Some of you may remember my jubilation back in October when the Dolphins beat the Patriots. If you have forgotten you can read about it here. Today my joy is full.
I am nothing if not a Dolphin fan. I also possess a deep disdain for the Jets only surpassed by my absolute hatred for the Patriots. Today we reached the peak of the mountain that we started climbing after the AFC championship game last year. The Patriots lost in the Super Bowl leaving them with one loss in a season where the aforementioned Dolphins won one game. That same Patriots team lost their overrated quarterback and struggled to an 11-5 finish this year. Any other year 11-5 gets you into the playoffs, but not this year. You see the Patriots needed the Dolphins to lose today to get into the playoffs. This brings us to my fullness of joy. The Dolphins went from 1-15 to 11-5 and in the last game of the season they not only beat the Jets to make the playoffs, but they also ensured that the Patriots would be left out of the party this year. Victory and Vengeance all in one afternoon.
I can now turn all my attention to the Utes game on Friday. With all due respect to Florida and Oklahoma, if Utah can beat Alabama in New Orleans they deserve to be ranked number 1. That won't happen, but it should. It is inconceivable that a team can finish the season ranked in the top 6 in the nation and beat a top 5 team in a BCS bowl game to finish the season as the only undefeated team in college football and yet be an afterthought in the national title picture. What makes it even worse is that if the Utes win, the team they will have beaten was the consensus number one team in the nation just one month ago heading into the SEC championship game.
Go Utes!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
One Down, One to Go
Jessi had surgery yesterday morning to remove her tubes. She had developed a tumor next to one so it had to be removed and the other one once cleaned off pretty much was falling out on its own so it was removed as well. The ENT doesn't think she needs new ones due to her ear growth so we are hopeful that her ears won't cause her any more problems and she can have fun in the pool with her brothers this summer. She did a great job and charmed every nurse that she saw earning herself a stash of stickers. She was a bit upset after surgery as the anesthesia wore off but calmed down rather quickly in her daddy's lap and was ready to go home by 9:00. On a funny note, before they took her back for surgery they gave her a drug to help calm her. Within 5 minutes she was swaying in circle while holding on to the bars of the bed and watching her hands sway back and forth in the air. It was hilarious. She was so out of it she doesn't remember them rolling her down the hall and mommy and daddy leaving. Ah the miracle of drugs.
Yesterday afternoon we also had an appointment for Spencer with the Urologist. He has been having pain when he urinates and it is getting rather bothersome to him. With one look at Spencer the doctor was sure that he needs to have surgery. They need to widen his "pee pee hole" (Spencer's term) as the doctor says it currently barely exists. So it looks like in late January we will be back in the hospital again for another round of surgery. Just like Jessi, they won't need an IV as it is so short they can just use a mask. Once Spencer heard there were no shots and it wouldn't hurt him anymore to urinate he got rather excited at the prospect of minor surgery. He is also hoping to round up some stickers. Well see how his charms work on the nurses.
Thank you to all of our friends who have watched of our children during all of our doctor's appointments this month. It has been a little crazy keeping up with them all but knowing there was always someone willing to watch the kids really relieved a whole ton of my stress. Thanks again, and let me know when we can repay the favor.
Yesterday afternoon we also had an appointment for Spencer with the Urologist. He has been having pain when he urinates and it is getting rather bothersome to him. With one look at Spencer the doctor was sure that he needs to have surgery. They need to widen his "pee pee hole" (Spencer's term) as the doctor says it currently barely exists. So it looks like in late January we will be back in the hospital again for another round of surgery. Just like Jessi, they won't need an IV as it is so short they can just use a mask. Once Spencer heard there were no shots and it wouldn't hurt him anymore to urinate he got rather excited at the prospect of minor surgery. He is also hoping to round up some stickers. Well see how his charms work on the nurses.
