(1) If one sticks too rigidly to one's principles, one would hardly see anybody. (2) The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Both by Agatha Christie (R.I.P.) In our haste to please many, we end up pleasing very few.  (by me! sorry, no R.I.P. yet but keep checking...)  You can only take so much of one thing... Stephen Hicks (R.I.P.)  I do not consider that I have ever accomplished anything without God, and if it is His will that I must die by the hand of an assassin, I must be resigned...  Abraham Lincoln (R.I.P.)  I have learned more about love, selflessness and human understanding from people I have met in this great adventure in the world of AIDS than I ever did in the cutthroat, competitive world in which I spent my life.     Anthony Perkins, screen actor 3 by Sigmund Freud: (1)Those who think of failing have failed before beginning; (2) Those who think of winning have already advanced a few steps before starting; (3) I've been a fortunate person--nothing in life has been easy for me. "When one teaches, two learn."  Robert Half "Life's tough... it's even tougher if you're stupid."   John Wayne (the actor) The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.  Helen Keller   English major (Ga State Univ); ed major (U of Ala); EFL teacher; lives abroad in Colombia, a major receiver of U.S. foreign aid (Plan Colombia). Activities and interests: Writing (obviously), PROOFREADING and editing, teaching English in special cases e.g. to the deaf, blind but mostly normal,  preparing TOEFL/IELTS students, etc. Plays piano, and sax. Likes politics a lot but is no party fanatic (votes by candidate preference). LOVES many kinds of food (the mere sight of it...) but, unfortunately, must be--with varying degrees of success--perpetually dieting. Proofreads papers in English for writers, usually non-native writers (South Americans) writing in English but also by others.  Likes to do translations, especially from Spanish to English. Teaches private TOEFL/IELTS classes as well as writing and conversation classes. Has been married for many years and has a serious (!) Colombian wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandson.  Has 2 sisters and 2 brothers who are dear. Lived, studied, laughed, smoked and worked in Atlanta, Ga., for many years. Has been published in Ploughshares, the GSU Review, The Village Writer, Poetry Life and Times, Brilliant Quarterly and other zines. Considers himself extremely rich but not in a material sense (which he isn't, of course, consider or not!). Far from perfect (way-far!) but can be very good, too, at times and believes in God/Jesus and His infinite mercy. Available to help you with a project whenever possible. Available for online assignments. Just ask. Any donation, for she or he so inclined, will not be rejected so don't hesitate ( plus, you get to stand in line :)). Lots more but goodbye for now and may God truly bless my readers whom I sincerely appreciate. They are my inspiration, my fuel.

Having lived this long is one. In elementary school, I won a prize for a drawing of woods and animals to glorify Smokey the Bear(whom I loved).