Always Juggling on Squidoo

Ranked #1,519 in Squidoo Community, #140,618 overall | Donates to Save the Children

A J is Always Juggling

Always Juggling? Married....four children.... two still at school.... one very big dog....trying to balance family life with the need to earn an income....trying to do my bit to save the planet....former website editor....get involved in amateur dramatics....wanna be a writer....trying to implement Going Green Ideas in our home ....Anti-Bullying Campaigner ....

Oh, but just one more thing. I am NOT Superwoman and I often drop the balls!

My Lens of the Day! Twice!!

Lizzie's left ear is now very famous!

apd

Auditory Processing Disorder
Lens of the day 10 September 2008
To say that I was bouncing around like Tigger when I found out is an understatement







Amazing!
Lens of the Day again!
23 September 2008
Stunned was the only word to describe how I felt!

All about Writing Online

The website I own with two other Squidoo Members

Writing Online is where I teach how to wite for profit and pleasure.
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I am....a dreamer

Distant Dreamer by Duffy

Chef Keem uses YouTube videos to great effect in his lenses. I like to listen to the music he has composed as I read through his lenses. This gave me the idea to do something similar in this lensography. So press the play button and listen while you read what I have to say.
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Duffy for your MP3

My eldest daughter introduced me to Duffy and "Distant Dreamer" - it immediately became one of my all time favourite songs. You know your kids are all grown up when you start having the same taste in music!

I Love....Squidoo



I have been "interviewed" by Lensmaster Spirituality. Click on the badge to find out what I have to say about Squidoo.

On Squidoo I have been a Squidoo Angel

What an honour!

On 01 April 2009, I received an email from Squidoo HQ asking me if I would like to volunteer to be an Angel. I felt extremely honoured. The day before I had just finished a very time consuming and stressful project. What is it they say about one door closing and another one opening?

When some of my Angel colleagues retired in October 2009, I stayed on until 31 December 2009, when I too hung up my wings.

Being a Squidoo Angel made it possible for me to find Lensmasters I may never have found!
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Who Am I?

A little bit of "AJ" history

I was born in the UK, left school at 16 and my one regret was not being taught English by Mrs Potter. She was a breath of fresh air in the school with her brightly coloured mini skirts and stripey tights. Now she is known all over the world as Joanna Trollope - I really ought to read some of her books sometime!

I married too young and following a totally unremarkable career in banking and insurance I stayed at home to raise my two eldest children, as was the norm for the 70s and 80s.

Life was not at all easy following the mutually agreed separation from my first husband. The divorce became difficult but I wont dwell on it and money was very tight. However, there was a happy ending as through my job, not only did I make some lovely friends but one of them evolved into my current husband and we married in 1996.

Two home births later, I now have two more daughters and my children's ages range from 11 to 32! It makes for very interesting family dynamics.

My Career

If you can call it that!

The technology revolution happened in the 12 years I stayed at home looking after my older children. Typewriters evolved into Word Processors and then into PCs. At first it was a steep learning curve but I ended up very proficient in Spreadsheets, Databases and Desk Top Publishing.

When my youngest was 14 months old I did a part time University Course for six months in how to start up a business. This involved writing a business plan and as a result of all this I ended up teaching Business Startup to adults.

During this time we had a lovely Nanny for the girls, but as the time came for the youngest to start full time at school, I made the decision to look for work that I could do at home so I could be there when the children came home from school and during the holidays.

I also worked on various database projects but due to balance and co-ordination problems caused by a disease in my right ear called Otosclerosis I am unable to go out to work. So I have decided that now is the time to indulge my passion for writing. So here I am on Squidoo.

Books that helped me develop my IT skills

When I went back to work, I loved learning about all the stuff that had passed me by when I was a Stay At Home Mum the first time around. These books really helped me. Get the versions that are relevant to the version of your software
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I am a ...... WAHM

A work at home Mum

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My PC maintenance and "tricks" lenses

Direct links to free software

I found this FREE software on the net. It helps me and I hope it helps you too.

