Except for 6 months in Texas, I have lived in Minnesota all of my life: in Winona for the last 13 years. I moved here for my partner, who later became my husband.Winona is on the west bank of the Mississippi and it is incredibly beautiful. The region is called the coulee because it is surrounded by tall bluffs that are breath-taking almost year around. I am a full time freelance copywriting professional with a background in sales and marketing as well as 14+ years of experience in writing web content for small businesses. An Ubuntu user (that`s how I found StackExchange), I love open source. I also love animals, especially my Airedale Terrier, Bailey and I collect Teddy Bears (over 100) in all types of media-- wood, porcelain, ceramic, and pewter as well as stuffed. Some of my bears, like my pink elephant, just think they are bears. I don`t argue. In addition to the bears and the dog, Ed, my husband, and I also collected Lake Malawi cichlids (they are freshwater fish), a Maroon Clown (a salt-water fish) and several hermit crabs. Additionally, we share our home with two Sulcatas and one Russian Tortoise, two Green Tree Pythons, and a Green-cheeked Conure (a type of small parrot) named Amigo. ©