Meet Ren
I'm married!
Jay and I met on Yahoo Messenger in February 2002, became fast friends and soon found ourselves falling in love. We have a mutual love of knowledge, languages and reading. When he finished school in September, we decided to meet in Italy. We met for the first time in Milan in October 2002, and spent nine wonderful days together in the little town of Cavernago, in the province of Bergamo, in northern Italy. We married there, a simple ceremony where we repeated the words necessary according to his religion.
Five months later, we met in Ghana and married three more times. Two months after that, we married for a final time in the USA (the "legal" wedding, with all the paperwork).
Click on any picture to see it full size.
For more information about our meeting and the wedding(s), click here
Jay's web site. For information about the wedding, click here.
Personal Info About Ren
Call me Ren!!
No, it's not my given name, but it is the name I use (Sorry, Mom). I go by Ren. Please call me that. Well, unless you want to call me by my Islamic name, Safiyya. Actually, I usually go by Safi. Ummm... Sorry for the confusion. LOL!
I was born in May 1962... the Year of the Tiger, in Chinese Astrology. I'm not Chinese, but I do like tigers! I like most animals, for that matter. In "regular" astrology, I'm a Taurus. I don't actually believe in astrology, but some of you might.
Religiously, I am either an atheist or pantheist (as far as I'm concerned, either EVERYTHING is "god," or there is no god... and the result is the same), with some Pagan tendencies. I don't worship anything, but I like celebrating the seasons.
Of course, I'll celebrate just about anyone's holidays, especially those that involve me getting gifts and candy (Halloween, Easter, whatever winter holiday is convenient!).
Most of the "major" American (i.e., Christian) holidays happen in close proximity to the Pagan quarters & cross quarters (beginnings and midpoints of the seasons), so I can justify it if I really want to. And yes, at the time of the winter solstice, Christmas, Eid, and Channukah, I do exchange gifts and cards with my family and friends.
What DO I believe?? I believe that what goes around, comes around. It's the Golden Rule. It all comes down to kindness, doesn't it?
To quote Henry James, "Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The
second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind."
Or, as Buddha said, "Kindess to all living things is the true religion."
That is what I believe.
I have a lot of friends, but there is always room in my life for good, honest, helpful, trustworthy, friendly people... especially if they love animals and don't mind my sense of humour. I accept that I am not compatible with everyone (or even most!), so I try to find and keep people around me that I get along with especially well.
Marriage
My first marriage lasted 1 year and 8 days, Halloween 1991 to Nov '92. No kids, no property, I got the dog. He was on drugs, he stole money from me, and he lied about a lot of things. He had to go. I divorced him. Live & learn. 'Nuff said.
My marriage to Jay has lasted three years already, and still going strong! Sure, we've hit some bumpy times, but we've gotten through them together, and come out even stronger on the other side!
A little personal history
At this point, although I lived in many other places, the two main places I've lived are 
Spokane, Washington, and the Washington, DC, Metro Area. I lived in suburban Maryland (Prince George's County) for eight years, and now I've lived in
Alexandria, VA, since 1996.
NOTE: Spokane HAD a website, but it was never updated (it showed the 1996 calendar of events for six years) and they have finally taken the site down.
Since my Dad (1938-1999) was in the US Air Force, we moved a lot when I was a kid. We settled in Spokane, WA, in 1974, I graduated from high school in 1980 (the year our mountain blew up -- volcano Mt St Helens). I attended Eastern Washington University from 1980-1984, and graduated with a BA in Journalism, a second emphasis in Philosophy (just enough to screw me up for life, I like to say), and a minor in Russian. Too bad liberal arts degrees are a dime a dozen.
With this fine, impressive education, I have landed a job making "the medium bucks" with the Federal Government. Oh well... At least I can pay my bills, if I'm careful.
Important things in my life:
My pets and
my family are important enough that they get their own pages. Click to see & read.
My health
I'm diabetic (insulin shots twice a day), and I have arthritis in my knees and myriad other problems that I'm on medication for. I'm overweight and... oh, I don't even want to talk about it. At least my baby came out healthy!
I DON'T smoke, drink, or take any illegal drugs. I was on anti-depressants for years, but I'm much better now. I'm happy with my life! I have Jay now, and I am soooooo in love with him. I have wonderful friends across the country and around the world, and the best pets! What more could I ask for?
My community
I live in south Alexandria, Virginia, in
Fairfax County. I like it.
My hobbies
I love movies and reading, and
I collect everything!!
- Magnets
- Breyer horses
- Postcards
- Books
- Tiger Pictures/figures
- Picasso prints/posters (framed)
- Knickknacks (animals)
- RCA/Victor Dogs
- Anything involving rats (as long as they're cute)
- Almost anything involving bats (as long as they're depicted kindly)
- Almost anything involving cute animals of any kind
- Music CDs
- Jokes
Things I like
- My habibi, Jay!!!
- Spring & Fall days, with highs in the mid 70's (degrees Fahrenheit!)
- Movies (all kinds!)
- Books (I get 'em from the library)
- Languages
- Eating in restaurants
- Greek, Lebanese, Italian, and Chinese food
- Getting letters, catalogs, and money in the mail
- Music: They Might Be Giants, GooGoo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, etc.
- Getting presents & compliments
- My animals
- My '97 Saturn SL2
Things I dislike
- CANCER!!
- Spokane, WA
- Snow & Ice
- Liars
- Being stood up or kept waiting
- Broccoli
- Raw tomatoes
- Coffee
- Chain email & SPAM
- Bills
- Credit Card Debt
- Most Country and Rap music
- Being bored
Guilty Pleasures:
Things I like, but don't like admitting I like
- Really stupid comedy movies
- Dirty jokes
- Jell-O No-Bake Cheesecake
- Children's books
- Madonna
- MAD Magazine
Things I kind of dislike reading but keep reading anyway
- Stephen King books
- John Saul books
- Those Chicken Soup for the (fill in the blank) Soul books
Some of my current goals:
- To marry Jay DONE
- To have a baby with Jay DONE
- Vacations to the Caribbean, New Mexico, Iowa, New Orleans, etc.
- To fix up my condo (new door, carpets)
- To get my things from Mom's house DONE
- To find a new job that provides me with more suitable challenges.
- To learn Hausa (Jay's "native" language) working on it...
- to learn Arabic and Twi (2 of Jay's other languages)
- To learn (more) Italian
- To learn French
- To always welcome new, good friends into my life
- To get a Master's degree in ...something
Some of the highlights of my recent years
- Having a baby (Nov 2003)
- Marrying Jay five times on three continents (Oct 2002-May 2003)
- Meeting Jay in Italy and getting engaged to him (Oct 2002)
- Going to Las Vegas with my Mom for my 40th birthday (May 2002)
- Making Honor Society with Avon (2001-2002)
- Home improvements: New windows and new heat pump (2001)
- Vacation to Lexington, KY, for Breyerfest (2001)
- Studying Italian (1 semester) and getting a 4.0 (2000)
- Getting a parrot (Gulliver! October 2000)
- Buying my condo (April 2000)
- Buying my Saturn (March 2000)
- Finally freeing myself from debt (March 2000)
- Camping with Zuzu in West Virginia for a whole week in 1997
- Vacationing in the Dominican Republic (Republica Dominicana) in 1995
- Winning the Best Pet Rat Trophy at Rat Shows - TWICE! (Thanks to Christina and Sam!)
Ren's HomePage
Last revision 6 September MMV.