My name is SheRae--I am 23 years old and I also grew up as an 'Air Force Brat' my father flew helicopters, my mother was an elementary school teacher, and me, my younger brother by 3 years, and my little sister by 5 years moved around quite a bit. We have lived in Las Vegas, California (Sacramento and San Francisco), Korea, Virginia, and South Dakota. we drove across the US twice (all 2000+ miles) and while I appreciated seeing the world, it was difficult for me to make friends as a child always knowing that I would have to say goodby and perhaps never see them again. In addition to my spiritual beliefs, I have two passions in life: children and animals. Both often suffer silently too often, as they do not have a voice in our society. When I was younger up until I went to college, i wanted to be a vetrinarian--but after working in a vets office for a year, I decided that there was too much pain and suffering that goes along with it, so I got my BS in biology--pre-Med, but I ended up not going into medicine. As I was growing up, I always had pets--no cats or dogs because of my moms allergies, but I had hamsters and bred gerbils (yes, gerbils), fish, 4 ferrets, 2 rabbits (in college), and even what some would consider icky animals: turtles, geckos, an iguana, several snakes, and even a couple tarantulas! Right now I work at our local SPCA, and I LOVE the fact that I am helping these animals get a home---luckily, overcrowding is not as big an issue in Grand Forks ND, so nearly all of the animals I meet and play with end up in a loving home (-:
I absolutly love to travel, and I have been to 5 of the 7 continents (not planning to visit antarctica!!) I am so happy to see that so many of you are from Australia, as I have always longed, and someday will visit! I love to go overseas to help children that are in need of--yes---material things, but most of all, love. From Niger Africa, to Mexico, to Inner city chicago, my heart always goes out to the littlest people in the world-kids- that end up getting hurt the most because of the choices of those who were supposed to take care of them.
Lets see...what else....I am married to the most wonderful husband, Kyle, who understands ME which, is quite a feat in and of itself! We have one furry little child---a kitten named Dakota (-: I am currently in grad school studying microbiology and immunology, though I consider myself a virologist, as I study West Nile Virus, and search for a possible treatment! My husband is in the Air Force as well, and I look forward to the day when we leave frigid North Dakota.
In my free time I enjoy art, and Nature photography...maybe I will post some of my pictures up one day. I also am very sport oriented, I played soccer, basketball, softball, and volleyball during highschool, but I was best at volleyball and basket ball (I'm kinda tall, 5'8) ummmm my favorite color is yellow...I guess thats it for now..this is the first forum I have ever joined and now I understand why people get addicted!! I feel like I know you guys face to face--Great idea for a post (-:
It's been really great to learn about everyone.
My story is not as interesting and touching as some of yours have been:
Im Meghan (pronounced Meg-Han... everyone always gets it wrong and calls me meagan, so I stick with Meg
) I've just turned 21, and as you will know, I have two cats Edward, my seal point and Puss Puss, my beautiful DSH.
I have a wonderful boyfriend that I have been with for about 3 years now. He is a bit older than me - by 6 years - but neither of us seem to notice.
I work at an engineering consultancy company as what they call a "drafting cadet." This just basically means that I dont have a degree as yet, but I work full time at the same time as studying. I am studying civil engineering. I dont know if anyone knows what a drafter is (i didnt, until a couple of years ago) But i just basically draw up the plans that other people design. Once i have become qualified and have enough experience, I hopefully be designing my own stuff and getting someone like me to draft it up. Originally i wanted to be an engineer, but after working for a couple of years, I think i have changed my mind. I would much rather actually design and draw up the projects, rather than check the designs or write the reports (which is my impression of what the engineers here do)
This is hard sometimes. I work 40 hours a week, and then i have to go to classes for 18 hours a week also. It's a very hectic schedule, but i think it will be worth it in the long run. I get paid a common wage and my company also pays for my degree - which is great
As you can tell by my career, I'm very good at maths and science, rather than english and wordy things. I always seem to have about a million things going on in my brain at once, but i can never word things together properly. Hahahaha. ( i have been writing this thing for about an hour because i just keep changing my mind on what i want to say)
I'm a little shy, and I'm a pretty introverted person. I love to get together with a group of friends, but i'm normally just happy to sit there and listen. Although, i have found lately that i'm happier most of the time just to stay at home by myself, or hang out with ben, rather than going out and having to talk to people. Although, this might have alot to do with the fact that i work full time, then go to class, then am expected to go home and study - i'm actually just pretty exhausted most of the time.
With Bens job, he has been working away quite alot for the past year. Sometimes he has been away for as long as 9 weeks, with a break of about 3 weeks back at home. This has been a bit hard for me, but i have learned to get used to it. I have become VERY dependant on the cats. They are always there for me, get excited when i get home and actually just stop me from going crazy by myself so much. This has actually made it a little hard for me aswell because i never want to stay away from home, because i hate being away from them. I think i have attached myself to them alot more because they will always be at home with me - when Ben will not - and i think that i just need to learn to be a little more independent so that i can actually go on holidays for a couple of days and not cry the whole time because i am away from the cats. Ben's away-work has finished up for a couple of months though - which is great. So he has just been working locally and will be able to spend as much time with me as possible
As i've mentioned a couple of times on the forum, Ben and I are currently building our first home together. It is just a couple of weeks away from completion, and i cant wait!
