An Announcement

Hello everyone! I have a big announcement to make. Drumroll please... I have moved to Wordpress! I love Blogger, but I need more flexibility in sharing the content I want to be sharing. As of today, I will be working on updating my website. Stay tuned!

Oh, and if you would like to see the bare-bones of the website, visit:

foolishinthecrowd.wordpress.com

Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan

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I began reading this book yesterday, partly the reason for the lack of blog post. The novel is a self-written case-study of Susannah Cahalan's "month of madness" in which she succumbs to an illness unknown by many healthcare professionals. Fortunately for Cahalan, a doctor on her team of practitioners was familiar with a contemporary study that identified the cause of a certain set of symptoms in young women.

Cahalan describes her symptoms as she lived through them. Although she does not remember much about her experience in total, she combines snippets of memories with extensive research into her case. She relies on several friends, family members, and healthcare providers' recollections and documents recorded during her period of illness to fill in the gaps. The result is a tale of determined young woman battling an illness that nearly claimed her life.

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As much as I want to go into details about the novel, I will leave it up to the discretion of the reader. It can be heartbreaking and hard at times to read, but it is well worth the time spent on it. I will, however, discuss a detail Cahalan writes about her neurologist. In discussing her case with the neurologist, he states he is unfamiliar with her diagnosis - despite it being publicized nearly everywhere in the media and in various journals of medicine for the last few months.

It is a fact that medicine is constantly evolving. Healthcare practitioners are (and rightly so) expected to follow the latest developments in medicine. Not only should healthcare providers be up-to-date with contemporary practices, they should understand them as well. Without understanding the developments, healthcare practitioners increase the risk of misdiagnosing their patients and decrease the level of care they provide.

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Although healthcare practitioners are required to continue their education, the most valuable practitioners will be the ones who actively seek to learn despite the various time and energy constraints all healthcare practitioners face. Ultimately, the importance of a doctor lies in their knowledge of medicine and humanity than their academic achievements.

Edge of Tomorrow

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Edge of Tomorrow begins by hastily explaining the current global situation: the world is under attack by aliens and humankind has developed robotic suits that help the army's soldiers combat the enemy. Amidst the chaos, two warriors join forces to strategize a way to win the war against the aliens. One of the soldiers, Tom Cruise, has the ability to relive the same two days - an ability his partner, Emily Blunt, had in a previous battle.

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The interaction between the two characters made me think about sacrifice, forgiveness, and humility. Cruise's character repeatedly sacrifices himself for members of his squad and for Blunt. The end goal of course, is the battle's victory. As the battle continues and Cruise and Blunt get closer to defeating the aliens, Cruise discusses the difficulty in proceeding. He tells Blunt that however many times they have succeeded, she always dies after a certain point. Blunt sacrifices herself on multiple occasions and Cruise must ultimately sacrifice his life to ensure victory.

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Of course, no science fiction movie is without a semi-happy ending. The overall "forgiveness" that occurs as a result of Cruise's sacrifice is expected. For what sacrifice is made without some form of benefit? Does that not defeat the purpose of it being considered a sacrifice?

I have been thinking especially about the things we, as children, do for our parents. Parents frequently talk about sacrificing things for their children, yet also expect something in return. A sacrifice is not part of a transaction. Or can it be? Think of the sacrifice God made for humanity. We, in turn, are expected to follow His Commandments. Or are we expected?

Some final thoughts on the matter: God is love. Sacrifices are made expecting nothing in return. Respect and love, however, are great ways to show thanks for the sacrifices that are made. Forgiveness should be given, not earned.

Universal Class

As I mentioned this past week, I have been exploring Scout, a Pierce County Library System online program for adults. In my exploration, I have discovered an online education website that is free through the library. I knew Tacoma Library System had it, but I did not know that PCLS did - as you can imagine, I was ecstatic!

The name of the website is Universal Class. If you have a Pierce County Library card, you should be able to access it for free. I hope that this information will be useful to those in Pierce County as well as those who may be interested to see if this option is available through the local public library system.

