My Second First Time

This is not my first time starting a blog- but it will be my first time maintaining said blog. I have a wonderful tendency to start something and then forget about it. I have every intention of keeping up on it, but for one reason or another the darn thing slips out of my mind. Well... I make a promise that today I will start anew... it helps that my dear friend who suggested I would be a wonderful blogger most likely won't let me forget about it. But with that said, I will tell a little about myself, as that seems appropriate for my first posting.

My name is Janet Olson, I grew up in a small town that most will know as the home of Keiko the Whale (for a brief time) which is Newport Oregon. Due to the nearness to the ocean, I am fond of wide open spaces, and love the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. The one major thing that I miss about living in Newport is the sound of the fog horns out on the ocean as I drifted off to sleep in my youth. There is nothing more soothing than the lulling sound of the deep horns warning the ships that land is near.

I am an alumnus of Western Oregon University, which is located in the small town of Monmouth (yes even smaller than my home town). I graduated with my BA in English Literature, with a minor in Art. I enjoy painting, but due to lack of space have not done as much as I would like. My medium is Oil's and my subject matter is what ever strikes me at the moment. I currently am fond of abstract art, partially because perfection does not enter the picture (since I am a perfectionist this takes away the element of frustration I often get) and partially because it allows me to choose the color combinations, free of any real world restrictions.

I am very close to finishing my Masters of Arts in English Literature, I just have some corrections to make on my Thesis, and then it will be up to those who are reading as to whether or not I should get it. My mentor says it is good, and she has good taste, so I take her word for it. The title of my thesis is Humor as Social Commentary in the Novels of Jane Austen. Some day I hope to apply this to all of her novels, but as it stand I choose her Juvenile works along with Pride and Prejudice and Persuasions. It was fun to write, and I learned a lot about the brilliance of Jane Austen and how she attempted to "buck the system" in her own way. I would say that she is the female version of Shakespeare, she could comment on the society that she was writing for, and they enjoyed it, not realizing that she was criticizing them. If that is not brilliance then I don't know what is!

I will be married for 3 years this coming May! Marriage is a wonderful, yet difficult path, but it is worth it. My husband is such a caring person, and I strive to be as generous as he is. We don't have any children yet, but we do have our miniature dachshund Maia! She is quite the handful... at this moment she is attempting to get comfortable on her pillow, but had been whining for me to play play play.... I wish I only had half as much energy as she does. Lately she has been a very disobedient little thing... any suggestions anyone might have on keeping her in line would be greatly appreciated.

Well.... I could go on and on and on and on and on and well you get the idea, but it seems that it is time for me to stop.