This is the post I’ve been putting off (well, really I’ve been putting a lot of things off lately), it’s hard to talk about, and it’s not a fun topic that’s for sure. I’m sure some of you that have been following this blog are curious though and I know there are at least a few of you who really do care and I appreciate that. So while this isn’t something I feel like talking about, I’m posting it because I need your support and your prayers. And who knows, maybe one day this can serve as a story of encouragement for someone in a similar situation.

Two weeks ago, I had to have a colonoscopy and endoscopy, not something you ever want to do, especially a week before moving 7 hours away from your family for college. The doctor tells me I have Crohn’s disease. I knew they were going to find something wrong, because I’ve known something was wrong for a while, but it’s still very depressing to know that this is something I’ll have to deal with for the rest of my life and that pretty much right off the bat I’m on my own to deal with it because of leaving for school. It also makes this time of transition even more of one.

The meds I’m taking have the scariest possible side effects of anything I’ve ever taken. Thankfully, I’ve had no real problems so far and taking four horse pills with lunch and supper does get easier. Though figuring out the logistics for me, food, and meds to be in the same place at the same time can get difficult. They do seem to be helping though, so who knows, I could get lucky be blessed and be in remission for years.

It’s like staying in a hotel with a youth group for a convention, but without the whole pretending to be Christians deal. I’m like the quiet chaperon everyone ignores who just wants to take care of business.

• Not flushing.
• Leaving the cabinet doors open.
• Sitting a dishrag on the burner of the stove (whether it’s on or not, don’t do it!).
• Leaving a dirty pot on the stove so it gets nice and crusty.
• Missing the trash can and not noticing/caring.
• Leaving clean dishes on the counter instead of putting them up. For days!
• Not knowing how to use a paper towel holder.
• Having so many dish washing tools, yet feeling no obligation to wash your own dishes.
• Placemats on tablecloths.
• Not washing your hot pink wash cloth before using it, thereby creating a hot pink river in the shower. Good luck with your first load of laundry by the way.
• Not locking the door at night.
• Leaving the lights on when you leave.
• Going on and on about your own very minuscule problems without any consideration that the person right beside you may have a real problem.
• Going on and on about anything that translates as “me, me, me.”
• Using the largest plastic storage bowl ever to eat out of, then keeping said storage bowl in the too tiny fridge even though it’s only an 1/8 full.
• Getting the same take away meal that you already have left-overs of in the fridge and not throwing one out.
• Leaving a chair in the middle of the kitchen.
• Toilets without lids.
• Showers that are small to me (being 110lbs and 5′5″) when there is plenty of empty space that could have been used for a bigger one.

There’s probably plenty more to add.
Okay, so I’ve never had roommates before, but these are things people shouldn’t be careless with around their own family! Most of these items fall under inconsiderate or just plain weird. I mean, who knew there were actually people who didn’t wash their towels or wash cloths before they use them for the first time?

Real update coming soon (hopefully).

It’s been a long couple of weeks, and it’s not over yet. I had family in town, then I got sick, then I went down to St. Petersburg for orientation, and now more family in town.

I felt like orientation was pointless for the most part, other than just getting to see the school. I did learn a couple things though, like that I have to have four semesters of a foreign language to get my BA. Maybe everyone else in the world already knew this, but I didn’t. Who knew?

Don’t get me wrong, I love language. I love words. I love learning things. I listen to foreign language podcasts. I have my flickr account set on French most of the time (used to be Italian). I can fake enough Latin to fool you (assuming you’re not fluent in Latin). I can even count in Hawaiian—now that will be useful I’m sure. And I own a book on “Croatian Conversation.”

Yet, I have a problem.

Unfortunately, in high school I had Spanish (notice how that language wasn’t mentioned above), which for some reason was my only option at the time. It’s been over seven years since I had Spanish in high school and I struggled with it then; I know there’s no way I could survive Spanish III, I would have to start over completely. So since I have to start over anyway, I’ve decided to go with French. I’ve already been learning some from podcasts, and frankly, I’m more interested in it. While nearly half of south Florida speaks Spanish, I don’t plan on being in Florida forever so that doesn’t draw me in like it may others.

Do you know any foreign languages?

I’ve been stressing out a lot lately, as in more than usual. I’m just really worried about going off to school, getting an apartment, furniture, a job, that sort of stuff. I’ve lived away from home before, but there was always someone else who was responsible for the basic necessities, now I’ll be responsible for those things myself. Not to say I’ll be completely on my own though, I will have a roommate, which is some relief, and in the “pro” list of going to USF over UF.

My mom doesn’t want me to take my bedroom furniture, which at first I was upset about (even though I didn’t say anything), I mean it’s my furniture. Now that I think about it though, it’s best to leave my nice furniture here and not have to take the risk of it getting messed up. It’s the furniture that I want to have when I make a more permanent move, so I’ll get some other furniture to go with me over the next 2 years.

The 2 years is another thing that gets to me. 2 more years of school, I just feel old, and I feel like most people that for a 4 year degree are done by my age. It’s just another one of those things where 10 years ago I thought I would be at a completely different stage of life now. I think back just 3 years ago and remember telling a co-worker how I really just wanted to be a housewife and a mom. I still wouldn’t turn that life down, but I would do it with some freelance writing work on the side; I couldn’t give up writing.