The day I saw my mom eating the Santa cookies on the plate was one of the most horrific days of my life.

I have to live for me. I have to do what I need to do for me, and I have stopped concerning myself with what people say.

I would say a magical thing happened on when the big 40th birthday came. I felt like a light kind of just went off, and maybe that's because I felt like at 40 I had the right to say and be who I wanted to be, say what I wanted to say, and accept what I didn't want to accept.

After all, everybody has secrets and there are some things that nobody knows about you but only you, right?

I know I'm only one human being and I'm only making one tiny contribution and it's nothing more than that.

I can't imagine my life without animals. I have two dogs and three cats. Coming home and finding them all lined up at the door waiting for me has got to be one of the sweetest joys of my life.

I know that there is a God - the God within me that's always present and will protect me. I'm not afraid to climb any mountain, because I know that I'm protected. Even if I fall and die, I'm still protected. My faith is on that level.