driver's license say blue, though.

I majored in music the first time I went to college in 1984 (University of Northern Colorado - Go Bears!). I primarily played the bassoon then, but I started out on the clarinet. I picked that instrument because my best friend, Mary, had one. I've also played saxophone, viola, flute and even bass drum in my high school marching band. I played Contrabassoon with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and once with the Fort Collins Symphony.

I didn't take it seriously enough back then to be a professional musician. I was more interested in partying and stuff. I had every intention then of finding a husband that would take care of me so I wouldn't have to work. I took the lazy way out and got a teaching degree. I like imparting knowledge to others, I just hate the whole concept of organized education, especially the public education system. I didn't fit, so I gave up. I haven't touched an instrument since the summer of '94, the last time I was a music camp counselor.

I really miss playing, especially jazz.

One day I'm going to buy another clarinet, practice and find some way to play again.

We found this out the hard way. Nobody had a clue I was allergic since there had been a cat in our house when I was born.

I don't remember how old I was (it was before I started school) and our family went to visit some people (no clue who they were anymore). I remember going to this house where the old lady had a ton of cats. My memory says there were close to a hundred, but my child's mind could've exaggerated that. I'll have to ask Dad one day for sure. I just remember it seems like there were cats on every surface. Anyway...I remember playing with some kittens that were in a shower or something and then I remember my eyes itching. Then I got very hot and couldn't breathe. I went to find my mother because my eyes were swelling shut. I don't remember much after that until I was home on the couch. I think my grandmother was there, also. She had been a nurse. I guess I had broken out in terrible hives. They kept putting cool wash clothes on my head and flushing my eyes with Visine or something. Not fun!

Now, I can still have a reaction even if a cat hasn't been present in ages. It's really hard to rid a place of cat dander.