Contemplations of an Almost Adult

BUT A MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FRIDAY! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm terribly excited about this, as it is the only three-day weekend us college students here at the U of O have for the entire term. Ah, how I miss the day of lower education, where conferences and teacher in-service days were sprinkled throughout the calendar, making it seem as though a 4-day week was actually a permanent fixture. I swear, we had more 3-day weekends than 2-day weekends.

And they wonder why we don't learn anything anymore...

Anyhow, that's really not why I'm updating. Lots of stuff going on... classes, meetings, work, sleep, physical therapy, etc. etc. I have about thirty things "in the works" but nothing is solidified so I don't really have anything new and exciting to share. I was going to say that my internship with the Oregon/SW Washington JDRF chapter is now official, but I've sort of been saying that since January so that's 1) not really new news and 2) I haven't even registered to get college credit for it so technically it isn't even official yet.

I am so lazy.

Oh! I have something exciting to share. I met the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Tribune yesterday. Her name is Ann Marie Lipinski. She is a very cool lady. She was on campus to talk about ethics in media for the School of Journalism and Communication's annual Ruhl lecture. She's very smart. The Oregon Daily Emerald wrote an article about it here. I actually talked to her at the reception for about 10 minutes, mostly about the School of Journalism and a little bit about how she runs a newsroom of 650 reporters. Yikes! It was kind of strange though, while I was talking to her, this photographer came over and started taking pictures of us talking. For about 5 minutes. I kept seeing this flash out of the corner of my eye and I thought, "No wonder celebrities hate having their pictures taken! It is SO DISTRACTING!"

I am such a snob.

But it was a nice way to end my week, because now I get to suffer in the library all of Memorial Day weekend because of my academic negligence this week. Only two more weeks, plus finals, left in my 3rd year as a college student!

Yeah, that's right, I'm GRADUATING next year!!!

::screams::

I'm gonna be an adult!! In the Real World.

Now that's a terrifying thought.

Except, I've sort of been an adult since I was like, oh, twelve. My dad says I was one of those "eight going on twenty-eight" kind of kids. Those freakishly mature youngsters. Yep. I was one of them.

I was like Joseph, only a girl.

But I had a younger brother, not a younger sister. And I'm not from Wisconsin. And I don't like sports.

But other than that, just like him.

My friend Ashleigh posted an entry about graduating on her blog a couple weeks ago, and I thought it was really appropriate. She wrote:

There's a week left in my junior year. Which means, in about a year and a week, I'll be done here. College will be over and I'll officially be a grown up. (Has anyone else noticed that I keep putting off this "officially-a-grown-up" thing? I said that when I was turning 18... and then when I turned 20... and then when I turned 21... and now I'm claiming it'll be at college graduation... and then it'll probably be when I'm married... and then it'll probably be when I have kids.... Wow, this could go on for years. Maybe I'll just save myself the hassle now and decide that I'm only a grown-up when I'm dead. That could work...)

I'm totally with her on that one.

I'm a grown-up when I'm dead.

The Media Accurately Portrays Diabetes? Say It Ain't So....

Well, I suppose the reason the New York Times provides accurate information about diabetes is because that's what the article is about.

I received two emails about this NYT article just today, one from Moira McCarthy Stanford (one of JDRF's best super mom advocates) and a friend in Eugene.

Go read the article and then come back to read my review:

Beyond "I'm a Diabetic," Little Common Ground

I loved this article because it discusses the difference in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes- discussing who gets it and why, and the differences in lifestyle. It also goes over some of the similarities between the two diseases and why both need funding. But most importantly, in my opinion, it points out the Type 1s are often mistaken for having Type 2 - which has been a heated topic of debate for, well, ever.

The quotes are brilliant and some really hit the head on the main point of contention for people living with both types of diabetes.

My favorite line: "The confusion between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes exists despite the fact that, as a matter of science, the diseases are quite distinct."

