The Last SLICE of Pie

This was such a fun challenge and I have to say that even though I missed a few days towards the end; I couldn't be more proud. I remember starting this challenge determined to keep at it but still a little skeptical. But I did a heck of a lot better than I thought I did.

I met and got to see into the live of so many great people as well as connect again with those I had lost touch with. Reading everyone's comments was like opening presents on Christmas morning and they meant the world to me.

At the beginning I shared a challenging part of my life that I normally don't talk about. I'm so glad that it was taken with open arms and helped me feel more at ease about writing on my blog.

I picked up writing poetry again, something I haven't done in three years. It was nice to know that I still got it, haha.

To end I just want to say thank you and that I can't wait until next year to do it all over again because it was so much fun!

Slice of Life: Moment

The sun shines on my back as I sit in front of the computer

My window is open to capture the fresh air

A breeze comes by and tickles my skin

Calm & Relaxed as I listen to the robins sing

A moment for me & my thoughts

Slice of Life: Snippets

Alarm off at 8:00 a.m. - hit snooze for 15 minutes.

Get up, get ready and head to class.

Group project work day - constructing HACCP Plan for Pre-formed Raw Hamburger Patties. Almost done. YAY!

Go to Micro Lab - start working on "Unknown Project" - Took swabs of my toothbrush and a keyboard in my favorite computer lab on campus. Interested to see what kind of microbes are growing on those...EW!

Head to uncharted territories (aka a new computer lab) - Take forever to figure out how to log in on the network but finally do. Use 40 printing credits to print out homework and notes.

Sit in Micro Lecture - pretend to pay attention while trying not fall asleep. What's this, a video about fecal transfer? Kind of gross but still can't look away. Pay attention for rest of class period.

Come home - set out to be productive but get distracted by facebook, e-mails, blogs and words with friends (hello new addiction).

Hungry - go out and see roommates home. Go talk to her for a while and find out she is craving Taco Bell and needs to run to Walmart. Get some random things at store and order a Crunchwrap Supreme from TB. Yummy!

Arrive home - Eat, digest and be "productive" (yep, more words with friends). No one is playing so time to actually work. Work on Spamette HACCP Plan while rocking out.

Realize I have a post to write - get on blogger and write these snippets of my day. Start dozing off and remember I still have to shower and get ready for bed. So good night, I will talk to you tomorrow!

Slice of Life: Numbers

I have been trying to think of something to write today but my brain has been taken over by numbers instead of words:

Doesn't that look like fun?

That would be all the control charts I have had to make and interpret for one of my Food Science classes. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if I was better with Excel. I learned most of my skills on the older versions, but I have the newest one on my laptop where everything is different with this one. Thank goodness I got some pointers from my little bro when I was home for break otherwise I would still be working on these.

Slice of Life: TICK

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick

I'm laying in bed

The clock mocks me

Wearily, I open my eyes

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick

I see them

Loved ones that have passed are surrounding me

I become pale...ghostly

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

I am in disbelief

I scream but all they do is stare

The ceiling begins to crumble

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

I shield my eyes from the brightness coming in

"No, no, no, no! I'm not ready for this!"

At once the silence is no longer & my favorite songs can be heard

Tick. Tick.

Fighting, I begin to rise

Crying, I beg for someone to do something

As I go higher I fear I am not heard

Tickety Tick

All at once the pull on me ceases

I plummet to where I began

As I land, loved ones turn to dust

BONG BONG

Jolted, I awake short of breath

I feel my heart beating rapidly

It was just a dream

TICK

Slice of Life: Am vs. Should

In one of the previous posts I had eluded to my skill of being able to find anything and everything to-do other than what I really should be working on. Here is the prime example of the night:

What I should be doing...

• Finalizing the HACCP Plan for Spamette project and begin working on the SSOP's and SOP's, also make a cover page/logo
• Work on the Powerpoint for the Raw Hamburger Patty HACCP Plan
• Review Sign Language for the test tomorrow

What I'm really doing...

• Crocheting 'ripple' blanket
• Reading 'The Help'
• Catching up on my television shows
• Reading blogs
• Playing Words with Friends & DrawSomething
• Laundry

Here's to a late night!

Slice of Life: They Grow Up So Fast

This is a picture of me and my brother a couple weeks after he was born. As you can see I was overjoyed to have a little brother. Helping take care of him and feeling like I raised him myself some days.

