My water is still water...
I think I need a new strategy, this one doesn't seem to be working too well.
Also, because of my vast fascination with music, I think I'm going to choose a song of the day each day. Its nothing special, just a song that I currently have on repeat. Because today is the first day I'm doing this, I figure I can pick four songs, one for each post.
Songs:
Heartbeat - Stereo Skyline
Father and Daughter - Paul Simon
Hello Beautiful - the Jonas Brothers
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Street Lights - Kanye West
Do You Feel - The Rocket Summer
I know, I got a little carried away... That's okay :)
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Dracula can BITE ME...
Needles terrify me.
As a kid, I would kick and scream and hide under tables in attempts to get out of getting a shot.
I even told a nurse once that I felt sorry for her. When she asked why, I told her it was because she was so mean that she must not have any friends.
I will repeat, needles terrify me.
But not enough to stop me from giving blood the second I was given a chance to after turning 17.
I'm not sure what compelled me to go down to the blood drive being held in our school gym that day. Maybe it was from all the statistics I've heard - "Just one pint can save three lives!" "You may have a rare blood type that could really help us out!". Or maybe it was just the fact that you got a free t-shirt.
Either way, I walked the empty halls down to the gym in a daze, trying not to think too hard about what was about to happen. Needless to say, by the time I got down there, I was shaking. Not just little shivers you get when you feel a cool breeze. Teeth chattering, foot-tapping, leg-bouncing nervousness. So nervous, in fact, that when filling out the paperwork, I accidentally marked 'Yes' on a couple questions that didn't even apply to girls.
After finally finishing the paperwork, getting my blood pressure taken, finger pricked, and finishing my bottle of water and crackers, it was time. I walked over to the medical bed, my free t-shirt clenched in my fist. The nurse put the strap on my arm and disinfected 'the area of impact' (I wasn't sure what to actually call the area on my arm where they stuck the needle).
Then came the hard part. I had to have the gym teacher and longtime family friend come over and hold my hand as she stuck the needle in. It didn't hurt too much, but I still had tears streaming down my face, mascara running all over. She then handed me the stress ball to squeeze, pushing the blood from my arm through the needle and to the little baggie. After finally being able to breathe normally, I began trying to squeeze the blue ball she had put in my hand. One problem with that. The ball was bigger than my hand and would fall out anytime I attempted to put the least amount of pressure on it. My nurse, who, by then, was not in the mood to deal with a first-time donor who was afraid of needles, was getting tired of having to hand me the ball back every few minutes.
After looking over my progress after about five minutes, she decided that it wasn't giving a sufficient amount of blood and would try for a different vein. As you can probably guess, I wasn't too thrilled with this new idea.
In the end, she would stick me with that damned needle at least four more times before finally removing it from my arm and telling me that I could leave...
Obviously, my first time donating blood is something I'll never forget. In the end, I walked away with a t-shirt that was too big for me, a bloody cotton ball taped to my arm, a bruise that lasted two weeks, a sticker, a resurfaced fear of needles, and a story to tell.
Most people ask me if I'd ever give blood again, given how my first experience went. Honestly, I don't even have to think about my answer. Automatically, it's a yes. Every time.
To think that I would let one needle prick, or however many it may take the next time, keep me from possibly saving someone's life... Is there even an option?
The sticker that they gave me when I was done said "I tried. Did you?". I know I'll try every time I'm given the chance. Will you?
As a kid, I would kick and scream and hide under tables in attempts to get out of getting a shot.
I even told a nurse once that I felt sorry for her. When she asked why, I told her it was because she was so mean that she must not have any friends.
I will repeat, needles terrify me.
But not enough to stop me from giving blood the second I was given a chance to after turning 17.
I'm not sure what compelled me to go down to the blood drive being held in our school gym that day. Maybe it was from all the statistics I've heard - "Just one pint can save three lives!" "You may have a rare blood type that could really help us out!". Or maybe it was just the fact that you got a free t-shirt.
Either way, I walked the empty halls down to the gym in a daze, trying not to think too hard about what was about to happen. Needless to say, by the time I got down there, I was shaking. Not just little shivers you get when you feel a cool breeze. Teeth chattering, foot-tapping, leg-bouncing nervousness. So nervous, in fact, that when filling out the paperwork, I accidentally marked 'Yes' on a couple questions that didn't even apply to girls.
