Victory!

So i've posted this elsewhere but for the family:

Some of you may know that since November, I've been working on getting my university to offer free HIV testing during class time (Kin 215--a mandatory class for all SHSU students) in order to remove all excuses to not get tested. I want them to have to say to themselves: I don't want to know. and not be able to rationalize it with: oh i'll get around to it when I have time.

Why? Early detection and early treatment mean several things, not the least of which being a longer and higher quality of life.
1/3 of all Houstonians diagnosed with HIV are also diagnosed with AIDS, meaning they wait until they're already sick to be tested.
No good, right?
No only for their health, but the health of those they have been romantically involved with in the meantime.

The best way to stop the spread of this illness is to make sure people are aware of their status so they can take care of themselves and their loved ones.

So I gathered data, wrote a proposal, sent it in and have waited.
patiently.
.
.
.
.
.
I just got this email from my faculty adviser (former prof):
Alicia,
I am happy to report that the HIV testing has been approved. We have 3 divisions involved in the effort. The Health Center , Student Life, and the Counseling Center. Sarah is working to get the AIDS Foundation of Houston to be involved in the fall. Thanks for the work you have done and your commitment to this effort.


---

I can't express how amazingly happy I am.
It's been a /really/ rough day but this makes it all worth while! I'm so freaking just like...WOW lol--it might REALLY happen. I might have an impact, a real impact.


PS! the walk was awesome! and pictures are included!!:







Included are my friend Alyx, Don Jensen (Radio DJ), Kelly McCann (the head of AIDS Foundation Houston), not one but TWO Miss Texas's, lots of people and of course--Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Some of you may recognize her! lol I don't agree with her politics but she was a pretty cool lady and we talked to her a bit while she was there. She's really supportive of the foundation and that day, that's all that mattered to me! So I got my picture with her ;p


OH!
okay so it was COLD that day, like...cold.
chilly.

It also decided to POUR rain on us right after we crossed the halfway point. That was fine, we all kind of looked up, laughed, and kept walking.
Alyx and I sang songs while walking with guys dressed up as Captain America, the Green Lantern, AND the Flash.
it was preeeeeeeeeeeetty funny.
I was soaked, Alyx was soaked, we got a case of powerade each (thrown at us by the vendors! lol)
oh and lots of goodies of course, they're big on goodies.


all in all--it was a great time and awesome props to Mom and Derek for sponsoring me!
<3

Poom does charity

This coming week is SPRING BREAK!
I'll be working all day Monday and Tuesday, sleeping, and then waking up Wednesday to go see my crazy mother ;p <3

I'll be staying there until Saturday morning because
dun
dun
dun

Sunday is the 20th Annual Houston AIDS walk and yours truly will be participating again.
Why? well I could go on a long socio-political-economic rant about why we need to halt the spread of HIV and facilitate supportive care to those infected both domestically and globally but i think the $15 billion dollars given to Africa for health care from Dubbya might attest to the importance.

Anyway, I've set my standards high, $1,500 this year. I've reached 982.
The walk is in a week.
So if you are so inclined--consider sponsoring me here: http://www.aidshelp.org/goto/stjoan09

New Hair and Tests tests tests

New hair on a whim. I'm digging it.


What I'm not digging is the four tests I've had since Thursday.
Quan Methods
Econ Geology
Cultural Geography
International Political Economy.

The last two i had today. The first two on Thursday. My geology test is back--94. WOOO
On a cooper test that's saying something. So I'm happy about that.

Dr. M said not to expect my Quan Methods (aka Stats) test results until Monday.
The last two I'll probably have back Thursday as well as a paper grade and another test grade for Conflict and Terror.

In the mean time I have five chapters and a whole book to read by thursday. So I'm going to be busy!!

<3
PS I like good news and this past week has held a lot of it :)

My Mom...

Has a blog.
so now i get to do this:

HI MOM!!!! *waves frantically at imaginary TV camera*

;p


My goodness. The past week and a half have had some good news! So right now, things are looking up.

This week I have two tests--down from three--on Thursday. Economic geology and Quan Methods. So, i'll be studying from now until then.

OH! Nathan got promoted. Yeah he got a couple of job offers but neither of them added up to the management position Allied Lube offered him. He's now a manager of his very own Jiffy Lube. Yeah, doubles the income. So WOOOOO!

