New Diet, New Perspective

Living gluten-free and lactose-free is extremely difficult.

It means saying no to bread. To english muffins. To donuts. Muffins. Cookies. Pasta. Cheese. Milk. Anything made with wheat. Anything made with milk chocolate. It's rough.

But I feel amazing. :) Changing my diet was a burden at first, but a necessity, and now I feel wonderful---full of energy, happy, healthy. David helped me change my negative mental attitude of "I can't have..." to "I can try something new" and my family has been so incredibly supportive: exploring new recipes, ingredients, and helping me find snack options for college.

Living gluten-free and lactose-free has become an adventure, and I love it. I feel good being able to walk by sugar cookies, pancakes, and pasta dishes without having a pity-party for myself. Instead, I have a new perspective on healthy eating...and it's a lot of fun. Especially when your mom helps you make gluten-free lactose-free pizza. :)

I love Ellen!

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2iq83h/www.upworthy.com/most-celebrities-promote-products-they-like-ellen-degeneres-is-not-most-celebrit?c=ufb1/

I have problems

Hello. My name is Rachel. I have problems.

After visiting the doctor several times regarding my gastrointestinal issues, I was finally diagnosed as being lactose intolerant AS WELL AS having an allergy to gluten and needing to switch to a gluten-free lifestyle. It is incredibly frustrating. No pasta. No dairy. No cheese. No bread. But it is what it is...moving on to problem #2!

My eyes are annoying. For the past couple weeks they'll love my contacts one day and then practically scream at me to get them out the next day. I noticed a couple days ago my left eye was really red and it hurt a lot, and the skin around my eye was sensitive. So I went to Health Services today (I think I'm their most regular customer :P) and they told me I have some sort of infection that starts with an 'L' and has a really long name. Long story short, I have new eye drops and I have to take an antibiotic for the next couple of days.

PROBLEM #3. Walking to one of my classes today, I had to walk up stairs. Well THAT didn't happen...I fell up the stairs. And not like carpeted stairs. Outside stone stairs. I bruised my knee, hit my head, scraped my arm, and bloodied up the side of my hand. Lovely.

I have issues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMW6wYmRKjo

Go to 6:04. Pause it. See that guy all the way to the right who's glancing at the other trumpet players? THAT'S MY BOYFRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all.

Judgement on Literature

I'm reading "Angels & Demons" right now, the popular book by Dan Brown. So far I'm loving the story, really intriguing and suspenseful. And one passage I just read really caught my attention.

One of the main characters, Vittoria, just asked Langdon (a professor of art history) if he believes in God. He responds that he WANTS to believe but sometimes it's hard to take leaps of faith and keep everything straight with the Bible, the Koran, Buddhist scripture...

Vittoria replies: "Mr. Langdon, I did not ask if you believe what man says about God. I asked if you believed in God. There is a difference. Holy scripture is stories...legends and history of man's quest to understand his own need for meaning. I am not asking you to pass judgement on literature. I am asking if you believe in God. When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine? Do you feel in your gut that you are staring up at the work of God's hand?"

LOVE. THIS.

Personally, I struggle sometimes with accepting EVERYTHING in the Bible. And why sometimes we acknowledge it's okay not to follow certain rules anymore, but other rules are still steadfast and concrete. That confuses me. And then I feel guilty...like I'm not firm/steady in my faith. But I believe. I believe in God. I talk to God. I trust Him. I'm upset with Him sometimes. But I love Him and I know He's there for me. :)

Sucky Day

Well today wasn't so great...

Classes were fine....love my professors, excited for the classes...

HOWEVER. Got the news that I don't even have the interview for the secretary position tomorrow because they reviewed the hours I'd be able to work around my classes and I'd only get in four hours a week, so I can't work there...blegh. I was really excited about it.

And I've been sick since being back...last semester I had weird stomach problems and migraines and throwing up a lot and over break we thought we figured it out, that I had developed a lactose intolerance. So  at home I cut dairy out of my diet and started getting Lactaid milk and I have pills that help me digest lactose better when I can't avoid eating it (like at restaurants or at David's for dinner). I stopped getting sick frequently too...like there were a few times, but it was definitely less and not a daily thing.

Well ever since I've been back at school I've had SOME sort of stomach issue after every meal I eat. Usually it's not major and I just take medicine and it eventually subsides but tonight it SUCKED. I felt really bad right after eating dinner and then I had a three hour class and felt sick the entire time...now I'm back in my room and it's less but I'm still very blegh and very annoyed about it.

Gonna try to get an appointment tomorrow to figure out what the heck is wrong with my body and why I get sick every time I eat...

Back to School!

After a very wonderful 6 week winter break, I'm back at Millersville for Spring semester!

I was kind of iffy about coming back at first...my break was awesome and I wouldn't mind another week where I get to spend every day with my boyfriend. BUT. Once I was back in my room and saw all my friends again, I was so happy to be back. It's funny, cause it feels like almost no time has passed since the last time I was here...everything just falls back into routine.

I'm really excited for my new classes too. Yesterday went well, I only had two classes and they were both pretty easy. Today's my hectic day, four classes...with my last class being from 6-9PM. FUN. It's a Philosophy in Film course...so hopefully we just watch a lot of movies for those three hours, haha. :)

Oh! And I already had a job interview on campus tomorrow for a secretary position! I hope I get it...it'd be so much better than working for dining services and I'd make at least $70 a week which would be FANTASTIC.

Well, that's it for my little update. TTFN! Ta ta for now!