After finally finishing the paperwork, getting my blood pressure taken, finger pricked, and finishing my bottle of water and crackers, it was time. I walked over to the medical bed, my free t-shirt clenched in my fist. The nurse put the strap on my arm and disinfected 'the area of impact' (I wasn't sure what to actually call the area on my arm where they stuck the needle).
Then came the hard part. I had to have the gym teacher and longtime family friend come over and hold my hand as she stuck the needle in. It didn't hurt too much, but I still had tears streaming down my face, mascara running all over. She then handed me the stress ball to squeeze, pushing the blood from my arm through the needle and to the little baggie. After finally being able to breathe normally, I began trying to squeeze the blue ball she had put in my hand. One problem with that. The ball was bigger than my hand and would fall out anytime I attempted to put the least amount of pressure on it. My nurse, who, by then, was not in the mood to deal with a first-time donor who was afraid of needles, was getting tired of having to hand me the ball back every few minutes.
After looking over my progress after about five minutes, she decided that it wasn't giving a sufficient amount of blood and would try for a different vein. As you can probably guess, I wasn't too thrilled with this new idea.
In the end, she would stick me with that damned needle at least four more times before finally removing it from my arm and telling me that I could leave...
Obviously, my first time donating blood is something I'll never forget. In the end, I walked away with a t-shirt that was too big for me, a bloody cotton ball taped to my arm, a bruise that lasted two weeks, a sticker, a resurfaced fear of needles, and a story to tell.
Most people ask me if I'd ever give blood again, given how my first experience went. Honestly, I don't even have to think about my answer. Automatically, it's a yes. Every time.
To think that I would let one needle prick, or however many it may take the next time, keep me from possibly saving someone's life... Is there even an option?
The sticker that they gave me when I was done said "I tried. Did you?". I know I'll try every time I'm given the chance. Will you?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy
My favorite animal is a kangaroo.
I'm not quite sure where I could possibly go off of this first sentence, but I figured it was worth saying. It could show up later on a pop quiz. Or, at least that's what my teachers always tell me. Then it never comes up...
Lately I've been thinking alot about the future. And not necessarily the near future. More like my wedding and future family. I've planned out pieces and parts of my wedding, how many children I want to have someday, and even their names. This is weird, right? I think its weird. Especially when I haven't even started to think about what college I'll be attending...
I realized earlier that it wasn't very fair of me not to describe myself at all. So, to please you, I decided that I will tell you 15 things that I think could be interesting to know about me.
1. I love hardwood floors.
2. I can't concentrate on conversation if the tv's on. My boyfriend can vouch for that one. Haha.
3. My socks never match. Except for one pair that I love so much, I am willing to break this rule for them.
4. In the summer, I always sit cross-legged in the car. I try not to do this in the winter and spring because I feel bad if I get the seat all dirty.
5. I love the smell of Play-Doh.
6. I really like photography, although I haven't had much of a chance to take many pictures lately.
7. I hate strawberry milk and whoever invented it.
8. On the other hand, I love chocolate milk and would marry it if I could.
9. I actually love making lists. Usually of random, unimportant things. So I'm loving every minute of this.
10. I sing almost as much as I breathe. Not that I'm very good at it... Haha.
11. I'm a major procrastinator. Currently, I'm using this blog to keep from working on my World History which I am quite far behind in...
12. I love surprises.
13. I am actually very observant and a good listener.
14. I always write down things that people say that I think are funny. Maybe I'll write a post with nothing but quotes one day.
15. I'm scared to make drastic changes to my hair. Like, really scared...
It was actually pretty easy to come up with random things about me... Probably because there are so many. Hm.. Well, off to do my work on my history while in my journalism class, haha. What a rebel, right? ;)
I'm not quite sure where I could possibly go off of this first sentence, but I figured it was worth saying. It could show up later on a pop quiz. Or, at least that's what my teachers always tell me. Then it never comes up...
Lately I've been thinking alot about the future. And not necessarily the near future. More like my wedding and future family. I've planned out pieces and parts of my wedding, how many children I want to have someday, and even their names. This is weird, right? I think its weird. Especially when I haven't even started to think about what college I'll be attending...
I realized earlier that it wasn't very fair of me not to describe myself at all. So, to please you, I decided that I will tell you 15 things that I think could be interesting to know about me.
1. I love hardwood floors.
2. I can't concentrate on conversation if the tv's on. My boyfriend can vouch for that one. Haha.
3. My socks never match. Except for one pair that I love so much, I am willing to break this rule for them.
4. In the summer, I always sit cross-legged in the car. I try not to do this in the winter and spring because I feel bad if I get the seat all dirty.
