Spotify!

Recently I signed up for a 30 day trial of Spotify. For years I've always used Pandora and never even tried looking into other music services, but I am so happy I did. I love my spotify account, I use it every day and love creating my own playlists but then having the option of listening to a discovery radio. It's a little expensive at $9.99 per month but I think it will definitely be worth it since I use it so much. I use it when I'm riding my bike to school, driving to work and back, or where ever. I love that I can listen to any music without internet by downloading my playlists.
Not to mention, I love how easy it was to create a Taylor Swift only playlist and add all of her songs from albums, singles, and collaborations.

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs!

So to anyone who does view this blog, is more than welcome to follow my other blog  I currently run on Facebook.
I consider it my professional blog with all my school work or work experience with Marketing.

http://www.facebook.com/JuliannMarketing

Sign Language Vlogs

I've recently decided to start a Vlog solely consisting of my sign language interpretations of songs.
I recently re-performed a song I interpreted years ago at my Grandpa's funeral in memory of him, and I did this because a few years back when my Grandpa first saw me form an interpretation for God Bless the USA, he pulled me aside and asked me one thing, "will you learn how to interpret the lyrics to the song "You Light Up My Life" it's a beautiful song and I'd love to see you do it." Of course I could not say no, and that ended up being my final project for me ASL II course. Now I have decided to record myself interpreting various songs that either I or someone close to me likes. I'm not sure how long I will be doing this but I will start today and here is my recorded interpretation of "You Light Up My Life" dedicated to my Grandpa.

Typical Day

So today was a pretty typical "sick"  day.
Treatments all morning.
School.
Treatments all night.
Work with Alaric in the Shop.
More Treatments.

-Juliann "CFer"

Catch My Breath

Posting two blogs about song lyrics in a row is probably a little redundant but I couldn't help it.
The lyrics both have a figurative and literal meaning in my life.

"I've spent most of my time, Catching my breath"

Eyes Open

But now we've stepped into a cruel world
Where everybody stands and keeps score

Keep your eyes open

Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown
Everybody's watching to see the fallout
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping

Even though these lyrics were intended for a movie,

They're actually very true in real life.

Dedicated to my Grandpa

My Grandpa is a wonderful wonderful man.
When we lost my Grandma in 2005, we all knew it crushed him. At times, he wanted to leave and be with her. He told me several times that he's now so happy to be around and watch his family around grow up and live their lives. He's been so strong,  and hasn't had it easy to say the least health wise. Everyone who knows him just adores him and at a time like this it really shows how many people love him. We all know the end is coming soon and just hope he's happy and enjoying his last moments in life with us surrounded by the ones he loves.

I love my Grandpa Yungkans, he's my hero.

2013 Valentines Day

So as  the sixth year of being each others valentine (Alaric and I knew each other before we started dating, and even though we weren't dating he always asked me on Valentines Day to be his Valentine) we were very excited to spend it together. Valentines Day has never been an extravagant holiday for us, since our anniversary is shortly after, but we always try to do something for each other. This year Alaric surprised me early and got me this amazing Canon S110 Camera.

I'm absolutely in love with it and use it all the time.


On Valentines Day I wasn't expecting much since the camera alone was more extravagant than we normally get on Vday. However, he never failed to please me with a dozen beautiful red roses waiting for me in our room when I got home from work that day. There was a little card sitting next to it, and even though cards may be cheesy at times, it was perfect in every way. I absolutely love getting cards/notes/letters from him. 

For our Valentines Day dinner we took an adventure together and tried something new. We tried making this romantic dinner for both of us together, Beef Wellington. Even though it didn't come out as we expected, the experience and night will be something I remember for a very very long time. We had so much fun cooking and baking together, and dancing around in the kitchen. I had the time of my life doing something so mediocre, but with someone absolutely amazing.

I never know what the "rules" are on what a girl should do for her guy on Valentines Day but I just threw the idea of what girls are supposed to do out the window. I'm not the best at being creative and creating cute things. I am good at getting an idea in my head and just going for it and seeing how it comes out. I made him a little "Reeses" bouquet and I got him some phone cases he's been looking into getting for awhile now. He seemed really happy and smiled a lot when he saw it so that was definitely worth it for me.

