Okay things are looking way way way up. Got an A in Geology of Texas and am currently planning a trip back to Big Bend, possibly with the brother with whom I am getting along with. We've been having actual conversations and shit. It's pretty amazing.

Finally got a new lap desk for my lap top. It's the same one I used to have, but it's not broken. I also got an "activity tray." It's Toy Story and it sits above my lap on it's own and it's got useful little pockets. It's so wonderful. Hunted out my old baby blanket for Bernie to sleep on. His fur was getting all over my bed cover and so much DO NOT WANT.

Mom and I have been cleaning Gene's house since he's getting ready to sell it. He's moved into a shoebox in Willis, closer to where he works. That house has literally not been cleaned in ten years. It is so fucking disgusting. We should be done on Sunday though.

Got a new purse. It's sort of teal-ish and it's bigger on the inside. Also the top sort of looks like a vagina. Idk, my mom's words.

My trekreversebang fic is coming along, albeit slowly. I have a later posting date though, so I'm pretty sure I'll get it done.

One of my ghost shrimp died. But those guys don't live very long so nbd. I also got another frog and it died. Got a frog to replace that one and it died. I think there was something wrong with the frogs at the store, because the two frogs came in the same shipment supposedly. I've determined I don't have the emotional maturity to handle an aquarium. My stress level has doubled since getting it and it just keeps climbing. I'm going to take care of the three guppies and one lonely shrimp, but when they die I won't be replacing them. Mom and I have considered birds again, but we're worried about the cats since two of them have never been around domesticated birds before. Meeko and Todd are older and we still had the doves when we got them but Kiwi and Bernie are quite wild so we're not sure if it's feasible. I'm considering getting a small reptile once my fish are gone, but I am worried that since some of them are quite delicate it will be like having another aquarium. I really want a guinea pig or a chinchilla but I don't think I have enough room for a cage large enough for either of them. I'll have to do some research.

There is a fucking mosquito in my bedroom right now but that is neither here nor there.

I GOT A JOB. Thank the 'verse. I'll be a hostess at the visitor's center in Fall Creek (a planned neighborhood nearby). It's a low key job and I don't have to wear a name tag. The hours aren't super amazing (26 a month spread over two weekends with the opportunity to cover others' shifts when they need off) but it will pay my bills and since it's only every other weekend I FINALLY have time to start volunteering somewhere. I've been thinking of either a local animal rescue group or Girl Scouts, but the decision will have to wait until after my training is over since I will be working weird hours whilst they train me.

THEY KEEP A BIG JUG OF ANIMAL CRACKERS IN THE KITCHEN FOR SNACKING ON. I really hope this job works out. If I need more money later, I can still get another job with what the hours are.

I've recently discovered the deliciousness of Sonic's lemon-berry slushes. OH MY GOD so good. Also Culvers. NOM.

The Neopets site has been messed up for me and apparently it's something on their end. They're "working on it" and will get back to me when they fix the problem. (I'm assuming that means never at the rate they fix glitches.) In the meantime I can't use half the site on my usual browser (firefox) and I am loathe to changing what browser I log into my main account on. I have it set up so that I use my main on FF and my sides on Flock and Lunascape. My only other option is to just wait but I've been saving up for some paint brushes so that I can paint my chombies and my xwee and my kau and... *sobs* I really wanted to do a Royal/Woodland crosspaint on a kacheek I got from the pound but right now I'm not making enough nps to make that feasible any time soon. I was doing so well too. I got up to 4M+ and was on my way to 4.5M. Then the site crapped out on me and then I tried spinning the new wheel and got NOTHING from it. Ugh. Figures that as soon as I pony up for NC the site would crap out on me. I was thinking of restarting my paid subscription but there is no way I'm doing that when I still can't access so much of the site.

Saw Thor with Kourtney the other day. OH MY GOD. Papa Kirk is so hot. But Loki. Oh gosh. I love what's-his-name's Loki. And the movie was so pretty. I don't know anything about Thor except that he's got a hammer named Mjolnir. I went in expecting dribble (I love super heroes and I love seeing them adapted for film, but it's usually a massive bust imo so I always have low expectations when seeing one) so I was pleasantly surprised. Nothing brilliant, but much better than I was expecting.

I've been looking for a new poster to replace my Yu Yu Hakusho one. I'm hesitant to take it down because the wall looks really plain, but it's really an eye sore because it just doesn't match the rest of my room.

My laptop battery died when I was on the West Texas trip (I accidentally put it on sleep mode instead of shutting down and then didn't get a chance to use it until a day later) and the cord is going so I'm going to try to save up for a new one. I'm either going to get another HP or a Sony Vaio. I really love the Vaio's and I've heard good things about them from other's who've had them but I also really love HP. We'll see~

I'm taking a year off school to save money. I don't know when I'll finish at this point and everything is up in the air, but I'm actually finding it not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm really happy with my life right now even though it is so incredibly different from what I thought it would be a few years ago. I'm actually really excited about doing things other than school which is something that hasn't happened in a long time. Lauren's wedding is creeping slowly closer, I'll be visiting Big Bend again soon, and New Zealand will happen within the next two and a half years, I think. I actually feel kind of weird being so happy. I used to be so miserable and a lot of it was my own doing but still. It feels good to feel good. I wake up excited for the day now, even if the day's highlight is scrubbing grimy cabinetry in my mom's boyfriend's house.

Conversely my health has been a bit worry-making. Almost a month ago now, I had about a week and a half where I felt sick to my stomach and could barely get out of bed. It passed, but I'm still really concerned about that. And shortly afterward my hands started bothering me. I've always had trouble with my joints but I was actually having trouble gripping a pen and writing, which is something that's never happened before. I was trying to write and I knew what letters made up the words I wanted to write, but for some reason my brain wasn't connecting with my hand properly. That too has passed, but it still makes me really anxious. I hate doctors and I hate how I've been treated by doctors in the past, but sometimes I really do wish I had insurance and could afford to go to one.

Bleargh, ending on a positive note and it is this:

I love all of you. Every tweet, every tumblr post, all of the google doc convos, each exuberant im, and random hello text messages...they've all made me smile and each and every single one of you has been invaluable in helping me find contentment with what I have and who I am. You are all so incredibly supportive and loving and knowing y'all makes me a better person. Thank you.