The Choice:

Hello big wide world! I have finally decided, at the age of 27, to begin a career. Not just any career, mind, but a career in Court Reporting. Well, how does one who wanted nothing more than to be a wandering novelist/poet with a bestseller under her belt choose to begin training as a court reporter? Answer, lack of financial security propelled by the need to achieve something lucrative and successful before turning thirty. Some may say I have given up the artistic ambition to become the next Neil Gaiman, but I say nay! With a career in court reporting I can fill the pockets of myself and my family while attempting to finish a first novel at 225 words per minute. Yes, folks, 225 words per minute can be written ( it is called writing NOT typing) on the Steno machine.
Having written for an art and fashion magazine, that went under, and achieved 2nd place in our local poetry slam (yay), I find myself in a quandary; will my writing ever actually take me anywhere?
I also have the great artistic tendency to not finish most things I start. Writing, two half written novels sit in my room. Knitting, bundles of yarn and only three finished scarves. Not to mention, the large library of knitting books that hold untried patterns. Electric Bass, it sits lonely in the corner of the living room. You get the idea.
Friends have been kind enough to put my unattained goals down to preoccupations with being a mother to two beautiful girls (2 and 7 months), working at a children's clothing store, moving, life, being a wife, etc. However, when you are on the cusp of 30 and watching everyone you know having kids, a house, real furniture, you say to yourself, " I need to get my ass in gear".
So, I decided that I would go back to school to become a court reporter. It is a two year course and has a variety of career options after graduation. It is not limited to official court reporting. And as Obama just passed the Telecommunications Act that requires anything from T.V. that is streamed on the interweb (nerd alert!) to have closed captioning, things are looking good for those with steno skills.