About
My name is Spring–yes, really–and no, my siblings are not named Summer, Autumn, or Winter, I was not born in the spring, and my parents were never hippies. Far from it, in fact. The name of this blog is derived from an old childhood nickname, back when my sisters and I would tease each other mercilessly. The entire nickname? “Spring-a-ling, the ding-a-ling, who doesn’t know a thing-a-ling.” You see why I shortened it for the blog. My sister, to this day, still calls me “Dingy” (hard “g” sound there!) and her kids even call me “Aunt Dingy.” I love it.
I’m 35 years old and have lived all over Illinois, along with a four year stint on Andrews Air Force Base, located about 10 minutes from Washington D.C. Yes, there was a point in my life where nearly every weekend was spent in museums on the Mall. This wasn’t because I was cultured; this was because I was broke. Once upon a time, my goal was to eventually leave the midwest and make it out to California, land of vegetarian restaurants galore, but once I reached southern Illinois and saw all the trees and the bluffs and the rivers…well, I fell in love.
And not just with the area. After a divorce and my insistence that I would remain single, I met my amazing husband, Jim Stearns through a girl at work. I think it was a whim of hers to hook us up; I don’t think, however, that anyone predicted how hard and fast he and I were both going to fall. Let’s just say that’s not typical for either one of us. I’d say it’s a sign.
Currently, we still live in southern Illinois with our three cats, Emmy, Piper, and Gremlin. While I’ve worked a variety of jobs (Writing Center tutor, freelance web developer, Information Systems operations specialist, freelance writer, just to name a few), I currently work at a large insurance company. I was considering going back to school for my master degree either in fiction or psychology, but I was recently promoted to a position that I actually really like, so I’m hesitant to give that up. Besides, I already have an associate’s in computer programming, a bachelor’s in English with an emphasis on fiction, and a minor in psychology. Do I really need another degree?
The answer to that, by the way, is yes. Yes, I do. I loved college and graduated with a 4.0. Considering the amount of stupidity you’ll read in this blog, that might come as a surprise to you.
Other than work and blogging, I do a variety of crafts (mostly of the crocheting/knitting variety) that never seem to get finished, play Warcraft occasionally, and play D&D with Jim and Phil–when there’s a game running. Other things I like: geeky things (although I still don’t think I’m a “way out there” kinda geek), herbalism, Tarot cards, reading, self-depracating jokes, dreams, Buffy, Joss Whedon stuff in general, and cooking.
But mostly, and always, my favorite things are Jim and the cats. We’ve got it pretty good in this little apartment. I can’t complain. 