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I have been trying to keep up with my study habits this summer and thought, "what better way than to use online education?" I browsed the website for the kinds of courses it hosts and almost immediately signed up for Prenatal Care. I wanted to see what the courses would be like and thought the prenatal class would give me a good head-start on next semester's rotation through labor and delivery.

The courses are designed for anyone with a high school education and offer unlimited time for completion. In every lesson, there is the information which can be printed for later use as well as an exam (that is more like a quiz in my opinion). Some lessons have assignments which have the student review what has been discussed in the lesson. Some courses have more lessons than others. The course instructors tend to answer emails and return grades in a timely manner. The longest I have had to wait for a response was two days - and that was over a weekend.
Currently I am taking Organic Chemistry 101, Alzheimer's Disease 101, and All About Herbs. I have completed Prenatal Care and am concurrently taking a nutrition class through the Tacoma Public Library System's online education website.

Hiking with Saul

I use the verb "hiking" loosely in describing the long walk we took yesterday. I still feel a little shaky after the flu, so I thought of things that could get my brother and I out of the house and into an abnormally warm and sunny day. There are several parks nearby that I have yet to visit this summer and I decided on one that was a few blocks away.

Kobayashi Park, our park of choice for the excursion, is located in University Place near Chambers Creek. It is currently open while the housing structure is under construction. From what I understand, the property used to be owned by a couple who had a small house and pool overlooking the creek. The couple tried selling the house, but instead turned it into a rental home. The rental home eventually became too much of a liability and is now under construction. Supposedly it is being turned into a gazebo for public use. 

The park has two distinct sets of trails, the easier of which we explored. It was a good outing to say the least.

Our signature "bored" look. Well, close enough.

Cirque du Soleil: Totem

Months ago, I had the opportunity to attend Cirque du Soleil's Totem in Portland. This post has been a long time coming - for some reason I could not stop myself from raving about how much I loved Totem and how much I wanted to run away with the circus. I think by now I have finally formed a semi-coherent message.

Just looking at this photo makes my heart race. The entrance to the grand chateau.

As soon as I saw the tents from the highway, I squealed. There is something about the swirl of blue and yellow that excites my inner child. The circus is here! The circus is here! I look forward to seeing the strange costumes, listening to the beautiful music, and watching the amazing acrobats perform. Every show is unique, but each re-ignites my imagination. Entering the tent is similar to walking through the wardrobe into Narnia; a magnificent world lies within.

The inside of the tent. The umbrellas changed colors sporadically.

It is pronounced To-tem, not To-tem. That is one of the first things I noticed about the show. The next thing I noticed was the staging and lights. There was a mountainous rock placed at the base of a hill-like structure. A life-like stream of water was projected over the structure leading down to the rock. It seemed as though the audience was amidst a rainforest with reeds swaying at the top of the hill.

My brother and I stare in awe as we walk through the tent's entrance.

One of the things I will always appreciate about le Cirque is its theatricality. It always has the perfect mix of flair and humor balanced with a message. For several shows now, I have taken in the performance then reflected on its meaning. Sometimes I will purchase the program to gain insight into the story flowing through the performance, but oftentimes a deeper message is presented. Either that or I truly do find meaning in nothing...

I do love a good bucket of popcorn.

Staging and lighting - beautiful as ever.

Apart from a wonderful message and beautiful audio and visual effects, I enjoy spending time with others who appreciate the performances. Each have their own thrilling feats and incredible designs that are only possible in Cirque du Soleil. Take a moment to consider that circuses, in essence, celebrate the spectacular. It seems that no organization does it best than le Cirque.

My family and I posing after the performance. Or at least trying to.

Communal Illness Brings People Together

Recently a few family members, including myself, befell what can be called the 24-hour flu. In all honesty, it was not 24 hours. Some family members are still recovering from it, while others have already washed their hands (literally and metaphorically) of it. In reflection, I noticed some camaraderie amongst family members and it seemed to bring us closer together under a shared, awful experience.

