Everything Related

Ahem

2006-07-24T16:55:00.000-07:00

Just in case you missed last week's memo:

www.lemonlemonade.com

Thanking you kindly.

A Temporary Change and a Permanent Change

2006-07-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

1) A Temporary Change

It is 10:50 p.m.

I leave for Orlando, Florida at 6:05 a.m.

That is 7 hours from now.

I am still awake.

This is probably not the smartest thing I've ever done.

However, I am almost packed (shampoo and toothpaste are really all that's remaining...)

I have lots of paper, pens and my trusty tape-recorder and 6 blank tapes bought at RadioShack.
I have a bathing suit, two skirts, 3 capris, two sandels, one pair of sneakers, and ten t-shirts and tank tops. Sunscreen and snazzy earrings for Friday night. Oh, and my pajamas.

And a partridge in a pair tree....

I land in Orlando where I will be meeting some friends from Eugene for the evening. Followed by a day at Disney World. Followed by a day of lounging at the pool. Followed by two days of Diabetes-O-Rama. Followed by a day at Sea World. Followed by another day of flying home.

Nicole Johnson Baker, Douglas Cairns, Jay Leewenburg. My friends Noah Moore and Clare Rosenfeld. Alfred Mann, the founder of Minimed.

A certain someone I'm not allowed to mention by name... (muahahaha...)

You don't have to say it. I can sense the jealousy from here.

Maybe if you're lucky I'll post an Audioblogger or two.

2) A Permanent Change

I am changing blogs again.

I know, I know.

I know.

I said I know.

Oh you can't stop now.

Don't give me that look. It's important.

Fine...

I'm sorry.

I know. I'm sorry.

Really, it's for the best. I started an LLC (Lemonade Life Consulting, LLC) because of my consultant work for dLife and I didn't really want to start a whole new website. So I'm merging. Everything Related and Lemonade Life Consulting, LLC are being merged with the old Lemonade Life into: Lemonlemonade.com.

That's right.

Lemonlemonade.com. It's the same as the blogger, only without the blogspot.

Please change your links accordingly.

You have an entire week to do it, since I won't be posting again until Monday.

I'm sorry.

I promise to wait at least six months before changing it again.

I'm kidding!

Honest!

Oh stop, it was a joke...

Ok, I'm going to bed now.

SEE YOU IN A WEEK!

Happy Blogaversary to MEEE!!!!!!

2006-07-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, I made the leap onto Blogger.

Between Lemonade Life and Everything Related, I have a posted 114 times my thoughts and feelings about diabetes and life in general.

But more important to me than what I have written on my blog are the thoughts and feelings that people have written to me through comments, email, instant messanger or a personal blog.

You guys are awesome. I love checking everyday (oh who am I kidding, I love checking every hour...) to find out what's new, to provide and receive more support, education and laughter than I have found anywhere else in 12 years of having diabetes.

It's been one heck of a ride! The Diabetes O.C. wasn't even officially in existence back then... But now we've got over 100 people (and associated children, boyfriends, husbands & wives...) in our little community and I'm proud to be a part of it. So thank you very much for coming, lurking, commenting, emailing, IMing. And for allowing me the opportunity to live and grow with each of you as we learn more about living with diabetes.

It's been a crazy, fun, emotional, and exciting year and I look forward to this next year and the year after that, and the one after that, and the one after that, and the....

You know. Until we find a cure for this perhaps-not-so damned disease. And, hopefully, even after that.

Live long and prosper. ;-)

The Countdown Begins...

2006-07-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

Alright, so technically the Countdown has been going for awhile... like, the beginning of my junior year in high school. But with just a month left, I thought I would really make it official and put up a ticker clock.

I was planning on putting it up on Thursday, but for some reason this week has completely escaped me and I never got around to doing it. So I finally decided to update the blog with the 1 month remaining ticker.

What's it counting down to? My 21st birthday, of course! 29 more shopping days until Allison's 21st birthday!

Obviously I don't expect anyone here to buy me a birthday present, though if you'd like to make recommendations for what I should buy with my birthday money, by all means, comment away. For my 19th birthday, I asked for people to give me a book, movie or CD that they really loved and that they really wanted to share with me. The same goes for all of you.

However, I fully expect cheesy, flashy and brightly colored 21st birthday cards (e-cards work just as well).

If you are actually contemplating sending me a birthday card, just email me for my address.

Alice on Pill Hill

2006-07-04T00:32:00.000-07:00

Having had Type 1 diabetes for 12.5 years, I have had my fair share of endocrinologist appointments. At approximately 3 a year, I have had close to 40 endocrinology appointments. Driven up I-5, taken the Wiedler Exit, dared to cross over a one-way street with a full line of cars blocking my entire vision of oncoming traffic. Walked down the hallway from the parking lot, first with my mother, and then by myself. Taken the elevator to the third floor of Emanuel Children's Hospital. Greeted the staff, hapharzardly filled out the intake form, not ever really answering how much insulin I took at meals or how many carbs I ate at breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's not like it was consistent. Life never is.

I grew up going to Emanuel Children's Hospital's Diabetes Center. I was there before most of the current staff. I was there when they did the remodel and the entrance moved from next to the elevator to the oppposite side of the office, forcing us to make two right hand turns. I saw how the clinic grew with all the children. All the staff changes. How there were always new nurses but they were always so nice.

There was Dr. Hansen. Dr. Hansen was my favorite part of that hospital, and even though he isn't here anymore, he's still my favorite part of that hospital. After he died, they posted a letter he wrote to all of us and put it, along with his picture, on the doorway. I read it everytime I have an appointment. It reminds me of how much he loved all of us and it reminds me of how much I loved him.

It might seem a little strange to have such an emotional attachment to a place that for most people should be deemed the worst place on earth. But it wasn't. It never has been. Emanuel Children's Diabetes Center has always been warm and welcoming, understanding and sympathetic. They don't always understand very well, but at least they try to. I have to give them that.

I grew up at the hospital. They saw me reach 5', which was a big deal since my friend Jenny was always several inches taller than me. They saw me start adolescence, with the evil dawn phenomenon wrecking havoc on my control each morning. They saw me get my license and my newfound independence. They saw me graduate from high school and start a new life away from my parents, and they saw my subsequent abuse of that freedom. They saw me at JDRF's Children's Congress. They saw me at the conferences. They saw me playing with children and trying to calm parents down at the Seminars.

They saw me grow up. And now they are seeing me leave.

I had my very first appointment at the Diabetes Clinic at the Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland today.

My very first appointment at an adult endocrinologist.

For some reason, it was this revelation, that I was no longer a pediatric patient but an adult patient, that made me feel grown-up. Not getting my license, not graduating from high school, not voting, not selling my website, not even my impending abilty to purchase alcoholic beverages.

I was not going back to Emanuel.

I was very nervous driving up through the forests of the West Hills in Portland on this quintessential Oregon summer day: warm, sunny and bright green. I made sure I left myself plenty of time to get to the hospital, which I ended up needing since I accidentally missed my exit and essentially drove the route to Emanuel before getting back onto I-5 and going the other direction, back towards OHSU.

OHSU is a remarkable institution. It's a medical school, hospital and research center all in one. It's built on top of a hill, which has been nicknamed by Portlanders as Pill Hill. It can be see from almost anywhere in Downtown and East Portland, though for all the years I've been involved in the diabetes community, I have never ever been there.

The twisty roads led me up the side of the hill to OHSU. Since it's on a hill, it's difficult to get a sense of the layout. Luckily, signs were created for the directionally-challenged, like me. They also put in place some very helpful receptionists who pointed me in the right direction. I arrived at the front desk about twenty minutes before my appointment, but I still had my New Patient Intake form to fill out. Oh joy. My favorite question: "Have you had any diabetes education?" My answer: "A lot."

After filling out all my medical history, any current problems, the amount of insulin I take, and whether or not I was pregnant (definitely, definitely not), I was finally called in to do the weight check. Still too much, but we're working on that.

I waited for about 10 minutes in the Exam room before a nice, young Indian woman came in. I was a bit confused since I thought I was going to see Dr. Liz Stevens, who is definitely not Indian, but I didn't want to seem rude. The nice, young Indian woman, who turned out to also be a doctor, asked me lots of questions, including the Ultimate No-No: "So how's your diabetes control lately?"

Dear God, can you please send a memo to all endocrinologists (and diabetes educators while you're at it) telling them to NOT ask this stupid question? Love, Allison.

After basically being asked the exact same questions that were on the intake form (what on earth was the point of filling that thing out anyway?), Dr. Stevens finally materialized. It's always a little funny when someone looks at me quizzically and says, "Have we met before? You look familiar."

We went over my last week (mornings too high, but otherwise not too shabby) and we also discussed going on one of the new continuous glucose monitors for a few days. A loner meter, kinda like a loner pump. Hey, whatever gets me the most for the least amount of money. Dr. Stevens was very nice and she also has Type 1 diabetes and was on the Guardian over the weekend. She liked it, although she said there were issues with accuracy. But she said they were never much more than 20 pts. off, which isn't too bad if you're trying to figure out if you are low, high or normal. I'll be hearing from the diabetes educators in a couple of weeks to get set up with the monitor.

