It's really starting to hit home just how well a lot of things are going for me.

I mean, my job sucks, but I'm starting to learn that it's more manageable than I've been letting myself believe. It has its tough moments, sure, but after the job interview for the Grooming Trainee position at PetSmart... It's finally hit home that I know exactly what direction I want to go with my career. And while I didn't get the grooming job, the fact that I really am now 100% certain that it's my dream job has sort of made things at my current job a lot easier. I no longer feel trapped in a dead-end minimum wage job, and I see it more now as just a stepping-stone of sorts, something to keep me busy and help me put together the funds I'll need to start the program (tuition's going to cost me ~$13,000 in all, and I'd like to avoid student loans as much as possible), and I no longer feel rushed into getting out of my job and trying to force my way into the grooming thing. I'll get there when I'm ready.

I mean, obviously I'm going to keep job-hunting, but it no longer feels like a life-or-death situation, you know?

Things are going amazingly with the boyfriend, too. I've officially been living with him for a year, we haven't had a single argument, and as more time goes by I'm feeling better and better about myself. We went over to Dad's house Sunday night for a big Father's Day barbecue, where Dave met my step-grandparents for the first time and my Nan went on and on about he was her favorite. Her favorite what I'm not totally sure, but it was a very big deal to her. And Dad loves him to pieces, every time we're over there Dad's got some new gadgetty thing to show off to him and they fanboy over various game consoles and gadgets and programs and stuff. Manly tech shit. I usually tune out at this point and just play with the dog.

We're also planning a couple of big trips this summer, which I'm super excited about! Sometime in July we're going to go camping up in Gros Morne National Park, which is going to be incredible as I've always wanted to go there but never got the chance. We might try bringing a few friends along, although I wouldn't mind it being just us. <3 We're mostly doing it because we want to go on a roadtrip, and due to his mother's wedding last summer we never got the chance to go camping like we'd originally planned last year. So this year, since neither of us has anything really big going on, seems like the best chance!

And in September, we're gonna be going up to Toronto for a few days! This one I'm both excited and nervous about, both because it'll be my first time leaving the island in almost a decade, and because it's so Dave can attend a YuGiOh card tournament (he's been playing it competitively for years and is one of the best on the island... I try not to judge him). A bunch of his card friends would be going along with us for the trip, and they'd all be attending the tournament for 10 hours each day that we're up there, so a lot of that time will just be me wandering around downtown Toronto by myself... I'm trying to find a friend to come along for the trip, but it's a bit pricier and I don't know if anyone will be able to come along with me. It shouldn't be too bad though, at least! I've still got high hopes for it and I'll make it work somehow. :>

Emotionally, mentally, I'm getting into a way better place. I'm not as negative towards everyone and everything as I used to be, I'm starting to learn to open up and trust people again. I had my intake appointment/assessment at LeMarchant House two weeks ago, though my actual first appointment is on a waiting list of about seven and a half months. I was worried about it at first, sort of a "But what if something happens in all that time" sort of anxiousness, but the more I think about it the more I can handle the wait. I had a bit of a crisis back in late January/early February, and it's possible that something like that may happen again before I actually start my treatment, but I was given a list of contacts in case that happens, not to mention I have a pretty wide support system of friends and family. I'm pretty excited.

That, and I have my cat Loki who's done an amazing job of keeping my spirits up. He's so affectionate and playful, and he's starting to respond to his name now so he comes when I call him. He follows me everywhere in the house, probably because he knows that I'm the one who feeds him. :T

And in other news, production my mermaid tail has started! No progress pics yet, but Morticia's got all the paints and materials for it, and I sent her my measurements for it a little while ago she can start putting everything together. I'm really excited to see how it comes out! <3

Overall, I'm feeling really good about everything. Everything's just in this nice, comfy spot right now and I'm starting to find my pace. I'm really excited with where my life is going now, and I can't wait for things to really start coming together this summer! <3