Hiatus Ends!

This has by far been the longest hiatus I've had from blogging.  Partly because my laptop charger decided to not cooperate and partly because everything's been super busy to write here.  Needless to say, I'm freakishly stoked to share stuff that's occurred since I lost blogged! I will do those through pictures and words! My best friend graduated from college! She teased me after graduating a semester early saying that I was abandoning her and so it was so exciting to see her graduate through live-stream! Next up, Med School! So proud of you Deidra!

Took this selfie with Oprah at a Starbucks inside Target! #NBD ;)

I turned 22! I had made it a goal for myself to go to Forever 21 on my birthday eve, like later in the evening, and purchasing something from Forever 21 because it would be symbolic about always somehow being Forever 21. Mickey liked my idea and so we went and I purchased a necklace!

 My birthday celebration started as soon as I got off from work on my birthday eve.  Deidra and Mickey surprised me at the chapel (work), Forever 21 purchase was made and then we headed to PF Changs! YUM.  We stuffed our faces then went to Mickey's house and sang karaoke! I spent the night at Deidra's and proceeded to celebrate on my birthday day! We went to Olive Garden and went bowling! It was an enjoyable weekend and I'm enjoying being 22, so far so good. :)

 Mickey and I went mini-golfing for the first time together! We've been separately but in the two years we've been together, we'd never gone and so we, of course, had to change that.

He beat my score by four points…
For the record, I totally let him win…
;)
I got a few holes-in-one! Woohoo!

I've been spending time with my favorite puppy! Although Buddy's now 28! He's finally older than us! He got a haircut earlier this summer and it's starting to grow out! This little guy is so adorable!

Last, but certainly not least, I've moved to a different schedule! This was my dream since I started interning as a Lifestyle & Entertainment Intern and I'm so excited that I'm lucky enough to start this coming week! I've been trained as a fill-in editor and I'll be continuing being a Production Assistant! I love the morning show because there's so much to learn and it's in constant motion! I'm so excited to continue my journey at FOX. It's crazy to believe I've been working there for about six months now! Where does the time go? 

There are a few things that are missing but I will be sure to keep y'all updated more frequently! 

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! 

My Mamasita's Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MOMMY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! AND MANY MOREEEE!!!

ESTAS SON LAS MANANITAS QUE CANTABA EL REY DAVID, HOY POR SER DIA DE TU SANTO TE LAS CANTAMOS A TI! DESPIERTA MAMI DESPIERTA MIRA QUE YA AMANECIO, YA LOS PAJARITOS CANTAN LA LUNA YA SE METIO!

Happy Birthday Mama! 

I love you and miss you so much baby! I hope you're doing well and having fun! I hope you're having some watermelon, some amazing tacos maybe even some shrimp! I'll get some kind of seafood today for you baby! Also, as you may know, I've been listening to the Neil Diamond station on Pandora and his CD in the car! Also, I hope you liked Mickey and I cleaning the car inside and out! 

He looks good and smells good!

I know it took me forever to do it but I finally recorded "My Heart Will Go On" like you had asked me to.  I will improve it some more and record it properly but I thought I could do something small and meaningful for you on your birthday. 

As you know, this time last year I was going to apply for graduation! Here I am a year later, a first generation college graduate, working at the chapel (for three years) and working as a Production Assistant (for about three months)! I've been on the cover of a local magazine and been on television more than once! I hope everything's that has happened has made you happy baby, I wish I could share in all these exciting times with you but I know you're telling everybody up there about this and our lives. 

I hope you've been enjoying Mama Mondays! People really seem to like them and I've been having a blast sharing everything you've taught me. 

I love you mama and I miss you tremendously but I love knowing that you're spending your birthday with your mamasita.  Say hi to everybody for me! Oh and to any famous people up there! 

Thank you for watching over me and taking care of me.  I will be okay today.  After work at the chapel, Mickey and I will celebrate your birthday! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! I LOVE YOU!

This song will always remind me of you. 

Love, 

your very lucky daughter,

Amy

Recapping in 3, 2, 1!

Since my last post, things have been moving in fast forward.  Seriously.  Here's a recap! 

TIME BETWEEN GRADUATION AND CHRISTMAS EVE! 

