My remember reading, or hearing in one of my family education classes that Ireland has the highest rate of mental illness of any Western nation. I'd have to research the souce.

I don't think it's because of my Irish heritage

Honestly, I don't either but it does, unfortunately, fit into some widely held stereotypes. I guess it just makes me sad in general, much less in the ways that my family has been viewed by others in the past.

But, you know, congrats on the non-mental illenss having.

Wow. I sincerely hope you did not take my comment personally Nora. That could not possibly have been further from my intent and it would be pretty rich, for ME to snark about mental illness or addiction. My comment came from a 'there but for the grace go I' place. It could so easily be me and I have tremendous compassion (and no small amount of educational and professional understanding) of both.

{{{Shir}}}

Oh Shir, how awful. This is one of those 'life challenges' that boggles the mind. Living with conviction and 'real world constraints' can be so, very difficult.

I'll pray for that third option coming your way soon and for peace of mind that, whatever the outcome, the purity of your heart will not be compromised by your external requirements.

{{{ Shir }}} That is not an easy thing. I have no real advice to offer, as my knowledge of the situation is passing at best. So I offer a suggestion with tongue in cheek. Tell your dad that you, as a left leaning person, can not abide by that, and in protest, are moving to Dallas, TX! Since your father associates this city with a single November day in 1963, let him leap to conclusions. {{{ Shir }}}

As for lineage. Non royal that I'm aware of, even though I have Kingly Names (Brian was the first king of Ireland, and there were a ton of King Charles all over the place). But on my mothers, fathers, mothers, mothers, mothers, etc-maternal sides of the tree, Antonín Dvořák was a grandfather.

On my fathers side of the family, his mothers side, there is a town & lake in upstate NY near the Canadian border that is the family name. It being on the maternal sides a few generations back, I forget what it is.

A little closer to my generation, both my Grandfathers had interesting moments in history. My mothers father played for the Philadelphia Eagles in their second season. Nose Guard. No pads. Leather helmet (optional). My fathers father was a rum runner during prohibition. Worked for the mob, driving through the (then) backwoods of NY to get the booze to the city. After the repeal, he kept the liquor contacts and opened a liquor store.

As for colleges. I wasn't the first to go, but am the only in the family to have a Masters Degree! Woot. Which means I had student debt for longer than anyone else in my family.

{{Shir}}. That is awful. I would say if you are financial dependent on your parents you are not responsible for where you live. You'll live there while you have to and move out as soon as practical and hopefully find a way to not beat yourself up over it.

Oh, if I could COMM a non-Buffista. A friend Facebook Status from last night:

Don't get me wrong, I really like Obama. But watching Congressional addresses always makes me think of two things as they do that stand up/sit down thing: Catholic Mass and Whack-a-mole.

Thanks, all, again. It's good to vent about it here, and have you as a support group for me.

I really didn't find the best of times to be unemployed. And even with a job, it'll take me few months to have the savings and live outside of the settlement.

Shir, I think you have to focus on the fact that you are not choosing to live in a settlement; your parents are, against your strenuous objections. All you can do is concentrate on developing a plan to leave home as soon as possible. You can do more for the causes you believe in if you get your degree as soon as you can and not have to take off time to make money to live. Think of your parents as funding your activism.

You can do more for the causes you believe in if you get your degree as soon as you can and not have to take off time to make money to live. Think of your parents as funding your activism.

More awesome logic.

ssssh. I left work early. I got TWO big things off my task list (inventory of all the gear, inventory of all the gear we disposed of). Then I heard BIG rumblings. Storm! My windows were down a bit. So, rather than just rolling them up and staying the last hour, I snuck away.