I Am Blogger

Hi. My name is Cath. I wear a lot of hats, the newest one of which I’m putting on today. Not for the first time, actually, as I appear weekly on the blog for the magazine I work for, Paper Crafts. Paper Crafts is a sweet little magazine that publishes handmade card ideas with a circulation upwards of 200K.  I love working there, but that is another story.

Other hats I wear are that of mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, aunt, and book lover. I play the clarinet and the piano, I speak French, and I love to cook.  My favorite food in the whole world is red wine and I like to say “I’ll drink to that” whenever I agree with something emphatically.

I’ve been married twice.  The second time I got it right.  Really right.

I have two beautiful daughters, Nicole (21) and Rebeccah (19.)  Those I got right the first time.

I’ve lived on the Wasatch Front my entire life.  I am 44 years old but it feels more like I’m 32. 

My dad was bipolar.  He committed suicide.  Those two facts of my life have had more impact on me than anything yet so far.

I used to be a teacher.  I taught English and creative writing to middle school students for ten years.  I was pretty good at it, it was the way I defined who I was, but I burned out, and now I miss it, but not enough to go back.  That is another story as well.

 

I owned my own handmade card business for five years.  It was called Cards by Cath and it felt like it was one of my children.  It was born from my own ideas; I gave it love, time, and attention; and I felt like it was a complete and utter extension of myself.  I learned a great many things from the experience, the most important of which was that for me, gainful employment attached to a salary is best.  And although my little baby has grown apart from me and left home, it did get me the job I currently have, and that, indeed is truly a gift.

I live in a little yellow house with a wrap-around porch where my husband, who is named Mark, and I like to host parties of all kinds, both small and large.  In that little yellow house with a wrap-around porch there is a book club that gathers once a month.  We read good stuff and have even better discussions.  We’re in our seventh year.  We are very close friends.

I have an aunt who is just a year-and-a-half older than me.  We grew up like sisters.  We aren’t as close anymore, but we will always have our childhoods.

I have two younger brothers.  Eric has been married to my best friend for twenty years now.  We lived within two miles of each other for ten out of twelve years. They moved to New Hampshire four-and-a-half years ago and I am still not over it. My other brother Larry lives nearby and is one of the funniest guys I know.

My mom is a retired elementary school teacher who is now a painter.  Her medium is watercolor and she travels the country going to workshops to hone her skill.

My great-grandfather was a band director.  My grandfather was a band director.  My dad was a band director. There are four more band directors and eight more teachers in my extended family.  It is The Family Vocation.

My favorite time of the day is Bluetime.  Seen most easily in the wintertime, it is that sliver of time in which the sun sinks just below the horizon, saturating all that can be seen in a quiet blue glow, rich and deep.  It happens also in the early morning just before the sun rises, but I am more likely to see it in the evening, and when I catch it (for it doesn’t last long), I experience a kind of happy that resonates deep within me.  For if there is one thing to describe me, Cath, it is that I am intimately connected to Mother Nature.  She holds me, she feeds me, she speaks to me, and she makes me strong.

These are the things that define who I am.  These are the fragments that when pulled together create a cohesive whole.  These are the pieces of me, Cath, that you need to know so that we may begin.

Comments

[marta]

cath, (aka ms. ed) welcome to the club! it's going to be so wonderful to read your writings on a regular basis!

you've already given us a lovely synopsis which leaves me wanting more.. and yes, i've known about your 'wrap-around porch' since my eighth grade year, and have dreamed of a house like that for myself!

hooray for blogs, hooray for the internet and hooray for a most fabulous way to exchange ideas and record your thoughts.. i'll be coming back often.

[Layle Koncar]

Hey you! Noticed your blog from my blog stats. So fun to read so much about you, Cath. Looking forward to what else you have to say!

[wendy smedley]

welcome to this wonderful world-
thanks for sharing so much about yourself-I was thinking of you yesterday when I went to Red Butte to see the daffodils- if you haven't been lately add it to your list!

[celeste rockwood-jones]

cath joining the blogging world? i'll drink to that!! you've got such great humor and insight, i'm sure i'll be visiting often.

[Lisa Strahl]

CATH!!!! Yahooo! I can't wait to read your bliggidy blog honey! :-D

[Becky Olsen]

Yay a Cath Blog!!!
Loved reading about you!
I call that time of day the "alpenglow" don't know where I came up with that, but it speaks to me too.
You will be on my must read list, so don't leave me hanging please (like Celeste sometimes does, LOL!)
*smooches*
B-

[Kim Kesti]

Cath blogging? Schweeeet. Love your opener. But, you forgot you are a breakfast lover, too. Right? LOL. Can I count on you as a fast friend on my blog?
Loves!

[Jennifer Strano]

Cath! Woman! Girl on the move!!!

So glad to see you have a blog because I have always loved how you write. I promise to never judge the quality of your blog on any typos you may commit in the future.

xoxo
jen strano ---- r u going to NYC for the Stationery show?

[wendy sue]

Cath - it's so fun to learn more about you! You are an amazing writer - I know I'll enjoy your blog posts as you add to your new baby! :o)

[Jessica Witty]

Braver than I, my friend! It's going to be a hit, I'm sure!

[Betsy V]

Hey Cath! So glad to see you blogging. Loved reading more about you. Oh, and I live in a little yellow house as well, but, unfortunately one without a wrap around porch. :-) Happy blogging!

[susan]

Fantastic! Congrats on the new blog. I am so glad you got started because I never knew about your band family and all! Guess what? I played the clarinet, then bass, then the Bbb Contra bass Clarinet thru 2 years of college. My oldest son played clarinet and paid for two years of college. He was also a drum major in high school and college. My youngest is in 10th grade and he just switched from clarinet to Eb Contra. LOL! How fun is that!? I have a blog for showing my family and friends my scrapbook pages but thats because I avoid any writing that I can. :)

Have a great time with it!
Suz

[Kezia Whitteker]

You are one of my most favorite gals in the entire world. I am privileged to have one of your handmade cards sitting right here on my desk as I type and I cherish it! So thrilled you are blogging! See you soon in NYC!

[Kim Hughes]

ahhh, how wonderful Cath. I am enjoying getting to know you better and I look forward to reading more. I'll definitely drink to that! :)

[Alice Golden]

yay Cath! you know I always love reading your blog posts on the PC site and how wonderful to share so many interesting personal tidbits...looking forward to the next installment. xo

[Stefanie Hamilton]

How fun is this?! I always wanted you to get a blog, because you know too much about me from mine. ;-)

[Paul Whitteker]

You are AMAZING!! I love that you shared so much of yourself and looking forward to checking back often. Keep being your MOXIE FAB self!

[Alisa Bangerter]

Hey Cath, You are an amazing writer! Just reading your intro makes me want to read more. I will be dropping by often....

[Sharon Laakkonen]

What a wonderful read! I also play the clarinet and I *used* to speak French. :P I am looking forward to learning more about you. Thank you for sharing!

[Melissa]

What a treat to get and sit and listen to you talking to me through my little copmter--I love the way you write Cath---you are just as sweet and kind as ever!
So happy to connect with you my friend!
Melissa

[teri]

Hello Cath! :)
So happy to see your blog! I'll be back often.

[Rachel Greig]

Hey Cath - so happy to see you here in blogland! What a wonderful intro, so great to get to know you a little more. I look forward to keeping up with your blog! :)

[Karen Desmet]

Welcome to the blog world! I love learning bits and pieces about others and to read about your background and life is awesome! I look forward to coming back and visiting! :)