This is my brother and me a few years ago. He's actually much, much taller than me and will be starting high school this August. HIGH SCHOOL! So much for him being a 'little' brother, HA!

I still remember changing his diapers and watching him play in the sandbox. It's just so hard to believe he will be driving and soon enough going to college. They grow up so fast!

Slice of Life: Where Did You Go?

Where did you go, oh little brain of mine?
You seem to have left me behind
I understand your frustration
I would do the same in your situation
But I beg of you to come back to me

Slice of Life: Day Got Away

HACCP Plans
Life Chats
TV Catch-up
Dairy Queen Blizzards
Where did the time go?

Slice of Life: Quotes from the Day

"If I had an hour to live, I want to spend it in this class [Microbiology] because it feels like an eternity." - Bree

Professor: "What should we do if there is a biological attack involving smallpox?"
Me (to my friends): "Handout plastic bubbles? I call Jake Gyllenhaal as my bubble-mate!"

"Just say no. No. No. No. Like drugs, always say no!" -Me

"I wish 'finding other things to do when you should really be doing something else' was a valuable skill to have." -Me

"You know it's time for a break when you forget to eat dinner unless it's on your to-do list." -Bree

Slice of Life: Seven Weeks

There are a total of 7 weeks left in the semester...in my entire college career.

I had hoped to have found a job by now but no such luck.

Numerous projects need to be completed and even more exams need to be taken.

My mind is running on half full with all the stress that is looming ahead.

So today I am listening to the rain hit my window and typing up some more of my great-grandma's journals.

Just giving my brain a little bit more of a break before the real madness finally takes over.

Need to remind myself that there is always a light at the end of every tunnel.

Slice of Life: Holy Food Batman

I'm in the midst of unpacking and cannot believe how much food I have brought back. Never realized it was that much when I was stocking up over break but I have three boxes full of food. On the plus side I won't need groceries for awhile. Talk more tomorrow!

Slice of Life: Family Time

I know I haven't written much at all this whole week and I'm doing the same today to spend my last day of break with them. I have to finish packing and also wanted to apply for a few more jobs too before I left. It has been a week that went by too fast.

Tomorrow I will be on the road for most of the day and getting settled back in before classes start again on Monday, so be prepared for another short and sweet slice. However, being back at the apartment I will have more time to write. Yay!

Until tomorrow enjoy this gorgeous weather that is going around.

Slice of Life: This is what happens...

...when your little brother hogs your laptop all day; a last minute post that's a few sentences long. Hopefully tomorrow I can talk more but being home seems to make writing everyday even harder.

Slice of Life: Antiquing

Today my mom and I spent some quality time together by going around the area to do some shopping. We both love to go to antique stores and I was on the hunt for blue mason jars.

The store that we went to today is one that has purchased numerous items from the auction my parents held when my grandma passed. So every time we go I always look to see what is still there and think of memories, like the basket of cookie cutters that sits in the back room of the store and digging through them in my grandma's kitchen drawer around the holidays.

Not only is it full of my memories, but filled with others as well. I could spend hours upon hours making up stories to pieces I find in there. Plus it's always fun to learn something new. Today my mom was looking through the old tools and found quite the interesting farm tool (I wish I took pictures, but would I think of such things...no). It's a nursing preventer for calves. My mom and I were perplexed; I had never heard of such a thing. We thought Dad might know more about it, so in the pile it went. Along with an old Land o Lakes plate, anything cow related trips our trigger.

I am a sucker for old magazines, looking at the ads is one of my favorite things to do. Today, my mom was bitten by the bug though and bought nine life magazines from the year she was born. I found two magazines my self, one from the 40's and one from the 50's. I also found an animal anatomy book from the 50's that is great condition!

And remember those blue mason jars? I hit the mother load and would have bought them all if I could. I got some of all sizes and there were a some that even had glass lids held in place by a metal closure (like I said I wish I took pictures). I'm super excited to use those for a display when I get my own place someday.

Slice of Life: Status Updates

Normally I don't post statuses on social networks but if I did this is what it would have looked like for today:

     2:54 a.m.  If I die in the night, my tombstone should read, "death by  
                    dog fart." Rudely awoken by 'Bison Butt'

     10:54 a.m.  Ten hours, quite a few curse words and the occasional
                      bird later...finally finished all those sign language quizzes.

