That's probably gonna need some explaining.
Honestly, I can't believe I didn't update this around this time LAST YEAR. Cuz um, that's when I got down on one knee and proposed to Neil. 2017 was a really good year for our relationship, which he acknowledged was a real, genuine thing that summer. We vacationed to Vegas on our motorcycles, finally started having regular sex again, even attended a wedding for an online friend of his. I'd been evaluating his "readiness" for months, and with nothing to really lose, I bought him a fancy 24-hour watch on a leather band. Considered doing the proposal on Thanksgiving proper, because as it turns out I convinced my folks to drive over to Santa Clara and have dinner with the Klopers, so both sets of folks were there plus his aunt and uncle (Matt and Val), but ultimately decided against it because I didn't think it'd be the most comfortable environment for him. Instead I waited until the following weekend when we were camping at Pinnacles. Despite having imagined the moment over and over and over in my head in preparation, actually doing it was a lot harder than I'd've guessed, but yeah hahaha. I'm officially one of those rare beings that's both been proposed to and proposed to someone else. wink
Btw, he didn't initially say yes. But he also didn't say no. After gawking for two solid minutes, he shut the box and said he wanted to talk about it. He spent some time thinking, but by the next month the deal was pretty sealed so, yeah, I have a fiancé, and have, for like a year now. LOL. Also we purchased me a fancy new ring with six little sparkly diamonds in it around New Years, so I could also have something to signify the relationship. Got it a size down from the previous one, but it's still a little loose, oops.
On a similar note, I suppose, the divorce finally went through like all the way and Mike and I are officially separated as of September 26th of this year. surprised Which means I'm actually legally allowed to marry Neil. rofl Aren't. In fact, we still haven't even picked a date; a combination of his quasi-commitment and me not bothering to pressure him cuz I like alimony and erm... well, it's probably fine to state that outright (doubtful Khalida Nyoka is gonna be logging in any time soon [I think this may be the first year I entirely forgot about the Gaia Halloween event... sad Thankfully, the shops are still handing out candy, despite it being the 13th. o_O]). Mind you, I hadn't received that alimony the majority of this year because Flex, in all their brilliance (and I'm gonna brag I saw this coming a mile away when I attended one of their talks at SJSU) had to downsize operations and Mike was one of the MANY people they laid off. Mike, being Mike, didn't exactly get on top of things right away, and he didn't get a job until fairly recently (also September), but at least when he did he did a good job of it, cuz now he's working at Facebook. He also got an offer to work at Apple and got to negotiate with each of them (jelly much?). So yeah, even though "renegotiation" of the alimony is set for 2019, I'm gonna argue to stick at the $2k a month until he's supplied all 10 months of "backpay." Hopefully won't have to argue much if at all though; I was really chill about getting diddly-squat for 10 months, which involved a lot of skrimping and eventually asking Neil for what amounted to $1600 total just to not dip into savings to pay for bills. Gotta love underemployment.
This whole can of worms needs a new paragraph, lol. Moving couldn't have come at hardly a better time. Neil's folks had been on a waiting list for a housing development up north in Sebastapol and finally got "their dreamhome" in May, which meant they were only going to occupy the Santa Clara residence part-time. They wanted someone in it and we wanted cheap rent, so we moved in. It's (mostly) nice. The extra room to spread out is phenomenal (I don't think I've ever had enough wall space to put up everything I own surprised ), and can't argue with just $900 a month. Julie can be incredibly annoying (this week I'm supremely lucky that David is on a business trip and she decided to stay up north the entire time TwT) because she'll talk on and on about things that could hardly concern me less. o_O But thankfully she often spends the late mornings with her own mother, which gives me room to breathe and time to study.
