The Book of Adventure Awaits!

"The best stories are found
between the pages of a
passport."

It is here! I received my passport easily and earlier than planned, so I really am not sure why everyone else I talked to said it was difficult. All I know is, it is here which means I have the ability to travel the world. That is an exciting feeling! Tomorrow I will be meeting for coffee with one of the staff members of Hillel and filling in the last of the secondary application (the passport part). I can't wait for our meeting next month where we will be meeting everyone who will be traveling on our trip! Soon we will also be going over everything we will be doing, on top of going over what things we will need to pack.

Besides visiting California in the summers when I was growing up, I have never looked forward to visiting a place more! When I think Summer 2016, I think Israel. When I think Israel, I think of where my ancestors came from.  I am blessed to be given the opportunity to travel halfway across the world. Saying that I am looking forward to it doesn't come close to how I feel. I try to imagine what it will be like there, but if I'm honest with myself...I won't know until I'm there. During those 14 hours on the direct flight I will be verrrrryyyy anxious. Flying that far for the first time leaving the country is crazy! But hey, that's life ain't it? Mine at least!

Keeping Up

Seven Falls Hiking Trail

I've never been really been an energetic person, but I wish I was. Even when it comes to daily activities and routines I can't seem to keep up. A lot of times I'll feel like taking a nap, but I won't be able to because my mind is racing with thoughts. It is not easy keeping up with an "adult" life, especially after all my body has been through medically and psychologically.

In the psychological aspect, I've realized being outside (and obviously writi
ng) helps gather my thoughts in a calm manner. Writing helps me evaluate and recognize what is worth stressing over. Being outside kind of gives me a bigger perspective and helps me relax.

Gorgeous view of Santa Barbara and the Pacific

Lately we've been dealing with the well-known El Nino weather, which has made it easy to stay cooped up inside. However I am positive the weather is going to pick back up to it's normal Santa Barbara ways. How great is it that the clocks changed?! I'm so happy it doesn't get dark at 5pm and the sun isn't blinding my bedroom at 6 in the morning. This will definitely help make it feel like there are more hours in the day....to do homework and sometimes enjoy ourselves. Have no fear, Spring Break is almost here!

workworkworkworkworkwork

Medically there is not much I can do besides try and eat healthy and make sure to get my vitamins in on top of going to the gym. Every day I take a Women's Multivitamin. Today I bought vitamins that are specifically for supporting energy metabolism, hydration, and antioxidant health. So I will let you know if it helps! Coffee kind of upsets my stomach and obviously has a lot of calories in it from all the cream and sugar I have to put it. I only like to have it once in awhile because the caffeine can be addictive.

Fun Fact: I'm 1/4 Irish
and my pug's name is Guinness
...if you didn't already know 

I guarantee you, if I put together a survey asking a bunch of college students whether they felt they had enough energy...a lot would say they are exhausted. Going to work, school, and being on your own can be a lot to handle! I will never understand the students who are able to party every other day. Frankly, I still wouldn't if I had the energy because responsibilities. Just know we only have one more week before Spring Break. Push through, soon we can relax! I know I'm planning on laying out on the beach just about everyday :)

PS: Yesterday I spent 6.5 hours writing an essay from 3 in the afternoon till 9:30 at night. I'M SO HAPPY IT'S THE WEEKEND! Happy St. Patty's Day!

Getting Interviewed

Today I finally got a haircut. I really should start getting them more often now that my hair is longer. It was the longest it has ever been and 3 inches off later, it still is! This might not mean much to those who don't know. Ever since college I have stopped telling people my little secret unless I become close to them. I struggled through high school with my remission and growing my hair out from the scalp, so people were bound to find out then.

Last week I experienced one of those positive things that come from being a cancer survivor. It was one of those moments that I took in and thought to myself...my fight was worth it.

