Where were you in life, five years ago?

MrFun · August 13, 2003, 10:25

Last month was Apolyton's fifth anniversary.

I was wondering -- where were you in life, five years ago? Anyone who is an Apolytoner is free to join in this thread -- whether they were a Chieftan five years ago, or if they had not even found out about Apolyton yet, but is a member now.

Five years ago, it was about a month before I would come out to my family and friends as a gay man.

I was 20, I had an Associate's Degree in Computer Information Processing from a community college. But I was not happy, since I realized on the day that I graduated, that I chose the wrong major/field.

I felt like I was going to get stuck into a job/career that was going to be boring for me. This was before I even realized that I would go to a four-year college to pursue my real passion -- American history.

Five years ago, I had a lot less self-confidence and self-esteem than I have now. I feel so much better about myself at the present, than I did five years ago.

So how far have you gone over the past five years?

Harry Seldon · August 13, 2003, 10:48

I was a drug addict and an alcoholic with a determined self-fufilling prophecy to be dead by the time I was twenty-four. I lived in a ****-hole apartment where my only furniture was the "Captain's Chair" (a glide rocker), a lamp I had to take from room to room because it was the only light I had, a mattress, and a small b/w tv. Around this time I met my wife and she helped me get my **** together. I went back to school, got a "career" job, and moved to a different ****-hole apartment in a better area with better rent. I also got married and started playing soccer again.

Immortal Wombat · August 13, 2003, 10:58

I was 13. I prefer not to remember.

Alex · August 13, 2003, 10:59

Five years ago I was living with my parents, amazed with this thing called internet (yes, I had recently got access to the net for the first time) and I had no perspectives for the future.

Since then I got a job in the government, got married and now I'm on the verge of a divorce (but my wife doesn't know about that yet).

I was happier back then.

Stefu · August 13, 2003, 11:05

I was 14, in junior high, and slightly odious. (Heck, it's possible that I even wore velcro boots. Brrr.) I was good in school, but was in a precarious phase when my grade-school friends' life was diverging from my own and I, essentially, didn't have any friends. I had a bad case of acne and greasy hair and was your stereotypical nerd. While I had been quite a chatterbox in the grade school, but grew silent.

Of course, after a few years I got on to high school (not a moment too soon - one of my main criteria in my high school choice, even though I didn't mention it to anyone then, was that none of the *******s from junior high years were going there), started to actually talk to people, and now am preparing to move to a different city to go to university, certainly a more balanced and happy person than then. ~~And I have Apolyton to thank for all of it~~

Harovan · August 13, 2003, 11:11

Five years ago I worked as office manager and chief engineer in a surveyors office. I was unhappy, because I didn't much like my work and that business had a pretty hard time. In my spare time I improved my programming skills and played computer games, mostly Civ2. I did have access to the internet, but never got a clue that there is an Apolyton (well, or a Greek Civ2 site for that matter).

FrustratedPoet · August 13, 2003, 11:15

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex
now I'm on the verge of a divorce (but my wife doesn't know about that yet).

I was happier back then.

Holy ****, dude. I'm sorry to hear that. I hope happier times are ahead for you.

Harry Seldon · August 13, 2003, 11:19

Quote:

I'm on the verge of a divorce (but my wife doesn't know about that yet).

! I think I've seen pictures of the two of you in the picture thread and you both looked so happy. I'm sorry to hear that; if it's your desire to fix what's wrong I hope it's successful.

Japher · August 13, 2003, 11:25

5 years ago? Aug 1998?

1 month before my last (and 6th) year of college was to begin. Pretty excited for my last year as I only had 1 class a quarter to take (gotta love how they only offer the class you need once a year). We (my future wife and I) were living on a greenbelt with some friends. Pretty much b-b-q-ing, drinking, and having a blast. It was my last summer to do nothing. It was great.

Since, besides getting married, going through two jobs and 3 promotions, getting a dog (got her February of 99 because I was getting bored), and moving to SJ nothing has really changed... Still chillin'

Starchild · August 13, 2003, 11:29

I was 14. I, like Stefu, disliked my juniour highschool. I was on the verge of moving to Canada from America. Like any normal boy, I seemed to have survived with one pair of shoes that I wore all the time.

I'm now 19, I love my highschool in England and I own 8 pairs of assorted shoes, boots, and sandels at the last count, each one designated for a specific social function.

Bereta_Eder · August 13, 2003, 11:33

I had just returned to Greece after finishing a master's degree abroad and was waiting to be notified to go to the (obigatory) army... Luckily I had just had the time of my life so my batteries were fully charged, something that made the wait more tolerable...

Arrian · August 13, 2003, 11:45

I had recently been hired for my first "real" job, having graduated college a few months prior.

The job sucked, by the way, I only took it because it got me the hell out of my parent's house, where my father was utterly intolerable ("why don't you have a job yet? Why did you sleep until TEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING [horror, the horror!]? Why don't you have a job yet? Did you send out resumes today? Did you call today?"). I love him and all, but he nearly drove me nuts.

Happily for me, that job didn't last long (unit shutdown, all of us laid off, with 3 months full pay) and I got a better one in March of '99.

I was still screwed up over the failure of my relationship in college (yeah, that's singular), with a girl I really did love (though, as discussed in the other thread, it wasn't a particularly mature love). As a result, the girl I now love was having all sorts of trouble reeling me in. And I was giving her fits. Doh.

