An Effort at Being Creative

I started painting about a year ago, since I have always been a little interested in it (who didn't love art time in elementary school???), and a friend was generous enough to give me some canvases since she was moving. I have found painting to be both frustrating and fun. It can also be really relaxing, and I would recommend it even if you don't think you would be any good.

During the first attempt, Mirza's sister Lejla was visiting and we both took a crack at it. I hated my first painting, and it was really annoying since my mind had this idea of what I wanted to do, but I had no way of making the brushes do it. I still struggle with this problem, but now I just pick easy things to paint!

Check out that face on the left. Yup, not happy!

Eventually I had a successful painting, of which is far from perfect or amazing, but it's good enough :)

This one is hanging in the bathroom. Funny fact - it's the same canvas used for my first painting :D

And now, for what I'm really excited about: yesterday I finished a group of three that have been in progress for quite awhile. The living room wall behind the couch is pretty big, and it really needed some help to not look so bare. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out, and it's fun looking at the colorful wall now!

A Little Bit of Everything

Quite a lot in my life has changed these past few months, namely, school and work. I am now taking a full-time load of nursing pre reqs, which includes Physiology, Microbiology, and two Psychology classes. I believe I'm on track to get A's in all of them, except for Physiology where I'm probably at a B right now. This is a little disappointing. BUT, there is still plenty of time left to kick it into gear. It's funny how time works; I resigned from my job as an office manager so I could concentrate on my classes, since getting into nursing school is pretty competitive here. I've had so much time, more than any other time in my life, and it was starting to really get to me. Every now and then I would look at job postings, and one day I randomly saw a nanny job that seemed like it would be great for my schedule.

Somehow I was hired, even though I have no formal childcare/nanny experience. The kids are older though - the youngest of three is in 4th grade and the oldest is a freshman in high school. Basically, these are some really busy kids that need to be shuttled around, and pushed to get their homework, piano, guitar, and clarinet practice done. I also cook dinner for the kids and help with the laundry. Overall, it's been a good experience, although kind of stressful as well. I'm not sure yet how to find the balance between not being a pushover but not being too tough either. If anybody has advice, please feel free to send it my way! The kids are polite for the most part though, and the parents are really great as well. I've been a lot more productive since I started working again (no surprise there, since I already knew that from college). I also feel like I've become more organized in all aspects of my life, since this family is such a good example of how to get it all done :)

Well, other than that life is going pretty well. I recently discovered I LOVE kayaking, and I wish I could go all the time! Mirza, a friend and I took a little camping trip a few weeks ago at Del Valle State Park. It has a beautiful lake, and kayaking as the evening was coming in just couldn't have been better. There was something so cool about being in the middle of the lake and so close to the water, but still relatively dry :) Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera on the kayak, but we took some photos afterwards.

The next day we went boating, which wasn't as fun as kayaking, but still okay :) Mirza and Glen

took a little swim, and also went cliff diving (at which time I felt it important that somebody stay with the boat...)

Some more fun was had a few weeks ago when I finally biked over the Golden Gate Bridge. Mirza and I went on a beautiful day, and took a ferry back to the city. As sappy as it sounds, sometimes I can't believe I live here, because it really is an amazing city and area.