Hallelujah, somebody finally wrote it down and published it in an place where more than 5 people will actually read it!

I also thought they did a good job of making sure to present both diseases as serious problems, because it's true. Type 2 diabetes isn't a walk in the park, and I'm glad Howard Steinburg (producer of dLife and a Type 1 himself) points this out.

They also bring up a new debate of which deserves more funding: type 1 or type 2? There are more Type 2, but Type 1 may (or may not) be cured earlier. It also mentions that some people with Type 2 have similar qualities to Type 1s, which has sparked that whole Type 1 1/2 phenomenon.

Edit: Just to be clear, I am so not advocating the decrease of Type 1 funding. We've worked hard enough to get the funding we have! However, I have always been a little wary of this "one-upping" when it comes to the necessity of disease funding. ALL diseases need to be funded, and the fact we have "other" priorites (::cough::Iraq::cough::) irriates the H-E-double-hockey-sticks out of me. I just don't want anyone to get the crazy idea I'm anti-Type 1 cure funding...

For a piece of journalistic work, this is fabulous. Not perfect, obviously. There are still a few factual errors and assumptions made. But the overall tone and message of the story, I thought, was good. The only thing that really bugged me is the fact they kept writing "juvenile diabetes foundation" instead of the title "Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation." Is capitalization and that one extra word really so difficult? Ok, I suppose I shouldn't complain, but still... This is the New York Times, you should at least have the freaking organization's name correct. Ah well, at least they had it right in the beginning.

(Oh, and it should be noted that this was part 2 in a 2-part series. Yesterday's was an article about the falling budget despite the rise in diabetes cases.)

Discoveries

Last Monday, I discovered that I have an inflamed spinal disc in my lower back, which has been causing back pain (at times excruciating) since Winter Break. It will require physical therapy and has prompted a legitimate need to get in shape (my muscles need to be doing a better job of holding up my body. My spine is starting to get a little TO'd).

Last Tuesday, I discovered that the thing I deplore most about humanity is their ability to use hate and fear as persuasion, most recently, the Genocide Awareness Projects use of Holocaust photos and images of aborted fetuses to convince the students of the University of Oregon that abortion is a bad thing. I am pro-life, but I am also pro-communication, and this presentation, which I discovered last Wednesday, does not encourage communication. It encourages anger and distrust and guilt and saddness. I am pro-life and I do not support G.A.P.

Last Wednesday, I also discovered that I have been accepted to the Portland Experience. The Portland Experience is a term-long satellite program for Public Relations students at the UO Journalism school. I will be taking my last two classes along with a paid internship. I'm not sure where the internship will be, but I've requested that I work at an agency in Portland. This is to ensure that I have some kind of marketable job experience outside of the diabetes industry (you know, just in case hell freezes over, pigs start flying and the moon turns blue causing me to not get a job working for some diabetes related company/organization. Always better to be safe.).

Last Thursday, I discovered there is absolutely no place in Eugene's Fifth Street Market where you can get gift wrapping done. I bought Johnboy a book for his birthday, and had to drive back to the bookstore the next day to get it gift wrapped when I discovered there was no place near the post office where I could get it done. He knows it's a book, so I'm not ruining anything. And as soon as he opens it, I will tell you all what I got him because I think it's seriously THE BEST FREAKING BOOK EVER (next to the Bible, of course).

Last Saturday, I rediscovered the reason why I am so afraid of dying. So many wonderful people, so much compassion, such little time. Most of the time I'm afraid of losing people, but deep inside, in that quiet place where the tears sleep, I'm afraid of leaving.

Today, I discovered that I missed my 100th post by two. "More About Moi" was the centesimal post, although it wasn't anything spectacular aside from even more random information about my life. However, I would like to take a sentence or two and say, again: Thank you for reading, thank you for commenting, thank you for posting your own stories of fun and frustration, always asking "Is it just me?"

