Social Networking was kind of taken over my life.

The other day, Thursda I think, I decided to deactivate my facebook. The negativity I have come across on that site from the election as well as being a part of the LGBT community, I was just so very, very tired. Also, I'm tired of people being too far into my personal business. I was just more than okay with sharing all of these private things with the whole world, I mean, I guess I still am, but that's not the point.

I used to have to check facebook so often. I can't even say how often I was on the site in one day. It took up so much of my time and energy. A couple of months ago I decided to take a break from it, so I did for about a week and then I was back to it stronger than ever, but this is the first time I've actually deactivated it.

I stopped going on twitter as much as well. The only sites I'm using since getting rid of facebook are tumblr and instagram. Who knows how long those are going to last being used in my life. I always need some place to kind of vent so I'll keep tumblr for that possibly, but I don't know. We shall see.

Since weening myself off social networking I feel so much better about myself. I'm not wasting my life trying to see what people I probably don't even care about are doing. Sure, it's awesome to use facebook to catch up, but I was just friends with so many people from high school and a good majority of them I wasn't even bothered with in high school, so why start now?

I'm especially happy that I won't be getting upset over what someone posts that significantly differs from my opinion. I know we all have opinions, but when all I see someone post is something that differs what I believe I get annoyed. Don't even get me started on those people who are rude about our differing opinions.

I was also beginning to become friends with a lot of guys that quite honestly creeped me the fuck out. I don't want to date anyone. I'm in love with someone and regardless of how our relationship is, it would never be fair to someone else, let alone myself, to try and get into something when I'm not all there. It has taken me a long time to come to those terms, to realize I don't need to rush things, to just slow down my life and relationships, so I'm not going to contradict everything that I've worked so hard for.

I don't have to worry with any of that anymore. I may activate my facebook again some day, but right now I don't need it in my life. God will provide those people who care about me in my life with the means to reach me. I do have a cell. :)

Is Catholicism such a bad thing?

I have been converting to Catholicism for the past month or so. I started going to Mass, praying everyday, and have even spent the time decorating my place with various religious items. I'm super serious about this Catholicism thing. This is the first time in my entire life that a religion has made me feel happy, whole, and loved.

Before I started converting, I identified as an Atheist. Honestly, I get more questions asking "why?" now than I did when I was an Atheist. I'm tired of being questioned why when it comes to Catholicism. I know it is strict and, looking in from the outside, it isn't the best denomination to get behind, but it makes me happy. I'm not doing this for anyone else BUT MYSELF. I am so very, very tired of the questions though. Ask me about Catholicism, learn something, instead of wondering why I chose this religion and kind of making me feel like I need to pick something different. Be happy that I've even found God because before this all happened I didn't believe. Be proud of me in that aspect and don't patronize me for my beliefs. I'm sure none of you are trying to do that, but that is exactly how I feel. Sorry, I don't see myself being a baptist, or Jewish, or Mormon.

Catholicism is beautiful to me. The rituals are beautiful. The prayers are beautiful. Mass makes me feel so much better about myself than anything else I have ever done in my life. Isn't that enough? Stop questioning me why I'm doing what I'm doing like it's a bad thing. Just stop.

Be happy that I'm doing this for myself. I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have, in fact, I welcome the questions. I would love to teach you the beauty of my denomination. I would love to show you how amazing it could be to go to Mass and be filled with the love of the Spirit every day. Just, please, think before you ask anything that will be construed as rude.

College.. Is it worth it?

It's been a really long time. This is what happens when you start a full time job and become an adult I guess?

You know, I really have to question what my college degree is going to help me accomplish.. I'm not going to quit, believe me I'm way too close to finishing for that, but I'm just kind of curious. I have a fantastic job right now, in the field that I want to work in for the rest of my life. Did I need my degree for that? Nope.

I know a bachelor's in psychology doesn't do much if anything.. it just really looks good on paper. Is that why I'm spending the government's money and learning stuff that I don't necessarily care for? Just to look good on paper? I don't know. I think I'm just tired of being in school. I've been in school since I was about 5 years old.

This has been non stop. I really just want a break. I'm going to be going back to school as soon as I graduate from UNT this summer or this fall, but maybe I should take a year off and just concentrate on working?

I don't know. Just a thought.

Why should I go around being afraid of everything in life?

Today in class, we talked about rape and it's stats. That's some terrifying stuff.. Not even kidding. That being said, I don't feel like it's fair that I have to go throughout my life being paranoid of getting raped or, god forbid, murdered.

Why is our culture so accepting of this and want to point the finger at the victim? Why?

It's not fair to anyone. As a woman, I should be able to wear what I want and do as I please, but I can't. I can't wear anything "too revealing" in fear someone will decide to take advantage. I don't go to parties because I don't want to get drunk around people I don't know. I can't walk alone too late at night in case there is someone lurking in the shadows to cause me harm. (Although, you are JUST as likely to get raped at anytime during the day as well as late night/early morning.) I carry mace with me everywhere I go as a just in case precaution. I have to be aware of my surroundings at ALL times since there is no telling who will do what to me.

