this site is better - xstripx.com

thank you :)

I'm doing well, and I know!
I started in October, and I've been working almost 6 days a week ever since! (Given there have been some weeks where I've missed a few days), but... On average, it's still 6! There was even one pay period in particular that I worked for 13 days straight. :( I was so exhausted by the end of it...

Happy holidays my friend!

Thank you! And, really?! I used it mostly to stay connected to people while I was on my road trip in July - September.. It was very useful to me, so I could see what my friends were up to, currently. They should be, but I'm not to worried about it.. I'll have help moving them. :) I'll be fine! No worries.

:)
Have a lovely day!

Thank you! And, I'm sure that I'll be better for Monday.. Today I just plan to relax, even though there is a lot that I'll need to complete. I'd like to get my Etsy site back up and running, and I would like to do some work on my interpals as well.. Hopefully update my Tumblr and Facebook while I'm in the process of cleaning everything up. ;) I've also learned that we're supposed to get furniture back today, so I might have to help with that.. Today has just started for me (it's 11:17 AM here), so there is much of the day left to complete.

Thank you! I will most likely send them a card.. I work Christmas Eve, (if I still have my job when I get back on Monday), and I think that my family is supposed to come visit by Christmas. I'm a little worried that it will be just like Thanksgiving though.. They kept me up so I wasn't able to sleep for work, and instead of being curious, and respectful, they were rude... I may even go as far as say obnoxious.. I'm glad that you had a lovely day in Church, and thank you for all the wishes! I hope your holiday is safe and prosperous!

I'm feeling much better. I didn't go to work last night, and slept most of the day.. I can say for sure I'll be back full time on Monday.. Plus, I can't really afford not to.

And, I'm sure that there will be a day when we get along again. We seemed to be doing fine when I wasn't in the same state as them... Let alone the same time zone. We would call every other day! I want it to be like that again (and hopefully it will be soon).. You're very welcome my friend!

Thank you my friend. And no, it's fine! I'm doing better now. Still not 100% right now (I slipped on the ice a few days ago leading up to my friend door and hit my head). Unfortunately, I don't talk to my family much anymore. The last time they came to visit, they were rude, and let me know they didn't care for me all that much. (It's not a big deal. I can move on.. I just wish they would have given me the common decency and respect, instead of disgracing me so easily).

I'm sorry that your birthday wasn't celebrated! I thought of you, though. So I hope that counts as birthday wishes. I'm glad that you're getting along with your family so well. :) It's refreshing to hear! I hope you have a lovely weekend as well! I'll be returning to work tonight after I go into town and fetch some art supplies. I hope to talk to you soon my friend! Have a wonderful day.

2. Overall, I must have accumulated somewhere around 30,000 pictures or more! In Sacramento, I was forced to put them on Luke's computer since mine crashed. (The photo's are still safe), on both computers, but I'm waiting for the USB to be sent from Australia so I can finish the editing process.

I'm still in contact with most of the people I met on my trip. I hope to take another trip in the summer (and hopefully by then, I'll be able to quit my current job as an overnight-stocker at a large corporate). And use funds I make from selling my art, or photography prints.

I did grow homesick, but that... I realized was short lived.
I can't wait to leave this town again. :)

I'm excited to be able to talk to you again! I'm sure that I'll be online more often now.. Take care my friend!

1. In July, (a few days after my birthday) I hopped on a bus to Minneapolis. From there, I traveled to Grand Rapids Michigan with two Australian companions. We stayed long enough for each of them to get tattoo's, and for me to marvel in the city. One flew to Colorado, to visit his Gran, and the other came back with me to my home town, in North Dakota. I was able to introduce him to my family and friends - and we continued on to the coast. I missed Seattle so much that we ended up there, and stayed in a Hostel (met so many interesting people there) only a few miles from the Space Needle and Fisherman's Wharf. Literally walked there everyday. It was amazing, and I hope to return there soon! (I eventually plan to live there, if, I can manage to pursue my career in art). I'd like to have a sustainable income from that before I make that large of move. From there, we went by bus to Portland. It was an experience, but.. It was amazing to finally step foot off that bus. We stayed there for a while, and ended up going down to Sacramento, CA. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to find a ride down to LA - but last minute, we did. We only had stayed one night, but there wasn't a lot in Sacramento for us.. I called up a friend of mine (which I'm connected to through interpals), and he was elated at meeting us in person. We stayed in Van Nuys, just a quick jaunt from LA at his home with his family. I loved being immersed in language, music, and his friends were amazing. We had to soon depart - and quickly traveled back to Portland by bus. My travel companion went back to Grand Rapids to help our friend (Steph, and her husband Will), move to a new apartment. I stayed in Portland for a while, before I became ill. I traveled back and forth between Eugene and Portland for a while, until I was better. Helped a friend move, and flew back home in September. Landed in Salt Lake City Utah (which was amazing to photograph from 10,000 feet).

thanks=)