Ya'll can bet I'll be writing lots and lots of commentary.

After the appointment was all said and done, I went on a mission for a cafe or dining area in the hospital. Per tradition, after every appointment I get to indulge in a little bakery item. It was started when I was younger and would be rewarded for a good A1C. Emanuel has a little bakery in the Atrium and my mother and I would always go there after the appointment. I started taking myself there in high school, and the tradition will continue at OHSU. Of course, with the hospital being on a hill, the lobby of the main hospital was on the 9th floor, thus completely destroying any sense of consistency I had for a hospital layout. Eventually discovered the dining room and bought myself an ice cream.

As I drove out of the parking lot, I thought about my experience at this new hospital. I realized it was most likely just the first of many new endocrinologists, and that scares me a little. It's not that I thought I would always be at Emanuel, but Emanuel wasn't just a place I went every 3 months to hear I needed to get better numbers. It was a connection to support, to education, to people who really cared about how I was doing. It was my connection to Dr. Hansen. It was my connection to the things that made taking care of people something I wanted to do. Perhaps I'm afraid that if I stop going to Emanuel I will stop knowing how to carry on Dr. Hansen's dream. I will stop remembering him if I don't read that letter. I need to remember him. I don't want growing up to mean going away.

But, to end on a happy note, my A1C was 7.2, which is the lowest it has been. Ever. In my entire existence as a type 1 diabetic.

I guess Pill Hill isn't such a bad place after all.

Back in that Portland Suburb

2006-06-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I've officially moved back to Portland. Survived packing and loading the trailer in 95-degree heat. Sunday has to have been the most ridiculous day of my entire life.

First, I had to move all of my furniture out of my room Saturday so I could clean. This meant I had to sleep on the couch (actually, a *loveseat*) Saturday night. I got about 6 hours of sleep before the sun and the sounds of my housemates woke me up. I got dressed and drove over to Roma for my last cup of coffee and an apple turnover. Mmm. Yum.

Drove back to the house and packed up more boxes, did my dishes and watched some PBS. My parents weren't coming until around 1:30 in the afternoon, so I knew I could take some time and clean, watch TV, clean, watch more TV. I call my landlord to tell her I'll be moving soon, but she doesn't answer so leave a message (I never hear back from her). While I'm leaving the message, I notice out of my bedroom wheel that there is a bike wheel attached to the bike rack. A bike wheel *by itself*. Then, I noticed the abandoned bike wheel is from *my bike*. My freaking bike was stolen, one that I never used and really shouldn't have brought to Eugene in the first place. The bike was there on Friday, last I looked. Now, no more bike. I call my parents and they're a little upset, but there really isn't anything we can do about it.

At about 1:00, my roommate Yuliya decides we should go to the mall, so we get into my car. My car doesn't start.

Nothing. It's not just that the engine didn't start, or the starter didn't really start, but nothing. Dead silence.

Which is weird since I just *drove* the car not even three hours earlier. What. The. Crap. So first my bike is stolen, and now my car won't start. I call my parents and let them know what's up, and they tell me to contact Campus Public Safety so we can get it jump-started.

Except public safety doesn't work on weekends, apparently. I spend about 20 minutes calling random people to see if anyone is in town, but can't get a hold of anyone by the time my parents arrive. My dad wants to track down the place we bought the battery, since he thinks it might be drained since I never drive far enough to recharge it. However, we can't find the place, so he ends up buying jumper cables. We're driving back to my house when my mother's contact falls out, my friend Annie calls me back to tell me she doesn't have jumper cables, and my dad realizes that our jumper cables are actually sitting in the trunk of my car!

At this point, my dad turns to me and asks, "Allison, are you being punished for something?"

We end up getting the car working again (there was just some dust on the connectors on the battery...) and we load up the car in 95-degree heat. Yesterday was even hotter. We broke an all-time record with 102 degrees in the Portland area. Unbelievable. I know I shouldn't be complaining compared to the other weather going on in this country, but seriously. 102 is just too hot for anyone.

I still haven't done much unpacking because of the heat. I just want to climb into my freezer and stay there until our nice 75 degree summer days come back. 75, blue skies and all that green. It's basically why Oregonians can stand our 9 months of gray rainy weather. My brother and I moved his desk and my dresser back into my room, and we almost died trying to drag the dresser up the stairs from the garage. Laughing, carrying a heavy object, and stairs are a bad combination.

In other news, I've started my official duties as JDRF office intern on Monday, so that's fun. We are going to a taping of a local TV morning show tomorrow and on Saturday there is a rummage sale fundraiser for a Walk team.

And hopefully this blasted heat will go away so I can actually feel like a functioning human being again...

Calling All People!!!

2006-06-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hey! You! Want to help me out with an article?

I'm writing an article for JDRF's Living with Diabetes newsletter on Travel with Diabetes and I want to include some quotes on best ways to handle travel with pre-teens and teens. I would love to get some tips on how to help parents who are either traveling with tween/teens or who are preparing tweens/teens who will be traveling alone.

I have a list of suggestions that I have come up with, but I'd like to get some quotes in there from people who are "travel experts." If you have cleaned any wisdom from your years of traveling as a teen or have traveled with your child and have advice you'd like other newbie parents to know about travel, please comment. You might see your suggestion or your quote in the article. Even if you don't think your comment applies to the article, comment anyway, it might inspire me!

Edit: Also, if your only suggestions have already been mentioned, please share some travel stories to illustrate the tip! Sometimes that's even more useful!

Need comments by Sunday night, so act fast!

Thanks!

Meme: The Deluxe Edition

2006-06-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

These two memes brought to you by Megan and Kassie, respectively.

The "I Am..." Meme

1. I am less than two months away from my 21st birthday.
2. I am really excited that it's summer.
3. I am a wanna-be East Coaster.
4. I am a follower of Jesus.
5. I am a pumper.
6. I am a diabetic (if you hadn't noticed).
7. I am an obsessive-compulsive e-mail checker.
8. I am a writer.
9. I am a Trekkie.
10. I am an old soul.
11. I am addicted to coffee.
12. I am a Portlander.
13. I am not looking forward to packing up my room.
14. I am 127 mg/dl (at 1:47 p.m. on June 21, 2006-- not all the time, unfortunately).
15. I am a bookworm.
16. I am still single.
17. I am faithful.
18. I am a bit odd.
19. I am afraid of having my knees touched.
20. I am very loud sometimes.
21. I am a chronic giggler.
22. I am on Facebook.
23. I am part Hungarian, part Swedish, part English and part Irish.
24. I am a collector of shotglasses (41, baby!).
25. I am a daydreamer.
26. I am a thinker.
27. I am a traveler.
28. I am creative.
29. I am ticklish.
30. I am kind of a big deal.

The Top 12 Cool Things That Have Happened To Meme:

I was diagnosed with diabetes 12.5 years ago, and I kind of already did a similiar list in January for my 12th anniversary. So for this list, I'm going to go with strictly non-D related cool things.

1. At age 10, went to Sunriver, a resort in Central Oregon, and for the first time could freely exert my budding independence. Biked around the resorts 30+ miles of bike trails, went swimming, shopping at the village mall and ate ice cream. On this and subsequent trips, I was by myself a lot. This was before the days of cell phones and insulin pumps. Am still amazed I didn't die.
2. Took the First Aid/Babysitting class with my Girl Scout Troop. At age 11, commenced my (so far) life long career of babysitting.
3. At age 12, began my search for God at the Sunriver Community Church. Search for God led me to meeting my friend Ashleigh, one of my first very close online friends.
4. At age 13, went to the East Coast for the first time with my family and visited D.C. and Williamsburg. Had an old-fashioned Revolutionary War-era dinner with my mom in Williamsburg. Was very cool because I had an American Girl doll from that era (Felicity) and I got to be just like her.
5. At age 15, went to NYC with my mom and saw my first Broadway show (Chicago). Took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Stood inside the lobby of the World Trade Center to buy said Broadway tickets.
6. At age 16, got my driver's license. The next day, drove into Downtown Portland. For the first time. By myself. Didn't hit anything. Thank God.
7. At age 17, graduated from high school and became a Duck.
8. Went to France with my mom and stayed in a little Parisian apartment near Notre Dame. Turned 18 while in Paris. Also went to the Loire Valley and Mt. St. Michel. Saw a little 15th century house from the freeway. Thought it was a little odd, actually.
9. At age 19, was baptized on a Thursday.
10. Begrudgingly moved into a house that turned out to be one of the best decision I ever made. Spent a lot of time talking with three girls who helped me recover from a broken heart.
11. Flew across the country to Georgia to meet Ashleigh for the very first time. Also marks my very first time in the South.
12. At age 20, saw the most amazing concert in Los Angeles: Weezer, Beck, Cake, Oasis, Garbage... just to name a few. Amazing, simply amazing.

Freedom At Last!!!!

2006-06-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WORK AND SCHOOL ARE OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HALLU-FREAKING-YAH!!!!!!!!

and now, time for laundry, cleaning my room, not eating out for every meal, testing my blood sugars on a regular basis, going to the gym, washing my dishes, and grocery shopping, which I haven't done in the past 3 weeks.

