I usually write on OpenDiary.com but have decided that sometimes one needs a place that they are able to write freely. That's what I'm needing lately, a place I'm able to write, rant, rave, complain or rejoice without certain people that reside within my real world knowing about it. I find that I don't write what's really on my mind there because some of my friends as well as my husband are very aware of my diary.

Writing has always been somewhat of a therapy for me and has helped more often than not in putting my thoughts and feelings into perspective, hence the reason I'm here.

I am 38 years old and I have been married (my 2nd marriage)for 3 1/2 years though I've been with my husband for nearly 7 years and am the mother to his 2 children now 14 and almost 18. Their biological mother doesn't offer anything into raising them nor has she since the first day I met them. She sees them and has somewhat of a relationship with them but she has never offered any kind of support for them in the 7 years that they've been in my life, neither emotional nor financial. I find that's something I'd love to be able to write my thoughs and feelings about but have kept inside for fear of "upsetting the balance" so to speak.

I've been at the same company for 5 years now and though I often literally hate my employer, I love what I do. I have held 3 different positions in the 5 years I've been at the bank, I began in the Commercial Card Dept working with high end business credit card clients, moved into the credit card fraud department after 2 1/2 years and then went back to my roots of customer service on the phones 1 1/2 years ago and have been there since. The management is the largest problem I've had since I've been there and just started with a new manager so we'll see if that gets any better.

I have 2 cats and a dog, Shadow (14), Tiki (12) and Gidget (1). I've always been a big fan of animals, I've always had them and cannot for the life of me understand or imagine my life without them. I had a little dog that was put down a little more than a year ago that had been my best friend for more than 16 years, he left such a huge void and I found that I was so lonely without the presence of a dog in my world. That's how Gidget came to be a member of my family, she has found her way into the hearts of all four of us and has secured her place in our home.

Well that's about it...that's me in a nutshell, that's a birds eye view of my life and of course there is more insight to come as I begin my journey here.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride with me as I catalog my thoughts, feelings and events in my life. Feel free to comment though rude comments aren't welcome nor are they necessary, I wouldn't think of leaving them for someone else either....