I haven't updated in awhile, so here's another list of some of the more general things that have been happening over the last month or two.

- I've applied to an MA in Linguistics program at a nearby school. I've been pursuing a degree in financial planning, which will still turn out quite well if I don't get into this linguistics program, but since financial planning was my backup when language programs fell through for me, it seems like nonsense not to at least give it a really good shot at getting in, especially when I have so many people connected to the program and the field of study that it seems to be not coincidental that I found it. I'll hear back probably at the beginning of October about whether I'm in.

- I'm headed home for a visit at the end of this month. If you didn't already know "home" is the Puget Sound in Washington State. It's going to be good visit, and I'm going to get to retrieve many of the things I left behind there, including my Nintendos (original NES, both front-load and top-load with all the accessories) and my CD's (I have no idea how those got left behind). Unfortunately it will also include retrieving and disposing of several unwanted items including furniture, and a wedding dress I didn't get to wear (and don't want to--I'll get a new dress when it comes time to think about that again). So good, but also potentially overwhelming.

- I've continued with classes in financial planning and this term has proven to be a good one so far. It's hard to take a class in building a financial planning practice knowing that I will either end up leaving the field to pursue a different dream altogether, or that I'll end up staying and pursuing it at a different angle altogether than most people do--it's hard to be different in a field like this (everyone else wants all the high-net-worth clients who really don't need our advice, let's face it--I'd prefer to help the people who aren't as well-educated as money).

- I'm leaving my current job. It's become far too stressful for reasons I don't have the energy to rant about right now. Whether I continue on with my current financial planning program or I get into the linguistics program, the financial aid is there for me to be able to afford to attend school full time and work part time instead of the other way around. I like it better that way. That way, whatever I end up doing gets done faster. I've accepted that my 20's will be consumed by school, but I'd like to avoid my 30's being consumed as well.

- I got a haircut. A month ago, at least. But every day someone else asks me if it's a new haircut. I like it, of course, because it's a bit trendy and easy to take care of, two qualities that aren't often found in one hair style.

- I've been writing more lately. I'm participating in a writing group this month and have the lofty goal of getting 3 chapters written on one novel, and I've left room in my goals for getting a short-story first draft written. So far it's been good. Three chapters is hard to write if your story has no plot, so this has been good for me--I've had to learn more about proper plotting techniques.

- I've taken a semi-permanent break from World of Warcraft. I'm not sure if I'll ever go back for real, but I'll let time be the decider there. I'm somewhat inclined to join in if one or both of the guilds that Steven and I are in decide to do something exciting but out of the ordinary (like the guild brunches we occasionally do through Guls Angels), simply because it's fun and a good time to socialize with people in real life, but otherwise, it was just beginning to be too stressful, time consuming, and altogether frustrating to keep playing. If I play video games now, it's likely to be my Harry Potter games (which are not online games in nature, and which really are very simplistic and non-addictive--no upkeep necessary) or maybe Mario on my NES when I get it down from Tacoma.