I'm a Network Administrator, focus on Windows systems and Cisco network gear.

I and a geek through and through. I love building and tinkering with computers. I love movies including alot of Hong Kong and Japanese action flicks.

I enjoy music, my favorite band is Tool.

I read a few comic books.

I play some video games, but am not a die hard gamer. I have a X-box 360 and may pick up a DS Lite before my next major surgery.

I also enjoy playing with my two daughters, the oldest is 3, the youngest is 9 months.

My interests are / were along the lines of fitness. I played tennis in a career league, both singles and doubles and loved it!! Then I got into weight training and decided I needed to do that 5 or 6 days a week, backing off on the tennis somewhat. I also walked about 4-5 miles a day. It will be 2 years in March since I have done any of the above. Since the UC escalated big time and caused 3 hospitalizations and then my 2 surgeries....I haven't done a single thing. I miss it, plan to get back to it and soon! I just don't want to be a fanatic about it the way I was...kind of like too much of a good thing!

One married daughter who just moved from Charleston SC to Texas.

I can retire this year after 35 years in public education, 11 years as a PE/Health teacher and 24 years as a guidance counselor. I'm not sure I am ready to do that yet. The bonus in all this is ...I feel I am getting my life back!

nys

I'm from New Jersey but I've been living in Pennsylvania, in the woods with DIAL UP for about 12 years now.. I really miss civilization :P

I'm a bit of a geek, spend a lot time on the computer, playing with my website, using photoshop, playing pc games, reading, and playing with my xbox 360. ( Or at least I would be if my xbox wasn't in a box at Microsoft being fixed.. hmpf )
I stopped playing online games because I kind of became addicted to one, (Everquest) and didn't do much of anything until I sold my account.

I always wanted to be a veterinarian but I was always SO bad at math and science.. I decided to try nursing but only made it through a year and a half of pre-nursing before I became ill again.
I don't think I'll ever really be able to hold a 'normal' job, I plan to take courses on medical transcription when I'm feeling better. I'd feel much better about myself If I was able to earn some money and contribute to things in my life.

I have been seeing a wonderful man for about 2 years now, he and I are planning on moving into a house together soon. He makes me smile, gets me up and going when I'm digging myself into a depressed hole, he even ventures into the bathroom RIGHT AFTER I leave. He's a brave boy!

I have three large parrots and if it weren't for those birds I don't think I would have made it this far. They tell me they love me and are just such wonderful animals, I think of them as my kids.
They are just like small children, about as smart as a preschooler and just as much trouble. Gratuitous pictures:

http://www.flyte.org/beaks.html http://www.flyte.org/birds.html

Madison, Tyler, and Rocky are adorable. Aren't grey parrots like WAY smarter than humans? Don't they have I.Q.'s like 200+?

kathy

I was a auto tech for 15yrs before I became to ill I built race cars for fun some during work.

I used to bowl, baseball,foot ball, hockey..no longer do any of it I been married going on 6yrs been sick going on 5 yrs my wife and I almost opened our open shop but because of losing it all we did not so what we do now is get involved in computer repair and such .


I also game alot and been thinking of getting into making game's and such as its been the one of few things that help me forgot about my illness I love it.. I did alot of computer repair on cars so I turn to PC's now as its not much differnce and I can sit inside and do it with not doing anything physical so i'm still close to what I used to love and do.


Now to find a job doing it!!

Kathy, Tyler sure thinks he's smarter than us He's pretty amazing, he answers yes/no questions, tells me 'I like it' or 'I don't like it $#@#$%!!!' when I feed him. I tied writing down all the things he says but he just comes out with new stuff everyday
He is able to communicate pretty well with words and really comes out with some funny and appropriate stuff.
Not sure what his IQ would be, he'd probably tell me to stuff it if I tried to give him a test but I would compare him to a 3 or 4 year old human child. He's very sweet, wants to be involved in everything, shares his every thought and tells me he loves me constantly. Of course he is also very greedy, jealous, quick to anger and doesn't like to share, just like a little kid!
He also curses like a truck driver (my fault.. ) It can be terrible at times but I'm always amazed at how appropriately he uses the words, especially when he's angry. When I walk by the bedroom to go into the bathroom he will sometimes ask me 'You go bathroom go 'poop' ?? but the other word...lol. One other thing about him thats kinda neat is that he calls me Sarah while the other birds call me mom.

ok ok I'll shutup.. sorry for the OT

- Sarah

Well my interest and hobby is also my job and that is teaching Ballroom Dance. I love any form of dance but Ballroom is my favorite. It's my plan to take up a new form of dance every few years. I've been working on belly dancing lately...not bad for someone with scars all over the belly

I'm also newly married (one month this week) and hope to quit my full time job (that I only got for the health insurance) now that my husband provides insurance. So soon I hope to JUST teach dance.

