Music

I LOVE music, who doesn't is really the question!  Music makes you feel an emotion out of nowhere, the lyrics, beat and the rhythmn can automatically make a million memories come back, good or bad. Sometimes you can get sick of a song in a certain point in your life, but when enough time passes then you can tolerate listening to it again (overplaying a song is totally the radio people's fault!).  Sometimes you want to listen to melancholy music, because you may feel that way, or you are deep in thought pondering life.  At other times you just want to rock out to party music (I am guilty of such).  Sometimes you are obsessed with a song and you can't possibly overplay it.  Music is such a psychological connection with how we are feeling, that it definitely heightens our emotion in the moment.  The lyrics are words we aren't willing to admit with ourselves, unless we are brave enough to deal with the vulnerability...okay sorry for getting so deep and analytical, my brain attacked!

Some of my favorite artists include (not because of who they are, but because of their music and I only like certain songs from their albums):
Sara Baraeilles
Katy Perry
Glee
Kesha
Adele
Ingrid Michaelson
One Direction
Justin Bieber
Colbie Caillat
Jason Mraz
Shakira
Fun
LMFAO
RBD
Taylor Swift
Maroon 5
The Little Mermaid soundtrack
Plain White T's
All American Rejects
Green Day
NSYNC
Justin Timberlake
Pit Bull
And more...


There are a few songs that always make me smile from ear to ear :D
Weezer "Island in the sun"
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat "Lucky"
Greenday "Good riddance time of your life"
Little Mermaid "Part of your World"
Celia Cruz "Un Carnival"

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

Fall Goals

First week of school of my Junior year (drumroll please) accomplished!!! I am all better over my illness for those of you that were still worried. So this post, the ever anticipated fall goals!!!!! I honestly don't know why I'm so excited about this, but I am! So I discovered this new word in the English language, accountability, yup that's it, I'm holding people accountable as well as myself for my goals. This is kind of an outline for my year, you know God willing, to accomplish my goals and to keep a promise to myself. Oh I should tell you all now that all of my classes are super writing and reading heavy so I will most likely only post once a week, sorry :(

Back to the goals-let's do this bullet point style!:
FALL:
*Maintain good grades and make it on the Dean's list for fall quarter. I've only been on it once in six quarters, so I figure why not try again? If I don't make it on the fall list, then I'll have winter as back-up, but realistically spring isn't even an option (too many distractions!).
*Convince the Fantastic Four from Camp Promise to come back to summer 2013. Their applications are due in December, so I've got to convince them before then. I also need to convince everyone else from this AMAZING community to just apply as a volunteer in April.
*Hold my two friends accountable to their fall goals, loosing weight and saving up money for a trip in December (basically be annoying so they'll thank me for it later).
WINTER (subject to change time allotted):
*Write 5 to 10 different email versions people can copy to email to Ellen Degeneres. I need to make some in Spanish and Arabic as well so it looks like I'm globally known. The purpose you may ask, get Ellen to follow me on twitter, tweet about Camp Promise so people will donate, and go on the show for my 21st birthday in April so I can talk about Camp Promise and all it's marvelousness!!!
SPRING (not subject to change or time allotted):
*Go crazy on twitter, Facebook, maybe even Instagram and obviously my blog so that Ellen gets a bazillion emails, tweets, and messages!
*April 9th, 2013 (my birthday!!! 21 years of life!!!! Happy craziness!!!!) be on the Ellen show talking about Camp Promise sharing my first alcoholic beverage with Ellen (okay the second part doesn't really HAVE to happen)!!!
SUMMER:
***Have the best week of my life at Camp Promise with many cool people!!! :D

I know I went from Fall to Summer, but hey you can't hate on me for being motivated!!! So I haven't been this motivated about something since I applied to my dream university and I really want to make this a reality, like I did my education! I have two people holding me accountable from now until Summer and I just hope this dream comes true! I want to make Camp Promise the best for all of its campers and volunteers!! I will keep you all updated on this journey, thank you for reading! :D

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

Being Sick

I am sorry, but the fall goals post will have to be on hold and you will have to endure this post on my being sick, may not be fun to read but at least it's medically informative, okay not really! I'm actually feeling a lot better because I started writing this post on Thursday, but honestly I am doing good. Thank you God! :)

So being sick and having SMA type 2 is kind of tricky to say the least, but at least it isn't type 1. So my lungs are not normal, meaning they don't have the lung capacity of a normal human being, but my oxygen stats and coughing power is completely normal. Back to being sick...