Thank you to all of our friends who have watched of our children during all of our doctor's appointments this month. It has been a little crazy keeping up with them all but knowing there was always someone willing to watch the kids really relieved a whole ton of my stress. Thanks again, and let me know when we can repay the favor.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Electronic Christmas Letter
Here is a copy of our Christmas letter this year. If you received a copy in the mail feel free to skip down to the pictures but for those that didn't Jacob wrote the letter this year. You know that means a fantastically witty annual Christmas letter. Sorry to those that did not receive a copy of this in the mail. We love and think of you all but unfortunately I don't have the time, and/or energy to repeat my wedding invitation process ever again.
Dear Family and Friends,
“Life is just like an old time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” -Gordon B Hinckley
This year began in Cedar City, Utah for us. I finished my 4th year of medical school at Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine. As I have often been asked if my medical school education was online I will inform you that the 4th year of medical school is almost entirely filled with elective rotations (elective in that you choose which rotations to do not elective in choosing whether or not to do them). I chose to move my family back to Cedar City and finish out my schooling with the doctors I plan to work alongside in the future.
In the spring we received news that we would be moving to South Bend, Indiana to start a 3 year residency in Family Practice. Following graduation in June we bought a house, loaded up the Penske and anxiously began our next adventure in life.
Let me share with you some of the beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
Spencer will be 6 in January. He started Kindergarten this year and seems to enjoy each and every day. At a recent parent-teacher conference we were informed that Spencer is a joy to have in class because he approaches each day with such enthusiasm. According to his teacher Spencer is genuinely excited and almost surprised to see his friends each morning in class. It’s almost as if he is expecting them, or us, to move….
Jessi, 3, is overjoyed to have her own room fit for a princess. Melissa outdid herself painting and decorating Jessi’s room with stripes of pink and green along with shelves to display her Cinderella collection (graciously bestowed upon her by her wonderful Aunt Corinne). I’m somewhat surprised Melissa didn’t splurge on a Cinderella Fathead to put on the wall (if you don’t know what that is you need to ask the football fan in your family).
Kristian is a true Corry. Growing up it seemed everybody in my family had a strange nickname. I had a brother named Luther, a sister named Pard, I was called Frank from time to time. There were others, but I can’t remember them right now. At any rate Kristian is our little Nader, sometimes Naderman (pronounced like skater as opposed to chatter). He turned 2 on the 5th of December and enjoyed every minute of his birthday. This year has seen him start to walk, and talk. He’s still growing like a weed and he gets stronger every day. I have visions of him being my star football player in a few years (not that I’m trying to relive my life through my children or anything like that).
Melissa is somewhere between the 3rd and 7th months of her 4th pregnancy. I do know she is due in March (though I’m not sure on the date). She had an ultrasound so I know she’s past 20 weeks. The baby was not at all cooperative so we don’t know the sex. I’ve thought about taking her into the clinic or the hospital and playing around with the ultrasound myself, but we both are pretty excited to be surprised this time around. Melissa loves South Bend! She has made some wonderful friends and is slowly but surely making this house into quite a home.
Through the year we’ve experienced tragedies and triumphs, sicknesses, and health. We’ve felt love and longing, and this year, like no other, we feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the journey.
We wish you all the merriest of Christmases and hope this finds you well.
Love,
The Corrys
“Life is just like an old time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” -Gordon B Hinckley
This year began in Cedar City, Utah for us. I finished my 4th year of medical school at Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine. As I have often been asked if my medical school education was online I will inform you that the 4th year of medical school is almost entirely filled with elective rotations (elective in that you choose which rotations to do not elective in choosing whether or not to do them). I chose to move my family back to Cedar City and finish out my schooling with the doctors I plan to work alongside in the future.
In the spring we received news that we would be moving to South Bend, Indiana to start a 3 year residency in Family Practice. Following graduation in June we bought a house, loaded up the Penske and anxiously began our next adventure in life.
Let me share with you some of the beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
Spencer will be 6 in January. He started Kindergarten this year and seems to enjoy each and every day. At a recent parent-teacher conference we were informed that Spencer is a joy to have in class because he approaches each day with such enthusiasm. According to his teacher Spencer is genuinely excited and almost surprised to see his friends each morning in class. It’s almost as if he is expecting them, or us, to move….
