Post-Graduation Party and Pre-Job

This summer has been a roller coaster of emotions.  It started out with an almost depression, mourning the loss of my graduation walk, mourning the loss of a beloved pet not too long after.

The high of planning my graduation party, of my family coming up.  The highs and lows of having my little sister up here for a week, of taking her out with Ron, not knowing how to take care of a six-year-old.

The party was, for all intents and purposes, a success.  I'm still working out thank you cards for everyone that showed up and everyone that sent a gift.  It's a lot harder writing them then I thought they would be, but they'll get done soon, I'm sure.

Far too soon, little girl.
We miss her so much.

Then we lost Kethry, unexpectedly.  That, at risk of understating it, took a lot of the edge off my enthusiasm for the new computer my wonderful Ron had built for me as a gift, for the good things that had happened, while also tempering my ill feelings about everything that had gone bad.  And now, Rose is alone - and I'm worried.  Worried she is unhappy, unwell, and wonder what is to come, with her being a good year and a half old by now.  I'm scared for her, and fear that the day she joins her sisters is coming far too soon for me.

I'm worried about my family, the health of my grandparents and my sister.  Worried about my current loss of insurance, until I get more information in the mail.

But even amongst the worry and doubt, good things are happening.  Ron and I attended the Bristol Renn Faire.  We're going to Gencon in less then four days.  I'm starting a job in a week, something I've been fighting and crying for since this time last year.  Everything is starting to move forward - and I have to prepare for it, whatever may come.

A Pet Owner's Blindspot

This is likely going to be lengthy.  There's so much on my mind, and none of it is easy or comfortable.  For those of you that I've sent this link and want the TL: DR version, scroll to the bottom - I'll put it there for you.

Catch Up #3: The Not-So-Good News

As much good news as the car and cat are, there were also some pitfalls in the last few weeks.  And none of them have been particularly kind to me.

Catching up #1 - New pet

I wish I'd kept this actually updated, because so much has happened in the past month and a half - some of it good, some of it not so good. So I'm just going to do a line of posts regarding the biggest changes and events of the last few weeks.

The biggest thing is that we have expanded our fur-family once again.  The SO and I are now the proud fur-parents of a cat we've since then named Stormy - based off the Stormcloaks in Skyrim, because geek.

Improvements, Big and Small

So, for the last few weeks, I've been almost regularly going to the gym.  Mainly jogging and fast walking on the treadmill, but also using the machines to strengthen my arms, legs, and core.  Of course, when I first began, I realized just how out of shape I was - barely able to keep up with the 'mill set to 3.0 speed, let alone 4.0 or 5.  Barely able to do on set one the abdominal, not even really able to do a sit up or push up.  Wanting to cry after two seconds of a plank.

Has it really just began?

I'm tired.  I'm not talking in the physical sense, either - I mean in a resounding, mental and emotional sense.

What Am I Thankful For? A lot.

These years have given me a lot of things, and taken some from me as well.  So, this year, I have decided to create the list of everything I am thankful for - either for being taken, or for being given.  Note that none of these are in any particular order, just that they are in the order I thought to add them.

Everything is expanding!

Everything, I say!  Let's get down to the good, the bad, and the ugly: