::cracks knuckles::

Ok.  A Journal entry.  Why does this seem so hard?  Is it just because I am out of practice?  Ok, how about just the standard "what is going on in my life right now" type of post.  That came in very handy when I was re-reading the old journal since I have no memory whatsoever of my day-to-day from back then.

So, where am I this September of 2011...
I got engaged this year, in April.  No date set yet.  Just taking it slow, learning what life is like living together and paying bills, etc. 

I have purchased a house for $150,000 in the Boonsboro area of Lynchburg.  Technically I live in Bedford county but I'm right over the line.  The house has a vaulted ceiling, huge fireplace, kitchen serving window, enormous almost-finished basement, deck, screened in porch, and huge back yard.  I'm fairly happy with this purchase, even though the bank pretty much owns 99% of it right now.

I was promoted to Aquatics Director at the Downtown YMCA in Lynchburg about a year and a half ago.  The job is super stressful and it doesn't pay a whole lot.  The first year I was not sleeping, not getting any exercise, and generally getting older by the second.  Now into the second year I've gotten a little more relaxed but it still sucks having a staff that is mostly high school and college age part-timers (no real dedication there). 

I started taking Ambien this year for my insomnia.  Other than that I'm pretty healthy.  Been the same weight since, well, ever.  Just started taking MMA fighting classes.  I want to officially get a certificate so I can one day have a martial arts school of my own.  Or at least a club.

I officially changed my name to Ashton Aaron Coleman.  Didn't want to be stuck with a dumb name like Onyx forever, but also couldn't go back to Ashley.  I'm happy with the new name, and my family is satisfied as well.  Ashton is from my mom's side, Aaron is the name my birth parents gave me before I was adopted, and Coleman is my dad's side.  I think everyone's represented here.  Next step:  rights restoral.

And now.... I need to drink my tea and get to sleep. 

Just read through my archived entries from my old journal.  I learned some things about myself... Some of which probably still hold true...

1.  I was depressed often
2.  I thought I was always right and everyone else was always wrong, and I was an asshole about saying so
3.  I made a lot of plans that I never followed through
4.  Friends that meant the world to me back then, I shomehow managed to completely alienate over the years (gee I wonder why)

Well that was a fun romp back through time.

First new entry in my new journal.  Feels like going back 10 years and being young again.  I love it...