Good stuff:
I have a surgery scheduled for November 3rd. I'm quite nervous, but also cautiously optimistic that this is a step in the right direction. I am having a partial-wrap Nissen Fundoplication performed to recreate my lower esophogael sphincter. This should, hopefully, fix the majority of my problems with acid reflux. Since I am young and have problems with dysphagia, the surgeon will only perform the partial wrap instead of the full wrap (270 degrees as opposed to 360 degrees).

The recovery time from the procedure is six weeks, so I will have a lot of down time to hunt for more jobs!

I passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam earlier in the summer, so I have been fortunate enough to receive my engineer-in-training certification from the state.

Bad stuff:
Unfortunately, my home life has only become more difficult, and is very physically and emotionally taxing.

I have been staying with my parents. My recovering-opiate-addict aunt and adult-autistic cousin have also failed to move out of my parents' house and have become a financial burden for my parents, using up what limited resources my parents already had. I do not anticipate my home life improving any time soon, so I have been working on finding a stable engineering job so that I can separate from my family. It's one of those "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" type of situations... I no longer have the energy to be the only one "trying" in the entire house.

Other stuff:
I'm still around on telegram!

(Also if my cutey buffo boyfriend is looking, I miss your face)