About Me

I grew up in South Dakota but lived in Australia, Ethiopia, Wyoming and California before moving to Mexico in 2001. I have had various careers as an English teacher, working in a television production company and as an artist on the arts and crafts circuit for 13 years. My avocations include being the curator of an art center and editing and co-editing two poetry journals. Most recently, I was the  coordinator of a local reading series at La Rueda (The Wheel) in San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico. This series has since been discontinued.

My poetry appears in a number of literary magazines and anthologies, and since moving to Mexico, I have written for several online and print English language newspapers, including the Ojo del Lago, available online from all locations, and have published seven books, all available on Amazon in print and Kindle versions. One more children’s book is completed and awaiting illustrations and I hope to make it into an animated film as well. I hope to publish a book of 50 years of love poems soon and have two other books written that just need adjustments and formatting. Too little time!

My blog postings include my poetry, photographs, essays and stories. Other pages include information about and links to my books. I also sponsor a weekly blog challenge entitled “The Numbers Game.” Please check it out and come play along.

Thanks for dropping by my blog. I hope to see you here often. Please post a comment to let me know who you are and what you think about what you are reading!
— Judy Dykstra-Brown

268 thoughts on “About Me”

  4. Mamta Chakravorty's avatarmamta chakravorty

    Hi Judy,
    Nice to know about Charleston and his charming ways. Children always have a way to make us smile. Junior is doing better today. I do not know the local name for stinging nettle. My husband will be in US for next two weeks, I’l ask him to get it from there. Thanks for the suggestion. My email id is mamta.chakravorty@gmail.com….thanks for sharing your poem with Junior. i haven’t told him yet,I’ll let it be a big surprise for him 🙂
    Mamta

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  5. james koskinas's avatarjames koskinas

    hi judy, JAMES KOSKINAS, here from santa fe new MEXICO, i found your blog noodle ing around looking for indie art films. anyway i went to college in santa cruz, seem to remember seeing bagdad cafe there, did a lot to surfing, still go back there once year and see the old hippies, remember the BEETLE SHOP ON sequel ave, i think at 7th. i did a lot of painting behind the shop when i was going to school. FRED KRAMER, my wild man mentor was the owner. i am a now an artist and filmmaker here getting ready to premier my film, THE TWILIGHT ANGEL here at the jean cocteau theater. you’d like it, they have a bar and old fashioned candy popcorn thing. the film is decidedly an indie film, basically my one one play shot by a professional DP, we added a sound track. anyway enjoying your blog just now. i just got back from santa cruz, seven days unplugged and driving up highway one to davenport for expresso and then over the top of swan ton and big creek listening to miles davis in that early morning fog. best james koskinas

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    1. lifelessons's avatargrieflessons Post author

      I saw the Baghdad Cafe in Santa Cruz, as well. I think we sat through it twice. Still one of my favorite movies. Did the same with My Life As A Dog! I miss the Nick the most of anything in Santa Cruz other than the people and did a blog entry on it a few months ago. My husband and I always did the SC Open Studio, although you were probably on your way by the time it started. As for Davenport, it is one of my favorite beaches–and cafes. My son-in-law cooked there one summer and I participated in an art project, the 7 Mile Project, where artists were to adopt one mile of beachfront and to do a panel depicting it. I chose Davenport. The panels were all linked and displayed together on the Santa Cruz pier and elsewhere. I think once it reached fruition, the combined art piece was to stretch for 7 miles and depict the entire coastline, either from Mexico to Canada or just CA. Long time ago.

      I looked you up online. Thanks, Google. Love your art. Good luck with your film. It is an ambitious project. I studied film production at UCLA and have great admiration for anyone who can get it all together to produce a film. Indies are my favorites, too. Judy

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  6. Hope Nwosu's avatarHope Nwosu

    Hi Judy,
    Thanks for visiting my blog and the comments. I look forward to reading more of your posts and telling you more about me and my journey to Finland.
    Best wishes,
    Hope.