Because it isn't just you and as Kerri says, "We most certainly are not alone."

To all my Fine Blogging Friends and Resident Lurkers: You pretty much rock my socks off.

Here's to another 100. (Er, 97...)

The Infamous Julia Interview

1. Pretend you're stranded on a desert island. You already have shelter, water, batteries, an abundant food supply that doesn't revolve around coconuts and even a cabana boy/girl to minster to your, erm, needs. However, you need some intellectual entertainment. Give me your top five desert island:

Books:
1. The Bible (This one should speak for itself)
2. Diary of a Young Girl (it's just an all around inspiring book)
3. Life of Pi (Pi survived on a boat in the middle of the ocean for months with a Bengal
tiger. If that doesn't keep you motivated, I don't know what will.)
4. Blue Like Jazz (it reminds me of what's really important as a Christian: a relationship
with God)
5. A blank book so I can do a bit of my own creative musings.

Movies:
1. Saved (I LOVE this movie. It teaches me how not to be and it's awesome!)
2. Ghost World (it's just awesome.)
3. Garden State (this is the kind of movie that you swear is about your life)
4. Almost Famous (it's just a good movie. and I want to be Kate Hudson. only without the overdose.)
5. My Fair Lady (because I need a classic and Audrey Hepburn is so freaking adorable!)

Albums
1. Moby's Hotel (there are some dance ones, some mellow ones, and it's really long, so it
will take me long to get sick of the songs.)
2. A Madonna Album (I don't know which one... I'm still thinking.)
3. Beck's Guero (I like Beck. And this the only album I own. Thus I'm bringing it.)
4. Beatle's One album (OK, I know this is a greatest hits album and maybe that's not a good
thing, but it seriously as all my favorite Beatles songs on it, so I don't really care.)
5. Probably a U2 album. I don't own a U2 album so I would have to look to see which one has the most songs that I like.

2. Now, pretend you won the lottery. It's a huge amount, although not sickeningly huge. After you've given away your chunk to charity, paid off all your bills, set up savings/trust funds for kids and self and given money to deserving family and friends, you're left with $5 million, which you must use to build a house. Where would it be? What would it look like? Tell me how you'd furnish it and then describe your first party there.

I really like those Spanish-style Mediterranean homes that celebrities have. So something like that. But it would be in France, because it's the only foreign country I've been to that where I could actually imagine living. Well, technically it's the only foreign country I've been to period, but still. It's a nice place.

My party would involve costumes, lots of food (next to little notecards with the carbs per serving) and lots of balloons. Balloons just make parties ten times more fun. Oh, and a pinata. Definitely a pinata.

3. If you could have dinner with five people from history, living or dead, who would they be? What about five fictional characters? What would you serve at each dinner?

REAL: Jesus, Paul, Anne Frank, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Galileo.

FICTIONAL: Sam from Garden State, Santa Claus, Gandalf from Lord
of the Rings, Yoda and Captain Picard from Star Trek.

Forget cooking, I'm taking them to Montage, the coolest restaurant in Portland. :-)

4. Describe your least favourite and best characteristics.

Least: Lazyness, way too freaking sensitive, overanylitical. Oh, and I'm way too serious for
my own good.

Best: Persistence, creative, and I am ridiculously good about remembering birthdates. Now, in
order for this to really be effective is to remember the birthdate on the actual date. Which
doesn't always happen.

5. And finally, answer James Lipton's Ten Questions:

What is your favorite word? Twinkie. I just love the way it sounds when you say it.
What is your least favorite word? The N word. I won't even write it. I just hate everything about it.
What turns you on? Sense of humor and honesty.
What turns you off? Ignorance and people who are Me Monsters. You know the people who talk so much about themselves that you start replacing every word with "Me." "Me me me ME me ME me me me MEEEE."
What is your favorite curse word? Dammit.
What sound or noise do you love? Laughter (particularly babies/children laughing).
What sound or noise do you hate? Screaming and gunshots.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I don't have a profession (yet) but if I could choose something completely different from what I'm planning to do, I would say being an actress. I think that would be fun. For awhile. I think I'd get sick of it though.
What profession would you not like to do? Anything involving math or science.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "Welcome home."

