Life in real life...

[CherryokeeXJ]

We all have or had plans for our lives. I wanted to be a famous author and write international best-sellers. I didn't want kids and I was going to be rich and beautiful. Now, ten years after realizing that dream, I'm a pending mommy of three, I'm a house wife and part time worker at an AFB, my runway walk is hindered by love handles and dark circles under the eyeballs, and I'm soooo not rich. Funny thing is....I'm happy. The simple life turned out to be a perfect fit for me.

We all make plans and life derives it's own version of what will happen to us and when. Anyone's "blue print life" actually happen or is in the process of happening? What's your life like now in comparison to how you wanted it to be?

I'm still going to go back to school after my kiddos are all of school age. Who knows....maybe I'll still make it on the "best seller" shelf of some newsstand some day. ;)

"You can't always get what you want....
No, you can't always get what you want.....
You can't always get what you want...
But if you try sometimes, you just might find.....
You get what you need."

[1BGDOG]

I still don't know what I want to do with my life, but having a BLAST doing what I do everyday. A father, a husband, and a good friend.

[CherryokeeXJ]

I still don't know what I want to do with my life, but having a BLAST doing what I do everyday. A father, a husband, and a good friend.

Personally I think that in itself is all that matters. True success, IMHO, isn't measured in diplomas or awards. It's just dying happy with no regrets, doing your best, and being the best person you can be.

[WhtJeep]

considering i never knew what i wanted to be, I'd say im right on track for that.

[Bauer]

Didn't think I would live to see 21.. Here I am 33.

May be lucky if I see 34 ;)

Accounting degree to boot ... Who knew... :shrug:

[JR4X]

My plan was always to work and have fun whatever that took. Now I have a wife who is my favorite thing in this world. Luckily she likes to do the same things I do. So we may not have the perfect life we imagined, we know we have it good. Just bought a new to us home and hopefully we can sell our previous one before we have to make to many double payments.

[RebelRescuer]

I went to school for agriculture. By now I was supposed to be farming, with a husband, kids, and volunteer 4-H duties. I was supposed to be in a small town. I was supposed to spend my days on a tractor, and my nights on the porch.

But in real life, its a 4000 sq ft house in suburbia, an executive husband, and no kids. I rescue tiny dogs and spend my days fighting puppymillers and running crews of other volunteers.

There isn't a hayfield in sight.

I'm not complaining, but its not quite how I always had it pictured. Though I'm not giving up on that dream just yet.....

(My husband might someday make a decent farmhand.)

[CherryokeeXJ]

I went to school for agriculture. By now I was supposed to be farming, with a husband, kids, and volunteer 4-H duties. I was supposed to be in a small town. I was supposed to spend my days on a tractor, and my nights on the porch.

But in real life, its a 4000 sq ft house in suburbia, an executive husband, and no kids. I rescue tiny dogs and spend my days fighting puppymillers and running crews of other volunteers.

There isn't a hayfield in sight.

I'm not complaining, but its not quite how I always had it pictured. Though I'm not giving up on that dream just yet.....

You can still get a tractor and ride it around on your lawn. :D I would.

[RebelRescuer]

You can still get a tractor and ride it around on your lawn. :D I would.

True that!! Wonder if the neighbors would appreciate a John Deere mailbox?

Signed,
A closeted, suburban redneck :D

[SUPERGILDO43]

my runway walk is hindered by love handles and dark circles under the eyeballs, and I'm soooo not rich.

Is it just me or is that extremely hot in an Amy Whinehouse sort of way? :shrug:

[CherryokeeXJ]

Signed,
A closeted, suburban redneck :D

You and me both, sister. At night I dream of having an excuse to squeeze into my old Wranglers and boots. For now, though, it's keeping the mini blinds shut so the byotch across the street can't see in with her binoculars, and getting weird looks when I get the mail in my huge fuzzy lion slippers. I long for green acres and no neighbors.

