Gave it my best shot...

I have an intense (100% self inflicted) phobia of needles. Doctors, blood, shots, etc. I have passed out in multiple doctors offices, caused a scene and given my mother a half dozen heart attacks. The end of last summer, after our 1/2 marathon and my stint in the hospital I had to get my blood drawn a lot. A lot. After 2 days of constant needles, I became slightly more comfortable with the idea. This awareness led me to believe that maybe I could de-sensitize to the whole issue.

SO when a blood drive came to our school I thought, what a perfect opportunity! So after nature study class, I walked over with my friend and took the plunge. Signed up, I got a sticker with my name on it, answered a million questions and waited for my number to be called. I walked into the open room and saw rows of beds with people lying on them and bags of blood filling up. They looked like corpses. I was a little put off but went with it.

My number was called and the nurse took me back and pricked my finger to check my blood. Um, finger prick: OW. And she picked my right hand which was annoying. My poor ring finger felt like it had a pulse. I was only imagining what those daunting beds had in store for me. SO after blood levels were assessed, I was assigned to a bed and told to lie down. My nurse wasn't my style. She didn't like talking to me and when I asked her if "donating blood" was like "getting your blood drawn" and she looks at me and goes: "No. The needle is bigger and we take much more blood." Wonderful.

I did it like a champ. Didn't cry. Squeezed the little heart grip ball just like she said. They played good music. 8 minutes later...

Then I get assigned to the snacks table for 15 minutes. They give you this pamphlet to read, my friend Laura was already there. I WAS HOME FREE! Munching on Nutter-butters and pretzels, drinking water, Laura and I were exchanging nurse stories. My arm felt like it got punched and my finger was throbbing, but I made it.

SYKE. The temperature in the room climbed 100 degrees. My hearing got fuzzy, eye sight blurred, I knew these signs all too well. A bell was rung, nurses swarmed. Yep. I pass out at the snacks table.

The bed on rollers and cold towels felt good. I only needed about 15 minutes before I returned back to the snacks table for another 15 minutes to "see how I did." Laura stayed with me. Partly freaked out, partly laughing. I told her this happens sometimes but that I was trying to desensitize myself to it all. What a joke.

Moral of the story, epic fail. I called my mom in Hawaii and she asked me why in the world I would even attempt such a thing. But the important thing is that I TRIED and someone very special is going to enjoy my blood :)

Words to live by

This is what my beautiful roommates taped to our bathroom mirror this morning and I couldn't be more obsessed with it... ♥

"I believe in being strong when everything is going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles." -audrey hepburn

Happy Belated Valentines Day!

I was going to write a Valentines Day post, but my night class went a little longer than expected and I was not in the “blog worthy” mood. Anyways, Happy belated Valentine’s Day! My day was filled with ceramics, a nature study paper, night class, sushi take-out and the Bachelor J The roomies and I were going to watch The Social Network, but I got back too late and the Bachelor seemed like the timely option.

The Social Network was a vday gift courtesy of my mom! I got quite the holiday package on Friday… 2 swimsuits, nail polish, chocolate, Kristy’s homemade candy popcorn, gum, a DVD, sports bras, and a cute top! I was wondering why the AMAZING package and I chalked it up to it being mom’s first year with both her girls out of the coop ;) I guess she figured she needed to make them extra special since she was surrounded by too much testosterone on the home-front. I also received a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, in a festive Vday vase, AND teddy bear from my father J It was quite the showing, and made me (almost) completely forget I did not have a boy to share it with. Oh well, I am boy-free, drama-free, and LOVING IT. I sing that song, I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T by Ne-yo in the shower daily. Hahahaha

I have just been trucking through the normal senior stuff. Portfolio is in the editing process and I feel like I have a good handle on it. Spring break is in TWO WEEKS and I am excited to head down to Palm Desert to see the grandparents!

OH I almost forgot! I took a breather from Redlands last Friday and headed out to San Diego to visit my friend Jenna for the night! It was SUCH a breath of fresh air, she wined and dined me and it could not have been more perfect. We went to dinner, got drinks, shopped, stood in a relatively short line for Sprinkles cupcakes J and listened to live music at this open bar patio place before I headed back. It was perfect in every way, I want to head back out there soon!

So those are my current happenings. I am working on homework today and then have yoga tonight. I hope everyone had lovely Valentine’s day’s ♥

F is for February Freakout

It's already February?? Well usually I'd be embracing the closeness of spring and all things related, but in senior terms, new month means less time. Less time to figure all this crazy stuff out. And even before the dreaded "G" word, senior portfolio is staring me in the face like the meanest looking shark that ever lived (I say shark only because I find them to be the scariest animal in the world) So that should help to illustrate my feelings about the whole thing.

I feel like I am Judy Bloom in a sea of peers who write fantasy, or sci-fi, or mystery. To say I feel like the black sheep would be an understatement, but after a few good pep talks I am here to talk about how I am embracing it and not how I am hating it. I cut my manuscript down from 106 pages to 96... (they want around 60...) but that's progress! Plus, it will most likely move in a different direction after I meet with my advisors countless times before my March deadline.

This weekend marks the end of my last RUSH! This is my sixth semester and I think I am okay with saying farewell. It is exciting and weird all at the same time but it's definitely a good time. Frat parties don't sound as fun, my weekend tolerance has subsided, and I get exhausted quicker. Man, 21 has opened a whole new can of worms, haha. BUT I'm hanging in there ;) You know you're old when the freshman girls we are looking at are 18... I will be 22 soon.... NOT OKAY.

I threw on the wheel in ceramics yesterday, and after two failed attempts I made a bowl that was decent enough to keep. YAY! I don't know how it will stack up when I compare it to things I am making in April (hopefully!) but for now it is my pride and joy :) I am trimming it tomorrow and will tell you how it goes!

To end, had yoga tonight sans spiders, thank goodness they took the hint and avoided my mat at all costs. I left feeling relaxed and bug-free.

A shout out to my little sister who is battling yet another east coast storm. Hang in there Meg! Good thing Mom and Dad stocked you up on good winter clothes for christmas.... I won't tell you that I wore a sundress to class today.... whoops ;)