I think the last thing I learned how to do was use my pen tablet. but I think that there were many many things I needed to learn how to do lately, including being patient and not stressed out. Ive been battling depression almost constantly since the middle of October, so learning to be motivated is something im still working on, and overcoming my tiredness and grumpiness. I really do love my life and I try hard to make it joyful for myself and the people Im surrounded with. So learning to do things that make me happy is a big one.

:-) very messy..

this is my room. or at least a little bit of it.

This photo is not mine. It is a stock photo taken from deviant art by illusi0n stock.
done with my tablet and corel painter.

done with my tablet and corel painter

done with my tablet and corel painter

done with my tablet and corel painter

done with my tablet and corel painter

I have been away on a camping trip for what seems like forever and a half. I have definitely missed Gaia. Alot has happened.

• I finished my first semester at school with mostly A's but 2 grades low enough to bring me down to a 3.2. I'll bring it back up next semester when i dont have any math classes.
• All of my friends came home from their respective colleges! I have missed seeing my friends, they do me good. I feel happier when they are around.
  
• My grandma didnt come for Christmas this year. This was the first Christmas in almost 2 decades that she didnt make the trip from upstate New York down to us in the Philadelphia area. I was really sad when I found out she wasnt coming. I understand her reasons though, the weather is terrible and shes got to be getting into her 80's soon.
• I got a pen tablet for christmas! It was the only thing I wanted and my mom got it for me, probably with the help of my dad. I will definitely post some of my recent work with the tablet soon. For anyone who doesnt know what a pen tablet it, its a human interface computer tool that allows you to write or draw or paint realistically with the pen onto the tablet. whatever gestures you make on the tablet, apear on the screen. It can even be used as a mouse. the one I got is a called a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet.
  
• I went camping directly after Christmas. It was great, as far as winter camping goes. I love being outside, even though my cheeks got wind/sun burned. The weather was so much better than was originally expected. I tented with my boyfriend Jeff and surprisingly we didnt get sick of eachother for the entire week we were there. I guess Im not really that surprised, but its nice to have a general idea of how things would be if we were living together. It was really an eye opener to me to physically realize when i got home how protected I am from the elements on a regular basis.
• I cleaned my room before I left for camping, but now its messy again. I will post pictures of my room before it got messy again. I love it and I think its really a good reflection of me. I feel like its alot like a gallery. There is so much art on my walls. The entrance to my room almost has its own little 6 foot hallway before it opens into the rest of the room. It looks more like a cave when its not lit though. The cave is where i hung most of the framed work that I have.
  

All in all its been a great end to a good year. I will post plenty of pictures. And maybe some of my literary work too..from my creative writing class.

I've seen people age in a few ways. My father was intemperate in his youth, he traveled the world, fought in wars, and probably slept with hundreds of women. Now he is in his fifties with a steady helicopter piloting job, and hes hardly less than miserable. He does the same thing week after week and I can tell its not what he wants, but what he is stuck with. I want the opposite. I have been doing the same old same old since I was born. I know that right now I need to concentrate on schooling and starting a career. I look forward to having the freedom to travel and avoiding the mundane. I look forward to getting past the responsibility of setting up my life, and actually using it to do some good. I want to be someone, and youth fades quickly, so I look forward to that about getting older.