(no subject)
I guess I'll start this journal off by briefly covering what has gone on over the time since I moved from Greensboro. The beginning will be hard, and it was full of sadness, but most of that I am cutting out because there is no reason to drag it out again... also I don't want to debate sides on any of it or be unfair to other parties involved. So, I get back to the E.C. area... and all hell broke loose. *L* That says enough.
I met Asani around that time, and as much as I WASN'T looking to be involved with anyone due to a series of other unfortunate events, we started dating a little while after. This was really the last thing I expected, and I honestly wasn't sure it was a good idea... I can't explain it really. It caused us both a lot of grief at the time, but in the end we handled it together which just set the path.
After things settled for a while it was a fairly uneventful time. Asani and I spent a lot of time together when she wasn't in Ireland or other states. In what would be an important event she interned in Louisiana at Minerals Management Services (MMS).
While all that was going on I got my first Graphic Design job at a little, local print shop. Some of you know where, but there's no reason to name it. I thought it was great for a short period, but it became obvious soon that one of the owners had issues and wasn't happy with anything I did. It's hard to get things done right when people won't tell you what they expect, and give you half the information you need. In the end I feel it was more to do with her figuring out I was of a different religions system than her. Her dad was a preacher so she had a weird sort of obligation to her faith that I think drove her to be hateful while putting on a smile. Whatever the reason, I learned to hate it there very quickly. By the time I ended that job I had almost lost hope of being happy in any print industry job even if I stayed in design. I stuck with it and over time got an apartment, moving Asani and her son Aiden in.
In December Asani had graduated. We looked into many options for her to go to grad school, and had been happiest with options in the New Orleans area. Well, that was before the storm of course, but in the end MMS wanted her to come back to work with them and the schools still wanted her as well so we didn't give up the hope.
On January 1st, 2006 we were legally married. Not something I was ever sure I would do, especially so soon... but circumstances were right.
It's strange looking back, at how fast everything went by. Soon we were heading to Florida to stay for a while with my father-in-law while looking for a place to live in Louisiana close enough for her to attend work and school. This was quite a challenge of course. Jobs here are EVERYWHERE, but housing is scarce. In typical fashion things opened up when the time was right, and we got a townhouse that is perfect for us.
I applied for a job right after we got here. I had one interview with them that day, and another with the head boss the day after. It didn't take them long to call and tell me I could start as soon as I was ready. I thought it was because they were desperate, but I saw later the stack of people I beat out for the job... I was impressed with myself then. I was very weary since it was also a print place, and MUCH bigger than what I had been facing before. However, the people make all the difference. I love this job. It doesn't challenge me much, but overall it rocks. I get payed well, people I work with respect me and are fun, and in general it doesn't stress me out at all. After my first two weeks my supervisor told me I was doing great and that he'd talk to the head boss after my 30 day mark about getting me a raise. That should be coming up on Monday or in the next week sometime I guess. :)
Well, that's most of it in a quick recap. Aiden just started Pre-K school, which is fun to watch. He's quite a character, and keeps me laughing on a regular basis. Asani and I have a steady comfort in stability and growing together. It's really a different life than what I had been used to, but things really seem to be at home... and peaceful (other than the occasional screaching rug-rat *L*.) Of course I have better financial standing than I ever had before. It's nice to have things like health insurance, a washer and dryer, and the whole array of cool gadgets that established adults come to own. I'm just waiting for a day when I have a garage and/or studio area to play in. Maybe in a few more years. We'll see where things go from here.
I try not to dwell to much on what has gone by. Sometimes when I think back I still get so upset by things, but I realized there was a lof of good there too. I needed to let myself be reminded of that and that I needed to let go to get some things back. I think after a transitional phase I'm trying to balance the past and present aspects of my personality... without getting cynical all over again. Though things are well on the surface, perfecting the internal takes more and is a delicate act to sustain. That's part of why I am resurrecting my journal, reconnecting with people, and trying to restore my creative drive as well. Well, now I'm just rambling. Time to sleep...
I met Asani around that time, and as much as I WASN'T looking to be involved with anyone due to a series of other unfortunate events, we started dating a little while after. This was really the last thing I expected, and I honestly wasn't sure it was a good idea... I can't explain it really. It caused us both a lot of grief at the time, but in the end we handled it together which just set the path.
After things settled for a while it was a fairly uneventful time. Asani and I spent a lot of time together when she wasn't in Ireland or other states. In what would be an important event she interned in Louisiana at Minerals Management Services (MMS).
While all that was going on I got my first Graphic Design job at a little, local print shop. Some of you know where, but there's no reason to name it. I thought it was great for a short period, but it became obvious soon that one of the owners had issues and wasn't happy with anything I did. It's hard to get things done right when people won't tell you what they expect, and give you half the information you need. In the end I feel it was more to do with her figuring out I was of a different religions system than her. Her dad was a preacher so she had a weird sort of obligation to her faith that I think drove her to be hateful while putting on a smile. Whatever the reason, I learned to hate it there very quickly. By the time I ended that job I had almost lost hope of being happy in any print industry job even if I stayed in design. I stuck with it and over time got an apartment, moving Asani and her son Aiden in.
In December Asani had graduated. We looked into many options for her to go to grad school, and had been happiest with options in the New Orleans area. Well, that was before the storm of course, but in the end MMS wanted her to come back to work with them and the schools still wanted her as well so we didn't give up the hope.
On January 1st, 2006 we were legally married. Not something I was ever sure I would do, especially so soon... but circumstances were right.
It's strange looking back, at how fast everything went by. Soon we were heading to Florida to stay for a while with my father-in-law while looking for a place to live in Louisiana close enough for her to attend work and school. This was quite a challenge of course. Jobs here are EVERYWHERE, but housing is scarce. In typical fashion things opened up when the time was right, and we got a townhouse that is perfect for us.
I applied for a job right after we got here. I had one interview with them that day, and another with the head boss the day after. It didn't take them long to call and tell me I could start as soon as I was ready. I thought it was because they were desperate, but I saw later the stack of people I beat out for the job... I was impressed with myself then. I was very weary since it was also a print place, and MUCH bigger than what I had been facing before. However, the people make all the difference. I love this job. It doesn't challenge me much, but overall it rocks. I get payed well, people I work with respect me and are fun, and in general it doesn't stress me out at all. After my first two weeks my supervisor told me I was doing great and that he'd talk to the head boss after my 30 day mark about getting me a raise. That should be coming up on Monday or in the next week sometime I guess. :)
Well, that's most of it in a quick recap. Aiden just started Pre-K school, which is fun to watch. He's quite a character, and keeps me laughing on a regular basis. Asani and I have a steady comfort in stability and growing together. It's really a different life than what I had been used to, but things really seem to be at home... and peaceful (other than the occasional screaching rug-rat *L*.) Of course I have better financial standing than I ever had before. It's nice to have things like health insurance, a washer and dryer, and the whole array of cool gadgets that established adults come to own. I'm just waiting for a day when I have a garage and/or studio area to play in. Maybe in a few more years. We'll see where things go from here.
I try not to dwell to much on what has gone by. Sometimes when I think back I still get so upset by things, but I realized there was a lof of good there too. I needed to let myself be reminded of that and that I needed to let go to get some things back. I think after a transitional phase I'm trying to balance the past and present aspects of my personality... without getting cynical all over again. Though things are well on the surface, perfecting the internal takes more and is a delicate act to sustain. That's part of why I am resurrecting my journal, reconnecting with people, and trying to restore my creative drive as well. Well, now I'm just rambling. Time to sleep...