The Fault in Our Stars

I finished the Fault in Our Stars and I'm still consumed by the thoughts this novel provokes and the characters. This book is hands down, by far, my absolute favourite book. John Green, I'm your number one fan.

Plot: Hazel Grace has cancer. She has a very realistic/pessimistic about the world and all it beholds for the future. And at a support group with other teenagers with cancer, here comes the beloved Augustus Waters, dreamy made up man who will charm your pants off. They meet, fall in love, and take the reader on a journey of epic proportions that will change the way you think and feel about things, laugh and cry.

While indulging myself in the dessert of literature, I laughed several times and cried on three occassions. Yes, I blubbered like a baby not once or twice, but three times. Mind you, I so not cry easily so this is a brilliant capability of the authour John Green.

And that is exactly how I would describe this book: brilliant, gold weaved onto 313 pages, phenomonal. I've run out of synonoms.

Alas, there are not enough good things to say about this book. The way Mr. Green is able to make you think and value your own life and the time you have left and think about your infinite days and how small that infinite may be. My hat is off to you John Green.

School, Work and Other Lullabys

School has been boring, long and occasionally (99% of the time) painful to sit through.

However, it seems to be the only thing I can ever think about. You smell that? It's the aroma of pathetic nerd wafting through the air.

Mainly, I have been foccussing on what I want to do after high school. I've got it narrowed down to two things: living in Ireland, and somewhere in the realms of medicine. As of late, I have discovered a career that got me thinking: Nuclear Medicine Technologist.

I mean, who doesn't  want to be exposed to potentially fatal chemicals? Normal people usually, but that doesn't include me. Clearly.

I have really been interested in emergency medicine, something about being the one to clean up vomit of the paitient with a raging disease in a gown someone died in yesterday somehow appeals to me. Does this make me insane? Yes, yes it does.

Although, something about the nuclear medicine truly appeals to me and my interests. Whenever someone hurts themselves I am always the one to rush in, but I'm not sure if diagnostics in nursing truly is something I can, or even want, to do.

So, I guess I'll take the nuclear bomb.

High School: Friends, Memories and Emotional Scars

Two weeks ago I started grade 10; high school. I was super excited for it! We all make mistakes in life. Three more years of this? Yay.

Even in the highest level cirriculum classes, I don't feel like it. Why? Worksheets on bananas handed out in class; the banana wars. Potassium starts a real riot.

And why is it that teachers think you can go to the bathroom, talk to friends, get your books, get a drink, slay a dragon and make it to class in a period of five minutes?

Alas, even in high school we play musical chairs. Well, "Cell Musical Chairs" with no chairs...

And as a bonus, colouring sheets!! I can't even stay inside the lines... That takes talent!

Even through suffering through painful rounds of musical chairs, agonizing classes and rising early, there is some insane part of me that actually likes school. Take me away officier, I cause havoc amongst all underachievers.

She Works Hard For The Money

I work. The part about working hard is subjective.

I would much rather work in a hospital with terminally ill people in a gown someone died in yesterday, who knows why, but I would. But what do I really do?

I have a very mindless job. I endure terrible music, grueling nine hour shifts and bananas at every turn. I work at No Frills.

There are some sketchy people whom attain very questionable items. A cart full of pop, toilet paper and dishsoap? Typical grocery store adventure. Not to mention we sell very weird things. Quail eggs anybody?

Some customers ask for some weird stuff that I've never heard in all my years of existence. Such as canned gravy. No thanks. They also think that while I have a box that weighs 5470 pounds on my shoulder its a good time for me to get something for them.

And the name No Frills enatils we don't carry extra random junk. Some man came in and asked for staples, "No, no sir. That is a frill."

But hitting my coworker with my cart is always the highlight.

Paranoia via Stephen King

Reading Stephen King books and watching movies based on his books has ruined a lot of things for me. These things will never be the same.

When someone's shadow is at the bottom of my door, I get terrified. In fact, during a thunder storm my door crept open and my first, and totally sane, thought was "IT'S ANNIE WIKLES AND HER NOVRIL AHHH!" Alas, it was my cat. Paul Sheldon was very well done in the film Misery, I'm his number one fan.

Hotels. The Shining and 1408 have made hotels a nightmare. In isolation or not, I just won't travel. Espically if dead kids want to play with me.

Proms and other dances. I slow danced with my friend once...we all have regrets. If Carrie White did kill everyone who attended, at least the embarrasment and terror of not knowing how to dance would end.

Clowns. I don't know why people think clowns are funny, Pennywise will definately not be hired for my fictious futuristic childs birthday. It'll smuther me with the red wig as I die to the sound of a honking nose.

As much as Stephen King has the power to send me chills, it also has the power to entertain me for hours on end. Soiled pants or not, the paranoia is worth it.