::shivers::

Too much information? Probably.

But I don't care!!!! Because I'm FREE!!!!!!!!

FREE-FALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH I'M FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FREE-FALLING!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I'm done now. :-)

Coming Up For Air...

2006-06-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

::Exhales::

What a week! Last week is what is known to the Ducks as "Dead Week." Dead Week is rumored to be the time when homework is diminished to leave time for studying, but that is just an Old Wives' Tale. Dead Week is really the time of the term when students, who are so sleep-deprived from twenty-four-seven from studying, deliriously walk into to oncoming traffic and are crushed to death.

Well, okay, that's not true, but I'm sure some students have thought about walking into oncoming traffic to escape studying for finals. Physically inabled just enough to get professor's sympathy and the final waived...

Not that I've ever thought of doing such a thing...

Anyway. Last week consisted of work at the AGP, my last PR presentation, a presentation for my non-profit class, and my International Communications final. On Thursday I took the bus to Portland. Friday, I went to the JDRF Corporate Recruitment breakfast, had a pow-wow meeting at the office to figure out what I'm doing this summer (mostly the newsletter and the website. How perfect.), and watched 4 hours of Star Trek (DS9 and The Next Generation. I am a closet geek.). Saturday was my friend Kelsey's high school graduation. Kelsey and I met at diabetes camp about 4 years ago. Graduation was typically boring, but dinner at McCormick and Schmick's was awesome. Raspberry cheesecake is ridiculously good and ridiculously bad for my blood sugars. Ooops...

Sunday was church! Woot! And a little trip to Nordie's where I spent 2 hours trying to find a bra that fit. Twenty-odd bras later and I finally found one. Why are so many evil, annoying things necessary for survival? Honest to Betty... I spent most of Monday driving around and running errands, before driving back to Eugene. Picked up my test strips from the pharmacy as well.

Which brings me to Allison's I Hate Diabetes Story of the Week. (How's that for a transition?)

So, a couple of months ago my mom switched the way we are paying for anything medical (includes everything from aspirin to insulin). The details aren't that important, but Minimed sent me the supplies before the new way of paying switched which was bad news. My dad was able to negotiate with Minimed to let me send the supplies back, even though it had been more than 30-days. Sounds groovy, right?

Uh, sure.

I call Minimed to get the Return information and I also ordered new supplies. I informed them that I was down to two boxes (100 test strips) before running out. The woman said she would try to get them to send them out as soon as possible. That was on Tuesday.

The following Monday and I'm at the Memorial Union, sitting down at 4pm to my first actual meal of the day, when my cell phone rings. It's a guy from Minimed. He tells me that they are going to ship out my box tomorrow, "But," he says, "we're not able to send one item."

Huh?

He informs me that my test strips (the one and only item that I actually need NOW!) is not longer covered by my insurance as durable medical equipment.

I have no idea what that means, all I know is they aren't sending my test strips. And they decided to wait a WEEK to tell me. Honest to Betty, were they waiting for a personal invitation?

I rush home and call my insurance company and the nice woman informs me that for some reason, I now have to get my test strips from the pharmacy. Like everyone else in America, yes, but I've been getting my test strips in 3 month batches from Minimed for the last 5 years. I don't like change!

I called my pharmacy and I called my endocrinologist and after playing a bit of phone tag, finally got everything settled. Stopped in at the pharmacy on Thursday to find out if they got the order and discovered that I only get a month's supply of test strips instead of my usual three months.

All this because my insurance suddenly has decided to make it a pharmacy purchase without even telling me.

Moral of the story: Insurance companies suck. If they weren't necessarily for survival, I would say get rid of them.

Anyway, I am now back in Eugene finishing up finals week at school. One paper and one PR portfolio have already been turned in, and now I'm gearing up for my last Final of Doom and Despair. Get this: My history professor gave us our Study Guide which is just 26 possible essay questions. From those 26, he will choose 8 for the final. And of those 8, we have to write essays on 2 of them. Have I mentioned this final is worth HALF MY GRADE?! Seriously, that kind of weighting should be illegal.

Sigh. Well, I guess I better get back in there. Catch ya later!

::Inhale::

Better Than Three

2006-06-04T17:04:00.000-07:00

Scene: A conversation between two friends, Allison and Julia, at Cafe Yumm, a deliciously organic restaurant that services the world's greatest rice bowls. Julia, Allison's friend from high school and a non-diabetic, remarks that she is tired because she didn't get much sleep.

ALLISON: Yeah, I went low twice last night. Once at 2 in the morning, and the other at 8:30 a.m. The 8:30 wasn't too bad, but man I hate waking up in the middle of the night.

JULIA: (grimacing) Eesh. But hey, at least it wasn't three times.

ALLISON: (blank stare)

JULIA: Well, it's true

ALLISON: Yeah... I suppose going low twice is better than going low three times.

JULIA: Hey, I'm just trying to be optimistic.

ALLISON: (smiling) Yeah, going low three times definitely would have sucked.

JULIA: And it's definitely way better than going low four times.

ALLISON: Oh, definitely.

JULIA: But going low 5 times would have been cool.

ALLISON: (laughing) Oh yeah, five times definitely would have been cool.

JULIA: But not six times. That would have been bad.

ALLISON: (nods) Oh yeah. Really bad.

JULIA: Eight times would have been awesome, though.

ALLISON: Ha, yeah, eight times would have been the greatest.

JULIA: Seven times would have been kinda okay. But eight definitely would have been awesome.

ALLISON: Definitely.

JULIA: But at least it was twice and not three times.

My Life = Total Awesomeness

2006-06-01T00:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I can finally post the big news that I have been waiting since FEBRUARY to tell you all.

I sold my website, Diabetes Teen Talk, to dLife. Accepted the deal yesterday.

And they are bringing me on board as a "content consultant."

YAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is exciting for a few reasons.

Number One: I get paid! For stuff I've been doing for free! So EXCITING!

Number Two: Diabetes Teen Talk will have a future. The big concern I have always had with having Teen Talk (in either the Diabetes Portal version or the current version) was the fact that I don't know if I'm going to be able to continue to work on it when I graduate from college. I know having a full-time job doesn't necessarily negate the possibility of having the website. I mean, I am in college full-time, and have a part-time job, too (Ugh). But I was always afraid that once I got to be too old- like 30 or something - or too involved in a career/family, I would not have the ability/time to devote to a resource that I think is REALLY important. So having it a part of the dLife family means that if for whatever reason I don't continue working on Teen Talk it will continue on.

I'm also hoping to wrangle a full-time job out of this, since I am GRADUATING next year (insert scream here).

3) Beaucoup opportunities for me to do some really cool stuff for teens and for people in general with diabetes that I wouldn't be able to do if I was on my own. Yay for other people!

So yeah. That's the big news. There might be more big news associated with this new change, but I don't know what any of that is right now. But you will be the first to know.

Well, maybe second.

Okay, you're at least on the top 10 of first people to know. :-)

In other late-breaking-totally-exciting news, I:

1) have only 7 more shifts left at the AGP (thank God) because it's almost summer!!
2) am in the new summer issue of JDRF's Countdown magazine. Hurrah! I will try to scan it and put up a link to it as soon as I can get my hands on a copy. But go get yourself a copy anyway. You can get them for free at your local chapter. Or, heck, JOIN the JDRF and then you get them all year long! Woohoo! Yay for JDRF and research news and all that good stuff.
3) am volunteering for the ADA BBQ auction tomorrow, which should be funfunfun. Yay for volunteering. And I get class credit for it! Double hurrah!
4) am no longer doubling over in pain from my stupid back. Physical therapy = my new best friend. Seriously. It's even forcing me to go to the gym everyday (well, except for today...) which is great.
5) get to see my best friends Julia & Justin from high school on Saturday. Wahoo! I haven't seen either of them since December, which is a crazy long time to go without seeing those you love.

and lastly:

6) am totally, 100% obsessed with the band Anberlin. I'm listening to Paperthin Hymn right now and it's AWESOME!!!!!!! Download them now!

Ok. Seven totally awesome things about my life. I think I've got everyone caught up with the exciting, intrepid world of Allison.

Screw diabetes. My life rocks.

Contemplations of an Almost Adult

2006-05-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

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....

2006-05-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-08T16:47:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-05-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

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 ________

2006-05-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

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.

The Last Straw

2006-04-29T17:39:00.000-07:00

I have really REALLY got to stop procrastinating so much. Doing this much work in one weekend/week is sheer evilness. Observe:

- 5 page compare/contrast paper for International Communications (due Monday- but I'm almost done! yay!)
- powerpoint presentation for Public Relations Planning & Problems for our class presentations (due Monday, oy vey)
- final write-up for Case #2 also due Monday (I really really hope somebody picked that up on Friday...)
- 5 page research paper on a non-profit of my choice for Intro Non-Profit Sector (due on Thursday and I can't use JDRF! This means I have to do actual research! Ugh!)
- 6 page research paper on a topic of my choice for Religious Life in the U.S. (due on May 8- and I've only just begun doing some research... I think I'm doing mine on Jewish people in Philadelphia at the beginning of the 20th C. I should probably figure that one out...)

