Eragon Series

Well, here I am again, talking away about another finished book series. The Eragon book series. In all, it was almost 2,000 pages. I finished it in around 2-3 months. However, as most dedicated readers would agree, the last book is often the one you whizz through. Unlike the other books, the last one is filled with adrenaline, heart pounding suspense, surprises around every corner, and most of all, the satisfying, but sudden ending. That's what I felt in Inheritance, the last book in the series. For an 860 page book, I was expecting the middle to be boring, and all the action and suspense to come at the end. I was in for a surprise.

I loved the last book so much that I finished it in 4.25 days. I have been stuck on the author of Pendragon (D.J. Machale), that it was very hard for me to adapt from his style of writing. But those worries were washed away when I read the first sentence in Eragon, the first book.

I not only found the first book surprisingly gripping and stunning, but I found the author an interesting story as well. Because although the writing in the first book is considered professional writing, Christopher Paolini started the book when he was but of the age of 14. He finished when he was 18. Took 4 years, but, hey what can you do? Every work of art takes time, or someone can always tell if you really devoted your time and paid attention to even the little details.

Ever since I started the second book Eldest, I wanted to write a book, like him, become a professional, like my dad. Well, when I read the last book, I knew that I obviously had a ways to go in order to compare to Paolin's talent. Although I realized it in the 3rd book as well, Brisingr.

What has surprised me the most about the Eragon series, is the names. It surprises me that someone could even make up these names, or even know how to pronounce them. Thank goodness he added a pronunciation guide, else I would have been lost, completely oblivious to what the names or places or the ancient language actually meant.

And yet, here I am, writing about something that probably nobody cares about. But, as a writer must learn, the first thing to anything, or in this case writing, is to start out slow. Make the most of something little. That's what the Eragon series has taught me. Because an idea as small as a boy named Eragon and his dragon Saphira in a little town, can lead to bigger, better, and bolder things. The Eragon series is a must for anyone who has a thirst for reading, as I do. Thank you Eragon, and thank you Christopher Paolini.

Pippin and Tebow

When people ask me what happened in the now deserted house in Colorado, I simply reply by saying, "we lost everything... Everything". Which, in truth, we did. Because when I think of what me and my family lost, I don't only think of the toys, the movies, the beds, the rooms, the 5 levels, the stairs... But Pippen. If you are not informed on who Pippen is, then let me tell you that he was one of my very best friends. He shared something with me that not many other people I knew shared. Diabetes. He was a dog, yes. And although some people argue that dogs don't have any other feeling for you than blind stupidity, I know, when I think of Pippin, that it's not true. Because although he was a blind, fumbling, bumbling dog, I know that he saw better than any dog could. He saw with his heart. Because I know that he knew, that I loved him.

I miss Pippen, sometimes it feels that I can't go on without him. Which, in part, is true. Because there's still apart of me that is living in Colorado, waiting, wishing that my body could come back and see my friends, see Frodo (our other dog that died), and see Pippen, alive and well. But, deep down, I know that he's still here, watching me, and nuzzling me like he used to do, encouraging me to go on.

So when December 20th, 2011 came,-4 years after we lost everything- I remember thinking that everything was won back. December 20th was the day that Tebow Baggins Fabry entered the family. A puppy, still new to the world that awaited him, still new to us. We decided upon the name because of, well, of course, Tim Tebow. But my mother, wanted to make him a hobbit. So, we decided that we would make him a hobbit with his middle name. Baggins. And so the oily black, pallid white, gray headed morkie (a multise yorkee mix) was born.

And although Tebow has allowed me to not grieve as much over Pippen, I will never, ever forget him. Because without Pippen, there would be no Tebow, I'll miss Pippen, but I'm happy he's still here, living inside my heart.

     Tebow: 

                                                                                                      

                                 Pippen:            

The Life of a Diabetic

One day is all it takes to change your life. June 26^th, happened to be that day. The day I was diagnosed. The day that told me that life was going to be different from now on. It was the day that I found out that I, Colin Fabry, had it.  Type 1 Diabetes. When I first heard it, I thought it was some type of deadly disease, or someting that would never go away. I happened to be right about the latter. But although I looked upon this disease with disdain at first, I later found that there was a gift in this curse.