     11:15 a.m.  "Tempest no typing": cddddddddddddddddddsdf

     11:28 a.m.  CRAP!! Forgot school is getting out early. Time to get
                     ready to go pick up the little bro.

     12:47 p.m.  Who takes a two hour lunch?!? Waiting to get my taxes
                      done.

     1:16 p.m.  DALTON!! HOW DOES THIS NEW EXCEL WORK!!

     2:39 p.m.  It's nice to get money from the government for a change.
                     Taxes are done!

     2:45 p.m.  Dear FSHN 405, please do yourself because I have no
                     idea what I'm suppose to do.

     4:47 p.m.  Such a beautiful day for a dog walk...too bad the battery
                    never made it to the charger, grrr.

     6:06 p.m. Nothing is better than a Polashek's Bratwurst.

     8:22 p.m.  I'm slowly losing my mind. Done with FSHN 405 for the
                     night!! Time to write a blog post...

Slice of Life: Dog Walks

Iowa has been blessed with such great weather lately (hello spring), providing great opportunities to take the dogs on long walks out in the country. On Sunday, we took the dogs out to a family friend's field to walk around and take some pictures. Unfortunately, I didn't check to make sure the camera battery was charged so I wasn't able to get any this time. But never fear I have plenty from other times we have gone out there and thought I would share them with you. Here are just a few of my favorites.

There is nothing like standing in the middle of a field with just you and your thoughts.

Slice of Life: Missing that Hour

Being at home I am always distracted whether it's dogs, family, cooking or cleaning. I always start off breaks by making a list of things to get done, but there is always something that gets in my way. Plus losing that hour hasn't helped any matters. So my to-do list for tomorrow is:

• Get Sign Language homework done
• E-mail groups back about HACCP Plans and work on them
• Type up some more of my great-grandma's diaries
• Write a decent slice
• Make Taco Pasta and Cheese Danish
• Pick-up Dalton from school
• Clean

And last but not least, hope the dogs sleep during the day so I can get all this done (I don't know what children are like, but I think my dogs could give your kids a run for their money in terms of trying to get attention).

Slice of Life: The New Addition

What bones are to dogs, tools are to my dad.

It is just astonishing to me how many tools he has collected over the years, especially tape measures. You see my dad works at a local factory where he is the main steel cutter. Every now and then he has to buy a new tape measure for work and will bring the old ones home, no matter what condition, to use. Half of the time the numbers/lines are warn down to the metal or they are "sticky" to where they don't roll up well.

Yesterday, I placed FIFTEEN tape measures in front of my dad simply stating, "Really?" One by one he went through studying them carefully, unrolling and rolling them over and over. Eventually I got him down to four semi-decent tape measures, now it only I could get him to do that with all the tools that are bent/broken that he says are now "pry-bars." Gotta love him.

Now why am I talking about my dad's tool obsession?

Remember when I was talking about the excursions my family had planned, well one of them was to head to a near by city to get my dad a new tool box. We went to Tractor Supply, Lowes, Farm & Fleet and Menards. All of the stores provide numerous options but my dad had a checklist of what it needed to have: dual (not single) drawers, have drawer liners and be tall enough so the top could be used as a work table. Of all the roller cabinets that fit the bill though, only one got my dad excited about. Heck even I got excited, mostly because it wasn't black or red like you usually see but a hunter green. I even gave it a name!

Meet Patty, the newest addition to our household. Once we got home we went to work looking around the garage for tools to put in here. There is still a lot of work to organize them all (well in my opinion) so they are easier to find, but at least they all have a drawer with a few drawers still empty. And no dad that does not give you an excuse to go buy more tools! 

Slice of Life: The Long Trip Home

After driving for a period of time all I want to do is relax and stretch out. No such luck today. I have been getting mauled to death (in an affectionate way) by dogs and running around like a chicken with its head chopped off. You see I just arrived home after being away for two and a half months so there was a lot to catch up on. My family and the dogs all seemed to fight for my attention, pulling me in all different ways.

I love them dearly, but I'm here for a week there is no need to cram everything in the first day I'm back.

I really wish I had more energy to write. On the drive up I thought of so many slices to share while I'm here for inspiration. But frankly right now I am exhausted and it doesn't sound like the rest of the weekend will be much better with everything that my family has planned. Don't get me wrong, I could not be more happier to be home and spending time with my family. However, my body is telling me it just wants to stay at home and relax for a couple days, not go on all these excursions.