More About Moi

Shannon:

1. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My shyness. Okay, okay, before you start rolling your eyes, let me explain. I have this complete inability to interact in groups larger than 4. I become like a mute. I don't know what it is about large groups, but unless I'm giving a presentation or people are asking me lots of questions (a la a diabetes support group) I have a really really hard time talking. It's annoying as hell so I would love to get rid of that.

2. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
I wish my mother didn't get so tired from her job so she would have more energy to hang out with me when I came home.

3. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Oh heavens. I suppose creating an online environment condusive to education and support for teens with diabetes. I think that's pretty cool. Oh, and the fact that I will indeed graduate from college in 4 years.

4. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
I don't really know all that much about how resurrection works, but if you lead a good life you will come back as something really cool. I wouldn't mind coming back as a cat, actually. Sleeping all day, being all around adorable and loved, you get tunafish and milk. I think that would be pretty sweet.

5. What is your most treasured possession?
My imagination.

Nicole:
1. If you had to choose a career that had nothing to do with diabetes - what would you choose? Tell me why.
If I wasn't going to do something diabetes related, I would probably would just tick with public relations but work for an agency. Or perhaps another nonprofit.

2. Who is your favorite visual artist? What is it about their work that makes you hold them in high esteem?
Ansel Adams. I think his photographs are beautiful. I've never bought a print of his work,
but I think his work is amazing and it always makes me wish I had taken photography classes.

3. What would you say is the most pressing problem facing American youth today? If you were asked for possible solutions, what suggestions would you make?
Apathy. I think a lot of teens think that what they do either doesn't make a difference, or they just don't care enough to find out how they can help their own situations and problems. But there are so many different ways for teens to help the world. If we all did something, things really could change for the better.

4. Tell me about your greatest fear.
Dying. Not so much death and what happens after, but the actual feeling of losing life. It's a bit morbid, but it's the only unknown that I'm truly scared of.

5. Which of your five senses do you think is the most important? Why?
Sight. For me at least. I like traveling, and museums, and reading which are all best done through sight. I'm sure I would learn to appreciate what the world offers through my other senses, but there's something about sight that is very powerful.

The Julia Interview will be published sometime in the next year...

Interview Meme Part Deux

As requested:

Bethany:

1. What are your tattoos of?

2. If you could spend an entire day somewhere with someone, who would you pick and where would you go? Why?

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?

4. A la City of Angels, if you died and Nicolas Cage came to meet you before going to heaven, and he asked you what you liked best, what would you say?

5. Who is your inspiration?

Megan:

1. If you had a Saturday to do absolutely anything in the world (assuming you were a gazillionaire and the ability to travel instantly to another location), what would you do?

2. Now that you've been on the pump for a few days, is there anything you don't like about it?

3. If you could have any job in the world, what would you want to do?

4. Do you have any siblings? If yes, what is your relationship like? If no, do you wish you had siblings?

5. Who is your inspiration?


Julia:

1. I've just been dying to know: How did you and TCBIM meet? From what I've gathered in my investigatory research, he was 20 when you met. There has to be a good story there.

2. As a soon-to-be-graduate of college, what advice would you give me about living in the Real World?

3. If you could be any character in any book, who would you be and why? (You can even be a guy, if that helps.)

4. What do you like most about being a mom?

5. Who is your inspiration?

Nicole:

1. What is one good thing that came from having diabetes, in your opinion?

2. What is your favorite childhood memory?

3. Besides your diabetes diagnosis, what would you say has been the most significant event in your life?

4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

5. Who is your inspiration?

Kelsey:

1. How did you become a Christian?

2. How did you meet your husband?

3. Why did you go back to school?

4. What is one thing you have always wanted to do but have been to scared to try?

5. Who is your inspiration?

(Pretty much everyone I have ever interviewed has been asked "Who is your inspiration?" It is a staple question of mine. Everyone from Dr. James Shapiro, to Jeff and Marissa Hitchcock, to Nicole Johnson have been asked this. Consider yourself in good company ;-) )

Interview Meme and the dLife Top 10!