5. I love the smell of Play-Doh.
6. I really like photography, although I haven't had much of a chance to take many pictures lately.
7. I hate strawberry milk and whoever invented it.
8. On the other hand, I love chocolate milk and would marry it if I could.
9. I actually love making lists. Usually of random, unimportant things. So I'm loving every minute of this.
10. I sing almost as much as I breathe. Not that I'm very good at it... Haha.
11. I'm a major procrastinator. Currently, I'm using this blog to keep from working on my World History which I am quite far behind in...
12. I love surprises.
13. I am actually very observant and a good listener.
14. I always write down things that people say that I think are funny. Maybe I'll write a post with nothing but quotes one day.
15. I'm scared to make drastic changes to my hair. Like, really scared...
It was actually pretty easy to come up with random things about me... Probably because there are so many. Hm.. Well, off to do my work on my history while in my journalism class, haha. What a rebel, right? ;)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Two, two, what to do...
I'm not sure if I would rather die by burning or freezing to death. I know this seems like a weird thing to think about, but in a game of "Would You Rather...", it seems to be a common question. Not that I'm playing that game right now. Which, I guess, does not at all justify why I am thinking about it...
Maybe it's because I am freezing right now. Not quite to death, but enough to make it hard to concentrate on much else.
I have also spent much of this class period so far staring at my nearly untouched water bottle, willing it to turn into Sunny Delight. So far, nothing. I'll keep you posted.
Maybe it's because I am freezing right now. Not quite to death, but enough to make it hard to concentrate on much else.
I have also spent much of this class period so far staring at my nearly untouched water bottle, willing it to turn into Sunny Delight. So far, nothing. I'll keep you posted.
Ohh, number one
This will be my first blog....ever. And I don't really want to start off with describing myself. After 13 years of school, I am tired of trying to think of new ways to describe myself. So, instead, I guess I'll just tell you about myself as I go.
The first thing that you should probably know about me is that I'm Catholic. If you know anything about the Catholic religion, you know that around this time of the year, we participate in Lent. This is where we sacrifice something important to us or we take on doing something daily for 40 days. In past years...actually, every year I can remember giving something up, I've given up chocolate. It usually made Easter about a million times better, knowing that I hadn't had candy for the past 40 days. This is the first year, though, that I have given up something other than chocolate. Being a 17 year-old high schooler, I gave up Facebook. My life-line to the rest of the world. As if that weren't hard enough, I've also given up all drinks except water. This has proven to be the hard part. Thus far, I have already bought myself pops, chocolate milk, and juices before realizing that I couldn't have it. And Lent only started three days ago...
On a completely unrelated note, I love compliments. Giving them, recieving them. I even like hearing someone else give one to another person. It's just a really nice thing to do that can make someone's day.
Anyways, I'm sitting here in my trigonometry class, wondering why I continue to write rather than taking notes on everything that I missed yesterday thanks to my 10 minute dentist appointment that turned into three hours. I guess I just like the idea of writing to someone I have possibly never met and will never meet... Ha! Wow, that sounds creepy. All creepiness (is that even a real word?) aside, I hope this isn't something I like at first than slowly fizzles into nothing...
The first thing that you should probably know about me is that I'm Catholic. If you know anything about the Catholic religion, you know that around this time of the year, we participate in Lent. This is where we sacrifice something important to us or we take on doing something daily for 40 days. In past years...actually, every year I can remember giving something up, I've given up chocolate. It usually made Easter about a million times better, knowing that I hadn't had candy for the past 40 days. This is the first year, though, that I have given up something other than chocolate. Being a 17 year-old high schooler, I gave up Facebook. My life-line to the rest of the world. As if that weren't hard enough, I've also given up all drinks except water. This has proven to be the hard part. Thus far, I have already bought myself pops, chocolate milk, and juices before realizing that I couldn't have it. And Lent only started three days ago...
On a completely unrelated note, I love compliments. Giving them, recieving them. I even like hearing someone else give one to another person. It's just a really nice thing to do that can make someone's day.
Anyways, I'm sitting here in my trigonometry class, wondering why I continue to write rather than taking notes on everything that I missed yesterday thanks to my 10 minute dentist appointment that turned into three hours. I guess I just like the idea of writing to someone I have possibly never met and will never meet... Ha! Wow, that sounds creepy. All creepiness (is that even a real word?) aside, I hope this isn't something I like at first than slowly fizzles into nothing...
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