Katydid, the hiatus is over!

Oh, hey again. It's been a while.

A lot has happened in the past three weeks...one day I need to write a post that isn't just a random assortment of Emily life things...

-I hung up Time magazine's cover story on Haiti on the wall above my desk. I put it there so I can always be reminded how extremely, remarkably, unfairly fortunate I am and that it is my duty to help people like the Haitians. And one day I very well will travel to Haiti to help because they're going to be rebuilding for a long, long time.

-I decided yesterday I'm going to apply to work at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis (Disneyland in hospital form) after I graduate, make some money, then travel and nurse around the world. Good plan, huh?

-I had a very exciting day in the hospital last week during my clinical. My patient was a 58-year-old woman (although she looked to be 88) who was usually quiet but her one-liners were hysterical. She was extremely patient with me and willing to help me practice my skills. I inserted a foley catheter (a tube that goes through the urethra into the bladder) while practicing sterile technique (maintaining a sterile field is probably the hardest part). Later that day, I measured, cleaned and packed a wound. I felt like a real nurse.

-I'm obsessed with Vampire Weekend's new CD, Contra.

-We were blessed with 31 beautiful "baby" Tri-Deltas after Rush this year. Recruiting took up about 96.7% of my time over the past two weekends. Glad it's over but well worth it.

-A friend in Delta Sigma Theta, one of the black sororities on campus, asked me to participate on a panel for their program, A Day in the Life of a Diabetic. Along with a Delta Sigma Theta graduate with type 2 diabetes, we answered questions for the women in the sorority. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. It got me thinking about speaking publicly to more people about type 1 diabetes...

-Still not on the insulin pump although the pump, supplies and insulin are all waiting for me at home. Very frustrating.

-I've sent out half my fundraising letters for my trip to Belize. I'm stamping and sending the next half tomorrow. It's two months away! The first time in my life crossing the borders of the United States.

-I'm going to start writing here as often as I can. I miss this. Well, I miss writing real posts...not this cop-out of a post.

-It is fucking cold outside. The end.

Random and choppy is the best I can do

-Auditioned for Women's Glee Club and even after two years without exercising my vocal chords, they offered me a spot! Soprano 2. What what.

-Classes suck. Except for Music 203.05 aka Women's Glee Club.

-It's cold as fuck and I forgot my gloves in the jacket I forgot at home. Genius.

-I can't fall asleep because I took a two-hour nap after class today. It was my first day back in clinical and with a new instructor (she drills us harder than my former clinical instructor, which I appreciate). I had an inexplicably low blood sugar of 38 (think death--I want my blood sugar to be around, like, 100) followed by a blood sugar of 56. So I wasn't allowed to do much in the hospital today. I felt beyond useless.

-After a bad day of being glove-less, useless, and sugar-less, I came home to a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Trevor (picture at the top). It's our six month anniversary today. Instant mood uplifted.

-Because I can't sleep, I decorated my room with photos of my family. For Christmas, Dad divided up his vast collection of pictures between Abby, Seth, Sarah and I. I have photos of Grandpa in his military uniform in 1944, Grandma with friends, Mom's mother Nonny holding baby Sarah, uncles and Dad as little boys, Mom in Italy as a teenager, Mom and Dad at their wedding and tons of pictures of the four of us kids growing up. I put a collage of these random pictures on my dresser under the glass covering and tacked some onto the cork board on my desk.



-Back on Twitter. Not regretting it.

-I love Miike Snow for some reason.

-These next several weeks are filled with lots of Glee Club, sorority recruitment, training sessions to be a leader for MLK Day of Service (more about that later), more recruitment, recruitment workshops, more rehearsals, Belize meetings, and studying. And maybe some living free of commitments and responsibilities. Yeah, right...

We survived...

Went camping with Tess, Allie, Natalie, and Katie last night in Delaware State Park. Elizabeth, Kylie and Megan came to visit for a little bit. I love my atypical sorority girls.

It was cold (I think the average was 47 degrees) but the park was absolutely gorgeous with the autumn colors and blue skies. We also went to a Haunted Forest and got the shit scared out of us, ate caramel apples and roasted hotdogs over the campfire.

