This may seem really trivial to some people, but it’s a huge step and accomplishment for me.

23.5 years after graduating high school (a year early, I might add), I finally worked up the courage to take the TSI Placement Test. Yes, you read that correctly. TSI. After all these years, I finally, finally did it!!

You have no idea how badly that stupid test held me back. I never started actual college (I only attended Kaplan College, which was one of those private trade schools) because I raised the babies and then I felt like I had completely forgotten all the math I’d ever learned in my life and I was afraid to fail. I considered starting school numerous times throughout the years, but that test always stopped me in my tracks. Thanks to encouragement from my kiddos, Sally, coworkers and one very special man: I was able to set my pride and fears aside and started studying math. I literally had to relearn everything since pre-algebra. I reached out to Sally and she put me in touch with an advisor and I started studying in October.

The irony was that I had already started studying last year, in October as well, and then I broke my foot and put everything on hold. Again. The last time before that that I was going to start was in 2019, right before they put me on antidepressants that were all wrong for me and caused me to feel even more lethargic.

I digress. So I studied and set the goal to test in late November, early December. I took several practice tests online and bombed every single one. But I had already asked my advisor and he said as long as I made the attempt to take the exams, even if I failed, then I would take remedial courses and can start college. So no matter what, I was going to take it. I scheduled the test for December 3rd and there was no going back.

I studied as much as time allowed and I even studied in the morning, before the test. I made my coffee and my keto waffles and I was good to go.

They told me to set aside 9 hours for the exam, but everyone told me it wouldn’t take that long. I really wasn’t sure what to expect.

It was nerve wracking, setting everything up. Since I was taking an online test, I had a proctor watching me the entire time. I had to take a 360 degree scan of my bedroom, count the blank sheets of paper I’d be using and presented the front and back to the proctor and then counted them at the end, showing them to the proctor and ripping the used ones up.

Then, leave it to Alaethia to barge in and she was a deer in headlights when I asked her what she needed for. The proctor was NOT happy. She made me do the entire room scan again.

Needless to say, since I studied algebra the most I did great in that. But I still managed to get a 938, when passing is 945-990. The reading/writing part was so much easier. But I got it over and done with. It was such a relief. I immediately sent the screenshot to my advisor and hopefully he’ll get back to me about what the next steps are. If everything goes well, I’ll start school in January!

I’ve honestly been tip-toe-ing (literally) this entire month leading up to October 27th, which is when I broke my stupid ankle in 6 places last year. I’m attributing that to PTSD and just having bad luck for the past couple of years. But my anniversary came and went. I haven’t broken anything else, thank God. But these days I only wear flats and am constantly looking at the ground when I’m walking. I’m telling you–PTSD.

But I managed to lose 30 lbs. since March, thanks to sticking to Keto.

Although I’m still not working out, I feel better about myself these days and I was able to go from pre-diabetic during my July 2021 labs (6.3 A1C) to 5.3 A1C this past August 2022. My goal is to further lower that number. I’ve recently been denied physical therapy (ever since the staff changed, things just aren’t the same. I miss Lynnette!), so I need to start using my treadmill and stationary bike.

As for my mental health: my new meds seem to be doing better for my depression and anxiety (but that could also be because things seem to be falling into place for me lately). I’m no longer experiencing those weird brain zaps or leg twitches and I haven’t gained weight, thank goodness.

I’m also hoping to make more changes to get further in my career with the government, so that’s kind of what I’m focused on right now. Work has been great, even though Julianna promoted to a supervisory position in Laredo and she’s leaving 😥 .

And speaking of: Eenan is now working and Jaylen just switched jobs/careers. I’m so proud of them!

And the girls: well, they’re too busy being teenagers with social lives but they are both doing great in school so I’m fine with driving them around. Sometimes LOL.

Seeing my friends lately has been a challenge. Everyone’s busy or have things going on in their own lives. But I finally got to catch up with Sally this past Friday. It was nice and she’s always a wonderful hostess.

It’s Sunday and I have errands to run and stuff to study so this will be all for now. I’m only blogging because I reformatted my hard drive yesterday and wiped it clean and it’s actually working! On to my next cup of coffee 8) .

After a good year of not being able to get myself to finish typing out this entry, I was finally ready and I believe healed enough to finally post the blog post about my idiot ex-husband and his 19-yr-old mistress. It was literally almost to the day. I still can’t believe how much shit happened since: ballooning to 150 lbs due to depression, antidepressants, breaking my leg/foot and just feeling awful about myself (I mean, what woman wouldn’t, when you’re seemingly replaced by a CHILD). I still can’t believe all of that happened. I mean, I knew he was a mentally-unstable asshole, but I never thought he would stoop so low. Anyway, it was time wasted, I changed mentally and physically for the worst, and back again for the better and I feel so much better about myself than I have in years. I learned to finally value my worth and have become more selective in whom I even start a friendship with, much less a relationship. I’m just happy the trash threw itself out 🙂 .