Community Q&A 08/11/03

Name: Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs

Lives in: Jackson

Family: My family includes my husband, Bob Clubbs, and my 14-month-old daughter, Eva Rell. The rest of my immediate family is "up north" in Kankakee, Ill.

Job: I get to be home with Eva during the day, then teach public speaking classes at night for Southeast Missouri State University. I also get to teach the occasional theater workshop.

What do you like most about the area? It's felt like home to me since I went to school at Southeast Missouri State University. And I love spring here. It comes early and stays late! This became evident when I would go home for spring break from Cape Girardeau -- where the dogwoods would be blooming and the sun was shining -- to Kankakee, where it would still be gray, with dirty snow piled up on the curbs.

Favorite food: Bruschetta with good olive oil and fresh tomatoes and basil.

Favorite TV show: I used to love "ER" and "West Wing." Since I had Eva, I usually don't watch anything with much of a plot so that I won't be frustrated if I get interrupted. Thus, my true answer to this question is "$40 A Day" or "30 Minute Meals" on Food Network!

Person you most admire: My Grandma Rell

What would you do if you won the lottery? Pay off our student loans, put some away for Eva, buy houses for our parents in our neighborhood so we could all be together, and donate the rest to our churches and our favorite charities.

Pet peeve: When you think someone is about to collide into your car, but actually they are just pulling out to use the turn lane as a merge lane.