You Lay in a Bed of Lies

My parents are a bunch of liars.

My whole life my parents have told me that when my mom turned thirty, she became allergic to every kind of animal. And I believed them. You may be thinking, Whitney why would you believe this? Because when my mom turned thirty she became allergic to raw potatoes and apples too. So my parents told me I couldn't have any pets because "You have siblings" and also because "Your mom is allergic". I asked about every single animal there was including parrots, chinchillas, and rats. But the answer was always the same, "No your mom's allergic."

Being the antagonist I am, my dad promised me that we could have an outside dog when the youngest sibling was out of diapers, and we lived in a house with a fenced in yard. I think he promised me this because either Grace would never get out of diapers, or most likely we would never live in and own a house with a fenced in yard.

Well, Grace has been out of diapers for about 12 years, and we've had a fenced in yard for 8. This isn't the part that bothers me. It's the fact that my brother got a puppy this past weekend and my mom was hogging the dog. I reminded her that she was allergic to dogs (she always forgets that she is allergic to apples and wonders why her throat itches after she eats one), because she was hogging the dog and wouldn't let anyone else play with it. She then stated, "No, I'm only allergic to cats."

My whole childhood was a lie. I mean the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and now this?!

I know, my parents are horrible people. And, because of their poor parenting and laziness I am not an Olympic athlete. Had they just pushed me, I could have been Dominique Dawes or Dominique Moceanu (I lived in Romania, I probably could have tumbled like a Romanian). I remind my mom of this every time the Olympics are on.

Here are pictures of the what started it all:

The dog's name is Harry.

Sick of Being Sick

So it's no secret that I have been sick for quite some time, actually since I went to Romania and contracted what I thought was mononucleosis.

It's been over two years, and I haven't gotten better. I thought I was crazy and a hypochondriac, so I didn't let others know of my belief that it wasn't mono (well, actually before the test results came back I told my mom there was no way that it was mono). But the tests came back positive.

It wasn't until this past year, when I was living with some old besties when they started saying "I think you have some Romania virus" that I realized I wasn't alone in my disbelief.

But after another positive test for mononucleosis, a swollen liver and spleen and the forbidding of exercising that I thought I was going to get better. But I didn't.

Three weeks ago, I went to the doctor once again and told her, "I'm not getting better" and that "I am sick of being sick", when she stated "We'll test your blood again and see if you're anemic (and some other diseases and conditions that I can't remember)". Sure enough the test came back positive that I indeed am anemic. Meaning that a simple iron supplement can cure me of my fatigue, and hopefully my negative attitude and outlook on life.

This also means that for the past year or so, I could have been healthy had they merely done the right test in the first place. So, thank you Eastside Family Medicine and BYU Student Health Clinic, for running the wrong tests and prolonging my illness.

Moral of the story: If you think there is something wrong with you, there probably is, even if no one believes you. And if your besties start telling you that they think something is wrong with you, there probably is too.

She's a Passionate Woman

This post goes out to my dear friend Emily Lloyd who has a passion for faceinhole.com, which after following her lead, I have grown to love myself. This is what I have been up to the past few hours:


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE



Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE


Create your own FACEinHOLE

Don't worry, I was laughing out loud by myself like a crazy person when I made these.

She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain When She Comes

I survived the trip and it was quite fun.



My grandpa had pneumonia and I had to take him to the doctors a couple of times, but we had fun anyways. I slept on his couch and was unaware that he doesn't sleep, but rather paces his house and swears randomly all throughout the night, which made me realize where I get some of my distinguishable qualities. I also administered his medication and gave him his insulin shots, which was awesome. He is also adorable and leaving him was one of the hardest things I had to do since leaving Romania. It was just like leaving my kids all over again, because I knew that he would be taken care of, but I no longer had control of taking care of him. Not to mention I look about 20 pounds overweight in all of my pictures (unlike Romania where I actually was 20 pounds overweight).



We also watched westerns and oldies like "Murder She Wrote" and my personal favorite "Golden Girls". I realized that my life will be one long episode of "Golden Girls" and if I had to be a character I would probably be Dorothy (you have to see the show, then you would totally understand).



Katie Cullen will be disappointed to know that I did not get to ride the horses due to the fact it was pouring down rain the entire time. The closest I got to riding a horse was driving a 1968 Mustang. Another disappointment is that I didn't get an opportunity to wear my mom's Lee jeans that I had to borrow because I left all my crappy jeans in Utah. Nor did I wear the tennis shoes that I stole from my little sister's room (that she never knew I took in the first place).

I also spent some quality time with a hobo when I was waiting for my dad to pick me up at King Street Station. He told me about his veteran status and how he has tumors from Desert Storm and how it is all Bush's fault. He talked to me for about 15 minutes straight and told me that he was supposed to be in the VA hospital in Montana but the convoy never came because of Bush. He told me that I looked like one of the nurses at the hospital and I said, "I used to work at a hospital." He asked me if I was a nurse and when I said no, he changed the subject. He then went on to tell me I was an honest person who cared, and asked if I could give him money for his fare. I told him I didn't have money to give him, but I had food. So I gave him my teddy grahams and a country time lemonade and he was off to harass other passengers. I saw his a few minutes later guzzling the teddy grahams and the lemonade was no where in sight. Little did he know that he looked, talked, and acted exactly like my old patients.

Trout Creek or Bust

So today I will be going by train to Trout Creek, Montana. That's right, by train. The last time I was on a train was in Romania, when a drunken man tried to break into my cabin. But today I will be traveling alone on the wonderful Amtrak. If you are having a bad day just picture this: Me sitting all by my lonesome on a 10 hour train ride to Montana.



I'm going to visit my grandpa you lives with my aunt and uncle, so basically I'm killing two birds with one stone. I will be getting in touch with the inner cowgirl inside of me. It is over 50 miles to the nearest stop light.

I will be there until Friday, and won't have cell phone coverage, so if you can't get a hold of me, do not panic. I will be back soon.