#aer talks

[trainer-aer]

Much like Benoit Blanc, I too am gay and can often be found on discord in the bath for long periods of time when things get tough

[terraaer]

Tagged! 

 I got tagged by @amalasdraws thank you sweetheart! <3

Rules: Tag 10 people you would like to know better

Name: Ivana

Nicknames: Aer or Terraaer idk.. feel free to choose the one you like better

Gender: female

Star Sign: leo

Height: 175 cm

Sexuality: haha

Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw

Average Hours of Sleep: It depends on the stress i built up during the day or the amount of homework i have to do..

Dog or Cat person: i have a cat named Pigde (yes, like the Voltron character) but i also love dogs a LOT!!

Blankets You Sleep With: 2 sometimes 3

Dream Trip: i guess Thailand, Japan or Scotland

When I Made This Blog: ... i don’t remember... 

Followers: 239 

Why I Made a Tumblr: to post my art

Reason for my URL: ahah. It’a a silly sentimental thing. Terraaer as Terra meaning Earth in Latin and Aer meaning Air also in Latin. Two elements i feel connected to in some sort of way. You can also kinda write my real name with the alchemic symbols of Earth 🜃 and Air 🜁 !

I don’t know who to tag so hah. If you read this and want to do it please feel yourself tagged! <3

[trainer-aer]

My newest dog training client is literally the most well behaved 4.5 month old golden retriever I've ever met like I almost can't believe they're describing the same dog when they tell me all of the things they're struggling with like damn guys I hope my puppy is this good when she comes home

Anyway, his name is Macaroni and he is PERFECTION in a dog like I'm legit a little jealous of him I keep telling them how lucky they are that they got such an easy puppy!!!

[trainer-aer]

Half a year of freedom - Life Update

05.14.2023

__

Today is officially 6 months to the day of when I got out of my abusive engagement and moved on with my life. It's also Mother's Day! I had a lovely brunch with my family in downtown Chicago for the occasion! I had the most delicious cinnamon roll and French toast!

The seasons are changing beautifully right now, something I didn't quite get to witness last year. I moved here about a year and a week ago to the day and by the time I got here, the seasons had already changed from spring to early summer. Not that summer or winter were very intense, but.

I've got my credit card paid off entirely aside from this month's expenses which will be pretty easily covered by my income. I didn't expect leaving an abusive relationship to come with such swift financial recovery, too.

My new apartment is fully unpacked and the other day I got the glass fronted ikea bookcase I've wanted for a few years now and got all my uranium glass and sea glass put out properly! Though, I've found probably over 3000 pieces of glass in the lake in the past few months so I may need a second cabinet soon, ha!

It's also really nice to not have to pick up after my ex anymore. I honestly don't think he'd have ever contributed to the house if I didn't ask him to and asking him was awful because he always made a huge deal about it claiming I was blaming him for not doing things or criticizing him. I couldn't say anything without it being taken the wrong way and analyzed to hell and back for subtext that just wasn't there. It got the the point where walking through my own life was like walking on eggshells trying not to piss him off somehow.

I hated how my home could never be clean with him around no matter how much time I spent cleaning every day. It was like I lived to serve this shitty guy and to build the life we had talked about wanting (found out later he had lied about wanting all of it, because of course he did - he was a pathological liar) and he didn't care and still found reasons to be angry at me for asking for help maintaining it. All he really wanted a servant he could abuse, not a life partner.

Because I have such a lovely home now, I'll be welcoming several friends from out of state this summer! @paintroller is coming on Wednesday and my best friend Aaron is coming in a month! And because I work at the aquarium now, I can take them to all of the cultural institutions for free as a soft benefit of working for one of the bigger ones in the city!

Speaking of my job, I love every second of it! It's so surreal having my dream job now and to be where I've wanted to be since I was 9 years old! It's amazing to work around some of the coolest animals on the planet every single day!

Every day I gain a little of myself back and every day I am so grateful I didn't marry that bastard.

[trainer-aer]

Life Update - Happily (un)married

April 8th, 2023

Today we celebrate the day that I DID NOT marry my abusive and manipulative ex-fiancé and instead celebrated almost five months away from that narcissistic jerk by starting my day by beachcombing along the lake at sunrise before going in to work at my favorite place in the world, the Shedd Aquarium!

I am SO RELIEVED to not be married to him. My mental and physical health are flourishing now that I'm free!

[trainer-aer]

i once called my nana, the most aggressively 4'11" jewish woman you could imagine, to let her know that there was a severe storm watch in her area

her response?

"Well, I'm not watchin' it!"

iconic

[trainer-aer]

Better late than never - Four Month Update

03.18.2023

___

March 14, 2023, was the three year anniversary of when I found out that I would be losing my opportunity to shadow the keepers at the Shedd Aquarium due to the pandemic shutting the world down. I had worked for two years at school for that opportunity and I watched my dream slip away in an instant.

About five months earlier, I had starting dating this guy who I would later become engaged to. He was a raging narcissist who didn't really care about me at all. And until exactly four months ago, I was still with him, even though he was physically and emotionally abusive, manipulative as hell, and a pathological liar. My physical and mental health suffered greatly while in this relationship.

I put off my dreams of getting myself back to the Shedd Aquarium for years to help him. I worked through severe pain to financially support us when he couldn't (or maybe, wouldn't - he didn't have the drive to ever actually work) and when he could, I drove him to and from work for months, packed his lunch with loving notes, and kept our apartment spotless, doing my best to support him, all while putting off my dreams.

Of course, this wasn't enough for him. He would take any and all frustration out on me. On our 3rd anniversary, he screamed at me over something insignificant. I can't even remember what exactly set him off. I never felt truly safe around him, he was incredibly unstable and I was always walking on eggshells trying to please him. On November 8th, 2022, he blew up at me for the last time. I do remember what it was that time. On November 8th, I established my boundaries firmly politely and he lost it, calling me unreasonable and ridiculous. Over the next couple weeks, he became increasingly hostile and aggressive.

I got myself out less than two weeks later. And I couldn't be happier that I did that for myself. My mental and physical health has improved significantly since leaving. I've lost weight, gained muscle, and improved my eating habits significantly (he was addicted to fast food and soda). I've rekindled friendships with people that he attempted to cut me off from. I've even made a whole lot of new friends, too!

In the past four months, I have created 12 fully finished pieces of artwork. In the three years that I was with him, I completed just 4 drawings.

I got my own, beautiful apartment in a lovely, quiet, neighborhood. It's all unpacked and so comfortable. I have the cutest kitchen where I can cook all of my meals.

And at the beginning of this month, I officially started a new job.

At the Shedd Aquarium.

In just four short months, I have made incredible strides in recovery. Emotionally, physically, and now, financially, too. I am on track for all of my career goals once again. My business is also still thriving, I'm completely booked out for the next several months.

The last four months have been incredible! I can't wait to see what exciting updates I have in the next month!

[trainer-aer]

if only there were a word for those 🤔