Stronger

1. What is something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 
This is really strange, but I hate it when my bed isn't made up perfectly.  As a child, I always hated to make my bed up before school--I thought it was pointless! I mean, why make up a bed when you are just going to mess it all up again that night? It made no sense to me until I came to school.  When I was in undergrad school, I would skip a few days of making my bed; at first, it felt good, & then, I started feeling sluggish. It was like my room was missing something. So, I started making up my bed, & ever since, I've realized that making my bed actually makes me feel good. As you all know, I'm somewhat OCD, so all my lines on my comforter have to match up, & all the sides have to be even (same length to the floor). I think I became this OCD about making up my bed when I was in undergrad. I was so close to home (45 minutes) that I would go home on the weekends. Apparently, I'm a slow learner--it took me a while to figure out why my bed was messed up every time I came back home. At first, I would just ignore it & fix it until I found our room a total mess. My bed was completely totaled, my belongings were broken (including a $50 lamp that I had to have to meet dorm requirements). I was so angry. I asked her about it, but she never admitted it. I heard it from my RA that it was my roommate that not only trashed the room, but the whole entire dorm!! I explained to the RA that I was home on the weekend & I had proof that I was. I don't really know if she really believed me, but that's not my fault. I called my dad, & yes, he came & got me. I spent that night at home. So, if you want to be on my good side, don't mess my bed up *lol*.


2. Do you think a 6th sense exists? Explain. 
Sometimes, I do think one exists. I will sometimes get a "bad" feeling in the pit of my stomach, & usually something bad will happen that day. That sounds soooo depressing, I know. Like today, I had an exam today, & I just had this odd feeling. Unfortunately, I didn't get an A, I got a B (still good, but I wanted an A) & then about 2 hours later, my boyfriend texted me & said that he had an earthquake today!! Thank the good Lord that he's all right.  He said it shook his whole entire bank! But a great ending to today was that my dad's blood work came back really good!! Thank God!!! God is good, isn't He?

3. Do you say your goodbyes slowly, quickly, or not at all? 
It just depends on the person. For example, when I'm leaving to go back to school, I tend to drag out my good-byes because I don't want to go back. I'll hang around the house for a while until the last possible minute. However, if I'm talking to someone that I don't want to spend 5-10 minutes talking to them, I will act like I'm in a rush to head back to school. I know that's bad of me to do that, but I don't like to hurt anyone's feelings & just walk off without speaking.

4. On a scale of 1-10, with ten being hot hot hot, what level of spice do you like in your food? What's your favorite 'spicy' dish? 
I do not like spicy food at all. On this scale, it would be 0. I'm not much of a spicy food-eater.  I don't like to be miserable when I'm eating.


5. What is one of your all time favorite commercial jingles? 
It's definitely gotta be the Oscar Mayer bologna commercial. My nephew, Nate, loves, loves, LOVES bologna!! My sister & I are trying to teach him the Oscar Mayer commercial jingle. He's starting to sing now, so we thought that this was the perfect opportunity to teach him!! He kind of gets it, but not good enough yet to be singing it fully. We're still working on it.




6. Plane, train, boat or auto...your preferred method of travel? 
I've been on a plane & I have a car. I don't remember my plane ride, so basically the only thing I know of is traveling by automobile.  However, I'd like to travel by plane again--maybe to the Florida Keys, Hawaii, Europe, & the Bahamas.  I have been on a boat when I went parasailing. I wasn't on it much, but for the little while I was on it, I did bob up & down constantly with the waves. But, a cruise to Alaska (whale watching) is definitely in my future!

7. What is something you take for granted? 
I try my best not to take anything for granted because I know how easily it could be taken away from me. Personally, I think that today's inventions (t.v., internet, cell phones) have in a way disrupted our daily living. I remember before there were cell phones. That's when there was more family time & everyone actually enjoyed each other. I think I take a lot of my relationships for granted--my family relationship, my relationship with friends. I think I do this because honestly, I've never really been without them. Sometimes, I look back & humble myself for taking these special people in my life for granted. In one second, they all could be taken away from me.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Here is one of my favorite songs. When I'm having a bad day, I youtube this song & listen to the lyrics. So, hopefully, you have a great day today, & I hope this song serves as a little "pick-me-up" for you. 

