Apologies!

Hi folks!

I'm so very sorry to have been absent from the boards so much lately, and I think you all deserve an explanation. Having read it, I hope very much to be able to share my joy with my friends here.

The past year has been massively depressing for me, and it took a while for me to realize that I was depressed and needed to change. I seemed to be failing in all aspects of life; work, personal, social, stuck in a rut that I couldn't get out of. I didn't have the means, even though I had the desire and the drive, and it was driving me crazy.

A few months ago I made a change in jobs; I took a job as a manager at my bookstore, which I hate. However, it pays the bills and was a start to getting myself out of my situation. In addition, I have still been working on my contract for the Smithsonian, which provides me extra cash flow and much-needed experience on my resume.

As a bigger change, I severed my long-time relationship with my live-in boyfriend, which had become unfruitful and unpleasant to us both as we failed to grow and change with each other like a healthy couple should. Our long-term goals had become very different; I eventually want children, he doesn't. I want another dog or two, he doesn't. I want to be married, that's not really on his radar. This list went on and on and eventually I realized it was time to stop beating my head against a wall.

So, to make a long story short I've been working like a dog at two jobs, trying to save up enough to move to another area with a lesser cost of living, getting up at 3 am in the morning, working till 2pm, coming home and working my second job from there until 5 or 6 at night. Time to write has been scarce and I have missed being here at SA greatly, but as you see, there were things I needed to do.

They say love walks in when you least expect it to, and that turned out to be true. A longtime friend of mine finally admitted to having a 'crush' on me for some time, and I don't feel any shame in admitting I returned the feelings. We've been seeing each other now for a bit, and he's asked me to marry him.

I accepted.

I hope you will all bear with me as, in the next month or two, I run around like a chicken with its head cut off, preparing to move, finding a new home, packing my belongings, tying up loose ends here in Maryland (I've agreed to move to Austin, TX where his family is -- I was looking down there anyhow as I have friends in the area), and trying to plan a wedding (Fallon, helllllp!).

I do not plan to leave SA, but my time will be limited until things settle. I know the pace of my threads has been slow and I apologize and ask that if it presents a problem, you let me know so I can withdraw gracefully. No hard feelings at all!

It's hard for me to believe life can turn around so quickly, but I'm not at all afraid and am looking forward to the future eagerly. You have all been friends to me for nearly two years now, and I hope you can continue to bide with me while I uproot myself and get situated once more.

It will be a little while before I can promise regular posting again, but I will still be around even if it's a bit limited, and I hope to be settled in Austin and planning the details of our wedding by mid-June.

As always, please feel free to message me with any and all questions! I will be happy to hand out my cell number as well, as that is a more relaiable means of contacting me for the next few weeks.