Coming up on five years with Diabetes, I see now that there was a reason for me having this disease. It was so that I could find a unique way to endure. And I have endured. At times, I just want to take a day off, or go a meal without testing or dosing. But I know that although life would be so much easier if I could, I also know that life would not be complete. We all have our own personalities, our own ways we do things, and our own lifestyles. Mine is living with Diabetes.  

When I tell people that I have Diabetes, they usually look a little sad in the eye. Hey, it gets me attention, but it also makes me a little angry. “Why?” you would ask. Because I feel that no one should be sad about my life, lifestyle, and my disease. Usually people with a disease would also look sad and discouraged. Not me. That’s why whenever someone hears that I have Diabetes, and gets the sad gleam in their eyes, it makes me a little angry. Because although, yes, it’s sad that I have a disease, it shouldn’t change everyone’s opinion of me. I’d rather be known as Colin Fabry. Not the kid with Diabetes who does a prick here and a shot there. I want to be recognized as me.

Diabetes is a hardship that many people have to face. So whenever I do meet someone with my disease, I feel proud that I can relate to them. I feel as if we share a day. One day. One day that told both of us that nothing would ever be the same. One day. Because one day is all it takes to change your life forever. And that one day was June 26^th.

Avocado Ice Cream

Over the years, my body has adapted to many different types of foods. Foods that I swore that I would never try. But, with every promise, there is a flaw. Because the second we moved out of our house in Colorado, it was the first second that would change my life, my friends, and my eating habits. Okay, maybe not that second, but, still, you get the picture.

However, when my sister Erin presented to me an idea for a substitute for ice cream, I "Bahffed" it off, saying nothing could replace ice cream. I was wrong. She had made two different types of ice cream that day. Chocolate and Lime. When my eyes feasted upon the chocolate, I gasped in shock. It was the most wonderful-looking food I'd seen in a long time. I knew then that there was always hope. 

So, from that day, I made and expanded upon the idea of avocado ice cream. Whenever I tell someone about it, usually they cringe in disgust saying, "I hate avocados". And well, I can't say I blame them. I hate plain avocados too. I can only have avocados when it's with ice cream. So, to make people understand what it looks like and such I made a video:

In this video, I used a Stick Blender. However, as I said, I've expanded upon that idea. I now use a food processor.
Over many years, my body has adapted to many foods. And avocado ice cream is one of them.

In the Midst of Destruction

  

The picture shown reminds me of two things. The paper I just wrote about 9/11. And my life. Now, I'm guessing most of you are scratching your heads, befuddled on how this picture of destruction, fire, and eruption could represent my life in Vail, AZ. Well, when I was looking on google for a good, 1800 size picture for my background, I decided to type in "New York". Well, as probably everyone does when they look up "New York", there's of course going to be a horrific picture of 9/11. And this happened to be the one. That's when that picture gave me a brilliant idea, and a brilliant name for a brilliant blog post. "In the Midst of Destruction". It made me think of the mold. Which, I'm sure, you've heard a million gazillion times in all my blog posts. But this made me think of a unique way of seeing the reason the mold was there and the reason we had to leave our house. Because without destruction, there is never hope. If there were no destruction with some person and somewhere, where would our hope be? Because whenever we experience a horrific event such as 9/11, we would never look for help. Or hope. Or God.

            9/11 changed America and the surrounding countries forever. America lost almost 3,000 lives. I guess in a way, you could say the same about the mold. Only, except the losing 3,000 lives thing. 9/11 changed my life forever, and it made me realize how much I needed that destruction and fire, and smoke, and tears, and cries. It was because I didn’t have enough hope. The reason God puts trials in our lives is because we need them (and most likely deserve them). And when he does, he knows that we’ll look to him when it happens to us.