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I finished my internship at FOX and it was amazing! I learned so much and had a blast.  I cried in the parking lot because I realized how much I had grown in that TV station.  It was pretty cheesy but after seven months you get attached. You know?

I was able to say goodbye on air and it was wonderful! It was pretty freaking awesome that I wasn't nervous talking on camera in a real TV station.  It was fantastic!

CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY! 

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 On Christmas Eve, Mickey had a seizure.  Ten days later he had another one.  He is now taking medication and has a neurologist (who apparently is super attractive based on everybody's opinion except mine) but he's the best of the best and so I like him! :) Mickey is doing better and we're waiting to hear back from his EEG to see exactly what caused these seizures.  Getting those calls he was being rushed to the hospital was seriously one of the worst feelings I've ever felt and I thank God for taking care of my Mickey.  He's such a trooper and he's doing amazing.  :)

We spent Christmas Eve and about 3/4 of Christmas Day at the hospital but we still had fun! He's a keeper,  I know.  :)

NEW YEARS! 

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We had a blast! We went to a restaurant, watch When Harry Met Sally (annual tradition) and watched fireworks! It was wonderful! Oh and also had a little photoshoot with Mickey's camera, (also an annual tradition).  Two days later Mickey had his second seizure—making it epilepsy.  That hospital visit was shorter.  He went to the neurologist, then got an MRI done (good results), and then got the EEG.  He's been on medication for about a month now and is doing fantastic (as mentioned above). 

EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S HAPPENED IN 2014! 

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Mickey has been gone on a couple of interviews and they've gone great but it's a long process.  This was right before the second one! He is so handsome!! :) Oh and we got haircuts before our interviews!

Yours truly landed a job at FOX!!! My first television home! :) I went on the interview on the monday that classes started back! It was weird not going to school! I got the call a couple days later saying I got the job! I have been working there since January 15, 2014 and it's been great! I'm a Production Assistant! People remembered me! It was great being back 22 days after my internship ended! I have a locker, a box, a badge, a code to get in the building-the real deal y'all! It's pretty cool! 

This is what I get to see most of my days: 

Other things: Mickey and I finally went to the zoo! We're looking at shooting tv-related things and have enjoyed watching Breaking Bad, What Not to Wear and Orange is the New Black on Netflix! We are enjoying this whole college grad thing.  I could get used to it! 

The First Time I Talked on {LIVE} TV

So some of y'all know of my wonderful career aspirations and how TV practicum this past spring really opened my eyes to it.  As you know, I interned with FOX over the summer as a news intern and recently left.  What I haven't shared with y'all is what has happened next.

I finished my news internship with FOX on August 28.
I had an interview with FOX on August 29 for a different internship and left that day with another internship with FOX! I know, they just couldn't get rid of me!

So, since September 5th, I've been one of the Entertainment and Lifestyle Interns at FOX! I've been going Tuesday-Friday for about 20 hours total! I know! It was the internship I'd been wanting for a while and I'm so blessed and grateful to have it!

Another thing I haven't shared is that my schedule had become very overwhelming.
I had three jobs, about to start a new internship and taking 16 hours.
About two weeks ago, I decided to give my two weeks at David's Bridal.  This was something very difficult for me because I've never been at a job less than 6 months and I felt a bit like a failure.  After much thinking, I realized that I was under so much stress I wasn't enjoying life.  Granted, I'm under stress now, but I love waking up in the morning, even if it is at 5am to go FOX.  I had gotten to the point where I was so swamped with everything I was enjoying anything.  I realized, I needed to step back from something.  I wanted to "focus on my career", which I felt sounded very weird of me to say but that's the truth.  I was veering away from my chosen career path and I didn't like it.  Today is my last day at David's Bridal and I have to say, I learned so much in my two months of being there.  I had wonderful experiences and helped my cousin pick out her wedding gown.  I learned how to use a cash register, how to properly hang wedding gowns, how to be a wedding consultant, how to help bridesmaids out and most of all, how to communicate with all kinds of people.   I don't see this as a bad thing anymore because I know I need to focus on my job as a student, as an intern at FOX, as an Entertainment Director at my university's TV station and as the Assistant Wedding Coordinator at my chapel.  Seriously, when did it become reasonable and okay to use the phrase "focus on my career".  I'm growing up.  Yikes!

