About me — the longer version
My name is Deborah, although usually called Deb. I was born in September of 1963, thereby slipping straight through the generational cracks - a bit too young to be a baby boomer, and a bit too old to be a GenX-er. I don't identify at all with either of those groups, and have always wondered if that is the reason why I have wandered rather aimlessly through life.
I grew up in a small town in Maine, born to working class parents. My childhood was not without its traumas, but could have been a lot worse. For the most part I have happy memories, but carry with me some emotional scars resulting from a fairly dysfunctional family.
I went to one of those good 4-year, private liberal arts colleges in Maine. I also spent a year at Oxford University, which changed my life, and is no doubt good fodder for an entry or two. Armed with a BA in English, and therefore qualified to do absolutely nothing, I moved to London after graduating and did a variety of low-paid contract and temp jobs. I loved London, and to this day some of my happiest memories are from my time there.
It was in London that I met Michael. We've been together 18 years now, and married for 15 of those. Michael is one of those guys that every woman wishes she had: tall, handsome, funny, good taste in music, does housework, great father. Sure, he does have some faults (like an obsession with sport and the Sunday paper), but not many. What can I say, he's my best friend. We've definitely had some difficult times, but we love each other, and are committed to staying with one another and working things out. And I think we will.
We have two sons. Matthew was born in June 1998. My first born. Bright, intelligent, funny, stubborn, impatient, intense, sensitive. Matthew is all of those things. He's an amazing, if challenging, kid. Joshua was born in February 2002. He is relentlessly cheerful and patient, eager and happy.
Michael is a New Zealander, so we live here in the land of the long white cloud. It's beautiful, this small island country in the middle of the Pacific. I can't really imagine living anywhere else now.
I eventually worked my way out of low-paying temp jobs. I qualified to be a librarian in 1991. I was always good with computers and databases, so all my library jobs involved working with databases or computer systems of some sort. I eventually moved into web work, and in 2000 I graduated with a Masters. I now work for the government, and manage websites and intranets. It's reasonably well paid and fairly responsible. You could even call it a career.
That's enough for now. Maybe more later...