So usually I get a miserable combination of symptoms, like the following: earache, nose aches, runny nose, stuffy nose, wheezes, and the worst would be to end up with pneumonia (which has only happened twice, when I was 3 and 7). I know if I'm dangerously sick if I lose my appetite, which has not happened in 3 years (when I got swine flu). So enough of scaring you all, I decided to post this so you know my tips to get better! :)

Drink A LOT of water, eat oranges, eat in general, and albuterol treatments (for people with my weak lungs). Take supplements, like vitamins and all those fun things. If you feel like you can't breathe or pain or your illness has lasted more than 3-5 days, GO TO THE DOCTOR!!! Nothing is worth putting on hold for your health! Oh yeah DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A DOCTOR BY ANY MEANS, (but I do know a lot of doctors ;) hahaha) SO GO TO A DOCTOR AND FIND OUT HOW SICK YOU ARE! Sometimes I get an antibiotic and those are life savers! Nonetheless people, drink lots of water and eat healthy! Stay healthy my readers, because healthy people are happy people! :) I virtually pinky promise the fall goals post on Thursday or Friday. I start school tomorrow, so excited!!! :)

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

Revenge

So I have been watching the show Revenge on ABC, through Netflix, and I must admit it is really good!  You see I have always had this obsession with good versus evil, the whole justice must be made craziness (I blame all the superhero movies I watch).  I am always rooting for the good side, except when it comes to Damon Salvatore (bad boy for the win), and I will most definitely devote a post to The Vampire Diaries show as season four's beginning is nearer.  So for the most part I always want the good team to win, but the truly great shows are the ones that make you question your choice of who is good and bad, or even better make you fall for the evil character.  There is a Mexican soap opera/telenovela that I LOVE, mostly because the main character is so good at being evil, and I love to hate her, but let's save that for a future post.  Back to Revenge...

I am trying to finish season one, before season two starts (the determination of a university student, oh the irony).  The following may read a pinch of psycho: I love it when people get even, meaning revenge.  I know I would never follow through with an act of revenge, mostly because I have never had to since no one has ever been that mean to me.  Yet watching it on television, seeing Amanda/Emily get revenge and ruin other people's lives, just like they ruined hers gives me this rush of adrenaline.  That is honestly what I love about the show, figuring out the secrets, plot thickeners and twists, and the smarts and sneakiness it takes to take people down psychologically by ruining their lives.  Like I said, I know this makes me sound psycho, but I am also rooting for people in the show to own up to their mistakes and for forgiveness to take place (as if that will bring any ratings hahaha)!  As a writer I greatly admire the plot turns and the voice over that really makes the show extra enticing.

So if you can't tell, I keep mentioning future posts and because I start school on the 24th I don't really know what my blogging schedule will be like.  As I have mentioned before, school is always my first priority, but I do love writing...So I promise to post every Sunday FOR SURE, but posting Wednesday probably won't happen :(. I can however try and post Thursday or Friday, this post however is not a promise and it may or may not happen.  Blogger is super neat in that I can save posts and publish them later, so I will try my best to do that.  Until the next post my readers (it will be about my fall goals, so stay tuned)... :)

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

Summer gone too soon...

People may not know this about me, but I am kind of connected to the weather emotionally.  What I mean by this is that when it is sunny out I am probably the most happy I can be.  I blame this condition on growing up in California, I really LOVE it there!!!  Now where I am currently residing is a lot better for my lungs, but it's not very sunny here.  In fact in the seven years I have been here, this summer was the most stable with about a whole month of pure sunniness!  Honestly my disability is probably also to blame on my bias of the weather, you see because I do not move a lot my body is colder than an abled bodied, but when the sun is out I feel warmer and I can move more because I do not have to wear as many layers of clothing.  I also seem to associate the brightness of the sun with feeling happy, like the sun beams penetrate my skin and the glow goes into my bloodstream.  I LOVE the sun and this summer was definitely better because of it!  Always remember to wear sunscreen though to prevent skin cancer!  Summer 2013, can you come any faster?!