So, since that decision my brain has been on TV mode and let me tell you, it's AWESOME.
The internship is absolutely amazing and I'm so freakishly happy to be there.

One more thing, did I mention I was on TV this past Thursday, September 12, 2013 at approximately 9:10am? I was! I talked and everything! The anchors wanted to get a perspective from a younger person on a certain topic (parents going on interviews with their 20-something "child"). I gave a young adult perspective and basically said that was whack.

This was technically my third appearance on TV ever and it was awesome.

1. March 24?, 2008: Good Morning America with my high school orchestra
2. July 2013 FOX lifestyle show dancing during the credits
3. This appearance.  

I have to say, it was a moment I will ALWAYS remember and I still can't believe it happened.
It was also very last minute.  So for those of you starting to get upset because I didn't tell you, sorry, there was no time.  Next time, I will tell me people, no worries! :)

So there you have it.  Things are a changing and I can't wait.

You'll Love David's Bridal

Guess who has a second job again.

Yup.

This girl. 

The last second job I had was with Cracker Barrel as a server. 

Yikes. 

It lasted six months but I had to quit because school was getting crazy.

Now, here I am again. 

I have to say, I think I'm gonna like this second job much better than the last. 

I learned SO MUCH from being a server.

Stuff that I'll keep with me forever but I feel I needed a new experience. 

I applied to David's Bridal a while back and got called for a group interview.

It was uncharted territory for me. 

By the end of the group interview, I had made people laugh and I was happy with that. :)

I was ecstatic to be called back for the second round of interviews.

This time they were to be with the manager of the store.

They got overbooked and we had to do group interviews again. 

I was a pro by this time. 

Haha. I kid. 

They went very well. I told them about my OCD-ness.  

My immense love for my New York Public Library Student Planner and Post-Its.

 They laughed.  Haha. 

Sometime in between the second interview and the third interview 

they said they would call our references.

My boss at my chapel, Saundra, was one of them.
She's been so supportive, especially as super busy wedding season has slowed down.  

The last round of interviews was to be conducted over the phone with the head honcho in the area. 

I was surprised by how short the interview was.  

I was called and told the wonderful news on the 11th.  

It was awesome! 

I have never received a phone call telling me I got a job.  

It was such a new experience. 

I went in the next day to fill out paperwork. 

Linda, the manager, concluded with shaking my hand and saying:

"Welcome to David's Bridal"

How cool! :)

So what will I be doing you ask?

Oh, you know, only helping brides pick out the most important dress of their lives! 

You can call me Amy, the Wedding Consultant. 

Although here are just a few of my other titles:

Intern

College Senior

Assistant Wedding Coordinator

Entertainment Director (at my university)

Girlfriend to Mickey ;)

Aspiring television host. :)

I'm excited to start! 

P.S. They never called Saundra. I was like... "Whaa?"

Maybe they didn't need my references?

Yay!

Growing Up

I have absolutely no idea how a month can just fly by like that! It's insane, I know! But, here's to catching up on all of the highlights!

I've been trying new things and I've grown up in many ways since I last blogged (right after my birthday).  Here's a list:

1.  I drive on highways now! If you know me, you know that I've never been a fan of highways because I don't trust people and their driving skills and putting speed into the mix used to a fear of mine especially since I learned how to drive in about eight hours.  Long story short, I drive on highways now! My special someone helped me with it and I could not be more thankful! <3

2. I am now a server at Cracker Barrel! That's right, yours truly now has TWO JOBS.  Trust me guys, I really don't recommend it because I work 6/7 days of the week and it's very exhausting.  Two jobs along with two summer classes is insane but I've only got one more week and then I'm done with classes (until August 20).  But like I was saying, yup! I'm a server.  Tips have been pretty good.  I was just looking to get some extra cash so I could save for Rome (still crossing my fingers) and for one day moving to my future home, those of you who know me know where that is.  :)

3.  I've flown on a plane on my own! My aunt and uncle and I went up to New Hampshire for my aunt's niece's wedding.  It was absolutely beautiful!  We also visited the area around.  It was nice! On the way back, I was a bit nervous at first but I just flew on my own and everything! ALL THE WAY FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE! Living in the south, that's a lot! :)

It's crazy how much I've grown up since December and obviously since my mom's passing in late September.  I try new things like nobody's business.  I think like an adult 95% of the time and I'm always trying to save money.  It's insane.  

