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Yes, yes, it's leap year, isn't it. 29th of February, which is playing small doses of havoc in the office as people can't seem to get the date on the phone displays to work properly. So it's probably not much of a big deal, except for a little novelty, is it?
But what if we look at it another way, as a four year milestone for accomplishments, hopes, dream, achievements, failures, disappointments, and so forth.
In the past four years, there have been a few life events for me. Getting married, buying a house, having a child, and on the verge of having a second. All very early-mid-life stuff, I suppose. I also spent most of that four year trying to get out of the company I'd been (at that time) stuck at for three years, and planning to start the next phase of my university career.
As of the moment, though, the Ph.D. program has entirely failed to materialize, though thankfully the job situation has at least changed, even if I'm not entirely satisfied with where I am today. If all goes well, by the next February 29th I'll have moved on to a new venture, possibly one of my own, and have at least started the elusive doctoral program.
For updates, check this thread in four years time.
So, forumites. What have you accomplished since February 29th 2004 that you didn't expect to? What haven't you accomplished that you had hoped to? And what are your plans before the next 29th of February arrives in 2012?
PF- above.
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You know how New Year's day is a good chance to look back on what you've accomplished over the last 12 months and make plans for the next 12 months. And then you look back and you've achieved none of the things you planned the year before, and you've achieved nothing of note and you're still just going to the pub and getting drunk and still don't own your house and still haven't done anything an adult has done and you sit and think "I'll make a difference over the next 12 months" and then you don't and you weep and realise you're sentenced to just drift through your entire life and life is hell.
quote:Originally posted by froopyscot: So, forumites. What have you accomplished since February 29th 2004 that you didn't expect to? What haven't you accomplished that you had hoped to? And what are your plans before the next 29th of February arrives in 2012?
Same old stuff for me really. I didn't think I was going to play live as it kept going tits up, but I actually managed to get out and do it which looking back seems kind of ridiculous now that I think about it. I never thought I'd have a career. That sort of materialised out of nowhere. The good news is that I am currently the golden boy. Can you believe that? My new boss is pushing me forward for all sorts of roles to strengthen my experience. I have a quite nice, spacious two-bed flat to myself. I'm watching a band tomorrow to start scoping out our local music scene, A lot has changed really. I feel....happy. yeah happy as in content. It's really shifted my mood and lifted me out of a properly cynical shitty attitude.
Next leap year. Drive maybe. Learn to drive? Have a proper home studio? Earn at least 50% more I hope.
posted
Christ, four years ago I was still a journalist, living in East Croydon and had just split up with my girlfriend. The last Feb 29th would probably have been total wank for me. Since then I've changed career, changed cities, moved out of rented accomodation started a new relationship and gotten engaged.
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And you know ralph is going to be in here soon and be all "fuck you losers, i've built a fucking house with my bare hands. Have you done that? Have you?"
And i'll be all. Umm, I weeded the garden and planted some bulbs and some rosemary. And he'll be Haha you stupid english kniggit. Although I don't reckon he watches Monty Python so he might not say that. But he'll look down on me pretty hard, but when I'm cooking some lamb and I need a herb to go with it, who will have the last laugh then ralph? HA
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I initially had a slight Cherry/Abby feeling about this, and felt that nothing much had changed, and it was all a total waste of time. But I think that was based on the utterly failing to have children side of things, and despite being pregnant four times in the past four years, having nothing to show for it, except a morbid fear of pregnant women, and the heeby jeebys at the sight of a hospital.
But then I thought, hey, turn that frown upside down. Four years ago I was six months into a relationship that looked promising. Now we've bought a house, and it turns out that he makes me happier than I've ever been. Instead of freelancing and taking what was offered, I'm now editing 25 magazines, have a team of four, and seem to have 'made it', whatever that means, eh, readers.
I've discovered a love of singing, and my two lots of choir/am dram really do make me happy.
And I'm four years more certain that no-one else knows what they're doing, either, it's just that some are better at covering it up.