PLUS
- I work Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday, and then next Sunday (only one more day of calling parents and then onto the Special Campaign! Woohoo!)
- bible study Tuesday night
- coffee with Dana on Tuesday (I think), coffee with Julie on Wednesday (maybe)

I think I just need to go die now...

April in Eugene

2006-04-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

This week has been AWESOME! It's been sunny with blue skies and warm summery-spring afternoons. The Quad has been teeming with college students in tank tops. Bike riders and skateboarders are everywhere. The only one I have issues with are skateboarders. They scare me. I keep thinking they will run me over. I mean, it's not like they can break!

Classes have been good, although I'm ridiculously behind on my midterm projects. Yikes. I went to the Navigator's Bible Study on Tuesday and we read from Ephesians 6:11-17 (check it out. It's the Armor of God passage.) Blood sugars have been touch and go, but mostly go. :-)

Today, I had one class, had lunch and coffee with my wonderful friend Sarah and we had a wonderful chat about boys, God, kissing and sex, sin and how to eat healthy while living in an apartment. Then I drove over to the pharmacy to pick up a new bottle of Symlin and then I walked around the campus and took pictures.

Welcome to my world:

The above pictures were taken by looking out the 8th and 9th floor windows of the most atrocious looking building on campus, the PLC building, seen below.

The only reason it looks nice is because I am an excellent photographer. The second photograph was actually taken on this strange little balcony on the 9th floor (on the left side of the picture, where all that brick is). You can't see it in the picture, but you can open up one of the doors at the end of the hallway and actually go outside. There are guardrails to keep you from falling, but the rails were wide enough that I was so scared I would drop my camera! The first one was taken on the right side of PLC, and the third one is a picture of Eugene.

Would you like to hear a University of Oregon legend? Sure you do! The Pioneer and Pioneer Mother statues (seen below) have always been able to see each other through the glass doors of the Johnson Administration Building (also seen below). However, the administration decided awhile back that they wanted to put new doors on the Administration Building. Solid doors. Doors that meant the Pioneer and Pioneer Mother could no longer see each other. There was complete outrage! Students formed protests to get the doors switched back to the glass doors. They were successful! The Pioneer and Pioneer Mother can now look at each other through the glass doors of the Administration Building once again...

Pioneer Mother

Pioneer

Johnson Administration Building

Doesn't that just make you go "awwww"? I heard that one on my first tour of the U of O.

Allen Hall, the journalism building. I spend quite a bit of time here.

Espresso Roma. My other home. I spend even more time here. It's quite lovely. You can't see it in this picture, but it's right next door to a Starbucks. But I don't go to Starbucks. Starbucks is for rich yuppies. Roma is for edgy intelliectuals. Like me. That's right. I'm edgy.

Watch out.

~*~

Thus completes our tour of my little corner of the world. I hope you have enjoyed your visit. Please feel free to continue browsing as there are lots of interesting things to see and do here. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment.

Thank you and have a wonderful day.

A Gold Star Day

2006-04-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

I don't usually do this, but these are the kinds of days you want to frame and hang up on your wall:

9:30- 158
11:50- 117
12:51- 98
1:05 - 76
3:00- 100
5:20- 74
7:13- 111
9:45- 142

Only two lows, but they were very mild ones.

At 3:00, when I was 100, I decided to give myself a little reward. Since I was done with classes, I bought a DQ Reese's Blizzard and sat on the lawn in front of the Lillis Business School in the warm, April sunshine.

My dad now owes me $1.00. (As per an agreement made in middle school. $1.00 for every 100. I'm trying to get a raise for inflation, but it isn't working.)

I am a Rock Star.

I, Meme Instead of I, Homework.

2006-04-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

I am: Inigo Montoya. You killt my fah-ther. Prepare to DIE!

I want: my homework to finish itself.

I wish: upon stars.

I hate: three things: Satan, middle of the night low blood sugars, and liars. Everything else is just annoying.

I miss: being five years old, when there was no homework, I went to school to play and then came home and played some more, I could be a princess and a teacher and a cat all in one afternoon, and I didn't have diabetes.

I fear: disappointing those I love.

I hear: God speaking to me when I shut up and listen.

I wonder: why I don't listen more.

I regret: not keeping in touch with the Boy Next Door (actually, he was the Boy Across The Street, but Boy Next Door is catchier).

I am not: a Republican.

I dance: to beat of my own drum. And sometimes other beats just to mix things up.

I sing: along to Kelly Clarkson during my long drives home.

I cry: because it's cleansing.

I am not always: on time, correct, patient, loving, perfect, or politically correct.

I make with my hands: words from my heart appear on the page.

I write: because I like it and I happen to be pretty good at it, too.

I confuse: numbers. I once thought 5 + 3 was 7 (this was freshman year in college). I once thought a movie that started at 7:00 and was 95 minutes would get out at 10:00 (this was junior year in high school). I once thought that if I had an hour long class that started at 1p.m. and my train left at 3:45 p.m. it would leave me only 25 minutes to get from campus to the train station (this was last week). Seriously. It's ridiculous.

I need: love. All I need is love, da da da dada, all I need is love, love, love is all I need....

I should: be more patient, be more kind.

I start: projects that will hopefully help people live happier, healthier lives.

I finish: those projects because they help me, too.

I tag: because it's fun! You're it!

On this April 16th

2006-04-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

I would like to wish a....

Very Hoppy Bunny Day to all my friends and family in the O.C.!

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Very Happy Resurrection Day to all my Brothers & Sisters in Christ!

The Lord is risen!

and a Very Happy 23rd Anniversary to Mumzie and Father.

Life in 4-D

2006-04-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

Edit: Pictures! I have pictures! Photos from that Team Photogenic took at the Gala are also posted below.

1. Children's Diabetes Network's Teem Seminar:

Saturday morning started off with the local diabetes education and support group's seminar on teens with diabetes. There were 3 panelists (I was not one of them) who spoke in front of a group of parents. Josh, M.D. who had diabetes since age 8, one was a woman who has had diabetes since age 11 and has an 18 month old daughter, and one is a senior in high school diagnosed at age 14.

It's always nice hearing other people's perspectives and what they want to say to parents of teens because it gives me ideas for messages that I should incorporate into what I say. One of the most important things I think that was emphasized during the seminar was respect. Josh spoke a bit about how he thought it was really important that whenever parents approach their kids about diabetes, whether good or bad, they will have a much better time at communicating with them if they treat them with respect. It seems obvious when you read it, of course, but you would be surprised at how often I encounter teens who feel like their parents still treat them like they are 5 years old and don't want to give them any respect or any responsibility. Sometimes it seems that parents look at teens as the disease and complications, rather than a person who needs compassion and understanding and patience.

I also saw Nora Coon, a 17 year old who just wrote a book called The Diabetes Game. I haven't read it, but Nora's cool and you should totally check out the book. Nora and I used to help with child care at CDN when I was still living in Portland.

And I also saw our local Minimed rep, Kendall. Who, if he ever reads this blog, will discover that I think he's really cute. But way too old for me (he's 27). And he's a Beaver (he went to OSU, the archnemesis of U of O). Sad...

2. 7th Annual JDRF Gala:

This was So Much Fun! I love the gala! I got all dressed up in my bridesmaid dress from my cousin Lauren's wedding in 2004 (thank goodness Lauren picked a dress I can actually wear to more than just her wedding!) and drove to Portland's Governor Hotel. Special guests of the evening: former Portland Trailblazer Chris Dudley (yes, he is very tall- and that's him receiving an award to your left) and Allan Spiegal, M.D. (director of the National Institute for Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases - he's the one giving a speech to your right). Very exciting. We raised $310,000! A Harley Davidson sold for $10,000! And a wonderful hand-made quilt made by some local kids with diabetes was auctioned off as well. The bid for that item was so exciting. The price kept going up and up, and then it came down to two bidders. Back and forth, back and forth. People cheering, the air thick with intense anticipation. I, personally, was jumping up and down the entire time. Finally, one bidder just couldn't outbid the other and the quilt SOLD! For $5,000! People were so excited and the winning bidder received a standing ovation from the ENTIRE room. It was AWESOME!

The kids hold their quilt during the auction.

That's the Harley Davidson that sold for $10,000.
3. Teens in Transition Focus Group:

Tonight (Thursday), I drove back up to Portland for a focus group on a new Teens in Transition support-group-slash-education-series for high school seniors about to graduate and enter the Real World. I was there with Dr. Mike Fulop (a psychologist, who also has diabetes), Cheryl Sheppard (former E.D. for our JDRF chapter and E.D. of the diabetes camp), two camp counselors Lobos (Megan) and Coheed (James), Debbie (a social work at Dr. Fulop's office), and my friend Ali (and her boyfriend, Matt- who is seriously like the coolest boyfriend. He was asking me questions about Symlin and about how it is having diabetes as a teen... Wow. He's kind of like a Chris. Only, you know, not.).