I believe my sweet momma is proud of me and happy that I've become a semi-adult.  I mean, I'm only 20.  :)

May the 4th Be With You

So, ladies and gentlemen, I'm glad to be able to say I have finished my fourth semester of college! WHATTT??!! I know, believe me, I feel like I'm still a freshmen sometimes.  Here is a quick updates since I last blogged:

-I'm going to volunteer for this Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund event on June 3rd and I'm totally psyched for it!
-I volunteered to be part of the choir to sing at the Baccalaureate Mass my university will be having this coming Sunday.  I'm so glad to be singing again because just knowing I won't be in chorale next semester is making me sad.  We had two rehearsals for the mass this Sunday and let me tell y'all, I've gotten so much better at sight-reading.  Speaking of which, this girl next to me complimented on my singing and sight-reading skills and even asked me if I was going to audition for the chamber choir but unfortunately I can't because I have a different class at that time.  Either way though, it was nice to get so many compliments.
-I've been having a rough time with a situation that I thought would be resolved by now but it's just tense. Please send good thoughts that this all works out and that I continue to be strong and not let things get to me, however difficult it may be.
-I'm thinking of being part of the church choir at my university!
-Alpha Chi inductions were successful and I didn't have a meltdown on my mom's birthday.  ( I ate shrimp scampi, her favorite)

-I'm thinking of working at this baby theme park for children over the summer.  I actually used to go there as a child so I think it would be nice if I could work there.  Plus, I need the money! Haha.
-I'm still in shock that school's over! Yay! Oh, I got 100 on my upper-level English class final! Crazy, I know!
-I'm excited to do so many things this summer (including spending time with my special someone, wink wink.)
-BIG NEWS: I've lost 14 pounds! I absolutely love this feeling!
-I'm so excited to start my summer classes and fall classes (I will mention those in another post).
-I'm starting to fall asleep so until next time! Thanks for reading!


Oh and May the 4th be with you!

Charmed

First of all, I've been meaning to write a post for THE LONGEST TIME, I've just been super overwhelmed with everything in life.

Here are the most recent events that have occurred that deserve blogging:

-I LOST 5 POUNDS!!!! :) Since I had the surgery on my teeth/gums I haven't had soda!!! That's two weeks and two days! I've also been eating super healthy.  My friends and I even are using this app called Fitness Pal and it's pretty amazing.  I seriously started jumping up and down when I saw that I lost 5 pounds! Wish me luck in losing the rest I want to lose!

-I am getting better at not spending as much money!

-I'm still looking for a second job.  So far my options are: Starbucks, Half-Priced Books, Forever 21 and this other restaurant.  Wish me luck!

-I haven't had a horrible meltdown in two days! I went through a seriously rough patch for a long time but I think I'm coming out of that funk.  Yay! My momma would be proud. Thank you for the prayers!

-I have recently started watching Charmed with my friends and I'm so happy.  My mom and I used to watch Charmed religiously.  She was the one that got me into the show and I remember watching it with her so it's nice that I'm doing something that reminds me of her in a sweet way without making me depressed.  We are currently on Season 1. It's weird to see how young they all looked! 

I know I'm missing a lot of stuff but I just needed to blog.  Happy Sunday!

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Saturday to Sunday ♫

A lot of stuff has happened. List time!

