Barbara Ridener

I'm a Florida girl in a Jersey world, talk about a fish out of water! Because it's cold here, I need lots of layers and spend a lot of time with my coat on. Jersey has make possible hiking, because I just didn't do that in FL, and going to all my granddaughter's ice-hockey games (more layers needed). It is a challenge for my pets because my dogs (I have 4) now grow winter coats! I also love all the animals that visit my yard. Deer, groundhogs and bunnies are much cuter than iguanas.
With over 30 years in education as a teacher, teacher educator, and college dean, learning is very important to me. I'm also one of the most non-math, math people you will ever meet and I geek out when the lightbulb goes on for someone. I co-wrote a book about teaching math, but for me, the ah-ha is better than the subject itself. I'm also a life coach and a mentor and get into personal development, even though its not up to me to tell you whats best for you. One of my latest guilty pleasures is having renewed my passion for reading for fun. As an academic, I didn't give myself much time for reading fun.
I adore travel and particularly when it includes unplanned wandering. Give me some basic landmarks, I will wander around the city, or beyond, and get lost and captivated by all I uncover. Whether it is a solo trip to Petra in Jordan and hiking the trails to the High Place of sacrifice, wandering through the streets of Paris, Barcelona, and Rome, chasing fairy penguins in Melbourne, finding remote beaches in Hawaii, or a local restaurant in Andros, Bahamas, I have found that my most vivid memories come from what I stumble upon, rather than what could have been planned.

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