It will be interesting to see how things go with the group. We (the counselors, Ali and I) will probably be doing the majority of the facilitating and working with teens since we're close in age and have diabetes. It will be exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing how this helps teens (or if it helps at all). This project is actually the brainchild of Dr. James Hansen (my late endocrinologist). It seems that most of why the diabetes community is so strong in Portland is because we are all trying to accomplish the things Dr. Hansen wanted to do, but couldn't.

4. Allison's A1C.

And the winner is.... 7.4.

Eh, not too shabby.

;-)

And now back to our regular scheduled Hiatus.

Still Alive...

2006-04-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

This has definitely been one of those bullet train weeks, the one where you feel like you're still moving even after you've stopped.

I started a new term this week, which means brand-new classes leading to a brand-new work schedule leading to brand-new eating and sleeping pattern leading to brand-new insulin requirements leading to brand-new anxiety. Gee, and for a moment I was worried I wouldn't have enough going on.

Class shcedule is fairly decent. Monday and Wednesdays are 10-3:30 p.m. with one 1 hour break. Tuesday and Thursday have one class that is over at noon. Friday has one class from 1-2 p.m. Yes, this sucks, but it's still early enough, and I get to sleep in. Classes this term are as follows: Public Relations Planning & Problems, International Communication, Religious Life in the U.S. and Intro to the Non-Profit Sector (which I could teach). The funny thing with the Non-Profit class is they are not allowing us to use the non-profit we happen to volunteer with for our Midterm and Final Projects. Which means I can't use diabetes. Man, this totally ruins my streak of using diabetes for all my college projects. Oh well. I suppose I should "expand my horizons" and "try something new."

Work continues to not be much fun, though we are calling returning donors (thus, people who actually like the University already and are not waiting for me to tell them why we are so awesome). I work Sunday, Monday and Thursday.

Monday was adjusting to classes and work, Tuesday had one class with some downtime and then an embroidery class at the Craft Center, and more classes on Wednesday. I had discovered that I was mentioned in this month's issue of Diabetes Health, but couldn't find the article on the internet. Luckily, Scott Strumello from Diabetes Talkfest had a copy and scanned it for me. Which you can view here. Click to see the full-size page.

Thursday didn't accomplish a whole lot though I was thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day. Class ended at noon and I grabbed a pizza from the Memorial Union because I hadn't eaten anything so far that day (eating as been a bit frazzled this week), and I ate while I walked to my hair appointment. Then I had coffee at Full City with my friend Dana. Afterwards, I walked to Oregon Hall to pick up my paycheck (at least a mile, if not two, from Full City). But, upon arrival, discovered I had left my wallet at Full City. Walked all the freaking way back. Arrived, grabbed it off the table, and decided that the "kinda funny feeling" in my legs was a full-fledged low. I walked about a block, making my way to the Subway three blocks down, when it suddenly dawned on me that I *was* a good little diabetic and *had* brought juice with me. Go me. Seriously, it was like finding a $5 I didn't know I had.

Today was equally busy, with me going to Oregon Hall to (finally) pick up the aforementioned paycheck, meeting with an internship advisor, taking the bus to pick up much needed insulin (I had, oh, 12 units left), picking up my Greyhound ticket, going back to the house and send a few necessary emails and pack, going to class, realizing that I left my bus ticket at home but subsequently discovering that I had not 25 minutes until the bus boarded but 1 hour and 25 minutes. Going back to house, retrieved ticket, walking back to the bus station. Arriving at Greyhound.

Am now in Portland for the Children's Diabetes Seminar and JDRF Gala. And even though it's only 10:30 p.m. I'm thinking about calling it an early(ish) night.

The Great California Adventure

2006-04-02T00:07:00.000-08:00

I’m home!!! Didja miss me? This is a terribly long post, but rather than doing multiple posts, I’m just writing up everything now before I forget. I’ve just landed after a 10 hour car trip that took me from Palo Alto, up through Oakland, through Fairfield, up onto I-5 heading stick straight north into Redding, passing through an insanely torrential downpour at Mount Shasta, and into the bottom of half of Oregon. I should be either asleep or unpacking. But I’m not. I’m here, posting on Blogger.

Because I’ve gone SEVEN FREAKING DAYS without posting. Do you know know how long seven days is in Bloggerland? That’s like, at least a year in normal people time. Yep. It’s that long.

Annie (my wonderful friend and top-notch driver) and I left Eugene promptly at 8:30 a.m. last Saturday. We made a pit-stop at Dutch Bros. (those without Dutch Bros., you have my sympathy) before taking off on the Great California Adventure. The weather (which was our constant nemesis throughout the week) teased us with clouds and rain for the better part of Southern Oregon, but finally towards Crescent City (about half an hour into California), the sun decided to grace us with its presence.

The drive down to Mendocino was filled with redwood trees, sightings of the oceans which yielded squeals of delight, and ridiculously curvy roads with Annie going “Wheeeee” at every turn. Oh, and the giant Paul Bunyon and his Blue Ox.

We arrived in the picturesque beach town of Mendocino around 7:00 p.m. Annie’s mother, Katie, and her sister, Sara, were waiting for us with their adorable golden retriever, Bo. Sunday was spent window-shopping and a hike on the bluffs along the beach. We took lots of pictures. Unfortunately, and as usual, I’m horrendously awful about taking pictures on vacation, even though I have a digital camera. So I only have pictures from the first two days and only one picture from San Francisco. Many apologies.

Annie, Katie and I also saw a delightful little play called Moon Over Buffalo. Monday involved some shopping and TV watching (Bring It On will go down as history as Teeny Bopper Classic. Jesse Bradford = hot.). We took off around three and headed down towards the Bay Area. Cue ridiculously curvy roads and redwoods. Oh, Highway 1, how I won’t miss thee…

Arrived in Petaluma, where Annie’s older brother, Jay, lives. Headed over to a little Italian restaurant for some quality family time. Continued the last leg of the trip to Palo Alto around 9:00, drove through suburbs before zipping through the tunnel and rounding the corner to see a beautiful vista of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Annie’s Saab has a sun roof. Can we say “awesome view”?

Tuesday involved much sleeping in (except for that obnoxious dog next door who wouldn’t stop barking for hours in the morning). Katie is starting a new non-profit for women down the street from their house, so Annie, Sara and I went over to help them clear out the back bedrooms of this old Victorian Bed and Breakfast. Lots of ugly lamps and pictures. And pillows. Oh god, the pillows. Sara lives in Santa Cruz, but their good friend Mary was flying in from Pasadena that afternoon, so we hopped in the car and drove the San Jose airport to pick her up so Sara could see Mary before she had to leave. We made a pit-stop at In N’ Out, which was my first time going there. Seeing as how I don’t eat red meat, it was probably less thrilling than if I did. But their “grilled cheese” (hamburger sans burger) was tasty. We also got Krispy Kreme donuts, which of course made everything all better. We got to the airport a bit too early, so we parked. But the security guard asked us to move. So we drove around. And we were still too early. So we drove around again. And we were still too early. So we drove around again. We parked, taking a risk at being carted off to “Illegally Parked Criminals” jail. But Mary arrived! And we drove away, happy and ticket-free.

After Sara left, we took Mary up to Atherton to pick up her car, and then Annie and I drove over to the Stanford Mall and went shopping. Saw awesomely cute things at Bloomie’s, but decided to put the items on hold. Good thing, too. A $32 tank top? Are you joshing me? Eek.

Wednesday was down-time day. Annie went to lunch with her friend Katie, who we hung out with the night before. I spent that hour in the backyard, sitting in the gazebo and reading Through Painted Deserts (awesome book. Two thumbs up.). It started to rain while I was out there, but it was still warm so I stayed put. Later, when Mary came over, I told her I had spent the early afternoon in the gazebo reading while it rained. And she said, “Aw. It’s like you were in your natural habitat.” Yes. Reading and rain.

Annie and I took a tour of Palo Alto in the afternoon. We went to Peet’s (our coffee haunt while in California. Those without a Peet’s, you have my sympathy) and then drove around town. Drove through the Stanford campus and saw a couple of Annie’s childhood homes. Then while Annie and her mother went to the spa for Mother/Daughter time, I watched Elizabethtown (and cried a bit).

Thursday was San Francisco Day! Very exciting. We left around 11:15 and arrived in The City at noon. We were scheduled to rendez-vous with our friend Sabrina, who also goes to U of O, but she and her roommate, Molly, were still at the Museum of Modern Art. So Annie and I parked downtown and had lunch and then went shopping at Macy’s, H & M and Urban Outfitters (where I broke one of my cardinal traveling rules which states: Thou shall not buy items at stores which are located in Oregon. This is because Oregon is one of the few states sans sales tax and I honestly cannot bring myself to buy something I know is cheaper at home. But this was a cute knee-length denim skirt that was on sale and sales are not guaranteed in Oregon, so I thought this was an okay exception). Sabrina and Molly finally made it over to Urban, and from there we headed to Haight-Ashbury, the uber-trendy-former-Hippy-Central-district of San Francisco. It’s still pretty hippy, and we did quite a bit of vintage shopping. And, of course, we stopped at Amoeba Music, which is apparently World Famous, though I hadn’t heard of it. Ah well, I already knew I was culturally disenfranchised. But I did pick up: Snow Patrol, Frou Frou and Switchfoot.

