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!

May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

Oh. My. Gosh. Do you have any idea what tonight is? No? You're joking right? THE HUNGER GAMES OPENS! And I'm being super sneaky right now, because technically I'm supposed to be going to bed, and instead I'm blogging. But I've just got to talk! Or type, I suppose.
I was lucky enough to get tickets to an early showing, and I just got back. Holy cow! All right, let's get our thoughts in order here....
I totally called it when I said Suzanne Collins wouldn't ruin her own story. It was amazing, both in how true it stayed to the book, and how it portrayed the exact same characters we already knew. Katniss was clearly Katniss, Peeta, Peeta, and so many others were exactly as I'd imagined them. And the way they filmed it! It was a slightly different approach then you see in most movies, but for the Hunger Games, it just seemed to fit.
Okay, you know how last post I said I wasn't an obsessed fan-girl? I think I may have to withdraw that statement. Seriously. In the past day, I reread all of the first book and got halfway through Catching Fire. I'm extremely tempted to go steal my sister's mockingjay pin. I'm (of course) wearing my Hunger Games shirt, and all that's running through my mind is the Hunger Games. And, I have to admit it, I say more than ever now that Peeta Mellark is attractive, so that in and of itself is a reason to watch the movie. Seriously. Go NOW.
Speaking of Peeta, I loved watching him and Katniss. I don't think I can quite describe the joy this brought me- if you've seen me get excited over something though, I'm guessing you have an idea. The last time I was this excited was probably when I got asked to a certain dance,and I was happy-dancing over that for two days straight. No lie, Peeta and Katniss make me that happy right now. I don't know that "cute" is how I would EVER describe that relationship- there's so much more to it than many teenage romances, and "cute" is really almost an insult to it. But they're right for each other. They balance each other, in their temperments, their talents, what they hold valuable, and what they see in each other. And I love that the movie didn't detract from that. I also love how it didn't try to fluff it up- for Katniss, it may have started as a means of survival, I'll admit, but she really came to love Peeta. The movie didn't make it seem forced, it was natural, and very much like the way I interpreted it after my first reading of the Hunger Games.
All right, so just to make it clear-GO SEE THIS MOVIE. It is AMAZING.
And with that, I'll have to say good-night so that I don't fall asleep in AP tomorrow. Toodles!

I'm so excited!

The next few weeks are going to be super busy for me- and super fun! I can't even begin to say how excited I am! As always, I'm going to be VERY busy through all of this, so we'll keep our fingers crossed I can live through until next Wednesday!
This week, it starts with the usual- doctors' appointments and tests, but then it becomes amazing on Thursday. Thursday night is when The Hunger Games opens!

Need I say more? Well no, of course, but I will anyways. I will not say I'm a superfan, because I'm not. I do however, really love the books. And Suzanne Collins (the author) also wrote the screenplay, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can rest assured our beloved characters will be exactly as they were in the books. From the trailers, it looks epic. Oh, and Peeta Mellark is attractive. Which in and of itself could be a reason to watch. We already know Peeta's personality from the books, and now... now he's just amazing. Nuff said.
All right, so now that I'm over my little heart-attack (seriously, I can't begin to say how excited I am for Hunger Games!)- all right, now I'm done, I'll go into why I'm twice as excited.
You see, there's this amazing place. It's called San Francisco, CA. And that's where I'm headed the Wednesday after next! The Music Trip is finally here! I get to go to California with all of my uber amazing friends for A WEEK. I would like to say that I have been waiting for this trip since last April. That's how excited I am. However, this means that in the next week, I have to chat with my doctor about taking care of diabetes on vacation (whoo-hoo. really.), and then go shopping for supplies and yummies. I'm definetly far more excited about my yummies than I am about having to take a ton of needles with me to California, but that's just my life! And I plan to enjoy every moment of my trip. Wish me luck in surviving!

Ah, So You DO Still Exist!

I swear, it's a miracle! March is finally here! This week, we got a mix of snow and sun here in Utah. The snow.... let's not speak of snow. But the sun! It is the most beautiful thing I think I have ever seen!
For those unaware, here in cute little Bountiful, we get non-stop sun from April until November. The months in between, we usually get clouds, 24/7. Right about now is when the sun starts showing it's beautiful face again. And really, the weather has been lovely the past few days. We've had temperatures right about 50 degrees, and I've finally been able to stop wearing jeans to school every day!
Now what blasphemy is this? A teenager who doesn't want to wear blue-jeans?! Yes, we do exist! Yesterday, I was absolutely unable to resist the urge to wear a dress to school and leave my jeans, boots, and jacket at home. It was absolutely heavenly! It would appear that the older I get, the more I like wearnig skirts and dresses- particularly the vintage looking ones. I'm thinking my closet may soon find more skirts in it......
And of course (me being me), I went and found a skirt pattern on line.

http://www.simplesimonandco.com/2012/01/vintagely-modern-skirt.html

No, I haven't made this yet, and no, I don't have the fabric yet. But will I soon? Oh, you better believe it! I really have fallen in love with this kind of skirt lately, and although this pattern is intended for the "younger generation" you'd also better believe I'm ready to adjust the pattern to fit me. Dead serious. Need a skirt like this. Now.

Study-Time Mania

You know those weeks where life seems to be rushing at you, and despite your best efforts, you can't seem to keep ahead? This would be one of those weeks, which explains why I'm posting on a Sunday once again.
The easiest part of this week was the prep for the Armed Forces Concert Utah Youth is giving tomorrow. I would say come, but people are so supportive of the Armed Forces that there is now standing room only, and unless you already have a ticket, there's no way you'll get in.
The biggest stress this week was ACT study prep. Yup. I'm old enough to take my college entrance exams. I've spent every spare minute since Tuesday night studying like a madwoman. I still feel pretty anxious though. Not because I don't think I'll do well; I average about 31, 32 on practice tests it appears, which will more than get me into college. No, I'm anxious because after Tuesday, I will have taken these exams so colleges can seriously consider me as I begin applying in the next few months. And of course, my parents would definetly prefer I get the best scholarship I can, so I've got to do well on the ACT so I'm not still living in the basement with an Associates degree when I'm 25.
Am I being melodramatic? Oh, definetly. But really, getting a good education is HUGE at my house. I WILL push myself to accomplish everything I can; there's no doubt about that, but I'm just a little worried about this, just like I am for every concert and test.
On the flip side, I may be so dead-tired Tuesday morning that I fly through the test (just like I do every other) and then nap in the ten minutes I'll have between sections. As it is, I'm already grateful for the interventions of Katie and Rachel on behalf of my sanity. If not for them, I probably would have studied for 12 hours yesterday, and then woken up this morning not remembering a thing. But, they insisted we study together, and once we'd studied for a few hours, they insisted my brain needed a break. So (quite compliantly) I let them force me to watch Thor and Captain America, and made Chicken Alfredo. I am now quite convinced that if not for these breaks in my studying, I'd be a vegetable right about now, still with a ton of homework, and dead-asleep on the couch.
So, I will continue to study where I have time for the next day and a half, and hopefully, I will get at least a 31 on Tuesday, because I really, really, really want that good score! Oh, and I'll try not to die from not giving my poor brain a break. (Wish me luck on that one!) Toodles!