So here's hoping that when Monday gets here my body gets what it needs, I can get some homework done and actually right a decent post again.

Slice of Life: Haiku

mind running around 

getting ready for spring break

write more tomorrow

Slice of Life:What Were You Thinking?

It's days like these I ask myself, "What were you thinking?"

For my last year of college I decided to tack on a Food Science minor in hopes of broadening my options after graduation, well that and I have enjoyed working at the food processing plant in my hometown. However, the courses I have to take this semester for the minor are starting to get to me.

For all these classes, my groups and I must come up with HACCP Plans, SOP's, SSOP's, GMP's and more "alphabet soup." My laptop and I have been glued to the hip; I think I spent seven hours working on Excel formatting and editing one of the HACCP Plans. Needless to say, my eyes and brain are this close to disowning me.

It's days like these I have to remind myself that it will all be worth it in the end.

Slice of Life: Spring is in the Air

Slight chill tickles my skin
Dew drops on brown blades of grass
Remnants of snow disappear
Spring is in the air

Sparrows begin to move back
Watch as they build their nests
Crows no longer welcomed
Spring is in the air

Bugs awaken from their slumber
Smell the crispness of flowers about to bloom
Trees wait patiently for leaves to bud
Spring is in the air

Shirtless men running around campus
Feel the temperature rise
All seems right with the world
Love Spring is in the air

Slice of Life: "Nerd-Out"

If you were to ask my friends they would tell you it does not take much to entertain me. From watching my roommate do daily tasks to pretending that the apartment has landmines so I don't cause the floor to creak, it's never a dull moment for me.

Lately I have been into things that cause me to "nerd-out" though. Like today for instance, I saw that there was an article about how there is research being done on Vitamin D and it's effects on uterine fibroids in rats which may lead to a non-surgical way of treatment. I mean, come on, how is that not cool?

Every time I go off on one of my tangents my friends tend to give me weird looks, which means that my eyes have gotten to twice as large and my words are flying out faster than the speed of light. I just get so excited and think that they will get equally excited, but in most cases not so much. But hey, at least they continue to let me talk about all the things that I nerd-out about.

Here are just a few of the subjects that get's my heart racing:

• The microbes found in the rumen of a cow can essentially turn poor quality feed into something great that will get digested and absorbed by the cow leading to excellent milk quality/production. 

• There is a type of nocturnal squid that has a type of glowing bacteria growing inside of it. The squid also has sensors on it's skin that can detect the amount of moonlight shining and takes that information to determine how much light it puts out from the bacteria to match the moonlight. This essentially causes the squid to have no shadow! Crazy, right?

• With all the drug-resistant pathogens out there, there has been more and more research done on how they communicate. Scientists have found that cells communicate by sending out a signal to let each other know they are near and once enough are present they "turn on." Now that they found how they act, researchers are making similar shaped molecules that will fit in the communication receptors that will disrupt that process so they will be "off." This is effective on all pathogens whether they have drug-resistance or not. I hope this technique gets approved soon that's all I got to say. 

• Anything that has to do with anatomy and physiology (human or animal). Learning how the body works just makes me slack jawed and wonder how more things don't go wrong. I also took an entire class on embryo transfer in animals last semester and was amazed at how that all worked. 

I could go on and on, but I just don't think my heart can take much more haha. I can't be the only one that "nerds-out" to things though, so tell me what gets your blood pumping. Don't leave me hanging out here alone. 

Slice of Life Challenge: I Won't Give Up

Today I wanted to share with you one of the most beautiful songs I have heard in a long time. I think I have mentioned earlier that I am a senior in college and will be graduating in May. Exciting, right? I know I am, but I still have my reservations. Mainly because I still haven't found the place where I am to begin my next chapter, which worries me. But I know that I am not the only one going through this, let alone know that this is not the worst thing that could be happening to me.

So I dedicate this post to all those who are facing a new chapter and/or going through a rough patch in life. If you are reading this know that "I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough. I'm giving you all my love. I'm still looking up."  You have all the support I can give (see poll "WHAT DO YOU NEED?" to the right) and I hope that it reaches you, where ever you may be, soon. All I ask in return is that you share that love and support with someone else in need.

With that I leave you with "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz (highlighted below are my favorite lyrics of the song):

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not
And who I am

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
Still looking up.