Jessi, 3, is overjoyed to have her own room fit for a princess. Melissa outdid herself painting and decorating Jessi’s room with stripes of pink and green along with shelves to display her Cinderella collection (graciously bestowed upon her by her wonderful Aunt Corinne). I’m somewhat surprised Melissa didn’t splurge on a Cinderella Fathead to put on the wall (if you don’t know what that is you need to ask the football fan in your family).
Kristian is a true Corry. Growing up it seemed everybody in my family had a strange nickname. I had a brother named Luther, a sister named Pard, I was called Frank from time to time. There were others, but I can’t remember them right now. At any rate Kristian is our little Nader, sometimes Naderman (pronounced like skater as opposed to chatter). He turned 2 on the 5th of December and enjoyed every minute of his birthday. This year has seen him start to walk, and talk. He’s still growing like a weed and he gets stronger every day. I have visions of him being my star football player in a few years (not that I’m trying to relive my life through my children or anything like that).
Melissa is somewhere between the 3rd and 7th months of her 4th pregnancy. I do know she is due in March (though I’m not sure on the date). She had an ultrasound so I know she’s past 20 weeks. The baby was not at all cooperative so we don’t know the sex. I’ve thought about taking her into the clinic or the hospital and playing around with the ultrasound myself, but we both are pretty excited to be surprised this time around. Melissa loves South Bend! She has made some wonderful friends and is slowly but surely making this house into quite a home.
Through the year we’ve experienced tragedies and triumphs, sicknesses, and health. We’ve felt love and longing, and this year, like no other, we feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the journey.
We wish you all the merriest of Christmases and hope this finds you well.
Love,
The Corrys
The first picture is what we sent out with the letter and then I added some additional pictures from the same photo session.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
I just can't get enough of these things.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? It has to be wrapped. Where's the joy in opening a bag. Unfortunately unless I can find somebody to wrap my gifts they usually end up in gift bags. Though Melissa likes gift bags because she can reuse them later (you will soon see that frugality is a theme for our Christmases).
2. Real tree or Artificial? I grew up with real trees and we may go back when we get to Cedar and we can go cut down our own tree, but for now it's fake.
3. When do you put up the tree? I try to push it to December, but we usually get it up the day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? I think January, and unfortunately it's trees.
5. Do you like eggnog? I think eggnog should be on the shelves all year long right next to the chocolate milk. I wish Hershey's would make an eggnog syrup. Think of it, you could turn all your milk into eggnog, use it as a topping for ice cream, or pour it over pancakes. The possibilities are limitless.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Optimus Prime (you may remeber from a previous post about a toy that I sold on ebay and miss dearly.)
7. Hardest person to buy for? Melissa of course. She doesn't like it when I spend to much, but she also really likes a surprise. One of these days I'm going to spend way too much and see if the surprise wins over the frugality.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Spencer, I hope it stays this way, but currently he loves all the same toys I do so shopping for him is fabulous.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? We have 3, though one is a series of small figurines (I think they have a name, but I can't remember it) that the kids are allowed to play with. some of the heads are gone so we may have to use it as a halloween decoration in the future.
10. Best Christmas gift you ever received? When we were engaged Melissa bought me the "Teachings of the Prophets" set. We weren't married yet so I couldn't get mad at her for how much it cost (we really are tightwads). It was completely unexpected and wonderful. My older brother made me a dresser that is probably second on the list. It wasn't done in time for Christmas so he put a copy of the plan in a large pickle jar and wrapped that up. When he finished it he asked me about putting handles on the drawers, but I couldn't decide what I wanted so they never got put on. That dresser has lived in Logan, Laramie, Denver, SLC, Pikeville, Yakima, Cedar City, and now South Bend. It still doesn't have any hardware.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Slovakian Christmas (This one only my siblings will understand)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Grinch and the Santa Clause series.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever Melissa can force me to do so.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Sure, We have a tradition of getting a 2L bottle of soda each year. The container gets put in the recycling bin and the soda gets gets returned to nature following an extensive water purification process, unless we happen to be tubing up the cabin when the soda is consumed then it just gets returned to nature in it's alreay pure form.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sausage rolls. I'm not sure Melissa has ever made them, but she will most likely learn this year just to make me happy. She is such a good wife. I also enjoy eating lots and lots of chocolate truffles. I was introduced to all of these by Melissa and she has continued her mother's traditions since we have moved away.
