No More School...

Well I finished fifth year on Thursday... but no one else in my year did. I just don't feel well enough to go in anymore. My friends aren't finished school until 31st May.
Anyway, we had the annual awards ceremony on Thursday and I won 3 things! Go me! I got a student merit award, a plaque for the quiz team and I am a prefect for sixth year. The mother and the father are very proud of me. The ceremony was very sad though because our school Principal is finishing up this year and there was several presentations made to him and he got a standing ovation... I was nearly crying... it was so sad. Another reason to be sad is my friend in sixth year was graduating that day and I'm going to really miss her! She was hilarious.

I went for a blood test on Wednesday... and it didn't hurt! YAY! I'd had the phlebotimist loads of times before when I had been in the hospital and she is really nice... so I was delighted when I saw her. But I rang my nurse on Friday and there is no improvement in my protein or iron- but at least they haven't disimproved either!

I've no more news

Later

Sal

Music

I don't have anything new to talk about so I've decided to talk about some of my favourites bands and songs. I have strange taste to say the least... I like anything from rock to country to cheesy pop.

Sheryl Crow
I absolutely love Sheryl Crow... I'm surprised my Greatist Hits CD still works I've listened to it that often. My favourites have to be "All I Wanna Do" (reminds me of my childhood- I was only 4 when it was released), "Change (Would Do You Good)" (The guitar in this song is brilliant) and "If It Makes You Happy"... nothing needs to be said about that song.

The Boomtown Rats
I have to mention Sir Bob and his fantastic punk rock band. I only need mention one song which is "I don't like Mondays"- I'm sure you have all heard of it.

The Killers
I LOVE The Killers... I was supposed to be going to their concert last year in November with 2 of my friends. We were all set to go and then it was announced that the show was cancelled because Brandon had the flu... needless to say I was gutted. I don't care what anyone says though... "Sam's Town" is way better than "Hot Fuss". My favourite song is "Read My Mind" and I also love "Why Do I Keep Counting". "Mr. Brightside", it goes without saying that this song is class.

The Corrs
A mixture of traditional Irish and pop... I only admitted to liking The Corrs last year when I got their Greatest Hits. Their best songs in my opinion are "Breathless", "Angel" and "Dreams". There is a brilliant cover of Thin Lizzy's "Old Town" on the greatest hits too.

Johnny Cash
Not much needs to said about Johnny Cash. After the release of "Walk The Line" everyone has heard of him. He has some classics though. My personal favourite though is a duet with June Carter "Long-Legged Guitar Picking Man"- absolutely excellent. But I also love "Ring Of Fire" and "The Highway Man". I hated his last album though...

Green Day
I was very impressed with their duet with U2 for "The Saints are Coming". I don't care what any die hards say "American Idiot" has way better songs that any they had previously released. "Holiday" being the best and "Extraordinary Girl" not too far behind. I do love "When I Come Around" though.

Katie Melua
This girl has the most amazing voice I have ever heard. "The Closest Thing To Crazy" is just an absolutely beautiful song and I have to say I really love "Nine Million Bicycles" too.

Kelly Clarkson
I went to Kelly Clarkson's concert with my cousin. It was good... but very short. I love her version of "A Moment Like This" (such a cheesy soppy song but I love it!) "Since U Been Gone" because you can head-bang to it and the feel-good "Walk Away". I don't know what to make of her latest offering at all... the music just sounds all over the place.

FAVOURITE SONGS

"Don't Look Back in Anger"- Oasis
"You're Still The One"- Shania Twain
"Bolero"- Ravel
"When You Say Nothing At All"- Ronan Keating (No- I am not ashamed to admit it- I adore this song!)
"Just Like Heaven"- The Cure sang it first but Katie Melua's version is far better.
"Let's Dance"- Paula Flynn (yes- the David Bowie song- it is huge in Ireland at the moment)
"Let It Be"- The Beatles
"Every Breath You Take"- The Police
"Somebody To Love"- Queen
"Sunday Girl"- Blondie
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"- Cyndi Lauper
"Dance, Dance"- Fall Out Boy
"Lay All Your Love On Me"- ABBA
"In The Ghetto"- Elvis Presley

Well there you go,

Laters

Sal

A Week At School

Well I still didn't manage a full week... I stayed at home on Tuesday... but that's because I had to rest for Wednesday.

