So.
This is intended as a "what have I been up to" for people I've not seen in some cases since High School, though some of you that have met me since might find out things I'd forgot to mention. *shrug* Could be interesting. 'Course, I'm seriously hampered by the fact that my memory is spotty at best, and though I will try to remember all of the important stuff, I'm sure to forget some.
Just spent the better part of 9 hours reading my entire LiveJournal, and every comment, since I originally started it back in '01.
Because of severe depression between when I started the journal until 2005, the beginning was really hard to read.
Then came almost 4 years of joy, when my amazing chosen family brought me back to life.
So, near as I can re-structure it,
1991 I Graduated from Monroe High School
1991-1993 I floated from one joe job to another while living at home with the folks.
1993 I met, fell in love with, and asked a wonderful girl named Carol to marry me. Luckily for both of us, that relationship fell through.
1994 I moved in with Kelly and Bink (good friends from the Rocky Horror Picture Show cast I was performing with, called the Vicarious Theater Company) in Ballard. Also, sometime during this period I started smoking, for the DUMBEST REASON OF ALL TIME.
1995 I moved in with Dave Julian and worked at Humongous Entertainment, a children's software company in, at the time, Bothell. Eventually met Jenifer, lost the job, and moved in with Jenifer in Olympia.
1996 Jenifer and I got married, and my son Galen was born.
1998 I applied for and got my first job outside of the house for 2 years, ending my stint as Mr. Mom. I worked at what was then called Software Etc. for around a year as a keyholder.
2000 I got unbelievably fed up with my manager at Software Etc when he fired his assistant manager, shoved all of that position's responsibilities on me, and then, 4 months later, hired a 1st assistant from outside the store rather than promote me. I quit and started working at Suncoast.
2001 Jenifer asked me for a divorce. I moved out of the house and spiraled into what would become 5 years of profound depression. I eventually started dating Colleen (these last two events weren't actually connected.)
2002 My Parents got divorced, after 31 years of marriage. Coleen broke it off with me, I started dating India, she left me, and I dated Colleen again. (/grin)
2003 I met, dated, and proposed to Sarah, a relationship that ended in a spectacularly ugly fashion, both through my fault and hers. Truth to tell, probably more quite a bit more mine then hers. I eventually repaired myself enough to date Snow briefly.
2004 I got fired from Suncoast, (mostly because of the soul-crushing depression that had such a hold on me that I didn't realize it wasn't normal or healthy.) I moved back to Monroe and spent almost a year working with my father to remodel the house I finished growing up in> At the Mercury one night, I met Liz Springer and through her Leslie Benjamin. (Two women who are still very close friends, but who also introduced me to a huge number of the people who are my close friends.) I came alive again, for the first time in 5 years.
2005 On April 23rd, I met Crystal, my Beloved. Of course, she was married at the time, but you know, no-one's perfect. And she eventually got over it.
2006 I started playing World of Warcraft on a regular basis. On May 8th was my first day at Brookstone, where until very recently I was still employed. On October 8th, I managed to injure my left hand severely in a kitchen accident, severing most of the tendons and nerves in my thumb, requiring surgery. Since then, I have regained 99% of its motion and sensation.
2007 On May 26th, my mother told me that she had inoperable lung cancer. A couple of weeks later, on June 1st, I had dinner with my mother and father, and was shocked at how ravaged and wasted my father looked. Poor health over the course of several years had made him look terrible. As I drove home from that dinner with Crystal, I wondered aloud if I'd ever see him again, alive. On July 14th, my Father died of a heart attack. (I found out about it the morning after my birthday party.)
2008 On April 8th, I was promoted to Store Manager at Brookstone. On May 26th, one year to the day after being diagnosed with cancer, my mother died.
2009 Brookstone gradually became more and more unbearable, and the depression that overtook me when I lost my father, which was made worse by the death of my mother, continued to worsen throughout the year. Early July, I finally went to a doctor and got a prescription for anti-depression medication. A few days later, my supervisor at work denied my vacation request, with about a week's notice. The tickets had already been purchased, and were non-refundable. Late that night, Crystal, using a series of leading questions, convinced me that we'd be just fine if I quit my job, and that we'd actually be better off. Not working there would do wonders for my stress level.
So, I quit.
We took the vacation to Hawaii.
We got back last Thursday.
And I'm just chilling for a few days before starting to look for work.
That's all the really high points, I think. Sorry it came off like a briefing, but I thought this would be easier than typing most of it out anytime I respond to a friend request.



um, er.
How are you?

Sleep.
That would be good.
I only hope I can.
See, the problem is, the nightmares have resurfaced.

It's kinda hard to go to sleep when that awaits you.


Wish me luck

Went out to the Merc with saheeb138, and a good time was had by everyone I saw.
Saw some wonderful people, and had some great conversations.
Thank you, all!