I lived in a crappy little studio apartement with virtually no furniture. I didn't even bother setting up my computer (at the time, an old 386 PC).

-Arrian

Chris Wilkinson · August 13, 2003, 11:49

5 years ago I got a job offer from Microsoft asking if I wanted to be trained up in web-design for them in Seattle after they seem to like my website so much.

I then pointed out I was a 14 schoolkid in rural England.

Eli · August 13, 2003, 11:49

I was 13 years old and I really dont remember what I was doing. Playing Civ2 I guess.

MrFun · August 13, 2003, 12:54

Quote:

Originally posted by Harry Seldon
I was a drug addict and an alcoholic with a determined self-fufilling prophecy to be dead by the time I was twenty-four. I lived in a ****-hole apartment where my only furniture was the "Captain's Chair" (a glide rocker), a lamp I had to take from room to room because it was the only light I had, a mattress, and a small b/w tv. Around this time I met my wife and she helped me get my **** together. I went back to school, got a "career" job, and moved to a different ****-hole apartment in a better area with better rent. I also got married and started playing soccer again.

Well, this definitely counts as a rough time.
But it seems like things are better for you now??

MrFun · August 13, 2003, 12:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Japher
5 years ago? Aug 1998?

1 month before my last (and 6th) year of college was to begin. Pretty excited for my last year as I only had 1 class a quarter to take (gotta love how they only offer the class you need once a year). We (my future wife and I) were living on a greenbelt with some friends. Pretty much b-b-q-ing, drinking, and having a blast. It was my last summer to do nothing. It was great.

Since, besides getting married, going through two jobs and 3 promotions, getting a dog (got her February of 99 because I was getting bored), and moving to SJ nothing has really changed... Still chillin'

Do you two have any kid, or expecting one soon?

Japher · August 13, 2003, 12:56

No. Why?

MrFun · August 13, 2003, 12:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Japher
No. Why?

Just wondering . . . . .

part of the gay agenda that Boddington's is so worried about, is that we seek kids and convert them to become gay.

Japher · August 13, 2003, 13:03

When I decide to have kids they will be straight... if I had to beat it into them!!!!

Oerdin · August 13, 2003, 13:13

Hmmm 5 years ago I had just turned 22 and was still at college. I lived with seven other guys in a four bedroom house right on the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, CA (and when I say right on the ocean I mean any closer and you'd be dog paddling). I worked as a waiter and delivery man for a local Italian restaurant where I made good tips and the owner was an elderly Sicilian lady who always gave me a free meal before every shift. As a starving college student I looked forward to getting that free meal.

MrFun · August 13, 2003, 13:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin
Hmmm 5 years ago I had just turned 22 and was still at college. I lived with seven other guys in a four bedroom house right on the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, CA (and when I say right on the ocean I mean any closer and you'd be dog paddling). I worked as a waiter and delivery man for a local Italian restaurant where I made good tips and the owner was an elderly Sicilian lady who always gave me a free meal before every shift. As a starving college student I looked forward to getting that free meal.

Sounds like a cool, fun time.

Solly · August 13, 2003, 13:23

Quote:

Originally posted by Japher
When I decide to have kids they will be straight... if I had to beat it into them!!!!

I was between high school and college, and just taken a holiday to the States. What the hell I did for the other few weeks of summer I don't know.

Oerdin · August 13, 2003, 13:33

Quote:

Originally posted by MrFun
Sounds like a cool, fun time.

Yeah, it was. I often wish I could go back to college where my biggest responsibility was to finish my term paper on time.

Still, I was flat broke and on days where I didn't work at the restaurant most of my calores came from cup of noodles or burger king cheese burgers so I could save as much money as possible for beer.

MrFun · August 13, 2003, 13:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin

Yeah, it was. I often wish I could go back to college where my biggest responsibility was to finish my term paper on time.

Still, I was flat broke and on days where I didn't work at the restaurant most of my calores came from cup of noodles or burger king cheese burgers so I could save as much money as possible for beer.

Well yeah -- beer is important, because it helps you with your future goals.

trickey · August 13, 2003, 13:39

Hmm...five years ago I was 10. Most likely worrying if I liked what my mom packed me for lunch that day.

Oerdin · August 13, 2003, 13:45

Trickey: I worried about the same thing when I was 10. Of course I didn't like most sugarly things so if she packed something which was to sweet for my taste I knew I could always trade it to one of the other students for something I did like.

Proteus_MST · August 13, 2003, 13:45

It was 5 months before my Grandma died of Cancer,
and 1-2 months after we knew, that she had it
(I went on a voyage through Catalunya (a part of spain) with some fellow students to study the animals and plants there and upon return I was told by my grandparents and parents about the diagnosis).

In the end she died on January 2nd 1999 after some time of suffering in Hospital.

Buck Birdseed · August 13, 2003, 13:48

The summer of 1998 I moved from the sheltered Diplomat's-child existance I'd been leading in Tanzania back home to Sweden and the last two years of High School. I realise now how inexperienced I was for a 17-year-old kid... When I started posting in forums later that year I was a self-important humourless *****, mainly because I didn't have the right experience with social interaction outside my small circle down there, and because I had had a political awakening a couple of months before I wanted to test out.

Harry Seldon · August 13, 2003, 13:52

Quote:

Well, this definitely counts as a rough time.
But it seems like things are better for you now??

I'm almost twenty-seven and I'm not dead.

MrFun · August 13, 2003, 13:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Harry Seldon

I'm almost twenty-seven and I'm not dead.