Then Jon (from Diabetes Talkfest) and his son, Chris, finally made it over to The City (after a completely horrid commute through evening traffic which I still feel guilty about). We went to dinner and then we went to Ghiradelli Square! Wahoo! Ice Cream Sundaes! With Ghiradelli chocolate! Very exciting. I bought some chocolate from Mumzie and Father, and I got a free little box of chocolate in a pretty pink box. Jon and Chris were very fun to hang out with and we drove around The City in Jon’s red Mustang.

Friday was the Amy Day. I took the Caltrain from Palo Alto up to Burlingame to see Amy (she doesn’t even need a last name anymore. It’s just Amy. Like Cher. Or Madonna. Or Oprah). It was amazingly awesome, despite the torrential downpour that was the Bay Area this week (everyone kept apologizing to us for the rain. It was kind of amusing- I *am* from Oregon. You don’t know rain until you live in the Pacific Northwest). Amy and I went to a cute little café/bakery near the train station. We vented about absentmindedly forgetting supplies, people who assume we know everything about diabetes just because we have diabetes, people who ask the wrong questions or give the wrong answers, and the O.C. Of course. Time went too quickly. I need an encore.

The sun peaked out again in the evening, and Annie and I walked to California Pizza Kitchen to get pizza (obviously) and two chick flick movies. We watched Just Like Heaven. Which was more like Just Like Every Other Chick Flick, but it still made us cry.

We bade our good-byes this morning to Katie, picked up our Pete’s and scones and drove off into the wild blue yonder (a.k.a. the mindnumbing drearyness that is Central California). We discovered an In N’ Out and Pete’s in Fairfield (we spotted the In N’ Out first, but when I discovered there was a Pete’s in the same parking lot, Annie literally squealed and waved her hands in the air while driving, nearly giving me a heart attack.)

The drive was mostly clear until we got onto I-5, and as we approached Northern California, ominous dark gray clouds loomed in the distance, almost seeming to scream “Turn back now! It’s not too late!” We should have listened. By the time we hit Mount Shasta, we could barely see the roads from the rain and the snow level and temperature continued to drop. We stopped at a McDonalds to grab some dinner, but the lady at the counter said there was no snow at Mt. Ashland (the highest point of the pass) and the rain appeared to be moving the opposite direction. Thank. God. Did I mention the Saab is a manual and Annie’s never driven in snow. And we didn’t have chains. Today was the day for Close-Call Heart Attacks.

The only redeeming factor of our 24-hours in the car was our Music. Cue Big Announcer Voice: The Great California Adventure Soundtrack includes hits from Ryan Adams, Imogen Heap from the duo Frou Frou, The Postal Service, Halopaw, Snow Patrol and Beck, plus many more of your favorites songs.

And now I’m home. In my chair. Feeling like I’m still in the car (the room is moving, I swear.). With a sore neck and an even sorer bum. With my large suitcase stuffed with dirty clothes and used pump sets sitting next to me, waiting to be unloaded.

But that’s why God created Tomorrow.

2006-03-24T19:40:00.000-08:00

Itinerary:

Leave obnoxiously bright and early on March 25 for a 10 drive to Mendocino. Highlights include a pit stop in Grants Pass for gas, lunch in Ferndale and one long afternoon of gazing at the Pacific Ocean from Hwy 101.

Followed with two nights and at least one full day in quaint Mendocino (complete with long walks on the beach with the dog and window-shopping) before another 3 hour drive to Palo Alto.

Palo Alto highlights include: a day trip to the City (that would be San Francisco), an afternoon in Santa Cruz, lunch with The Amy, dinner with Jon and Chris, and drinking lots of Peet's Coffee, eating out, and shopping shopping shopping!

Finish the California sojourn on April 1 with a ridiculously dreary 12-hour straight-shot drive through the California desert, stopping perhaps near Mt. Shasta for dinner (and some snow if lucky).

If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something...

2006-03-21T23:12:00.000-08:00

Words. It’s funny how they are fundamental in sharing an idea with another, and yet they can be the most elusive. They are swallowed by fear. They run from confrontation. Overused, the impact of brave, thundering phrases become meek and shallow.

Words. We can hear and read the words, but do we always know what they mean? And when we know what they mean, does that mean we understand what they are trying to tell us?

I am exposed to words everyday. In my classes, while I’m on the phone at work, when I’m sitting in the back of the coffee shop on the 13 Avenue, when I’m sitting in my bed falling asleep to the lyrics of Dahlia and Moby. When I’m reading the newspaper, when I’m instant messaging my friends, when I’m eating lunch in the Memorial Union, when I’m on the bus to Portland. Sitting in the pews at church, when I’m driving in my car and the radio is on too loud, when I’m eating dinner with my family, when I’m at the doctor’s office.

I am exposed to words everyday. Thousands, millions of words. Do I know what the words are trying to tell me?

Words, if heard just enough times from just the right person, can have just enough impact to create just the right kind of emotion to raise just the right questions to cause just the right amount of compliance to just the right reasons.

Think about it.

We’ve seen it dozens of times throughout history. Every revolution started with the right speech or the right phrase or the right emphasis on the right people to cause the right kind of action that left us staring with disbelief and disgust, turning not to our neighbors or children or lover, but to our soul to ask the question that begs the answer: Dear God, how could that happen?

Revolutions are not things that happen quickly. By definition, they are a “drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving.” They start with the right kind of speech (phrase or emphasis) that make you feel safe. They make you feel like someone is fighting for you personally. They make you feel like This will change everything. Change for the better. Change for freedom, change for safety. Change from whatever it is you fear most. Abandonment, poverty, disease, even death.

The book 1984 is a prime example of words being carefully crafted to cause the complacency that happens when people become comfortable with the idea that politicians can create that Change. Historical revolutions did the same thing. Most totalitarian governments did it, too. With words. It’s not until after the words have served their function that the governments can then use force to wield their true purpose. You have to say “yes” first.

Governments aren’t the only ones to do this. Religion has an interesting way of inserting just the right phrase into just the right context so it has just the right message. And, of course, as they say, if it’s from a holy text you can’t argue with it.

I wonder about that sometimes. There’s a new movie that just came out last Friday, you might have heard of it, called V for Vendetta. The Matrix creators produced it. I’m not writing a review, but the movie brought up several points, most of which I just mentioned. In the movie, a futuristic Britain is under the control of a totalitarian government. Their leader is Chancellor Sutler, who in my opinion is an obnoxious and terrifying fascist dictator. If Adolf Hitler and Pat Robertson mated and spawned a child, Chancellor Sutler would be it. Throughout the movie, the regime’s motto is featured in various parts of London: “Strength through unity, unity through faith.” Religious superiority colors the characters and moves them to condone atrocious acts. The symbol of the British party is two crosses, one on top of the other.

The similarities to World War II are apparent, as are the links to present-day America and terrorism. In one scene, a lesbian couple are kidnapped and taken to “detention centers.” One of the women, Valerie, writes secret letters to a fellow prisoner. She describes her life and how it changed when the government came into power, and the torture she is subjected to as a detainee. She eventually dies and is buried, naked, in a mass grave.

It looked like a picture from my high school history book.

The main character, V, is also held captive in the detention center and his experiences fuels his “vendetta” against the government to the point where he relies on violence to undo the damage and free the citizens who capitulate to the restrictions. Now, I could write a completely separate entry on the matter of violence as a means to an end, but that’s not why I’m writing this.

I’m writing about the words. I’m writing about the words that I hear on a daily basis that I fear could be the speeches (phrase or emphasis) that we will eventually look back on and say: “Dear God, how could that happen?”

The words about other races.
The words about other religions.
The words about other political parties.
The words about other lifestyles.

The words that could evolve into the words the characters (the “fictional” characters) in the movie used to convince an entire nation that they were right. That they would bring the right kind of Change. In the past, words were against the Jews. Our new words are against the Arabs, the Muslims, and the homosexual community. We just use the same words against new people.

My grandfathers were Jewish. If there was one thing that haunted me the most when I became a Christian it was leaving my family. I don’t regret becoming a Christian, but I am ashamed of the suffering my grandfathers experienced because of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

If there were ever hate-filled words spoken against you in the name of Jesus, I am so sorry. Jesus taught never to judge or condemn, he taught to love everyone (even those who persecute) and he taught to be generous and humble. He taught that He was whom we should follow. A lot of people won’t listen to Jesus’ Words because of the words we have used. The words we are trying to use to ignite a revolution against those who are different.

If I had one chance to tell you something, if I had one opportunity to use Words and have them mean Something forever, it would be this:

I love you.

Homophobia in a Small Town

2006-03-16T21:53:00.000-08:00

West Linn, Oregon. A bright, safe community of 25,000, located south of metropolitan Portland. It is populated with smart, mostly wealthy families of doctors, lawyers, businessmen and businesswomen and teachers. A quaint little bedroom community.

