As another calendar year comes to a close, it is only fitting to reflect on the events over the past 12 months. Overall, it was a pretty decent year. There were some peaks and valleys; of course nothing is ever 100% positive or negative. I can truly say that despite the few hardships, I have the strength to overcome them and I know that what ever comes at me in 2014, I will thrive. The list below consists of the good, bad and ugly of 2013. In some of the entries you will find hyperlinks that will connect you to the original post.
The Good
- Earning my Masters Degree in English - TESOL. It took me 3 years to get through what is typically a two year program. I ended up getting a full-time teaching position, and that cut down my class schedule to part time status. I was okay with the delay considering that I could use my teaching position as my own personal laboratory for my final "Culminating Experience" project. It was a success, and my conference presentation received much positive feedback. What's next? Yes, I will be pursuing my Ph.D. in Literature. I want to stay local so my only options are Stanford, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz. Why does the Bay Area have to be home to the nation's top universities? I'm giving myself two years to adequately prepare for the program.
- Joining a dance troupe. Swing dancing has been my saving grace. I'm always my happiest when I'm on the dance floor. When a friend of mine approached me about a new chorus girl troupe in San Francisco, I immediately signed up. It took me a while to adjust to the thought of wearing skimpier clothing. I'm known for wearing dresses that fall below my knees, so when it came to wearing costumes that exposed my legs, I was nervous. Then I started getting compliments not only for my performance but for my hourglass physique. I've trimmed down some and have developed more strength in that I no longer wear myself out. But most importantly, I've developed new friendships with my fellow chorus girls, and I've learned to be more comfortable in my own skin. This new self-acceptance has led to modeling gigs with local photographers and building my portfolio.
- My promotion. The director at my campus promoted me to Coordinator of Staff and Curriculum. So in addition to teaching my classes, I am in charge of hiring and training new teachers as well as developing new curricula. My primary focus was promoting reading and literacy through American literature. I was given the green light to use this curriculum in my class (which I subsequently used for my MA degree project). My students enjoyed reading unabridged American novels, and now I have more students signing up for my class next quarter.
- Home loan approval. I am in the market to buy a house. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was approved for a loan. The next step is to find the right house. I'm looking to buy in San Mateo County, but it is no easy feat. Many sellers are greedy and the buyers are just plain nuts. I can't comprehend people paying $100K over the asking price. Seriously? Did they not learn from the last housing bubble that burst? I'm not in any sort of rush. The right house is out there, and I will find one to call home.
- Vindication. It was really tough having to sit before a lie detector test to determine the truth of what happened that fateful 2007 evening. I've made no secret of the fact that I am a rape survivor and that justice was never served. But it's now documented that I was not only a victim of rape but a victim of Orange County's miscarriage of justice. To finally have it confirmed was a tremendous weight off my shoulders.
- Vintage galore! Although I'd been vintage shopping for several years, I've pretty much topped off this year. Not only did I expand my vintage wardrobe, I also expanded my vintage collection of furniture. My most prized purchase is my 1912 Victrola. And it works!
- Being at peace. I made it a point to take mini-excursions throughout the year. Sometimes, you need to get away from the daily grind and surround yourself in serene environments. I found that in the following places: Half Moon Bay, Port Costa, Santa Cruz, and Pescadero.
The Bad
- The SuperBowl. After 18 long years, my 49ers finally made it back to the SuperBowl...and they...they...I'm still stunned and in disbelief. Lets move on.
- The Family Crisis. My family was dealt a a major blow this summer. I was the one who had to step up and be the strong one. I dealt with a range of emotions from sadness and despair to outright anger, yet I managed to keep myself from falling apart. I am definitely a much stronger person to have been able to handle that stress, and my mother was pleasantly surprised to see that strength. Eventually, crisis was averted. There's always something to be learned. No one is perfect and you can't expect others to be either. You have to accept that everyone has their vulnerabilities and no one can get through them alone. I learned that my dad isn't Superman. He's more like Batman; he has his flaws and his demons, but he's still a hero.
- Be careful who you trust. When I was going through the aforementioned crisis, I turned to my cousin who had gone through a similar experience. I confided in her and told her that I felt that I could count on her the most to not disclose my feelings to certain members of our family. Well, she did exactly that. When I found out about her act of betrayal, I wasn't really upset. I wasn't even hurt. I never even confronted her. I guess I just didn't care anymore. Not for the situation and certainly not for her. I just know now that she isn't a person to be trusted. It's sad that you have to come to that realization with blood relations.
- Raccoons are vile creatures. Quite possibly the biggest scare of the year was waking up to my dog, Daisy, fighting with a raccoon. When I ran out to the backyard, I was aghast to see a huge raccoon wrapped around Daisy. Luckily, she sustained only minor cuts to her back side. She may be a little poodle, but she's a tough girl. I think I'm more afraid of her going outside at night than she is.
The Ugly
- Gia. The herpes outbreak. It lies dormant only to pop up from time to time. That is what this individual is. One of my friends knew her personally and he started off saying, "She's got a mouth on her. She doesn't know when to shut up. That girl..." And without hesitation, I blurted out, "she's a cunt." (Now I rarely use profanity...RARELY, but when I use it, people know I mean it.) I thought I had encountered some vile people in my past, but this girl takes the cake (and eats it, too). Over the past year, she had harassed, threatened and stalked me (and even some of my friends). She still does. Admittedly so, she was a nightmare, but having my strong support network really helped. Now, I could care less; she's just an insecure little girl who lacks self-esteem. I hope Demian has finally seen her for what she truly is; a total psychopath.
And that is pretty much 2013 in a nutshell. Yes there were some challenging times, but overall, I can truly say that it has been a good year. I know 2014 will be even better.