Thinking back to the days when it was "all the rage" to catch chicken pox, I remember slightly hating it because it seemed as if I was the only one in the world to have caught it. My sister had passed it onto me a week into the new year. Unfortunately, she recovered earlier than I, having suffered from chicken pox weeks before I did. I suppose it would have been nice to have her around while I lazed about, struggling not to itch every inch of my body and being reprimanded if I did.

My thoughts also follow to a lecture in my chronic illness course this past semester. We were discussing cystic fibrosis and the lay community surrounding the disease. Up until recently, children with cystic fibrosis were roomed in hospitals together to also share in the camaraderie of illness. Children were allowed to play together and families encouraged to mingle in such wings. Unfortunately and fortunately, it was discovered that the risks for respiratory infections increased with co-habitation of the children. The shared environment also encouraged the growth of antibiotic-resistant organisms as well as their transmission to the room's inhabitants. Thus, the social aspect of the illness was put aside while the importance of the physiological aspect emerged.

Needless to say, we are human. We seek for interconnectedness even within illness and it is a fact that I hope all healthcare providers will acknowledge, if not cherish.

My Cousin's Graduation Part #2

My cousin graduated this past Wednesday in the top 5% of her class! Family and friends all congregated on Saturday to celebrated her accomplishments, including but not limited to committing to play soccer at a local college. She is also one of the most humble people I know - a trait that will be exemplified in the following reflection.

The graduate on the right along with her sister, her brother, our cousin and I.

The celebration itself was wonderful - lots of conversation, food, and fun. The majority of my extended family was there as well as the majority of my cousin's extended family was there. I have spent more and more time over the years with my cousin's family and thus have spent time with my cousin's extended family.

My great-aunts and grandma having a lively conversation on the couch.

I was pleasantly surprised when I got out of the car near my cousin's house and two of her small cousins ran up and hugged me. They were happy to see me! I ventured inside and saw that there were people who I recognized from previous gatherings including my cousin's neighbors and fellow church members. It was great to see familiar faces.

My cousin playing chair for my brother.

As I spoke about my education thus far and how passionate I am about nursing, I imagined my cousin in a year's time doing the same thing. After a while, I noticed that my cousin spent most of her time huddling in corners and generally looking worn-out. When I finally got the chance to speak to her, I found out she was ill. Can you imagine? Feeling ill at a graduation celebration, nevertheless one's own! My cousin tried to be as present to others as she could be while she was battling nausea and a severe headache. Bless. I may have enjoyed her party more than she did.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I initially did not notice that the girl
on the cover of the book was floating in midair.

By the title alone, one might expect the book to be an... unusual sort of book. Written by Ransom Riggs, the novel covers the formative years of Jacob Portman and his relationship with his grandfather, Abraham Portman. Born into a comparatively wealthy family, Jacob was fostered by his grandfather's stories in his youth only to disregard them in his teenage years as "fairy stories." One evening, his grandfather calls him hysterical about the monsters he had spoken to Jacob of years before. What follows is Jacob's search for the truth about his grandfather and his grandfather's stories.

The plot itself is not what I found most fascinating about the book... It was the story intricately woven between the black-and-white photos enclosed in the book. Riggs used strangers photos to highlight the mysterious and strange children described in the novel. The photos were taken from various collections, making them all the more valuable in the detailing of an interesting story.

I often wonder about old photographs and what stories they hold, portraits in particular.

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Who is this girl? How old is she? Why is this photograph being taken? Is it a special occasion? Is she unhappy? Is she serene? What is she looking at?

All the questions and more stem from one simple picture. It takes a certain kind of storyteller to be able to weave a story out of several random photographs - not to mention an intriguing one.

Traveling with Liv: Airports and Flying

With my increasing interest in traveling, I thought I would do a post about my traveling essentials. (Not that I am in any way qualified as a traveling guru.)

Firstly I gather all my traveling bags. I start off with choosing a bright, versatile purse. Then I bring out my gunslingers - my backpack and suitcase. My backpack is deceivingly large. I typically use it for overnighter stays as it is easy to pack and carry and is suitable for almost any change in weather I may experience. The suitcase is actually borrowed from my father, but I loved it so much that he "permanently-temporarily lent" it to me. It has separate compartments perfect for electronic cords, shoes, and liquids. The compactness and reversible wheels of the suitcase make it all the more appealing for traveling. 

