I know I already posted in the "Welcome Back" thread.
For those of you who do now know me, who joined after I left or something, I'm one of the original folks from Flyawaynetwork (jeez, guys, remember that? Back in the day...) who gravitated towards this here site when that one hit the dumps (no offense meant).
So, what happened? Why my sudden disappearance? Where did Tessitore go--for she's continued to write... yes, indeed she has.
Let's make a long story short;
My mother, whom I was having many domestic issues with for quite a long time, kicked me out of the house April 2006. No less then three minutes after this incident (in which rocks were being slung at me) I got myself into my first car accident. No injuries. Well, to my car... but, you know. Anyway...
I was homeless for a long time, and after about a week and a half my car died on me. I ended up trading the car to some friends who offered me a place to stay and food to eat. After two months and a realization that my only future lay in the 'flipping burgers' industry, I received a plane ticket from my father to California.
I gathered up as much of my things as I could, my clothes and all my writing, some of my favorite books but nothing else. No computer or laptop or any of that crap. Just the essentials, for me.
I stayed with my half-sisters mother for a while before realizing it was a mistake... she was siding with my mother on the whole kicked-out thing. She and I came to a mutual agreement that I had to leave, so I went to live with my father. Due to the fact he is still staying at that location, I'll just say it was... definitely beneath the radar. I was living in a loft with a three and a half foot ceiling. Stayed there for six months or more.
During which time, a friend followed me out. Not someone I wanted following me, but she did. Can't really say 'No' when they arrive, right? She had a major drug problem and my father and I ended up kicking her out after two months, pooling all of our limited resources ($$) to do so.
Two weeks later, I also left. For other reasons not to be disclosed.
I stayed in a women’s shelter (left most of my belongings at my fathers), then drifted onto the streets themselves in downtown San Jose.
It honestly was not that bad. Yes, I had trouble finding money and yes, I had to watch my back all the time, but I was alive and well. I was away from a home where I'd had to go through more hell then I was going through at the time. To paraphrase; the streets are better off then living with my psychopathic mother. Finds out she's bipolar and just completely off her rocker. Who knew? I did...
Some three and a half months ago my Uncle finds me. I had not seen this guy since I was nine years old, but he looked exactly the same. He found out that I was homeless through my father and went driving through the streets trying to find me. He did, and after a quite tearful reunion offered me a place to stay... for free.
So finally, after about a year and three months, I've gotten back up on my feet. I'm staying in a condo his mother bought some two or three decades ago. I have a fully functioning kitchen, my own bathroom, bedroom, even a computer with internet access. I live on my own and it gets kind of lonely sometimes, but life is definitely good. I have a job making sales calls out of the home through a little privately owned business, my boss being one of the coolest employers I've ever worked for before. I'm repaying my debts and rebuilding this life from the shambles it had become.
My uncle helped me get back into college and I'm doing much better in studies now then ever before. Having seen where it gets you with no education, I have no want or desire to do poorly in class.
That's where I've been, that's what I've done. That's a very basic outline, at least.
This is not a pity call, just an informational bit. I figured in case anyone asked, I could point them here. I don't care to repeat this bit very often.
...and that's all. Toodles.
EDIT:
Oh, yeah... and I went from about 240 pounds to about 150. Go me.
