Mish Mash, Catching up!

Wow! I can't believe it has been over ten days since I wrote on the blog! (Sigh! Sad that school was in the way! I was on a roll with three or four weeks of solid blogging!) Those ten days were very crazy. I took two exams (Biochemistry and Medical Nutrition Therapies) plus had like five assignments due! I had the weekend off, worked at the store, and watched the South Carolina game. I took a Nutrition and Disease exam Tuesday night, went to class Wednesday and drove home.

I was stuck in horrible traffic! And when traffic is slow, I tend to make a few phone calls. Well my last call was with my mom, when I noticed a fire truck driving south on northbound (that was funny) and realized I had not seen cars passing on northbound for at least twenty minutes. I was noting to my mom that I thought there was a Bayflite helicopter trying to land because a helicopter had circled a few times. I came around the bend of trees to see the helicopter landed and northbound traffic at a dead stop (for at least ten miles). I was so thankful that I was at least moving, even if it was a crawl. I always think about those in the helicopter and their families. A weekend of fun and celebration cut short.

I knew staying for class Wednesday meant I was going to be traveling in heavy traffic and that my drive was going to be longer than normal. I traveled forty miles (generous) in an hour and a half. And in that time I witnessed three almost accidents. I wish people would think logically when traveling by road on major holidays. We are all trying to get somewhere, but tailgating and weaving in congested traffic is never a good idea. Expect an additional hour or more of travel and you won't be so annoyed with delays.

We have this little thing called Turkey Trot on the key, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I was so excited to finallyyyyy be legal and partake in the festivities. However, I was way too tired after traveling and my exam to go! I am bummed I missed it. But hopefully next year won't be so hectic before and I'll get to participate.

Thanksgiving was different this year. It was not my kind of Thanksgiving or fun for that matter, but I did it and told my family "I went, I saw, I was pleasant, I will never go again." We traveled Thanksgiving day to my Grandfathers property. It was in the boonies. Nothing to see, nothing to do (not that there is on Thanksgiving; our family also believes in not patronizing businesses that are open on holidays). I don't really get a long with this side of the family either. Cocktails would have been grand but they were not served.

We also don't do the crazy Black Friday shopping. (Well we did once, to the outlet mall. And no one has wanted to ever again.) We always pick up a paper on Thursday to see the ads, but they didn't look too exciting this year. We eventually made it to the mall. The last place I wanted to go. My mom thought I did. But we ended up having an enjoyable time and my grandmother tagged along too. I mentioned I was looking for riding boots on here a few weeks ago. My mom reads this (Hi Mom!) so she was planning on gifting me a pair at Christmas. But you can't just pick those out for someone and thank goodness she didn't buy the ones I thought I wanted. My calf is apparently too big for regular boots and I didn't like the extended calf ones. (My calfs aren't fat. They're muscular. Strong calfs are good, but not good for riding boots. Darn!) We had to stop for lunch (it was three, but still lunch in my book!). Checked out Williams Sonoma and Victorias Secret. And then proceeded to spend a good two hours (at least) in Ann Taylor Loft! I found cute jeggings, jeans, corduroys, skirts, super cute cardigans and tops. Luckily I remembered I needed a pair of black slacks for a presentation Friday. We were finally leaving when my mom realized the time. It was after eight. This time change has done a number on us, still! I thought it was six or so, since it is darker earlier now.

I don't remember Saturday, other than picking out our Christmas tree and getting my nails done. We get a live tree every year. We didn't for a few years and I was so sad! I love the smell. I also think you can tell a fake tree. It is currently falling so we can decorate it.

Sunday was all about the homework. I have to huge group projects that we have worked on all semester due Thursday and Friday.

And I am driving back today!

xoxo

World Diabetes Day 2010

(This post was supposed to go up Wednesday, but I was too tired Tuesday and I drove home Wednesday!)

I bet most of ya'll don't know what this symbol is for (except maybe because it is in the title). It is a universal symbol for diabetes. Sunday, November 14 is World Diabetes Day 2010. (I know I'm a few days early but I want ya'll to be prepared.) Until recently this day wouldn't have meant much to me.

