I am originally from the Chicago-land area. Actually, the Wisconsin — Illinois border north of the city, near Antioch and Kenosha.

I joined the Navy right out of high school. Some test I took told them I was smart, and they promised me good money and quick promotions. At the time it meant a signing bonus and independence from my parents, stat. In two years' time I became a Reactor Operator on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

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Fast forward 10.5 years later, 4 cars, 5 moves, 3 promotions, a demotion, and a husband later, I happily departed from the service. I started my marriage and career in the radiation monitoring field in Connecticut. We had a son and decided to move to Virginia.

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We have been living in Chesapeake, Virginia since late 2015. Besides the heat, I love this area. I am also working in the same field I started out in when I joined the Navy and I feel grateful that it is a stable job.

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There is so much more of me to share, but you will have to stick around to find out more. I will tell you this. I love tattoos. I got my first and second tattoo as soon as I joined the Navy. Before I was sent to my 'A' school, a friend and I found a tattoo shop in Great Lakes, IL and got tattoos.

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I got my first tattoo right after boot camp…and I was hooked, obsessed. In the picture here, you can see me and the rose with my name underneath. I had that tattoo refreshed after about 25 years.

If you look closely, I have a full sleeve on the other arm. More details on that later!

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My blog allows me to share my thoughts and hopefully spark a constructive dialogue. I know that this country needs to be able to come together, collaborate, and compromise so that we can work through our issues. The disagreements back and forth on the meaning of terms or if this or that systemic issue is real, are getting us absolutely nowhere.

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I think the answer is trying to maintain a civil dialogue, especially with those who have differing beliefs and opinions than me. 

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I began this journey to write a blog, not because I crave the spotlight, but because I feel like I have an important message. I have been watching, witnessing the events unfold in this country and they truly terrify me. Please join me as I explain the concepts of Crucial Conversations and then apply the principles to specific topics.

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Because I love tattoos, I am going to share my tattoo journey as well. I use the handle "TattoodFool" and have for many years. One of my first tattoos was the Fool from tarot. The Fool is one who goes her own way, even though some think foolishly, some think without looking and possibly off a cliff. But the fool does not care what others think and goes her own way.