16. Lights on the tree? well duh. Who doesn't have lights on their tree? If you reply and say you don't have light on your tree or have seen a tree without lights on it I will delete your comment.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Currently it's 12 days by Straight no Chaser.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel whenever we can, but this year will be at home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? If you can't name all the reindeer you don't deserve to celebrate Christmas. Are you kidding me here? Who can't name all the reindeer? It's in the song! A better qestion would be can you tell me how many candles are on the menorah (now be sure to comment if you aren't sure what the menorah is). Let's go back to number 16 and ask if you light your menorah.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel on the upstairs tree, Elf hat on the downstairs tree. I'm told we will be replacing the hat with a star when they go on sale after Christmas (have I mentioned how cheap we are?). The two tree thing is not something I had planned for. We bought a 6 foot tree for our first Christmas together. It was a cheap (that keeps coming up) little thing from Big Lots. We have always intended on replacing it, but never got around to it. This summer I found a nice 8 foot tree at a garage sale so I snatched it up and parted with my $2. I was so excited to show my wonderful purchase to Melissa (she happens to be a Christmas junky). When the moment came her response was, "wonderful now we can have an upstairs tree and a downstairs tree". Whoa now, what did I just do!?! I shouldn't have been surprised because for a few years Melissa's mother had 3 trees in her house, but I was totally blindsided and I fear I may never be able to get us back down to one tree. We keep talking about getting a prelit Christmas tree (after Christmas of course, or maybe at a garage sale), but if the point of a prelit tree is to lessen the work of Christmas I'll be nixing this plan. Three trees is just unacceptable!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One present on Christmas eve then the rest on Christmas day. Unless you have my sister who opens up any present she can get to long before Christmas then tries her best to wrap them back up so no one knows. I hope Heather grows up the same way.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The cold, I think the time we've been above freezing since November is better measured in hours than in days. What is this Canada? I'm plotting to spend a few Christmases in Hawaii or Mexico in the future.
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Since I only have one to choose from I'm going to have to say Turkey and Ham (I've never had a Christmas without both). I'm thinking that we may start a tradition of having Filet and Lobster for Christmas, but first I have to perfect my culinary skills (Melissa doesn't grill and she's not to keen on cooking shellfish). Maybe I'll try marinating in an eggnog sauce, my mouth is watering already.
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Apparently I wanted a new starter for the minivan. What I really want is to not be called into the hospital that night.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I grew up with real trees and we may go back when we get to Cedar and we can go cut down our own tree, but for now it's fake.
3. When do you put up the tree? I try to push it to December, but we usually get it up the day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? I think January, and unfortunately it's trees.
5. Do you like eggnog? I think eggnog should be on the shelves all year long right next to the chocolate milk. I wish Hershey's would make an eggnog syrup. Think of it, you could turn all your milk into eggnog, use it as a topping for ice cream, or pour it over pancakes. The possibilities are limitless.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Optimus Prime (you may remeber from a previous post about a toy that I sold on ebay and miss dearly.)
7. Hardest person to buy for? Melissa of course. She doesn't like it when I spend to much, but she also really likes a surprise. One of these days I'm going to spend way too much and see if the surprise wins over the frugality.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Spencer, I hope it stays this way, but currently he loves all the same toys I do so shopping for him is fabulous.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? We have 3, though one is a series of small figurines (I think they have a name, but I can't remember it) that the kids are allowed to play with. some of the heads are gone so we may have to use it as a halloween decoration in the future.