I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

Slice of Life Challenge: Failing in Order to Succeed

Note: This is a continuation from yesterday's post. For a long time, I was ashamed of this story but not anymore. I feel that it is an important slice to share and hope that it will help others that have/will go through the same thing.

I don't care what you think or what people may tell you, college is no easy adjustment. Like a lot of people I came in with the wrong mindset, thinking that high school and the college classes I've already taken were easy for me, then the next four years will be too. WRONG!! 

I went from a small sized high school, where the largest classroom had roughly twenty-five students (give-or-take), to a state university with at least two-hundred people in my lecture hall. In that type of setting it's easy for a person to get lost in the crowd. Plus, this was the first time I had taken a course entirely online where I was in charge of my own learning. Like I said, quite the adjustment.

The first couple weeks weren't so bad, mostly because what we were discussing was review. But once the new material started, woo doggies was I in trouble...especially in those online courses. As the semester went on my grades just kept falling, I didn't know what to do. Most of my school life before I had gotten A's & B's, but by midterm I was sporting two D's and a C-. 

By the end of the semester I had two B's, two F's and a D, giving me a GPA of 1.4 (not my proudest moment). I remember the day I found out, I woke-up at five o'clock in the morning to check. As the page loaded I hoped, prayed and pleaded but obviously with no such luck. I was extremely disappointed in myself and internalized everything (just what I do) so my parents wouldn't find out. However, you can never hide anything from Mom. 

A few days had gone past, by this time I was pretty much living in my room, only leaving if absolutely necessary. My mother had came home from work early and barged in my room, slamming a piece of paper with my grades on the desk yelling, "WHAT IS THIS?!?!"

I couldn't form any words and just began to sob. I had let myself down and most of all my family. When I finally gained back some control, I told her everything: how I lost track of due dates, the material got over my head and I couldn't find my way back up, how my homesickness affected me and how I didn't manage my time well. 

This is where I have to give credit to my paremts, instead of yelling and punishing me (thinking I was doing it well enough to myself) they were there asking why didn't I ask for help right away and what I/they could do to improve next semester's grades. They listened to me criticize myself and talked me out of quitting by reminding me I had come this far and that I was not the first (nor the last) to be going through this. 

With each succeeding semester I improved little by little, so much so that the last four semesters I have made the Dean's List. What I'm trying to say is if you are currently in college or plan on going to college, know that you will eventually find your stride if you keep trying. And if you do have problems, tell somebody (don't keep it in like I did). As the old saying goes, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

Slice of Live Challenge: Packing

Last night our apartment turned into a packing frenzy. You see, next weekend we leave for spring break which means an opportune time to take all the stuff we aren't using back home. That way we don't have as much to take back at the end semester, especially this year when we have mere hours to move out after we graduate! As the mound of boxes gets larger, I can't help but think that it was just a few short years I was moving into the dorms.

It was August 13, 2008: Move-in Day. The truck was already packed with high school memories, things from home, etc. However there were still a few things to shove in them when I woke up that morning. Once we got on the road, I spent most of the ride down fighting back tears just trying to prove to my parents (and myself) that I was ready for this next chapter to begin.

Two and a half hours later, we arrived in Ames but it would be another hour before we would arrive at the dorm (Freshmen Move-in Day means lines of cars to the freeway exit). When we got there, I was dropped off by the door to go check-in while my family found parking and began unloading.

I began the hunt for my CA's room thank goodness it didn't take long. She introduced herself, gave me some information and my key. It was official now, I was about to be on my "own" for the very first time. I made the long trek down the hallway to my room, put the key in the door and opened the door.

There she was, my roommate all bubbly and excited to be all moved in. She ran over and gave me a hug saying it was so great to finally meet me. (We had spent most of the summer talking on Facebook getting to know each other and figuring out what we were bringing). I was taken off guard, I am the type of person that has that protective bubble and when someone comes in I tense up. I felt bad, so quickly put on a happy smile.

I looked around and her side of the room was all put together and decorated (that's what I forgot, wall decorations). I put down my packet of information, put my key on my lanyard and ran to the parking lot meet back up with my parents.

We began the back and forth that comes with moving, thank goodness we  had one of those moving carts. My dad soon stopped, saying he would be better at just unpacking while my mom and I kept going back to the truck for more. Luckily it was just a few trips but sadly that meant that my parents had to leave. We said our goodbyes and I walked them to the door.

