I suppose it's time to finally catch everyone up on what's been happening. I'm sorry for taking so long it's just that I've had to sort it all out in my head before I tried to sort it out for other people.

I went and saw my family I guess it would be two weeks ago now. I had a really great time. At first. I played with my aunt's neighbor's children, who I adore and adore me. It was nice to see them, I miss those little guys. I met my cousin Martha's new boyfriend, who I must say I hope she keeps. He's a great guy, the first time I can say that about one of her boyfriends. I got to hear about my cousin Lisa's tripe to Europe last month, and see pictures. Her and Aaron looked wonderfully happy. Although it has made Lisa's ego even bigger, which didn't need to happen.

And then it happened... My grandma cornered me.

Now, for those of you that don't know, my grandma is pissed at me to the point I would think she hates me now. Why? Because I'm dating "New York" (she refuses to call Will by his name) and she's an old southern woman that despises "those damn Yankees" to be blunt. She also, for some reason, think he's abusive to me (abusive as in ignores me etc, not physically), thinks I'm an idiot little girl, thinks I'm extremely naive to the point that tying shoes is an issue, and that all the hell I've been through in my life is nothing. (For those of you that also don't know, I tried committing suicide when I was nine, and repeated that until I was thirteen years old, I first was offered money for sex when I was eight, and I've been groped, hit, and hit on all my life by men that should and probably ARE now in prison. That's the rough draft.)

Okay, so, you understand why we're at odds. I may be a sweet gentle person that lets my childlike side run wild (I'm fully aware of it) but I'm by no means naive. Nor do I appreciate my grandma bad mouthing a man she's never met or talked to, or knows anything about. Not to mention I've been with him two years as of September 1st and we're trying to plan on how to move in together. I'm in love with him. I don't like him being bashed. Pisses me off.

She told me, word for word, "Your uncle is right, dump the baggage."

First off, excuse me, but HE didn't talk to me about Will AT ALL. Whatever he knows about him is second hand and has no right to say such a thing.

Second, this was a downright cruel thing to say to me. That "baggage" is my future husband, as she will soon find out, and I'm not dumping a man that has been perfect to me.

Third, this has been going on FOR EIGHT MONTHS. Each time I see her, she's more and more vicious to me. The last FIVE times I saw her I ended up sobbing out of pure anger.

Basically, I'm fed up, I don't want to take her abuse anymore. I've told her how I feel, she doesn't listen. There's nothing else I can do.

Today was my cousin Matt's graduation party. My grandma would be there.

My mom and I had a huge fight about me going. I told her flat out I wouldn't go. Matt doesn't even talk to me, he won't care if I'm there, the rest of my family is completely self-absorbed, and I really don't want to deal with the bitch my grandma's become.

Luckily, with dad working today, me digging my heels in full force, and mom feeling that it really wouldn't matter if we were there, she broke down and called to say she wasn't coming. She had already let me off the hook but she needed to let herself off.

Okay, so there's drama number one.

Here's drama number two.

My best friends' older brother was beaten and stabbed outside his store. Before the two men left they told him "we'll be back." They also tried to run him over.

He was in the hospital, sitches all over his face and arms, cracked ribs, cast on his arm because of a fracture and really deep stab wounds. When mom told me what happened, I was in a state of shock. I couldn't think or feel or anything. Here's someone that's like my older brother having his life threatened. I don't know what he did, or who he screwed over, but it has me scared to death.

One of the men has been arrested and as far as I know the other is still on the loose. His girlfriend (my friend's) got their license plate number so they were able to track them down. They're facing attempted murder charges. I hope they're convicted, because even though I know he does some stupid things, he's never, ever, hurt anyone. He is not a violent man. He didn't do anything to deserve this.

I had to fight back tears when my older friend (I'm making sure I don't say names, just to be safe) told me about having to wash her brother's blood out of the carpet and off the sidewalk. It's been really really stressful.

What makes it worse, is their store was broken into the day before, and $5000 of product was stolen. And they have nothing insured. And they're already in debt.

So there's that...

And... here's drama number three...

Andrew's little brother Ryan went to a pool party for his last day of school. Ryan's best friend jumped in and didn't come back up. They pulled him out and they tried to perform CPR.... He died later at the hospital. I spent the whole day crying. He was only eleven years old. It just shattered me. I know Andrew was distraught, so if you can please take a moment to stop by his journal, and give him well wishes and prayers for the family, I'd really be thankful. No parent should have to go through this and it's so hard for a child to lose their best friend.

Okay, other than that...

I'm going to the mall Tuesday with the girls to hang out and celebrate a birthday. (No, not mine, I'm in November lol) Since it's her 21st we'll be making sure to get her plastered. I'm kidding lol She has no interest, so we're going bowling, window shop, etc. Should be fun and it'll be nice to get out of the house for a while.

Love to everyone, I'll be checking up on journals soon, promise.