On Monday our English class had a debate. The motion was "Reality TV is a good thing"... which is so not- it's a load of crap... But anyway- it was quite... hilarious actually because neither members of the team had a clue how to do debate and they just made jokes instead. Anyway... the opposition won.
On Tuesday as I said I stayed at home... I pretty much read all day. I finished Marian Keye's book "Watermelon"... excellent book... Again I recommend it to all. Since then I have read "The Wedding Girl" by Madeline Wickham a.k.a Sophie Kinsella... I was pleasantly surprised by this book... I was expecting it to be your average predictable chick lit but there was a very unexpected twist in the end. Then I read "The Princess Diaries In Love" it's volume 7 1/2 so it is only a small book... only people who like The Princess Diaries will like this book... luckily I love The Princess Diaries. Now I'm reading Missing 5: Missing You by Meg Cabot- I've only just started it though so I haven't formed an opinion on it yet.
Anyway- back to Tuesday. We got a delivery from Argos... we are turning the landing upstairs into a lounge... it looks great now... we got a 3 corner sofa that turns into a bed and an armchair without arms that turns into a bed and we got a coffee table and a mat and TV for the corner. Very cool!
Wednesday- Well on Wednesday I done my cookery assignment for obesity. I made creamy chicken and mushroom with brown rice- the brown rice is my key ingredient because it has no calories because it is high in fibre! Go me! Anyway- everything went fine and it tasted absolutely delicious! I also had biology on Wednesday- best subject ever! We finished learning about Osmosis and we are now learning Transport, Food Storage and Gas Exchange in Flowering Plants... it may not sound interesting but we have an excellent teacher and she makes everything sound fascinating (or maybe it's just because I'm a nerd)!
Thursday- to be honest I really had to drag myself out of bed this morning. Being anaemic and all I was extremely tired after working hard on Wednesday... but I managed... but I had crappy business first class. Don't get me wrong it's not that I hate business (that would be stupid seen as I want that type of career) it's the teacher... he has the most boring voice on the planet... his tone never rises and it never falls... it's just boring. The man couldn't motivate a mouse to eat cheese. Then I had French and the teacher wasn't it- FREE CLASS!!! So like the nerd that I am I took the oppurtunity to catch up on home ec! We got to go home at 3 instead of half 3 because the new principal (I'm afraid of this woman!) wanted to meet the teachers.
If I had to drag myself out of the bed on Thursday I had to be taken out of it with a JCB yesterday morning. But I managed. And I'm glad I did because I had biology and home ec for my first 4 classes. In English we are studying a really great poet called John Montague so far we have done 2 of his poems "The Locket" and "The Cage". Read them- they are very good. When I got home from school, first off I hid from my sister who is having some serious PMT and needs a bar of chocolate quick! So I went upstairs to read (in our cool new lounge). Then I had pizza for dinner- yummy and then I watched "The Jungle Book"- I forgot just how brilliant that film is!

See I'm the King of the Swingers
Oh the Jungle VIP

I have to go do a lot of studying now because I have summer exams coming up and the teachers are promising that they are going to be long and hard... they are so evil! I have to study maths the most... trigonometry is a real problem for me!

Laters

Sal

What a Load Of... *toilet flushes*

Well, I'm not ashamed to admit- I watched the Eurovision last night... and what a load of rubbish it was. Like I know Ireland was crap... but 5 points? Even the UK got more than that and there song was on an aeroplane. In fact I was very disappointed I have to say with the UK vote. We always get points from you! But nothing not even 1! I'm very upset about that.
I had a bet on Ukraine to win (I made the bet before I knew I how bad they were!) and they came second... so close... I could have been 10 euro richer this morning... if that man/woman hadn't of won for Serbia.
It has to be said there was only one decent song and only one cheesy fun song. They were Hungary, which was far too good for the Eurovision, and then Sweden's song was cool in a cheesy kind of way- I must admit I have a thing for cheesy songs.