                Had the mold not “attacked” me, I wouldn’t have become a Christian. It gave me hope. When I take a look at the picture shown, it reminds me of 3 things (not 2). 1.) My awful report on 9/11, 2.) My wonderful, awesome life, and 3.) Hope. Because in the midst of destruction, you’ll always find hope. No matter what the situation, God will always place that giant or tiny speck of hope in your life. All you have to do, is look for it. Just look for it... In the midst of destruction.

Valentines Day

Today was Valentines Day. And all I have to say about this holiday is that it's one that you'll remember forever. At least this one was. When emotion was flooding throughout the room, My eyes welled up with tears. Along with all the 6 girls. All of us were popping our tear jugs out. Kaitlyn is one emotional wreck that I'll never forget. Forever. The reason is because she's the closest sister I have. When I saw her cry, it reminded me of the old days when we were pals. But, that wasn't the only thing that happened. My parents danced. When I watched my parents circle with each other on the "dance floor", I thought of something. I thought of how my life has changed over the years. I thought of how everything could change in the blink of an eye. My whole life, my whole world.
When they danced to a slow song and were in eachothers' embrace, sobbing, I'll admit it, my eyes began to get teary...Again. But not only was I crying because everyone else was, but I was crying because I was thinking about the house, and everything we lost. I thought about how people recognize my family as the "Christians who had mold". I wanted to be known by who I am, not how I became who I am. I want to be known as the kid who's a drummer, the kid who goes to Civano Middle School. I want people to remember this post where I mention Colin (me) Mason and Sean (the initials for Civano Middle School are CMS. The initials for Colin Mason Sean is CMS).
My life was a hard one, I'll admit it. I've had trials that I've had to push through. Trials that made me cry, that made me angry, and even ones that simply broke me down. But I believe that I've experienced all this for a reason. If I hadn't gone through this, I wouldn't have cried with my family tonight, I wouldn't have met two of the smartest people in the world, Sean and Mason. I wouldn't know my diabetic pen pal Kathryn. I wouldn't have learned how to play the drums, never would have learned that I don't need to give into the peer pressure. And I never truly would have been Colin Andrew Fabry.
All this I realized while my parents went back and forth in eachothers' embrace, crying; my sisters not holding back the tears. I realized in those few brief moments that life is not simply by chance, it's not just a thing you do and it ends. God plans it out. He knows what's going on always, he knows what you're going through and he knows what's ahead.
Today was Valentines Day. And it's one I'll never forget.

6.0

Striving. That's one of many words my family uses to describe our journey. That's also one the word I use for my A1C. "What's an A1C?" You ask. Well, it's a thing only Diabetics have to worry about. It's the average Blood Glucose rate in one or more months.
And  ever since I was diagnosed, me and my two pancreases have been striving for that number 6.0 to show up on my A1C test results. A normal person's A1C would be between 4 and 5.
When I was first told I had diabetes, I had no idea what the heck that noun meant. Of course, I was seven and a half back then and I hardly knew what the word "disease" meant, but still. But when I got more accustomed to this disease, I began to question what in the world this "A1C" meant. So after a long while listening to the long explanation the doctor, Dr. Taplin gave me, I finally understood what A1C meant. That's where the questions really began to start piling up. "What is a normal person's A1C?" "How could I make my A1C better than 10.3?" "How long will it take?"
And, of course, mothers aren't necessarily the most resourceful human beings in the world (no offence,) so all I got was a simple, "I don't know. We'll just have to take it one day at a time." Of course, I don't have any better idea of when it will happen, so I take the suggestion willingly, knowing very well that it be a long time until I would get an A1C like that.
Weeks turned into months and months turned into years until finally, after 4 long years, I, Colin Fabry, have reached 6.0 in my diabetic road, all the while traveling this black road, the Moldy road. After going from 10.3 to 9.2. An from 9.2 to 8.4; down to 7.5 and then to 7.0, I am finally at 6, the glorious 6.
I'm still traveling, I'm still going, and I'll never stop. Not until I die. Striving. That's what I'm doing. And I'll keep on striving.