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you ...

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger

Live Happily

 1. Using what's in your frig right now what sort of meal would you be able to make for guests who are knocking at the front door this very minute?
Wow!! This is a really hard one for me because I don't really have much in my refrigerator.  I only have some salad mix, & some left over lasagna.  So, I think that's definitely what I'd have to do.  Sorry for my guests, but leftovers it is :).

2. What is something about yourself that you hope will change but that probably never will? 

I would have to say that my accent is something I've always wanted to change, but that's probably never going to happen.  I get called "hick" all the time here at school.  There's not many people here from Southwest Virginia.  You can imagine me with my long I's & not saying "-ing" but instead saying "-en" at the end of words instead.  I also use sayings like, "Shoot fire & save matches"--what's so hard about understanding that one??? My accent, no matter how hard I try, will never change.  I can't help where I come from; it's always going to be in me.


3. What's something about yourself that you hope will never change?
My perseverance, or my ability to chase after my dreams, no matter what life throws at me.  Not many people that read my blog know that I've had two open heart surgeries.  The doctors never thought I'd make it this far in my life, but I've stumped them.  Somehow, by God's grace & mercy, I am still living, & loving life.  I'm the child that wasn't supposed to make it, but I"m making it right now.  Ever since I was 12 years old, I wanted to be a pharmacist because I wanted to help people.  I'm 23 years old, & almost finished with pharmacy school (1 more year!!).  So, I know I've got it in me to keep going so I can make a difference in other peoples' lives.

4. Do you usually send serious or funny greeting cards? Why? 

I usually send serious greeting cards; however, I'm pretty funny in person though.  I feel like if I send a serious card, the message to the person is more meaningful & heartfelt. I feel like if I'm being serious. the message will get across to the receiver.


5. Bird watching, shell gathering, or star gazing- your choice for whiling away the hours?
I've always wanted to lie on a blanket in pitch-black darkness with a telescope & look up at the stars.  I think stars are wonderful & so beautiful.  It amazes me when I look up at the starry sky & just think that God made all these stars for us to enjoy here on earth.  

6. Do you double or triple check things? If so, what? 

I'm OCD--BAD!! I triple check things.  I triple check my lock on my door, when I'm home & when I'm leaving for school (yes, that does include I check the door even with that leg/arm thing propped up against it), I check my cell phone to make sure it's charging, I make sure I've unplugged everything (hairdryer & flat iron), make sure I've shut off all the water in the sinks, make sure the stove & oven are off (even if they haven't been used in a while), make sure my computer is charging at night, etc.  I know--I'm OCD.


7. What's your favorite place for people watching? 
Honestly, I don't have a favorite place to watch people.  I don't pay much attention :/. Maybe it's because my mind is always running 24/7 on drugs & diseases.  

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Tomorrow, I start my rotations at the nursing home for the whole year.  I'm very excited to see my patient & get to meet with her.  I just hope she likes me :).  I'm nervous at the same time, too.  Hopefully, I can be a great asset to the team.

Live Happily

 Share a favorite song lyric.

This song is by a contemporary artist--Chris Tomlin--"I will rise".  That's my favorite song lyric.  If anyone wants to listen to this great & wonderful song, please go to youtube & type in Chris Tomlin.  I advise you to shut your eyes & just listen to the song.  This was the toughest question, because I love every lyric of this song.  We sing this song in church about once a month, & there's not a dry eye in the congregation.  It's perfectly OK if you cry too when you are listening to this song.  The song is so powerful, & I guarantee you that you will most definitely get chills all over you when you hear this song.  I know I get chills, & I'm getting them right now.  Believe it or not, there's not many radio stations in Grundy, but I finally found a contemporary station (I've been looking for one for 10 months or so).  The radio station is K-Love (follow them on facebook, they're great!), & they play this song.  This morning I was feeling kind of "down & out".  Mom & Dad are on vacation while I'm stuck here at school (boo!!), but when this song came on the radio, my day brightened up.  I cried & sang all the way to school because I know that there's only one true thing that matters in life: are you going to rise when your name is called by the great & awesome God?

