2011
2011's not even over it, but I'm over it.
Last October, I quit my job and went on the best road trip I've ever taken. I drove west to Seattle, South through Portland, then kinda cut over through lower Idaho and South through Salt Lake City to Tucson, then on to Albuquerque for a bit. Lesson learned - don't make too many plans, just take things as they come.
Started a new job in April that I love, although it is stressful, and it's pushing my limits. I am respected, and I love that. It actually feels like a grown up job! The company is Fiserv. I used to work for a competitor - Metavante, which then became part of Fidelity. My job is a constant push to stay in control of my ever-growing pile of bank issues, and I've now been given the lead support role for our Mobiliti product - phone banking, via SMS, APP, and WAP.
My dad's mom died, and we knew it was coming, but it just happened quicker than anyone expected. A second uncle, or great uncle of mine also passed, and his wife will probably pass some time in 2012.
My mom went crazy, possibly because of a combination of prescriptions, which caused the topic of her prescription drug abuse to be discussed. For as long as I can remember, there's always been a closet in the house that had any pill you needed. That did not end well, and it's still not resolved or good or even talked about any more. She got her prescriptions sorted out and she's much more level now. At the peak of it all, she discovered that one of her credit cards had become compromised, and she knew that terrorists were using it to buy weapon making materials, and they were going to blow up a plane that my sister was about to get on, so she called the cops at 4 in the morning. What. The. Fuck. My dad's mom died a few days after that, or a week after that, so I went to Albuquerque to stay with her while my dad and sister went to the funeral, somewhere deep in Southwest Texas. Very dusty. And hot.
During all of this, a woman that my dad dated in High School re-found him. She is showing interest in him, and I think that this new interest has made my dad realize that he's been trapped in a marriage for over 45 years, somewhat existing but not flourishing for many years, possibly over a decade. My mom is hard to deal with. So as of 2 days ago, Thursday evening, my dad has decided that he wants a divorce, and I guess he's been seeing this woman for roughly 3 or 4 months. Everyone assumed they'd be together until one of them died. I believe they even bought side-by-side burial plots up in the Upper Peninsula, waiting for their bodies. What happens now? Do they divorce? Does my mom move back to the UP, closer to her family? Does my dad sell the Albuquerque house and live in the farm he owns in Post, Texas?
I am doing aight, although the divorce news is hitting me a lot harder than my Grandmother's death. I've been diabetic since I was 24, and that's aight, although it's not as controlled as it should be. I've got something fibromyalgeaish that's pretty much under control. I'm feeling pretty good lately, although managing stress has gotten quite hard. I'm drinking less, I'm going out less, I'm not spending as much money, all very good things! Was pondering a few trips in 2012 - Portland, Albuquerque, Raleigh/Durham, but it's all up in the air. No one knows what will happen tomorrow, much less next year. I would love to go to Santa Fe's version of Burning Man, called Zozobra, to say goodbye to some bad times, but that's not until September, so I've got time to work that out.
Milwaukee's pretty comfortable. It's affordable, I love where I live, although I need to get more involved/out in our neighborhood in 2012. I love my job, and I've impressed a few people, and I would love to grow with the company. We shall see.
That's it. 2011 can fuck off, mostly, but it has left me with some good stories. Thanks y'all!
Last October, I quit my job and went on the best road trip I've ever taken. I drove west to Seattle, South through Portland, then kinda cut over through lower Idaho and South through Salt Lake City to Tucson, then on to Albuquerque for a bit. Lesson learned - don't make too many plans, just take things as they come.
Started a new job in April that I love, although it is stressful, and it's pushing my limits. I am respected, and I love that. It actually feels like a grown up job! The company is Fiserv. I used to work for a competitor - Metavante, which then became part of Fidelity. My job is a constant push to stay in control of my ever-growing pile of bank issues, and I've now been given the lead support role for our Mobiliti product - phone banking, via SMS, APP, and WAP.
My dad's mom died, and we knew it was coming, but it just happened quicker than anyone expected. A second uncle, or great uncle of mine also passed, and his wife will probably pass some time in 2012.
My mom went crazy, possibly because of a combination of prescriptions, which caused the topic of her prescription drug abuse to be discussed. For as long as I can remember, there's always been a closet in the house that had any pill you needed. That did not end well, and it's still not resolved or good or even talked about any more. She got her prescriptions sorted out and she's much more level now. At the peak of it all, she discovered that one of her credit cards had become compromised, and she knew that terrorists were using it to buy weapon making materials, and they were going to blow up a plane that my sister was about to get on, so she called the cops at 4 in the morning. What. The. Fuck. My dad's mom died a few days after that, or a week after that, so I went to Albuquerque to stay with her while my dad and sister went to the funeral, somewhere deep in Southwest Texas. Very dusty. And hot.
During all of this, a woman that my dad dated in High School re-found him. She is showing interest in him, and I think that this new interest has made my dad realize that he's been trapped in a marriage for over 45 years, somewhat existing but not flourishing for many years, possibly over a decade. My mom is hard to deal with. So as of 2 days ago, Thursday evening, my dad has decided that he wants a divorce, and I guess he's been seeing this woman for roughly 3 or 4 months. Everyone assumed they'd be together until one of them died. I believe they even bought side-by-side burial plots up in the Upper Peninsula, waiting for their bodies. What happens now? Do they divorce? Does my mom move back to the UP, closer to her family? Does my dad sell the Albuquerque house and live in the farm he owns in Post, Texas?
I am doing aight, although the divorce news is hitting me a lot harder than my Grandmother's death. I've been diabetic since I was 24, and that's aight, although it's not as controlled as it should be. I've got something fibromyalgeaish that's pretty much under control. I'm feeling pretty good lately, although managing stress has gotten quite hard. I'm drinking less, I'm going out less, I'm not spending as much money, all very good things! Was pondering a few trips in 2012 - Portland, Albuquerque, Raleigh/Durham, but it's all up in the air. No one knows what will happen tomorrow, much less next year. I would love to go to Santa Fe's version of Burning Man, called Zozobra, to say goodbye to some bad times, but that's not until September, so I've got time to work that out.
Milwaukee's pretty comfortable. It's affordable, I love where I live, although I need to get more involved/out in our neighborhood in 2012. I love my job, and I've impressed a few people, and I would love to grow with the company. We shall see.
That's it. 2011 can fuck off, mostly, but it has left me with some good stories. Thanks y'all!