To begin at the beginning, I was born in Monterey, California, and christened with the name of Jean Marie (not my doing, though I can't complain). I was very young then - though I did grow up - and now, though I am neither old nor wise, I enjoy writing about my small life. Poetry is my chief hobby - the others include singing, piano, drawing, reading, soccer, composing, some photography, and pointing out subtle ironies in life to amuse people (it rarely works, and yes, it IS a hobby).