We’re nearing the end of October, how quickly this year has passed! Pixie and I are doing well, we miss aspects of our old life but are making the best of this transition before setting off on something bigger, better and indescribably wonderful (positive thinking and all that). Since August Pixie and I have both been back to school, she’s in the shittiest public school in the city and I’m in college full time studying to become a physical therapy assistant. Not where either of us wants to be but we’re making do and I’ll have a marketable skill come graduation in 2009, can’t beat that. I’ve recently put in for a job at the local food coop, looking at $t@rbucks next as it’s just down the road and has decent bennies from what I hear. Pixie’s ‘father’ has turned out (unsurprisingly I might add) to be a complete and total failure as a human being. The year my girl has had because of his behavior and lack of consideration for her is unreal. She is desperate for a daddy and he while he sees her for a few hours once a week it’s not what she needs or craves. Custody has still not been settled the court date next week looks to be pushed into the new year (I imagine) and this dragging out…ugh. Would like to say more here but shouldn’t right now.

As for the new city living, we still have our chickens, we lost one over the Summer to some mystery ailment. They survived a skunk invasion back in August and hopefully this week I can finally get their coop built! I’d like to find a home for them as it’s getting to be too much and they are the ones that suffer but Pixie is devastated at the thought and with all she lost this year this is one thing that makes her happy so I’m trying to find a way to make it work for her sake.

The gardening has been lacking, we got lots of corn and potatoes which unfortunately sat and went by. The potatoes can be used as seed next year though, I just hated the loss. The lack of my own space really has messed up my groove here. We did get lots of zucchini which I shredded and froze for the winter, my one garden victory this year. (yay!) I have missed the time spent in the garden and could have at any time this summer, there is just something about not it being one’s own space that makes it unappealing to me. It didn’t help battling with someone whose preferred method involved toxic chemicals, a big reason for my absence in the garden. My herb garden however thrived and was beautiful until the dogs destroyed it. I was able to save many of my herbs when we moved, maybe about half, and harvested a few batches which brought great comfort and satisfaction to me. Now I shall look to the growing season of 2009 as I imagine we’ll still be here next year and I’ll be working my way through school and work and trying to eke out time for my girl.

In the meantime I spend as much time with her as I can We have our various activities-she is still taking Irish Step (for now, another long story featuring a renewed lack of child support that may force us to cancel this class) and my brother so graciously added me to his gym membership so I take full advantage of that and feel great as a result. Pixie is seeing a counselor which has been helping her and she loves the appointments which comes in handy with all the school angst. Yesterday was a rough patch and my heart aches terribly for my wee girl (who just turned eight last week!), I hope to find a way to homeschool her again sometime soon because she is falling through the cracks at school and no amount of fighting seems to help. But we’re fighters and will get through this together, she’s home sick today so once I’m back from the gym and she’s awake again we’ll have some nice quiet time together. Maybe she can help me study for my anatomy exam..lol

So that’s a rather depressing-sounding update, it’s not really. We have a few areas we’re not happy with but overall we are doing very well and are happier than ever. We’re stubborn girls and we can do anything.