Next up to pack are the electronics: my laptop, camera, and earphones. My camera is a Nikon Coolpix - not the best, but perfect for traveling. I use rechargeable batteries for my camera so I typically also pack the battery charger. Depending on the destination, I may also pack an external battery pack for my iPhone. The earphones I use are Skullcandy. I have had them for years and I will never use another kind! They have a volume adjuster and a microphone on the left ear strand which makes multitasking so much easier. They also stay in my ear really well during exercise making them all the more valuable.

I also pack an empty water bottle - REMEMBER TO KEEP HYDRATED!

I typically arrive around 2-3 hours before my departure in order to bustle through security and whatnot. As bad as everyone makes getting through security seem, it is not the worst experience one could have. Granted, I do spend a majority of my time the night before a flight checking and double-checking security information to make sure I am in compliance.

Once through security, I immediately head for the nearest Starbucks or other coffee stop available. Although flying can be dehydrating, I make sure I am caffeinated for the flight so I do not experience jet-lag.

Sometimes I will buy extra snacks, as pictured. Lately I have been trying to not snack as much and stay healthy while traveling, but I felt a few solid weeks of nursing school was deserving of a small tin of Pringles and gum.

After my mini-shopping spree, I settle in for about an hour with various forms of social media, such as Blogger, Twitter, and Tumblr. As much as my online interaction relaxes me, oftentimes I find myself befriending others on the flight - which can prove useful in situations when there is a full flight!

Occasionally, I spend some time writing out lists or jotting down thoughts as they come to me. Then, I will simply sit and people-watch for the remainder of the time before boarding.

After I board, I try to make myself as comfortable as possible to endure a long flight. Frequently my friendliness pays off and I am able to enjoy a conversation or two before either dropping off to sleep or settling into a good book.

At some point during the flight, I make sure to fill my water bottle if I have not already. I also try to remember to take a stretch break every once and a while to walk to the bathroom and back. I tend to get restless toward the end of the flight when seatbelts are required and aisle use is limited, so taking stretch breaks alleviates any tension that accumulates.

Upon landing, I make sure to thank and say goodbye to all those that I encountered on the flight. Depending on the airline, I sometimes see the stewards and stewardesses on my return flight. I figure if I am nice to them then they may remember me the next time and will return the kindness. 

Gathering my belongings can be tedious, but I try to remind myself that despite its discomforts, flying allows me to enjoy my destination for longer.

For example, hopping off a plane and driving straight to the beach.

Scout: Explore - Create - Share

I have always loved libraries, but I am definitely starting to appreciate them more now. The Pierce County Library has recently begun an online program called Scout in which members are encouraged to explore different subjects, create works of art and projects, and share experiences.

The program rewards members with points that add up to badges. The leaderboard allows members to show the points and badges standings in the community to encourage others to continue their progress with Scout.

Badges include Book Reinvention, Transit Authority, Bubblesmith, and more. They involve all areas and ages of life, but the program itself is particularly geared towards adults. Each badge consists of various activities that are worth a certain amount of points. For instance, in the Rebelious Reading badge one activity is to find a challenged or banned book to read. Some activities are more time consuming than others to complete, but each badge requires some form of community interaction.

I am enjoying Scout very much - it is broadening my mind to ideas to add to the List. I encourage everyone in the Pierce County area to join in the fun. Click on one of the links above or visit scout.pcls.us for more information.

Pentecost: Happy Birthday to the Church!

As I may have mentioned, I am a Catholic and today I celebrated the feast of Pentecost. Although I do not know what the word "pentecost" actually means, I do know what it stands for in the Church. Centuries ago, the apostles were visited by the Holy Spirit and were given the ability to speak in different languages to spread the Good News.

