Hi! I'm sorry it's been so long since my last entry. 16 days or so. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your messages Kashi and Esmerelda and Mrjube.

I'll try to give you a short (for me) update.

On moving day I had to recruit my exbf Todd. He brought his finacee and his youngest daughter. They were only able to help with the first load - which consisted of the big/awkward/too heavy for one person things. It was a little awkward at first with his fiancee, but we got along fine. We made another load later in the day by ourselves. I fell into bed that night completely exhausted.

The next day we had more stuff to get out, so we had to do another load. Both of us were majorly dragging bu** but we managed to get it done without getting rained on (we had several downpours happen throughout the day).

I spent three days and numerous hours of frustration trying to get the Dish Satelite service working. Finally I had my dad talk to them, and by the time I got back from my Pathways weekend, we had satelite!

The Pathways weekend was ... well ... good and bad. Essentially they try to help you get to your deeper emotions/feelings through one on one groups, small groups of 5 - 7 people, and then the larger group sessions of ~40 people. My group leader didn't think I was working "deep" enough at one point and I was almost asked to leave. It frustrated me to no end that I kept getting called on having a smile on my face when I was concentrating on NOT having a smile (which truly is natural for me!) At any rate, overall I do think I got a lot out of it, and am actually going back for the second part tomorrow which lasts five days (and costs up the wazoo!)

I've been pounding the pavement half-heartedly looking for work. I haven't had any luck yet.

I am almost at the point where I have decided that after this second part of Pathways is over (called The Walk) that I am going to get serious about heading on out to Lincoln, NE. I feel like I am stagnating by staying here, and need to do something to get a move on with my life. I also am worried about how fast my "take this job' fund is being depleted, and feel like I need to do something serious to get it going back in the right direction.

I haven't been keeping track of my spending at all lately. It's difficult to track spending when I'm not totally in control of what bills are coming in. I know I just need to get 'r done.

I'm having to use my dad's computer as well as using dial-up which is part of the reason I haven't gotten back here in so long. I promise to do better in the future.

Trying again to ...

Keeping It Frugal In Texas,
Laura