-Monday was weird. I cried right around lunch time, it was one of those depressing ones, and plus I wasn't hungry because I was worried about this one midterm I took.  I didn't even eat lunch.  I am glad to say though I have been doing well today!
-Ohh! I got the highest test grade in my Italian class!
-Acting has been EXTREMELY fun! What else is new? Oh, btw I'm still looking for the right monologue, this was one is a toughie.
-BIG BLOG NEWS: For my writing for the media class, we are starting a new a blogging assignment, meaning I will use this blog for that.  The assignment is to write about pretty much anything, as long as it shows growth because we'll be writing a feature story after.  I have decided to write about starting new, starting fresh.  Since my mom has passed, this will be a new beginning, life without my awesome little momma but it will be about finding the good things in life, about healing, about doing new things that would've scared me in the past and stuff I know my mom would have wanted to do.  (Example A: Today at Olive Garden I got a raspberry lemonade, I would have never done that before, granted, they didn't have normal lemonade, so I had to get that one, but I tried it and it was DELICIOUS!) Do y'all catch my drift? These blogs will be 2 a week for 5 weeks so it will be for a while but I will try to write these kinds of posts also.
-My sessions with Dr. Tucker and Jana have been going very well, each time I leave the office it's like I feel like I've talked with my mom about how I'm doing, it's really nice.
-I have a TON of stuff to do but my aunt is helping me a lot.
-This past Sunday I went with some friends to Barnes and Noble (to celebrate a friend's birthday) and I got some books! One was a dream dictionary (in english, because I mentioned a long while ago my mom had a spanish one) and I got a book with inspirational quotes and stuff.
-Thursday and Friday of this week is fall break! Yey! I'm on fall break already!
-VERY IMPORTANT NEWS: I got an iPhone 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been wanting an iPhone since they first came out but we had Sprint and now Sprint has iPhones!!! I am beyond excited to have this phone! It's gorgeous!
-LOVELY NEWS: Today I went to go see the family my mom and I had at the oncologist's office, it was absolutely wonderful.  You'd think that I would have been depressed because of what happened in that office but it was nice seeing everybody, the only person that wasn't there was the nurse practitioner but hopefully I will see her soon! I cannot describe to y'all how beautiful it was to see them again.  Now, I can share wonderful events going on in my life! I'm excited about the future again.  My momma must be so proud.
-I found two dresses for work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are gorgeous, oh and I got a bag from Ross too, oh and a fedora! Excitement all around.  Oh and I got a magnificent scarf from another store!

-I may be missing stuff but I got the good stuff.
-I hope y'all are doing well! Thanks for reading.

Jen, HP, life in general

Okay so time to catch up on things.  I will write down stuff in a semi-list form.

-We had gone to the hospital for like 6 days because my mom had hypercalcemia (high calcium) so it was  kind of nice seeing everybody from the 3rd floor because that's where she had been in early May for a while.  I just wish it had been under different circumstances. We came back to the skilled nursing facility like 6 days ago.
-Happy July!!!
-We celebrated the 4th of July in the hospital which was different.
-Casey Anthony-not guilty??? I know this is late but I just had to make a comment on it.  My mom and I were eating hospital food at the time we found out and it was just devastating.  I wish that Caylee wouldn't have had a life like that.  Another thing: karma. That's it.
-Good stuff: Jennifer Aniston recently got her handprints and footprints cemented at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre!!! She was also on Inside the Actor's Studio!!! :)
-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will be out in 3 dayss!!!!!
-I started my summer class (PE) and yesterday I had to make up a class I missed where we had to do a 1.5 mile run/walk assessment. So of course today I am exceptionally sore.  Oh dear.
-The class is pretty interesting though because there are only like 8 of us.  We do aerobics and stuff and I want to try some other exercise equipment next week.
-I have also been wearing a pedometer for this class which is interesting.
-We are (hopefully) getting closer to finding an apartment and then I'll begin to pack.
-I am getting so many ideas for decorating my room! I have recently found that I ABSOLUTELY ADORE paper lanterns! Oh my goodness! Another thing, Target has become even more of an obsession for me.  I found this chinese takeout lamp. Isn't that amazing???

-I have homework from my Beginning Acting class (fall) and I'm super excited.  I have to find two monologues: One dramatic classical and one comedic contemporary and then I have to read/watch movies: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and A Streetcar Named Desire.  Oh and another thing, I have to audition for the play in the fall. Ahh.
-I am still an ENFP! (I took the thing again for my PE class).

-Derek Jeter hit his 3,000th hit!!! Go YANKEES!

-Emmy nominations come out in 2 dayss! I really want Parenthood and Grey's Anatomy to get some nominations and awards.  

-My job has been going well.  :))) This last week was the first time I saw/heard a small choir and a violinist singing/playing at the church for a wedding and it sounded so beautiful.

-My mom has an appt with the oncologist this coming thursday so hopefully she'll be starting something soon.  We found out she broke her clavicle and shoulder area also so she's resting that but therapy is going well.  Please pray that my mom feels okay and that the cancer gets controlled by this next treatment.