The first thing that I am reminded of during Pentecost is my inability to speak more than one language comfortably. The gift that the Holy Spirit gave the apostles was an incredible gift and one that was not taken lightly. The ability to communicate with thousands upon thousands of people without language barriers impeding on the direct message is amazing. It reminds me of a character from one of my favorite books, Bel Canto, who is a translator of many languages. His actions brought together a people who had otherwise lost their common link.

The second thing that Pentecost reminds me of is the Holy Spirit. I have always had a better relationship with the Holy Spirit than God the Father and God the Son, or so it feels like. I trust in the feelings that move me to do something kind or compassionate because I know it is the Holy Spirit. I frequently ask God to let the Holy Spirit guide me in such a way that I do His Will and that my thoughts and actions will be sensitive to His presence in others.

The last, but not least, thing Pentecost reminds me of is the Church. The Holy Spirit is one of the most important parts of the Church, whether or not we realize it. It is the Holy Spirit which united the early Church and which continues to unite us today.

That being said, Happy Birthday Church!

My Cousin's Graduation, Part 1

My cousin is the baby of her family, although you would not know it based on her height. The tallest of three girls, my cousin excels in athletics the way the tallest shrubs absorb the most sunlight. Meaning, my cousin has had the support of her older sisters throughout her career. She recently signed with a local college to play soccer and will be moving away from home for the first time come August.

My cousin, the graduate, surrounded by
 her cousins, aunt, and great aunt.

First of all, I am ridiculously proud of her for going away to college. It takes a lot of determination and courage to decide to move away from home to pursue education, whether or not it ends in a "successful" career. Being away from family for an extended period of time is an experience I recommend. It has helped shape who I am - and as homesick as I get, I do not regret living away hours away from home. 

Secondly, my cousin is pursuing a collegiate career in a sport. How incredible is that?! I can only imagine the increased level of competition athletes face in college. Not only that, but they are students as well! In the hopes that student athletes take advantage of the opportunities given to them to further their education as well as career, the strength it takes to endure the pressure they face is admirable. 

Thirdly, my cousin is adventuring into higher education with an open mind in regards to her career. She has interests that will guide her, but she is entering with an undeclared major. Knowing my cousin, she will not let the array of course choices faze her in determining her path. If she is one thing, she is headstrong.

My hope is that I can play some role in her college career - helping her whenever she needs it or giving her the encouragement she needs to continue on her journey.

Summer is Here!

Packing for the summer was tedious.

Thank goodness for summer! It has been almost a week since I left school and I have spent much of that time with my family. I may have had an over-indulgence in self-care this last week - I went to the public library several times, re-organized my room, did a bit of spring cleaning, and snuggled with my pup, Echo. I am so happy to be home!!

The end of the semester came more swiftly than I would have ever imagined. Preparing for exams was a lot less stressful than it was last semester, although knowing I had to pack everything away for the summer was taxing my concentration.

Taking the HESI this semester was quite an experience. We were told that there was a focus on mental health and pharmacology, both subjects in which I excelled. The exam itself was more difficult than I anticipated and it was disturbing how unprepared I felt for it. Considering it started off finals week, the unexpected results shed a pall over the second semester students. As if we needed more excuses to drink.

Enjoying the sun with my brother and aunt.

Despite the challenge finals posed, it was such a relief to be able to pack and move on my own. Usually my parents come and help, but... sometimes three is a crowd. I was fortunate enough to find storage nearby the campus. After my last final I hastily packed up my things and, with the help of several friends, moved them into the storage unit. Neither my things nor us movers sustained damages, physically or otherwise.

Before I came "home" home, I was able to have drinks with my traveling aunt and help my cousin with a graduation speech. I adopted for the summer my friend's fish and was even able to bond with it slightly before making the long(-ish) journey home.

Now that I am home, I am waiting on my CNA license to come through to practice at a local clinic or hospital. The licensing process, however, is taking much longer than I expected. I may end up job-shadowing for most of my summer, but in any case I would rather that than random summer activities. I will be traveling a bit this summer for various reasons which I will explain at a later date. In any case, I will be blogging more frequently and hope that each post will be interesting enough to spend a few minutes of these long summer days reading.

