Quick Takes Friday!!

1. My very good friend, Arezou, is visiting us this weekend from Germany! She arrived last night and is staying through Sunday! We are taking her to a pub for dinner tonight, then off to Lincoln for the Manor Halloween Party on Saturday! Halloween is her faaave holiday so she's going to love this! Plus it gives her a break from German speakers all around.

2. The apartment is coming along great! It's so beautiful. I love being able to go home and walk to school each day since it's close! We are still hanging out on camper chairs, but it's no big deal since they recline back. We just got the most comfortable king-sized mattress (that's queen-sized in the US), and I just want to sleep in it all day!

3. I got a cold Monday because I stupidly walked to school that morning not wearing a coat, only a cardigan, and there was frost on the ground. I didn't wear a coat because normally I sweat so much walking up the hill so I thought I could cool down that way! Whoops! But I think it's finally clearing out and I'm not snoring as much (sorry, Steve!).

4. School is good, I feel a little behind though. I'm not sure why, I think I need to study and review more. I just completed my first paper for my Intro to Education Studies class, and I get to turn that in Monday. There are a lot of interesting areas in the classes I'm taking though. But some are boring as well. Oh well! I'm just happy to be a student!!

5. The VA pretty much sucks and hasn't paid me my 9/11 bill benefits! But they finally paid me part of my disability, which is really nice!! Patience is a virtue, I know. So I gotta look for a job next week! There are a lot of little shops around our apartment, so hopefully it shouldn't be too hard to find.

6. Steve is moving Monday! Well, he technically moved today, but no more Digby for him!! I'm so excited for what is going to happen for him in the future! I won't really see him throughout the week though :( I guess I'll get more schoolwork done since he won't be there!

7. Finally, Monday marks our 2 year anniversary! It doesn't feel like 2 years-it feels both shorter and longer than what it is. He got me a beautiful watch! I got him roof racks for his car...haha! Anyway, I'm happy to have spent the last 2 years with him, even with a year apart! I love you, Steven!

My Cousin, Frankie

This blog is dedicated to my most brave cousin, Frankie. You see, about 7 years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer and wasn't given long to live. Soon after that diagnosis, his father, my Uncle Mike, passed away. 3 months later, my cousin, his brother Nino, passed away. 7 months later, his mother, my Aunt Lina, passed away. He and his sister were left to suffer. But my cousin Frankie has been a fighter. He has a beautiful wife and daughter. He fought the cancer.

Within the last few years, he has had to have a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked well in his body and he has a condition where his lungs don't work as well as they should, meaning he is on oxygen.

My cousin is only 30 years old. He has always defended me against any boys being mean to me in High School. He has always secretly been my favorite cousin on my mother's side.

When I was in Arizona for a month before coming here, he was in the ICU for about a week. I went and visited him nearly every day. He wasn't given long to live, but since he's a fighter, he went through it and made it out! I feel like I got to know him again during that time because I haven't been around in the last 7 years. It was nice to be able to talk to him and just joke around.

I just found out yesterday that his lungs are not working right again and that they never will. The doctor gives him 1 month. Now, I don't believe in things like that. Doctors can't just give time limits. They have given him a time limit 3 times now, well that I know of. They have given others that I know time limits and they have made it past that. Therefore, I know he will make it. I have full faith in his bravery and in God that he will make it through this because he wants to. He wants to be there for his family.

Frankie, if you read this, I love you so so much and I am so proud of you for everything you've ever done and are still doing.

Frankie is on the left and Nino is on the right. This was on Frankie's wedding day!