Talk to the Goat
Lucky for me, my yearbook with all my ambitions burned up in a house fire.(Thats the truth) Thankfully, I cant look back and realize how few goals Ive met....
Jay.. you've certainly been through a lot in a short time... but you sound as though you've got a grip on it again.
Being "happy with the words you write" is no small feat really... I struggle with that all the time.
Being 35 years out of high school I can only tell you this, life has not been what I thought it would be, but it's been a journey... I'm just glad I'm still traveling!
I try not to think about my 'old dreams', but about my current ones 
It's been 6 years since graduation for me. In my yearbook I put something up about going into virology. Now I have a degree in political science and history and still in school... Yep, couldn't think of what to do with my degree except to keep on going.
Sounds like you've had an interesting life so far. I've enjoyed reading your blog
Wow you only graduated cinco anos ago? The hair is very Johnny Rotten! My uncle (I think) used to work for the Parliament in canada!
I've given up what little ambition I ever had, I've found it's far less stressful to go with the flow and learn to be content with what you have when you have it.
Lifes too short to repeatedly butt your head against a wall.
no one ever said you have to have a career, but you did ALOT, more than ME in those short years!
I like the carnie children thing, go for it!
I LOVE the picture!!! So funny, too, because I posted a spiky haired picture of myself from the 80s today...
Oh, and you're much happier without the carnie children...believe me.
wow, you've really packed in a lot for your time.
looking back on my goals makes me feel disappointed that i have hardly achieved half of them. but then, i also have a list of achievements that never crossed my mind i would do. i guess life is funny that way.
Hey J-Gal,
Again with the made-up stories. How many times have i told you about stealing pages from my life. Everyone knows that I'm the one with the pretty face and the quicksilver brain that graduated from UO. Sheesh. 
Of course, you realize, that when you type things like this you paint an even more thorough picture of yourself.
And the picture is one of the most wondrous works of art in the gallery that I like to look at from time to time.
I believe "indomitable will" was invented because of people like you.
Keep on kicking ass, luv.
The other J-guy.
PS: I went to Waterloo. I enjoyed my time there. I learned who I was, and then I forgot. I'm glad I found myself again.
It amazes me that my own graduation was a mere eight years ago, but that everything in my world that I took for granted as immovable and unchangeable was anything but. I have arrived at a place I would never have imagined, the journey longer and more difficult than the dreams made in my youth.
I am amazed at your own progress, and proud for you that you have persevered. Odd words to have coming at you from a stranger, but sometimes the objective observation means more when coming from an unbiased corner.
I've enjoyed your writing for some time now, and will continue to. Formibdable mon amis, tres formidable!
That's the Jay! WOW all this time reading and I didn't have a face to put in all the great stories. I really liked the pic, and yes, you look a bit doped, but it looks good on you! 
Do you still have the hair like that?
And yeah you've done a lot of stuff in 5 years! I'm in my second year after high school and I've done nothing. I better get married within the next 3 or something!
I love the hair in the Grad photo. And I really think that you are an amazing writer, with an awesome relationship. So you have accomplished much already.
It's amazing how priorities and goals seem to simple when you are younger but change so quickly when you get older.
There is still time for the carnie kids, and with the miracles of modern medicine you might be able to have all 17 at once, making the Guiness book of world records en route to launching their wonderful carnie careers!
That's hilarious...did I aim low, or what?? Sometimes I miss the days where your hair was spiky, but all in all I think I'm where I thought I'd be...still in school...
And yes, I feel like I AM somewhere tropical these last few days...
This is a wonderful post Jay!
Thank you for letting us all get to know you even better. And your degree is somthing for you to always be proud of, (in my opinion)whether you use it or not. (If I were your mother, and I'm old enough to be, I would would tell you to display that framed, in your office!) You have had an amazing 5 years, and are to be congratulated.
3T
I never knew you were so studious.
We can’t change what happens to us. “Happen” is such a passive word, according to my wife - another strong woman.
We can change what we do about it and whom we spend our time with. I have no doubts that you will achieve whatever goals you set for yourself.
Well...I am a Software Engineer and I even belong to an Engineering Society, but I don't own my own company and I don't want to be a Software Engineer anymore
I'll just have to come up w/ new goals.
Wow. I graduated from high school THIRTEEN years ago, and while my yearbook didn't quote any supposed goals, it did quote a Morrissey song. And I still listen to him, so that's something, right?
(Writing "13" was very very surreal.)
Is your hair still like that? That looks cool!
Hmmm interesting to know that you only graduated from high school 1 year before me.
That is the most awesome high school graduate picture I've ever seen! Great hair! Your parliment building is so pretty, hope to visit it someday
Wow.... Thanks for sharing
And let me just say that I wish I was as brave as you to do my hair like that.
well i just graduated this month and that post gave me a sense of comfort because it showed me that even if things don't work out the way i expect them to, they can still work out.
you're doing great, jay.
You've come a long way baby! And yes you did look higher than a kite in that picture.
Lois Lane
Wow, do you still have the spikey hair?
It's been 2 years since I left high school.
In highschool my ambition was to get a car.
In college my ambition was to get a life.
now my ambition is to live.
so far i have done all three.
of all the high school hair i've seen, yours is the most...exciting? i dunno. you look like your mind is just popping.
Well thank you for the compliments on my hair! In fact, I was voted "craziest hair" in that same high school yearbook, but I will confess this: the official grad picture taken at school had me sporting an orange do. I decided it looked like Ronald McDonald, so I had this one redone. We all laughed at my expression, but people felt it was true to life, so it stayed. A few weeks after that, the hair was dyed pink for prom, but I left the spikes out because Jason said "every time he tried to make out with me, it poked him in the eye". Coward.
