$$$$

I have watched so much money disappear today on...

-Kid Cudi's new CD
-A new phone (although I came home and immediately sent in that mail-in rebate)
-Printing documents at Kinko's
-Toiletries and supplies for school--shampoo, conditioner, Neutrogena SPF 15 moisturizer, John Freida Dream Curls spray, Dove soap, headbands, printer paper, notebook paper, pens, pencils, Post-Its, staples, a planner, a calendar, a file organizer thing, etc.
-Housing for Tri-Delta
-A Microbiology 509 laboratory manual
-Chipotle for the family

And that is just in one day! And only what I can remember off the top of my head.

I still have to get my haircut, buy printer ink and white shoes for clinicals, and pay for a drug screen, hospital ID badge, the Kaplan Nursing Diagnostic Testing, and course packets for Nursing 301.01 and Nursing 385.01. Oh, and I can't forget about those ridiculously overpriced textbooks.

It makes me so incredibly grateful for my parents and their support. I can not even begin to imagine paying for everything by myself (like the $190 medical bill we received today for some blood work I needed for nursing school). I see how they've allowed me to follow my very expensive dreams and ambitions.

I love ya, Mom and Dad.

Farewell, Summer

I spent the weekend at the University of Pittsburgh with Melissa, Liza and Gaby. I fell in love with the city and the trip was ridiculously fun. Plus, it was the perfect way to end the summer (although I broke my phone and cracked the car's bumper today. Whoops!)

Now it's time to say goodbye to summer and to start preparing to move back to my beloved city of Columbus...

A few reasons to be happy...

-In a little over a week, I will be flying to San Antonio to see Adam! I haven't seen him since January 2nd.

-I got the job interview with the Resident Home Corporation. Hopefully, I nail it! I'm nervous.

-I'm getting the opportunity to shadow a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital over the break. I want to see what it's like--because, right now, I'm considering getting my Master's degree for either Nursing or Occupational Therapy.

-New music: Kelly Clarkson's CD "All I Ever Wanted" and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' CD "It's Blitz!"

-Running seven miles with no problems--other than some minor aches in my knees and hips. I'm right on track for the half-marathon in May!

-Next Thursday, at 1:18 PM, I will officially be done with General Chemistry. Next quarter, I'm taking Introduction to Public Health (for my PH minor), Anatomy, English 110 and Cultural Anthropology. Nineteen credit hours is heavy, but every subject interests me so I don't mind.

-I have gained more strength, I realize, to stand up to people for what I believe. Even when it's a person I love. And when that is the very hardest.

Snow days have lost their luster

I hate to admit it...but snow days in high school were much more exciting than snow days in college.

Back in high school, a snow day meant that I would not have to wake up at 6:30 in the morning. I could sleep until noon, only to be awoken by the smell of Mom and Dad making bacon and pancakes. I have so many good memories from snow days in high school. I remember, the morning after a bad snow storm last year, all of my friends and I lost a massive snow ball fight to some vicious ten-year-olds. Or the time, on an unexpected snow day during the Pasta for Pennies campaign last February, our entire class banded together--shoveling driveways and such--to raise a whopping $1,000.

In college, it's different. If I had had classes today, I would have woken up at eleven and I would only have had two classes. There is no Mom and Dad...no pancakes, eggs or bacon (unless I want to risk food poisoning by trusting the cafeteria downstairs). I have no snow pants, no snow boots, no heavy duty gloves ideal for snowball-making, and no sled! I mean, there aren't even hills in this city!

I shouldn't be complaining since my three hour Chemistry lab was canceled today, and my roommate Kelly and I have been enjoying a lovely Top Chef marathon. But I think snow days may have finally lost their luster for me.

Ice skating upside down...or just backward

Since I've already completed my Biology prerequisite for Nursing (thanks to a certain high school Biology teacher), I had an opening in my Winter Quarter schedule that needed to be filled. So what did I decide to fill it with? Skating 101.

Yup, I'll get credit for ice skating once a week. I was sold on the class once I read the description which stated that I would learn to skate backward. I have always wanted to do that!

Chances are good that I will bruise my tailbone at least twice.

Halloween is truly evil

It's Halloween weekend! As excited as I am to celebrate - I've concluded that there is no other holiday or event that sets a diabetic up to fail so miserably. At least, a diabetic college freshman like me. Offerings of beer and candy are rampant! And, even more cruel, tomorrow is the beginning of National Diabetes Month.

So after we drink and eat ourselves into a coma tonight - and our blood sugar can't decide whether to go up from the candy or down from the alcohol - we get to wake up to celebrate healthy diabetes awareness! Woo-hoo.

Oh well, I'm still looking forward to this weekend! I'll try to be good. Happy Halloween!

Have you registered?

I appreciate their efforts...but, unfortunately, being followed by voter registration people on my way to and from classes has become a daily occurrence.

I just don't have the heart to shout, "Yes I am registered and I am voting for Obama! Now, leave me alone, I'm late to Chemistry!"

Oh Shit

If my blood sugar meter could speak, that is what it would say. Because, lately, my blood sugars have been pretty terrible. I'm either waking up three times in the middle of the night from a low BG (blood glucose) to chug apple juice or I'm taking a million units of insulin to correct for a high BG.

The good thing, however, is that I'm constantly surrounded by people who are looking out for my safety. Everyone is well aware of my diabetes. At Andy's party on Friday, upon noticing that I'd forgotten to wear my medical identification bracelet, Will took a Sharpie to scrawl "I have diabetes type 1" across my forearm. And at a party on Saturday night, my diabetic friend Brandon tested my blood sugar for me, retrieving my glucose tabs to make sure my BG didn't drop.

Well, aside from the poor blood sugars, I really love college. I'm having such a great time...I love everything so far. However, that might change as my homework load increases...which it most certainly will by the end of the week!