I think i have talked way too much - i just looked at my post and deleted about 4 big paragraphs. i ramble alot - doesnt seem like im shy hey!
My name is Angela, though most of my family calls me Jenny (started with Forrest Gump...my mom started saying "I love you Jenny" and it just stuck!). I'm 30 years old, dating a 28 year old named Tommy. We'll be getting married next month, and I honestly can't wait! This will be my second marriage, and I can just tell that this one is THE one. I have no kids, yet, though Tommy and I are already planning on having one soon. I got out of the Navy last year and I'm now a full time student at Hawaii Pacific University studying towards a bachelor's in business. Tommy is still in the Navy and we'll be transferring to China Lake, California this summer (middle of the Mojave Desert, yuck!). I'm hoping I'll be able to get a job there with the Aviation community that should pay very well, but my absolute dream job would be owning a bookstore/cafe. I know that dream is pretty unattainable with the big chain store, but hopefully someday I'll be able to do something similar. We have two pets, Koa and Monkey, but I'd love to have so many more. I'm hoping at our next place we'll have a house/yard big enough to handle fostering pets (my compromise since Tommy would rather us keep the pets to a more manageable number).
I loved your story Janilee, very inspirational. Cloe, I'm so shocked that you're 14, you are so mature! If anyone can make it through the rigors of vet school, I think you can! Great idea for a post Danni, I loved reading everyone's stories!
Wow, what amazing stories. Jan you are brave to tell us all about yourself, thank you!
My name is Kitty, I was born in a small suburban town called Orinda which is just west of Berkeley. I have always had a kinship with animals, I felt they were more understanding and less judgemental than most people. I was also the one hiking alone (or with my little brother). I would always read a book off by myself at recess at school. Not popular and teased.. so I feel the pain of anyone else who grew up that way. By the time I got into high school, I started to basically say sr** you to all of the people who had made my life miserable. I studied ornamental horticulture and animal husbandry and was president of our FFA chapter. I am an artist, and was usually selected to help paint the sets for the musicals. I also got to participate in the musicals, since I am a singer. I always had a dog, and when we did not own a horse I always found a way to ride. I had a dwarf bunny for 13 years, I have had 2 amazon parrots, one which I donated to a breeder in Hawaii who has a lovely aviary. The other flew into my life.. after 8 months I found his owner. They had not even advertised his loss!!!
I worked in retail management for several years.. just not really sure what I wanted to do. After being laid off a job as a gift shop manager, I decided to take a career training course in graphic design and illustration. I was awarded a partial scholarship to the Academy of Art in San Francisco where I studied publication production and design, as well as figure drawing, typography and color. This was the first year that this particular scholarship was not a full ride
. Anyway, after finishing up at the Academy of Art I went to work full time freelancing with advertising agencies around the bay area. I have been a professional graphic designer for 15 years (or so). I left my permanent job at a wonderful agency in SF which was located directly across the street from Pier 39.. I used to get my pastry and latte and watch the sea lions before work. I was also allowed to bring my black lab to work. I missed it, but I had become pregnant and was ill with morning sickness for 8 months. I have freelanced from home over the past several years, designing ads for folk art shows which were published in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine. I am a folk artist, and create vintage style paper mache using antique German chocolate molds.
Ack, too much info! I've sold radio time, produced radio commercials, sold cars, modeled, waitressed worked for Journey. I dated one of Journey's original members for 3 years and swore off musicians forever after that.
I am divorced, my 2 gorgeous children and I share a small 2 bedroom apartment with our fur babies Mocha and Bonkers. I've been to the ER twice in the past year, once recently with stress related heart palpitations/panic attacks. I am hoping that they are behind me now! I am recovering from a back injury so prepping my house for sale, scaling down from a 6 bedroom house to the apt. was interesting. I would not have made it without my family and boyfriend. I hope to get back to work soon.
I can't leave out my wonderful boyfriend Christian. We met on match.com.. met for dinner, fell in love and canceled our match memberships that very night. It's been 2 wonderful years and he is an angel, He is German, works at Lawrence Livermore Lab and is a nuclear physicist. He is working on the NIF (Nat'l Ignition Facility) program which is going very well and may bring safe alternative energy to the world. He is humble and shy, and I love him to pieces. Of course he is a cat person.. he has a darling kitty named Neutrino (after a particle of course). He had 2 other cats in previous years name Axion and Muon (prononounced Mewon lol).
OMG, I need to shut up LOL. It took me forever to get up the gumption to write in this thread, now I can't stop. Sorry for the novel!!