Job!

I'm so happy to have found a job today! I got the call earlier this morning asking if I was still looking, and I can't wait to start on Monday. It's not my dream job, but it's work, and right now, that's what I need. I’m hoping to catch up on everything and even save up a bit for when I eventually make the move to Denver. If I can save enough for a first month's rent, last month's rent, and a $500 emergency fund before I move, I’ll be thrilled.

I’ve decided that this move is my "make it move." Leaving Tuscaloosa, Alabama, marked the time for me to grow up and buckle down, which is exactly what I’m doing. From now on, it’s all about hard work every day. I need to finish school, land a good job, and become financially independent—so I never have to rely on anyone else for help again, if possible.

But before any of that, my main priority is my mom. She’s having kidney surgery on the 12th, and I’m terrified, despite everyone telling me she’s going to be fine. She’s one of my best friends, and my dad's everything, so she has to pull through and recover fully. She’s an amazing woman and deserves all the prayers and good wishes in the world. Please keep her in your thoughts!

By the way, still loving the West! It’s amazing here—the views are breathtaking, and the people have been so kind. Everyone waves and says hello like they’ve known you forever. It’s kind of like a creepy version of Pleasantville out here, haha. One thing I’ve noticed: I am way overdressed every day. I don’t even know how to explain it, but let’s be clear—I’m not changing for anyone. I’ll continue to be overdressed for me—and we all know, nice jeans and t-shirts are still a thing, right?

The West

I am absolutely loving the West. Wyoming is breathtaking—mountains, valleys, and endless open roads everywhere you look. I can't stop admiring the landscape. It's so different from everything I've known, and the weather is unpredictable yet always pleasant. Yesterday, I was job hunting, enjoying the sunshine in temperatures around the 60s. Then today, I woke up to a full day of snowfall, with the entire town blanketed in white. It's simply amazing.

I do miss the city and the hustle and bustle of people coming and going, but this peaceful atmosphere is exactly what I need right now. I feel like the West might be where I was meant to be. Perhaps this is God's way of showing me that you never know what will happen when you follow your heart and embrace your sense of adventure.

I'm really excited to get back into school and finish my degree. Once that's underway and I have some bills paid off, I'll settle in Denver, Colorado as planned. If all goes well, I hope to land a job at one of the city's great hospitals, either as an X-ray Tech or CNA.

My future feels wide open now that I've let go of all the negative people and places that held me back from reaching my potential. I've also shed a lot of bad habits. Self-doubt will no longer be allowed to control me, especially not from others or myself!

Tuscaloosa Tornado

My heart goes out to everyone in the Southeast. My former community of Tuscaloosa, AL, was hit extremely hard by a tornado on April 27, 2011. It destroyed much of the city and tragically took several lives. I was fortunate enough to have moved just two days before the storm hit. The house I was renting, along with the street I lived on, was destroyed. So far, I’ve been lucky to not hear any devastating news regarding the loss of friends or loved ones.

I'm relieved everyone I care about is safe, and I wish I could be there to offer support and volunteer. I have no doubt that the city and my friends will rebuild and emerge stronger from this tragedy. What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger. I know my friends and family have Crimson blood and Roll Tide spirit.

I’m sending my thoughts, prayers, and love to all of you. If anyone needs anything, I’m always here. Roll Tide, and God bless!  

Recap on the past few months!

Apologies for the long hiatus since my last update—lots has happened in the meantime.

I recently moved out of the house I was renting from a friend (definitely a win), and found a new place closer to town with another friend. At first, it seemed like a great idea, but by the end, I was ready to be done. I used to joke that he was "the little sister I never wanted," and after living with him, I realized just how true that was. We’re still friends, but I know we’ll never be as close as we once were. I’m not here to badmouth anyone, though, so if that’s what you’re hoping for, you can stop reading now. You can just call me if you want the details—it’s faster that way. 😉

Anyway, after five months of living with him, I was done with the new lease agreement and, honestly, the state of Alabama. I’ve had plans to move to Colorado for years, and it felt like the right time to make a big change. With my dad’s 60th birthday coming up, and my mom needing surgery (which is important for context), I knew it was time to act.

My parents are like my best friends, and I’d do anything for them. Two weeks ago, on a Thursday, my sister called to let me know that she and her family were driving out to Wyoming for Dad’s birthday. I was having a rough morning at work, so during my early lunch break, I called my mom and said I’d join them for Dad’s celebration and stay a while. She was on board, so I told my sister I’d be at her house by 4 p.m. to drive with her.

I returned to work, quit my job, and began packing. After 27 hours of driving with my sister, I spent a week in Wyoming enjoying the mountains and quality time with my parents. Sadly, I had to return to Alabama for a week to pack my belongings and turn off the cable and power (which might explain why my former roommate hasn’t texted me since I left, but I had to do what was best for me).

Now, I’m in Wyoming, smiling and planning my future in the West. I’m so excited to start fresh. As a friend once said, Alabama is like the song Hotel California—you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. Well, guess what? I left, and I don’t plan on coming back! I’ll miss my friends, of course, but we have Facebook, phones, and video chat. I’ll be just fine. I like to think of it as giving everyone a chance to come visit my sexy self and see some amazing places.

