Tag: update

Unemployment: A Steady Current

Today marks my second month unemployed, officially surpassing my prior stint in 2019. In my perfect scenarios I would have accepted a job offer by now with a start date in the next few weeks. A preference which clearly didn’t pan out, but such is life. 

Thanks to family and friend’s emotional support (e.g. chatting on the phone, meeting for lunch, receiving job recommendations, etc.), maintaining at least five applications per week, managing about one interview a week, and diverting excess energy into creative projects…I’m doing pretty okay.

It definitely helps that I was finally able to get some things with the state sorted, but everything else has really been keeping me going.

My current obsession is without a doubt The Amazing Race and I am currently in the phase of asking everyone I know if they will compete with me. So far both my parents and one of my bridesmen rejected me (pretty hilariously I might add).

I’ve also started going to the gym again and let me tell you- upper body is the absolute worst. I would prefer anything else and my gym doesn’t have a rowing machine (my only exception), so I’m getting through on sheer will power.

All in all I’ve gotten past the emotional turmoil of it. Is there still a twinge of negativity? Of course, but I’m sure it will fade once I’m back in the flow of things. Until then I’ll keep chugging along and split free time between world building and side projects. When’s a better time…right?

artist: @artoshtu

Tying the Knot: Looking Back

One week has passed since my wedding ceremony and I can honestly say…it hits different. 

Did I cry? Nope. Neither myself nor my husband cried (likely because we legally wed in July). Interestingly, it wasn’t until I left my mom’s rental the following night that I got misty eyed. Something about leaving my family to head home, knowing they were flying out in the morning…everything suddenly felt cemented. There I was at twenty-six having hit all the old school “milestones of adulthood” and it was a cluster of emotions. 

There was certainly joy. 

I was happy so many friends and family were able to be part of it with us. I was happy people had a great time. I was happy to be culturally married- if that’s the right way to describe it. I was happy nothing went awry…. 

At the same time though, I was sad.  

Sad in realizing the roots I’d laid down states away from family and friends were now anchored. Sad in the sense I’d closed out a life stage and was now closer to my most imminent fear- death.  

Thankfully, my partner was chatting with me on the phone for most of the drive which helped keep it together.     

These last several days have been a blur thanks to me going right back to work, but I’m hoping this weekend will get me back on track rest wise. 

Photo by My Mother

P.S. If anyone reading this attended the wedding- I want to thank you for coming and I apologize if you experienced altitude sickness!

A Year in the Making

As of today I officially relocated from my home state one year ago.

A goal of nearly fourteen years and three hundred sixty-five days ago, I achieved it. Not to study abroad or go on a internship, but without an estimated return date or ticket in hand.

At the time I was so consumed with logistics and saying goodbyes I barely had time to process. I mean, we had less than ninety days from when we received notice of our move to when we needed to step on the plane. I was excited for the next chapter though and jumped right in.

When my mom came to visit in January she said this would be one of my biggest years and looking back…I can’t say I disagree.

In this past year I:

  • Moved in with just my partner (no roommates!)
  • Went to the Mountain Region for the first time
  • Began commissioning art
  • Attended therapy continually/successfully
  • Started a data analytics certification
  • Got engaged
  • Bought my first place
  • Began planning my wedding
  • Experienced my first snowy winter
  • Landed a job I didn’t think I stood of chance of getting
  • Learned one of my cats WILL eat hoodie strings like spaghetti if left alone
  • Started watching Anime again
  • Reached closure on a long standing friendship

I’m sure there are so many things I’m forgetting, but all in all it’s been a hell of personal year. My biggest goal going forward though is to start posting here again! I’m so tired after work y’all. Getting used to commuting again has taken much longer than I expected. I just come home, shower, and pass out…I’m working on it.

Wishing everyone well and hoping good things are in the works for all of you!

artist: @artoshtu

Picking Up Pace

Man oh man.

After a several month long hiatus from a project with I.L. Knight I can proudly say we really made headway this weekend! Now is this my way of saying a publish date is on the horizon? By no means. What it does mean; however, is I was able to get back in the headspace of a fictional world I love and dust off rusty writing skills (so so rusty). 

I’m really glad too because this is my last week before starting a new job, so I have no idea how much time I’ll be able to put in over the following months. 

Oh! And before I forget…I started commissioning again, so two pieces are in the works!

 When it rains it pours, am I right? 

artist: meikitefuka

Starting the Year with a Bang

Eight days into 2022 and I can proudly announce: I’ve completed my data analytics course!

Did I keep to my original timeline? …No. Initially, I wanted to be done by New Year’s Eve, but for once I don’t feel any self imposed guilt. I mean, I still finished ahead of the course’s schedule and now I can start applying to new opportunities.

It’s weird because when I started this post I thought I’d have so much to say. Instead, I’m just content and ready to pursue the next professional chapter.

A First: Owning a Place

As of 20 November, 2021 I now live in my very first home!

We started up at 7 a.m. and with the help of some amazing movers, were fully moved and unpacked by 5 p.m.!

This year I have moved about…three times. Four if we’re counting the two weeks we stayed with my mom before moving across country. Knowing I won’t be packing to move anytime in the foreseeable future is such a relief. I really don’t think I could have handled doing it a few more times.

Now that I have my own place I finally understand what I never understood about my mom as a kid: seeing possibilities in a place. Growing up, my mom always had an eye for what she wanted to change in homes and I never really got it. Now- I am fully aboard her train and have brainstormed with my partner on how we would change just about every room.

The one thing my partner was most looking forward to was being able to sleep with the window cracked now that we’re on the top floor. So of course, for the first night we did just that.

Let me tell you something about that.

It went down to 34 degrees Fahrenheit.

I had fleece sheets, a duvet, and two comforters.

This morning I stayed in bed for an extra hour and a half because I was waiting for them to get up and put the heat on.

In the end, they couldn’t get the window to close, so I had to do it.

All in all it was a pretty good laugh and I’m looking forward to making this place our own.

artist: @artoshtu

One Week

You know those weeks when it feels like all the heavy hitter items are happening at once? Well, this was one of those weeks.

I’ll go in order of what happened.

Firstly, as of last Tuesday…I’m a homeowner! Well- condo owner, but you get the idea. My partner and I were beyond lucky in getting the second place we put an offer on. Especially with the way the market is. I mean, our house hunt only lasted maybe two weeks? Now as someone who LOVES House Hunters (yes, I know how they actually do it and don’t care because I’m here for entertainment) my biggest concern was being “house poor”. When we initially started our search, we budgeted our monthly payment to be about what we pay in rent. When all was said done though, it turned out our payment is actually less!

Next, I am officially halfway done with my course and that much closer to getting certified! My system of completing this course is definitely erratic, but at this point I’ve come to terms with it. By erratic, I mean: spending days where I do nothing except the course followed by periods of not even looking at it. I’m still ahead of schedule though, so it’s A-OK in my book.

Now on to the last heavy hitter…

Today I booked the venue for my wedding next year which means IT. IS. HAPPENING.

SIDE NOTE: I don’t think I ever made a post about it, but my partner proposed to me last month.

Artist: oshtu

***this post’s title is inspired by a What We Do in the Shadows episode***