First off, *hug*, EW...I can't even imagine losing a friend to cancer- cancer runs in my family, but those I've known have beat it, so my thoughts are absolutely with you.
I've missed UD. The little bit of lurking I've been doing has been good, but I've missed it, I've missed the people, I've missed this thread.
I'm awake because my boyfriend is snoring and I couldn't fall back asleep...we had Chinese food on Saturday evening and my stomach hasn't been the same since, and I called work to let them know I wouldn't be in at 6am ("if you go to the doctor, bring a doctor's note..."...um, a) I don't have health insurance, and b) I don't go to the doctor for every stomachache I get... :/).
My life is so different from when I was active here (really 2006-2010). I was in grad school from Aug. 2011-Dec. 2012, and I failed a class (and an internship by extension)...the earliest I could've gone back was Aug. 2013, and I was working and hadn't decided (or looked much into) where to transfer my credits to. I've been working at a grocery store- the very reason I went to college for undergrad was to not have to work at a grocery store anymore. I'm grateful for my job, and it could be worse, but I'm not at all where I want to be in life. I graduated in 2008 and have had hardly any luck with the job hunting thing; I had a job back in Florida (a low-paying one), that was tolerable until the new management put me in the grocery store part (I was running the thrift store). That was a few months before my divorce was finalized, and then a few months later I got accepted into grad school, and things were okay until I failed. I still haven't gotten over that, and someday I really should go back, seeing as how I have a semester + 1 class + 1 internship left and it'd be a waste to never finish. I've always been a good student (except for math classes), and I'm still not over having failed. I failed a critical thinking class...the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that there's a quota and that at least one person from every cohort won't pass.
It's hard having the time and effort to job hunt, mostly because I have barely had any luck with it...rejection for years absolutely sucks.
I was living with a roommate while in school and a few months afterwards, but then my boyfriend asked me to move in with him. It wasn't a financial decision at all (I don't pay him rent, he never wanted rent $), but I was struggling paying the $275 rent + bills with my old roommate. So I've been living with him since April, and lately things have been okay, but we fight a lot, and 3, maybe 4 weeks ago now, I was intent on moving out, since there was one too many fights, and my most important things were packed, I had a hotel booked that night, and I was heading out to get a storage unit, with my dog with me in the car, and as I started leaving the apartment complex (where my boyfriend also works- I huffed and puffed for 2 hours or so trying to pack and pack my car without him knowing), I realized I forgot my birth certificate and social security card, so I headed back, and then he came home, knowing what I was doing. I wouldn't listen to him, and I said that if I come back to get my other things, that I'd bring a police escort...he texted me later asking if we could talk at a coffee shop, and I ended up sleeping on the spare couch for a couple nights. He's invested in the relationship and has been trying to make things work, and I applaud that. It's just been a lot to take lately.
I don't make much money, and to make matters worse, a week's paycheck every month goes towards credit card debt (I haven't even touched my student loan debt yet), and I really can't afford to live on my own. Things with him have been better, so there's no need right now to think about moving out, but just knowing that I can't move out because I can't afford it makes me feel like a failed adult. I've pawned things (Disney collectibles and such), sold things (Disney movies, Disney books, other movies, etc.)...around the time my divorce was finalized (Feb. 2011), my dog had surgery, and he's had surgery since, and that + living expenses = credit card debt.
In July I think it was (earlier this year I was working 3 part time jobs, which didn't last long due to scheduling issues, then I was down to 2, and when I transferred grocery store locations, I got more hours as a cashier, so I quit waitressing, and then I got my full-time position), my dad told me that he regretted sending my brother & I to college (he's a cashier at a retail store). That still hurts me. I've tried to make a decent life for myself, and nothing ever seems to work for me.
I don't have as much time for Disney anymore, but I still at least try to take one day a week and look up the news on my favorite websites. Last night my boyfriend actually didn't mind me working on my project (I've been working on & off for YEARS on a Disney website/blog, chronicling the production of films)...in the past, even though he's constantly on his cell phone (he once said that my laptop is big and creates space between us...), he has complained of me using my computer. And I learned from my marriage and constantly being on the computer doing "Disney stuff" that that's not always the best way to be in a relationship...but last night he didn't mind... I feel more...powerful? Confident? Stronger...since a month ago, like I have control. Like he knows that I will leave. His hobby is working on cars, mine is Disney, and it's nice to get back into it.
I called out sick from work, and I really don't feel well, I haven't for most of the weekend, and I need to job hunt. Like I posted at the beginning, my manager mentioned bringing in a doctor's note if I go to the doctor. Who goes to the doctor for food poisoning? Everyone at work, managers included, know that I'm not happy (after the 2nd week in this position, I figured I wasn't going to put on a happy face when asked how I like it...after a couple months and managers asking me, I was being honest...)...all that to say, I'm sure that some people at work will think I'm taking a day off to job hunt...which is partly true, but if I felt well, I'd go into work. One of our wine vendors has told me twice to "fake sick" and call out to have a day to job hunt.
This job is basically ripping down old price tags and putting new ones up, so much so that my left hand often hurts. I also make price tags and signs. I'm capable of so much more in life and I get so down about this being the best I can find. I used to volunteer and that's how I got my job 2 years out of college (that and being friends with someone there). I don't have the money for gas anymore to volunteer. I just feel so lost. Maybe carving out some more time for UD will bring a little more happiness into my life.
I also have some health stuff going on...tmi, but I've had a lump for a little while now, and cancer runs in my family. I have a (free) ultrasound next week, so that's just one more thing to add to my brain and my stress.
(*edit*) Not to make this even longer, but just having visited the Theme Parks section of UD, in Sepetember, my boyfriend and I went to WDW (he wanted a vacation from work, it was his idea), and we ended up fighting, of course. Parts were fun, but the Halloween party was absolutely ruined for me, and I was crying so didn't want to meet Tiana & Naveen, 2 of my absolute favorites, who I had never met before. :/ Just a side-story.
I bet this is super-long, but yay for venting!
