Portales resident Valerie Russ enjoys her job at Oasis State Park because she gets to work outside.

Russ, left, with her mother Debbie Fishell, center, and brother Glenn at the only remaining wall of the house her grandfather grew up in at the family's old homestead.

Russ as an infant in Fort Sumner.

Portales resident Valerie Russ enjoys working at Oasis State Park because she gets to meet new people and learn about them. She has worked there for seven years.

“I have met people from all over the world in this job,” Russ, 30, said.

She enjoys working outside most of all. Her job duties include coordinating events year round and daily cleaning and maintenance of the park grounds. Russ also greets and assists visitor and does some administrative work.

In her spare time, she collects lighthouses and spends time with her best friends and family.

One movie I could watch over and over again is... ”Steel Magnolias.”

If you won a $1 million lottery, what would you do first with the money? Give most of it to AIDS research and the rest to my family for things they need.

What is your theme song? The theme song from “Cops.”

What’s your idea of a perfect day? My perfect day is in the fall with the morning air cool with no rush to get anything done. Watch the ducks at the pond. Wander through the sand dunes with my dog and finish out the day watching the sunset.

One of my favorite childhood toys is... Legos.

What do you think about Portales? I like Portales and have since I came here to go to college. It just has a friendly environment and I feel completely at home here.

After a long, hard day, I love to... sit on my back porch and let my mind wander...do some well earned day dreaming.

What do you envision y our life being like in 10 years? I’ve never been one to look too far in advance because you never know if we are guaranteed tomorrow. I just try to get through each day — one day at a time.

My favorite bad-for-me food is... M&M’s.

Tell us about your pet. I have a wonderful dog named Scoobie who is absolutely my best friend. She has her little ways of keeping me grounded every day.

What is your most prized possession? My most prized possession are my two sweet little nieces in my life. They are truly a breath of fresh air.

If I had an open plane ticket to anywhere, I would go to... Michigan because I love it there!

Who is your hero and why? My hero is my brother Glenn. He embodies a matter-of-fact attitude that I wish I had. I have looked up to him all my life. He’s an awesome man!

Tell us about a time you were afraid. I was very afraid when I first found out that my Abuelito had cancer. Luckily for him and my family the cancer is in remission.

When I get in my car, the first thin I listen to is... the radio, set on 98.3 Rock.

What are five websites that you visit daily? Facebook, Twitter, MSN, CNJ and Reuters.

What is your favorite smell? The fresh, clean smell after a good rain.

If I could do anything, I would... turn back time and meet my paternal great-grandparents. I really wish I had been able to know them but they passed away before I was born.

What’s your favorite TV show, past and present? “Frasier” and “Meet the Browns.”

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing your job? I would be pursuing my dream of being a paralegal.

What was your most embarrassing moment? April Fool’s 2011. My boss man made an elaborate plan to get me riled up and I fell for it hook, line and sinker. He had many people in on it so I was very embarrassed after I reacted to the situation, then realized it was a prank.

Tell us about a time you cried. A sweet old fisherman came to the office and told us that his wife passed away. There was just a sadness in his eyes when he told us. I had to leave the room, it just got to me.

Who is your favorite entertainer? George Lopez.

If money were no object, what would you do to make the world a better place? Bring our troops home and get them settled back into life in the States and find total care for our wounded vets.

In an alternative life, I would have been a... singer in the country or rock music industry.

Do you have a favorite joke? Yes. A burglar gets into this house and he’s looking around and hears a voice say, “Jesus is watching you.” Thinking that it was just nerves and his imagination messing with him he keeps looking around. He hears the voice again, “Jesus is watching you.” He turns around and shines his flashlight on a parrot. He couldn’t believe that the parrot could actually talk. He asked the parrot what his name was and the parrot replied “Moses.” The burglar replied, “Who names their parrot Moses?” The parrot looked at him and said “The same ones who names their pit bull Jesus.”

— Compiled by FNM Correspondent Liliana Castillo