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quote:Originally posted by Abby: I...I dont like this thread...Im with Cherry on this.
Sorry everyone. For what it's worth I think this is the first thread I've started in more than a year, so if nothing else there will probably be a decent reprieve before the next one. Would it make it better if I suggested we post in alphabetical order.
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quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: The fuck is your problem ralph? You've built a fucking house since the last Feb 29th. Idiot.
Four years ago I had a healthy wife and a house I could afford. Now I've got a sick wife, a mortgage on a house I can't even fucking live in or sell, and a half-finished house with no running water that I'll be paying for until the day I die. Fuck you Thorn. Fuck you.
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I actually really hate ralph now. What the fuck is he trying... to... "Oh boo-hoo my life hasn't changed in the last four years..." "I dunno man didn't you have a kid or something?" "Oh yeah... well apart from that I haven't achieved anything" "I thought you built a house?" "Oh... that. Does that even count?"
Fuck ralph. Fuck ralph and his stupid pretend whining.
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quote:Originally posted by herbs: And I'm four years more certain that no-one else knows what they're doing, either, it's just that some are better at covering it up.
Thanks for that herbs. I'm going to borrow it as a sig for a while. Makes me feel better.
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Ok... I hate myself now. My answer looks kind of... wrong based on what has materialised in thread since I started writing it. Sorry. Posts: 6175
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Ralph, is your wife still not in good health? I had just assumed those problems would have been solved by getting out of the chateau d'moule. That and healthy fresh air backwoods outdoor living and cooking over open fires and such. Sounds very... bracing. But healthy.
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Your answer was lovely, exactly what froopy probably envisioned when he started the thread. Not the usual Thornesque bile and hatred.
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quote:Originally posted by ralph: Your answer was lovely, exactly what froopy probably envisioned when he started the thread. Not the usual Thornesque bile and hatred.
I know better than to have expectations
[advoice] It's two! Two! Two threads in one! [/advoice]
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quote:Originally posted by froopyscot: Ralph, is your wife still not in good health? I had just assumed those problems would have been solved by getting out of the chateau d'moule.
She's better than she was, but she still has a long way to go. Until that day (if it ever comes...not everyone who had her kind of exposure ever fully recovers) I just keep plugging along.
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quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: I can't believe you're getting upset and angry at me for suggesting that your life is is OK and you should be proud of what you've achieved.
OK. I'm sorry. I take it back: Your life is dogshit awful and everything you do is wrong. There. All better now?
lol. I'm not really angry at you. And not everything I do is wrong. But my family is in a tough spot both financially and emotionally. I *am* proud of what I've achieved, but it's been achieved under somewhat drastic circumstances. I realize things could be much worse...
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quote:Originally posted by ralph: lol. I'm not really angry at you. And not everything I do is wrong. But my family is in a tough spot both financially and emotionally. I *am* proud of what I've achieved, but it's been achieved under somewhat drastic circumstances.
Yeah, but you know. It's all about how you react to those drastic circumstances. When I was your age, I don't think I would have had the strength of character to hold everything together and deal with something like that.
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Re London guilt. Sorry. It was probably my fault for being a self-pitying whingebucket. Perhaps I should go and live with ralph in the wilderness, and just FLAY MYSELF WITH TWIGS.
quote:Originally posted by Thorn Davis: Yeah, but you know. It's all about how you react to those drastic circumstances. When I was your age, I don't think I would have had the strength of character to hold everything together and deal with something like that.
I pretty much had what amounted to a nervous breakdown.
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quote:Originally posted by herbs: Perhaps I should go and live with ralph in the wilderness, and just FLAY MYSELF WITH TWIGS.
There will always be a place for you in ralphland, herbs. I'll have the boys start gathering your flaying twigs tomorrow morning.
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quote:Originally posted by ralph: When you were my age? I don't follow. Aren't you like 15 years my junior?
Not unless you're 67, no. I thought knew how old I was? Weren't you referring to me when you mentioned not being the oldest TMOer?
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