A very fun weekend. I needed the getaway.

Superheros, Bodybuilders and Beasts

I'm disappointed that this exciting weekend is coming to an end...

Thursday night was Watchmen. I love people-watching. I could entertain myself for hours sitting inside a movie theater before any given midnight show and eating a box of Raisinettes.

Saturday, we had our Tri-Delta Initiation ceremony. I'm no longer a pledge but an active member. But that's not what got me so excited--it was when my parents, and all of the new girls' parents, made a surprise appearance! I was so happy to see them. The three of us had brunch at the sorority house then, as is reunion tradition, we hung out at the bookstore. And I got two more books I do not need. After spending a few hours together, Mom and Dad dropped me off to get ready for the sorority Formal.

This is the part where it gets really exciting. You know when Superman dramatically rips his shirt off at the chest? Well, that was me when I got stuck in my original dress. Yep, I was trapped in that thing after the side zipper completely broke--ten minutes before I was to be picked up for the dance. It wouldn't go down over my hips or up over my chest so I had no other choice but to rip it off in dramatic Superman fashion (not at the chest though). I kicked the shit out of that dress, picked out a better one and went on my way.



Formal had several elements of excitement, such as dancing, singing, chocolate fondu, and tanned bodybuilders. The bodybuilders were competitors in Arnold Schwarzenegger's Sports Expo which was taking place in downtown Columbus this weekend. I spotted a couple in the lobby of the hotel where our dance was being held. I even waved to one. Scary as hell.

The rest of the dance was so much ridiculous fun--my feet are still sore from all the dancing. I've never jumped so high in four-inch heels while singing at the top of my lungs. Damn you, Isley Brothers.



And today, my roommate Kelly and I ventured to the Palace Theatre downtown for Beauty and the Beast. I'd estimate that half the audience members were under four feet, dressed in gowns and crowned with tiaras. It was the most adorable thing I'd ever seen.

...I hate Mondays.

Delta Delta Delta ∆∆∆

I am now a Tri-Delta pledge--aka a "Baby Delta!"

Today my temporary "big" sister, Amy, pulled me aside to tell me that she had looked me up after the final Preference Round yesterday, "When I saw that you had an older sister in Alpha Gamma Delta and that their philanthropy was juvenile diabetes, I thought 'We lost her for sure.' But when they read your name off of the list of pledges this morning, I got so excited. I even, like, stood up shouting and I kind of teared up. I had to call my Mom to tell her I'd gotten you! I'm so glad that you're here."

I decided against joining Sarah's sorority because I don't always want to be following in her footsteps. In Alpha Gamma Delta, since my sister is a member, I am what is considered a "legacy," which means I would have automatically been accepted. But I wanted to know that I had done this all on my own...so I made Tri-Delta my first choice. In this way, I know I will become much more independent. My sister is really happy with my decision, too!

Although I was disapponted to turn away from raising money for my own disease, I think it will be really cool to raise money for a new cause--St. Judes Children's Hospital.

I could not be happier with my new sorority. YAY!

I've missed you, Bed

I just finished up my first weekend of sorority rush. It started on Saturday from nine to six and ended today (again from nine to six). We met all fourteen sororities briefly yesterday, narrowed our choices down to ten, then visited each house today. Next Saturday, I will visit my top six choices...and finally, make bids on my top three.

Man, oh man. This weekend was a lot of fun but I'm exhausted -- my feet are beat from the combination of consecutive nine hour days baring the elements (sleet, ice, freezing rain, snow) and high heels.

Tomorrow, from nine to 12, I start my new volunteer position at the Medical Center -- this quarter, I'm in Ambulatory (same-day) Surgery. I'm looking forward to my involvement in many a colonoscopy. Super. Immediately after volunteering, I will truck over to my Organic Chem class where I will be taking my first quiz.

I've never appreciated my bed more in my entire life. I'm going to go use it now.

P.S. I, personally, think that it is a miracle I've stayed away from coffee for this long. My plan is to never start drinking it -- I rely on Diet Coke when the day is particularly rough. Let's see how far I make it...