The Big Move

So Alaric and I have been discussing him and I moving in together for awhile now. Although my first thoughts are always elated and happy, I made sure to think through this decision this time. No relationship is ever perfect, or even near perfect...but in an odd oxymoron kind of way I believe our relationship is very near perfect. What more could you ask for from a relationship than one that is forgiving, kind, loyal, and amazing. He's the sweetest man I've ever met. Our relationship has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, we've been through so much together...and have grown up together. I've seen myself mature more, and I've seen him mature more and it's an amazing feeling knowing that while I'm still learning and still making mistakes I still have someone by my side who will always forgive my mistakes and care for me. We've both heard it from others "you're too young, go out and date". My first thought to that is...why? I've already found someone who makes me feel incredible, who makes me strive to be a better person. I guess all I have to say to myself now is I know I am ready, and we are ready because we can go through what we've been through and still look at each other like it's the very first time we met...like that very first date where he left me giggly and smiling ear to ear. Obviously there is a whole lot more to that like we've both grown up so much and learned so much, and we've both learned not to take what you have for granted. I've learned that while that one tiny thing we're fighting about might seem like the biggest thing ever, and is worth all the fighting at the time...it never is...ever. I can't wait to start my life with him, and I think an entire chapter is about to start in my life and for our relationship and I'm ready to dive in and make the best of it.

CF

So it's about time I talk about CF in my blog. After all it's the biggest distraction in my life. I have Cystic Fibrosis, and although I hate it, I try to have a positive outlook about it. Before, I never thought of it as being a huge part of my life, it was just something I had, something that made me different. But as I get older I start to see the differences between my life and others because I have it. Not only the typical differences like I take more medicine, or I do more treatments. Other differences too, like stressing about health insurance and how I am going to take care of myself once I leave my parents. They've done an amazing job at supporting my sister and I through this. Every time I think of my future I feel like there's a huge wall in the way that I have to figure out how to climb over it, a huge wall named CF. I think it's also become more clear to me how much it's affected my life because it seems to be getting worse. I've been doing a lot to hold on to my health as much as possible, or in CF terms, my PFT scores. They've been dwindling down lately, and even though they've increased since my last hospital visit they still aren't as good as I'd like them to be. I go back and forth on whether I actually feel like I'm getting sick again, it's something I try to just avoid thinking about. My last hospital visit was treacherous, I hated every minute of it. I hated every minute after being released and having to deal with a PICC line at home. And although I had so much support from my loved ones, I never want to go through that again, ever. I feel like I've turned a new leaf, and for once, I promise to always put my health before school, before work, before anything, because being sick affects everything in my life. 

Goals.

Lately I've been making a lot of goals for myself personally, financial goals, and relationship goals. I'm working on achieving these goals in order to make my life better. Personally and mentally I need to learn to stop punishing myself for my mistakes and imperfections.Financially, I need to make sure not to waste money on going out to eat, it's just a waste, and I can spend that money on something special. Alaric and I have our own set of relationship goals to strengthen our relationship. We have been doing so well, I never knew love could be this strong. This part of my life is focused on my goals.

Off topic, but Alaric's birthday is coming up and I cannot wait. I can't wait to see his face when he opens his gifts, and I can't wait to just celebrate it with him with the people we love the most. I think I'm more excited than he is. It'll be a good time. :)

A fun Wednesday afternoon with the boyfriend.

Yesterday was a rather fun day. I had a busy day with school but I got out of my last class a little early and ended up meeting Alaric at the park for a fun afternoon of taking photos together. We got some really good ones. He is such an amazing part of my life, I have no idea what I'd do without him. I was surprised that after his extra long day he was feeling up to taking photos in the park but he was all for it and he did such a great job. There are definitely some perks to having a boyfriend who is into photography. I'm really lucky to have him in my life. He makes me smile all the time, and he's so considerate.

 

First Day!

Today is the first day of my sixth semester at ASU. I'm finishing up my junior year and couldn't say I'd be any prouder of myself than where I am now. Sure, I've struggled through some tough courses but who doesn't? I'm glad that I'm content in my current internship at H&R Block and I think it will help me in the long run to get a better position when I graduate. I'm hoping to do super well in my Business Statistics class this semester. Finishing this upcoming 18 credit hour semester with no less than excellent grades is on the top of my priority list for these upcoming months.  

Last night, Alaric and I printed out our major maps and highlighted our completed courses and hung them up on the wall. It was a nice way to motivate ourselves for this upcoming semester. 

Look's like I still have a lot of work to do.