Summer was good to me! :D




Adios readers,
Yomara :)

DO-IT

DO-IT stands for Disabilities, Oportunities, Internetworking, Technology.  The program consists of giving people with disabilities the tools to go to college.  You can enroll in the program starting your Sophomore year in high school.  The program requires you to spend 1-2 weeks at the University of Washington day and overnight over three years to develop a foundation for your future academic career.  So what I mean by all this, is that DO-IT is a scholarship to participate in this amazing community and learn the tools you need to get ready for college.  I am endlessly thankful for DO-IT because without it I never would have felt as prepared to apply to college and ask for the accommodations I need.  Everything DO-IT teaches it's scholars is useful, I am one of the many examples that have gotten to where I am because of their resources.  After the three year program (if anything were to come up and you could not attend one of the summer program, they would understand) you still stay connected to a huge network of people that have been in the program before you, newcomers, or people in society that wish to get involved with the program.  Through DO-IT scholars find jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities, scholarships, and most importantly network.  I love how diverse all the disabilities of this program are--there is physical disabilities (wheelchair bound), blind, deaf, mute, dyslexic, and more.  I feel as if everyone feeds of each other's motivation and as a whole we hope to show society that we have a lot to contribute! :)  To apply or donate click the link: http://www.washington.edu/doit/

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

The moments...

This is definitely a nostalgic post, while at the same time kind of sad.  Just so you are warned and can avoid reading if you wish.  Growing up I always looked forward to being a certain age, just one more year and I could do this or accomplish that.  I was a kid and I knew I wasn't as healthy as my cousins, I couldn't do everything they did.  Yet I wanted to, SO badly!  I wanted to jump on trees, run across the sprinkler, chase a dog, I just wanted to get out of my chair and walk.  I wanted to stand in all the dresses my mom bought me, not just sit in them.  I was an only child and I wanted, more than anything for kids my age to play with me.  My biggest battle as a child was dressing and undressing Barbie (now she was disabled, couldn't bend to save her life), so I had a bunch of clothes for all my Barbies, but I would have my mom change them.  At one point, I was so frustrated with one doll that I grabbed a pair of scissors and chopped most of her hair off!  Yes my memory is amazing, I can remember some life events from when I was four!  My mom was not happy with the haircut, but she decided to buy me one of those dolls who you do make-up and hair on, and I didn't even have to worry about her clothes!

Now I just want to clarify one thing, since it was asked to me by a friend a day or two ago.  I have never been angry/mad about not being able to walk.  I have been jealous, at times bitter, or the worst is hurt, but never angry. 

There have been numerous moments in my life when obstacles are present, whether it be illness or vanity, but smarts, faith, and hope always get me through!

My mom prays everyday for half an hour and I thank God as much as I can for everyday, for those moments when it feels like God stopped time just so I could enjoy it more!

On the brighter side, some AMAZING HAPPY MOMENTS IN MY LIFE:
Swimming in California beaches, feeling the warm sand grains in between my toes, going to Disneyland and talking to Cinderella and Ariel, going to the OC parks and stuffing my face with tacos and ice cream in company of my parents, getting rewards throughout Elementary school for academic excellence (never got attendance award, darn doctors appointments hahaha), middle school academic awards, high school academic awards, scholarships, University acceptance, healing from various illnesses over various periods of time, meeting true friends, Prom, being spoiled by my parents, those songs that make you smile/dance/cry, the movies that you quote, writing :), and many more!