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Tildy’s questions for me are:

      1. Where is your favorite vacation spot? La Manzanilla Beach, Jalisco, Mexico
      2. What are your favorite pizza toppings? Pepperoni
      3. Have you ever taken a writing course, and if so, what kind? Many…I have my masters degree in creative writing and studied under Jack Grapes at UCLA and later took his workshop for a few years. Since then, many workshops and conferences. I taught H.S. English for 10 years and have conducted a number of writers groups.
      4. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Night owl
      5. How do you find time in your busy day to blog? I wake up early and don’t get out of bed until I’ve posted my blog. I’m usually waiting for the prompt!
      6. How do you keep up with the news? I am boycotting the news.
      7. What was your favorite game as a child? Paper dolls and playing school.
      8. Which magazines do you read? None. Local newspapers. I live in Mexico so it’s not practical to subscribe. I used to read Glimmertrain, Vanity Fair, Comic News and The Sun.
      9. Why did you start your blog? To promote my book “Lessons from a Grief Diary: Reinventing Your Life after the Death of a Loved One.” Very quickly, it involved into a blog about everyday life and thoughts.
      10. Share one helpful writing tip. Choose your title carefully. In my experience, only 1 percent of bloggers even try to come up with an interesting title. I go though all the daily posts and read the most interesting titles first. Also, do not chat idly at the beginning of your posts, talking about why you can’t think of anything to write. If you have to do this to get into your story, article or poem, erase it before you post. The very first sentence should grab the reader and not let him go. If I’m not interested by the third sentence, I move on. Choose original metaphors and comparisons. If you’ve ever heard anyone use the same image, don’t use it. Find a new one! Same goes with your titles. (Okay, that’s 3. Couldn’t stop.)
      11. Tell us about your blog? 95% of my blog entries are poems. For months, I’ve been on a rhymed/metered/humorous kick because it was so much fun, but very recently I’ve turned more serious again, using free verse. I also participate in several photo prompts, in Poets and Writers weekly prompt and in the Poetic Bloomings prompts. When WordPress gives up a free topic day, I go to one of these other weekly prompt sites. So, Tildy, does that quench thy curiosity???

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  15. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

    Thanks, Tildy, and I’ll answer the questions because it is fun, but the contacting 10 other people, I’ve found, is so time-consuming that I’ve stopped doing it. I am very honored that you nominated me, though. Thanks so much.

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Hi Mandy…just wrote on your blog before I saw this. A friend told me about your lovely action in adding me to your garden. What an original way of expressing yourself…It’s the most reward most of us ever get. You were so generous to share this with me and the others whose blogs you read!! Judy

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Thanks, Kim. I appreciate the nomination. I have nominated lots of people in the past who thanked me but didn’t nominate further people as after awhile it takes so much time. So I’m not going to nominate, but I’ll look at your questions and answer and I am very honored. Judy

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  25. Kim Scaravelli | Communication and Voice Strategist | Author, Making Words Work's avatarkimscaravelli

    An excellent compromise! And you are right. Answering the questions was actually fun and I think it made for a rather witty post, but trying to get 11 links to work on my blog was literally HELL!!!

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  27. Shiva Malekopmath's avatarShiva Malekopmath

    By reading your ABOUT I understand the title you have given to your Blog is right and that you would do justice.
    Thanks for your comment on me; that I am an obedient blogger, well I have just started and have yet to prove myself to my own self. But for sure, I do things in the structure of obedience.
    You should ask my wife – am I an obedient Husband.
    Anyways words always create worlds, so let another world be created among me and you, this moment I follow your Blog to create that world. OK!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Thanks, Shiva. Although I am not Hindu, since visiting Sri Lanka almost 50 years ago (can’t believe it has been that long) Ganesha has had special significance in my life…as Shiva was in his! I always keep an eye out for these signs. And, we could use more obedient husbands in this world, so long as they have kind and wise wives! Ha. Thanks for entering my world, Shiva–Judy

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  31. baconbits3536@gmail.com's avatarbaconbits3536@gmail.com

    Hi Judy, I am some one trying to write what I like, and yet being caught up in your words. but more than that. I live in Missouri, not really a place I would of chosen, yet here I am, Thank You I am in your debt, I have prospered in knowing your presents Thank You.

