2017 Update

Hey everybody that still follows this?

It's been nearly a year since I've used this blog. You should follow me on Insta for more regular updates. Although it is hard to post something like this to Insta.

It feels like every year is completely different for me. 2013 saw me moving out for the first time, and moving to the big city. 2014 saw me in art school, and learning how to live on my own. 2015 I moved back to Alliston, and started working at Base Borden, had a slump. 2016 I got my own place, and worked at the Market, got healthy, and got another contract at the Base. I met Matt (current boyf) and finished my final semester at OCAD.

Nope I didn't graduate. I dropped out. (hopefully not forever, but for now). I love painting, and I love the intellectual stimulation of art school. But during my last semester (fall 2016), I kind of found my schtick. The military. My paintings started to sway towards that topic, and as I have been working there for nearly a year - my world has that lens on it all the time. Enough so, that I decided to apply. Last year I considered joining the Reserves while I finished my art degree, but I never ended up going back to school full time when I was re-hired at the Base Clinic.

I put my application in to become a Nursing Officer at the end of November 2016. By 15 December I had done my aptitude test, and interview for the Canadian Armed Forces. I applied to the University of New Brunswick for Nursing, and started taking the pre-requisites for a Bachelor of Nursing online.

At this point, I'm a third of the way through my pre-reqs, I've had my recruit medical, my application for both the military and UNB are outstanding with missing documents (hopefully to resolve soonest!). Hopefully they both fall into place, and 2017 will see me off to Basic Training in the summer, and to Fredericton, NB in September starting another 4 year degree.

Part of the reason that I think this will be so fulfilling for me, is the opportunity to continue learning throughout my entire career. If all goes well, I could get my Masters, and specialize in Mental Health. There are tons of courses, deployments, postings that are available as a Military Nurse that just aren't offered to Civilians - as I have seen during my time at the clinic.

So cross your fingers for me, I was told the Forces are only hiring 5 Nursing Officers in the country this year. I'll be freaking lucky if this happens for me, but I'm doing my best to be in the running.

Thanks for your support through the years, whoever you are reading all the way to the bottom.

I love you all, and growing up is hard - but also so exciting.
So many things to learn, and experiences to have. I feel like 2017 is going to be a good one for me.

xoxo
Hayley

Another update thingy and some hiking pictures

Heyo. It's been a while. I'm still in the Alliston area, and hoping to be going back to school in Toronto next September. I've had a bit of a crazy few weeks, where I bought a car (had no idea what I was doing) and ended up getting ripped off. So now I'm trying to auction off that car and buy a different one. And I'm also moving again.

This time I'm moving to Alliston.

Anywho - here are some pictures I took when Devon and I went on a weekend hiking trip in Algonquin at the end of October. It was chilly but a good time and I'm glad I could fit in another camping trip this year.

I used a Holga for these pictures, which is a film camera famous for making artsy mistakes. So I'm aware it looks like a child took most of these and I think it's pretty neat.

Another sporadic update thing

Hello those of you who still keep up with all this.

Here's a song:

I'm basically not doing anything at all right now. Just working, and sometimes doing tiny watercolour doodle paintings. But otherwise- my show is still on at the Well for the rest of the month. The opening went really well and I've sold a few small things. So yeah!

I will also be showing at the Dufferin County Museum for a few weeks in December so stay tuned for details about that.

xoxo
H

Lol my life

This is the stuff of life. Coming and going, and being a vagrant. Cause why not try to pack as much experience into as short a time as possible.

I'm having this mindset lately where I've decided to laugh when life is shitty and ridiculous, cause it's freakin ridiculous. So instead of bumming around, I'm hopping with moonboots on, and planning the trip of a lifetime, and working my ass off to make it happen. I'm going to pay off my debt. And I'll be all fresh and stuff. I worked out today, and the exercise part was so crappy, but my hot shower and the burn in my legs right now is f'n wicked. And I feel like that's my life right now, I'm just in that shitty exercise phase so I can have all the energy, and max relax (as my boss would say) later. & I'm lovin it, knowing that's where it's all gonna go. And that I'll have both phases over and over, but all to have a better, happier life.

So yeah. Don't take life so seriously. take a break. GO NUTS, cause sometimes nuts isn't that nuts and it's probably the best thing to do.

This post is silly, but I've got energy & I just want everyone to know, that yep I look tired, and burnt out a little - cause I am. But it don't mean I'm depressed, and my life is a mess. It's messy. But like, it's not broken or whatevs.

Painter's Table Build with Dad

Me and my dad built a painter's table together last weekend. I would try to write a DIY instructable for it, but I mostly didn't know what was gong on. I sanded a lot, and used some big tools way too big for me, but that was awesome. Plus got to spend a day with Dad doing a super cool dad thing.

I tried to stain it but that didn't go too well. So we'll see. I'll show you it in my room once it's all aired out and I get it set up in here. Also, I get to decorate my desk at work tomorrow so that's exciting. & I got business cards too! You can see a picture on Instagram. https://instagram.com/hayleypowling/


xoxoxox
HP