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

Advocacy

I am all about advocacy, especially for people with disabilities.  The thing is I am not so good at actually advocating for the bigger group as a whole.  The only real community advocating for people with disabilities I feel I have actually collaborated in was my research paper from a couple posts ago.  Honestly advocating, even just for myself scares me because although society has grown in its acceptance towards people with disabilities it is still a situation I find unpleasant.  I guess this blog is my form of advocacy, in a write to inform people what I can do and what I do differently.  My reason for this post is mostly to admire another writer's handiwork.  Kyann, a delightful girl with muscular dystrophy I met at camp also has a blog.  Kyann's posts really get to the point, and her writing bleeds advocacy for everyone!  She provides exact examples and does all of her research to prove her point, which is right!  You could say I praise her because we're friends, but no lie go check out the link.  Kyann your writing is so B.A., I admire it!  I am biased and love her Camp Promise post the most! :) http://lameperspective.blogspot.com/

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

Time

"Time", it seems like any other word--ordinary, simple, and spoken.  The thing is that that four letter word embodies much more than it's letter count.  Time can be the time of day, a time zone, time spent, time lost, or even time left.  An appointment/date can be something you are looking forward to or completely dreading.  It can be a memory or belief like 11:11, wanting to remember what happened at that exact time or making a wish.  Time can be a curfew, and you can be Cinderella.  Time can fly by and you wish it did or did not.  Time can be frozen and you feel like it's against you or you are happy in the moment.  Sometimes you may feel like you let time slip from your hands, while at other times you feel like you accomplish a lot in an allotted time.  Time of day brings darkness or light.  Time zones makes you wonder what other people are doing (my mommy went on vacation to Mexico and I miss her so!!!).  Time left on this planet makes you wonder just how long you'll really live, will you wake-up tomorrow or die many years from now?  Sometimes you can feel a hybrid of feelings about the time.  I speak about time like this from a 20 year old lifetime of experience.  Time is of the essence, so enjoy your loved ones today and make life goals, just keep up with the ticking clock of time...tick-tock :)

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

MDA

Today is the annual MDA telethon, a telethon I am very thankful for.  MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) fundraises every year, and throughout the year, to have as much funding as possible for its recipients.  I am one of those recipients, that when the state does not cover a certain expense MDA covers the balance.  There is a variety of neuromuscular diseases that fall under the coverage of MDA, and all of these diseases require very expensive equipment that makes our day to day living easier.  Wheelchairs can range from five thousand dollars to sixty thousand and more.  Then wheelchair maintenance and repairs are also very expensive.  Bath chairs, battery chargers, breathing machines, and other accommodation equipment costs a lot of money.  Not to mention hospitalizations, vaccines, medication, and routine appointments.  If the government and MDA did not help with these costs all of us would be broke.  So I just want to say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, if you have ever donated please know that your contribution made a difference!  To check out the MDA awesomeness go to the link: http://mda.org/

Thank you! :)

Adios readers,
Yomara :)

Inspiration

I think it is because I am still on a camp high, but I feel excessively inspired (if that is even possible)!  I am often told that I am an inspiration, but honestly I feed so much off of others triumphs that I feel like my inspiration to be the way I am comes from seeing other people.  I am very varied in where I get my inspiration from, but that is what makes me appreciate every person that much more.  All individuals have certain qualities that make them unforgettable.  At camp I really saw that I am beyond blessed, in terms of my disability and living condition.  The stories I heard and the amount of bravery and tenacity I saw made me appreciate my life even more.  There are also the cases of people I do not know in person, but through the Internet and media that inspire me to keep making goals for myself (in Glee words, "don't stop believing").  The following are just a few of the many people I appreciate are on this earth...

Talia: Is a teenage girl with two types of cancers that makes YouTube beauty videos.  She is such a bright spirit and has so much joy when she's talking about her make-up.  She does not let her cancer stop her from feeling beautiful :) http://m.youtube.com/user/taliajoy18

Ben Mattlin: A Harvard graduate who has SMA (like me!!!) and a writer for NPR, as well as other distinguished writing venues.  His new book was recently published, I loved the excerpt and I bet I will love the book (stay tuned for a post on the book)! http://www.benmattlin.com/

Ellen Degeneres: Ellen is like a crazier version of Oprah (in a good way). Ellen gives back so much to the world, she tries to lend a helping hand at all times.  She is one of my favorite media people because she knows that laughter is the best medicine! http://ellen.warnerbros.com/

I have many more people, famous and close friends that I admire that I will post on soon! In the wise words of Ellen, "Be kind to one another!" :)

Adios readers,
Yomara :)