I was obsessed with animals in general, and dogs in particular, from a very young age. Not sure where it came from; apparently I was simply born with it. Even as far back as kindergarten I was aspiring to have a career with dogs. Of course, when I was growing up in rural NH, you weren't given many suggestions besides veterinary work, which was decidedly not my calling! It wasn't until my early teens that I was able to do the research on my own to find other prospective endeavors. Meanwhile, I nursed my addiction by reading every dog book I could get my hands on. I studied breed encyclopedias, training manuals, behavior guides, health and nutrition texts, among other topics. Yes, that's right, a child that enjoys reference books. I was even known to read the dictionary just for fun. 😉
In those early years, running a boarding kennel was actually my top career choice. I spent countless hours drawing up my future facility (I've always enjoyed architecture & design) and planning the business. However, my tastes and lifestyle eventually changed, and that 24/7 responsibility became entirely unappealing. Training & behavior consulting was always high on my list as well, but I've continually wavered on that potential path throughout my life. I have at least greatly enjoyed showing and working with my own dogs (another lifelong goal that finally came true!) [See The Poodle Pages.]
To be honest, professional grooming was never really seriously on my radar. But destiny finds a way! After I transferred high schools, my new guidance counselor basically insisted I call her groomer about apprenticing. I looked into it, and figured if nothing else it would be a way into the pet care field, so I went for it. The following summer, after graduation, I entered an intense professional grooming course. By the next spring, I had opened a small grooming studio of my own, which my ever supportive parents allowed me to set up in their home. I have been at it ever since.
Over the years, I discovered continuing education and grooming competitions. These pursuits helped advance my career, as well as led me to travel more, including getting on a plane for the first time! I've enjoyed contest placements in both profile and creative grooming. I also became a member of a few professional organizations and worked towards voluntary certification. [See my business resume.]
Grooming is in no way easy, but it certainly opened several new doors for me, and satisfied many of my needs, professionally and personally. While it may not be my only destiny, it obviously was meant to be a big piece of my path in life.
In those early years, running a boarding kennel was actually my top career choice. I spent countless hours drawing up my future facility (I've always enjoyed architecture & design) and planning the business. However, my tastes and lifestyle eventually changed, and that 24/7 responsibility became entirely unappealing. Training & behavior consulting was always high on my list as well, but I've continually wavered on that potential path throughout my life. I have at least greatly enjoyed showing and working with my own dogs (another lifelong goal that finally came true!) [See The Poodle Pages.]
To be honest, professional grooming was never really seriously on my radar. But destiny finds a way! After I transferred high schools, my new guidance counselor basically insisted I call her groomer about apprenticing. I looked into it, and figured if nothing else it would be a way into the pet care field, so I went for it. The following summer, after graduation, I entered an intense professional grooming course. By the next spring, I had opened a small grooming studio of my own, which my ever supportive parents allowed me to set up in their home. I have been at it ever since.
Over the years, I discovered continuing education and grooming competitions. These pursuits helped advance my career, as well as led me to travel more, including getting on a plane for the first time! I've enjoyed contest placements in both profile and creative grooming. I also became a member of a few professional organizations and worked towards voluntary certification. [See my business resume.]
Grooming is in no way easy, but it certainly opened several new doors for me, and satisfied many of my needs, professionally and personally. While it may not be my only destiny, it obviously was meant to be a big piece of my path in life.
Other projects...
Hobbies & Pastimes...
My interests are varied and ever evolving. Currently my primary focus is hiking. I pretty much grew up in the woods, but only started "real" hiking on a regular basis a few years ago, thanks to my partner who outfitted and guided me (and who's more than a little obsessed with hiking himself, LOL). My body doesn't let me push for his kind of extreme climbs (I have enough chronic pain, thank you), but I most enjoy the moderate peaks of our beautiful local mountain ranges anyway. Hiking is not a competition for me; I pursue it to feel good and de-stress. That said, I do go after hiking patches & challenges, as incentive and goals to focus on, and to discover new trails I may not have otherwise. So far I have completed the Belknap & Ossipee range patches, Castle in the Clouds redlining, 52 Hike Challenge, NH Fire Tower Quest, and Forest Society 5 Hike Challenge. Goals for 2021 include finishing the Winter Ossipee 10, LRCT Explorer patch, 52 Hike Adventure Challenge, and more. [You can follow my hikes on Facebook.)
One of my absolute essentials is my daily morning yoga practice, which I have been committed to since 2011. (Wow, time flies!) Yoga can help nourish the mind and spirit, especially combined with energy work and meditation. But mainly it keeps my body from completely falling apart after more than two decades of grooming.
A more recent hobby is bellydancing. During a binge of trying new things, I attended a "sacred bellydance" class in 2017, and that format and style resonated perfectly with me. Dance practice quickly became integrated in my daily routine. I often liken it to fast yoga, because of how it makes my body feel, and because it has similar holistic effects. Obviously, it's a great workout too. 😉 Since 2018, I've also taken part in the annual international ShimmyMob.
