Just Me
Hello and welcome to my website!

Name: Tara (Celtic for seat of kings or tower, and Hindi for star)

Born: 1979

Occupation: Physical therapist

Education: B.S. in physical therapy (Spanish minor) from Bradley University, class of 2001. Clinical doctorate (DPT) in physical therapy from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, class of 2005.

Home: Northern suburbs of Chicago (lifelong resident!).

Motto: Carpe diem. (...I also subscribe to "carpe dessert"!).


What's Important to Me?

  • First of all, I am a dedicated Christian. I could not enjoy this life as much as I do if I knew I was not prepared for the next. Following God's will is the most important goal I have. You'll find that my views on religion are quite different from the mainstream, and I take it very seriously. I believe in the necessity of being simply a Christian, and nothing more (or less). To learn more, visit my page on Faith. Or better yet, read the Bible. :) A list of some of my favorite passages from Scripture is at My Favorite Verses.

  • I'm dedicated to healthy living and as a health care professional, I'm a licensed physical therapist in Illinois. Despite its intense educational requirements, the career is extremely rewarding and has many different career paths. I have found my niche working in outpatient orthopedics, treating patients of all ages and fitness levels. For more information on physical therapy, check out the official site for the American Physical Therapy Association.

  • I am an avid semi-pro musician and music-lover. As a violinist and pianist, I adore classical music...Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky...Playing music in an orchestra and in small groups has formed many of the greatest experiences of my life. My Lake Shore String Quartet plays for special occasions in the northern Chicagoland area. If you are looking for musicians for your next party or wedding, visit our websitefor more details. I am also founder and member of a group of amateur and semi-pro chamber musicians in my area, the Lake County Chamber Players. We perform several times a year in various venues throughout the county, and have a great time rehearsing and performing chamber music.
    I am a huge fan of the Beatles, as well as various other artists current and past. (My tastes range all the way from the Moody Blues to Eros Ramazotti to Tchaikovsky to Celtic harp to big band!) I have been lucky enough to see Paul McCartney in concert three times, most recently in 2005. See my Music Page for more about my love of music in general.

  • I love food--baking it, cooking it, and eating it. :) Try Epicurious.com for some great recipies! I am a vegetarian, and have been veggie since 1993. As a lifelong animal-lover, I made the personal choice to become a vegetarian, and I've never regretted it. Going veggie is also great for your health--if you're interested, see my essay on Vegetarianism.

  • Sweet home, Chicago...I love my Windy City and all it has to offer--shopping, the lakefront, concerts, museums, and the world's most beautiful skyline. For more information for what to see and do, see my Chicago page.

  • I adore Great Britain and am a hopeless Anglophile. I made my first trip across the pond for the first time in May 2002--a huge dream of mine finally a reality--and then was fortunate enough to return in May 2004. As an aficionado of British literature, music, geography, history, and culture, Britain holds a special place in my heart. If you're interested, check out my massive photo album of Britain photos on this website.

  • I love to travel, and I hope to see a great deal of this earth before I leave it. The world holds such variety and beauty, and travel has broadened my mind and awareness like nothing else could. For more information on my past and future vacations, check out my page on VirtualTourist.com. Also, see my own travel page on this site.

  • I am interested in genealogy and family history, although I am new at researching. So far, I have only researched one of my family lines, the Buchanan clan of Scotland. Check out my page on the Buchanan Family to see what fun things you can find out about your history. Eventually I want to research the rest of my line--Croatian, German, English, Native American...but being such a mutt makes it difficult. :)

  • I took fencing lessons a while ago, fulfilling a long-time ambition by learning the basics of fencing--foil, mask, and all. The official fencing website for the United States Fencing Association is at USFA.

  • I am a die-hard New York Yankees fan. No grief, please! :)

  • Here's a list of other people and things that are important to me.

    Home