Meanwhile, I've noticed that my past two journal titles have been 'been a while'
so um.... i should probably uh...update more often.

Ps if you don't know about lolCats you should seriously look into this website. It's been around for a while but NEVER gets old.

pps...i had an account here when i first got on the internet and this weekend Nathan and I were talking about old games we used to play. Um...i started a new account on Neopets Yeah, I did.
You know why? It's cheesy, but it's wholesome fun and gives me a funny little place to relax when I am not working, in class, studying, or other various activities that are much more productive.

Been a while

Because I've been rather all consumed.

In short-- my mom has cancer, a very good friend of mine has been taken off life support after suffering a stroke, my dentist keeps having issues with my crowns, they're going to charge me an extra 300 dollars, and I still have the flu.

All of this in the span of literally 4 days. Since Wednesday, I have honestly just been trying to get my feet back under me.

It's been a while

The new semester is starting, and with it--a return of the scholarly.
My friend Amelia is finishing a bit of editing on TGTD :) I'm happy for that. I also have 9 text books this year, 6 of which i can expect to read in their entirety.

I have lost 15lbs :)

I need to start focusing on the GRE. Yeah, so um...I've been browsing Amazon.com for study supplies. Working on it.

<3
Hit the books time!

----------------
Listening to: DJ Tiesto and Ferry Corsten - Gouryella
via FoxyTunes

Death and life continues

Yesterday morning Dr. Callaway came to class, eyes red and moist and announced that Dr. Holcombe, our beloved poli sci chair, had collapsed in his office. She informed us that he had been taken to the hospital.

We were silent for most of the class presentations, shocked but hopeful for him.
At the end of class I was slow to gather my things.

Dr. Callaway is not an expressive woman. She is calm, composed, and amazingly placid. Getting her to smirk or giggle has become routine for me but an aloud laugh is something that still lights me up. It's an accomplishment.
Yesterday was the antithesis of all those high moments.
Still, she managed to hold it together in the face of a distraught student who received the news that he had in fact passed. The girl was barely able to form the words and found herself on Dr. C's shoulder, crying.

We left them and Callaway comforted her for a time before confirming the news to us, the lingerers who waited pensively out side.

I called Alyx, Sarah, and Nathan to tell them, unable to enjoy the rare snow in Texas that i crushed in my hands to keep them still.

I went to LDB and found Dr. Cooper and let him know that I might be late to our class because of what had happened.
I needed to check on people, talk to someone.
I ended up crying in the geology office.

AB 1--third floor--quiet.

I found myself in Callaway's office, offering anything she needed, worried for her.
"You all have so much to worry about, you shouldn't have to deal with this"
"We all need to deal with it, people are more important. We care about y'all"

They're surrogates, para-parents. While mom and dad can prepare you and raise you for your life in so many ways, professors prepare you to serve your passion, to do all those amazing things you've always dreamed about.
I get very invested in my professors. They're valuable assets. So when I see them in crisis--I am concerned.

We talked for a while, still shocked.

That night I called Alyx. We discussed the physical affect Holcombe's laugh would have in heaven. Tornadoes, we decided, would be the result.

Sporadic tears.

It wasn't until today when June, at work, asked us if we saw the email from SHSU about the death of Dr Holcombe that it all sunk in.
"Did you hear about the professor that died yesterday?!"
"Yes, June, I know about it."

Under five mins later, I lost the battle with my tears and April took me on a quick nature walk to get my mind off of it. She's a dear.

He was a great man, you know, huge personality, brilliant mind, amazing man. His laugh was huge and heartfelt, it was something that made the whole floor warm and welcoming.
His presence is missed already.

I am still worried about my professors. Emails have been sent, I want them to know that their students are here for them.

The funeral is in a week.

This afternoon and evening have been wonderful though. After April's walk, I was feeling much better. I love being outdoors, really.
We had a christmas party in the office. lots of food. Gwen makes a killer dish. seriously delicious.

We all put five dollars into a mega millions lottery pool. I've got plans for that money already!! haha
Far fetched sure, but you know, why not?

Tonight is also my 5th anniversary with Nathan!!
We had pizza, watched some stand up, cuddled, spent time together, good times :) I like it.
He had a job interview today!!! It seems like it went well so cross your fingers!!

I would really like this up turn to stay up. Get the job, win the millions--either one is great.