Another thing that keeps me busy is cooking & baking. I've always enjoyed the culinary arts, and of course have a lifelong interest in nutrition. This all served me well when I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies after a severe reaction in my late 20's! (Seriously, like two dozen foods.) It is a major pain in the butt, frustrating and limiting, but I deal. And thankfully in the years since I changed my diet, many more decent options for alternative foods have come on the market. (OTOH, there are also a few ingredients gaining popularity that I AM allergic to, so that can be difficult. But I digress. LOL)
Random other interests include downhill skiing, which I used to do more of. (I was even a part-time instructor one season.) Unfortunately, between my schedule and the inflated costs of going, I don't frequently get to hit the slopes now. I never found cross-country appealing, but as I get older I do think about it more. haha Not only is it more affordable, it would also allow me to do skijoring (dog pulling you on skis), which I always wanted to try! I also enjoy the water and swimming, basically since I could walk. Books were a lifelong passion too, though I don't read as much as I should nowadays. (Thank you internet. LOL) I've done some writing as well, and enjoy most anything in the creative arts. If I could make a real living doing that, it'd be a dream come true!
My partner and I do a lot of escape rooms, and he got me hooked on sudoku puzzles. We hit live theatre as often as we can. He's helping me finally learn to skate (which, as a skier, was made far easier by trading figure skates for hockey skates.) In the summer, we go stand-up paddleboarding as much as possible. We do an obstacle course now and then, and whatever other adventures we can find.
What's next? Time will tell. Life continually evolves and changes, as does my focus. Some things stick, others ebb and flow. But this is me, in my current incarnation. Dog nerd. New Age hippie. Artist. Writer. Dreamer. Goofball. Free Spirit.
My interests are varied and ever evolving. Currently my primary focus is hiking. I pretty much grew up in the woods, but only started "real" hiking on a regular basis a few years ago, thanks to my partner who outfitted and guided me (and who's more than a little obsessed with hiking himself, LOL). My body doesn't let me push for his kind of extreme climbs (I have enough chronic pain, thank you), but I most enjoy the moderate peaks of our beautiful local mountain ranges anyway. Hiking is not a competition for me; I pursue it to feel good and de-stress. That said, I do go after hiking patches & challenges, as incentive and goals to focus on, and to discover new trails I may not have otherwise. So far I have completed the Belknap & Ossipee range patches, Castle in the Clouds redlining, 52 Hike Challenge, NH Fire Tower Quest, and Forest Society 5 Hike Challenge. Goals for 2021 include finishing the Winter Ossipee 10, LRCT Explorer patch, 52 Hike Adventure Challenge, and more. [You can follow my hikes on Facebook.)
One of my absolute essentials is my daily morning yoga practice, which I have been committed to since 2011. (Wow, time flies!) Yoga can help nourish the mind and spirit, especially combined with energy work and meditation. But mainly it keeps my body from completely falling apart after more than two decades of grooming.
A more recent hobby is bellydancing. During a binge of trying new things, I attended a "sacred bellydance" class in 2017, and that format and style resonated perfectly with me. Dance practice quickly became integrated in my daily routine. I often liken it to fast yoga, because of how it makes my body feel, and because it has similar holistic effects. Obviously, it's a great workout too. 😉 Since 2018, I've also taken part in the annual international ShimmyMob.
Another thing that keeps me busy is cooking & baking. I've always enjoyed the culinary arts, and of course have a lifelong interest in nutrition. This all served me well when I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies after a severe reaction in my late 20's! (Seriously, like two dozen foods.) It is a major pain in the butt, frustrating and limiting, but I deal. And thankfully in the years since I changed my diet, many more decent options for alternative foods have come on the market. (OTOH, there are also a few ingredients gaining popularity that I AM allergic to, so that can be difficult. But I digress. LOL)
Random other interests include downhill skiing, which I used to do more of. (I was even a part-time instructor one season.) Unfortunately, between my schedule and the inflated costs of going, I don't frequently get to hit the slopes now. I never found cross-country appealing, but as I get older I do think about it more. haha Not only is it more affordable, it would also allow me to do skijoring (dog pulling you on skis), which I always wanted to try! I also enjoy the water and swimming, basically since I could walk. Books were a lifelong passion too, though I don't read as much as I should nowadays. (Thank you internet. LOL) I've done some writing as well, and enjoy most anything in the creative arts. If I could make a real living doing that, it'd be a dream come true!
My partner and I do a lot of escape rooms, and he got me hooked on sudoku puzzles. We hit live theatre as often as we can. He's helping me finally learn to skate (which, as a skier, was made far easier by trading figure skates for hockey skates.) In the summer, we go stand-up paddleboarding as much as possible. We do an obstacle course now and then, and whatever other adventures we can find.
What's next? Time will tell. Life continually evolves and changes, as does my focus. Some things stick, others ebb and flow. But this is me, in my current incarnation. Dog nerd. New Age hippie. Artist. Writer. Dreamer. Goofball. Free Spirit.
“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality;
and then there are those who turn one into the other.”
– Douglas H. Everett
“One is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”
– John Barrymore
“There is no wrong step when you follow your heart.”
– Tara Lamper