[RebelRescuer]

You and me both, sister. At night I dream of having an excuse to squeeze into my old Wranglers and boots. For now, though, it's keeping the mini blinds shut so the byotch across the street can't see in with her binoculars, and getting weird looks when I get the mail in my huge fuzzy lion slippers. I long for green acres and no neighbors.

I hear ya!! I do believe I'm the only girl in the 'hood that hangs her laundry out!! :D

My favorite is going to the grocery store in my area. All these snobby gals in their tracksuits and foreign tennis shoes. Coach purses, bluetooths, and fake tans. And there I am in a walmart sweatshirt, kohl's 50% off purse, and a pink Kenworth hat.

Welcome to the neighborhood! :D

PS--When we moved in, our neighbors insisted on coming over and meeting us, which was fine. But they never came back after they saw the ammo cans sitting on the kitchen counter. Hey, we were in the middle of moving! I wonder what they think when I practice Orange Blossom Special on the fiddle in the garage? :D

[pineneedle]

My Dear CherokeeXJ,

Your post is really quite lovely. I find it ironic that you lament your lost life as a writer. Your post is a gem; I am touched.

Don't let the dream of writing go a'gleaming. Find a way to set aside some time on a regularly scheduled basis during which you can write. I am not saying that it has to be every day, although this is the best way. But even if only every Wednesday and Sunday, so be it. The discipline is the whole point. Perhaps only a half-hour can be found. That is an abundance. Write a couple of careful sentences. Go over them scrupulously, until they are as well-wrought as you can make them. By the time you can actually take the time to be a writer, you will be one.

W.B. Yeats, my current favorite poet, wrote every day. He didn't write much, just a few sentences. Yet, there are few who write or have ever written English can fashion so elegant a sentence as he.

Write quatrains. One of the great English language poems was written in the Middle Ages by an unknown poet. Consider:

Western Wind when wilt thou blow?
The small rains down can rain.
Christ, if my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again.

Begin, as Kipling says, at your beginnings. In a year, looking back at your little writing journal, you will be astonished at your accomplishment. Do this. In a year you can write a thank-you-note on this forum addressed to Pineneedle, and if he is still above ground, he will be proud of you.

Pineneedle

[RebelRescuer]

My Dear CherokeeXJ,

Your post is really quite lovely. I find it ironic that you lament your lost life as a writer. Your post is a gem; I am touched.

Don't let the dream of writing go a'gleaming. Find a way to set aside some time on a regularly scheduled basis during which you can write. I am not saying that it has to be every day, although this is the best way. But even if only every Wednesday and Sunday, so be it. The discipline is the whole point. Perhaps only a half-hour can be found. That is an abundance. Write a couple of careful sentences. Go over them scrupulously, until they are as well-wrought as you can make them. By the time you can actually take the time to be a writer, you will be one.

W.B. Yeats, my current favorite poet, wrote every day. He didn't write much, just a few sentences. Yet, there are few who write or have ever written English can fashion so elegant a sentence as he.

Write quatrains. One of the great English language poems was written in the Middle Ages by an unknown poet. Consider:

Western Wind when wilt thou blow?
The small rains down can rain.
Christ, if my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again.

Begin, as Kipling says, at your beginnings. In a year, looking back at your little writing journal, you will be astonished at your accomplishment. Do this. In a year you can write a thank-you-note on this forum addressed to Pineneedle, and if he is still above ground, he will be proud of you.

Pineneedle

Pineneedle, you are my hero. :)

Here's a quatrain for you (I actually have no idea what a quatrain is)

Pineneedle, you smooth talking guy
I bet the girls all chased you
You could sell love notes on ebay
For guys who haven't a clue.

:D :D :D

[Matt]

I long for green acres and no neighbors.

That and a wonderful family has always been my dream. It seems like the past 5 years I've been trying to be someone, and that made my life a big damn mess. Happiness is being content with what you have and finding simplicity IMO.

"You can take the kid out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the kid."