My hair is not currently spiky, but you never know. It goes through monthly transformations.
Jorge: according to your own words, and Dave's, you've both been put on this world to mirror me...which is odd because you know each other, and odder still because you're both a bit older. But then, I am a Very Important Bitch, so who knows what lies ahead?
Thanks Ari, for your kind words.
Molly, thanks for your vote of confidence. If you believe I can find room in my uterus for 17 childre, then I do too!
Anna, yes, but do you have more than one tattoo?
3T, I am proud of my degree. I never envisioned myself abandonning it though.
Erich, I am in fact "studious". I am a lover not just of words and books, but of knowledge. I hope to always continue my education because I want to know more, and there's always more to know.
And Lois, allow me to set the record straight: at the time of that photo, I was not high at all, although I appear to have had some severe issues with my eyebrows- eep!
The eyebrows were the first thing I noticed in the high-school photo---somewhat scanty. Your journey knocked me out---your age floored me; your writing always gets to me. Either you're a genius or I'm the most touchable person alive. Or both.
Five years to be proud of.
OMg that is crazy hair! :D
I find you such an inspiration. You're so young, yet you seem to 'get it'. It's not in the things you do, or the things you have, its who you are, what 'you' consist of. And you, my dear, consist of many words that have to do with: quality, integrity, love, caring, empathy, and many, many more. You will be whatever you achieve to be. But I believe you already are what you were meant to be.
This is the first time I've been here and what a great post to have dropped in on! Sounds like you've been through some pretty tough times but are coming out of the other side happy. Well done!
If I've learned anything in my life so far is that our abilities/sense of humor/Macguyver skills are tested when our goals are there and the path we have to get to them are here. You're a perfect example of that as am I. If you told me five years ago that I was going to be a high school teacher rather than my way crazy artistic plan I would've told you that you were out of your mind. And now I couldn't imagine anything quite so exciting or worthwhile.
It's a tough job, Jamie, but someone's gotta do it.
well jamie dear, there's a diploma hanging on a wall here stating that am qualified in the real property assessment field. i just choose not to use that knowledge.
i'm far happier in this field of work. more rewarding.
i change my ambition to safety events coordinator with a house in every corner of the globe.
what was my p.d.? if i at least have that, then i'm all set.
maybe.
can't believe it's been five years.
and since it's 11:21, that means that 5 years ago right now we were on our way to montreal. you were there, right? we stole a pilon on the way back... put it in the middle of anna's road.
ahhhh the good times. so long ago.
J, I never would have guessed you were a "school nerd." (I am too, so I don't mean this in a bad way at all!)
Your writing is clear and moving and beautiful - you totally conveyed how disappointed you were when your career "derailed," but I know you can do whatever you want to do. If you want to get back to the balls-to-the-wall career thing, you'll do it, no questions asked. I have faith in you.
I was indeed in good old Montreal that night, (its 12:17 right now). Ah, the greasy peel pub. Yes, I stole a pilon. Yes, it got dumped on Samuel St, in my neighbourhood, and yes, I still have pictures of me humping it in the middle of the street in my little red miniskirt. Whew.
This whole post depresses me. It always depresses me to see how much other people have accomplished with their time on Earth.
Bully for you, Boos for me.
OK. It was hard for me to get past the beginning of this post because I just kept thinking..."She's 23! Just 23!" Anyways girl, you've accomplished and accrued wisdom way beyond your years. And you're still very young; you've still got plenty of time to out out and rock the world. Really.
Nice pic!
As for achieving goals, I think that life is never a straight and narrow road; instead it's full of curves and small paths leading off the main thoroughfare, meant for a bit of dallying here and there before continuing forward.
That picture made me realize that there is no way I will ever post my grad picture of me. It's far too embarassing.
This one is my favorite. Thanks for giving us this personal peek.
Spikey hair looks cool on you like the Statue of Liberty. This is an introspective post that I identify with on several major levels... That photo evokes the freedom you have in pursuing your many amazing talents despite changes in life or in spite of them. As another geek, I made a choice not to actively use two of my degrees anymore. That was one of the best decisions I made. I will not be stuck in one decision throughout life though.
Like others, I've posted here before that you're an amazing writer and person! I've not tasted your enticing recipies only because it's not in our food budget. When I do, I know those will be as incredible as your writing, in a different but no less, fantastic way.
Even though these talents come easily to you, that does not negate your contributions. It's easy, at least for me, to feel that way...The same reasoning applies for choice of career. Once, this artsy/geeky/science/yada, yada labels are not me person had different short and long term visions for myself and my life.
You're doing "it" already Jay. Cliche that life is an adventure; however, it sure is and you're living it with one helluva ride! Here's to working in pj's, especially during the night, any colour hair, and most importantly, freedom to be you! 
The Scariest thing is, you look almost identical to the mother of my God-Daughter, cept she didn't have spikey hair. That's pretty kewl.
...I sometimes think about "where I thought I'd be" & it bears little resemblance to where I *am*...
Sometimes a part of me yearns for other dreams. Sometimes I'm content with what I have... but I don't think it hurts to yearn. I think that is what moves us forward--urges us to take paths we might not otherwise try...
hey, that spikey hair looks like a crown! you'll be queen before you know it. I also think that for most people looking at where they are now compared to what they had thought, there will always be disappointment. if you're ambitious, you'll always want more. my motto: never regret, work hard & always be proud with what you have achieved, do not mourn what you hadn't got.
instead of passing Ashcroft the pen you should have lodged it straight into his eye.
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