I'm So Going to Regret This...

Father's Day (and other things)

So. My dad. He's...an interesting character. He's there for me and he takes care of me, including my needs and wants. He's a really good person. He and I have finally gotten to the point where we don't fight (let's just say I went through my "rebellious" stage quite early in my life...Including getting purple streaks in my hair when I was eight even though my dad had told me no). He served two tours with the Army in Iraq when there was a war going on over there. He got custody of me between his first and second tour (I believe), and at that time, I hated him.

Before you go off on me for talking highly of my father and then saying I don't like him, let me explain. For the first four years of my life, I lived with my mother, and didn't even meet my dad until I was three or four. Since I spent so much time living with my mom and my brother, I grew accustomed to that life, even though it wasn't a very good one. When my dad came one day to take me back with him, I thought was actually taking me away. I mean, I was four at the time. I didn't understand what was actually going on, especially because no one told me. I thought my dad was a bad guy for taking me away from my mom and brother. It took years for me to finally understand what happened during that time in my life. And I wasn't too happy when I finally did find out.

My dad has been through so much and he just keeps getting hit with bad things. He's a single parent taking care of a teenager. He's sacrificed so much for everyone around him and hardly gets anything in return. He wants a wife and another kid, but dating for him hasn't gone too well...He's tried so damn hard in life and people attack him for it. He had to quit night school because he had gotten a new job, but he had to work second-shift.  His new job isn't much better than his previous one...and this week, he's working third-shift. It's really taking a toll on him...It sucks. I'd help him, but I don't really know how.

Anyways...He and I had to celebrate Father's Day beforehand because of his work schedule. Last Friday we walked around the mall and got pedicures. (He walks a lot and it helps his feet. Don't judge.) Later on, around seven-thirty in the evening, he and I went for a ride on his motorcycle. I had forgotten how much I love riding...It's another way to escape. We were out for an hour, maybe more, and we also got frozen custard at a local shop. There was a lady there who had two birds with her. A blue and gold macaw, and I forgot what the other one was...but it was cool. I talked to her a little bit because I have an obsession with birds, and I partially grew up with them. That was really cool...we went home after that. We went for another motorcycle ride the next day, after spending a few hours at  a pool, and had lunch at one of our favorite places from before we moved to where we are now. It was awesome to spend time with him because I don't really get to anymore. My dad is really awesome.

Also, I thought I would share some drawings that I've done, and share a few pictures I've taken as well...Enjoy!

I drew this as a birthday present for one of my friends that also loves birds, even more so than I do. She used to have a Sun Conure, so I tried to draw one for her...Sorry that the coloring isn't that great. I've only just recently started adding color to what I draw, so I'm not that good.

This is something that I tried drawing after watching a tutorial on YouTube last fall...I got bored one night and stayed up until almost one in the morning coloring it. Again, the coloring sucks, an the picture quality isn't that great...Sorry.

This one looks a little demonic because you can't see the green of her eyes very well against the black pupils. The coloring is a little too girly for my taste, but I'm trying to force myself out of my comfort zone. I tried to draw this one in chibi-style...

I took this on a boat when I spent the day on a lake with one of my friends.

So...I have a thing for sunsets. Naturally, because of this obsession, I took ten to fifteen photos (I haven't counted how many yet) of the sunset when we were heading back on the boat to the beach to go home...

I went on a trip last fall to go see family on my mom's side, and I took a couple pictures like this on the way home. We left early in the morning, so this is a sunrise...

Hope you guys enjoy the pictures...I might post more if you guys like these ones. Peace out.