Art-Sweet has started a new Interview Meme, which I think is pretty fabulous. I am lucky to be one of the commenters to which she has posted interview questions. After I answer her questions I will post the instructions for how you can also play along.

What do you want to do after you (drum roll please) graduate?

Learn to play the guitar and start a rock band.

Well, alright, that's not true. My goal is to work for JDRF (surprise, surprise). I'm majoring in journalism, with an emphasis in public relations, and I have a minor in Non-Profit Administration. So hopefully they will think I'm just fabulous and start paying me!

A couple of people have suggested that I become a diabetes educator, at which I laugh. I've looked at the requirements and I would basically be in school for another 6 years since I would need to get another bacherlor's and then a master's degree. No Thank You. My dad suggested that I work for Minimed as a pump rep, but I don't think I would do a very good job. I'm not very biased when it comes to insulin pumps, I just happen to wear a Minimed and think it's pretty cool. I can just see my first day on the job:

Allison the Minimed Rep: So as you can see, we are the most kick-ass pump company in the world, everyone loves us and you should, too.

Prospective Pumper: Well, Minimed is cool... but I kinda like the Cozmo.

Allison the Minimed Rep: That's great! My friend Kassie wears the Cozmo and she loves it!

Uh, yeah, I don't see the going over very well with the Very Important People down in Northridge.

Many (though certainly not all) of the people I've met who are as upfront about their faith as you are tend to have more conservative social views than you do. You've blown my stereotypes out of the water, for which I'm most grateful. So I'm really curious how it is that you've arrived at your particular blend of faith and politics.

Are you sure this is an interview question and not a suggestion to write my first best-selling book? I could spend a couple of hours with this one, but I will try to be brief. I think the most important thing that has shaped my attitude and behavior towards people who are different from me is how I see Jesus interacting with people who were different from Him in the Gospel. Jesus was friends with prostitutes and tax-collectors (who were not very popular back then... still aren't, actually). He met and taught the people that the Pharisees, who were richer and in league with the Romans who were in control of Israel at the time, wouldn't come near. He was the epitome of love and kindness towards those who were different.

However, he didn't condone or approve of their behavior, and I want to make it clear that just because I don't constantly berate people who have different lifestyles than my own means I approve of the lifestyle. Sadly enough, people have come to look at Christians as the spokespeople for Jesus and I think we do an amazingly sucky job at it. Honestly. The majority of us are really terrible at being Christ-like most of the time. He said not to store up treasures, but instead feed the poor (Matt. 19:21) and most Christians only think of helping their church or fellow Christains. We could probably eradicate hunger in Africa if Christians as a whole worked on that one issue. Jesus said to love those who persecute (Matt. 5:44) but we often lash out when we feel insecure. He never mixed spirituality with politics (Matt. 22:21). He told us to never judge or condemn (Luke 6:41), but Christians are notorious for self-righteously judging others.

I have an unwavering belief that Jesus is the Son of God, and that those who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life. But I also believe that Jesus wants us to love those who sin (which is everyone), like He loved those who sin. We are not perfect creatures, even the Saved ones. But we should at least trying to be more caring about how other people feel.

Politically, there are several different issues in which I believe either go against what Jesus would have done (the war in Iraq) or that religion has no real legimate vote (gay marriage). My nutshell opinion on gay marriage is: If athiests can get married, why on earth can't lesbians? I mean, seriously. If you're going to pull the God card, pull it on everybody.