I also discovered how to move a Blog from Wordpress to Blogger.
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I have......Otosclerosis

A disease of the middle ear

In March 2008 I became aware that I was permanently exhausted and having problems with balance and co-ordination. I was producing a show at the time, which was to be performed in April and in which I would also be performing. Not the most relaxing of hobbies and we also had a lot of family problems as well. Naturally I put it all down to stress.

However, once the show was finished, I realised that my symptoms were worsening and it was becoming a huge concern. I was referred for tests, including an MRI scan, to see if there were any abnormalites in the brain and in June I received the diagnosis of Otosclerosis.

The impact on my lfe has been huge as I try to recover and also adapt to hearing loss in my right ear. My lens about Otosclerosis discusses symptoms, diagnosis and treatment and is regularly updated with my progress.

Otosclerosis

Information about Otosclerosis and how it has affected my life

The lens is regularly updated with my progress
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I Love......Christmas! Ho, ho, ho!

My Christmas Lenses

My first ever Christmas Lens is Christmas at AJs. I started out with an idea but it evolved into something rather different. But that often happens to me when I'm Squidooing.

Then I did another, this time with a "green" theme....
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Another Lens of the Day!

01 December 2008

10 More Things I Love!

I love:

  • Writing
  • Gardening
  • Cooking
  • Sewing costumes for shows
  • Amateur Dramatics
  • Playing tennis
  • Holidaying in Greece
  • Reading
  • Solving Computer problems
  • Wildlife
  • My "nature" lenses

    I love my garden and I love wildlife and we have pets

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    One of my favourite gifts

    I hope you dance - an inspirational song and book

    I have a very special friend. She is a "dixie chick" from Florida, who came into my life when we went on the same college course in 1999. She is one of those people who, no matter where you are in the world, you think of them often.

    We are so different, but we are also so alike and we have supported each other through many ups and downs. She is living back in the States now and oh, how I miss her and laughing and crying over a cappuchino!

    She gave me a book "I hope you dance" and it is one of my favourite gifts. But like you often do, you put a treasured possession to one side and you forget about it for awhile. I suppose that's what makes it so special - when you find it again you experience the good feeling you had when you were given it, all over again.

    This wet September morning, it is early and I cannot sleep. I have just got up and played the song that goes with the book. It is inspirational.

    Lee Ann Womack recorded the song "I hope you dance". In the introduction to the book, she says that the lyrics makes her think of her children and what she wants for them in life. It does the same to me.

    I hope you dance too!

    Update 21 October 2008

    My Dixie Chick visited my lens and this is what she said in the Guestbook:

    "I sit listening to sultry words of hope, vision, dreams... wandering through your thoughtful prose. There are no miles between us when I can feel your presence so pure. Go Girl ! We once were called 'scribblers' ... now we are 'tappers'!
    xo

    I hope you dance

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    I hope you dance - the book & the CD

    A thoughtful and inspiring gift

    A gift to give your children as they grow up. Inside the front cover you can write a message saying why you are giving them the book.
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    Some great reference books

    Books I dip in and out of

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    10 Things I Hate!

    I hate:

  • Bullying
  • Plastic carrier bags
  • Politicians (well most of them)
  • Litter Louts
  • Pollution
  • Unnecessary car journeys, when you could just as easily walk
  • British summers when they are wet and windy
  • People showing a lack of respect to each other
  • Sorting computer problems
  • Food going to waste
  • I love ...... MASH

    One of my alltime favourite TV shows

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    My Favourite TV Shows

    I don't watch much TV, but I will always make an exception for these!
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    Something I was not expecting to find

    I'm glad I found it!

    It's amazing what you will find on You Tube, when you are looking for a clip to complement a lens. Some of it you wish you had definitely not found. But when I was researching for my lens on Pantomime I used a search string "It's behind you". I came up with lots of clips that were totally irrelevant and this is one of them. I am such a softy, I love Dr Who, I love David Tennant and I love this song.