Until next time!

Long Time No Write

Things, as usual, have been pretty cray cray around here (haha I've always wanted to say that, so here I get the chance to write it), so yeah, they've been insanely different.  So again, list time.

-My mom is now at a skilled nursing facility.  She is getting therapy two hours a day, except for weekends, when she, herself, does a little bit of therapy.  Things are going well.
-We are still unsure about what's going to happen after, you know with the whole chemo situation. Her liver has started hurting a bit again, but I pray that this situation doesn't get worse.
-Oh, we are going to be looking at moving from our apartments so that's good!
-My job is going well.  Here are some highlights:
    -I met/talked to a few nuns!
    -I've talked with a Scottish priest
    -I've talked with a British family! (Yes, their accents are so wonderful and amazing!)
    -I've had a great experience so far!
-I start my summer classes, well actually only 1 summer class (something kind of like PE) this month (27th) so I'm looking forward to that, kind of.

Yup, it's summer.

-My aunt gave my mom and I her Wii because she doesn't use it (because of her heart problems) so we just got it today, which is pretty amazing because I've wanted one for THE longest time! So, thank you Aunt Estelle.
-That leads me to something else: while my mom was in the hospital and not doing so well, I had some people tell me to prepare myself for the worst basically and then I had somebody else ask me "when is it enough?" like basically, stop pushing your mom so hard.  To tell you the truth, this all really upset me and frustrated me for these reasons. Number 1: They are not God, so they don't know when the end is, I understand that people may say this to be supportive but it's like, c'mon, we are not those negative-minded kind of people.  Number 2: I've told my mom that if she ever feels like it is too much, I will be okay.  I know this sounds insane and weird but I don't want my mom to suffer.  So anyway, we've talked about stuff like this and for people to assume is just very frustrating.
I even came up with this little quote: "It's not called denial, it's called having faith". Pretty nice right? People felt that my mom having the surgery was crazy and very dangerous, which yeah it was, but they wouldn't have done it if it wasn't worth it. People would give me this look like they thought I was in denial of how serious things were, but I kept telling them "It's my mom we are talking about, not some whimpy person." So there, I'm done. Thank you for letting me vent.
-My mom had 42 stitches removed from her femur! ( a while ago)
-Everything is getting better. I will try to blog more but, well you know.. things have been crazy.
-You can go to the page: Please pray for Amy's mom (on facebook) for more updates.
-Oh and remember tumblr: www.acassandraz.tumblr.com

Thanks for reading guys! :)

Blessed and hopeful

Okay readers.  Things have drastically changed since I last blogged. Here's the summary because frankly, right now, I'm all about moving forward and improving from now on and I’m falling asleep but I felt like I really needed to blog because it’s been tooooooooooooo long.

So, Monday my mom fell and broker her right femur (upper thigh area), I was with her and so I called 911. Probably one of the worst experiences of my life.  I felt like I wanted to scream.  It's weird because this one lady and her son were looking at my mom and I told them "Please stop staring, she's my mom." Now that I look back on it, it's like "what the heck where you thinking Amy? They could have easily gotten violent on me, but thank God they didn't. So anyway, we got to the ER and the whole process was painful.  We were at a different hospital because of the opportunities available there for my mom. 

Anyway fast forward to Wednesday May 25…my mom is scheduled for surgery and it’s my 19^th birthday.  That day was definitely one of the worst days I’ve ever had in my life, except for the way it ended.  I won’t go into a great deal of depth but the surgery took twice as long as expected because basically, cancer got in the way of the rod that was going to be put in, so that was fixed but in the meantime I was having a meltdown in the waiting room.  I thought it was all over.  That’s why when I saw my mom, even completely asleep, I was so relieved and felt so blessed to see my mom alive and to be able to have her say “Happy Birthday” to me.  It’s crazy because I was born at 7:28pm and that was the time that I was REALLY falling apart.  Anyway, thank God that’s all over.

I am going to wrap this up because I’m falling asleep but I just wanted to update y’all.

So here’s a quick little list:

-My mom’s therapy has been challenging but she’s improving

-We don’t know how long she’ll be here (in rehab aka physical therapy)

-She’ll start chemo back up again once her scar and everything has healed which they are thinking might be about 4 weeks. (I pray it will be less)

-I know I’m missing a lot of stuff but I’m falling asleep because it’s been a very long day.