*vaguely pirate-like shrug*
(whatever that would look like)

That be the extent of me thoughts.



arrr.

I know I've mentioned it before, but there's something so wonderfully hedonistic about snoozing the alarm for an extremely protracted time. Like, an hour and a half.
Last night I set my alarm for 9 am. No real reason for it, I don't have to be at work till 1 or so, but I had some thought about starting to get up earlier or something. (HAH!!)
So I wake up when saffyre_dragon is on her hurried way out, go pee, and flop back to sleep.
And the alarm goes off at 9. And I snooze. And snooze. And again.
It was wonderful, knowing I could 'cheat' and steal 8 more minutes of sleep. Over and over.
Finally got up at 10.20 or so.
And have really gotten nothing else accomplished.

YAY!!

In other news, um.
There is no other news.
Things are going well, work is good. Life is, in general and in nearly every specific, going very well.
Saw an old friend at the club Friday night, who asked me rather guardedly, "How are things going."
I stopped a moment, took stock, and replied truthfully, "Everything is going very well!"
His jaw dropped. "I've never heard you say that before."
That's me.
Rugged and gloomy.




Thanks for noticin'.



*grin*

-----------------------------------------------
Completely different subject; I have a song, or rather, a single line from a song running through my head. It's one I've always liked, but can't remember the title or band.
I think it's Faith No More, but I'm not sure.
The line is:
"You're perfect, yes it's true,
but without me you're only you."
or something to that effect.

Help?

I'm not sure how I managed it, but I somehow slept in such a way that when I woke up, both of my arms were asleep.
Tried to roll over, which was somewhat complicated by the complete immobility of my arms.
I think I mewed like a kitten.
A sad, sad little kitten.
And got my legs into it, flopping over onto my back with the grace of a raw steak.
Then the pins and needles started.
Shoulders to fingertips. It was maddening, but thankfully, short lived.
So that's my morning so far.
*grin*
Got one of my super-short shifts today, I start at 5. That is awesome, because it's practically a day off.
So now I'm sitting here in a much-too-small bathrobe, drinking coffee and chatting with saffyre_dragon and our friend Mari.
Big plan for the day is to leave early enough to get my paycheck, get it deposited, and get myself a haircut.
Then off to work, and over to theda and balzacq's place for movie night, or at least, as much of is is left.
And we should be out at the Merc tomorrow night. Looking forward to the 'No-class reunion'.

And for the first time I actually have friends-appropriate gift ideas I am in need of.
Well, for the first time I'm actually going to mention them.
I need ties.
And a nice tie clip.
I have a total of three ties I can wear to work, and one of them is saffyre_dragon's. And a bit too short at that.
Now, sure, I can go and buy these things, (and I will,) but I really like the idea of finding out what people who love me would think will look good on me.
And I feel it's a big step for me to put this out there.
*smile*
33 is breathing on my neck, no matter how hard I try to run away.


****Oh, and on a completely different subject, I found it amusing that my paid LJ membership expired and the only difference I've noticed is that I can't do polls anymore.
'Cause I did so many of those.
*grin*

Today was my first actual, honest-to-god day off in a really long time. I only have the one job, so having the day off actually means a day off.
saffyre_dragon and I looked around at a couple of apartments down in Seattle, closer to my work and most of her potential works.
And found one.
That we really love.

This place is in Seattle, on 15th and 143rd, (so not as close to Northgate as we wanted,) but has absolutely beautiful grounds, ample parking, a wonderful 'I'm home' feeling about it, and the price for the large one-bedroom we looked at is absolutely wonderful.
The only drawback is that they don't have a unit open until the first of July.
This has its good points and bad points. On the plus side, it will be that much easier to afford the move-in costs. We could manage it sooner, but this way we won't be absolutely strapped.
The unfortunate part is that it means I'll have to couch-surf for a little over 4 weeks. Gonna be relying on my loving friends for that. *blink, blink* You do all love me, right?

*crickets chirping*

Well, we'll figure it out.
Another benefit is that it gives our friends a little while to recuperate from helping saheeb138 and hetaera15 move last weekend.

*smile*
So, yeah. That's my big news.
Really looking forward to having a place to call mine again, after all this time.

I can so do this.
Had my first shift at the new job yesterday morning, and I go in again in about half an hour.
The biggest challenge facing me is just acquiring product knowledge; the actual operations seem pretty similar to what I've run into in other retail jobs.
So, yeah.
This should be fun, and I'm really looking forward to it.
But this week is kind of sucking.
Working both jobs is less than optimal; Feels like I've hardly slept. *grin*
But I can handle it.
Next challenge is going to be finding an apartment closer to work. But with as much as I'll be making, it should be easier to do that now.
Things are really turning around for me.
*flail*