My next step is clear—job and school are the priorities. From there, it’s onward to Colorado. I’m hoping to land a job back in a hospital and finish up my Radiology Tech degree. Here’s hoping the West will bring all the opportunities I’m looking for!

A word of caution: Never rent from a friend. Trust me, it will end badly.

I’m currently renting a house from someone I thought was a good friend, but after five months, it’s become clear that this “friend” has really taken advantage of me. Here’s how it all started:

I was offered the house for $500 a month, which seemed like a great deal at the time. I was told that an account would be set up for easy rent payments and that select furniture would be distributed around the house. The rest was to be stored in the attic, the landlord’s bedroom, and the basement. The neighbors’ landscaper was supposed to mow the yard, but that idea was scrapped by the landlord’s father just before I moved in. Unfortunately, none of these things were ever done.

While the house itself has potential—good basement, lots of storage space, and a generally warm feel—it was completely cluttered with what my landlord claims are antiques. Maybe they once were, but now they’re just broken-down, filthy items that should’ve been tossed. The so-called silver collection he’s so proud of? Tarnished, silver-plated junk that no one would pay more than $40 for.

When I moved in, the house was filthy. There was mold everywhere, rotten food dating back to 2000 in the fridge and pantry, and it took me days to clean it all up. The bathroom floor in the spare bathroom had dried cat litter, and the whole house smelled stale, like old lady perfume. I had to air the place out for three days and use a ton of air freshener to get rid of the smell.

Now that I’ve finally cleaned up the house, my so-called landlord/friend has decided to complain about it. I was told tonight that I’m not a renter, but a “house sitter,” and I’m only allowed to use my room, the guest room, and the kitchen. I’m not supposed to decorate anything except my room.

A few weeks ago, I had some friends over after redecorating the house (which I was told I could do) to show it off. Everyone was amazed by how great it looked and how nice the house smelled. It actually felt like my home—which, by the way, is what a rental property should feel like for the renter.

But now, my landlord wants it to look exactly as it did when he left it, cluttered and messy. So, I’ll be putting everything back as it was and won’t be cleaning any more. Let him come back to his pigsty of a house.

I understand now why no one knew who he was or where he lived—no one wants to deal with his crazy behavior. I’ll stick to my designated areas in the house until I’m done with my "house sitting" duties. Once that’s over, I’m cutting ties with everyone involved. Good riddance to filth and trash.

October Peace, Love, & Life

October is a month full of great things, like Halloween parties, festivals, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating. But it's also a time to reflect on important causes, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge some that I’ve participated in this month.

So far, we’ve had the Gathering on the Mound at the University of Alabama, Spirit Day, and today, the "It Gets Better" video shoot on the steps of Gorgas Hall—all events I’m proud to have taken part in.

The Gathering on the Mound was organized by the Spectrum group at UA and provided members of the GLBT community a chance to share their coming-out stories. It was a powerful reminder that it’s okay to be who you are, and that things truly do get better. I’m grateful for the strength I gained by sharing my own story as an openly out member of the GLBT community.

Spirit Day was a nationwide event where participants wore purple to raise awareness about the teen suicide epidemic caused by bullying. It was also a day to remember young gay teens who lost their lives far too soon. It was amazing to see so many people come together in support of this cause.

That same night, Spectrum hosted the Are You Gay/Straight Panel, which aimed to break down stereotypes. A diverse panel of gay, bi, and straight people answered questions from the audience, and at the end, the audience guessed the sexual orientations of the panelists. I had the opportunity to surprise the crowd by sharing that I am bisexual, with a preference for men but also enjoying time with women.

Today, I’m excited to take part in the "It Gets Better" video shoot at Gorgas Hall. This video will be added to the Trevor Project’s "It Gets Better" website, offering hope to teens and young adults struggling with their identities. We want them to know that no matter what they’re going through, it does get better—and there is always someone willing to lend a helping hand.

Lastly, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remember the friends, family, and loved ones we’ve lost to this disease. I encourage everyone to support the fight for a cure. On October 29th, join the Pinking Out Movement by wearing pink to show your support. If you don't have pink, you can still help raise awareness—change your profile picture, spread the word, or do whatever you can to show that we’re in this fight together.

Let’s make this October a wonderful pink and purple month! God bless you all.

Watch the "It Gets Better" video here

Crush

I don’t know why I do this to myself. I always end up crushing on people who are either out of my league or simply wouldn’t work in the long run. Don’t get me wrong—I love the thrill of a crush, the chase, and the potential for a fun, new connection. But it’s funny how every time I get that excited, googly-eyed feeling, it’s for one of two types:

1. The confident, sexy partier who always leads to trouble and can’t be tamed.
2. The clean-cut, sweet, country type who’s perfect for introducing to mom, but too much of a goody-goody to handle my wild side.

I guess it doesn’t matter, though, since I’m too shy to approach either of the two people I’m crushing on right now. I can’t believe I’m admitting I’m shy—maybe it’s more that I’m scared. I really hate rejection.