West Linn and it's sister city, Lake Oswego, are also known for being the "Beverly Hills" of the Portland metropolitan area. Gigantic homes with no yards, Mercedes and BMWs every other car, but did WL suffer a budget cut during the 2003 funding crisis the knocked off an entire month of school as it did with the Portland School District? Of course not. Mummy and Daddy wouldn't let it.

West Linn is an adorably safe town with a wonderful education system and overzealous and terminally bored police department, but it's not without it's skeletons.

I haven't said much about my hometown, mostly for the sake of privacy for my family and friends. But the lastest news out of the old Linntry is this:

17-year-old WLHS senior, Brandon Flyte, was requested (some say "ordered") to transfer to a local community college after he showed a film entitled Brokeback High to his marine biology class. As the story goes, Brandon wrote a film based off the controversial and critically acclaimed Brokeback Mountain featuring a love story between two male students. The film included a "snuggling scene" where the two boys are shown whispering affection in bed, shirtless. The administration asked for the scene to be removed, and Brandon complied. But when his marine biology class asked to see it, he showed the unedited version. Then he was asked to come to the office, where the three vice-principals told Brandon that "because of his poor attendence record" he was going to have to transfer to Clackamas Community College.

Right.

Of course, a controversy has ensued, and Brandon is recording it all on his website, BrandonFlyte.com. He explains his side of the story, features an article to the Oregonian (which, as a journalist, is the most amazingly horrible piece of writing I've ever encountered in a professional publication) and he has a guestbook where people from all over the world have posted. In just three days. Of course, with 10,000 e-mails, the administration has relented and allowed Brandon to return to WLHS, but not without calling Brandon's shenanigans a "hoax" and that he was expelled for "a series of misbehaviors," which are not even listed. It has prompted crude, hateful messages from the entire spectrum of religious and political beliefs.

I'm posting this after seeing a link to the story from my friend Sarah's blog. It is disturbing to me on two fronts: 1) I'm from West Linn, and I'm just appalled that this is what our administration has turned into. They have always been a bit overzealous with their "rules" (I could write an entire post about the dumb policies they created- including posting faculty at the doors leading from the cafeteria to avoid student bringing "exposed food or drink" into the main building) and 2) I'm a journalist, and the Oregonian has done a shoddy piece of work with their report. It's ridiculous.

Some people are calling this a "cry for attention" or a "shameless plug for publicity of his film," which is not what Brandon claims, but still, he damn right deserves some publicity for what he's going through. The administration should be hung out to dry for the fact they even made him cut that stupid scene (which, by the way, you can view at his website).

It's not even a sex scene. They don't even kiss in the scene. They are not wearing shirts (you can't see anything else) and they're lying in bed. Big deal.

We are having an educational crisis with budgets cuts across the board causing teachers to cut back on opportunities to bring in guest speakers and go on field trips. They lack updated textbooks and technology (not WLHS, of course, our bathrooms are made from Italian tile...). And now they are trying to stifle intelligent discussion on something pertinent to our society today?

Are they freaking out of their minds?

I didn't think I would get so angry about it. But this smacks of not only homophobia, but of sheer cluelessness as to the value of strong, open discussion about current events. Isn't that what we go to school for? To learn about our world?

Disappointing. Amazingly disappointing.

Hump Day Update

2006-03-15T22:13:00.000-08:00

The papers are done!

Hallelujah!

Praise da Lawd!!!!!!!

Oh heavens, I don't think I can describe in words how happy I am that the Evil Papers of Doom and Despair are written and turned in.

Now I can focus my attention on the Evil Finals of Death and Destruction. Oh joy.

Is it Spring Break yet?

~*~

In other, happier news, today was my last day of class for PR Writing (that's actually not the happy news- I rather liked that class). We went to Rennie's, a bar across the street from campus. Me, nine other girls, one guy (Peter, bless his soul), and our professor, Michelle. It was fun getting to know my classmates. It's kind of funny how you can spend so much time with people, but not ever get to know them. Since the class sizes of the PR classes at the UO can only be 16 students, I will be spending a lot of time with these fine folks. We're even planning on some outside-of-class hanging out time. Having Law & Order: SVU viewing parties and going to Corvallis to have some of Beth's boyfriends' apple cider beer or whatever it is. It's apple cider. It's fermented. Apparently it gets you drunk. I have no idea what this is.

Michelle is amazingly cool, too. You know, for being old(er). She even bought the first round of drinks. Woohoo.

Don't worry- I didn't drink alcohol. I got a yummy Shirley Temple. Blasted drinking age. 4 1/2 months! Or: 18 weeks. Or: 142 days.

Not that I'm counting.

~*~

But who wants to end on a high note? Time for some more bitching. So guess what I lost this week?

My glucose meter.

Oh yeah. I rock so hard, don't I? Oy.

So I'm on "reserves" right now, which basically entails me stealing Freestyle Flash test strips from the Health Center so I can use my spiffy little Flash that I got a while back during my "Minimed Meter Suck Monkey Butts" phase.

Oh, who I am kidding? The Minimed Meter does suck monkey butts, but unfortunately it's the only one that my insurance wants to pay for. Not that I've utilized my persuasive wiles or anything, but that's not the point.

I have to continue stealing (well, it isn't really stealing since they told me I'm allowed to take them when I need them, though I don't think they mean "Take all of them, Allison, we'll be your supplier of test strips!") until I call BD and lie about my meter breaking so they can send me a new one. Otherwise I have to pay for a new meter, and dammit, 12 years and I have never paid for a meter and I'll be damned if I start now! And since I can't wipe out the Health Centers entire supply of Flash test strips, I have to ration them out. Which means I'm not testing very much. Which means my blood sugars are higher longer than they should. Which means that I have turned into a cynic, shaking my fist at the world and bemoaning my situation.

Where's a black veil when you need one?

Oy vey. Uh huh. It's so bad, we need both Oy and Vey.

~*~

But it's Wednesday and it's Hump Day which means there is only 2 more days until the weekend!

Okay, there's your happy note. You beat it out of me.

Seven is Still a Darn Cool Number or Things I Have Learned This Weekend

2006-03-12T17:40:00.000-08:00

1. Although I love English and I love writing, I do indeed despise writing English papers.

2. I require caffeine to wake (well, to function properly, at the very least) and melatonin to sleep. Hurrah for chemical dependencies!

3. Vitamin Water is my new Favoritest Thing Ever. Without it, I would be a walking desert. It’s especially great when I’m on the phone at work. Coffee makes me more thirsty (this Caffeinated Beverage of Life is consumed prior to work), water tastes yucky (I’m very anti-water), and soda makes me burp (which isn’t something you want to do into someone’s ear. Very unpleasant.).

4. What is the one thing I hate more than diabetes? It’s a tough one, huh? Come on- think about it. Give up? Working at the University of Oregon’s Annual Giving Program. Amazing, no? Please do not hang up on telemarketers, no matter how much you may loathe our existence. It makes us want to cry. Well, at least me.

5. I am now listed on aforementioned Annual Giving Programs website.

6. I enjoy laughing. Okay, that’s not something new, but these are:

Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About.

Chuck Norris Facts.

And keeping with the theme of Bizarre and Twisted, here’s an oldie but a goodie:
The Very Secret Diaries of the Fellowship.

Better get a box of Kleenex- yeah, they’re that funny.

7. This guy rocks my socks off: Robert G. Spiro, M.D. He’s a Type 1 diabetic and he works for Joslin Diabetes Center. Have we talked about him yet? He has an adorable list of recommendations about living with diabetes, and he was awarded Joslin’s 50 Years Award. But more importantly, check out his “Family and Career” page. He was born in Germany and escaped religious persecution from Nazi Germany in 1940! Then he came to the U.S. and went to Columbia, met his wife, got his medical degree, was diagnosed with diabetes, developed his own blood glucose monitoring system with his chemist wife decades before home monitoring systems were invented, and now lives in Boston where he has spent 50 years as a researcher and a professor at the Harvard Medical School! We could make a movie about him!

And Now For Something Completely Different!

2006-03-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

A man with three noses!

(He's not here yet!)

Two noses?

~*~

I Heart Monty Python

~*~

Late-Breaking Allison News Update:

ONE MORE WEEK OF CLASSES AND THEN: CALIFORNIA!!!!!

Who's excited?
I'm excited.

Also signing up to be a member of the AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals- yes, there's an actual organization devoted to that stuff and the people who do it). I get to help organize a special event to help Siempre Amigos, which is a local group dedicated to helping relocated people adjust to life in Eugene.

IT SNOWED! It didn't stick on campus, but it snowed. Apparently in North Eugene, .00128 inches stuck on the ground for approximately 19 minutes. TV crews came out, there was a front page story in the Register-Guard, and the Governor almost declared a state-wide emergency.

But alas, it melted.

~*~

And because British Humor is the best kind of humor, I leave you with Izzard, Eddie Izzard:

"We stole countries with the cunning use of flags! Just sail halfway around the world, stick a flag in. "I claim India for Britain." And they're going, "You can't claim us. We live here! There's five hundred million of us." "Do you have a flag?" "We don't need a bloody flag, this is our country you bastard!" "No flag, no country! You can't have one. That's the rules... that... I've just made up! And I'm backing it up with this gun... that was lent from the National Rifle Association."

and...