    Cheesy! Yep, it is so cheesy you could serve it up with pickle but I just love this clip!
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    Going Green Ideas

    Environmentally Friendly Lenses

    These lenses belong to my personal Going Green Group. I believe passionately in trying to reduce waste and creating a safe, environmentally friendly home for my family.
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    Everyone should have at least one of these

    Do your bit to save the planet. Always have at least one of these on you when you go shopping

    I love cotton tote bags that you can fold up and carry with you in your handbag (oops purse in the USA). I hate plastic carrier bags!
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    AJ's Blog: Going Green Ideas

    A Green Blog on Crabby's Beach

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    My Family & Parenting Lenses

    Bullying, APD, Otosclerosis and more...

    This is another area that I am passionate about. I have also started a Squidoo Group called "Children and Parenting" - check it out and see if your lenses fit the criteria for joining.

    Three of these lenses are about my family.
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    I want to see......wild horses running free

    My Friend Flicka was one of my fav books as a child

    From as long ago as I can remember I have always loved horses. There was no way that my parents could ever have afforded for me to have riding lessons, let alone have a pony, but I did learn to ride when I was in my teens as two of my friends had horses.

    Mustang Horses Running, Wyoming

    Buy at AllPosters.com



    One of my favourite books was "My Friend Flicka", as well as the sequels, "Thunderhead" and "The Green Grass of Wyoming". I did have my own horse eventually and he was just like Flicka - a golden chestnut with a cream mane and tale. He was my dream come true but sadly I had to sell him when my first husband and I were divorced.

    I no longer ride, thanks to two very bad falls and lack of funds, but one of my daughters is as passionate about horses as I ever was and we would both love to see horses running free in the central states of the USA. We would love to make it to Wyoming one day.

    My Friend Flicka & my other favourites

    Wonderful books for young horse lovers

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    I Love . . . . animals

    Dogs, rabbits

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    I love ...... cooking, but I am wheatfree

    A recipe lens and one of my fav Chefs plus wheat=free dieting!

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    Some of my favourite Lensmasters

    Since joining Squidoo I have enjoyed reading many, many lenses and have been impressed by how friendly and helpful the Squidoo Community is. These are just a few of the Lensmasters who have made an impression on me for various reasons.

    I am ....Gemini

    AND I was born in the Chinese Year of the Horse!

    The Constellation of Gemini the Twins


    Buy at AllPosters.com



    Gemini traits according to Wikipedia

    Ideal Careers
    Architect, archaeologist, comedian, teacher, model, playwright, diplomat, public speaker, singer, author, psychologist, poet, musician, journalist, lawyer, movie writer or director, debater/politician.

    As far as an ideal career is concerned, I have taught adults and my children tell me that I am better than their IT teacher. Model? Not these days!

    Playwright - well I am currently writing a show with a couple of friends and I have written Pantomime scripts. Diplomat - oops, sometimes I put my foot in it. Public speaker - have done that and I get good feedback.

    Singer - good at backing, find solo hard as due to lack of confidence, my throat closes up. Author - I have a draft novel, but have been sidetracked by Squidoo. Psychology interests me but I could not be a psychologist I would get too drawn in by my patients. Poet - don't think so.

    Musician, could never get the hang of reading music. Journalist - would have liked to have been article writer - could still do it and isn't that sort of what I am doing on Squidoo and on Imperfectly Natural? As for movie writer or director - would like to turn my novel into a screenplay and I have directed pantos and shows in amateur theatre.

    Debater - most definitely. I have an opinion on everything! Politician - NO! Most of them in my opinion have no ethics!

    Likes
    Talking, the unusual, teaching, learning, different things in life, having multiple projects all going at once, traveling, making jokes, jet-setting

    Likes talking? Moi? Yes, of course I do! Unusual things do catch my eye, and I do like teaching, but not all the time.

    Rehearsing 45 children for a couple of hours a week for 3 months of the year is about all I can manage. Learning? My mother says I was a sponge when I was a child, I would absorb everything. Still do.

    Multi-tasking was always a speciality but as I get older I enjoy it less. I like to focus on one thing at a time, but I can be easily distracted. I love travelling abroad and yes, I can usually see humour in most situations - but it is not always appreciated!

