Love & cysts

Hey, folks! You may have noticed recently that I don't blog on as regular a basis as a year ago; that I've missed a week here and there lately. I want to assure you that has nothing to do with a lack of interest in blogging, but rather a necessary shifting of priorities in order to adjust to important life changes.

What does all this fancy talk mean? It means I've been distracted lately.

First were some health concerns that turned my thoughts elsewhere. In addition to the usual worrying about the health of family members, I had a minor problem of my own. I developed a cyst on the back of my neck; the third time one has formed in the same spot in the last five years. I'll (hopefully) be undergoing a minor surgical procedure to remedy the problem permanently - if my damn surgeon ever gets around to it! It's been more than a month since it recessed and I still don't have a surgery date in place.

As a matter of fact, this will be my first surgery ever. I've never been under the knife before. Not even had a tooth pulled or my tonsils taken out. It's a little scary to think about, even though it should be a fairly minor procedure, since it is my neck he'll be working on.

Secondly, I have to admit that I've been suffering from some writer's block lately. I'm finding it harder to think of interesting things to write about. And when I do, I'm not sure how to convey them. I have plenty more stories to tell, I just need to find the right time and style to unveil them. Those of you who keep following me have these stories to eventually look forward to:

• My raucous first year at college.
• My time working at a college campus newspaper.
• More of Dylan's deep thoughts.
• An introduction to The Lord of the Dice - aka Bad Motorscooter. 
• My time spent in a Canadian jail (prison can really change a man).
• The time I was accused of being a racist/sexist pig.
• And maybe, just maybe, you'll learn about my role in the JFK assassination...

Let's see...is there anything else I should mention? What else has been going on in my life?

Oh yeah...I'm moving into a new place this weekend. I'm finally moving out of the proverbial parents' basement (we don't have one, but I've been living with them) and into my own apartment. Well, it's not just mine...

Back in August, my girlfriend told me her apartment lease expires in November and asked if I would move in with her in a new apartment by then. This represents a huge step for us - committing to live together under the same roof. No more weekend visits.

Naturally, with such huge importance resting on my answer, I thought it over for all of one second before answering, "Of course I want to live with you!"

So for the last month and a half we've been searching high and low for an affordable apartment for the two of us. It hasn't been easy. I still can't get a job as so much as a dishwasher and the area we were looking to move to can be a little high rent (damn you, Microsoft!).

Nonetheless, we found a place and have already begun the moving-in process.

I'll still be near Seattle, but in a completely different neighboring town than my current one.

This will certainly be a new experience for me. I've never had any luck with the ladies before now, so needless to say I've never been in a relationship that got to the point of, "We should move in together." I've never had a roommate I was also dating. This is the first place of my own that wasn't owned/rented by a parent or was considered college property. It's my first big step into the real world; the adult world.

This could be weird.

Is that stopping me? Hell no!

Sure, we both share concerns of finding out we can't stand each other. But to be honest, we both feel like we're ready for this.

The main thing I still worry about is finding a job. I don't want to feel like a dead-beat boyfriend, staying at home while my girlfriend (let's just say GF for short from now on. She remains anonymous from the Internet and readers know who I'm talking about) has to provide for the both of us. I'm petrified by my own inability to earn even the simplest jobs due to my lack of experience. Earning my keep was never a focus when I was a child. My parents, or at least my mother, were too busy drilling into my head the need for education. Education would lead to suitable middle-to-upper class employment down the line. My education isn't paying off too well now, is it?

Sorry, I got a little snarky and cynical there. Let's get back on topic.

Believe me when I say we've thought this over already. GF and I feel like we've gone as far as we can in this relationship while still living apart from each other. It's time to take the next step and see what happens from there. We're ready to see what the future holds.

With any luck, it will be a future that holds lots of love, less cysts, a comfortable apartment, and a good job. Oh, and don't forget the jetpacks and flying cars.