-P.S. Today was my first day out of training for my chapel job. (It went well)

-I’m staying with my mom in the hospital.

P.S. I got a tumblr because I thought it was something interesting I could do while in the hospital.  

soo here it is: www.acassandraz.tumblr.com

Here is the view from my mom's current room.

Please pray everything improves. 

I will try to write sooner.


Another thing, tomorrow is the third anniversary (I guess you could call it) since my mom's diagnosis.  Please pray she has many more years here with me.
Thank you.

Going to the Chapel

Okay so today was/is kind of a sucky day.  I have not mentioned this before but I got a job! I have been in training for 3 weeks now because this kind of a job is not a typical one.  Don't worry, it's nothing crazy, it's actually pretty amazing.  I will be an Assistant Wedding Coordinator (Chapel Staff) so I would only work on fridays and saturdays.  There is the Wedding Coordinator (Saundra, she is so nice and sweet) and then there would be me. There are no shifts, or fill ins, which makes this job a bit more difficult but trust me, these past weekends I've been in training have been amazing.

So I mentioned this before, but I have been looking for a job since 41293471923847 years ago, haha not really, but it's been a LONG time.  So I mentioned this to my mentor  (from this program that I'm a part of in college) so she told me that she had an idea.  She will be studying abroad in South Korea next semester, yeah, you read right, South Korea, isn't that amazing? Anyway, she won't be able to continue working at the chapel so she said that I could go and see what the job is like and that's when I fell in love, the job is amazing!

Basically, we help the couple with the wedding rehearsal and the actual wedding itself. We set up what they would need for traditions, help with getting the order of the procession ready so they can walk down the aisle, and so many more things.  The problem is that the hours are long on saturdays and kind of long on fridays and since my mom hasn't been feeling wonderful, especially because we just got back from the hospital, today was really rough.

I thought it would be okay, because fridays are shorter but it was tough.  It was also kind of sad because today I was watching the rehearsal for the second wedding and the couple's grandmothers were there walking down the aisle with no cane or anything, they were walking so well and they must be in their late 60s at least.  I know I shouldn't compare my life with others because it's different but it's like my mom is definitely not 60 and she needs a wheelchair to move most of the time, sometimes she'll use a walker and sometimes a cane (on a very good day) but it's like, I want my mom to be okay, I want her to get to point where she just needs a cane and that seems far right now because the pain in her bones from the cancer doesn't go away, it won't ever go away, that's why she takes the pain meds but they still don't completely take the pain away.

Another thing, seeing all these couples with their families really makes me hope that my mom will be there for my wedding.  Like I mentioned before, there is no padre in this family, it's just my mom and me.  On the 25th I will turn 19 and still be a ways away from getting married (there's no rush) but I pray to God that my mom will be here on Earth by my side to walk me down the aisle and then to be that grandma that spoils her grandchildren.  That's another thing, I never met my maternal grandma and I really wish I had because she raised my mom, the most amazing woman, so it's like it must have taken on heck of a momma to do that.  I hear stories of her and it's like I really wish I would have met her.

Don't get me wrong, I love this job, it takes me away from life's stresses, because it's like you see the beautiful part of life, getting married, you know? It's simply beautiful.  It's wonderful to see the excitement of the couple the day before and the day of the wedding, especially right after they've gotten married. It's amazing.

Just please keep praying guys that my mom will be here with me for a VERY LONG TIME.  She has an appt. with the oncologist on the 26th at 10:15 so we'll see what happens with this new change of chemo.

P.S. Here is the song "Going to the Chapel" by the Dixie Cups.  My mom used to drive us around to the beach when I was little and just to different nearby places and it's like everytime we traveled around that area this song used to play so I knew this song by heart.  I still love it and it makes me think of my childhood, so enjoy!

Until next time.

Long time no see?

So yeah this past week was superr crazy.  Here's a brief summary, in list form:
-My mom had chemo this past thursday. It wasn't too hard on her.  It was kind of nice because we both took naps there.  There were plenty of chemo chairs empty so I sat on one of them.  It was (as weird as this sounds) a nice little bonding moment.  I just hate the situation, you know?
-My mom isn't feeling too well now, well it kind of goes up and down, the roller coaster thing again.

