Good question, self-reflexive title!
The short answer is life happened. After my announcement that my laptop got stolen, things were shitty but manageable. I was gonna get a new iPad to replace my missing laptop... then my boss had a nice 1.5hr long conversation with me one Thursday night towards the end of January. The conclusion was I would not have my 32hrs assured after March. This led me into a but of a tizzy trying to figure out how I'd survive at least another year (or several quarters) without a steady income. My sister told me at the time that such a thing was an opportunity but I failed to see how (though I know somehow, she was right). Played with the idea of being a gamer tester and thought about what other warehouse-like jobs were out there. I planned to get $7000.00 more out of a non-subsadised loan and help my dad with some of his bills in exchange for credit (which I was basically out of) and fuel for the car (and motorcycle). Things were looking better; but not the best. Then, my car went to hell. It's had its share of problems since last summer (a vacuum issue, I think) that I have yet to properly diagnose or cure. To make matters worse, this time sometime hit the oil pan and left a fissure that let all the oil drain out. Thankfully I was able to make it home with about a quart plus left inside but I had to miss work and really felt the world collapse around me. I was even thinking of not going to Sakura-Con 2010; or worse still, dropping out of UWT all together.
That night, my roommate and I sat down to figure out what could stop this spiral of doom I kept finding myself it. The first spark of good news was an audit feature UWT has to see where you're at in the program and your particular degree and concentration. Turns out, I was only a quarter behind my normal graduation schedule (which would have been at the end of this quarter, being Spring) plus five credits if I took the research path verses the professional that I was currently on. The only trick to it was I still needed ten credits of a foreign language, my senior thesis, and a natural world class. This was made more complicated by the dismal choices offered by UWT over the summer. I had to do a little song and dance and make a hard choice. So, after talking to the IAS office, financial aid, and a couple instructors, I finally made a plan. For Spring quarter, i would take 20 credit: yes, count them TWENTY. The extra five would come in the form of my senior thesis while the others would be required credits for the degree. Then, I would take my last remaining 15 credits at Green River Community College; which is right up the road and like a five minute drive (or 1/2hr walk, depending). Here, I'd take my natural world class and two back-to-back foreign language classes (likely German or Spanish); and it would give me an opportunity to amend the dismal record I had established back when I first began my college experience (and failed miserably).
While finishing Winter quarter with solid grades, I looked to streamline my finances and cut back on things. I had already done so since that Thursday night back in January but after the car issue, which we solved with JB Weld, things had to really change. While the car fix worked, my motorcycle had to become my primary transportation. For this, I completely revamped my insurance and got auto, motorcycle, and renters under one company, for a total of just under $700.00 (a year for the motorcycle and renters, 6 months for the auto). This saved me a shit-ton of money. Not paying for the motorcycle anymore, which I paid off at the end of January, helped a lot, too. Eating out regularly, especially at the Harmon, was eliminated; though I could still do so when the roommates wanted (which is uncommon). I also made sure not to spend too much on groceries and the like, which I discovered was indeed possible as I restructured how I ate. I used all the money I had saved and accumulated from my tuition aid and bill restructuring to pay for everything I could upfront, placing me in the best financial position I've been in years (minus the fact that I have student loans still, but those won't become an "issue" until after school). I have several people who have my back should things get real bad but for the moment I am set to deal with this on my own. After Winter quarter came back with good grades, I was able to attend Sakura-Con 2010 and really enjoy myself. (Checkout my FB page for tons of photos and videos!)
This whole business also got me back into helping me look at myself better both physically and mentally. Since I was (am) gonna loose my full-time hours, I needed to utilize my health and dental insurance while I still had it. I first got a full physical, where I learned that besides my weight, which I am working on, and one normal issue for a guy my age (to quote the Professor: "Good news! It's a suppository!"), I'm otherwise healthy and my vitals are normal. After this, I got my teeth cleaned and took stock of what needed to be fixed. While there are several things that should/need to be done within the next year, the major priority were my twin impacted wisdom teeth on my lower jaw. They had to go and as my two upper wisdom teeth were not being utilized anyway, they were just liability. So, the Monday after Sakura-Con 2010 (that is, this last Monday 4/5) I had them removed (and hence the vicodin reference below). I've never felt better after a surgery of any kind like this one, though I am taking a week off of school to make sure I'm in the best position not to miss any further classes (minus one for a follow-up appointment this Monday). On the mental end, I am changing how Osyris operates (that is, Russell Bynum). Things are looking up for this old dog; it's just a matter of putting it all together. No girlfriend as of yet, but with my 20 credits, that will just have to wait.
So, where does that leave me? Well, once I get back to work this Saturday and Sunday, I'll know if I want to keep my remaining weekend hours or just go to casual status and cash out my remaining vacation hours. If the nine hours on both days work like they should, then I will likely keep them to offset having to eat into my credit. Funny how I've been able to cut my month expenditures so far. It cannot last forever but I only need this current setup to last through summer. If so, then the rest is gravy; save the economy is recovered enough for me to find a real career job verses this paycheck-to-paycheck living. This all requires me to get back on the horse next week school-wise and get cracking hardcore. My senior thesis is being a bitch, honestly, but I think I'll crack it open here shortly. The rest of the classes are demanding a lot of writing, too, so don't think Osyris will just pop back on dA anytime soon. I'm still recovering as much of my lost writing from the laptop from here but at some point, I'm not sure how much dA can remain revenant to me. From Winter quarter, I've posted a few things from my writing fiction class that I hope you'll all enjoy; especially the one entitled "Emily (Draft II)". If I can pull off the grades, then I will be at a new gateway in my life. Until then, there is much to be learned (to quote Sagan).
I had fun this year at Sakura-Con 2010 and got several more original pieces from
Neolucky. I know I need to post several other framed works from a while back but I think those photos got lost with the laptop. I'll post the backlog once I get more important things out of the way. As for the rest of it, I've had no time to be writing stories or poetry for my own bemusement. That will return to me in due time. If you have questions, or want to keep up with me more regularly, checkout my facebook page:
Russell Wayne Bynum Yeah, I know the negative opinions but I use it for various productive purposes and if you do, too, then befriend me already! As for the podcast, B2S1 in its old form is basically dead and the reboot is on hold at least until I'm out of school. Not sure what else you all want to know; but I'll gladly respond to all of your comments to this journal entry... which usually amounts to a couple. Oh well; until then, I'll leave you all with the latest installment from the ever-awesome
TheIronWizard!