Those tears were then starting to break through. My roommate was gone for band orientation and I was in the room alone with my boxes. I needed a distraction so I unpacked and made everything look as pretty as I could. Unfortunately that didn't take as long as I had hoped. I got the TV hooked up with the cable as well as the DVD player (my dad would have been so proud). Next was trying to get the internet (what do you mean I need an ethernet cord?) to work. Ethernet-less I had to wait on that.

Now I was running out of things to do. I put in a movie and called one of my best friends. Talking to her I began to cry, all these things were running through my mind and how I was homesick. I knew she was the right person to try and snap me out of it. But try as she might I was still homesick.

It would be weeks (okay more like months) before I wasn't affected by my homesickness but with the help of my roommate and the friends I met made it go easier. Before I knew it I made a lot of great memories but there was also the fear of being kicked out of college...but that is a story for another day...

Slice of Life Challenge: Grandpa Knows Best

Grandpa and I ~1994

Do you see that man in the background? That would be my "Bestest Friend" growing up otherwise known as Grandpa Essen. When I was little I spent most of my time at my grandparents' house while my parents were at work. It seemed like everyday there was always something new and fun to do: help Grandma in the kitchen, go with Grandpa to Hardee's to pick up Biscuits and Gravy along with some Mini Cinnamon Rolls every Sunday for breakfast, sit and chat with all the friends that would visit and I could go on and on.

Grandpa and Grandma during Christmas ~1970s

My favorite days were those during baseball season. I'm sure you could probably guess which was our favorite team but I'll say it anyway: THE CHICAGO CUBS!!! Whenever there was a game being broadcast you can be sure that Grandpa and I had the TV/radio tuned in to watch the boys play, but mostly to listen to our favorite announcer Harry Caray. During every game we had our rituals, my favorite being singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" with Grandpa and Harry.

Grandpa on his family's farm ~1930s

But my love for baseball wasn't the only thing that my grandpa instilled in me. He is one of the big reasons that I decided to come to Iowa State and study Dairy Science. Every now and then Grandpa would talk about how he used to work with cows and how much fun he had. I loved listening to him and watching his face light up. He even talked about how he was an auctioneer and at least once a month would take me to sale barns at the fairgrounds to look at the animals. I sure did have a great time at those auctions, seeing him in his element and absorbing all the information I could. Some times at these auctions we would see one of my grandpa's good friends who owned a dairy farm and if we didn't we would usually go stop out to visit. Grandpa knew how much I loved those visits going to see the cows and play with their calves. It's what every little girl dreams of.

Because of him, I am the person I am today...

Slice of Life Challenge: Morning in the Life

7:13 a.m.
Turn over in bed, notice light shining in and think alarm didn't go off. Finally check the clock and see I still have 45 minutes so instantly go back to sleep.

8:00 a.m.
Alarm goes off, stick foot out of bed, hello coldness, snap foot back under blanket and hit snooze.


8:05 a.m.
Alarm goes off again, this time face the cold, sit-up, stretch and yawn, Ow! mouth hurts, first filling yesterday and still feeling pain from shots, stumble around room, get to door and notice don't have glasses on, stumble back towards bed and grab them.

8:08 a.m.
Get to bathroom, turn the vanity lights on, hello, squint and make funny faces until use to the light, keep rubbing eyes to clean, brush my hair into a pony-tail, brush teeth and be gentle around the injection sites, mouthwash, gargle and rinse, smile at self in mirror, say good morning to roommate and discuss why she is up so early.

8:17 a.m.
Stumble back to room and throw some clothes together, high school speech shirt and jeans, classic combo, put deodorant on and get dressed, clean ears.

8:30 a.m.
Look to make sure backpack is ready for today, yes already done, think about what all is going on today: test in microbiology, quiz in microbiology lab and assigned a group presentation in food microbiology. Think back to what read last night in lab notebook, "provide you with fresh cut onions and a tear-jerker movie to help you cry." get to see how lysozyme in tears works on pathogens.

8:40 a.m.
Sitting in front of my laptop checking e-mails, facebook, weather, class websites and writing. New challenge this month called Slice of Life, saw on one of my high school teachers blogs, thought great way to improve skills.

9:01 a.m.
Check the clock and notice running late, type faster, grab shoes, coat and backpack, until tomorrow....