This is slightly ridiculous and not fair. I shouldn't fear anyone or anything. I shouldn't be so paranoid, but I am. Sure, there are some sick people in the world, and chances of me meeting them are kind of slim, but god forbid I do and I'm not prepared for it. God forbid, I get drunk at a party and can't consent to sex. I WILL get blamed. Yes there are people out there who don't victim blame and I want to thank them ALL personally. It's a beautiful thing when people stop blaming the victim when 9 times out of 10 it is NOT their fault. Not in the slightest.

I don't know. There's something wrong with us as a society if we victim blame. It's disgusting, and we should really start to evaluate things.

I don't usually touch on politics, but...

I think it should be pretty obvious that I take a very liberal stance on things. I believe in rights for all human beings. All of them. I believe in pro-choice because while I may never intend to get an abortion, I should have a fucking right to get one if I so damn well please. It's not the governments right to tell someone who they should love, or that they should carry an unwanted baby to full term. There are loads of kids in need of homes who are orphans. Loads.

That being said, I really wish the government would stay the hell out of MY vagina. It is by default, my property, and I don't appreciate them telling me what I can and cannot do with it. That would be like me telling them what to do with their penises. I mean, seriously?

They also don't have a right to take away my birth control or planned parenthood. I'm on the pill. It's expensive. I would quite like it if my insurance paid for it. I have several medications that I have to pay for, and thank goodness I have a mother who can help me out when need be otherwise I would kind of owe my soul to the pharmaceutical companies. Most women don't have that luxury. Also, being sexual active I've bought my fair share of condoms, and those are even more expensive then my birth control pills. I've been on birth control since I was 16. I didn't use it for contraception in the first place. I needed it for medical reasons.

I would really just appreciate it if people took their religious views out of the government rulings and the like. While I may not believe in god, if I did, I feel like he would be so ashamed of how the government is treating their own fellow beings. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Christians/whatever religion you choose basically supposed to treat one another better? Aren't they supposed to love one another and not treat another human being like shit?

We're all humans, and we're all different. That's what makes the human species so beautiful. We all have different beliefs and fall in love differently and live our lives differently. I'm sorry but I think god would want us to love one another and not attempt to chastise anyone for who they loved and he definitely wouldn't take away anyone's rights as a human being. I'm just sayin'.

Horror Movies Sexist?

Here's some important things you should probably know about me.
1) I'm a vegan.
2) I'm a feminist.
3) I reallllllllllllllllly love me some horror movies.

That being said, I don't think horror movies are sexist. Sure, we get to some naked chicks getting murdered, but hey, I love tits as much as the next person (I know, I'm not sure how I'm single either) and I think we should all just embrace the fact that there's a lot of sex, naked people, and some awesome ass gore in horror movies.

I know some of them are a little over the top, but that's okay. If you don't like them, don't watch them. This applies to anything. If you don't like (insert whatever thing you hate), then don't associate with it. Seriously. It's as easy as that. It really is. I promise.

I was raised on horror movies, and aside from you know, rooting for the killer or whatever, I turned out alright. I don't accept the murder of animals, I want nothing more than for all of humans to have the same rights because we are simply human, and I'm pretty dang good at the whole school thing. Honestly, I think I'd be pretty boring if my mom hadn't taken the chance and raised me on horror. She, of course, watched the movies before I did to make sure there wasn't any overt sex or nudity, and if there was I either wasn't allowed to watch it, or she just fast forwarded through them. (oh, how I miss VHS's.)

All of that being said, she was a pretty damn good parent. She pushed me to my limits grade wise, and she raised me to not be so judgmental of others. That's the problem with parent's nowadays, they don't really parent and then they get up in a tizzy because their child has made a bad grade, or they watched a movie that was inappropriate for them. Once that's happened, it's never their fault, it's always someone else's. It's a little ridiculous.

Anyway, I got off on a tangent there. Obviously being a feminist I should probably think that horror movies exploit women and all of that stuff, but I just can't bring myself to look at it that way. I really can't. Blame it on my love of horror movies, I'm okay with that, but I will always be the first to say that horror movies aren't sexist. Sorry.

Being in the south means be called ma'am, deal with it.

About a week ago in my woman's psych class, (I know, I know, I hear you complaining already) we were discussing how here in the south waitresses/waiters are likely to call you ma'am, sugar, baby, honey, hon, etc. Personally, I see nothing wrong with this considering we ARE in the south and if you were born/raised here you learn to say ma'am/sir and the sweet talk just kind of comes with that territory.

I call people for my current job and 99.9% of the time we're calling other people in Texas. That being said, I get called ma'am, A LOT. It used to bother me until I brought it up to my mom who said, "Danielle, seriously? They're just being polite.", then I realized that we kind of are in the south and I was raised the exact same way.

Even if I don't live in the south when I'm older, have my children, etc, etc, I'll be teaching them to say yes ma'am/no ma'am, yes sir/no sir cause it's just polite. It's definitely a whole 'nother world to go somewhere and not be called ma'am or not to even use it. Not using it is kind of a joke, I don't think I've ever, you know, not intentionally not said it.

Anyway, back to what I was saying, if you're in the south you kind of have to get used to it. People are going to call you sweet names. It happens. I know I'd rather be called ma'am to miss any day.

P.S. if this blog post doesn't make much sense, blame it on my sickness. I'm currently laying in bed where I have been all day with the exception of taking a test that I didn't study for. I hate feeling sickly. :( Please send good vibes my way you lovely, lovely people.