And see, that's another subject. Cuz Jesus Christ, I'm nearly halfway through my MBA program. I've learned a lot, had great classes and had horrible classes (currently coping with one of the most horrible-- Finance with Campsey *eats gun*), even made friends (Sam and Taylor I'd like to keep as long-term friends, but I get along with most of what I refer to as my "part-time pals"-- approximately ten of us who are on the 3-year track and started in 2017). I've already collected all 90 points required for SVE, and I nabbed an extra elective over the summer and this fall session. I've just kind of had the spare time. I'm not sure what to say about it, because it certainly hasn't opened any doors for my career-- I'm still working at SAP for the Sharks (and still at $15 an hour, which by now is a sore point) and I worked HAUNT a second time (kudos goes to Sergio for sneaking me back into CGA's employ, if only during the spooky part of the season). And that's all I've got going for me. I've applied to tons of jobs and internships, done bunches of interviews, and have gotten 0 offers. Swell, huh? I'm still pretty bitter.
That said, I've still managed to cultivate some decent savings. I recently opened a Discover savings account and moved $15k into there to collect interest, because they had a good offer going. I've also got ≈$6k in stocks (mostly Ford, but also some Cedar Fair and Harley-Davidson, and I might add Target in next to further diversify said portfolio), which is ofc subject to some fluctuation, but I'm invested in those with fat dividends. Neil also recently became more "money conscious" at last, after listening to Dave Ramsey on the radio, and he's on a quest to pay off his motorcycle by the end of next year or sooner (he said he wants to be debt-free before we get married, how sweet... and Jewish, pfft). He's been keeping a spreadsheeted budget of all his expenses and everything. It's great that he's finally broken free of his paycheck-to-paycheck mentality and frivolous expenditures on motorcycle accessories. stare
But okay so where does that lead? Well, now we've made our way back to
Cuz we really can't make progress here in the Bay Area. We're never gonna be able to afford a home out here, and I want to be a homeowner and I want to have kids (btw, Neil's actually on board with that now too, so yes, a ******** of a lot has changed). So I've made peace with the "leaving my homestate of Cali" thing, and Austin, TX looks like the right place to go. It's a tech-hub (Neil could still go to school for a computer science/engineering degree), gay-friendly, lots of sunshine and warm weather, and houses are between $200-400k, such that we could afford a 20% down-payment on a 15-year mortgage. And I'd probably be able to find just as "meaningful" work there as here (especially since nothing's worked out here despite my best efforts). Right now we're in the works of planning a vaycay out that'a way with my folks, who themselves, after all, were considering moving to Texas too. The semi-firm game plan is we move out there once I complete my degree (either in summer or fall of 2020). So that gives us more time to keep saving our money for our future. heart
Also random add-ons that haven't fit in but are still of seemingly relative importance:
• My brother and Shawna got married (also Eric and Claire) and they moved to Idaho, which perhaps prompted me somewhat to consider alternatives. So far they like it, but they just got their first snow a few days ago, ahahaha. Mike met a girl at their wedding, and I tried to encourage the budding relationship, but she wasn't serious enough and so a few dates later they gave it up.
• I attended a pinstriping course in Anaheim early this year, invested in a lot of supplies, and even did a car show in August. I'm decent but could really use more practice. For awhile I was tossing around the idea of making it into a business, but my zeal for the prospect burnt out pretty quickly. Still, cool hobby to add to my ever-expanding creative repertoire.
• I got my hysterectomy. Healed stupid fast too. Even went on a 5k run three weeks out of surgery. Not having a uterus/ovaries/monthly cycle is totally bitchin'. Also means Neil and I get to enjoy unprotected sex. Also means I'm more susceptible to UTIs... >_>;; Did I mention I don't have any health insurance? I had to buy needles off eBay and am lucky I stockpiled a lot of extra testosterone. sweatdrop
• Another foolish expenditure of Neil's before he came to grips was the acquisition of an '83 Chevy Camaro, which regrettably won't likely remain in our fleet due to maintenance costs (its transmission is junk).
• Neil is also currently Acting Manager at the Fremont Schwan's depot. His boss Steve, who was overall a really decent boss, jumped ship to Aramark, which left Neil (the SOS) next in line. He's interviewed to get it for keeps but the process remains slow as to whether or not it will be given to him. Still, so proud of him for the accomplishment! Who would've guessed the one of us with just a high school diploma would be more considered for a salaried position with benefits? [insert upside-down smiley emoji from Apple]
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