That, and have you listened to Bush talk? Forget graduating Yale, how on earth did he manage to graduate primary school? Seriously. Ok. I'm done.

What is your absolute, least favorite thing about diabetes?

Middle of the night lows. Hate them with a bloody passion. There is nothing more irritating, in my opinion, than interrupted sleep.

What are you planning to do with your summer vacation?

Hopefully getting an internship at JDRF (::crosses fingers::) and I'll also be attending CWD's Friends for Life conference in Or-LAHN-do Flor-EE-da! I'm quite excited. I will also be volunteering with some community service projects that my church in Portland, Imago Dei, does around the city and hopefully catching up on some leisurely reading that seems to disappear during the school year. I hate that.

Would you marry someone who did not share your religious faith?

No. Being a Christian is probably the number one requirement after being male (sorry, I just don't swing that way). First reason is that the Bible does say not to become unequally yoked. Secondly, I think it would be difficult to raise a child Christian if their father did not also believe the same. I also think my husband would have a hard time really understanding me as person if he wasn't a Christian. I have a hard time discussing certain deep, personal matters with non-Christians now because they don't understand the conflicts I face. I don't think a relationship would last very long if my boyfriend, let alone a husband, was not a Christian.

But rest assured, I will not marry a Republican.

~*~

Now it's your turn! Here are the instructions:

Leave me a comment saying “interview me.” The first five commenters will be the participants.
I will respond by asking you five questions.
You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions.
You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here's another idea: If you have already been interviewed and posted the questions on your blog, you can ask to be interviewed again. However, instead of posting that interview on your blog, post it as comment on the interviewer's blog and then you can mention on your blog that you were interviewed again and give a link. Does that sound reasonable? Or you can do it however you want. Just a suggestion.

Got it?

~*~

Also:

dLife is holding their new dLife Annual Top Ten Awards! Go to www.dlife.com to vote. dLife's editorial board has nominated 24 individuals or organizations who throughout 2005 were making a difference in the lives of people with diabetes. No registration is necessary and you'll find a lot of really cool people who are doing amazing things in the diabetes community. Go vote! Go, go, go.

Define ________

So, I don't know if anyone noticed, but I deleted a blog entry yesterday. It was a two page analysis on the difference between "define" and "explain" in the context of diabetes.

But I deleted the post (though not the actual essay, there is no way I'd be able to reproduce that analysis so it's hiding safely on my lime green jump drive) because I decided that I wasn't entirely clear what the question was.

The debate about "diabetes defining you" has been raging for quite a while. It started way back in the winter with the question of would you choose to not having diabetes knowing what you know now. Now, I'm not trying to start that debate again, but I am curious about one thing.

What do you think of when you think of diabetes defining you (or your child)? What would having diabetes "define" you do? How does your perception of yourself change? What is it about you that makes you believe diabetes doesn't define you? Does the word "define" frustrate you? How do you convey the impact of diabetes on your life and how is this better/different than "define"? Why is "explain" or "a part" better? Is it better or is it just a euphamism for something we don't want to accept or acknowledge?

I'm not asking these as accusatory questions. I'm not trying to back you into a corner in order to get you to capitulate or believe something. But I keep hearing the words "diabetes doesn't define me" over and over again like a mantra, but I honestly don't understand what that phrase means. I'm trying to figure out how other people are looking at this in order to understand the statements people are making.

I'm wondering what it means to you.

Maybe when (if) I get feedback, I will post a little response and a bit more about what I think about diabetes and it's ability to define/explain me.

Ok. Ready, set, comment.

Edit: For more thoughts on this subject, feel free to blog-hop over to Kerri and Caro.

Seven on a Wednesday

1) I have finished 2 out of my 4 assignments from the weekend.

2) I am currently working on number 3, which is the paper on the non-profit. I'm doing mine on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They do good stuff. You should check it out.

