DragonGirl724

interesting. i know my 20s are the best years of my life so far. so much i have experienced & so much more i have yet to experience. its exciting to have your whole life ahead of you. youre 20s is really the first peek down the long road that is your life. and if you dont like what you see set for yourself then yea youre going to be morbid & depressed during your youthful 20s, but if you grab life by the B***s & run with it, then I dont see how bad it can possibly be. -DG724

did you check out my post "Society's Normalcies": link removed you dont have to live your life unhappy. do what you want to do & what you need to do. you dont have to work at a job you hate, you can work doing what you love if you make it happen. even if that means taking a pay cut. you can not put a pricetag on happiness. you can sit & complain about being unhappy but its up to YOU to find happiness. and believe me, there are A LOT of happy people out there, let them inspire you. live your life b/c before you know it your life will be over, even before it even really started.... you know that Braveheart quote: "every man dies, but not every man truly lives...' well, its true, so dont be part of the cattle herd, break out of it & go forward with your life in a whole new direction. shed some light on your life & take an adventure, break away from the 'norm' & give a big middle finger to 'society's normalcies'. you can make your own norm. experience different places in the world, new cultures, (you'd see there are a lot of other places in the world that dont take work & money so seriously). Places like Spain have Siestas. thats when the whole country shuts down around noon & everyone goes home for a few hours to spend time resting or with their family eating a hearty feast! like HELL would they ever have that in the Americas, you barely get a lunch break! think this over & check out my post. Take care, -DG724

Guest, yea you can work in australia or any other country (except amsterdam) if you obtain a VISA. they have working VISA's and its only $30! so thats def cool. thank you so much for the support & i encourage you to do the same. I know I really can't wait. we're thinkin instead of Fall 06 we'll go from January til April (at least til April) in 2007, so we wont miss so many birthdays/ holidays in the fall & have to rush back for Christmas. PLus, we'll be there for the Australian summer (AND NOT TO MENTION SPENDING NEW YEARS DOWN UNDER!!!) and it is true, "its not about the amount of years in your life, but that of the amount of life in your years..." -DG724

no prob. hope it all works out for ya. -DG724

im sure his parents will help out, this IS a lot of dough. try to save up most of the money. remember tho, being an adult isnt just about paying your bills, it also should reflect how you carry yourself. -DG724

yea annie's right...whats up with THAT!? -DG724

BillyJean, im so glad you thought my post over & feel similar as i do. im sick of all the beurocracy (sp. check), hypocricy as you mentioned & everyone brown nosing jus to keep the job that they hate. my parents have done it for yearrrrrrs, too many to count & they are fed up w/ it. i told them basically everything i mentioned in this post, (at first they thought i was crazy for breakin out of the box) BUT i actually inspired them. once my mom receives her 401K come the ripe age of 59, her & my father want to spend a month or so & travel all throughout Europe & where ever else their lives lead them. they deserve it more than anyone else i know. theyve been part of the 'working class cattle herd' for wayyy too long. everyday going to a job they hate where they are talked down to, overworked & underpaid, enough crap to crush anyone's spirit. so finally they plan on exploring other lifestyle's & see what life is like in other parts of the world, experience enjoyment instead of irritableness. Ive come to the conclusion my BF & I are moving to Australia as of next fall, at least for 3 months. Im going to continue to work for myself freelance graphic design/illustration, but instead of working out of the basement on my parents PC or from some over crowded polluted part of NYC, why not from a secluded white sands beach surrounded by tropical rainforests in beautiful sunny Australia. some people work to live, and some live to work...i choose the first of the 2. and to step out of the norm for you might not be as crazy as you think. (trust me my parents first thought i was nuts for doing this, but that quickly passed) believe it or not, some people have jobs they love & they can still live comfortably with some cash to spare. its not as out of reach as you may think...its just up to you to figure out all those details on how to make it happen. Don't live with debt, pay that off first & foremost, and from then on, dont live out of your means. pay cash for everything, (it IS possible, believe it or not ) if you cant buy it in cash, then dont get it, or find a cheaper more affordable version of what you're looking for. and start your life from a new beginning. this kind of lifestyle may come off to some as 'hippy' or 'unrealistic', but in all reality i think its a smart way to start your life. thanks again for checkin out my post. -DG724

