Hi everybody,

I just registered yesterday, and I've responded to a few posts (even got my first wave hello, so don't I feel special!), but I haven't properly introduced myself.  Here we go:

I'm Najmah, 23, from Pennsylvania.  I work full time for a civil engineering firm doing mostly drafting, and I'm studying architecture and Arabic.  I have 3 darling cats that I was blessed with while working for a veterinarian a few years ago: Nigel is a manly man, all muscles and strutting, except when it's tummy rub time, when he becomes jello; Daphne, his sister, a timid but sweet little Princess Kitty with beautiful bush baby eyes; and Naomi, my "half-cat", a 5-pound Siamese who likes the company of all of her toys - and my socks - in her food dish when she eats.

I've wanted to be a vegetarian since I was little, but my parents wouldn't let me.  I've been veg for several years now, ovo-lacto up until now.  I don't think it's wrong to eat meat - well, I go back and forth on it, really...one of those philosophical, ethical, and evolutionary conundrums - but the thought of factory farms and abused animals makes me want to cry my eyes out and rip somebody's head off, so I won't support the industry.

I've been reading more and more about the dairy and egg industries, and I've been eliminating most of those products from my diet as well.  I've stopped cooking eggs, drinking cow milk, eating dairy cheese, etc., but I'm not at a point where I'm avoiding everything that has eggs or dairy in it.  I love milk and yogurt, so I've been delighted to find out that the soy versions are absolutely delicious!  I haven't tried the cheese yet - I can be weird about cheese - but we'll see.

I've had a lot of "food issues" over the years, and right now I just want to keep myself healthy and stable.  I know I've suffered some damage during times when I've been malnourished, so I'm hoping that focusing on balance and wholesomeness will help me be good to myself and stay strong in body and mind.

I'm looking forward to meeting all of you and sharing some ideas :)

-Naj