I had a nice low-key birthday. I was away from home until late at night. I just taught all day. The folks I work for did give me a card and a little gift. They didn't have to. They gave me a pair of pierced earrings because I've been talking about getting mine pierced and haven't done it yet. Then I just went home, unpacked, and pretty much went to bed. My family made me a cake the next evening. I blew out all my candles in one breath (29) and still had plenty of breath left over. Nothing too exciting really. Pretty boring actually, for a birthday.
I love pierced ears. I bugged my mom daily for about three years, and she finally caved when I was nine. They've been pierced ever since. I got a second set of holes about three years ago.
I'm not getting them pierced right away. I feel like I have alot on my plate right now and adding one more thing would just be too much. I'm going to wait. I'm still working on the contacts. The trial lenses were great, but the boxes I bought were blurry, so I'm having those checked out. One thing at a time is best I think.
I'm working on moving right now. I've started looking at apartments, but haven't found anything yet. I thought I could take my time and find something this summer, but the stress level at the house with the family is going through the roof like never before and I may need to find something quickly - if not immediately - until I can find something more permanent. I thought I might look into cheap hotels that rent by the week or something. It wouldn't be the best, but it would be a start. I need to do something. All I really require is a bed and a good lock on the door.
Jeanne - Don't know how close you live to a major metro area, but you might want to look into the corporate suite-type hotels, like Marriot Courtyard. They're very safe, have lots of amenties like indoor pools and fitness rooms, and the suites usually have kitchenettes so you won't have to eat out all the time. They usually charge about $330 a week, which seems expensive, but when you figure that while you're there you don't have a phone bill, electric bill, cable bill, etc., it usually evens out.
If you live near a college town, you might be able to find some rooms for rent in houses. Of course, that would entail having roommates, which can be stressful in its own right...
I wish you the very best of luck! You deserve to be treated better than your family is treating you!