Debbie Wohl Isard
Writer/Blogger

Hometown and background: I am originally from Philadelphia/Cheltenham, Pa., with early summers spent on the Ventnor, N.J. beach and later years with Camp Ramah. My B.A. is from New College of Hofstra University on Long Island, where we held freshman classes in the lounge of our co-ed dorm. My M.S.W. is from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Living on the upper-east side of Manhattan was amazing!

Career path: I've been a program director at community centers in Brooklyn N.Y. and Wilmington Del., and enjoyed being a plaintiff's litigation paralegal in Houston, Tex., before arriving in Phoenix in 1985 and working as a defense paralegal in a large downtown law firm. Time off for good behavior and babies. Then, after agreeing to stay for only two weeks to help my husband's company during a crisis in 1995, I remained in the business as a reluctant entrepreneur and Director of Operations for the financial and management consulting firm specializing in advising owners of funeral homes and cemeteries nationwide. Recently, I became a Para-Educator for Uniquely-Gifted Students in a PVUSD elementary school.

Children: Phillip ("Flip") graduated from Shadow Mountain High School in 2005 and happily travels the world selling merchandise for rock bands. Risa attends Duke University in North Carolina, following which she plans to use sports as a platform for social change. My children are three years, a week and a day apart, and as bright and as different as the sun and the moon.

Pets: In November 1997, Phillip said to me, "You only have three weeks left to keep your promise."

"Huh? What promise?"

"You know, you said that when I am 10 and Risa is 7 that we can get a dog."

"I did? Okay, so what's your point?"

"Our birthdays are next month and I am going to be 11 and Risa will be 8. So you only have three weeks left to get a dog like you promised."

Busted! That's how we got Nugget, a dark red Golden Retriever. She was the best family member and sadly we had to put her to sleep in May 2009 when she was 11 ½. I really miss her.

When I'm not at work: I enjoy puttering in the garden, Israeli Folk Dance, torn-paper collage, embroidering bargello pillows, reading, walking in the desert, and gentle yoga, which I have practiced for more than 10 years. I like to spend time talking with my friends, and if there is food involved so much the better.

Favorite food: CHOCOLATE. Dark chocolate — none of those milky chocolate wannabees. And crusty bread with sweet butter is a close second. I have been known to almost impale restaurant servers who attempt to remove my bread plate.

Favorite thing to do with my family: Watch TV — once we got TIVO. OMG, to be able to get things accomplished and not be a slave to the VCR! The pause button is life-transforming..

Favorite thing to do by myself: I confess to loving a good long nap.

Most people don't know this about me: I am really shy and I like to dance to old music.

What I love most about Arizona: The desert! I love the wildflowers and how the desert smells after the rain. And that wearing pantyhose is optional.

How I came to Raising Arizona Kids: Karen Barr and I were neighbors back in the days when our kids were young. After talking one morning about my high-risk pregnancies and post-partum depression, Karen asked me to write about my experience. RAK published the series "The Longest Labor" in 1991. Now, I am thrilled that Karen asked me to BLOG!