3) I think I may have pulled a back muscle four months ago. I am just now going to get it check out at the doctor's tomorrow. It is causing me an amazing amount of pain. I will fill you in on the details tomorrow.

4) At the J-school here at U of O, they have this new satellite program in Portland for PR students (like me) where we take our last 2 classes plus have a 20-hour a week paid internship at a Cool Place, like a company or an agency. There is room for 16 students for the Fall Term. 13 students applied (I was one of them). I haven't been officially accepted, but unless they just decide randomly that I suck as a person and don't deserve to go, you know what this means...

5) I got my receipt back for registering for the CWD Friends for Life conference in Orlando, FL. It's taken me about four years to actually go to this conference, so it better be a life-changing event. I get to see Gary and Ellen (right?). Anyone else going? Thinking about it? I'll be there! That should be enough of a reason to go, right? :-)

6) So, I wasn't going to mention this but my friend Ashleigh was like "This is totally brag-worthy" and ordered me to tell everyone because of how cool it is. Well, I was contacted a couple weeks ago by the Health Editor of Teen Vogue and the gist is that she is writing an article on the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 and she is going to feature Diabetes Teen Talk. I may even have a quote in there somewhere. So yeah, me and my site will be in a major non-D publication read by more than 5 people... It'll be out later this fall. I will make sure to give you the heads up.

7) OMG, isn't that the funniest cat you have ever seen in your life?? Seriously. I want to take that cat home with me.

Alphabet Meme

I'm finished with 2 out of four of my projects. Which means it is now Meme Time.

Accent: I have declared my accent the "Hollywood Accent" because I sound like the people in the movies. Think about it. Unless an actor is specifically portraying someone from like Texas or Australia, they all sound pretty much the same. Thus, it's the Hollywood Accent. The Hollywood accent can be found all over the country, but if you sound like someone from L.A., you have the Hollywood accent.

Booze: I hate beer. Vodka, however, is my friend.

Chore I Hate: The dishes. Mostly because I have to do them by hand since I don't have a dishwasher.

Dog or Cat: My parents have a cat, Emma. She's a fatty. We have a long list of really cruel nicknames which include Chub-Chubs and Stinky Furbutts (oh, and Emma Bin Laden of the Kitty Quaida, but that's reserved for when she's especially terrible).

Essential Electronics: Insulin pump, duh. Computer. Cell phone (I don't have a landline, so my cell phone is of utmost importance).

Favorite Perfume: I hate all perfumes. Don't even get near me if you're wearing that horrible stuff.

Gold or Silver: Silver

Hometown: The-Portland-Suburb-That-Shall-Remain-Nameless (mostly because my mother freaks out about that kind of stuff).

Insomnia: Everyonce in awhile. This is why God invented melatonin.

Job Title: Student Caller and Diabetes Teen Talk Manager.

Kids: Zero

Living arrangements: I live in a giant house with a bunch of other girls.

Most admirable traits: Persistence and loyalty. Those are pretty good ones.

Number of sexual partners: Zero.

Overnight hospital stays: Only 1, for 3 nights when I was first diagnosed.

Phobias: I don't really know if I have any phobias...

Quote: I have two: "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank and "Tis better to light one candle than cure the darkness." - Chinese proverb.

Religion: Christian :-)

Siblings: One biological brother, Eric, and host of adopted siblings.

Time I wake up: 9:30 during the weekday, sometime after that on the weekends.

Unusual talent or skill: I can type really really fast.

Vegetables I love: Asparagus

Worst habit: Cracking my joints. It'll get to me someday, I'm sure...

X-rays: Just one on my foot, from last spring. Stress fracture. Oh joy.

Yummy foods I make: I can't cook. Honest. I'm not just saying that because I don't like to or I burn stuff. I really can't cook. Have you seen my kitchen? I have a campfire stove and a toaster oven to work with. I really can't cook.

Zodiac sign: Leo. But not really. Well, kind of. But I'm about as much of a Leo as anything else.