(P.S. I passed all my courses, in case anyone was wondering.)

I look forward to more sunny days spent outdoors!

Intensive Care by Echo Heron

There is so much I can say about this novel, but for the sake of time and to entice more readers I will only speak to a few main points I took from it.

One of the first things I would like to point out is that Echo was a mother while also going through nursing school. She raised her child to the best of her ability and did have some "real-life" events that threw her off her guard at points. The fact that she included these life events in her book as well really influenced my perspective of her as a nurse and her as an author. 

It truly is easy to become swept up in the grandeur of medicine and forget about the bad days, hard decisions, and inevitable consequences of others' decisions. Intensive Care is a great reminder of the challenges nurses face. It is also a gleaming example of all that is important about nursing. The compassion Echo shows her clients is incredible! I think every nurse strives to provide the best care for their patients and the stories Echo shares are only a few examples of the ways we can do so.

That being said, I encourage all healthcare providers and families of healthcare providers to read this in order to gain a deeper insight into one woman's perspective of the healthcare industry. It hopefully will gain us nursing students some compassion and nurses a little more respect than frequently experienced.

Spring Break, Day #7

This morning was the essence of "chillax." For those who may be unaware, the word "chillax" is derived from a combination of the colloquial term "chill", meaning to be calm, and the word relaxing. For example, laying in bed half the morning working on homework, reading, and watching YouTube videos was very chillax.

(Source)

Once the afternoon hit, I became increasingly lethargic and managed to convince myself that a nap was appropriate. I always struggle with naps, because as much as I enjoy sleeping, the repercussions are always much worse than I care to handle. This time, however, I tried to fool myself into thinking that it was not a true nap if I was reading and just happened to fall asleep doing so. 

On awakening, I prepared myself for Stations of the Cross and a study/hangout session with a friend afterward. Stations of the Cross always has a way of humbling me and refocusing my spiritual compass. It helps me become more aware of the sacrifice Jesus made and reminds me that I am accountable for his suffering every time I sin. As harsh as it may sound, I do not think of it as the stereotypical "Catholic guilt" - instead, I think of it as the most endearing thing a loved one could do. 

With that in mind, I cheerfully joined my friend for what was supposed to be a night of coffee, catching up, and studying. Instead, we decided to try the hot chocolate from Moonstruck Chocolate (DELICIOUS!), study, and grab some dinner at Little Big Burger (veggie burger and truffle fries for me, of course). 

All in all, it was a very pleasant semi-end to my spring break.

Spring Break, Day #6

Though today was not terribly exciting, it was not bad either. I redecorated my room somewhat and finally made the decision to try out the bottom level of the bunk bed. It looks... promising.

After a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and yogurt, I took some time preparing for the outdoors - sometimes also considered dressing. The weather did not look like it would change from lightly overcast, so I decided to take the risk and wear a skirt I bought on the shopping trip with my sister. I think I made a good choice.

The first destination of the day was a tea shop just off the corner of 11th and Glisan called The Tea Zone & Camellia Lounge. A friend of mine had recommended it to me a while ago, but I never made the time to try it. Well today was the day I did - and I am so glad! The staff was friendly upon entering and even recommended a drink for me when I could not seem to make up my mind. I took their recommendation for a Heat Wave bubble tea (always a good choice for me) and it was delicious! The place was not only clean, but cosy. I studied there for a bit before moving on with my day.

My next stop was the public library - no surprise there - to drop off a few books and pick up a couple more. I lucked out and found BJ Novak's novel on the shelf which I am very much looking forward to reading. I also picked up a book entitled Why Zebra's Don't Get Ulcers. It claims to be a guide to stress, stress-related diseases, and coping. A book I had read previously, Insomnia by Gayle Green, recommended it so I placed a hold on it as soon as I could.

Just down the street from the public library was Target. The convenient location could be dangerous for some people, but I pride myself in having established particular habits that prevent me from spending most of my time (off campus, and second only to the library) and money there. Usually I have a detailed shopping list as well as bags to carry my items home. This time, however, I thought a casual stroll would be fine what with it being nice day and spare time I had. I ended up buying replacement lightbulbs for my lamp, a Maybelline Baby Lips, a soy candle, a bag of Bugles, and a tin of Yan-Yans.

