Well damn, look at the time that has flown, it says last visited on 25th November 2004, must have slept from all that Turkey ....
My story is atypical, depending on how one sees it.
Got CFI, school had no students at the time, taught ground, occasional flight.
School goes under, nothing to do for a while, (now) married, and with 18mo daughter, decided that it was time to get back into the game, kept my CFI certificate, and began instrument training in the R-44.
Possible job opening in area, hour drive there and back, but solo commercial work in 22, so my 225 weight NOT a factor there. If I get the offer, I'm taking it, been wanting to work since I started training in 1999.
So if that happens, I'll build time, still go get my instrument rating and CFII, and be set when my hour numbers improve.
There are ways to get ahead without strictly flight training, but they are few and far between.
You have to have three things, patience, perserverance, and the right attitude, which to me has been not wanting to kill and keeping a smile on your face the whole time that has passed.
Bert, how's Vegas still going for ya?