Ode to an Awesome Friend

I have nominated my most awesome friend, Emilysa, for the "Most Awesome Friend of the Year" award.

Qualifications include:

• being a great mission companion, roommate, and friend for nearly six years.
• teaching me how to make cookie dumplings, rice and beans, and other concoctions.
• always asking the right questions.
  
• being willing to drive approximately 115 miles to cheer me up on a rotten day, and waiting unfazed while I periodically felt the need to stare into the toilet during her visit.
• embarking on adventures that some may call "geeky" and others call "nerdy," but we call "fun."
• finding the time to see me in some less than convenient places like the Salt Lake Airport and a church in the Phoenix area.
• being a fabulous example.
  
• understanding me.
  

Vote for Em for the most "Awesome Friend of the Year Award" and wish her a "Happy Birthday" this week.

Recovery

I'm bored! It's day eight of sickness. What I thought was a migraine, turned out to be the flu, then turned into pneumonia. Yep, it's been fun. I wish I could invite you all over to share in the joy. Some of the best moments when were I thought to myself, "Oh, it's 2010, I wonder if I am allowed to take more Tylenol," or when I was told it would be a 45 minute wait at the pharmacy for prepackaged antibiotics.

But like all trials, I have learned some things. Allow me to share.

1) Broth - The doctor told me to eat soup - lots of it! I'm not sure what her definition of "a lot" was but let me tell you mine. I can't muster more than one can a day. I have tried. I have failed. I am supplementing my broth eating with hot herbal tea and warm Jell-O. Is that sufficient, doctor?

2) Asking for help isn't the worst thing in the world. I really hate asking for help. People have turned out in droves to help me though. My roommate did my laundry. A friend brought me yellow Gerber daisies. I got a blessing, and my Relief Society president brought me real food last night. Roasted chicken has never tasted so good! I am spilling over with gratitude which brings me to my next thing.

3) I've become grateful for unique possibly weird things.

First, Sir Alexander Fleming, all of humanity should praise you. Antibiotics are a miracle. Thank you for your discovery. Without antibiotics, I would probably be in a hospital or worse by now.

Second, I am always a little happy every time phlegm comes shooting out of my mouth during a full body convulsive cough. Yes, people this is TMI, but I think it means I'm getting better. I could be wrong, but I'm trying to stay positive. Do NOT contradict me!

Third, I am grateful I have a place I would rather be than sick. I would take work over sick days anytime. I'm not looking forward to my backlog of work I have to do, but I am excitedly anticipating my return.

4) Lastly, I'm practically better. I was convinced on Monday night that the world was coming to an end, but it hasn't. 8 days really isn't that long afterall.

The Prodigal Blogger Returns

It has been ages since, I have sat down to write an update of my life. But so as not to disappoint my reader(s), I return. I find myself in day three of the flu (the pigless kind). Besides feeling horribly uncomfortable, I'm terribly bored. I can't muster the strength to clean my room, but it takes far less energy to exercise my fingers.

The reason for my blogging delinquency is simply that I've been busy. Yes, folks, it's true. I tend to write more when life is pretty slow. In addition to my relatively busy schedule I've been sick, traveling or in all other ways lacking the desire to blog. So here are a few highlights of November and December 2010.

My parents came to visit. We visited the Newport Beach Temple, the Getty, Hollywood, and San Juan Capistrano. It was fun to share my life with them and get to do a few things I hadn't done yet.

The week after that I flew to Utah on Thanksgiving to enjoy turkey with my sister's family. I made the cranberry sauce. Even people who hate cranberry sauce claimed to enjoy it.

I was in charge of the library staff holiday party. I learned a couple of things in the planning of this party. People expect decorations at holiday parties, and The Office is more true to life than most people are willing to admit. My manager declared it a success. Maybe party planning, has potential of being a talent of mine.

On December 19th, I anxiously awaited my flight to New York where I would spend two days with my brother and sister-in-law before heading up to Maine. Well, obviously my flight got cancelled. I arrived in New York on December 21 and spent approximately 11 blissful hours in New York. I did get to see the tree at Rockefeller Center which did not disappoint.

The rest of my holiday was spent in Maine. I slept late, watched schmaltzy Christmas movies, ate delicious food, and had a great time with my family. Unfortunately, I'm lacking photos of the experience.

Well, I'm getting a little sleepy. To all of you out there. Happy New Year. Here's to a wonderful 2010.