In my journalism class, our teacher partnered us up to practice interviewing for our upcoming article. Hayden and I were interviewing each other. He started out asking me questions, which I honestly became nervous about. I didn't want him to feel any differently when it was time for me to interview him incase the subject came up. (Later I found out he was a twin which was pretty cool). First, he started asking me about my major. Then asked why I chose writing. I told him I love and care for people in general. Spreading awareness by writing in order to care for those around me is my thing. Writing things down lets out my creativity and thoughts. He then proceeded to ask what I like to spread awareness about. Also asking, what in my life happened to make me want to spread cancer awareness. WHOOP THERE IT IS. It was one of those moments I couldn't help but smirk knowing there was no way around this without saying it. So...I told him.

The whip's newest accessory

And he told the entire class. Yep, I was not expecting that. Usually people are just like "Oohh...I'm sorry" and then it's freakin awkward. The teacher called on him first, asking how the interview process went. Hayden said, "You learn things about someone that you never would've known about them before." The teacher then asked, "What did you learn about Angela?". Hayden sat in silence for a few seconds, looked back at me for 1/4 of a second (not enough time for me to shake my head in approval or disapproval), and said, "Angela is a cancer survivor."

The entire class started clapping, yelling, "Whooo!!" as I sat there smiling wide and watery eyed. I was then asked by the teacher how old I was. Fifteen.  "DAMN" a classmate of mine said in shock. You could feel everyone's hearts drop in the room. I left class as a guy held the door open for me saying "YOU GO, YOU GO GIRL. I've never heard of a class applauding someone. Seriously! YOU GO!"  I stepped out that classroom knowing my classmates may not look at me the same again next class. I will never forget that moment. Sometimes I forget how strong I am and this...this was an awesome reminder.

When It's Okay to Skip

I am one of those people who rarely misses class. The other day my teacher pointed me out to a student who was always absent saying "Angela never misses class right?". He wasn't wrong. However, it was clear I was trying to keep my eyes open while the other student was wide awake. Yesterday it was also pouring rain and he called my classmates and I the strong survivors. Ha..you have no idea!

There are two reasons why I will choose to miss or "skip" class. One of those days was last week. Monday night I had a concert to go to for Music. Then I had to write a paper for that the following Tuesday  morning. Wednesday I was to attend a speech at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for my Journalism class. This report was due within 24 hours.

Well shoot...I had a paper due in class the next morning for Argumentation and Debate as well . But wait...I had music before Argumentation....that leaves me with only one choice.

Aha, these are the moments where one must weigh their pros and their cons. I could've gone to Music and simply get points for being there and taking notes. Or I could've got those notes later and finish my paper for Argumentation and Debate (where my grade is solely based on my papers and tests). I think you know which decision I decided to make.

So simply weigh your pros and cons. Whatever you can do to keep your grades up (or in cases of emergency your health up) is what you should follow through with.

Going to a Bar for Class

1 year too young

Hold up! Don't freak out or anything. No, my teacher did not send me to a bar as an underage student to go get wasted. He actually sent us there for an assignment!

My classmate and new friend of mine Louisa decided to go together, and I'm glad we did. We drove down to downtown Santa Barbara around 7:30 on a Monday night on State Street.

I've always thought jazz was pleasing to the ear. I love hearing the saxophone play. My favorite part of the night is when they played Sway. That's a popular jazz piece everyone should be able to recognize. You hear it in a bunch of movies! I'm glad I chose this concert to attend. In my music appreciation class we have to pick three or four concerts to go to from a list and write essays about them. They all are live performances with people playing instruments that have been around for centuries.

The only thing I would complain about was when the conductor was announcing the name of the piece and stuff about it, I could barely hear him all the way from the back. And we were probably one of the youngest people there! Haha, but that's okay. It was educational all for education. Someday (when I retire) I'll get to go enjoy my Monday nights out at my favorite music club. But for now, I guess I gotta study. That makes me wonder...are these really supposed to be the best years of your life? Just a thought. I can't answer that quite yet, but I can tell ya....being out in college all on your own is pretty darn eye-opening!

Mi Ojos

I am getting old.

For roughly a year now, I have been squinting in my very first pair of glasses which I got during  junior year of high school. Then, I basically had the most mild prescription you could possibly have. However recently I knew it was time for a new prescription for new pair of glasses, maybe contacts...so I thought.

