BACKGROUND ABOUT ME

I was born in St. Paul, MN.  I was adopted at the age of 4 months, and lived in 

the rural area on a farm in southern Minnesota.   I graduated from high school in 1967 

and  Cosmetology School in 1968.  I was married at the age 

of 18, in 1968 and had my first two children in Minnesota in 1970 and 1973.  

I moved to the state of Wyoming in 1974, where I had my third child in 1976, and then moved

to the state of Colorado in 1979.  I moved back to Minnesota in 1980 and have 

lived there ever since.  My first marriage ended in 1987.

HOW I BECAME IRC'S "SANDIE"

Because I wanted to be secure, I chose to be anonymous.   But I also wanted to be "me."

Since I knew my birth name, I chose to use it.  I misspelled my last name, and thus

I became Sandie Swanke.   I was using my original name, I was anonymous, and I was still me.

Now I answer to both names.........my birth/IRC name and my legal name.

I think it turned out very well.

Want to see what I look like??..................Click Here --->

 LIVING IN MINNESOTA

A few statistics about Minnesota  

I'm always interested in the size and population of area that I have 

lived in or visited.

So here are those stats about Minnesota.  

                                                       Population:    4,919,479

                                                         Square Miles: 79,610

                                                          Pop./sq. mile:  61.8

If you are interested in more of Minnesota's

Statistics, follow the link. 

Minnesota Statistics

Minnesota is not the largest state in the US, but it definitely is not the smallest

either.  

Typical winter in Minnesota. 

WHAT I DO

Well.....that's hard to tell sometimes.  I've hit an age where I definitely don't  like working anymore then I have to.   But my life in the states is kept busy with several "jobs."

 I am retired from the "real" working world.

I still love building computers, so every couple of  years, I bring home enough hardware to

built yet another one.  I love doing it, and I feel quite good about having completed yet another GOOD working computer.

I've built 3 business websites, and another personal website, in addition to my own major personal website work.   I do enjoy doing the web thing, and I was very excited to be able to accomplish these sites.  While it isn't a booming business, it is fun, and if I get real lucky maybe I can continue to make more.

Having my family close by, also keeps me busy.   Watching grandkids after school, getting to see the babies every week or so, and a trip every week to see my daughter's family takes up a LOT of time.

I still love playing organ and piano, but I must confess, I don't keep up as I should.

While I love  doing lots of different things.....music is my passion and travel is my life. 

Since 1998, however, I have been traveling between The Netherlands and America.  

Spending about half  of my time one place and half of my time the other place.
 

MY FAMILY

I have three children.  All grown and married.  My pride and joys.

David is 39 years in 2009.  His oldest daughter, Ashley, is 23 years old this year.

David and his wife Lorilea (Lori),  celebrate 19 years or marriage, and have three children together.  Desiree', (Dezi) age 19 this year; Amanda, (Panda-Bear) age 16; and 

Dalton (Lil-Man) age 15.  David is a truck driver for a local company and 

Lori works in a food processing plant.  She keeps very busy with family and work.  Ashley was married in July of  2005.   Ashley and husband Sean, presented David with his first Grandchild and me with my first great-grandson, Peyton, in 2004, and second grand/great grandson, Sean Aaron in 2006. and grand/great granddaughter, Anastyn, in 2007.    They live close by her father, David, and Uncle Dan.  Desiree' graduated from High school and is attending college as of this fall.  Amanda is in the 11th grade, and Dalton is in 9th grade. They live in a small town about  12 miles from me.  It's great to have them close.

Daniel turns 36 in 2009.  He and his wife Amanda (Mandy), celebrate
12 years of marriage.   They have a daughter named Gianna, (GiGi) who is 6 years old this year, son Lucas, (Luke) who has his 4th birthday this year, and second son, Callen (CJ), is 2.  Erica was born in August this year, and we are thrilled for another little girl.

Dan works at a concrete factory in another small town nearby, and Mandy is a stay at home mommy, which is a huge job in itself.

Dan and Mandy live in the same little town as my son David, so it's real

easy to get to see both of  my boys and their families.   

Bethanie turns 33 in 2009.  She and her husband Shelton, have been
married for 12 years and have two daughters.  LaKeisha (Pookie-Bear) age 13,

LaKira (Boo-Bear) age 10, and son, LaTrel ("T") age 5.

Beth and her family moved away this year to the state of Kentucky.  I miss them all beyond words, but I'm thrilled they are happy with their new home, and making their own traditions.  Beth is working for a local nursing home as a nursing assistant.

Shelton is now self-employed and enjoys it greatly.      

LaKira, is in the 5th grade, La'Keisha, is in 8th grade, and T is in Kindergarten.