Voice Control Is Deaf

I hate it.

"Play 'Alternative.'"
"It is 11:09 PM."

"Play Breaking Benjamin."
"Playing Iron Maiden."

"Play State of Massachusetts."
"Playing Brad Paisley."

"Play Unknown Soldier."
"Playing album Strong Tower."

"Play Loyal To No One."
"Playing Fountains of Wayne."

"Play Metallica."
"You must enable FaceTime before you can make video calls."

Good job Apple.

Interior Decorating

We are building a new house and should move into it in the next couple weeks or so. I'm not one to pay attention to detail, you could see that if you saw my hair, but I have a plan. A Master Plan.

1. Posters. Perferably, band posters, the Hunger Games and maybe a movie poster from the movie Misery because I'm the movie's number one fan. I have three in mind. Dropkick Murphys, Metallica and Breaking Benjamin.

2. Books. I have a small collection of books but as a nerd, I will expand. I want a few, well five, Stephen King books for my birthday. I'm looking at you mom. Well, your wallet mostly.

3. Quiet frankly, I don't have a third. Nothing more to life than that. For a hermit nerd.

Driving Part 2

I went driving again tonight. No heart attacks, so I guess that means it was a success.

Driving on the gravel road and the highway actually went very well. Would you look at that; there's something I can actually do correctly.

There was a huge hole in the road I went into by accident, though I didn't see it. What's another dent right? Traffic court isn't that far.

Parking. I did a lot better than I thought I would. My mother wanted me to back up in between two parked campers and I responded with: "No way. People own those things and are going to need really good insurance." I did it anyways. I almost ran into a fence one time...but that's beside the point.

And now I am aware of how my windshield washers function. I turned it on by accident and I didn't realize how to stop it. So I sat there with them going for a few minutes. Nobody saw. Hopefully.

Christianity

If you did not already know, I am christian. I believe in God and trust and love Him with everything I have, everything I am.

I grew up in a household, always believing in a god. I am not sure why. I occasionally attended a catholic church and even though I believed in God, I knew something was amiss within the catholic faith.

It was after my father's death that I befriended a christian who took me to church and that is where I heard the Gospel message.

I asked God for salavation, yet for years I always felt a heaviness in my chest. I did not know what from.

Now, years later and many trials have passed and still lay ahead of me. With God as my savoiur and Lord, I know I am not alone and I love Him and He is with me and He will draw me neigh. Even now, as I pray and change my life around, I know He is near me and that the love he has for me is everlasting and divine and great in multitude.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see!"

The love I have from God is amazing and I have turned over my life to Him! <3

Revelation 3:20 "Hear I am! I stand at the door and knock and if any man hear my voice, I will come in and eat with him and he with me." God is knocking at the door and it is our choice to answer and welcome Him in our lives with open arms.

Driving With My Mother

We all make mistakes.

Driving with my mother...not the most pleasant experience. I've driven before, however they weren't insane.

The first time driving in my car was good. Until I needed to turn, stop, signal, accelerate or reverse. Why did we get rid of the horse and carriage? Carrots are a lot cheaper than gas.

Speaking of gas, my mother used half a tank before I even got behind the wheel. At $42 a tank, I think my car will make a phenomonal garage ornament.

I turn sharply very nicely. The issue with that is I turn sharply when I don't need to. As if glasses for 12 years wasn't enough, soon I'll need hearing aids too. I think I made my mothers blood pressure spike more than salt ever could.

And the last thing I need to work on is stopping without giving myself whiplash.

I'm not a bad driver, but I think I will slip my mom a few drinks prior to driving next time. Now, off to read Stephen King. Much less terrifying than driving with her.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Cars. Overrated things that move. Can't we just ride snails or horses or something?

Sigh, anyways I got a car recently and it's not all what it's cracked up to be.

For another 10 months, I can't drive alone. So now I have to drive with my mother everywhere and go deaf from her agonizing screaming. I know I needed to stop, I was just seeing if you knew.

I'm vertically challenged, so naturally I can't see very far over the hood without becoming a human sardine.

Cleaning. Oh my gosh, the pain of cleaning. I actually work cleaning and janitorial assistance so it's not that bad. I've found condoms, knifes, phones and lighters at work. In my car, well so far only a pen, hair and an arabic CD roaming around somewhere. Febreeze is my best friend.

Smells, it smells like smoke so badly in there. So now I have a air freshener of the new car scent which smells equally horrendous.

And lastly, being mocked because I didn't know what a fender was. You know who you are.

Stephen King and Other Things That Make Me Crap Myself

Stephen King is great. But not in the middle of the night, in the dark, alone, in a new pair of underwear.

Many other things have scared me out of my wits more than these horror books and movies, such as:

When your siblings leave, and then return. Terrifying.

