Remember the roommates

So I thought it would be interesting last night to list out all the roommates I've ever lived with. Turns out that I have 37!!! Guess that's what I get for being single for so long. I'm sure someone else will easily trump me, but I thought it a pretty significant number. Here's a tribute to the wonderful girls that have put up with me over the years.

Thanks! RachelWendiRalphieKarenJanaMistieAnnaStaceyIvy
JamieJulinaJulieAngieSpringElizabethBethanyJenniferNicoleKate
NaomiAmyHopeKateSusanLisaKaraKirstenKatrinaCindyGingerJulie
DesireeJessicaAmberCamillaMichelleJuliana


(Sorry, I only have pictures of ones I've had since buying my digital camera)

100 things

Kasey (who inspired me to write down my bucket list last year) passed on this list on her blog and I thought it was a fun thing to do. There may be some things you didn't know about me! The bolded ones I have accomplished.

Which of these 100 things have you done?
1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited Hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to Disneyland
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited Paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea (I'd rather not have a repeat of Rachel's experience..)
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. seen in person the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables (sadly no, I have difficulty keeping even "un-killable" plants alive)
19. seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch-hiked
23. taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping (I've had my suit come off in the water by accident...does that count?)
27. run a marathon
28. ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or a sunset (are you kidding...someone hasn't?)
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen Niagra falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen Michaelangelo's "David"
41. sung karaoke
42. seen the old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. visited Africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. received a prestigious award
48. gone deep sea fishing (i haven't even been normal fishing! sad, huh)
49. seen the Sistine chapel in person
50. been to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain (No, but I've actually always wanted to...)
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of China
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. got flowers for no reason
64. donated blood, platelets or plasma (they won't let me)
65. gone sky diving (someday)
66. visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check (i've overdrawn my debit account...that's pretty much the same thing)
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the Lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guards in London
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book (working on it)
81. visited the Vatican
82. bought a brand new car (1 yr old, does that count?)
83. walked in Jerusalem (on my bucket list)
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating (that would be interesting, I admit)
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone's life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby (sigh...I've been baby hungry since I was 18)
95. seen the Alamo in person
96. swam in the great salt lake
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee
100. learned to play an instrument

Snow! meets Calvin and Hobbes...

I was in a "welcome to your new ward" meeting at this time a few years ago and they asked us to introduce ourselves and tell something interesting we did over the Christmas break. I told them I made a snow giraffe with my little sister. They thought that was cute and asked me how old my little sister was. I had to reply 20, and then they got these weird looks on their faces as if it is no longer cool to play with snow once an adult. Scrooges! My family does not share those sentiments...obviously. Here's what we made with the wonderful packing snow this year! I wish you could see their faces, they are pretty funny.

iPhone

I've been considering this for over a year...and finally decided it would be my Christmas present this year, rather than getting an mp3 player, new PDA, and new cell phone. I got a new iPhone which has it all plus more!!! I can already tell it is going to be addicting. I love it!

Christmas at home

I had a great time this Christmas. I've been up in Logan off and on all week to get as much family time as possible. My siblings even came down to SLC see me perform on Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately, we all caught the plague (ie violent influenza) during the week and had to quarantine ourselves to the room where we bowed down to the ivory throne for a day. yuck! Lucky me, I got the worst case and couldn't eat much for several days. I even lost 3 lbs! eek! (which I did not have to lose in the first place...sigh)

We still found time to be toether and have fun. I gave all my sisters scarves for Christmas. Don't we look cute?

My Christmas Card

This is my attempt to reach my Christmas greetings to as many friends and family as possible.



Merry Christmas!

It has been an interesting year for me, as usual. Here were some of the highlights:

-Got my CDE (certified diabetic educator) license and continue to work at St. Mark's Diabetes Center
-Went on a Caribbean cruise with a group of friends
-Bought a townhouse (I have a permanent address now!)
-Paid off my car
-Got hooked on country swing dancing
-Took mini-vacations to St. George, Bear Lake, and Laramie
-Played for Desert Star Theater's Christmas musical
-Dated a lot, with no real success
-Enjoyed many musical venues, art exhibits, and theater productions
-Had my picture in the Aug issue of the Ensign magazine
-Started a Blog! (which loves visitors and commentaries)

I am thankful for my many blessing and the real reason for this holiday season, Jesus Christ. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas! I always enjoy hearing from old and new friends and family:)
Emily

p.s. Here's your annual holiday joke:
Are there any holiday treats that are safe for people with diabetes?

Yes, all of them are...until swallowed.

Ward Christmas Party

My ward's Christmas extravaganza was on Saturday.

Emily A, Tiffany (not there for this picture) and I sang "Mr. Santa" for part of the program.

There was also an ugly sweater contest. This was my entry...courtesy of dear Ljiljana from Zagreb, Croatia that gave it to me as a gift (complete with holes from her dog chewing on her sleeve). I cannot part with it for sentimental reasons, so I break it out for parties like these where it can be appreciated for it's creative beauty. I did not win the contest, however. My bishop won out with his sweatshirt that had ornaments pinned all over and blinking lights fueled by a battery pack on his back. I should have gotten a picture of that...