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a monthly check-in(?).
Sep. 29th, 2026 02:35 pmschool and work have ramped up quite an insane amount (if it wasn't obvious from me once again not posting here) and i am feeling... a bit tired! but also rejuvenated! i miss my free time, and i miss making as much money as i used to (especially for how constantly busy i am), and it's always daunting to remember that i am still in the somewhat early stages of getting to the finish line, but i also feel great. i feel happier and friendlier and more like myself. i don't think i'd feel this way if i were still in an office job.
august finished without much fanfare; i turned 33 and was mostly lowkey about it, only celebrating with a small dinner with friends plus a cake that they kindly supplied! at first i'd considered a party, then a themed dinner, both with a larger group, but as the date approached i found myself more and more exhausted just thinking about it (starting school plus two jobs probably didn't help). so i was happy to keep it small. my brother also had me over for dinner a few days later and cooked for me - i feel he's more into these heartfelt gestures as he gets older, which i'm secretly very happy about. also, it was nice to spend time with everyone before school really started ramping up. somehow i've already finished my first block of exams - and somehow passed quite easily. (how this second exam block season is going is another story.)
in september toni began the low-and-slow active process towards homeownership. i'm very proud of her for being able to get to this point 1) on her own! and 2) in a region as expensive as this. it's been very exciting, even for me, since i will be shipping off to wherever she ends up. but the prospect of moving has been giving me more anxiety than i let on. after living in the same area for fifteen years it's hard to imagine being somewhere new. add on school and the fact that i'd need to commute to both of my jobs...! i have to make it work regardless, so i'm just praying i can pull it off. but at the same time, i'm ready. the amount of new environments i've had to adjust to in the last year have primed me well for a big change like this.
other september honorable mentions:
- i saw bigbang live! it's kind of unbelievable that i've been listening to them for almost twenty years, and to commemorate i decided to see them two nights in a row. needless to say i was absolutely dead after, but managed to recover enough to make it through work and school every day the following week. i'll probably never do that again.
- went camping for the last time this season! i had to study for an exam while i was out there and could only get my class slides to work on my laptop, which sucked a little bit of the joy out of it. but apart from that it was very fun to do some camp cooking, some light hiking, and some reading (which i never get around to). i also had a tent to myself, since toni was sick and stayed in her own. so that was a little luxurious.
- impromptu dinner with qloworkers! noel is not often in town, and when he does pop on over it's always with less than 24 hours' notice. fortunately i was free this time, and as always he kindly acted as my chauffeur (which always gives us extra time to catch up - now that i'm back in healthcare we have endless fodder to talk about). we met up with julian and his new girlfriend at the mall (she was extremely sweet and i hope she sticks around!), then met up with josh for dinner. he had a weekslong on-and-off stint in the hospital, so it was a relief to see him healthy again. noel covered dinner - a relief to my wallet but a guilt to me. someday i will do the same!
- finally found a chance to go home and see my parents! it's been hard to find time and also the mental strength to make that long drive. but it was worth it (obviously). we went to lunch and did some shopping (even dad - who rarely buys things it seems), then tried this hawaiian shaved ice pop-up that's only in town through the end of the month. even just sitting around taking turns getting brain freeze was a good salve for the nervous system. then i drove mom to her overnight shift to watch grandma on my way back to my apartment. fingers crossed i will be living much closer soon and will have to make less of an arduous trek.
i'm in between classes right now, then getting dinner tonight with allison and my sister. a fitting culmination to the month, convening with my sisters who keep my sanity in check (missing toni - for now!). hopefully, october is just as simple...
august finished without much fanfare; i turned 33 and was mostly lowkey about it, only celebrating with a small dinner with friends plus a cake that they kindly supplied! at first i'd considered a party, then a themed dinner, both with a larger group, but as the date approached i found myself more and more exhausted just thinking about it (starting school plus two jobs probably didn't help). so i was happy to keep it small. my brother also had me over for dinner a few days later and cooked for me - i feel he's more into these heartfelt gestures as he gets older, which i'm secretly very happy about. also, it was nice to spend time with everyone before school really started ramping up. somehow i've already finished my first block of exams - and somehow passed quite easily. (how this second exam block season is going is another story.)
in september toni began the low-and-slow active process towards homeownership. i'm very proud of her for being able to get to this point 1) on her own! and 2) in a region as expensive as this. it's been very exciting, even for me, since i will be shipping off to wherever she ends up. but the prospect of moving has been giving me more anxiety than i let on. after living in the same area for fifteen years it's hard to imagine being somewhere new. add on school and the fact that i'd need to commute to both of my jobs...! i have to make it work regardless, so i'm just praying i can pull it off. but at the same time, i'm ready. the amount of new environments i've had to adjust to in the last year have primed me well for a big change like this.
other september honorable mentions:
- i saw bigbang live! it's kind of unbelievable that i've been listening to them for almost twenty years, and to commemorate i decided to see them two nights in a row. needless to say i was absolutely dead after, but managed to recover enough to make it through work and school every day the following week. i'll probably never do that again.
- went camping for the last time this season! i had to study for an exam while i was out there and could only get my class slides to work on my laptop, which sucked a little bit of the joy out of it. but apart from that it was very fun to do some camp cooking, some light hiking, and some reading (which i never get around to). i also had a tent to myself, since toni was sick and stayed in her own. so that was a little luxurious.
- impromptu dinner with qloworkers! noel is not often in town, and when he does pop on over it's always with less than 24 hours' notice. fortunately i was free this time, and as always he kindly acted as my chauffeur (which always gives us extra time to catch up - now that i'm back in healthcare we have endless fodder to talk about). we met up with julian and his new girlfriend at the mall (she was extremely sweet and i hope she sticks around!), then met up with josh for dinner. he had a weekslong on-and-off stint in the hospital, so it was a relief to see him healthy again. noel covered dinner - a relief to my wallet but a guilt to me. someday i will do the same!
- finally found a chance to go home and see my parents! it's been hard to find time and also the mental strength to make that long drive. but it was worth it (obviously). we went to lunch and did some shopping (even dad - who rarely buys things it seems), then tried this hawaiian shaved ice pop-up that's only in town through the end of the month. even just sitting around taking turns getting brain freeze was a good salve for the nervous system. then i drove mom to her overnight shift to watch grandma on my way back to my apartment. fingers crossed i will be living much closer soon and will have to make less of an arduous trek.
i'm in between classes right now, then getting dinner tonight with allison and my sister. a fitting culmination to the month, convening with my sisters who keep my sanity in check (missing toni - for now!). hopefully, october is just as simple...