    Gemini


    Buy at AllPosters.com



    Dislikes
    Feeling tied down, losing, being wrong, being in a bad situation, mental inaction, being alone, not getting credit for one's successes

    I do like to be a free bird and hate feeling tied down. As for losing, winning is not everything but trying to win is. Being wrong is horrible but not the end of the world and I am good at apologising if the fault is mine.

    I hate being in a bad situation particularly if it is not of my own making - but being a Gemini, sometimes it is! Mental inaction - I find it hard to watch TV, unless it is something I really want to see. I would far rather be doing something, so in order to compromise with my family and be there with them, I will be happy if I can sew. In the weeks before Christmas it is fine because I am usually making my costume for a show.

    I don't mind having time on my own, if I am writing - it is a blessing. However, I hate staying away on my own, would never go to a restaurant or the cinema on my own.

    As for not getting credit for my successes - I get very, very riled if someone steals my thunder or gives the impression that my idea was theirs. As a result I will always give someone credit for any ideas that I make use of.

    Of course I don't believe in all that astrology rubbish!

    My Astrology Lenses

    My newest niche

    Join in the poll on Starsign as I try to find out which starsigns dominate on Squidoo and Twitter
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    My favourite musicals

    Well some of them!

    I am currently writing a new musical with two friends and I have been lucky enough to appear in some amateur productions. I love going to the theatre, which does not happen that often but when I do I find myself distracted by how they design the sets and change the scenery in case I can spot ideas for the shows I am involved in.
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    Mamma Mia!

    If you can't wait for the delivery of your DVD, then have a look at this trailer!

    One of my daughters spent the whole movie terrified that I was going to get up and sing and dance in the aisle. Definitely a show I would love to do one day!
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    I also love Hairspray, Pantomimes and The Phantom of the Opera!

    I love Musical Theatre!

    My review of Hairspray, plus All about Pantomime and introducing the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera: Love Never Dies.
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    My "Miscellaneous" Lenses

    Everything else....

    When I started making lenses on Squidoo, I identified my "niche" topics as "Green and Environmental" and "Parenting and Children". But such is the lure of writing.....
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    Dancing in the Rain

    Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass

    "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass
    It's about learning to dance in the rain"


    I came across this quote in early 2008 and have been unable to find out who wrote it. The words evoked various emotions and thoughts. The first thing I visualised was a picture of me and my very dear american friend just "singing and dancing in the rain!" Not literally, but it does sum up what we both try to do.

    Occasionally I do a Google on "dancing in the rain" and there's masses of hits on blogs and pages. But there is one that I found that has touched me more than any other:

    Dancing in the Rain - a tribute to two sons

    Although I have four children, I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like to lose a child. But to know that your child may still be alive if it was not for the deliberate murderous actions of other human beings must be one of the biggest burdens that any parent who loses a child has to bear.

    This website just makes me feel blessed and I hope the parents continue to develop it further. There's links to help for people having to come to terms not only with their loss, but the circumstances of that loss. There's also links to fundraising for various causes, so I hope you will go and take a look for yourself.

    How did I do on Squidoo in 2008?

    Some landmark dates

    10 July 2008
    I join Squidoo

    14 July
    I publish my first lens: Janey Lee Grace

    31 July
    Four lenses published

    31 August 2008
    Seven lenses published

    10 September
    Auditory Processing Disorder is Lens of the Day

    15 September 2008
    Auditory Processing Disorder made it to my highest ever lensranking of 129

    23 September
    Auditory Processing Disorder is Lens of the Day for the second time!

    24 September 2008
    Auditory Processing Disorder achieved my highest ever lens ranking of 107! Nail bitingly close to the Top 100

    25 September 2008
    I did it! I made the Top 100. Auditory Processing Disorder is now 58 in the overall rankings - WOOOOOOOOO!