When the teacher walks through the door.

Your parents begin a story of, "When I was your age..." I mean come on, your parents as a teenager actually having a life? Petrifying.

Things I Regret Saying

Yeah, the title pretty much speaks for itself. I was stupid. Excuse me, that was incorrect, I am stupid.

"Getting your ears pierced kind of feels like dying."

"Your bathing suit doesn't make you look fat, your fat makes you look fat."

"Oh look, you have friends."

"Let's watch a horror movie."

"No, it's not that dark, I'll walk home alone."

"I can watch this PG13 movie, I'm twelve. Oh yeah, I'm cool."

Psycho Photographers

I have a couple things about pictures girls take I don't understand. Why are scientists researching evolution and dinosaurs when they could be researching the brains of a species I like to classify as - females.

As a fellow female, I never understood this or related to these girls. Thank goodness. I'm scared of what would happen if I did. Goosebumps.

Number one, why do girls almost never smile in pictures? Is everyone with XX chromosones depressed?

Not having their full face in the picture....got raging warts on the other half?

Duckface. Enough said.

Wrinkling of the forehead. You see, old people hand over wads of cash for botox, surgery and creams to get rid of the wrinkly landscape engraved on their face. And these 13 year olds want wrinkles? Be my guest, you can have all mine.

When girls post lyrics above their photos. Most of the time, its some stupid lyrics from Gotye, other times it is totally unrelated. For example, a picture of a slut with her boobs up to her neck and the caption is "You don't know me, you know my story <3" Let me guess, your story involves a plastic surgeon?

Eyes to the side. I don't get why girls do this, at all. I don't want to. Quite frankly, I'm scared of knowing.

And lastly, when girls are sluts and push their AA's together and photoshop them to make them FF's. Those are huge melons...do your arms naturally curve in like that?

Music

I love music. I (could) play the trumpet, drum (the massive one that weighs a ton, the one the dork always has in marching bands) and the recorder. I wish I could play the drums and be part of a band, but you need talent for that, and I possess none. So I listen to rock music instead.

Dropkick Murphys is one of my favourite bands of all time (I can't just have one) and it isn't a very well known band, in my region of course. It has the most difficult sound to describe. Like, irish/scottish rock. Loyal To No One and State of Massachusetts are my favourite songs from the band. Love it to no end.

Breaking Benjamin is thee best band ever (in my bias opinion, of course.) The lead singer Benjamin Burnley has expierenced so much and he incorporates this agony into his dark rock music that I know almost every word to. The song Until The End literally changed my life.

Three Days Grace, love 'em. They are typically about broken hearts, losing all emotions and sense of caring, hatred and pain. I just love every song.

And lastly, we have Metallica. Epicness beyond comprehendable epicness. The Unforgiven 1, 2 and 3 are some of my favourite songs and I love them. The guitar is pure awesomeness from the gods of rock.

Favourite Books

As a nerd, I enjoy reading a lot. I mean A LOT. At one time, I had probably sixty books in my possession. Now, my collection is growing from "No more books? What will I do with my life!" to "Where am I going to put all these..." Yeah, I'm the person who can drop a wad of cash for paper and ink.

This list, is my favourite books of all time.

1. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
PHENOMONAL read. I have read it about four times and purchased it twice, my first copy was destroyed. The plot is so in depth and well thought out, the characters are relatable in emotions and the love of a sister is admirable. This book is what got me intrigued in cancer and what drove me to raise money and shave my hair for cancer and got my career interest headed toward healthcare. Loved every word.

2. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver
I have read this book three times over and every time it has grasped my attention and held me in chains until I was done. The main character Samantha is a typical high school student, and I adored her transformation as the book progressed. I always recommend this book to people.

3. The Outsiders - S.E Hinton
Perfection. Short read, however it is absolutely amazing. I loved it so much. Even though it was published in the 60's, the social aspects still exist and is so relateable. A must read.

4. A Stolen Life - Jaycee Lee Dugard.
This is a true story of kidnap and rape. I would not recommend this book to someone much younger than eighteen. There are details of her ordeal and to some, espically those with a weak stomach, are sickening and some are horrified and scared while reading this book. Nonetheless, I loved it. Her ordeal was very eye opening and her reuniting with her family at the end always inspires me and gives me hope. Good read, but beware of some of the contents.

5. Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer
The ultimate dystopian. The world is ending and everything is changing. It has a well thought out plot and the ideas of the main character are relatable as a fellow teenager and I loved it so much. I think this is the book I have read the most times over. The destruction that occurs are plausable which I find is the most terrifying and intriguing.

Honorable Mentions:

The Maze Runner - James Dashner
The book is a little hard to get into at first, but once it gets going, you can not stop reading.

The Shining and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon - Stephen King
I have not finished reading the two, however they are tremendous.