We desperately want children and are seriously considering international adoption. For now though, my Great Dane is my baby. Her name is Bronte; anyone know who she was named for????
I also LOVE classic movies; Jimmy Stewart is my favorite. And I have a record player and play my Doris Day album constantly.

That's me.
Lori

Attached is my Dane caught in the act of sleeping on the sofa!

couchsleeper.jpg (183 Kb, 30 downloads)

Oooh! Oooh! Mrs. Kotter...Mrs. Kotter, I've got a guess. Emily Bronte, author of Wuthering Heights?

You are correct, LuckyOne. I actually named her tail "Emily" since it seems to have a life of it's own
Although there's also Charlotte or Anne in the Bronte family that were also authors but Wuthering Heights is a favorite.

Semi-retired photographer (due to the UC and J-pouch issues). Used to be a halfway decent distance runner; if I entered a 5k or 10k race I usually won my age group. X-Jock, H.S./college wrestler, coach. Still work out but not with the intensity I used to. Kayak & biking these days. Married 30+ yrs., two grown sons I couldn't be prouder of. Folk music enthusiast. Nam Vet

CAV1.jpg (49 Kb, 13 downloads)

I just found this thread and thought I would bring it back.

I really love to snowboard. I shattered my fifth vertebrae snowboarding and have a fusion from c4-c6 and haven't gone much since then but a few weeks ago Some friends were going to stay in a cabin in Big Bear and sick or not I wasn't going to miss it. We were there for 3 days and I was only able to go snowboarding one day and only went on like 5 runs before I was about to collapse. The next week I payed for it dearly but those five runs were so worth it.

Other than that I love fishing, Archery, bushcraft and welding. I want to start hunting once I get back on my feet.

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When I'm not working at my job in advertising (which, I am seemingly always at...this is me: )http://newsite2.ddbseattle.com/blogs/Lisa_Reeder/) I like to spend time with my husband, the airline pilot. You can imagine that us meshing our schedules to find time for each other is challenging, but we make it work.

I love all types of music - I am equal opportunity and give every artist a chance. I also happen to love to sing, even though I am horrible at it. That's not modesty. I really am awful.

Other than that, I like the outdoors, I like to workout, I like animals of all varieties. I like men more than I like women, but I think most girls are like that. We're a catty bunch.

I dislike most foods. I am really, really, really picky. I blame my parents for not calling my bluff when I said I would throw up if they made me eat it.

Hello. I first have to say that this forum has been my greatest source of comfort since I discovered it last spring.
My name is Maria and I am a teacher in New Jersey - I have 5 children, 3 grandchildren and a wonderfully supportive husband. God willing, I will have my 25 years of teaching in 4 years and I will be able to retire and travel. My children live all over the country and I want to spend more time with them.
I love the beaches in New Jersey and I spend my summer there holding down the sand and soaking up the sun. I enjoy photography - especially seascapes.
Most of all I love to cook and eat. I am especially happy when there is someone enjoying my food.
I had an emergency colostomy two years ago and I have pretty much decided that a pouch and reversal is not in my future. I can't imaging having 8+ bm's a day and several in the night. With the bag I am free to do everything I did before without the pain and running to a bathroom.
I encourage everyone on this forum to continue with their support and kind words. Thanks

Cooking, eating, downhill mountain biking, skiing, restoring old vw buses and last but certainly not least playing with my daugthers.

Its been a month and a half since take down, haven't starting mountain biking yet but I just went for a 2 hour road ride yesterday and other than a sore but from my saddle no problems. Can't wait for summer....
Any one else mountain bike, just wondering how long I should wait, I live in Vancouver so our trails are generally difficult to expert only and my doc suggested waiting for 6 months because of the jarring, does this make sense?

Donagh

I am an artist (a second chance given to me by my own disability following take-down and a plethora of issues) . . . and love to travel and gather photos and ideas for my art.

I just entered two colored pencil pieces in an international show today. We will see if the jury finds them worthy . . .


Hot and Cold (color-tweaked thermal image self-portrait)

Wood End (from a plein air piece done on Cape Cod last fall)

Addendum:••••• I posted the above without having read the forum guidelines very carefully . . . obviously. I am sorry, and I guess we are not supposed to post pics, as they take up valuable bandwidth that we can better use to help and support one another. I certainly agree with that reason.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Debra,