Yeah, I know. :)

-I don't know if I mentioned this or not but like two weeks ago I found out I got this scholarship from an online magazine! Yey!! Well, anyway, I just found out today that I got this other scholarship too!!! :) Oooh and I get to go, along with my mom, to the ceremony!!!
-I got a 98 on my Anatomy Lab :)
-I am starting to get my classes ready for the next semester
-My mood has been all over the place, it's weird, I get superr excited when something good happens (like the scholarship stuff) but then I get superrr upset when I see my mom in pain.
-Oh that reminds me, my mom has begun to use her "chemo hat", which means, bye bye hair.
-Acting is still super fun, I actually had to go see this one play for class and it was really nice.
-I have A LOT of stuff to do.  :(
-The job situation is still ehhh.
-Oh! Today was/is Valentine's Day!
I guess I'm doing okay.  I really want to see "Life as I know It" with Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel (on Demand)

Anyway, please keep praying for my momma.  Thank you.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Okay so this past week was not too bad.  In my last blog post I mentioned that in my acting class we would be watching ourselves as our partners and well in the middle of the second person (my person) the camera died, so we weren't able to watch all of ourselves, yey, so it wasn't awkward. :) Anyway, the feedback was pretty nice, not to toot my own horn but they said that I was a good athletic boy and that it was just crazy how good I was at being an athletic boy because I am a kind girl, haha. This coming week we will be playing "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"-style of games!!! :) Yepee! Next class we will be playing "Props" which is where you have a prop and you do as many things with it, yeah superrr fun! Last year for my birthday my friend Amber got me one of the seasons for Whose Line, so I guess you could say I am a pretty big fan. :)  We are supposed to bring a prop and work with it, I am still trying to figure out what exactly I should take, so we'll see.

I will be having my first Anatomy test this week, aah! but I feel like I am on my way to being prepared.  It's just crazy though because in this last chapter that I read it talked about cell division and what happens when cell division gets out of control (...CANCER) and the stuff that they wrote in that book was super depressing concerning this disease, but whatever, it's only a book.  I have faith.  Part of the reason why I decided to take this class was so I could learn more about my mom's disease and the different parts of the body and I could help her out with anatomy-related things, if that makes sense.  Anyway, these few chapters (2-4) are not my cup of tea but the material in the chapters after that seems interesting.

My mom is doing pretty well.  She has an appt. with the endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) this thursday.  Oh! and my History of Christianity class is cancelled on thursday! yey! so I'll get to sleep in a bit more :)))).  Also, I'm still applying for jobs, unfortunately though, Toys R Us Express did not hire me (this was an online app, so maybe they are just not accepting apps, so yeah) but I'm still applying for more! Cross your fingers * I need a job pronto!

Okay, I think that's it for now. Thanks for reading!

Acting and Italian

Okay so first of all: My mom is doing very well! :) Yey! Although her white blood cells are a bit low, it's just a sign that the chemo is killing some cells (hopefully more bad ones than good ones) but she is doing pretty good.  Also, I finally had my first lab in Anatomy and Physiology I and it was kind of interesting, it wasn't too bad.  Today in acting we finally presented ourselves as our partners, and I would say that it went  well, I wore boy basketball shorts and a big t-shirt, it felt super weird, but I think I got the message across that my partner is into sports.  That was pretty fun.  Next class we are going to watch the video of us acting as the other person, can you say AWKARD? Anyway, I hope it's not so bad.  I really enjoy that class. :)

Okay so I REALLY REALLY want to learn Italian, especially since I have become semi-obsessed with this show called "Cake Boss" on TLC, I just want to be able to speak Italian because it sounds so interesting and I love the bond that Italians have with one another and I could speak with them in Hoboken one day-Buddy and his Cake Boss peeps :)

Well this is a pretty short blog post but I wanted to write sooner that last time so I wouldn't have this ginormous blog post with lots of text so I will keep these short and simple. :)

I think that's it for now.  Thank you for reading. Please keep praying that my momma's chemo continues to work.  <3

P.S. I am looking for a job! Crazy, I know.  I have applied to Starbucks and this Mexican Restaurant close by, so cross your fingers*.  (I love the smell of coffee <3, random, I know.)