    28 September 2008
    TWO lenses in the Top 100 - another objective achieved with Auditory Processing Disorder and Squid Etiquette

    29 September 2008
    My highest ever lens ranking: Squid Etiquette made it to 54 in the overall rankings! It's nail biting time again, will I get into the Top 50?

    30 September 2008
    Unbelievable! Squid Etiquette made it to 49 in the overall rankings in just seven days!

    12 lenses published

    06 October 2008
    Squid Etiquette made it to 23 in the overall rankings - my highest ever ranking

    31 October
    15 lenses published

    30 November
    20 lenses published

    01 December 2008
    Tweleve Days of a Green and Ethical Christmas was Lens of the Day!

    31 December
    21 lenses published

    Final stats on 31 December 2008:
    Top 2,000 = 1
    Top 10,000 = 7
    Top 20,000 = 5
    Top 40,000 = 3
    40,000+ = 4

    A few things I want to do

    My aims and ambitions

    By end December 2009
  • Set up a Website
  • Get a Zazzle store up and running
  • Publish an e-book
  • Get a lens into the top 10


  • By end March 2010
  • Finish writing a new musical with 2 of my friends
  • Get a lens into the top 5
  • Earn a reasonable income from writing

    Longterm
  • Take my family to Washington State, USA
  • Publish a novel
  • I wannabe....a writer!

    My review of a fav book plus more fav books

    Lots of tips from a successful freelance writer plus some unique tips from AJ too! Wannabe a Writer also has original cartoons, drawn by AJ's "girls", which gives an insight into life at AJ's.

    The Chromicles of Narnia was one of my favourite set of books when I was child.
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    SquidLog: I am.... an author!

    It's official - honest!

    April 2009
    I was absolutely delighted to recieve an e-mail from my Squidfriend Chef Keem, inviting me to become an author on SquidLog.

    My "Squidoo" Lenses

    Anything Squidoo

    It's amazing how much you can find to write about Squidoo!

    On 24 September my lens Squid Etiquette arrived in the rankings at 1187. The next day it was 141!
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    I am...romantic

    Stardust - great film!

    Yes, I am a soppy romantic. I love music, I love singing and I love romantic fantasy. This is one of my favourite films of the last couple of years. And yes, I have to admit I like Take That too!
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    My Romantic Lenses - topical for Valentine's Day

    There's more to these lenses that you think!

    The lens Love Letters of Great Men evolved like a lot of my lenses. I started out with an idea from a newspaper story. Then I got a few more ideas....

    For Valentine's Day I wanted to try to do something different. This lens has an ethical theme and for the first time features photographs taken by my very creative eldest daughter.
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    The Weather where I am

    Yes, it's true. The British ARE obsessed by the weather

    Invalid License Key.

    A place I want to take my family

    Washington State

    In 1992, I went to Portland in Oregon for a business meeting. We flew to Seattle and then took a couple of days to drive down to Portland and I found a place in the world that I want to go back to with my family.

    Travelling for business rather than pleasure is very different to travelling with people you are close to. We stayed on Mount Rainier and also visited Mount Hood and Mount St Helens but they are the sort of places you want to share with someone close.

    Moon Over Mount Hood in Oregon


    Buy at AllPosters.com


    We stayed in an old hotel, on Mount Rainier and the inside was like something out of "Lord of the Rings". All wood, with high ceilings and huge log fires. I remember sitting by the fire as a chipmunk ran up and down my leg as I read a book - magic!

    However, the most awesome part of the visit was driving up Mount St Helen's which had erupted twelve years previously.

    Mount_St_Helens
    Image courtesy of USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.



    We had to abandon our attempt to get very high as without warning we got caught in very thick fog. However, we still saw some amazing sights. I remember looking down onto Spirit Lake and thinking what a very grey, muddy shoreline it had. Then I realised I was looking at millions of trees that still littered the shoreline! Watching a film of the eruption on a huge screen at one of the visitor centres was absolutely breathtaking.I watched the eruption on the TV when it happened in 1980, but it is only when you actually visit Mount St Helens that you can truly understand what an incredible event the eruption was.

