About Me: Adopted my first dog 4/22/95; she lived a happy and healthy 13 years. Adopted my second dog 11/13/07 and two cats in summer 2008. Volunteer second Sunday and fourth Saturday at PAWS Chicago, the largest no-kill cage-less shelter in Chicago. Please come visit if you're in town; it's a great facility. I went to China in November 2007 to volunteer in an orphanage. While I was afraid I'd see dogs in cages or animals being abused, I saw none of that. Thanks to a good translator, it was fairly easy to eat vegan. The soy products there were amazing. The children were absolutely inspiring and humbled me in a way I didn't think possible. I am an avid environmentalist and share a birthday with Earth Day. I began working from home last summer and drive a hybrid car when I do travel. I am thrilled to find this vegetarian community!

How I became a veggie: Aug. 8, 1987: I had loved cows throughout college, and joked that when I visited the Wisconsin State Fair, I wouldn't eat meat for a week after seeing all the cows. But I got there, and saw hamburgers and sausage being sold right next to the animals. And I saw animals being groomed and looking miserable, and realized that their fate was still meant for the dinner table. I never ate meat again. I have tried to be vegan, especially since my 20th veg anniversary last year, but I still eat cheese occasionally if it's rennet-free.