As of this writing, there are, 3 grown children, 3 "children-in-laws"

11 grandchildren, (7 girls, 4 boys), 1 "grandson-in-law",

 2 great grandsons and 1 great granddaughter.

I have been informed there will be yet another Grandchild born in the Spring of 2010.

YAY!!!

I always wanted a large family.  Looks like I'm getting my wish.

Well, I can't forget my darling dog, Lilly.  She is an adorable Min-Pin, and she is a character.

She was born in 2000, and while I wasn't excited about having a dog when she first came to

live with me, I did finally get used to the idea, and of course, now......she is definitely part of the family. 

SPARE TIME THINGS I LIKE TO DO:

(I have SPARE time??????)

As I said earlier, I love my music.  I have a piano, a synthesizer, and this year,

added an electric organ to the mix.   I used to 

spend hours and hours on my beloved keyboards, but alas,  I haven't had much time lately.

Or is it that I just haven't taken the time.   I do plan on 

getting back into the swing of playing much more from now on.   

I love  camping, boating, fishing, swimming and target shooting.  But, again,

 I rarely do these things anymore. 

I've gotten old and  WAY outta' shape (not that I ever HAD much of one)....so I don't do

the golf  or tennis, thing anymore. (I was never any good at it.  I just had fun chasing 

the balls around.)  It all sits in the basement gathering dust.  hehehe.  Hmmmm.....ebay?

I love  movies and I have a resource of videos that is quite extensive. 

(about 4000 movies on VHS and DVD) Ask me about a  movie....I probably have it. 

Especially if it's a good Action Movie... or chick flick.....or drama....or comedy.....or......

I love to  dance....but I don't get much chance to do that anymore either.  *sigh*

And of course,  computers.  I just LOOOOVE my computer!  I'm learning several new 

web making programs and also doing html manually.  I hope to put this knowledge to good use with my commercial business web pages, and I'm enjoying that venture very much. 

TRAVEL

I've been traveling since I was a child of 5 years old.   I think I come by the "wander lust" very naturally.  My parents loved to travel, and indeed traveled the world, over a period of 53 years.  Mom and Dad took the family with them quite often on their smaller trips when I was young.  

Once we were past grade school age, my parents took us with them once a year on a big trip.   We traveled through the south of our neighboring country, Canada, and visited the Providences of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.   Then the northern states of  USA, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington state.  The West coast of California and southwestern states of Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.  A brief visit to Mexico was also taken.

When I was 13, I began traveling without my parents.   First on little 3 days trips to the State Fair via the 4-H program, and then a weeks trip to the Cattle Shows in the state capitol.  Later, I was a

4-H exchange student to Nebraska, and at 15, I went on the Citizen Shortcourse trip, which involved touring through Arlington, Va., Washington D.C. and points if interest in Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Maybe that's how I became so interested and intrigued with the Civil War. 

Having lived in the western states of Colorado and Wyoming, I was able to explore them, Utah, Western Nebraska, and reacquaint myself with Montana and South Dakota.

My parents lived, part time, in the very south of Texas and a trip to see them also afforded me the time to not only visit Texas, but also Oklahoma, and Kansas.  Of course a walk into the neighboring country of Mexico, is once again, a must, when you are that close.

Guess what?!  My son-in-law is originally from Louisiana, so a trip to his sister's wedding allowed me time and travel in Arkansas, Missouri, and Louisiana. 

Living in Minnesota makes trips to Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa frequent and always enjoyable.

Later on, I would have the great fortune to visit a few places of historical interest in the state of New York, and renew my interest in Revolutionary War and Pre-Revolutionary history.

Because of a group of really great people on the internet, I have traveled to Eastern Canada, Niagara Falls, NY, a step into Massachusetts, a quick drive into Connecticut, a trip to Missouri, Nevada, and to Michigan.   You will get to see those wonderful people on another page.

Due to my nephew's marriage in Arkansas and his wedding reception in Florida, I was invited to spend a few days in Miami Beach to celebrate.  It was wonderful.  Flying 3 hours from my home to Miami Beach was a piece of cake, and sight-seeing Miami Beach, South Beach, and surrounding areas, was great fun.  I hope to go back and explore more of the state.

I've been lucky in being able to have visited 31 or our 50 states.

Traveling to, and exploring The Netherlands, Europe, has been my life in the last few years.  Due to flight lay-overs, I can honestly say, I have, several times, "been to"  the country of Iceland, (which I hope to explore more fully some day).  During my stays in The Netherlands, I have also been able to visit Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and a quick step over the border into France.
 

MY OBSESSIONS

My favorite holiday is Christmas.     As anyone that knows me will tell you, 

I am a Christmas decoration fanatic.  I have a Christmas tree in every room 

of the house, and a different theme and color scheme  to go with it.  

It is an enormous amount of work.  But I love doing the decorating.

To see my decorated house...... Click on Santa --->