Fieldnotes From Elsewhere

Welcome to "Elsewhere"This is my quiet corner of the internet to share my art in all of its forms, to document my growth, and to curate a collection of little joys that is separate from the loud chaos of my everyday life.You're welcome to stay as long as you like.

HELLO INTERNET

My name is Alex.I’m at the beginning of what I’m calling “Season 3” of my life, and I wanted to have a place to reflect on my history and experience, as well as document the growth and healing I’m finding now. There’s something cathartic about writing on the internet… So hello. If you’ve found me, you’re welcome to stay and peruse my little archive.

THEFT & FRAUD
July 1, 2025I had the complete misfortune of having the contents of my wallet stolen on June 19th in the early hours of the morning. I had my hands full when I got out of my boyfriend's car the night before and completely forgot that I had tucked it under the seat (so that no one would see it and break in to steal it, ironically). I awoke at 06:00 to messages from two different credit cards asking me to confirm purchases that I had not made and after thinking for a few minutes, realized that I didn't have the wallet in my possession. I jumped in my car and raced to my boyfriend's place to find his car unlocked and ransacked. My empty wallet was on the floor with the contents of his center console and glove box. They had rifled through his backpack but left his laptop and the prescription medication he had. Only my credit and debit cards, my ID, and the small amount of cash I had were stolen.I'll skip over the several meltdowns I had over the situation and stick to a brief description of how dire the situation was. The thieves tried to charge nearly $600 online, June 19th is Juneteenth so all public service buildings were closed, and I was supposed to leave for the airport at 3am on the 20th to go to my sister's wedding.Within 2 hours, I had all my accounts locked and cards cancelled. I filed a fraud report with the FTC and headed into town to try and get my license re-issued and file a police report. This is when I realized it was a holiday. (Cue at least 2 meltdowns) I was able to file the police report and send them the photos of the ransacked car. They opened a separate report for the fraudulent charges. The officer knew exactly what had happened as soon as I told her the address. She said they were trying to get photo or video footage of 3 juveniles (ages 11-13 approximately) who had been seen prowling the parking lots and breaking into cars.I was irate. Middle schoolers had upended my life. Middle schoolers had thrown my attendance of my only sister's wedding into question. Middle schoolers had cut off my access to what little money I had.After sobbing on the phone with my mom, who was already in Delaware for the wedding, I was able to get a different flight that would allow me to get to the DMV and get the printout of my license. I compiled an envelope of every identifying document in my possession to take to the airport to beg the TSA to let me on the plane. My boyfriend paid the $26 fee for my license because the only card I still had was a debit card with no PIN. (DMV only takes cash or credit and the ATM requires a PIN)After an invasive ordeal with the TSA, I made it onto my flight. My sister delayed her rehearsal dinner by an hour to give my dad time to pick me up in Philly. The return flight to Minneapolis was harrowing and even more invasive because I had somehow picked up explosive particles/residue. But I did make it home safe and sound.As of this writing, all of my new cards have arrived except one, and my ID has not arrived yet. I hope the police catch the little rats that did this, as I will absolutely be a party to any charges that are brought against them. I have never felt such animosity toward another human being in my life, but these literal children nearly deprived me of an event that holds a great deal of importance to me. This is an unforgivable offense.

APPRECIATING RELATIONSHIPS
June 13, 2025I am in a strange and new place in the major interpersonal relationships in my life. I have a boyfriend after being in a 10 year relationship, and I have a female best friend for the first time since I was 17.That being the case, I've found myself really leaning into the best parts of these relationships-the parts that I always wanted from previous ones and either didn't get (marriage) or lost (former friends).~Boyfriend
He's an 8 year old boy in a grown man's body. He kicks his slides at me when he's walking behind me because sometimes he loves me so much he needs to be aggressive and squeezing me to death isn't an option. He's started to figure out when I'm just tired or sad or upset and trying to keep myself regulated and he will climb into bed next to me with a fuzzy blanket and hug me until I feel better. He's truly the love of my life. In the 10 years I was with my ex I had no idea that I could love a HUMAN this much. Animals, sure, but never another person.~Bestie
I don't usually enjoy women. I appreciate that men have fewer social rules and they usually appreciate my dry sense of humor much more. They're predictable creatures. Women are rarely those things. Not this one. She is the perfect mix of no social rules and raunchy humor and also she appreciates flowers and baby animals and commiserates with me during our respective periods. There's no such thing as TMI. We've visited each other in the hospital (I was in ED, she was post-op). We text back and forth when we both work nights to keep each other awake. This is the kind of positive, wholesome female friendship that I have been dying for since I was 17 and my lifelong best friend chose my ex boyfriend over me.I'm so grateful to be going into the future with these two people in my corner. And I'm grateful for my experiences because I wouldn't appreciate either of these humans nearly enough without them.