It's All Her Fault

https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/a.102107073196735.4429.102099916530784/1673118259428934/?type=3&theater

So I realize that I'm opening a huge can of worms with this post, but it's something I feel quite strongly about. I've honestly avoided talking about this issue because it can be so controversial, but after reading something earlier, I feel the need to share my opinion. Also, this is MY opinion. You can agree or disagree, but please don't try to change my mind. I'll respect your opinion so please respect mine.

Earlier this afternoon as I was browsing through Facebook, I came across a post from a page I follow called Humans of New York. If you don't follow it, I would highly recommend it. It gives you a whole new perspective on other people's lives and cultures. It is truly my favorite page on Facebook and the one that is the most thought-provoking for me. It has been responsible for changing my opinion on various topics, one of those being the Syrian refugees. His pictures of and posts from the refugees changed my opinion from being mostly against the refugees and allowing them into America to now having mixed feelings leaning more towards allowing them in, but also taking precautions. But that's not what I want to talk about. My point is that his pictures and the stories that go with them can be very influential and eye opening.

I Like To Think...

I like to think...
I like to think I'm beautiful.
I like to think sometimes I'm graceful.
I like to think I'm funny.
I like to think I'm smart.
I like to think I'm loyal.
I like to think I'm talented.
I like to think I'm loved.
I like to think I matter in some small way.
I like to think I'm successful at hiding my pain.
I like to think my depression does not control me.
I like to think the scars on my body tell a story.
I like to think I've overcome the hardest parts of my life.
I like to think if anything ever happened to me, I would be missed.
I like to think...
I like to think someday I'll find true love.
I like to think I'll make my parents proud.
I like to think I'll be successful someday.
I like to think I have a future.
I like to think I'll get out this city and state.
I like to think someday I'll travel the world.
I like to think I'll find what I'm searching for.
I like to think the words I write touch lives.
I like to think I make a difference.
I like to think I bring some modicum of happiness to others.
I like to think I'll learn to be a better person.
I like to think someone, anyone appreciates my quirks and oddities.
I like to think I'm worth something, anything.

A Year in Review: 2016

Another year has come and gone. It's been a year of a lot of highs and some major lows. I began the year by going back to school with an actual purpose in mind. I've been in college since 2009, jumping from major to major and, to an extent, college to college. But nothing I went for seemed to click. Until I decided that since I really, really do not like people, I should go for the career I wanted as a child: a veterinarian. I decided to start out less ambitious though and I enrolled at CNM for the spring semester to start taking the classes I needed to get into the CNM Veterinary Technology program.

While the semester wasn't easy with the complications of chemistry, the endless paper writing for English, and the craziness
of theatre appreciation, I found myself enjoying being back in college for the first time ever. I found myself making friends and getting along with various classmates, but most importantly, I found myself actually succeeding in college the way I never had before. I ended the semester with all A's and made the Dean's List.

But the biggest success of the semester was taking the test required to get into the Vet Tech program. I had constantly heard how difficult the test was supposed to be and was more than a little apprehensive going to take it. I figured that I would take it once and get a feel for it and what questions would be asked so I could study and actually pass it the second time. To my complete and total disbelief, I passed it the first time with fairly good scores. I was over the moon. All I had to do was pass my summer classes and I was in!

Starry Night

One of my favorite paintings is Van Gogh's Starry Night. I honestly cannot tell you exactly what it is about it that I love so much, but it's just so striking and unique and beautiful to me. I gained an even deeper appreciation for it after I saw the Doctor Who episode "Vincent and the Doctor." It is, to date, the best Doctor Who episode I have ever seen and my personal favorite. If you haven't seen it, go watch it; it's beautiful.

A few months ago, my mom and decided to go to a studio that has a paint and wine type of deal. You look at their online calendar to find a painting you like and sign up for it. A lot of times people get wine or beer to enjoy while painting but my mom and I decided to skip that part and just paint. They walk you through the steps of painting the piece and at the end of the time period, you've got yourself a completed painting! Starry Night proved to be far more challenging than either my mom or I expected and neither one of us was thrilled with the results. We decided that if we combined our two paintings, it might actually look halfway decent. Guess I better cancel any plans I had of being a famous painter!