Genetics

A couple things I've learned while shadowing a genetic counselor:
1.) My ideal 4 babies is too risky, there are waaayy too many birth defects out there
2.) For the love of God people, USE CONDOMS!

... more on that later...

everyone wants to be an aspiring something or other

Most of us lead normal lives. You know, raised in a stable family, excelled in high school, went on to get a higher education. All of this ultimately leads us to lack- luster careers in order to make the means to get by. Throw in some love and you find yourself settling down to raise a family (aka your parents lives on repeat). Don't get me wrong, despite how melancholic this sounds I look forward to each stage- I am a true advocate of appreciating life. But what if? What if you were an instrumental genius, or a genius in general, a world traveler with no responsiblities, or how about an aspiring model just trying to get by with a homemade portfolio? I think about this all the time. I'd be a genius hidden within theAlderman stacks, making discoveries and theories... very Beautiful Mind- like. Of course I'd have to sacrifice any social life, be completely disheveled, and have far too large glasses for my face. I think could rock the look. My second "self" would be (note the extremes) an aspiring model- kinda like Factory Girl. Living in NYC with no money and trying to find fame by a photo. This would probably entail lots of random sex and drugs (sorry for the stereotyping!)- so probably not the best lifestyle. But why would I wanna be these things? Well because average Sarah can be boring (I totally would not have the name 'Sarah' either). These lives are so completely different and out of my realm that they intrigue the eccentricity in me.

21 Reasons

In no particular order here are 21 reasons that I am thankful:
1. For my loving and crazy family 2. For God that gives me more than I deserve 3. For friends that make huge birthday cards of '21 reasons I love Sarah' (thanks Kelly!) 4. For friends back home that despite our distance, can pick up right where we left off when we are reunited 5. For an amazing University that I am so proud to be a part of 5. For health 6. For a small town hidden between the beautiful mountains 8. For nature 9. For the song 21 Questions- don't deny it, you know you love his hot voice 10. For McCormick Street signs! (name will not be disclosed) 11. For the most comfortable bed everrr- super crucial to my life 12. For opportunities to travel 13. For my Egyptian culture 14. For being able to tan easily- don't be jealous 15. For dancing and singing with my roomies at random hours of the day 16. For long and pointless drives 17. For many long heartfelt conversations 18. For fireplaces 19. For spontaneous adventures 20. For good food 21. For turning 21, knowing that I have more than 21 reasons to be thankful :)

The One Where I Began Blogging

As if Facebook isn't a distraction enough, I've decided to start blogging. Let's just hope there's no grade reflection. So why blog? Perhaps because it's the new fad to word vomit your emotions all over the internet or perhaps because of Facebook's slow demise? Not exactly. I've recently learned, especially through my Narrative Illness class this semester that people are stories. And growth as a human, as a living narrative, is contingent upon the expression of stories- those which you have personally experienced and those which you have experienced through the eyes of another. I'm not exactly sure of the logistics of this thing, nor do I know how well I'll keep up with it. If anyone caught on to my post title- it's in reference to F.R.I.E.N.D.S , a phenomenal show- def in the top 5. I did that because titling each episode so clearly defines what takes place in the laughter- filled 30 mins. As much as I'd like to do that for my blog, I really have no idea where it'll take me- I hope somewhere with new self- awareness and other such eye opening catharsis.

So today's "story"?"

It's about how subjective things can be. Like snow for example. In high school, I'd do every snow dance I knew just so I could get that satisfactory notice of school cancellation. Oh the days of a slow wake up to snowfall outside my window. Now that nothing will cancel class, much less finals, I despise the fact that snow inhibited my sister's visit to Hooville. We were going to go shopping, then to a cute undiscovered restaurant downtown, followed by coyly finding our way into a Hullabahoos concert. Snow, it's a love- hate relationship.