What is UP my dudes. Haven't posted a proper update journal since the end of 2017.
2018 was terrible. Someone very close to my partner passed away, and he then had a major family crisis, but they have pulled out the better for it. After 17.5 years, my oldest, loving bird passed away. My job drained the everloving fuck out of me. Depression was high. There were a few nice things that sustained me - my amazing partner (who also gifted me with a ring (just a ring) that he made himself); crushing short story writing goals/submissions (wrote and submitted more new short stories/content than in the years prior), playing through the original Mass Effect Trilogy with the bf (we regret we took so long), and the arrival of a beautiful new pet bird (who reminded me day in, day out of my old bird who passed - like her soul came back).
2018 overall was fucking difficult and I don't want to talk about it much more. 2019 by proxy has been mixed as fuck with some incredible moments and some despairing ones.
My job was destroying me and I felt very unappreciated. I was crying at my desk by the end because of the stress of the workplace. In March 2019, one of my short stories was shortlisted in a writing competition, which was friggin crazy and I am so very grateful! in April 2019, I had my first solid two weeks leave from that job (ever! Because I've always got migraines!) and saw Uluru, which was special in of itself. Not sure if I would ever go back, the flies were absolutely chaotic.
In June 2019, I finally left my old job - and learnt in the end, I was appreciated, though people didn't realise how much work I actually did - and got a new one in a company that is very, very caring. This included a paid for trip to Chicago, USA, for training. That in of itself was an amazing experience, and I also met a longtime online friend - wish I had more time to meet more people, though, given the length of the trip.
And then... I came back to learn the beautiful new pet bird I got in 2018 had passed away due to illness, on the very day I started the new job (the time, even). July 2019 started hard, and ended hard. A few weeks later, my grandmother was hospitalised and began deteriorating very quickly, even though I only saw her for our birthdays a month earlier where she was better. In her time in hospital, another one of my short stories found success - it became one of ten winners, that will be actually published in an upcoming anthology. My mind = BLOWN. Two days later? My grandmother passed away - the final direct link to my overseas heritage.
What. A. Month. The last month has been an absolute whirlwind. I am still struggling to cope.I haven't drawn as much as I used to or worked on subsidiary projects due to everything going on. Hoping I can turn that around for the rest of the year.
Hope all is well with you guys. I'll post the anthology book link soon once everything is finalised. Take care.