Of course, upon exiting Target it began sprinkling. A quick dash to the streetcar stop secured me a spot under cover from the rain, although it did not protect me from others' titters about the inappropriateness of my outfit for the conditions. I did bring an umbrella, but - silly me - it was tucked under my recent purchases. Fortunately the streetcar came and whisked me back to the safety and warmth of home.

Upon returning, I settled in bed to read and eventually fell asleep. And here I lay, still in bed, typing this while watching a show called Michiko & Hatchin.

Sea of Hooks by Lindsay Hill

I definitely wish I had spent more time with this novel. I was initially interested in it because of the author who is a long-time poet who spent a decade writing this novel. It was a decade well spent. 

Sea of Hooks is artfully crafted into an abstract tale of a young man who makes sense of life through found objects. The novel looks at the inevitable consequences and remnants of life events and their impact on the lives that they intersect. 

At first I thought the novel cast a pessimistic shadow over the concept of life, but the thoughts hidden in perfectly woven metaphors were rather inspiring. The give hope to even the most hopeless situation. 

Although this novel may not be everyone's cup of tea, I recommend it if an appropriate amount of time can be devoted to it. 

Spring Break, Day #5

This morning I woke with a start. I barely slept last night, the usual traveling jitters, and was convinced that I had mistaken the time of my flight's departure with the time of its arrival. I have no idea why. Realizing it was a false alarm, I tried with no avail to return to sleep. Instead, I hung in a half-awake daze until my alarm rang.

I sprung out of bed, turned on the oven, and got dressed. My sister bought waffle sandwiches from our favorite waffle sandwich place, Bruxië's, to supplement us for our long day of traveling and it was my responsibility to make sure they were warmed appropriately. Just after I had finished getting dressed, my sister joined me at the mirror to apply makeup. Using the tips I had given her the night before, she coordinated a lovely shade of purple with a nice beige eyeshadow. Watching her in the mirror, I started tearing up - partially because I was so proud of her, partially because I was impressed how quickly she had caught on, and partially because I did not want to leave. Both of us were too preoccupied to notice the time.


After we finished our breakfast and gathered last-minute things, we headed on our way. My sister's flight was later in the day - meaning she had a whole day of work ahead of her after dropping me off. I had hoped to treat her to a coffee or something beforehand, but we soon realized that the most important thing we needed to get was - you may have guessed it - gas.



On our way to the airport I became increasingly distraught at the thought of saying goodbye to my sister. I am sure she could tell by my passivity during the drive. Sure we chit-chatted, but I did not have the strength to hide my despondency, nor did I have the wherewithal to explain my behavior.

Is not that a shame? Throughout the drive I could have reminded her of all the things I love about her, shared some more outrageous nursing student stories, made wisecracks about our surroundings to make her laugh, or even sung my lungs out with her to music. We could have talked about our trips, work, books, music, etc. Heck, we could have played "I spy" for all it matters.

Why is it that some people become so upset at saying goodbye? I could say I inherit the habit from my mother, but it is not as simple as that. I suppose it is because I have a pessimistic view of changes, or because I become so attached to having people in my life. Whatever the reasoning may be, I just hope that it does not interfere with the interpretation of my feelings toward the person to whom I am saying goodbye.

Spring Break, Day #4

Today was a beautiful mess. I woke up at 11am (do not judge me!) and started preparing for a picnic my sister and I had planned for the day. She was already at work and I had pretty much free range of her apartment, so I goofed around in the kitchen until I realized I was running late.

Our picnic was simple: turkey sandwiches with Pringles and CapriSun. The location, however, was far more notable. We ended up lunching on the viewing deck of the Newport Bay Nature Preserve. I wish we had more time to explore! From what I could see (and could not see, for that matter), the Preserve covers a substantial area that seems to have been badly burned. Although it its restoration appears stunted, I am confident of nature's impeccable powers of adaptation and regrowth.

