I know, I know, I've been absent for a while, but life ended up going haywire. I became disabled, had to change the entire direction of my career, bought a house, had a baby... But now I am back! I've been trying designing a few adopts, and trying to learn to draw (too shy to show results yet), and I missed my girls Lith and Andralis. But I'm here now!!

I guess if I don't update my journal it kind of makes this page look dead. It isn't, I'm just kind of busy, but I am still here. Still working, though my back problems have been making things kind of hard recently, and have been really affecting my depression. Sometimes it feels like all I do is work and sleep.

Anyway, I'm still here, still alive, and still kicking :)

Stole this from

Name: Dale
Nickname: Don't have one
Location: North Yorkshire, England
Age: 34
Height: 5ft 8
Zodiac sign: Gemini
Any pets: A cat, A Border Terrier and 8 snakes
Favorite thing about yourself: Not sure I have a favourite thing about myself
Worst habit: Smoking
Fun fact: I only have 4 toes on each foot (my pinkie toes were amputated at 18 for medical reasons)

Identity, Sexuality & Personality

Gender identity: Female.
Sexual preference: Pansexual
Romantic preference: Monogamous, but no harm in widnow shopping as long as you keep your purse shut!
"Kinsey Scale" score: 3
Relationship status: Married, and happily so.
Myers/Briggs type: INFP
Hogwarts house: No idea

Routine

"Early Bird" or "Night Owl": Night Owl
Bath or shower: Bath
First thought in the morning: Morning ALREADY?!

Last thought before falling asleep at night: Better put the book down

School/Work

Do you work or are you a student: Work in the pub trade
What do you do well: Erm.... putting myself down? If it has to be postive then I'm very good at listening and helping others.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years: I'd like to be manager or owner of my own pub.

Habits (Do you…?)

Drink: Yep
Smoke: Sadly yes. but want to give up soon
Do Drugs: No, not my thing at all
Exercise: I ry, but I work quite long hours, but being on my feet all day helps.
Have a go-to comfort food: Cake
Have a nervous habit: I chew the insdie of my mouth, or my lip.

What is your favorite…?

Physical quality (in yourself): Nothing?
In Others:Nice eyes and a nice smile.
Mental/emotional quality (in yourself): I'm a very loving person
Food: Pizza
Drink: Latte
Animal: Cats. Or maybe dogs.
Artist/Band/Group: 30 Seconds to Mars
Author/Poet: H P Lovecraft
TV Show: Doctor Who
Actor/Actress: Robert Downey Jr
Blogger: Don't really read blogs.

I'm busier with my 'new' job than I ever thought I would be. But even though I may be quiet, I am still around.

It's nearly the end of the second week of my new job, and I'm tired but I'm happy. I've had a few wobbles, having never been management before I feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants at times, and going from working 25 hours a week to 48 hours upwards is taking some getting used to, but I'm coping well. Had a migraine last weekend but I managed to do my job regardless thanks to medication.

My new snake is settling in well. She's not got a name, but then I haven't named most of my snakes, apart from Furious George, my Western Hognose. To say he's the smallest snake I own he is by far the feistiest!

Well, today has been a day of ups and downs. It started off pretty badly, as last night an ex from a long, long time ago that I had really hoped I'd left firmly in the past decided to let me know he's still an arse and watching me even though I've had nothing to do with him for 14 (!) years. It was very upsetting, and my brain being my brain I had nightmares all last night, so this morning I felt pretty much like death warmed up. Luckily it was my day off, so I could recover.

But the days gotten better, especially after I got a new baby Corn Snake, a lovely little Snow female, a morph I have always wanted (this is her http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13008298/ ). She will never replace Stripy, but I love her anyway.

Anyway, I just want all this stuff to blow over. I've work tomorrow, so I have to put it out of my mind, as no one likes a depressed barmaid.

I've finally started my new job, we spent the last week getting the place in a fit state to open (dear god the last few people in that damn pub were freaking DISGUSTING, the amount of dog muck I found in places dog muck really shouldn't be...), and we open our doors on Monday. So after a final day of running around making sure it was all perfect, I have tomorrow off to catch my breath, and then it's GO GO GO! I'm only a tiny bit terrified.

Had a bad day last week though. My 9 month old Carn Snake, the little guy from my first ever hatch I did last year, died on Thursday. He wasn't growing as he should, compared to his brother I gave to a friend of mine he was tiny, so I figured something wasn't right, but he was eating, shedding, pooping, all the things a lil snake should, and he was always fiesty and active, so I hope he was just going to be small. But it wasn't to be. I didn't do anything wrong, it happens to everyone and not all hatchlings thrive, but I was attatched to the little guy and cried my eyes out. He's burried on the moors outside my house in a little wooden box. R.I.P Stripy Dave, I'll miss you xx

So today is a big day for me. I've been at my current job in a local pub for nearly three years now. I started off as a cleaner a few days a week, but after showing interest in learning I ended up as a barmaid, and I've worked hard to learn as much as I can about my job, to the point I am trusted to close up at night and I am responsible for keeping the beer/lager lines and the cellar clean so we serve good quality beer (honestly, have you ever had a bad pint that tastes weird and smells like baby farts? That probably dirty lines, and it my job to make sure that doesn't happen). but anyway, I digress. My boss is taking over a new pub in a town a few miles away, and I'm up for the Duty Manager position. I'm sure I can do it, but I have my interview this afternoon and I am so nervous! It's with people I have worked with for years, but somehow that makes it worse. Especially as I was teasing my boss about his tacky christmas jumper only a few days ago.

I know given the chance I can do it. I'll have a lot to learn, but I KNOW I can do it, and do it well. I just have to convince my boss of that.

I've not been to many concerts. I was lucky enough to see Nightwish not long before Tarja left, and I saw Type O Negative (R.I.P Pete Steele), but other than that I've never been in a position to go to any.

Well, last night I got to see 30 Seconds to Mars in Manchester as a friend had a spare ticket. And I had the best time ever! They are one of my favourite bands, and I have to say I adore Jared Leto, and they put on a really great show. The only downside was when a drunk 17 year old girl threw up on my friends jeans, but after a quick clean up we still got to enjoy most of the show.

I really need to get to more of these things!

As a teenager I was always drawing. It started in highschool when I was about 13. I started copying manga and anime pictures during breaks at school, until then I never realised I could actually draw. After copying pictures for a while I went on to drawing my own stuff, and I loved it. Then, when I was 17 I got into a, lets just say unwise relationship and I stopped drawing. After the relationship finished a few years later I suffered from depression and a few other problems, and I never got round to picking up my pencils again, the few times I tried it just didn't turn out right.

I'm now 33, and my life is pretty much on the right track. I want to draw again, but I don't know where to start. I feel bad about copying art even if I don't post it anywhere online or claim it as my own, even though that's how I got started when I was a teenager. I don't have the spare time to go to any kind of art classes as I work evenings. I don't want to be a professional. Art for me has always been a hobby rather than a way of making money.

I'm guessing I should start drawing anything and everything. I know I really need to work on anatomy so I'll try looking at stock pictures and drawing from them. Light sources kind of confuse me too.

I don't know, I guess I never was much of an artist if I have forgotten everything like this.

I've been lurking around FA for a while, but have finally decided to join!

Not sure about my fursona yet. I love cats, but they seem a little common and I'd like something unusal. I also love snakes, but what can I say, I like fluffy fursonas. I'm thinking maybe a ferret, as I love them too. But then... I like ponies too! Ack!!

Choices, choices :)