Completely true at least you have a life. I have good memories if life was rough I might not have had those times that showed me what I was worth or what I could accomplish when my back was against the wall.

I like T-shirts with sayings on them that match my mood for the day. My favorite is "Never knock on death's door. Ring the doorbell and run, he hates that." My newest shirt is going to say, which is relevant to this conversation, "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming WOW! ...What a ride!"

Although I like this I'm a bit more cautious with myself but I do believe that you should live your life by living and not by dieing. I've got more memories to make.

Love the quote. Lol. and your right tomorrow is always a new day. You seem to be a very nice girl, I hope you find what your looking for on here. If you don't mind me asking why are you here on this site? If you do, just tell me so, I don't take offense to many things.

Well... I rarely if ever take offense to anything; In fact, my honesty tends to offend people.

Let's see... why am I here? For one, my friend, Jav, thought I needed to meet new people and he bugged me until I joined.

I don't get out much. I have 2 kids that I'm raising on my own, a fixed budget that doesn't allow for much going out, and seriously... I'm really not digging the real-life losers I keep meeting in person.

So- internet... here I am.

I've had horrible experiences with relationships, the last 4 dates I was supposed to have (different people, set up with by friends of mine) either canceled or stood me up...

And, well... does any of us really know what we're doing here?

I come home from work every night, and from 8:30 on I have solitude... (kids in bed)... so I can't go out. I don't watch much TV... most of my friends are happily married or engaged or out doing stuff... so I guess I figured it was a way to create some sort of human interaction. Pretty pathetic, huh?

No not pathetic at all, I'm here because I'm a workaholic. I have two jobs one of them is a store that I own, but it doesn't make me enough money to be able to do it full time. I also go to school full time and have my kids that I try to spend my weekends with. All in all it is impossible for me to find social interaction with people a like. I can't stand the bar scene, being that it is dominated in my town with college kids at the university. I hate frat boys and sorority chicks. Well not them personally but their general mentality though.

So since I need to meet people that could potentially be some one I could have a relationship with coupled with the fact that I want to pre-screen them thoroughly before they are introduced into me and my children's lives, online seems like a pretty good option. My last girlfriend hurt my children and me pretty badly, I won't let that happen again.

So no, I don't think being on here is pathetic, besides if I thought so, that would make me pathetic and (assumes a British accent) we can't have that now can we. :)

What are your children's ages? If I get offensive, or too personal just tell me. I'm just glad that someone is talking to me. I know I'm not a leaper but these dating sites have made me feel so lately. Every one seems so uptight. I'm new to this so maybe I haven't been around long enough for people to warm up.

No offense. Currently I am playing Scrabble againsty my computer and have gotten so good at it that I am severely kicking but....lol.

My kids: I have a son (age 7) and a daughter (will be 4 in December).

I work 40+ hours a week, take care of my kids when I'm not at work... I could have time to go out... but I don't have the money to do it.

The only bar scene I truly enjoy is karaoke night... other than that, I can drink at home for lots cheaper...lol.

So I am here.

Red -- I think you're doing fine, your posts are interesting and informative, and I feel like I'm getting to know something about you. The main thing, for me, was just to establish enough of a presence here so that people generally had a hard time ignoring me. The vast majority of the people I've dealt with on this site are friendly, caring folks who are truly sincere in their desires to build and maintain a solid sense of community on JSH.

I get all kinds of e-mail here now, even though I almost never write anybody first, and I have made a lot of friends here. The only downside for me has been the unwillingness of the locals to participate. I have accepted the fact that I won't find any dates here, since I have no interest in LDRs (having gone through 2 of those last year; no thank you, never again) but that doesn't negate the fact that this site is full of great people. They just don't happen to live anywhere near me!

As for the "pathetic" thing, I don't see it that way either. I live in a town where it is impossible to meet anyone in person -- I've been reliably informed that meeting people here can only happen "in a bar or a church," two places I simply will never go. So I'm left with my little computer....!

I didn't mean to offend about my "pathetic" comment. I meant my life is in a somewhat pathetic state... at least by the standards of "normal society"... screw society... that don't know jack!

Oh, I understand the feeling -- there is sometimes a tendency to see my own situation as pathetic in that I had actually found "the one" -- and then my ex-wife and her family decided they couldn't stand to see me happy, so they had to destroy everything -- and sometimes I think it's pathetic that I haven't really let go of that whole situation a year and a half after the fact -- and that I allowed myself to enter into 2 relationships last year that I might as well have been blindfolded and placed in a sensory deprivation chamber for --

I do try not to be overly judgmental about these things -- because, in the end, they are just events in a life, unplanned, unregulated, random almost to the point of absurdity -- but, even so, sometimes the sheer weight of "you should be ________ by now" topples over on me....

Singing- I royally suck at scrabble. So I play solitaire unfortunately I don't do well at that either. :) I'm glad to here someone is showing that computer guy what's up though. :)

My kids: 13, 12, 7 and 5. Two girls the younger ones and two boys.

I hear Chicago and the surrounding area is pretty expensive to live in. I hope when I move up there in a couple of years that I can afford it.

I used to go to a local karaoke night, it was allot of fun, I sing on occasion but I don't think I do as well as others. Since I started performing (I'm a magician) semi-professionally though I have allot more respect for those who do. It takes allot of guts to get up there and sing. I usually prefered to go and listen since I like to here different people perform.

Lex- Thanks, I had a pretty decent social life before me and my ex got together. I just haven't been able to talk with people since we broke up, do to work and life. This site seems like its got allot of friendly people on it I think I will have fun meeting and talking to people here. Hopefully we can revive a Chicago area presence on these boards.

I really appreciate you guys talking to me, I tend to get negative reactions to my pictures and I tend to be a pretty intimidating guy when people meet me at first but I'm just a big ol' southern Illinois corn feed teddy bear when you get to know me. :)

I hear ya.
So many people have an idea of where I should be. The reality of it all is, however, that if you threw any of them into my daily routine, they'd sink after less than a week, guaranteed. I'm 27 years old. This is NOT how I planned my life to go... and at some points I find myself saying "wake up so the nightmare ends"...
the fact remains- this is my life... good or bad, happy or sad. Lemons Into Lemonade... with an occasional shot of vodka to take the edge off.

No offense here, my life is pathetic at times :) but I like it. I am currently studying what I want, I work hard and get to see my kids when I can. I just broke up with my GF 2 weeks ago and I'm starting to think my life is actually picking up. I was scared at first and sad to see her go but I made the right decision and I'm feeling pretty good about it now. :)

Sounds like you've got the right idea :) now where's the vodka :)

I'm more of a beer drinker- or wine, really... but neither of those taste very good mixed with lemonade. Lol.

I live in Niles, work in Chicago... where I live, I have a 2 bedroom apartment for $800, heat and hot water and gas included.

I've lived here all my life, so I wouldn't know what rents are like elsewhere. I do know that in chicago the tiny place I have would rent for about $1000 plus utilities.

HMM! Beer and Lemonade :p LOL

well that doesn't seem that bad the town house that I live in is 750 a month but after we split it it comes out to about 350 a month for everything.

Well unfortunately I need to close the store I'll be back though. Thanks all It's been very nice meeting you all.

--Redwulfe

i'll be around. nice meeting you as well.

6?

Hey Everyone --- it's nice sometimes to hear that others feel as crappy about things as I do! :)

8 this time

Why can't I be Chicago?????????

Come on over, we need more posters here!

9 days,
I think it's time for me to move

Come on you Illinois posters....get in here and lets hear from you (((((HELLO)))))) anybody from Illinois out there. I know you're there lurking