Good day to you all, one and all, my sweet and beloved watchers and friends.

The last few months since my last journal have been a roller coaster, yes indeed. Enough of one that, were I prone to such, I swear would have put me in a hospital from too much excitement.

Currently, I am fast approaching my 54th birthday IRL, that being the 21st of September, the approach of which endlessly reminds me of my slowly advancing age and physical conditions, which have little improved over the years. My identification situation, thank all the gods, has drastically improved in that time - as when I last journaled, I was still fighting with Social Security to correct an error in my records. Not only has that been fixed, but alongside that, thanks to some aid, I now also happen to have a proper state-issued non-drivers ID, a matter which I'd long despaired of having in my life.

On the employment front, at the end of April, just dipping into May, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself employed in a seasonal job at a fairly large chain store outlet - West Marine. The location was highly sub-optimal, though, necessitating a 3 hour haul out to the middle of Long Island, and another such haul back at the end of the work day, a transit that cost me nearly $45.00 each day. Needless to say, for a slightly above minimum wage job, this was at best exhausting and sub-optimal, but was the only job I could find. This even more fortuitous as it was unexpected - I had accompanied a friend to their interview there, fell asleep in the car as their 15 minutes became a 2 hour long interview, only to be woken by said friend viciously pounding on the door of the car and informing my that I needed to wake up immediately, as I had an interview with the manager. Luck came of it, and I got the job.

Sadly, this leads me to the fact that said job is highly seasonal, stretching from May to September, and then leaves one employed and on the books, but with no hours on the schedule, from September early to May late.

This leads me up to the current - technically employed, with no hours, and once again hunting a job to fill in the gaps. With the combination of transportation expense having drained my coffers, and lack of hours draining them worse, I am headed again into deep financial straits, which I shall shortly be in, as rent yet again shall come due, and I can only defer that so long. I am grievously displeased with the NYC employment situation, though am also keenly aware that my age hurts me terribly. Hopefully things will look up and I shall find something rapidly, or else I shall again be in the unpleasant and horrible situation of begging for aid. I do not at all relish the thought of that, no, not at all.

The depressing job and monetary situation aside, I am in passable though by no means excellent health, and not quite likely to keel over dead unexpectedly, so there is that as a positive note.

And I do believe that this brings folk up to date on my current state of health, affairs, et cetera for the time being. As always, I thank all of those who read these words for their time, efforts, friendship, and good will. Much love to you all, and may you be treated well by fate and fortune now and forever more!

Yours all,

Mika