This time last year I was a pile of gelatinous goo. My school had not hired me back, my master's degree teacher had threatened to kick me out of the program and I had two, maybe three people I could count on for emotional support.

THANK YOU GOD THAT THAT IS OVER WITH!!!

It makes since that when you've lived through hell, it provides some perspective. Sweet Jesu, I am so much happier now. That huge emotional weight that was on me this time last year is gone. I am happy with work, I have multiple people I can count on, and the place I live is wonderful.

I'm working on being a happy being single. The huge disadvantage is that when growing up, I was surrounded by women who were married and had kids, so all my models are irrelevant. Similarly, the problem I'm running into is that what most women talk about is family and husbands. Topics of conversation that I can't really contribute to.

I this problem is unique to smaller towns. I've got friends in Portland and New York that say the opposite is the case. They run into people their age all the time and it's rare to interact with the very old or the very young. Hmm... maybe I need to make more forays into the city.