Another review; still life with blue cats.

Solidly spectacular.

In a similarly long-term-view vein, the thing(s) I've always wanted to do I am in good progress toward doing, having escaped (finally) the trap of "put your dreams aside and do what's practical" and obtained some degree of actual motivation.

I'm an art student now, as I always should have been, and loving it; I went from academic probation to the dean's list in one semester, and am downright enchanted with all the new things I keep learning. I am being social quite well over the internet and making some degree of progress in meatspace. I have a forum in which to write, complete with appreciative audience and lots of delicious things to read in return. I am coming to appreciate and love my physical appearance, rather than having a laundry list of things I want to change about me. I have enough things I love to keep me occupied for centuries, and even in the deepest fits of depression (which has itself perceptibly lessened) I don't lose track of that my life is, generally, solidly awesome. And I'm learning to rationally analyze my wants and how best to get them, with the result of wasting less money and effort on the parts of things that aren't important.

Yeah, I get to drive spacecraft for a living. (Alas, I drive them remotely from the ground.) Still, it's a way of living the dream that was so outrageous I didn't even dare articulate it back in 1969.

I've always thought true luxury was having fruit growing in your own yard, and "Tech Support" and I just picked a half-pint of mixed berries. ;) And we have a (very small) house with a (very small) library. with 2 cats, and I get magazines in the mail with my stories in them... it really is a dream come true. Thanks for reminding me to stop and appreciate that.

Wonderful. Not only did I have my dream tech job, but when that waned, I got to explore and find something that works for me better.

Plus I've got a library in a house that's big enough to host lots of friends, I'm loved, and healthy, and it's a beautiful day. ;)

My life, finally, is wonderful. I just graduated high school. I'm going to my first-choice college in the fall, with plans to major in music before going on to medical school. I have my own modest library that grows bigger every year, six musical instruments, two cats, and a partridge in a pear tree. I have a loving, mostly-supportive family. Some great friends. A deep appreciation for both the written word and music that will never go away.

My life is just beginning. Now let's see if I can spread my wings and fly.

My life is just beginning. Now let's see if I can spread my wings and fly.

This, but I'm older than you are. I spent my whole childhood surrounded by books and a mother who gladly bought me more, but writing my own -- writing was, and still is, my True Love -- was not an option. My father got rid of my notebooks, laughed at my enrolling in Creative Writing and Journalism classes, and told me the only way he'd ever pay for my education was if I "put an English degree to good use by teaching" (I come from a family of teachers and highly respect the profession, but I couldn't be a teacher; I'm too "weird" for the school-system). Well, he ended up paying for my brother instead, because he figured that since I was a girl, what need had I of a degree anyway?

So I've been paying my own way through school, and after six years of not writing at all, I was sat down a few days ago by my boyfriend, who took my face in his hands and said "It's killing you not to write; you need it to breathe. You hate your job, and if it's what it'll take to get you back into what you love, quit working there, and I'll support us as best we can. I'll gladly do it for you."

Good luck to you!

AngelVixen :-)

Obviously I don't know anything about him, but based on that one conversation, the boyfriend's a keeper :)

Well, he ended up paying for my brother instead, because he figured that since I was a girl, what need had I of a degree anyway?

Oh honey, ouch! We *so* need to talk. See you at Confluence or TCEP?

Kudos to the BF. Definitely consider keeping this one around.

Not exactly what I want at the moment, but I've managed over the years to experience many times when I said "This, right here, is part of what I want in my perfect life." Unfortunately, not all of those components have come together at once yet. Still, it's nice to have approximate goals now.

And apparently my perfect life would be something a bit like Dean Kamen's but with a lot more free time and delegation going on.

Other than a nasty sunburn (gotten by going on a lovely day of sailing, so I'm not complaining), life's pretty good; nice house, great guy, cool pets, decent job. Not perfect, but then neither am I :)

Life is better than I ever realistically thought it could be. Someone I love has my back in every way conceivable, I have both emotional & financial stability at the same time for the 1st time ever, plus books, DVDs, music & cats. The chronic pain is a bitch, but y'know, I wouldn't give up anything else I've got in order to get rid of it. Now if only all my friends were similarly blessed...

Life is wonderful if busy. I am teaching ballroom dancing still, now managing a pizza place as well so I finally feel like I might be able to put some money in the bank. I have lost 40 pounds since last September and have recently found a renewed interest in getting off this plateau and started focusing on the weight loss again. I still have 60 pounds to make my goal. I don't think I will make it by the original date but I have high hopes of meeting the goal anyway. Have good books, good friends, good music and a wonderful hubby. Life is good.

I teach american style. Waltz, Foxtrot, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Charleston, Salsa, Country Two Step, Night Club Two Step, Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba ummmm I think I am missing some but you get the idea.

Still struggling with the "too many books" concept, but life with blue cats sounds spiffy, otherwise!