welcome to eNot. i had an ex say THE EXACT SAME THINGS TO ME in the past. ...and it was all a huge lie. but he is a major creep (more ways than one) & i highly doubt your BF is as big of a deceitful a****** as he is so i will not give you a biased opinion here. im giving your BF the benefit of the doubt that he is a somewhat genuine person. and on that note here is what i think... i can understand him feeling lonely, and unsatisfied w/ a long distance relationship (LDR). i would feel the exact same way & i wouldnt be able to handle a LDR, just based on the kind of person i am & what i look for in a relationship. and if he feels his need to 'sow his wild whatever' is more important to him now than being with you, then he needs to let you go, and not give you the 'i still want to marry you line'. b/c thats BS! because if his main objective is to see whats out there & experience life, then he may realize youre not what he wants at all (as same goes for you). so he is leaving you with empty promises, (whether he realizes it or not). so next time he brings it up; shoot the line down! tell him to not make promises he can not keep. the future for the 2 of you (either single or not) is so undetermined that any 'set idea of what's to come' is just an uneducated concept completely out of left field. it is possible he is stringing you along as his backup plan as he has his 'playtime', but you know him better than we do, and he knows him better than YOU do. so tell him to be completely honest with you! and if i were you, i wouldnt stick around waiting for something that MIGHT happen.... and dont tolerate him 'messing around' with other chicks while you're still 'together'...screw that! that kind of behavior is dangerous & flat out WRONG! take a minute right now & breath. listen to both your heart AND your head...what are they REALLY telling you....? -DG724

i suggest becoming more self sufficient. get a job, even a part time BS job for spending money. and i think going away for that summer thing is a good idea...BUT i suggest YOU save up the money YOURSELF & go. if you don't accumulate the funds before next summer, then don't go. the only way to grow up, is to learn things on your own, learn to handle time & money management & lead your own life. -DG724

trapped & pretty pissed off. -DG724

well, im not going to join peace corps b/c id have to be there for 2 years...no thanks. it is confirmed i am going to live in eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Melbourne) for a few months next year. i have done extensive research, spoke to many locals in the area in which I am considering living, and my parents gave me their full blessing. so im as good as gone. i really cant wait. -DG724

ummm...well FIND TIME! if it is an STD or anything serious you need to know! if you can find time to do other things at your leisure you can find time to go see a doctor. -DG724

no, thats crazy. the love wouldn't be love at all! it would be manipulation of the mind. like a Roofie, but directed towards "love". you'd be forcing someone to do something they can't do anything about, even if it did exist it would definitly be illegal (at least in the states) it would probably fall under the conviction of rape or assault, at least i would hope it would. -DG724

i was going to say school pictures are the absolute worst! dude nobody looks good in those. they are the most awkward, unnatural posed positions the body can be in. nobody in their right mind should prop people into those rediculous painfully stiff poses. STUDENTS REBEL; GO TO A STUDIO & GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN PROFESSIONALLY! -DG724

and thats advice coming from a very photogenic person. good advice northernlights. i agree you have to be natural in pictures otherwise it looks too posed. ps: and yes, cameras dont always tell it like it is. weird angles, bad lighting, blurry lenses & God aweful photographers & cameras are sure fire ways of having a bad picture taken of you. -DG724

Unless your Louis Armstrong! or Mr. Ed. -DG724

*dont take full frontal shots, take 3/4 shots. 3/4 shots make for the best angles. *dont pose. posed photos make you look stiff & dead. *smile like you always smile, i find that laughing before taking a photograph shows off my GENUINE smile....not some 'say cheese' smile which looks not only painted on, but also looks painful. *show teeth not gums. *be yourself in your pictures. you'll not only appreciate them better but you will see how you truly present yourself on the average day. -DG724

dont let it go for a week. b/c if it is HSV then they cant test to see if it is if the lesions/bumps are not present. see a doctor asap, what do you have to lose? -DG724

he fingered you & now you have bumps "down below"....well, for one thing the bumps on your shoulder blades/back is probably just a simply case of body acne, primarily caused by sweat & temperature change. nothing more than some rubbing alcohol on a tissue wont remedy. there could be a few things the bumps "down below" could be.... *there IS something called Herpes Whitlow (which is Herpes Simplex Virus, of the finger) did you notice any red irritated sores/bumps on his fingers? HSV, despite the social stigma that surrounds it, is NOT a serious virus, though there IS treatment there is no cure yet. or *did you recently shave down below? if so it could be Fallicalcitus (spell check) what that is, is irritated hair follicles that become inflamed after shaving. especially if there is a high amount of friction in the area and dirt & sweat sometimes get trapped under the cells & cause irritated red bumps & itchiness. or *did you by any chance change laundry detergents or underwear fabrics? it could also be an allergic reaction. the worst thing you could do right now is self diagnose your symtoms to be either one or the other or both...go to a doctor & explain to him/her that you are sexually active & they can run a few tests for you. if they test you for HSV ask them for an IGG & an IGM exam, the tests will determine if it IS indeed Herpes Whitlow it will confirm it for sure. and do yourself a favor before becoming sexually active, please attend planned parenthood with your partner (its free & it just may save your life). both partners need to get tested for all STD's. and practice safe sex, birth control pills, condoms etc. with every partner thereafter as well...b/c this may end up being nothing at all....but maybe the next time you won't be so lucky....don't risk it. goodluck. -DG724