10. Best Christmas gift you ever received? When we were engaged Melissa bought me the "Teachings of the Prophets" set. We weren't married yet so I couldn't get mad at her for how much it cost (we really are tightwads). It was completely unexpected and wonderful. My older brother made me a dresser that is probably second on the list. It wasn't done in time for Christmas so he put a copy of the plan in a large pickle jar and wrapped that up. When he finished it he asked me about putting handles on the drawers, but I couldn't decide what I wanted so they never got put on. That dresser has lived in Logan, Laramie, Denver, SLC, Pikeville, Yakima, Cedar City, and now South Bend. It still doesn't have any hardware.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Slovakian Christmas (This one only my siblings will understand)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Grinch and the Santa Clause series.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever Melissa can force me to do so.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Sure, We have a tradition of getting a 2L bottle of soda each year. The container gets put in the recycling bin and the soda gets gets returned to nature following an extensive water purification process, unless we happen to be tubing up the cabin when the soda is consumed then it just gets returned to nature in it's alreay pure form.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sausage rolls. I'm not sure Melissa has ever made them, but she will most likely learn this year just to make me happy. She is such a good wife. I also enjoy eating lots and lots of chocolate truffles. I was introduced to all of these by Melissa and she has continued her mother's traditions since we have moved away.
16. Lights on the tree? well duh. Who doesn't have lights on their tree? If you reply and say you don't have light on your tree or have seen a tree without lights on it I will delete your comment.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Currently it's 12 days by Straight no Chaser.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel whenever we can, but this year will be at home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? If you can't name all the reindeer you don't deserve to celebrate Christmas. Are you kidding me here? Who can't name all the reindeer? It's in the song! A better qestion would be can you tell me how many candles are on the menorah (now be sure to comment if you aren't sure what the menorah is). Let's go back to number 16 and ask if you light your menorah.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel on the upstairs tree, Elf hat on the downstairs tree. I'm told we will be replacing the hat with a star when they go on sale after Christmas (have I mentioned how cheap we are?). The two tree thing is not something I had planned for. We bought a 6 foot tree for our first Christmas together. It was a cheap (that keeps coming up) little thing from Big Lots. We have always intended on replacing it, but never got around to it. This summer I found a nice 8 foot tree at a garage sale so I snatched it up and parted with my $2. I was so excited to show my wonderful purchase to Melissa (she happens to be a Christmas junky). When the moment came her response was, "wonderful now we can have an upstairs tree and a downstairs tree". Whoa now, what did I just do!?! I shouldn't have been surprised because for a few years Melissa's mother had 3 trees in her house, but I was totally blindsided and I fear I may never be able to get us back down to one tree. We keep talking about getting a prelit Christmas tree (after Christmas of course, or maybe at a garage sale), but if the point of a prelit tree is to lessen the work of Christmas I'll be nixing this plan. Three trees is just unacceptable!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One present on Christmas eve then the rest on Christmas day. Unless you have my sister who opens up any present she can get to long before Christmas then tries her best to wrap them back up so no one knows. I hope Heather grows up the same way.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The cold, I think the time we've been above freezing since November is better measured in hours than in days. What is this Canada? I'm plotting to spend a few Christmases in Hawaii or Mexico in the future.
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Since I only have one to choose from I'm going to have to say Turkey and Ham (I've never had a Christmas without both). I'm thinking that we may start a tradition of having Filet and Lobster for Christmas, but first I have to perfect my culinary skills (Melissa doesn't grill and she's not to keen on cooking shellfish). Maybe I'll try marinating in an eggnog sauce, my mouth is watering already.
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Apparently I wanted a new starter for the minivan. What I really want is to not be called into the hospital that night.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Do guys do these things?
I've never taken part in any of these blog tags, but I liked this one because I've enjoyed reading the comments that people put next to the items they feel a need to justify. I've got lots of comments.
1. Started your own blog (2 actually, though Melissa seems to be trying to wrestle this one from me)
2. Slept under the stars (every summer night from age 5-19)
3. Played in a band (I played for one year then pretended to play for 2 more)
4. Visited Hawaii (not yet)
5. Watched a meteor shower (who hasn't)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (I've never gone into debt for my charitable donations. I'm of the belief that this is the only way I can give more that I can afford )
