"In the spaces and taking road trips. Later, than before."

So yeah. Life is always full of changes. Life continues to be pretty darned good, and I'm coming closer and closer to my dream of becoming a physician assistant. :)

Things about me ~

* I'm striving to become a physician assistant. As of December, 2009, I have applications submitted to several PA schools, and am waiting anxiously to hear about interview invitations and/or acceptances. Wish me luck!

* I'm a recently licensed EMT-B (emergency medical technician, basic level), though I've yet to work as one, and I volunteer at a local emergency department.

* I'm a musician: I play saxophone (alto, tenor, baritone, and a delightful vintage C melody sax!), guitar, piano, and just about anything else I can get my hands on. I'm a member of the Ann Arbor Concert Band, Page Six, a rhythm & blues/motown band, the Treetown Sax Quintet, and I host the Acorn Music & Verse filksings here at Great Oak about 3 times a year. :) I also sing, in the shower, the house, on the motorcycle, in the car, and occasionally around the campfire.

* I am, or was, an artist: I used to paint, especially watercolors, and draw, but largely stopped in my sophomore year of high school when I was accepted into a special performing arts program for music (in fact, left the visual art component of the same program to go to the music component). A very perceptive aunt of mine gave me a set of watercolors and some paper and brushes for Christmas a few years ago, providing just the right little bit of nudge that I needed, though it's been unfortunately on hold since I've gone back to school.

* I enjoy speaking, writing, singing, and reading Russian. My B.A. is actually in Russian & East European Studies, despite my current vocation of systems/database administrator (or 'computer whore', as I often consider it, since I pretty much do it for the money). I recently re-connected with things Russian via a sudden urge to look for some of my favorite Russian bands on the 'net, which led me to a concert by the incredible DDT during a business trip to Chicago and meeting a nice chap named Dima, who helped me by getting some letters to friends in Russia.

* I have bipolar disorder. I had a breakdown in August of 2000 (a.k.a. "The Big One of '00") when I was initially diagnosed, and was hospitalized. Having this illness has taught me many things, and I've come through it strengthened. I'm very "out" about it, and refuse to be ashamed or let it limit me. Kay Redfield Jamison sums up my philosophy of the condition pretty well, and was the first thing "prescribed" to me by my shrink when I was initially discharged -- thanks, Dr. Day.

* I'm a member of a wonderful cohousing community in Ann Arbor called Great Oak. I absolutely love it, and can't imagine living any other way. We have dinners together five nights a week, share a lot of resources such as a lovely common house (which has hosted weddings, funerals, Passover seders, Diwali celebrations, Birthingways, Thanksgivings, Christmases, filksings, concerts, gaming events, and more), a workshop built by intrepid members of the community, a big-ass truck that we use for snowplowing, compost hauling, and other stuff, and many other things. Cohousing *rocks*. Come visit sometime, I love to show the place off. :)

* I'm bisexual and polyamorous, though enjoying a happy semi-solitary life these days, living with my cats, Morsel and Sophie (and formerly Shaunty, who sadly passed beyond the veil in December, 2003), enjoying tea with friends, riding my motorcycle, an '04 Moto Guzzi Breva 750IE in Italian Seductress Red (RIP DarkAngel, my '83 Honda Shadow VT500C), and hoping for good powder snow for skiing in northern Michigan.

With wishes for peace, health, and happiness to all ...

- Hope

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