Okay, I expect about one hit on this thread. But I think it would be good to get to know one another a little bit so we can relate to one another as human beings, not twitching masses of protoplasm in a sea of retching fear.
I am 51, happily married for, gosh 32 years? I have four kids, all attending junior college. Of course, since we had three sons before our little girl came along, some other members of the family accuse dad of being partial. I won't even start telling you of her accomplishments because this would be a very long thread lol. (See, there is no truth in those accusations.)
I quit private practice as a criminal defense lawyer to work for state government recently, and live in my own apartment about two hours away from home. We exchange family visits on weekends, and my wife is up here frequently during the week, too, so it isn't too bad. My wife has a golden retriever and I have a yorkie named Buster who is our fur-child now. I don't really have any hobbies or interests at the moment since moving has really turned my life upside down. It would probably be a good idea.
I wrote a novel and am about half-way through my second. I shopped it around until I got tired of rejection for now. The publishing industry is pretty much in the toilet with this economy. And my book probably sucks. I'm glad I finished it, though. It was a box I wanted to check off on my bucket list. My previous avatar was a worried-looking man. My new one reflects a more positive outlook while recognizing the realities. Mendota is... just a canned fizzy water that was on my desk when I signed up four years ago and didn't feel like putting a lot of energy into coming up with anything creative.
I used to be in the Navy JAG and am a Gulf War vet, and we lived in Sicily for three years when I was in the Navy. I took private pilot lessons, but got a questionable medical report just before my solo, which was the biggest disappointment in my life. I like my job, which is devoted to death penalty defense and state-wide training.