The "feel a little pressure" thing led me to try to be stoic with my root canal,

I think that doctors/dentists mean "please tell me if you are feeling actual pain" when they say that you'll "feel a little pressure."

amyth, that's really brave. I know a number of people, smart & competent people, who had all kinds of struggles getting through college for a variety of reasons. I think that the smooth sailing, uninterrupted, 4-year undergrad experience is less common than we'd think.

I know a number of people, smart & competent people, who had all kinds of struggles getting through college for a variety of reasons. I think that the smooth sailing, uninterrupted, 4-year undergrad experience is less common than we'd think.

Exactly. Knowing people that come out the other side so successfully is what helps me hold on when looking at my own 20somethings. You have so many reasons to be proud, amyth.

I'm glad you told us, myth. I definitely didn't know all that and I am even more proud to know you knowing that you have come through all that and eventually told your friends and got your degree. Way to handle your shit! Sometimes it takes a while, that was a lot to handle after all.

TB, I meant to say, it is no fun when the blood you are cleaning up is your own. I hope you get some relief from whatever is causing you trouble.

I am off work - Christmas Eve is a regular holiday at my company (as is Good Friday which I feel is stranger [except for last year when it was finally decided that working Mon-Tues, having Wed-Thurs off and coming back in on Friday was just silly {Christmas Eve, not Good Friday}]) and I am certainly glad to have the 4-day weekend. I've almost finished clearing out the section of kitchen cupboard that includes where the mice were coming through the ceiling (I told some people at work about it and someone said "they wet all Mission Impossible on you!" which I kind of love). I was hoping to get the whole kitchen done today, but at this rate maybe not...OTOH, maybe I will get faster as I go? It's possible.

Anyway, break's over, better get back to it.

Typo, I really wish that 2016 will be much kinder to you.

Knowing people that come out the other side so successfully is what helps me hold on when looking at my own 20somethings

For real. One of the smartest, funniest, best writers I know is, at 40, starting undergrad classes this winter.

Wow, amyth, sorry college was such a difficult experience for you.

I suffered from depression for the first time when I was in college. I was obsessed with wanting a relationship, which never happened. I also made almost no friends and was very lonely.

Long story short, I finally started partying during what was supposed to be my final semester, and flunked a class. As a result, my job offer for an actuarial position was withdrawn, and I ended up floundering around for nine years while working a series of low-paying jobs. I couldn't pay my student loans so the interest eventually doubled what I owed.

I finally payed off my loans about four years ago.

I LDB'D myself making a Playlist on spotify and there was Jim Hendrix's medley of Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night, and Auld Lang Sane and I had to check it out. I could have waited a few days but I might as well enD this in style.

That's a huge accomplishment, amyth.

Loves all the love to amyth. Brave and strong and resilient.

It really is.

So far today, I have had two things to do, work wise, and I am beginning to wonder if someone hacked the federal government, because neither the 9th Circuit or Public PAIR are working.