So much has been happening!

After being homeless and going through hell this past year, I am finally in a stable place in my life. But I am jumping ahead.

Last year as some of you know, my son had to leave again to get professional help. This caused me to be homeless due to losing his income. I should explain I couldn't work outside of the home because of his issues, so was dependant on his SSI and child support. After months of living in a shelter, motels, the KOA campground for 2 weeks in winter, things have turned around for the better!

I tried to work again recently and mentally just could not handle it. My own mental problems are preventing me from dealing on a day to day basis with the general public. Yesterday, I made the decision to plunge in and concentrate on being a professional freelance writer full time. I love writing, I am good at it, and I have the confidence and know-how to make a living at it.  I have begun this journey by starting a series of articles about people with mental illness and what they face. I interview people and write about them on a personal level. I have been writing through www.elance.com since last June, but recently began expanding my horizons.

I am now a writer with Yahoo! Contributor Network and Skyword. I am anxiously awaiting work through Skyword that fits my skillset that I can apply for. I have submitted quite a few articles to YCN already and am just awaiting publishing.

My son is doing much better and is home now. He has matured quite a bit in the past 6 months. We still have some crazy days, but things are so much smoother now. He is doing quite well in school even though he has missed quite a few days. So many kids getting sick this year.

Another reason he missed two weeks of school is because I recently lost both of my Grandmothers. I lost my Grandmother Nona in December which necessitated a trip home for the funeral. My Grandma Betty past away in Feburary which necessitated a return trip. Too much in to short of time. Still reeling from these losses.

All in all, this year has had it's share of up's and down's. However, I am in a place mentally and physically that I am better able to handle the pits that life tosses at me to find the cherries hidden behind them. I see only great things to come.

Tragedy

So Horrible

My heart and energies are being sent to the victims of Aurora today and their families. How something so evil and cruel could happen is beyond me. Makes you look at your life and realize life is short! So friends, make every moment count. You never know when it's your last one. Also, I am spreading this because I think it's an AWESOME idea.

I hope you are able to read that. 

Update on Me

I have figured out a way to stay where I am and it should go smoothly enough. Can't wait to find out if it works out well. Loads of stress has been removed.

Happy....Beginning?

Miracles

Thanks to some really good friends it looks like I now have a plan of action. It involves moving and leaving the city of Billings, but I feel this is my best option for survival and success. And I may already have a job waiting for me. Will need to stay in the shelter for a short time but that's OK. I will have access to a car and be able to start on a solid foundation this time! That is all I have to say in this entry. Remember, miracles can and do happen every day!

Homeless....again?

Losing Our Place

Once again life has turned around and bit me on the ass. Every time I think we are getting ahead, something decides, "Oh, let's mess with her some more!" My son's SSI check is lost in the mail or stolen. The dingbat ex still hasn't paid me back the money he owes me ( my stupidity, I know), child support isn't here yet, and neither is my Elance.com check for work I did. Landlord has had enough of waiting. Now I am just waiting on an eviction notice.

Options

Not sure if there are any options at this point besides the shelter. Have some people looking into a few things for me. At least my son is going to my parents for vacation for a month. One less thing to worry about for a short while. And, before you ask, no my parents will not help. Not cannot, will not.

Got a friend in Michigan that has a spare room I could bunk in, however, I have no way to get there nor any way to get my dog there. So thinking that option is out.

Probably to late to find a roommate.

Got another friend who is going to talk to the landlord, friend lives out here too. See if we can switch to a cheaper trailer and room together that way. Not sure if the landlord will go for that or not. I think I owe to much at this point. Doesn't hurt to ask, correct?

This is not me asking for help. This is me using my blog to vent a little before I go insane. Please do not construe it as such. I am not nor have I ever been a mooch. Doubt anyone is reading any of my posts yet as it is anyway. Therefore, I am venting for myself. :)

Thoughts

Bad Day

I have been sitting here contemplating a long bubble bath. It has occurred to me that there has to be a better way of life then this. Today was a very horrible day. Maybe reading this will make your day less bad. If my misery can help one lonely soul out there, then it was worth going through. I have been in such a bad mood today. I admit it, took it out on my boy. He is 13 and can push all those buttons that you didn't even know existed. Every little thing has irritated me today.

Bit of Background on Myself and My Child

I suffer from severe depression with PTSD. I have it under control for the most part with skills, tools, and meds. Some days are just worse then others and this was one of those days. As I get a following (if I am lucky to do so) I may go into why I have these conditions a bit more. There are some days I can barely move because I hurt so bad. And it has been getting increasingly more difficult to be around large groups of people as well. This has meant losing jobs (many, many jobs), having to move, and other consequences over the past 5 years.

My Son

My son has everything in the alphabet, or at least it feels like it. He suffers from ADHD, ODD, PPD-NOS, epilepsy, mood disorder, detachment disorder, and a learning disability. His father took custody from me when he was 5 and used the proceeding 5 years to abuse the hell out of him, helping shape our wonderful son into the person he is today. I am still picking up the pieces and trying to put him back together. These issues have also cost me jobs and apartments. I have never given up on him or myself and never will. No matter what it takes, how many moves, job changes,whatever. I will find stability for myself and my child.

The World of Freelance Writing

I am stuck at home with no car and no job because of no car. I am 20 miles from town. I have a thirteen year old disabled son that I have to take care of and living on 800 a month just isn't cutting it. We are close to losing our place as well. So I took the plunge. I started looking around at freelance writing sites. Found one that is pretty good. Signed up, logged in, placed my first couple of bids. Bad thing about this site is you only get 15 connects a month. Which means I can only contact 15 people. Elance so far has done quite well for me to the tune of 90 bucks.




Good news....I hit on my second bid. Then again a sucker is born every minute. I took the first job offered to me for a good chunk of change...90 bucks. Guy hires me again for the second one. Doesn't finance the assignment this time. I send him a polite message asking him to fund escrow or I cannot continue. I get a NASTY, and I mean NASTY response from him that made me decide to cancel the project. His loss, not mine. 


During this time I won another bid which I am currently in the middle of working on. I am loving it. I am doing book reviews for a guy selling his trilogy on Amazon.com. It has been a lot of fun and I get to read books which is my passion! I also get to tell him about any mistakes in the books. One of my reviews is right here:

I have put in a few more bids but no hits yet. Hoping in the next day or two to find work. I am tempted to sign up at a few more freelance writing sites to better my odds at making money. However, I do not have a lot of experience writing for other people. I have been writing my entire life and I love books. I have no problems doing research writing or creative writing. So, how to get myself out there? It was suggested to me that I start a blog and try to get followers. Not sure who wants to read the ramblings of a single mom of a disabled child, but here goes! I will write about life in general, dealing with my son's many struggles, my writing career as it (hopefully) takes off and try not to bore anyone to tears.