    AJ's Autumn To Do List

    Publish more lenses in my Astrology niche

    Review HTML on some lenses and make them more visually interesting

    Add more Fair Trade products to lenses

    Will I be a Giant 100 by then?

    It was not until I was approaching my first Squidversary that I realsie that I joined Squidoo on Seth Godin's birthday! How cool is that?

    Countdown to My second anniversary on Squidoo

    My second anniversary on Squidoo: July 10, 2010

    Other Places You Can Find AJ

    Click on this badge to find out why I am famous!

    I Am Officially Famous

    Qassia My Zimbio

    I love....my country

    Yep and I like "The Royals" too!

    Although I am very democratic in outlook, I do have an affection for our Royal Family. Just because they are richer that us, does not automatically mean that they are blessed with more common sense. So I generally forgive them when they get it wrong!
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    I am ....a RocketMom!

    A new initiative on Squidoo

    RocketMoms is a gathering of the smartest women on the web, working together to make Squidoo lenses (and a whole lot more). Well that's what is says on the Homepage!

    The group is specifically aimed at Mums (Moms) publishing on Squidoo and the first cohort started their six week course on 20 April 2009.

    In Week 1 our first task was to make an "about me" lens. We have our own template and I have published a Lensography for all my RocketMoms lenses and there's plexos for other RocketMoms to add their lenses as well.

    RocketMoms

    Lenses using the Rocket Moms template

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    My Groups

    All lenses are personally approved

    I am very proud of the lenses in these groups. Check them out!
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    I Squidoo!

    You can too!

    Publishing lenses is great fun and can be a way to earn a bit of extra money. You will NOT get rich quick on Squidoo, it takes time to build up an income but if you like to write or be creative then Squidoo may be for you.

    Do you have some stories to share?
    Do you want to get a message across about something you believe in?
    Do you have a website to promote?
    Would you like to try your hand at writing on Squidoo?

    Then become a Lensmaster! You may even make some extra cash too! AND it is free!

    All you have to do is click on this link. Choose a Username and a Password - you dont even have to publish until you are ready - then go visit some lenses and to help you there's lots of "How to Squidoo" lenses, written by lensmasters who have "been there"!

    Did you like this Lens?

    Please take a moment to rate it

    If you would like to rate this lens, then you can do so here (Squidoo members only) - Lensmasters love ratings!

    This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

    Add this to your lens »

    Please stop by and say hello!

    I would love to hear from everyone who may just be slightly interested enough to have taken a peek at who I am! And if you liked this lens then please Tweet it - thank you.

    Tweet AJ is Always Juggling

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    • Reply
      desa999 Jan 29, 2012 @ 12:33 am | delete
      Wow what a comprehensive lens. Well done.
    • Reply
      favored1 Dec 8, 2011 @ 6:49 am | delete
      It will take me quite a while to fill my bio page with interests. I've just begun, but I've so enjoyed spending time on yours. I will want to read your lenses on England.
    • Reply
      Graceonline Nov 12, 2011 @ 3:21 am | delete
      Well, I'm exhausted, and all I had to do was read about your life and interests. What a ride! Incidentally, you may be interested in RenaissanceWoman2010's lens on wild horses in her mountain meadow.
    • Reply
      desa999 Nov 4, 2011 @ 2:00 am | delete
      Hi, you've certainly covered some amazing topics here and juggling it all is a major achievemnt. Well done.
    • Reply
      sousababy Oct 26, 2010 @ 6:59 pm | delete
      Dear AJ,
      Wow, your life has been (and still is) so full...and you have chosen to "dance" more than "sit it out." I too am born in the Chinese year of the Horse (1966) but I am a Scorpio. I see that you have visited Niagara falls, that's pretty close to me. What a coincidence that you too love horses (and all animals). Another Squid lady greeted me and was the first one to comment on many of my lenses, she is known for her amazing portraits of horses. If you wish, check her out at: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/d-artist

      Oh and I think I accidentally made myself a "Fan" of yours twice, I do not have a twin. (And thanks for becoming my third fan).

      Take Good Care,
      Rose
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