[Mack]

My goal was to live the dream, and piss off the majority.


I'm doing fairly well so far :flipoff2:

[RebelRescuer]

My version of the Tim McGraw song. :D :D

I wanna live where the green grass grows
I'm so tired of watching yuppies pose
And HOA's bent on coming to blows, with you

Wanna hang our skivvies in the fresh, cool air
Butcher a steer and eat it rare
Gossip and chat until the feed store sign says "closed"
Where the green grass grows

Wanna raise our kids where it seems best
Without the dope and all the rest
And spend each night on the porch with fiddle and bow
Oh, where the green grass grows

[TheCopperCowboy]

We all play the hand that we're dealt. Win, lose or draw. You either get lucky, bluff you way through it, or fold and wait for the next deal. Just don't get up from the table until the dealer in the sky calls to settle up. :cool:

[RebelRescuer]

We all play the hand that we're dealt. Win, lose or draw. You either get lucky, bluff you way through it, or fold and wait for the next deal. Just don't get up from the table until the dealer in the sky calls to settle up. :cool:

I like that sentiment a lot!

Of course, you could always check-raise a semi-bluff. :flipoff2:

[not so Quikjeep]

Life happens deal with it. My dream was to go to CU arcitecture school, well I don't like school so f that. So then I wanted to work and meet chicks, so I did and it didn't take long to meet the right one. Now I'm married, mortgage, car payments, 3 year old girl and another girl on the way and couldn't be happier. Maybe someday I'll grow up and go back to school but if not so what I don't care I'm blue collar and don't care. My wife went to school and will be my sugar mama.

Like Cherry said a diploma or award dosen't make you who you are or measure your sucsess or make you better than me or anyone else. As long as your happy, who the hell cares. And if your not do something about it.
Sorry small rant:shrug:

-Tom

[Big Kev]

Well I first went to school to be a Mechanical Engineer, was hoping to get a job in the auto industry. Then the big three started to look like they might not be the big three any more. And I hated sitting behind a computer every day. Went back to school and started over for a career in law enforcement. And hopefully in the next month or two that will happen for me. I married the girl of my dreams. Moved from Michigan to Colorado. I miss the town I grew up in but nothing else. I never planned on being rich, I just want to be comfortable. So far things are working out pretty good for me. There have been a lot of ups and downs but I would not trade it for any thing. Met some great people along the way, and look forward to meeting a lot more.

[JeepWheelin02]

I always wanted to make enough money to be comfortable doing what I do, and to buy a house with some acreage. I hate neighbors. I now make enough money to be comfortable and I see that house coming up in my near future. Only leaves a few more things to accomplish.

[Oscar]

Well for 22 years of my life wasn't mine it belonged to the AF. But they were good to us for the most part and I was doing what I wanted to. Now got a good job that seems to be getting more secure. My dream was to have a house in the mountains. Which I have but its not a dream turned into a nightmare due to the contractor. So when the housing market recovers a bit it will go up for sale. Kids are almost grown and are pretty good kids. Married for 22 years so no complaints.

[Dagimp]

I never planned on having kids, in fact I was well know for say I didn?t want them. Never thought I'd be a computer geek. Don?t look or act like your typical computer geek in most aspects.

I had some silly dreams as a child. But if I could start over again I'd be a pilot or a astronomer.

[Leon Phelps]

I'm still deciding what I want to do with my life.

So I consume, destroy and drink.

So far, so good.

[Frank Z]

Husband, Father, Friend...I'm doin' alright

[Sound_Man]

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x33/sounrequited/sandninjas.jpg

[Willy36]

Well my life hasn't gone far enough to take any direction yet. I'm looking towards engineering, but it honestly wouldn't surprise me if I was into and out of that field and back to school for something else all in the same year. :shrug:

So for now I take life as it comes and make the best of every situation. And dump all of the money that I've saved over the last few years into snowboarding and the Jeep. :D

[Willy36]

My Dear CherokeeXJ,

Your post is really quite lovely. I find it ironic that you lament your lost life as a writer. Your post is a gem; I am touched.

