Why is this blog called Smug Puppies? Because I learn a lot from the cheerful little dogs who run our household; their value is in just being. And from a philosophical perspective, aren’t we all smug puppies, oblivious to our blessings and our strengths?

Who am I? I’m hardly a wild woman, although I have secret ambitions of becoming one. I’m a forty-something mom to 17 and 20 year old sons, two small, smug, enthusiastic dogs and a psychotic kitten.

I lost my beloved husband of 12 years, Bryan Merrell, to a sudden heart attack in spring of 2009 – it’s been rocky but the boys and I are slowly rebuilding.

I work in IT project management for an Alaskan telecom because I enjoyed Chinese fire drills in college. I telecommute from home, work in Seattle part of the week, and occasionally travel to Anchorage. My commute is long and picturesque, via car, ferry and foot.

I enjoy distance & open water swimming and hiking. I’m a total geek, into social media, web design, blogging and science fiction. I also read fantasy, mystery, literature & nonfiction. I have dreams of writing and have successfully completed NaNoWriMo the last two years. I kayak, sail, scuba dive, metalsmith, bead, cook, dabble in quilting and painting and garden inconsistently.

Most importantly, I have amazing, totally awesome family and friends. They are the silver lining in the recent dark clouds that have plagued my life.