I am 34, married since 1986 and have 4 children. I am not employed, though I

do work rather hard as a housewife/mother type. I was diagnosed with bp

disorder in 1993. I try to do as much as I can, mainly because I resent

having to depend on someone else to do something I am perfectly capable of

doing myself. Consequently I make soap and candles, have a large garden I

share with my parents, I can wire a lamp, program my VCR, change the tires,

oil and spark plugs in my car, and cook nearly anything over an open fire. I

can't stand to have my picture taken, speak in public, or show my legs to

anyone at all. I love to read, learn a new skill, make fun of people who

take themselves too seriously and rearrange the furniture (thats how my

husband knows I am hypomanic). I had a childhood that was as normal as the

child of proto-hippies could have. My father thought being female was no

excuse to not know how to shoot straight, and my mother thought being a WASP

was no reason to not know the difference between jewelweed and jimsonweed or

if its better to use a copper or iron pot for dyeing wool. Therefore my

brain is chockfull of information that is of no use at all, but is still fun

to know.