I was born in Scotland in a hospital which was once a mansion owned by a beer baron.

 

I came across the Atlantic Ocean on The France (now called Norway) when I was three and moved to Pennsylvania until I was five.  After that we moved to Orange, Connecticut where I went to school at Mary L. Tracy Elementary until fourth grade (I had 2 years of French there).

 

 

 

Finally, my family moved to Irvine, California, where I lived until I left for college.  My first job was a paper route for the Daily News, for which I received awards for best paper carrier.  My next two jobs were at Del Taco and Edwards Theatres.  I graduated from Woodbridge High School and, at the age of seventeen, went on to obtain my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of California at Riverside, which, at the time, was small and liberal.  I also learned to Scuba dive.

 

Afterward, while working as a Legal Secretary, I decided to move to San Diego and seek a Certificate as a Paralegal from the University of San Diego.  During this time, I learned to love running and biking.  I also learned to fish.

 

During my time in San Diego, I fell in love with my best friend from UC Riverside, Victor Anderson.  He was finishing his law degree, so I moved to Calabasas to be with him.  With a minor in Business, I found work managing a law firm in Beverly Hills.  However, in 1994, the Northridge Earthquake struck and we had one day to move out of our townhome!

 

To our good fortune, we found a lovely home in Oak Park, where Victor, his son, and I settled in nicely.  During my step-son’s early years, I learned to love mountainbiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, scuba diving, horseback riding, and (of course) Football! 

Brendon and Jo                                                                                                            Vic and Jo on top of Mt. Shasta; 14,167 feet.

Vic an Jo horseback riding in the Canadian Rockies

                                                                                                                        Vic with Brendon playing Quarterback for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Jo and Vic Scuba diving in Utila, Honduras                                                                   Jo lunging one of her horses, Skippa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            Jo Mountainbiking in Chesebro Canyon, Agoura

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jo All Terrain Skiing in Sequoia National Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            Jo skiing and Brendon snowboarding in Snowbird, Utah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jo backpacking in Big Pine, California

 

However, my long time passion has always been teaching, and so, while Brendon was attending college, Victor and I went back to school to obtain our Masters of Education in Teaching at California Lutheran University.  I now teach English and Creative Writing at Agoura High School, in Agoura Hills, California.