About two weeks ago at Costco I had an appointment to get my full eye exam. I went in knowing these three things:
1. I was probably going to be really uncomfortable when they would put my contacts in. However, I knew I needed them because I don't like wearing glasses all day. Also, my vision without anything has gotten to the point where it bugs me all day.
2. My prescription had gotten a lot worse and I would probably be squinting, laughing at how I wouldn't be able to read the letters on the board.
3. I couldn't wait to see clearly!

Laughed at myself for being blind *check*!
Could see (more than) clearly with the new prescription *check*!
Was really uncomfortable when the doctor put in my contacts for the first time *check check check check check check check check check*!!!!!!!


I almost can't even tell you how embarrassing that was. As soon as the doctor put in the first contact, then the second one I was nauseous, overheating, shaking, light-headed and my stomach felt like it was spinning. I JUST WANTED THE CONTACTS OUT. The doctor didn't want to take them out and make it worse, however we tried leaving them in and my anxiety was not getting any better....it was getting worse. I rushed outside the doctors office in front of the whole Costco store about 2 or 3 times. Him and the nurse were doing everything they could to not get me to faint when I was back in the room.  Eventually even though I wasn't better, I told him just to take them out. It was a "are you sure?" "no, but do it anyways" sort of thing. Afterwards he looked up what could've be wrong, it's called Vasovagal Syncope. It is basically the physical feelings of fight or flight you get from something feared (something touching my eye). Him and the other doctor said they have had a few out of many people they've examined have this occur. Apart from that, they also said I have astigmatism, ya know, like the old contact commercial with the two blonde twins.

I was informed to lay down for half an hour. During that time I told the doctor about my nightmare from a week before where I woke up blind. We both agreed we'd choose to be deaf over blind and that being able to see was a gift. The nurse offered me a ride home after I calmed down, but I said I'd be okay, home was only a couple mile away. I was treated so well by this office I highly recommend it if you need to get a new eye prescription! I received my eye glasses a week later on a rainy day. I was telling my friend Joseph "I can see clearly now, the rain is NOT gone". Haha. Oh...incase you didn't come to the conclusion from all I said already no, I will not be getting contacts anytime soon.

In the Midst of It All

Example A
Crazy hair don't care

Example B
Coffee please save me

Personally (if you couldn't tell by the shortage of blogs) I have been extremely busy. Keeping my motivation up is tiring because I know in order to achieve success there is something I need to or can do everyday to work towards it...more like every hour of the day. The easiest way that to stay on track is to keep a list in my phone. Anytime I'm done with something I put a a big red, emoji 'X' next to it. You'd be surprised at how good it feels to see the progress your making. There are days where I wake up in the morning ready to go knowing I will finish near everything that's on my list (Example A). There are also days where I struggle to open eyes in the morning, feeling like they're glued shut begging for more sleep (Example B). Those days are usually the ones where I get overwhelmed the night before after adding more things to my list. The key is to find something beautiful, mind-easing or exciting in every day. That is what keeps you sane and happy.

This has been the basics of my list for the past week or two
- New eye prescription appt.
- Israel trip planning
- Work
- Gym
- School and homework
- Searching for next year's lease
- Switching bank companies
- Keeping up with chores
- W2 form business
- Car maintenance
- Running errands

Some great things that have happened today in the midst of being busy busy
- Received my thank you points gift in the mail from my old credit card. I got myself a $100 gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond to get myself a tempurpedic pillow. (I've been wanting one for years) With the rest of the points I'm trying to figure out how to donate them to charity. I saw my cancer organization (Special Love) on there as an option ;)
- The weather is wonderful, I put the top down in my convertible after taking my second test of the week at school (which I feel confident about)
- I'm looking forward to and will be packing to visit my long-term friend at UCLA tomorrow after school. Then I will be seeing my family afterwards :)
 - I got to choose to photoshop a leaping pug and an adorable tortoise today in my 8 am, which you can imagine made me giggle even though I had a hard time waking up this morning.

I hope you all can find joy and comfort in every day! It is completely possible, even on the busiest of the busiest or the worst of worst days. Remember to always TREAT YOSELF!