A little backstory. February 26, 2009, I was admitted to the hospy and quickly after diagnosed with type one diabetes. It was a life shocker. There is no family history. I still remember every little detail of those four days. (But this post wasn't about me.)

I have found most people don't know the difference unless they have been affected by the disease. Here is a short summary describing the differences:

Diabetes is a disease where the body does not produce insulin (type 1) or cannot utilize insulin (type 2). Type 1 is also commonly known as juvenile diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease and type 2 is related to diet and exercise. You may be wondering how I developed the disease after nearly twenty years without it. Good question. I would love to know too, as well as my doctors. There is so little known about the disease so all my doctors can do is guess what happened. They believe I contracted a virus (how long prior to being diagnosed it unsure) but the virus caused my body to self-destruct and slowly kill the beta cells of my pancreas. (The beta cells produce insulin; the alpha cells produce glucagon.)

Type 1 diabetes is controlled by the use of insulin injections and fingersticks. Diet has no affect. I would still have to take insulin if I ate a zero carbohydrate diet. (So please don't tell me I can't have that cupcake because my doctors encourage it in moderation.) People with type 2 diabetes often can control their glucose levels by improving and changing their diet as well as exercise. Some may take insulin or medication to decrease insulin resistance.

Back to World Diabetes Day 2010. It is led by International Diabetes Federation to promote advocacy and awareness. The theme is chosen every five years and currently the theme is Education and Prevention. The slogan for 2010 is 'Let's take control of diabetes. Now.' World Diabetes Day brings attention to a disease that affects millions of people (type 1 and 2) but so little is understood and there is no cure.

I am lucky to live an area where so much research and support occurs. The Diabetes Center of Excellence at Shands at the University of Florida (talk about a long name) is one of the top research facilities in the country. Every year they put on events in the month of November and a big celebration of November 14th, which includes lighting building blue. It is so neat to see and gives me the chills. On the University of Florida campus, Century Tower is lit blue.

Everyday

After being lit blue!

Similar events occur across the nation and world. Take a few minutes this weekend and observe this event. Here is a list of events in the United States. It is so neat to see! Even if you can't attend an event, you can light a blue candle.

You can read more about World Diabetes Day here.

Tomorrow is a big day in SEC football. My Florida Gators will be playing the South Carolina Gamecocks to determine who will represent the SEC East at the SEC Championship game December 4th. Go Gators!!!

xoxo

City Buses and Friday! :)

It is Friday and I am worn out!

Yesterday I dropped my car off to get the oil changed and have everything checked over! (Cars scare me and I freak about anything.) So I had to take the city bus from the mall to campus. I die. It took over thirty minutes. Then after class all-day followed by a meeting, I finally got to head home! That took more like forty-five minutes. This guy thought he was superman with the hand straps. I wish I snapped a picture! I eventually made it to pick-up my car. It made for the worlds longest day. I'm pretty sure I will avoid city buses at all cost moving forward.

This weekend we play Vanderbilt! Praying the Gators can pull out another win!

Thursday (next week!) is Veteran's Day. I'm hightailing it out of town Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday late morning. I need a break from here for my sanity!

Hope ya'll have a great weekend!

xxoo

Friday = Weekend = PTL

Praise the Lord my biochem exam is over. I went the entire day without eating and I was struggling at the end. I was so wrapped up in studying and then a lecture, time just got away. It (exam and not eating) was brutal!

This is going to be a low-key weekend and I need it. I have a few more Halloween decorations to put up. And I am going to make these cupcakes (they are amazing!) from my friend at Living in Lilly.

It is bye-week here and Lord knows they need it. I love my Gators, but honestly, football isn't our thing this year. Losing and underperforming seems to run in my educational career though. My senior year of high school, I think we won two games. And this senior year isn't looking too pretty either. This season has proved that anything can happen in the SEC. I hope this bye-week provides the team with much needed rest, refocusing and regrouping. 

I heard about a corn maze here in-town this week. I've never been to one and it looks like fun. I might go this weekend, but the weather will play a big factor in that decision. 

I hope ya'll have a nice and relaxing weekend. See you Monday! 

xxoo