I’ve been dividing my free time (when I’m not working or raiding) into three parts: 1) working on Alayne’s Story or Midnight of Lanar’ya, 2) researching things for my mother’s site, and 3) studying for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). I’m cautiously optimistic that I will do well on the LSAT when I take it in December. I still need to check to see if the center near me offers the exam in English but I suspect it will. I’ll then register to take it and keep studying for it.

I think that, if I score well enough on it, law school won’t tap out my savings nearly as much as I had feared. I’ve been careful all these years and have managed to save up quite a bit. So, I can afford to go to law school, even if I have to pay the whole thing myself. However, if I can get scholarships to cover some of the tuition and course fees, then that will be so much the better.

I’ve never been a big fan of putting yourself tremendously in debt to get a degree. I am practically allergic to debt which is why I don’t own a car (and plan to try to get the best car I can for the lowest price I can find if I go back to the US) and why I don’t own a house (no way, no how. Nothing doing. I’ll rent until it’s worth my time to even think about buying a home and right now, the housing market is looking like it will take a while to recover). I don’t feel the need to take fancy vacations or go out to pricey restaurants. I make my clothes last me for ages and generally only replace them when they are so ripped and torn up that it’d be indecent to wear them in public. My biggest annual expenditures are trips to visit my parents in the US or the occasional computer purchase.

I live within my means and in less than 10 years, have socked away enough cash that I can think about three years of law school without wondering how I’d eat while in school. Apparently, not a lot of people my age could say the same thing. I think that’s weird because I’ve never considered myself to be terribly exceptional when it comes to money. I don’t have a massive salary or anything. I just…don’t spend a lot of money. Simple.

At any rate, I’m looking forward to taking the LSAT. I hope I do well on it and get offered a discounted ride somewhere. That would be awesome.

And now, back to work!

I’ve commented a few times that I’ve fallen behind on writing due to personal stress. Well, I’ve been pretty up-front about my position being eliminated due to the economy. However, while that is upsetting, I have come to terms with it and am well on the way to finding a new position.

The other major thing that has been keeping me on knife’s edge for the past two years has to do with my family. My younger brother died two years ago and, at his visitation (like a wake), my parents were approached by two perfect strangers who informed them that my brother had fathered a child by one of them. These two were a couple and wanted my parents to act as grandparents to their daughter (my brother’s biological child). DNA tests established that the girl is, indeed, a direct descendant of my parents (meaning that she is either my daughter or my brother’s and I have no children).

I thought that this would help my parents heal from my brother’s unexpected and untimely death. However, for two years now, my parents have been subjected to what I consider to be some of the worst possible psychological torture known to man. No matter what they do, no matter how they try to help the pair out, it blows up in their faces and they are denied a relationship with their granddaughter. The SO is the worst and the mother will not stand up to her.

Well, for two years, I’ve kept a running journal of various events to help me cope with all of this. And, I have decided to take the lid off and let some sunlight shine on these two and their depraved manipulations. You can read about it all here. These two people have now alleged that my father physically or sexually abused his two year old granddaughter.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because I want to get the word out that this is actually happening. I want to warn others whether single, married, divorced, or celibate that this kind of stuff can impact them. That innocent people like my parents can and do get accused of the most reprehensible actions by people who have no problem using a child as a weapon in a struggle for control.

What would I like you to do? Read and comment on that entry. If you’re on Facebook, join the Facebook group I’ve started to help my parents out. Nothing more. I’m not asking you to sign anything, to give any money, or to do anything other than click a link, spend 5 minutes reading, and say “this is terrible. I’m so sorry it’s happening to you” so that my parents know that they have some support out here on the faceless Intarwebz.