It's been one whole year, guys

A year ago, I never thought I'd make it to today. A year ago, I started out all over again as an odd sort of new-born. That's seriously how the doctors described it to me and my parents: learning to take care of diabetes is like learning to take care of a new-born baby.
I was thrown a curveball; I'd never imagined that I would spend most of my life attatched to needles and tubes and blood, but that's what I've been given. Don't mistake me, I'm not bitter over it, but it's a huge change, and while it's not always comfortable, it's necessary. It's opened up whole new trains of thought for me, and it's given me more opportunities. It's helped me develop my faith and to come to understand with how I deal with stress. It's also helped me in that now I know that at least healthwise, I can take care of myself fairly well now.
I'd like to thank everyone that has helped me so much over the last year. I'll admit sophomore year was hard, with a new school, trying to find new friends, and getting sick so much. It was such a blessing to have found such amazing friends just as I was diagnosed; you all made that hard transition period just a little easier as you leaped to do everything you could to help me.

So what's happened in that year? A lot. I dumped a boy. I learned that needles are not fun to stab yourself with while camping. Actually, they're kind of terrifying when you haven't been dirt-free for a few days. I've discovered I really want to go to Scotland some day and visit Caerlaverock Castle. I managed to get on an insulin pump- which was fast for a new diabetic. I've survived high school and homework. I've developed a new vocabulary full of words like "dose" and "stab", and "I'm high" (it's awesome to watch people's faces when they don't know- they totally think I'm an emo druggee). I have found some of the most amazing friends every, and I've grown closer to my family. And finally (for this list), and ironically, I've learned to love cooking every kind of food under the sun.

Thanks so much for the love and support, I'd never have made it a year without you all! Toodles!

Drip, Drip, Drop Little April Shower

It has rained ALL WEEK. Although I live in the Desert, when it really wants to rain, it pours. So I haven't seen the sun in a few days. Technically, this is best for me. I never seem to tan, I only burn, and when I burn, the burn stays a few days before fading.
And besides, I'm starting to get the pre-A.P. test homework load. And I must say, it's A LOT. I've still got about 9 chapters of AP American, and I'm getting frickin' (pardon the language but it's true!) big Calc packets every day. And with State Solo and Ensemble and several Orchestra perfomances coming up, it seems like whenever I sit around doing nothing, I can think of ten things I SHOULD be doing.
But, instead, I'm still pursuing my photography binge I seem to have picked up in the Redwood Forest a few weeks ago. It's not fair, my backyard is so gorgeous, and I think it's undervalued. No, that doesn't mean I'll weed it, but I will enjoy it.

I always feel a little guilty stealing pictures from online; it's my life I blog about, and it's my life you should be seeing. So don't be surprised if there's suddenly a flood of my pictures, because I'm really starting to enjoy this! Toodles!

I'm Back!

Sorry I missed you guys last week; I'd meant to post before I left, but things got busier than I'd anticipated on Wednesday, so I'm posting now. And sorry if I seem scrambled, I got off the bus after 17 hours on board last night, and I'm still just a bit fuzzy at times.

So, San Francisco was amazing! The Music Trip was so much fun, and I'm glad I got to go with such awesome friends! Truthfully, I'm glad it's over (motion-sickness and sleeping on an armchair aren't so great), but I'm also super glad that I went. So, what does the music trip involve?
First and foremost, it involved a LOT of time on the bus. Really, I think I spent almost 48 hours on a bus in the past week. Blech.

It also involves going to Pier 39 for a few hours of shopping, eating, and watching sea lions.

Then you get to go to a music festival for a few hours for two days (not necessarily as fun, although the show choirs are always entertaining)

And then you get to spend several hours on the bus (not fun- most of us got really motion sick on the winding roads past cabins) and then exploring the Redwood Forest. This was honestly the highlight of the trip for me. The redwoods were so gorgeous, and it's absolutely unbelievable how huge these things are!

The next day was Golden Gate, and I loved getting to eat my churro finally!

And it was closed with an amazing dinner cruise. The only downside was that I got motion sick again, but I've still got to say that it was a blast! And quite conveniently, the cruise went right past Alcatraz at sunset. It was a great end to the trip, and again, I'm soooooo glad I went!

Well, there's the last week. Toodles, and I love ya!