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  32. baconbits3536@gmail.com's avatarbaconbits3536@gmail.com

    So glad you are taking time for yourself it can be very refreshing recharging your spirit, life needs to be spent, in more than one place, this world is so full of many different landscapes, just amazing take care let life lead you, talk later for now a friend

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Hi Victoria. I’d be glad to do the quotes but won’t nominate 3 others if that’s okay with you. There are so many I’d like to nominate that it would take too long to decide which to choose..Thanks for the honor of your nomination. Judy

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  40. calensariel's avatarcalensariel

    Just wanted to say thanks again, Judy, for leaving links on your comments. Though I loved it, I got a little overwhelmed trying to keep up with your blog, I do so enjoy reading what you’ve written. This is a really good compromise for me. And I am NEVER disappointed. So thank you again for going out of your way to do that for me. {{{Judy}}}

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      No problem. I had read somewhere that it was rude to do so–as though you were reading posts just to encourage others to read yours, but your comment changed my mind about this, and I had actually always appreciated it, too, so perhaps that blogging “expert” does not know all there is to know about blogging–Ha.

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  42. Pingback: Calling all Photography Lovers ♥ | Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Exactly? I don't know.

  43. bkpyett's avatarbkpyett

    Judy, I was thrilled to know that you have lived in Australia, amongst your many other destinations. May I ask where in Australia? You’ve had a most exciting life and I look forward to learning more. Best wishes, Barbara

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      I lived in Wollongong and taught in both North Wollongong and at Berkeley School near Port Kembla. Although I’d traveled around the world before that, it was the first time I lived abroad and it was very exciting for me. I emigrated there right out of college, then left after two years to travel. Where are you in Australia?

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      1. bkpyett's avatarbkpyett

        I’m in Pearcedale, Victoria, which is a small country village. I was interested to hear where you spent time in Australia and to hear about your varied careers! Thanks for your follow, Judy.
        I look forward to sharing time, though as you are so prolific, I may not comment every day!

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  44. baconbits3536@'s avatarbaconbits3536@

    I also dig your life, have you found the meaning there in. Love to hear of you dear, would love to fit in, But alas my world lies here no matter the shadow i shall cast. Keep the flow if just to see where it goes. Thanks always who knows

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      Hi Bacon. The only meaning of life I’ve found is just to live it and to do as little to hurt others as possible and likewise as much to help as possible. I haven’t perfected the art of non-judgement and forgiving those who do me ill, but working on that!

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      thanks, hriplee! I have done nothing at all re/ design–just chose the simplest. My effort goes into the writing and photographs. My blog itself is a plain Jane.

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      I taught High School and Jr. High in Australia, Ethiopia and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Where did you go to school? Oh..also for one semester in Rawlins, Wyoming and at various elementary schools throughout the area via a VERB network–essentially taught on a screen where they could hear me and see what I wrote on the screen.

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  47. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

    So glad to hear that. If we are going to have namesakes, we can only hope they don’t dishonor the name, lest someone mistake us for them. ;o) So glad to meet you. I love the variety of the blogging experience. How long have you been blogging? Wish i had started when I was as young as you. People say the internet keeps people from writing, but I think it encourages it, It certainly expands our readership!!

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  48. Ike Jakson's avatarIke Jakson

    Thanks for visiting my Blog; it’s always a pleasure to see maturity around the Internet. I enjoyed a glimpse of your work and will have to drop in more but it seems you have walked life in great style and though we never met in person we have been on the same walks many times. I am now happily “retahard” and that’s all I want to be. Alive at 75 is a great feeling.

    I like the idea of Mexico. They sing so well.

    IkeJ

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  50. Jeanette's avatarhallenterprises132

    You have been nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by http://saintpblogging.com.
    The Sunshine Blogger Award is a way for bloggers to get to know each other and also get other bloggers to connect with each other.
    The RULES of accepting the Sunshine Award are as follows:

    Acknowledge and thank the nominating blogger with a link to their website.
    Share 11 random facts about myself by answering the questions the nominating blogger has created for me.
    List 11 bloggers I believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love! (I can’t nominate the blogger who nominated me.)
    Let the 11 bloggers know I nominated them.
    Post 11 questions for the bloggers I nominate to answer.

    Questions for my nominees:
    1: Who are your favorite published authors?

    2: What did you want to grow up to accomplish in your life?

    3: What is your favorite holiday and why?

    4: If you got to choose your last meal in life, what would it be?

    5: What is your favorite temperature? Mine is negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

    6: Introvert or Extrovert?

    7: What are your favorite past times? Reading and writing are mine.

    8: What about yourself would you change if you could?

    9: What scares you the most? Claustrophobic, myself. That and I hate needles.

    10: Why do you blog?

    11: Who is your favorite musician?

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