In other news... Faye was taunting poor Rowdy again today. They actually got into a bit of a fistycuffs- obviously Rowdy being a gentledog didn't hit back at Faye, he just tried to protect himself from her mightily sharp paws. I might as well show you a picture of the little cow.


Don't let her cuteness deceive you- she can be nasty (particurly to her soon-to-be ex-husband Rowdy). She has another plan of action- She is going to try and turn his owner (the aunty S) against him. How do I know this? Because the aunty S was at my house last night and instead of barking at her like she usually does- she was very friendly. Strange...

Anyway, I have to go do homework!

Laters

Sal

Butcher Blood Tester...

You know it's surprising I'm even able to type this entry because my arm is so sore. Why? I hear you ask. Well on Wednesday I had yet another blood test... let me tell you it wasn't pretty. The stupid old bat that was doing it absolutely rammed the needle into my poor little vein... and guess what- she couldn't get any blood. So I said to her (quite nicely- I'm never rude) "Maybe you should use the butterfly needle- this often happens" The butterfly is a much smaller needle and they use it for children. I think she then got annoyed with me for telling her how to do her job so she proceeded to ram the needle into my arm a second time (and a lot harder). Stupid butcher woman. I haven't been able to straighten my arm since Wednesday and it's now Saturday. And worse than that, I'm left handed and it was in my left arm. (I couldn't have it in my right arm because apparantly I have a clot in the vein on that side).

So now that I've told you about the blood test I might as well tell you about the results. I went to the hospital yesterday and even though my protein AND my iron have both gone up (CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES C'MON- LET'S CELEBRATE) I am still going to have to go into the hospital after I come home from Rome to fed through a tube and also have some nasty investigations repeated-but we won't go into that! So I have to go get a big pile of books and a load of DVDs to bring with me to keep me entertained.
In other news I managed to inject myself again in the stomach yesterday (However it was under the watchful eye of a nurse but that's not the point) so I was delighted with myself yesterday... well except for the whole being-fed-through-a-tube thing.

I've a lot of cooking to do this week so I can catch up on Home Ec. I've to cook 2 things on Wednesday (as yet undecided). I'm also cooking on Friday... but it'll be easy because we are only making fudge. Then I have to cook another two things the following week. So I'm going to be very tired after all that.

I feel like a drank about 10 whole bottles of vodka or something this morning... which is weird seen as I don't drink. But that it what my injection makes me feel like. But mixed with staying in bed until half ten (I'm a VERY early riser) and it is really not good.

In the divorce battle between my dog Faye and her soon-to-be-ex husband Rowdy not much has been happening except that she keeps stealing his bones... I think she is starting to turn into one of those psycho ex types like your one May on Eastenders.

Laters

Sal

Restless Night

Sadly I was unable to attend school today. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. Well- that’s not entirely true. I woke up at 1am and fell asleep again at 5am… then I woke up again (with a sore throat) at 6.30am. So I decided I wasn’t going to school and I watched “March Of The Penguins” in bed. That film is so cute… Morgan Freeman has a fantastic voice and the little baby penguins are just so cute!

After the film was over I decided I was getting up thinking I would feel much better… I wish- my whole body felt like lead and my head was buzzing and my eyes felt like I had been crying for a month. But I battled on and went down to have breakfast.

Seen as I was at home and I was far too tired to concentrate on any form of schoolwork I decided to catch up on all my recordings on Sky Plus. So I watched this programme called “Teen Stars: Kid Rockers” and it was crap. Then I watched LeAnn Rimes’ biography (as a result I keep singing “How Do I Live”- but who doesn’t love that song anyway?) I also watched Sean Penn’s biography… I absolutely love “Dead Man Walking” it’s such an amazing film. And finally I watched the biography of Maureen O’ Hara- I’m ashamed to say I haven’t seen one of her films but I would love to see “The Quiet Man” with John Wayne.

Thank God- The mother rang up the school today to see if she could get me out of the LCVP (this really stupid programme that’s supposed to help with your leaving cert results but all it was to me was a major stress- which is the last thing I need!!!). Thankfully the teacher said it was no problem as long as I didn’t tell anyone because then everyone would be wanting to get out of it (couldn’t say I’d blame them either!)

