Change (you can change)...

So, I've been gently encouraged by a certain someone (who shall remain nameless, but she knows who she is ;c)) to post a bit more often. So, here goes!

It's been an eventful few weeks in this little corner of the blogosphere. On the weather front, there was an earthquake, and a hurricane, and a loss of power for two-plus days. 

On the transition front, my sister is visiting next week, and I'm going to come out to her. I also came out to a good friend at work, who was absolutely wonderful and has been incredibly supportive. I knew she would be, but it's still a wonderful, affirming experience each time it happens.

Unfortunately, though, I have to amend that to "a good friend where I *used to* work." Because, sadly, our project was cancelled, and we, along with a number of colleagues, were laid off effective last Friday.

No layoffs are fun (I've gone through my share, having worked in high tech as a contractor), but this one is particularly sad because this was the nicest group of people I've ever worked with. And I've been fortunate in that regard. Please send some good vibes their way; these folks deserved a much, much better fate.

Ideally, my former company will be able to bring in another contract fairly soon and call back at least some of us. Failing that, I hope to land something to get me through my current lease (which, of course, I had signed the day *before* we found out the project was in trouble). If I can do that, I'll be relocating back to Seattle next spring. In hindsight I never should've left there at all, but what's done is done. No regrets, as the song goes, right? 

The timing was particularly bad because I was planning to start electrolysis this month. I was also planning to talk with M, my therapist, about a timeline to get my letter. I still plan on asking her about it this week. I'd like to get it sooner rather than later; better to have it in my hands in light of this much uncertainty.

No matter what, though, this isn't stopping my transition. It may or may not delay it, but it WILL happen. I'm not going back to where I was, and I'm going to do what I have to do to make this happen, and sooner rather than later. On that note, if anyone has a freelance writing project that will cover the cost of transitioning, moving cross-country, and, ideally, a nifty condo with a view of Puget Sound, please drop me a line. Oh, and if you want to throw in the cost of season tickets to the Mariners, feel free. <g> (There's proof of what a determined gal I am - I'm STILL a Mariners fan...)

So, that's where things stand as of now. More to follow!

In the interim, a few tunes that have been running through my head recently. First up, a classic from Tears For Fears that sums things up nicely:

Next, Jerry Garcia's excellent cover of "Waiting For A Miracle," a song about finding the courage to carry on no matter the odds, written by the great Bruce Cockburn:

And last but not least, possibly the two most uplifting songs I know:

I know you got a lot of good things happening up ahead
The past is gone, it's all been said

So here's to what the future brings
I hope tomorrow you'll find better things

I know tomorrow you'll find better things
I know tomorow you'll find better things