"We play bad guys in Hollywood movies. Take, for example, "The Empire Strikes Back" from the Star Wars trilogy. The Death Star is just full of British actors opening doors and going, "Oh... I... oh..." "What is it lieutenant Sebastian?" "It's just the Rebels, sir... they're here." "My God, man! Do they want tea?" "No, I think they're after something a bit more than that, sir. I don't know what it is, but they've brought a flag." "Damn, that's dash cunning of them."

~*~

There is way too much funny stuff in life to waste time being sad.

My Theme Song

2006-03-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

Since I don't have anything very interesting to write about (unless you want me to moan about my Astronomy exam and groan about my Non-Profit research paper), I thought I would share with you my theme song. Seems fitting considering some of the posts recently written. I was listening to this song over Winter Break and I swear, this could be our theme song.

(If you have iTunes or other such music pirating program- download this song!)

Edit: I have recorded an audio post of this song by putting my cell phone up to my headphones. Thus, the quality is shoddy at best and crappy at worst. But if you'd like to get a sense of what the song sounds like, you can listen to it here.

"Just a Ride" by Jem

Life, it's ever so strange
It's so full of change
Think that you've worked it out
then BANG
Right out of the blue
Something happens to you
To throw you off course
and then you

Breakdown
Yeah you breakdown
Well don't you breakdown
Listen to me
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
no need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you round and round
Sometimes you're up
sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
don't be scared
don't hide your eyes
It may feel so real inside
but don't forget it's just a ride

Truth, we don't wanna hear
It's too much to take
Don't like to feel out of control
So we make our plans
Ten times a day
And when they don't go
our way we

Breakdown
Yeah we breakdown
Well don't you breakdown
Listen to me
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
no need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you round and round
Sometimes you're up
sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
don't be scared
don't hide your eyes
It may feel so real inside
but don't forget it's just a ride

Slowly, oh so very slowly
accept that
there's no getting off
So live it, just gotta go with it
coz this ride's never gonna stop

Breakdown
Don't you breakdown
No need to breakdown
No need at all
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
no need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you all around
Sometimes you're up
sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
don't be scared now
dry your eyes
It may feel so real inside
but don't forget enjoy the ride!

My Weekend in Portland, or Why I Don't Like Diabetes Education Seminars

2006-03-05T22:59:00.000-08:00

OK. I don't meant to sound cocky, but I think I know a lot about diabetes. Not as much as professionals (though I question the intelligence of some Endos Who Shall Remain Unnamed), but as far as most 5-months-til-I'm-21-year-old patients go, there's not much I haven't heard. I read the books, I go to the educational seminars, I'm a member of every message board in existence, I've interviewed a lot of people and I even wrote a 20 page research paper (as part of a 100-page project) on stem cell research.

When I decided to spend $40 to go see Dr. Peter Chase in Portland for the Children's Diabetes Seminars annual Research Seminar, I thought it would be an great opportunity to learn about the latest goings-on from someone in-the-know. Something, you know, about research.

Now, let's pause. Dr. Peter Chase is brilliant. He's an excellent speaker. He addresses people's issues. He knows his stuff.

It's probably mostly my fault for expecting an education seminar addressed towards the parents of children with diabetes to be something valuable for me. Clearly I do not need to be told the benefits of having a basal insulin versus NPH (pumper for 5 1/2 years). Clearly I do not need to be told hypoglycemia is bad (but passing out is so much fun!). Clearly I do not need to be told testing is a good thing (I did the deliquent teen thing and landed myself a toasty 9.2 A1C). Clearly I do not need to be told ketones are back (Oh drat. I do so love the burning, dehydrated muscles, nausea and constant thirst). Clearly I do not need to be told research for a cure is important.

Dr. Peter Chase addressed these issues in a coherant, detailed manner, citing numerous examples and studies for our benefit. It was brilliant. The recent trials at the Barbara Davis Center on the Navigator- very exciting. Promising, even. The FDA passing it in April, with the release coming in June or July? ::Applause:: Abbott's attempt to pass this as a replacement for testing rather than an addition? Risky, Dr. Chase says, but not impossible.

But other than the one slide that showed the 6-month results of teens wearing the Navigator, with the lowering of A1Cs and the benefits of tracking overnight lows, there really wasn't anything new. Except for the details on the Navigator trial, I could have given most of the lecture myself. Step aside, Dr. Chase, step aside.

Which leads me to this conclusion: I need to graduate. I am stuck in the high school of diabetes education and I want to be promoted to college. I know I'm not that smart when it comes to all of this, so please, hand me my diploma of "Persistent Patient" and tell me something I don't know.

I almost thought I scored gold when the University decided to start a new Human Physiology class on diabetes for spring term. Exciting, no? But upon reviewing the syllabus, I discovered this class is another repeat of Diabetes 101. What diabetes is, different ways to treat it, a couple of classes on alcohol and traveling (which might be interesting) and, of course, the importance of testing. Oy vey.

I'm tempted to take the class for the easy A and to get college credit for being sick (which in theory sounds kinda cool). But if I have to spend 10 weeks listening to "Now, remember, test often and review your records to see if any changes need to be made" or "There are many variables that influence diabetes management," I think I might stab myself repeatedly with a lancet.

Honestly, if I hear "basal insulin is better than peaking insulin" one more time, I might just throw my pump in the river as a protest!

There has to be more to this than touting basal insulin and frequent testing. What on earth do diabetes educators talk about at their little meetings? I'm mean, seriously.

Is that it?

Am I not looking in the right places?

Am I being too dramatic or am I really destined to a life of Basal-and-Testing-Cheerleaders-on-Parade?

If this is it, count me out. I'm going to go for a bike ride, feed my chemical dependency on caffeine, and maybe catch up on the latest Cosmopolitan. Call my cell if there's anything new.

Housewarming

2006-03-01T00:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome!

As you can see, I've moved. Nice, new digs. Have a look around. I think it looks pretty snazzy. If you're totally lost and have absolutely no idea who I am or why you should care about my life, please visit Lemonade Life or Justabitoff (over there--->).
That will get you up to speed on what you missed last season.

The header (up there ^ ) is a collage of pictures from my scrapbook.

Starting from the top, left hand corner:
1. Ashleigh, a friend from Georgia, and I and Tallulah Falls in Georgia, in March 2005.
2. Me, my mom, and my brother, Eric.
3. Julia, a friend from high school, and I at the Candy House Party in December 2005.
4. Deirde, a friend from Philadelphia, and I at the 4th of July Parade in Philly in 2004.
5. My nightstand, with the essentials: diabetes supplies, cross, NIV Bible and Searching For God Knows What by Don Miller (great book!)
6. My shotglass collection. I have 43 (I think...). From all over the world. I think you can make out the handle of the mini-beer mug from Germany, then South Carolina (the white one), Montana, New Orleans, Peru, North Carolina and Georgia... The super tall one in the back is from Mexico. I think that's really all you can see. But I only bought half of them. Most of my shotglasses are souvenirs that other people have bought me. If you're going some place, let me know and I will see if I have a shotglass from there.
7. The view from my window.
8. A small portion of my bookshelf. I think I've read half the books in this picture... I'm working on it.
9. The family cat, Emma.
10. Julia and I at the Santa Monica Promenade (L.A.) in September 2005.

I will most likely be rotating pictures as I get more. I really wanted to include some pictures from my trip to France, and maybe some pictures from Children's Congress 2001. Yeah, I get around. But I don't have any on this computer, so that shall have to wait.

Second Item of Business
Registration for classes! Yay!!!

Not.

Ugh. I always think I have finally outsmarted DuckWeb and figured out my classes three weeks ahead of time so I can just breeze through registration without any problems.

Hahaha...

Well, half an hour before registration comes and I discover that one of my journalism classes isn't even on the list anymore! Not that it's just closed, it's just not even there! Wha?? Anyway, I almost had to completely rework my schedule because the next journalism class I need threatened to throw everything off. Blast. But I managed to come out relatively on top.

And the winners are: Public Relations Planning and Problems, International Communications, Intro to the Non-Profit Sector (I'm taking all my classes for the Non-Profit Admin minor out of order. I've already taken 2 other Non-Profit classes before this) and Religous Life in the U.S. That last one will satisfy my Religious Studies minor and then I will be DONE! With at least something! Hurrah!

Third Item on the List

I enjoy writing long posts.

Quatro
I'm NOT going home for spring break. I'm going to...

CALIFORNIA!!!!

California, Oh California,

Here we come....

(those of you in the know will recognize that as "California" by Phantom Planet, better known as the O.C. theme song)

More specifically, the Bay Area of California. From approximately March 25-April 1. Or thereabouts. If you live in the Bay Area or happen to be there during the aforementioned dates, please inquire at the front desk about possible a lunch, dinner, or coffee with the author. Thank you.

Are we bored yet? Good, me too.

I'm out.