2. When was the last time someone yelled at you?

Oh my goodness!! My mom yelled at me just this past weekend!! I was home from school (I come home every weekend during the summer), & I was swinging & didn't see my little nephew.  Luckily, I didn't hit him with the swing, but I feel really bad about the whole situation.  My mom told me she was sorry; I know she was just trying to get my attention.  I still feel terrible about it!!!

3. Money, fame, happiness...are they mutually exclusive?

Money, fame, & happiness are mutually exclusive.  Of course, you have the NFL players or NBA players & what not, which completely allow these three things not to be mutually exclusive.  But, let's not talk about them, let's talk about the real world.  There are many people who have money, who are rich, but who do not live happily.  My grandmother's neighbor is one of the richest men in our town, but yet he's not fully happy because he doesn't have his health.  My boss that I work for isn't famous, but he has plenty of money (he's a pharmacist you know *lol*), & he's probably one of the happiest men I know.  Look at some homeless people.  They will tell you that they are very happy, even though they have no money or fame.  I'm completely happy with my life, & look, I"m just a poor pharmacy student.  The most important of these--money, fame, & happiness--is happiness.  If you're not happy, what does money & fame really mean to you?  If you are happy, what does life mean to you?  That's why my motto is "live happily" because happiness gives your life meaning.  If you're not happy doing your job, what benefit is it to you or to your other coworkers?  Yes, of course you can say money, but is money all that matters?  To me, it's not.  Just living happily means everything.  So, today: LIVE HAPPILY!!!

4. What is your favorite dish to prepare for family and friends that doesn't require turning on the stove, oven or an outdoor grill?

A salad.  Honestly, that's one of my favorite things to eat.  I love eating a nice, refreshing salad with red wine vinaigrette dressing on a hot summer's day, kind of like the weather we've been having.  I'm very picky about my salads, though.  I just usually do lettuce, cheese, deli meat (honey ham or some deli turkey, just depends), salad toppers (which my dad & sister like to call "bird seed"), & dressing.  Nothing else gets more refreshing than that, other than drinking sweet tea with the meal.

5. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week. What is one thing you could do this week to simplify your life? Will you do it?

I don't see how much more complex my life gets.  I make calendars & schedules, I use my computer & phone to remind me of any updates for school or anything important, I continuously make notes (usually by hand so I can remember them), I have a routine I do every single day (& yet, it never gets boring).  So, I'm not quite so sure if there is anything I can do to make my life more simple right now.  That's probably not the greatest answer, but I'll keep thinking of ways & randomly post a blog if I think of anything.

6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being 100% and 1 being not at all) how tuned in are you to your country's national political scene?

Haha!!! Good question!! I am tuned in at about a 1.5.  I only score myself on that because I watch the news & The Today Show as I'm getting ready for school.  I basically tune most of the political stuff out.  Usually, the only t.v. time I get is the morning or right before I go to bed (I leave my t.v. on at night--later story).  So, I am not up-to-date on any political stuff, but if you guys have any questions about medication/medication articles, I'll be more than willing to help. *lol*

7. What are your final parting words to the month of July?

Hmmm...Those words would be: I wish I actually got a vacation."  My body has been going to school in this terrible heat wave, but my mind has been traveling to the beach where I can stick my toes in the water & sand. 

 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Only one more week until break!! Friday, hurry up & get here!!!! I'm ready to leave for Pigeon Forge--next Monday, hurry up...please!!!!!! I'm ready for a break!!!!