Afterward, it was back to studying and watching movies for me. On my watch list for the day was the rest of American Hustle and Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. I have to say, I loved American Hustle much more than I thought I would. Also, Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters was not as bad as I imagined... In fact, I rather enjoyed it! I think Greek mythology is fascinating as is anything involving Greek mythology.

Once my sister returned from work, we celebrated our last night together with Chinese food for dinner, watching FaceOff, and having a packing party. My sister and I both leave tomorrow for separate trips and decided it would be easier to pack our things simultaneously. It was much more fun than packing alone!! I even helped her plan out some makeup looks for her trip. I am no beauty guru, but it was nice to have some "girl chat" about makeup and other beauty products we are loving.

As hard as I think it will be to leave tomorrow, I am content with what time we spent together this weekend and hope that I can visit again sometime sooner than later and that life will not get in the way of that plan.

Spring Break, Day #3

My Spring Break checklist is near complete. I have successfully slept in (10am), eaten good food (sushi, Chick-Fil-A, In-N-Out, salmon, etc.), finished a book (Sea of Hooks - review to follow), spent time with my sister, watched movies, and caught up on my YouTube subscriptions. I have even had a little opportunity to study!

My sister has unfortunately had to return to work, but I have had the freedom to do all the lazy bits and bobs of a typical Spring Break. In fact, the majority of my checklist was completed today. What can I say? It's been an eventful Monday.

It is weird to think that I have one more day with my sister before heading back to Portland. She and I are mentally inseparable. Lately, what with me still being in school and with her working, it has been harder and harder to stay in touch. My schedule is, for lack of a more succinct way of putting it, not really conducive to my family's schedule.

I have always said I make time for those I love, but lately it is seemingly more difficult than normal. Times like this, when I can spend quality time with my family, I despair going back to school and the rigorous schedule I uphold. As much as I love nursing, growing up is hard.

Knowing that my family is a "weakness" of mine, I have conversely been able to use them as a strength. I know I can rely on them for support as well as motivation. I have several photos of them surrounding focal points in my room and look to them whenever I start to feel stressed. Of course, I pray as well, but it is nice to have a physical reminder to relax.

Anyway, I am determined to make the most of all the time I have with my family. If that means doing whatever they want to do or making all the arrangements, so be it. For the meantime, I will do what I want in preparation for spending quality time with them.

Spring Break, Day #2

I realize that though vacation is a time for relaxation (i.e. sleeping in and avoiding normal obligations), I cannot use it as an excuse not to attend mass. Thus, the first item on the agenda was to visit St. Norbert's Catholic parish. It is a lovely, small, parish community that is home to a fantastic choir. Not only did I enjoy mass itself, I thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with a companion.

Next, my sister and I went to get pedicures at a local nail salon. The Victoria Nail Salon was a little bit more expensive than I would normally go for, but I thought why not give it a go. The nail salon had a variety of complementary snacks and beverages as well as a plethora of magazines to choose from. The pedicure itself was wonderful. I chose the rejuvenating therapy pedicure which consisted of pumice scrub for calluses, a paraffin treatment for dry skin, and a full leg and foot massage in addition to the pedicure.

After our pedicures, my sister and I went to pick up groceries. My sister wanted to properly celebrate my 21st birthday with me, so we bought ingredients to make sonic screwdrivers. The drink is based off of a British science-fiction television series I am obsessed with called Doctor Who. A sonic screwdriver is very easy to make and it only requires three ingredients (I will do a post on it later). Needless to say, it is now my favorite drink.

One of the key parts of the day was my nap. It was a BRILLIANT nap! I slept from just after lunchtime until around dinnertime, missing a FaceTime session with my mom (sorry Ma!) and several episodes of Parks and Recreation.

For the evening, my sister made a delicious salmon dinner - which I will definitely replicate and post at a later date. We settled for the evening to watch About Time and Thor: The Dark World. I loved About Time and thought the special effects of Thor were awesome! I would definitely recommend both movies.