Don't let the dream of writing go a'gleaming. Find a way to set aside some time on a regularly scheduled basis during which you can write. I am not saying that it has to be every day, although this is the best way. But even if only every Wednesday and Sunday, so be it. The discipline is the whole point. Perhaps only a half-hour can be found. That is an abundance. Write a couple of careful sentences. Go over them scrupulously, until they are as well-wrought as you can make them. By the time you can actually take the time to be a writer, you will be one.

W.B. Yeats, my current favorite poet, wrote every day. He didn't write much, just a few sentences. Yet, there are few who write or have ever written English can fashion so elegant a sentence as he.

Write quatrains. One of the great English language poems was written in the Middle Ages by an unknown poet. Consider:

Western Wind when wilt thou blow?
The small rains down can rain.
Christ, if my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again.

Begin, as Kipling says, at your beginnings. In a year, looking back at your little writing journal, you will be astonished at your accomplishment. Do this. In a year you can write a thank-you-note on this forum addressed to Pineneedle, and if he is still above ground, he will be proud of you.

Pineneedle

Does your IQ happen to be in the 275-300 range? :D I think the world needs more Pineneedles. :) :thumbsup:

[bsaunder]

Yup - father, husband to a great wife that is NOT a typical female (thank god), great friends, good family that I really enjoy on both sides, job I look forward to most days, roof over my head, eating well, enough "excess" that I can do a few hobbies but no so much that I don't appreciate every dollar that I earn.

All in all - no complaints.

[pineneedle]

My Dear Willy36,

I have to chuckle at your attributing a stratospheric I.Q. to me. Appearances can be deceiving. I am a man of average intelligence, well, slightly above average. However, I am the beneficiary of a wonderful classical education. After my wife and children, I regard my education as the one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon me by God.

Consider this. If we were all at an engineering conference, the various engineers on this board would strike us as geniuses. The same for other professions. In my case, many of the questions that arise on this board play to my strong suit. I have spent 45 years being paid to read books and talk about ideas. Some of that was bound to stick. However, I entertain no illusions about myself. On a daily basis my wife reminds me of my many limitations. Nevertheless, I am pleased that you have a high opinion of me.

Pineneedle

[CherryokeeXJ]

My Dear CherokeeXJ,

Your post is really quite lovely. I find it ironic that you lament your lost life as a writer. Your post is a gem; I am touched.

Don't let the dream of writing go a'gleaming. Find a way to set aside some time on a regularly scheduled basis during which you can write. I am not saying that it has to be every day, although this is the best way. But even if only every Wednesday and Sunday, so be it. The discipline is the whole point. Perhaps only a half-hour can be found. That is an abundance. Write a couple of careful sentences. Go over them scrupulously, until they are as well-wrought as you can make them. By the time you can actually take the time to be a writer, you will be one.

W.B. Yeats, my current favorite poet, wrote every day. He didn't write much, just a few sentences. Yet, there are few who write or have ever written English can fashion so elegant a sentence as he.

Write quatrains. One of the great English language poems was written in the Middle Ages by an unknown poet. Consider:

Western Wind when wilt thou blow?
The small rains down can rain.
Christ, if my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again.

Begin, as Kipling says, at your beginnings. In a year, looking back at your little writing journal, you will be astonished at your accomplishment. Do this. In a year you can write a thank-you-note on this forum addressed to Pineneedle, and if he is still above ground, he will be proud of you.

Pineneedle

Believe it or not I do just that. I write every other day, whether it be a journal entry or a creative composition. I have a box filled to the top with my writing that weighs roughly 75 pounds. I'm one of those people scared to death of rejection. My fear is my only enemy when it comes to actually attempting to gain recognition and fame. Though that's not why I want to do it now. Hell, the money would be nice, but I wouldn't give a damn if anyone knew who I was in public. I just want to do what I love as a career.