7. Been to Disneyland (Melissa hasn't)
8. Climbed a mountain (Are you kidding me?)
9. Held a praying mantis (I'm pretty sure I did this as a kid, I think everybody does)
10. Sang a solo (every day in the shower)
11. Bungee jumped (I've never been able to justify the cost)
12. Visited Paris (not until we get to Brazil)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (does watching the perfect storm on DVD while sitting on a houseboat count?)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (if photography is an art then I have certainly taught myself an art as I know how to push the button, that said I don't think I'm a very good teacher)
15. Adopted a child (this is a dangerous one for those who have adopted a child if said child is old enough to read but not old enough to know he/she is adopted)
16. Had food poisoning (Only from food made in restaurants)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (I'm waiting for the escalator)
18. Grown your own vegetables (I've also failed to grow my own share of vegetable, hence the 23 chipmunks buried in our backyard)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (see #12)
20. Slept on an overnight train (I've slept on an overnight bus)
21. Had a pillow fight (This is a weekly thing in our house)
22. Hitch hiked (um...no)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (I just started my first real job in July, it will take some time)
24. Built a snow fort (They tend to be pretty pathetic because I get claustrophobic pretty easily)
25. Held a lamb (Actually I've never held the whole lamb, but the part I did hold was rather tasty)
26. Gone skinny dipping (my morals never allowed me to do this with members of the opposite sex and my good sense helped me to see how stupid it would be to do this with guys)
27. Run a Marathon (I've never stuck an ice pick in my eye either)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (#12)
29. Seen a total eclipse (How do you miss these? It seems everybody is outside each time it comes around)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (this is somewhat more difficult in the east where you can't often see the horizon)
31. Hit a home run (I hit a double to right field in my only hit during my only year of little league)
32. Been on a cruise (That's where I met Paige and told my friends in high school that she was the first girl I ever kissed. She was real, but the kiss was a figment of my imagination)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (as opposed to seeing it out of person)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (#12)
35. Seen an Amish community (it's pathetic that we haven't been up to Amish Acres yet)
36. Taught yourself a new language (I've been working on Spanish so I'm counting this one)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I don't like this one because I'm pretty satisfied right now, but I would like a truck and a Polaris RZR to put in the back of it. Of course that would require me to build a carport on the side of the house and we just don't have the money for that stuff, but I'm still pretty satisfied currently)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (#12, and #33)
39. Gone rock climbing (I've been rappelling a bunch of times, but that climbing thing hasn't really appealed to me)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David (#12)
41. Sung karaoke (heaven's no)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (We'll probably do this again before all that Europe stuff too)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (I've given Strangers money but I'm not too sure they used it for a meal...)
44. Visited Africa (not too high on my list of priorities)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (yeah with my siblings when I was a kid)
46. Been transported in an ambulance (I've never even been a patient in an ER)
47. Had your portrait painted (but Spencer draws me all the time)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (Maybe next year)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (#12, seriously what's with all the Europe references? Where's the questions about Machu Pichu, The Amazon, or Iguacu falls? Now those are some worthy destinations)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower (I give up)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (in the tub)
52. Kissed in the rain (seriously what married man hasn't been forced to do this by his wife?)
53. Played in the mud (every chance I get)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (I've driven to them lots of times, but I've never seen a movie there)
55. Been in a movie (Usually I'm the director, but occasionally Melissa takes over and I get in on the action)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (what's so great about the wall? It's a giant wall that stretches across a continent, big deal.)
57. Started a business (hoping to never do this)
58. Taken a martial arts class (I don't know if Capoeira counts as Martial arts, but I took a Capoeira class in Brazil)
59. Visited Russia (not until we get to Hawaii, Brazil, Europe, and Africa)
60. Served at a soup kitchen (Sadly no)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (hence the title of the post)
62. Gone whale watching (I do this all the time and something tells me I'm watching in the wrong places)
63. Got flowers for no reason (I got them for Melissa)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (not as much as I should)
65. Gone sky diving (Definitely a top 10 moment of my life)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (Europe again?)