There has been no further developments in Faye’s divorce… but she was having a nightmare last night and we suspect that’s what it was about.

Later

Sal

Tough As Old Boots

As promised I am here to report on the meal I had with my family yesterday afternoon. As we were going to a restaurant in a 4 star hotel which we had been to before (and it has always being fabulous) I had very high expectations of my meal... but sadly they were not reached.

For Starters I had Homemade Vegtable Soup- I am a big fan of soup and I was terribly- no bitterly disappointed when I realised I couldn't eat it (because of crohn's). The jacka$$ chef had put pepper in it! That is one thing I can never understand. There is no need to add any salt or any pepper to a dish because there is ALWAYS salt and pepper shakers on the table.

For the main course I had roast leg of lamb with creamy mash. The creamy mash was out of this world now I must admit but the leg of lamb was as tough as old boots (hence the title of todays entry!) I also eat some brocolli... I am one of few people in the world that loves brocolli.

Dessert- Well everything on the dessert menu contained fruit so that ruled everything out for me. So I had to refer to the kiddies menu for a selection of ice cream. Mind you it was nice but the tea that came with it was absolutely brutal!

So all in all I was very disappointed with yesterday's outing. I blame the father anyway... instead of picking a restaurant and booking a table a couple of days beforehand he waits until half an hour before we leave the house!? So I gave out to him when he complained about not having a window seat because it was his own bloody fault!

I must tell you about my labrodor, Faye. She is a nutcase- but we love her. She recently went to the Vet so she can't have any pups! And her and the fella (another beautiful labrador called Rowdy) have had a fallen out. Poor broody Rowdy is not at all happy that Faye won't bear his pup... so yesterday they had a very big argument (loads of barking and growling) and Faye stole his big juicy bone. But Poor Rowdy can't come back to collect it because his owners have one of those underground fences to keep him in... I will update on the progress of their break-up- it could get ugly!

Later

Sal

PS: I've been trying to do maths homework (matrices) all morning and they have been doing my head in... Why do I even need to know anything about matrices?

Shopping

"I got an A+ in Shopping"

That's what my nightdress says... and to be honest it is very true. Yesterday, me and the mother headed off to a big mad shopping centre... and let me tell you- I was in heaven. But getting there wasn't so nice- bank holiday weekend and all that... we nearly crashed the car at a very scary junction and there was a lot of beeping (mind you I can't say I blame them- we made a very stupid mistake- but let's not get into that).

When we arrived we were starving- after our near miss and the long journey- so we headed straight for a cafe. I had a lovely ham and cheese panino (haha that's the singular of panini) and the mother had a gourmet sandwich- which was just chicken and coleslaw (with NO butter- that's a crime) in between 2 slices of brown bread. Nothing particurly gourmet about it. But we enjoyed it none the less.

After that it was time to hit the shops. Straight to the wonderful Penneys it was. I got a grey vest t-shirt, a pair of denim shorts and a linen top to keep the sun off my casper like skin in Rome. (If I burn I'm in trouble because it will take a lot longer to heal than normal folks!). But overall wasn't too impressed with the Penneys- it was far too big and far too messy! Then we headed to Schuh- the best shoe shop ever. I wanted a nice comfy pair of shoes which I could walk around in in Rome and as soon as I walked in I saw them. They are emerald green and hot pink they have a bit of a heel and two straps going across (also green and pink) and there is no annoying thing that goes in between your toes... they were only 20euro... so I bought them...

Of course, a nerd wouldn't be a nerd if they didn't stop in the book shop. So into Easons I marched. I bought a farewell present for my friend who is doing the Leaving Cert this year. I got her a book a jokes (we always told really crap jokes to one another) and a little photo frame thing. For myself- I bought 2 books. Both written by the wonderful Meg Cabot. "Missing: Missing You" and "The Princess Diaries: Princess In Love".

After that the mother was insistent that we went to Marks and Spencers... I sat outside and waited for her (no offence to anyone- but that shop is way too old for me). The mother got a pretty cardigan but she soon realised herself that she was even too young for Marks and Sparks... I could have told her that...