Darkblue, hey buddy, yeah ive been keepin busy. very busy. having a wonderful summer & workin hard. I got a reply notification from the board saying someone replied to an old post i was commenting on & well, Im already getting myself 'into trouble' & ive only been back on for like 2 days lol . but anywho, dont 'settle' for anyone's attention, dont you deserve better than that...? -DG724

you need to chill out & stop over analyzing the slightest bit of attention he sends your way. never expect a friendship after a breakup. if it happens it happens on its own and with time. i know you must have been overly excited to see his name in your inbox but cmon think about it he sent him a happy birthday wish, he did the only considerate thing TO do.......replied. dont sit & stress over it. the sooner you stop settling for the happiness one ounce of attention he tosses your way the sooner youll find happiness in a new love & more importantly, in yourself, a fulfilling long lasting happiness you can only bring upon yourself. -DG724

check this out: link removed you are not overlooked, i personally go for the good guys. no sense wasting my time chasing the bad ones. keep your head up chicks dig ya, even if some are blind as to what's important in a mate right now, your day will come! and it would be well worth the wait. -DG724

Im definitly considering joining the Peace Corps....for more than one reason. Check out all it's benefits while for you while youre overseas. they have certain areas they cover. its worth checking out. link removed -DG724

Well, each day, traveling abroad once I graduate with my 2 buddies, is becoming more & more of a possible reality. I already broke it to my family. my mom had mixed emotions about it she first said: "NO WAY!! YOURE GONNA GET YOURSELF KILLED!!" I laughed & said; "Is it any more of a risk than getting into your car each day & POSSIBLY getting killed in a car accident? If you live your life in fear you're not going to be doing much living at all..." then she said; "You're not going alone!" And I explained; "I know Im not, I already have that part planned out." Then she said "NoOoOOOo I need you, you can't leave." And I laughed a little at her little whine & said "I am though, for a few months at least, this world is too broad & wide not to explore it. And PLUS! you'd have a place to stay on vacation. see, it works out for us all. " So then I brought it up to my pops and he just said "what about your bills???" I said "bills??? what bills? MY CAR INSURANCE?? I'D DEFINITLY CANCEL MY CAR INSURANCE FOR THE 3 MONTHS IM GONE! and as for my cell phone bill?-I just won't have one. and my student loans, ehh, Im sure they have mail boxes in Australia. I'll send my payments by mail, like I do NOW anyway! all Ill need for cash income, is a laptop & an internet connection. (my 1 buddy im going to travel with & i do freelance graphic design & illustration, so it doesnt matter WHERE in the world we do it, b/c its all transferred via internet)." My sister was alllll about it; she was encouraging me & she kinda wants to do the same. Instead of goin on a 7 day honeymoon her & her fiance want to drop everything for a month & travel. And my brother will be indifferent once he hears the news. he'd definitly be bored without me; but once i tell him how amazing the area is & how hot australian girls are; im sure he'll visit. I found cheap means of traveling for those who are interested.... and this is how we're getting there. link removed Yes, traveling with cargo to exotic places is the way to go!! its a small fraction of the cost that it is to FLY or take a cruise ship! I've looked up flights to Australia ranging from $900.00 (USD) and UP! screwwwww THAT! these ships you can ride on (with pretty sweet room accomidations & a dining hall) is only $80.00 to $107.00 (USD) per day. Now depending on where youre going it may or may not pay to take a freight liner, b/c it is out on the water for quite a number of days. but its still an uncommon option most people have never heard of. My BF & my best friend Jarrod are the 2 guys im going to be traveling with. my BF told me last night he wants to get to Australia, explore the island before my friend or I get there & find us the best possible bet as to where to live. and here my friends, is a link to persuade all those that think they 'can never travel" or for those who are stuck in a rut of "normalcy"...definitly check it out! link removed "Get busy living, or get busy dying..." -DG724

haha its so funny how this topic became such a hit. lovin the feedback. thanks a bunch load on the wonderful comments. *enjoy ladies & gents * -DG724