READER PROFILES

Thank you so much to all the readers who have submitted questions and profiles. It has been super cool to get to know you. I love how unique and different all of you are. This week, we meet two readers… Mark and Tayo. Each one approached this in a different way and both are great! Thanks for sharing!

Reader profile: Mark Connolly

My name is Mark C, and I am from New Jersey (USA). I am a high school biology teacher and my birthday is March 24, which makes me an Aries.

I love Italian food. It is one of my favorite types of food to eat. A great Italian meal begins with good bread. It is even better if it is warmed and the basket includes garlic bread (very delicious). I enjoy a great caprese salad drizzled with balsamic vinegar, and here in NJ, we have absolutely fabulous Jersey tomatoes at the end of the summer through the beginning of the fall. So I must say that in the “Garden State,” a caprese salad is even more delightful than usual during the summer months. A few other great appetizers include a delicious cold antipasto and mozzarella en carozza with extra sauce on the side. I also enjoy a caesar salad (sometimes with grilled chicken). For the main entre, chicken/veal francese, lasagna, chicken/veal/eggplant parmesan with penne, penne vodka, or penne alla vodka (it has shrimp, scallops, & crabmeat in it) are all great choices. For dessert, ricotta cheesecake or New York style cheesecake is a must. A touch of ice cream also makes a great addition to any meal and is a great way to complete it. I must say that pizza is always fantastic, especially if it has thin crust and was baked in a brick oven. I feel like ordering some great Italian food right now!

My favorite seasons are both spring and summer. I really love that the weather becomes warm in the spring and everything comes “alive” again. I really like warm weather. I like to see beautiful green lawns, trees with leaves on them, beautiful gardens, etc. Summer is also a great time of the year. I like to spend time a lot of time at the beach and in the pool! It is a very fun and relaxing time of the year. It is really the best season of all!

A friend would describe me as a sincere person that is honest, dedicated, hard-working, and is respectful, caring and considerate of others. He/she would say that I am a great listener, and I try to helpful to people whenever I can. I am always friendly with a big smile on my face.

Happiness for me is spending time with family and friends, playing with my dog, and eating great food. I also love music, music, music!!!! Music is really a very big part of my life. I enjoy listening to wonderful music from the 1960’s through today and playing my favorite albums / CD's, singing along with a favorite song, collecting records & memorabilia, and going to concerts. I have been going to all sorts of concerts ever since I was a child, and I have even met many of the artists and celebrities after the shows over the years (that is always a very fun and exciting experience). Speaking of concerts, I can't wait for the “More Today than Yesterday” Tour (hurray)!!

I also find it fulfilling to give back by teaching and supporting charities. I am happy being alive here on Earth, learning new things, having a good laugh, meeting new people, trying to go for my dreams and take advantage of all that life has to offer.

If I could have my ideal job, I would like to be involved with show business through the music industry. I would actually like to be a singer/performer and recording artist. (I think I am getting too old for my dream job to ever become a reality; however, I have been thinking about this ever since I was a child.)

My proudest moment was when I earned my doctorate degree in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy. It was a lot of hard work and took years of graduate school to arrive at this point!

Since you asked me this question, Chudney, I will be very happy to answer it! You know, people ask me this question all of the time, and I always say that it is a difficult one to answer because Diana Ross has so many, many amazing songs. There are just too many to count! My favorites also change all of the time, and sometimes it even depends on what is going on in my life. I love all of songs by The Supremes – they are a lot of fun. I also really, really love the classic “Diana Ross” songs such as “Touch Me in the Morning,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “The Theme from Mahogany,” the live version of “Do You Know / Ain’t No Mountain,” “Upside Down,” “The Boss,” “Chain Reaction,” “It’s My Turn,” and the list goes on and on and on. I also really like “If We Hold On Together,” “Your Love,” “One Shining Moment,” “When You Tell Me that you Love Me,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Battlefield,” “Take Me Higher,” “Voice of the Heart,” “I Love You,” “More Today than Yesterday,” “Lovely Day,” and of course, “Best Years of My Life.” All of this fabulous music has given me the “Best Years” of my life. It is really amazing when I think about all of the years, but all of these songs have really been a part of me almost my entire life! They are very special to me!

Your blog is really FABULOUS, and that is why I tune in each week! Your blog topics are always fun, educational, and very inspirational to read each week. I am always SO VERY IMPRESSED with the many, many wonderful things that you do for so many people in need!! You always go the extra mile when it comes to helping people!! It is always wonderful to read things like this. We need more "Good News" in our world today. I also really enjoy being a part of your blog! It is great reading your updates and then to be able to share my comments and ideas with you and the regular readers. I have also met and become friends with so many nice people all across the globe due to your blog!

Life is really a journey, and I am learning new things everyday!

Find me Mark on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/461623379

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=374654685883&share_id=100106203367174&comments=1#!/profile.php?id=1349085564&ref=profile

Mark’s Diana Ross Web Site
www.marksdianarosswebsite.com

Thank you so much Mark for starting us off right! You shared so much great information that I’m sure everyone will really enjoy! Thanks for this FABULOUS idea for questions and profile and for tuning in weekly.

Reader profile: Tayo Sekoni

I am not sure how I came to your blog. I think I was searching about your family and saw you blog and I have been reading about you every since. I love your stories and your fun life. Now you seem have grown older and your blog has become more meaningful to life, which is interesting. It makes me think. I like that. I think you are an inspiration to young women and that people can use their time wisely.

I do not take photographs, but I included my birthday picture from two years ago. I have gained a little weight, but I’ve been going to the gym. It does not seem to be working but I will keep trying.

I am Libra, and my family say's I balance my other siblings out, which is good to know. My Birthday is in Oct 7 and I am getting older. Gosh! My aim this year is to get a job in the hospital. So stressful job hunting! I have been with out a job for 2 years now. So that gets me down at times.

I am not sure if I have a favorite color, but when I was young I loved yellow. It is bright and vibrant. I am going to wear my african outfit on Sunday, predicted weather in London is going to be hot. Thank God. My favorite season is spring in London, all the flowers come out and the sun sometimes come out also.

I have very few close friends and I think one will say I am a good adviser… not that I seem to take my own advise.

I have started to enjoy life to the fullest, so I try to be happy. Go for few events and help others. What I am sad about was that I always dreamed I would see Micheal Jackson one day, it was not to meant to be, but my daughter got me This Is It dvd for mother's day. I was happy.

I am dreaming to set up my own Nigerian restaurant by 2012. Being a mum is my proudest moment and it is a big job.

I just watched on old interview of your mom some art studio for students. I saw most of your family including your dad. He is a very quite one. I loved seeing your Aunty with the White hair. It was lovely. My favorite song of your mom’s is -You Give, You Live. She sang it live as the last song in Caesar’s palace. I still remember you refused to sing. I still watch that show on you tube. That is when I fell in love with your mom's music.

I am on facebook (Tayo Sekoni and a flower picture).

Thank you, Tayo for sharing about yourself with such honesty! I wish you luck with your job hunt, opening the Nigerian restaurant and keep working hard at working out. I know it gets hard sometimes ☺

More coming soon… Stay tuned!