Then the mother went into Pamela Scott- she bought a shrug for work... and just as she was stepping up to the till, a girl I know from school skipped her in the queue. The mother was not happy. Then we went into Zara (not a decent item of clothing in sight) and then River Island (not too hectic either). Then I decided I need refreshment so we sat down and I had a lovely vanilla milkshake... it tasted like heaven... melted Ben & Jerrys... yummy...

After that I went to Virgin Megastores and I came back out of it in a rather bad mood. They don't have their CDs alphabetised (spelling is probably wrong... sorry!) so I couldn't find what I was looking for... which was Fall Out Boy's first album.

Then we went back to Schuh and I got a pair of Runners. They are so comfy... they are Skechers... and they are silver and pink.

Then I realised that I needed a top to go with my pink and green sandals so we went into A/wear (best shop EVER!) and I bought a pink version of the blue top I bought on Tuesday and I bought an emerald green vest top to go under it- and thus my shopping trip was over... and what a wonderful day it was.

Mind you I was so wrecked when we got home that I was too tired to even eat my dinner so I just fell asleep on the sofa... when I woke up I watched golf with the father (What are you playing at Padraig Harrington) and then went to bed at 9pm!

And now today we are going out for dinner, myself, the mother, the father and the sister... so I shall tell you all about that soon. Maybe tomorrow seen as I don't have any school (but I could be too busy studying so who knows!?)

Laters

Sal

Protein and various other things...

Well so much for my dried skimmed milk being highly nutritious... I went to the hospital last Friday and my protein hasn't risen at all... How crap is that? Anyhow, I might aswell tell you about my crap hospital visits last week.
Wednesday- I got up extremely early so that I could have a blood test and then go back to school. I was feeling fine, maybe a little tired, all the way up to the hospital. Then I sat down in the waiting area for the blood tests when alarm bells rang. My vision had gone fuzzy... which can only mean one thing... migraine! God love the poor phlebotomist (he was so jolly and sympathetic) I get very emotional for some reason when I get migraines that I was bawling my eyes out as he done the blood test. Then he searched around his little room and got me a box of tissues. He was so sweet thank you jolly blood taker man! Anyway, obviously because of the smelly migraine I didn't go to school but straight home. And as soon as I got there I got straight into my PJs.
Friday- My hospital appointment. I was very anxious about it. And all the way up to the hospital I felt like I was going to throw up. Unfortunatly, the out-patients deparment was extremely packed so I had to wait an hour before the Prof could see me. Sadly, he didn't greet me with the news that I wanted to hear... that my protein and haemoglobin had soared. Instead he told me there was no improvement in either and that if it didn't improve soon I may have to spend some of my summer holidays in hospital with a tube up my nose and into my stomach being fed. I was very upset by this and burst into tears (well, wouldn't you?). But first he prescribed me a new drink called Fresubin that is packed with protein... so fingers crossed. I have to go for a blood test on Wednesday and the results on Friday! I'm petrified!

I went to a chocolate factory... it was quite an enjoyable trip except for my friends bickering the whole time. I swear to God... there is a group of them who won't leave on of them alone and there always making snide comments under their breath... I can't wait to go to college I'm sick to death of the lot of them... Because of the amount of time I have spent in hospital I have matured a lot quicker than alot of my friends (which you find with a lot of children like myself) and I just can't put up with all their really childish behaviour.

I finished reading "The Broker" by John Grisham. It was absolutely brilliant. The way Grisham talks about Italy he really makes you want to go there... (which I am- in June! yay!). I highly recommend this book... you really have no idea of what's going to happen until the very end. Today, I just finished a book called "If the Shoe Fits" by Jaye Carroll. It's only so-so as far as I'm concerned. It is not near as good as her other book "Loving The Stars". But I have started "Watermelon" by Marian Keyes and even though I have only read the first chapter I just know it's going to rock!

Thankfully, I had today off school... not thankfully because school sucks (because it so doesn't- well except for the two-faced friends) but because I'm wrecked (lack of haemoglobin/protein). But after I have published this entry I think I'm going to do more catching up in my Home Economics. So far I have done Food Choices, Protein, Carbohydrates and I'm half way through lipids... but trust me... I have a long long way to go.

Laters

Sal