Subj: beginning of website
Date: 3/6/01 4:38:50 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Ghstdances
To: Ghstdances

You could be asking, "House of Myth?"
No, this is not a house of make-believe! I love
mythology and have read (and later studied) the
various myths since I was a child. This love
came from two of the best men I have ever known:
my father and my late (and dearly missed) grandfather.
Websters defines myth as a "traditional story
of ostensibly historical events that serves to
unfold part of the world view of a people or
explain a practice or belief" and also as "a
popular belief or tradition that has grown
around something or someone." Everyone, each
family has its own myths... and while my 4-legged
children are seen by many as truly advanced and
sentient beings (and they are), many of our family's
"myths" have been borne in them... and I cannot imagine
life without them.


Rio, aka "the grey ghost," was the first to arrive...
through the mists of Avalon, escaping a fate worse than death, along the brambled
path of Indian Head Hwy... she has been one of my
best friends, truest confidants, and constant
companions since 1986. She is the true head of
the household and reigns supreme in the Emerald
City. She lets few into her circle of friends and
has no compunction against telling you how she feels if
she simply doesn't like you. If she finds you vile,
she will make it clear (in NO uncertain terms)
that you are no longer welcome in HER home.

Rio is a Korat (or Thai temple cat). They were
given as a means of good luck and are a treasure
in their native country. Known for an expansive
lifespan, 20 to 24 years is not uncommon. The Korats
have an unmatched grey coat with silver tippings (and
are double-coated, though it is difficult to tell). The
green eyes and the voice... what a voice! Rio is
exceedingly talkative and must know all that is
going on. If I had to select a fictional character
for her it would be Lady Catherine de Burgh from
Pride and Prejudice.


Name: Frey
DOB: 4/14/88
Likes: People food, water, people dessert, walks outside, food, windy days,
people food, rides in the car
Dislikes: Thunderstorms, fire crackers, when mom leaves (be it to work, the store, vacation, etc),
earthquakes, any rug in front of the kitchen sink
Frey is actually short for Freyr, the norse God of...
He is a pure bred Keeshond (or Dutch barge dog). Now
retired at nearly 13, he has also held the post of
one of my closest friends... my "son." He is the
original "traveling dog" going with me on driveable
business trips to Norfolk, Newport News, Oceana,
Hampton, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Yorktown to name a few. (I spent many
years working with the Navy... can you tell?)

Keeshonds (give background on them here)... Water dogs by
nature, Frey loved it when we would take him to the beach (Nags
Head received two paws up from Frey)... especially when there are
sand crabs and sand pipers to chase.

Frey will eat ANYTHING that is people food... salad,
carrots, saag paneer, chili, string beans... you name it,
you put it on a plate, he wants it. (Thanks to my
mother.) In recent years he has let me know he's retired now, except
for when the pizza delivery arrives...


Name: Daisy
DOB: 4/14/98
Likes: Open windows, string on the floor, power snoozing on the couch,
Dave's socks on the floor
Dislikes: Fingers shaken at her, kibble-level below 1/3 in the bowl, earthquakes, long or short-haul flights
Daisy, aka "stripey," "spotty," "whiney," was the
product of a pure bred Bengal getting out and painting
the neighborhood red (as in light district). Daisy
acquired her name from two sources... the first
being that the daisy is one of my favorite flowers, the second
that she has a black skunk-like stripe down her
back. I know, "what does a skunk stripe have to do
with Daisy?" The only famous skunk I could think
of was Flower (from Bambi), but it was just too plain for
her. So what were my favorite flowers? Dahlia sounded like
a stripper, Rose was too plain, and Daisy... well...
she answered to it and it fits her...

She is the baby of the family... a position she revels in!
I cannot take in a younger cat, her feelings would be
far too hurt if I did. She is the equivalent of the
whiney child and I often ask her if she'd like some
cheese to go with it.

Daisy is the epitome of the affectionate and playful
tabby... and will make mischief where there is none to
be found!


About me... wow... a DC/Virginia native who transplanted
first to NYC/NJ (and that NJ is pronounced "Joyzee") and
then to Seattle... my life has been anything but boring! There
have been a few hardtimes, sad times, broke times... but the
experiences have culminated to make me who I am today!

I spent over 8 years working with the military, then 2 with
the FBI (no X-Files stuff), 2 in banking and finance, and 1.5 out
here as a contractor. (Yes, I did 6 months out at the Borg and they
could NOT assimulate me!) I miss working with the military,
but I don't miss all the travel that went with it. I logged
enough frequent flier miles that I flew Concorde in 1998. (Yes! I did it!
And what an experience it was!) I still love to travel... Hawaii
at the end of 2001, and hopefully Tibet in this lifetime!

I have pretty much decided to make the Pacific Northwest my
home...

The best man I've met since my grandfather and my dad, and he
actually wants to be with me! Go figure! It's
a wonder Dave and I didn't meet before (considering my work
with the Navy and his being in the Navy and the nature of the
assignments)... but we have now, and it took coming to Seattle
and a little help from technology to bring us together. A southern
gentleman from "back east" is just what I found! And he received
the "kids" seal of approval, so he's a keeper!