67. Bounced a check (I am way too anal for this one)
68. Flown in a helicopter (Engine failure makes me a little afraid to do this anytime soon, there's no coasting in with a helicopter)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (then sold it on ebay for $300 and bought a universal weight set that I gave away to a neighbor in Yakima. I sure miss that toy)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (Ah Good old American landmarks)
71. Eaten Caviar (fish eggs? I don't think so)
72. Pieced a quilt (I am a heterosexual male, no offense to any of you men out there who have pieced a quilt. Wait a minute no male is going to read this post all the way to #72)
73. Stood in Times Square (We'll get to that hopefully before Hawaii)
74. Toured the Everglades (I've been to Okefenokee swamp. I think that should count)
75. Been fired from a job (not in this lifetime)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (Europe is quickly moving below Russia on the list of places to visit)
77. Broken a bone (I did break my nose, but that doesn't really qualify as a "bone")
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (I've never even been on a under-the-speed-limit motorcycle)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (We listened to NKOTB all the way there and all the way back with our exchange student Hajime)
80. Published a book (I'm working on my skills through blog posts like these)
81. Visited the Vatican (Isn't that in Europe?)
82. Bought a brand new car (Only after the Probe died on the road between Tooele and WVC, I don't plan to buy a new car ever again)
83. Walked in Jerusalem (Definitely want to do this before Europe)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (I'm from Cedar City, UT and we have our own newspaper so this one isn't too difficult)
85. Read the entire Bible (I have according to the Gideons)
86. Visited the White House (I've driven past it. Does that count?)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Ah the joys of growing up in rural Utah)
88. Had chickenpox (I think this one's a yes, but I'm not entirely sure)
89. Saved some one's life (I'm not too sure how instrumental I was in the life saving, but none of my code patients have passed on my time....yet)
90. Sat on a jury (I hear the ticking every day and it's driving me insane. When will my time come. It's like waiting for the Code siren to go off.)
91. Met someone famous – (this is very ambiguous because what qualifies as famous? I’ve met people that are “Utah famous”)
92. Joined a book club (I leave these to Melissa)
93. Lost a loved one (We lost Mark once coming down from the cabin, but we found him a short time later)
94. Had a baby (I'm really beginning to think I'm of the wrong sex to be doing this)
95. Seen the Alamo in person (I don't like Texas)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (It was more like bobbing)
97. Been involved in a law suit (not yet)
98. Owned a cell phone (I sure don't want to)
99. Been stung by a bee (Only once)
100. Read an entire book in one day (one day I read six, and Spencer loved every one of them)
So there you have it folks. I'm not going to tag anybody because just having read this far I think you've suffered enough.
I think that for the next sewing group night I'll make up my own list of 100 things that all men should do. I can assure you the only reference to Europe on that list will be driving on the Autobahn in a Ferrari (or the Italian sports car of your choice).
1. Started your own blog (2 actually, though Melissa seems to be trying to wrestle this one from me)
2. Slept under the stars (every summer night from age 5-19)
3. Played in a band (I played for one year then pretended to play for 2 more)
4. Visited Hawaii (not yet)
5. Watched a meteor shower (who hasn't)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (I've never gone into debt for my charitable donations. I'm of the belief that this is the only way I can give more that I can afford )
7. Been to Disneyland (Melissa hasn't)
8. Climbed a mountain (Are you kidding me?)
9. Held a praying mantis (I'm pretty sure I did this as a kid, I think everybody does)
10. Sang a solo (every day in the shower)
11. Bungee jumped (I've never been able to justify the cost)
12. Visited Paris (not until we get to Brazil)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (does watching the perfect storm on DVD while sitting on a houseboat count?)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (if photography is an art then I have certainly taught myself an art as I know how to push the button, that said I don't think I'm a very good teacher)
15. Adopted a child (this is a dangerous one for those who have adopted a child if said child is old enough to read but not old enough to know he/she is adopted)
16. Had food poisoning (Only from food made in restaurants)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (I'm waiting for the escalator)
18. Grown your own vegetables (I've also failed to grow my own share of vegetable, hence the 23 chipmunks buried in our backyard)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (see #12)
20. Slept on an overnight train (I've slept on an overnight bus)
21. Had a pillow fight (This is a weekly thing in our house)
22. Hitch hiked (um...no)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (I just started my first real job in July, it will take some time)
24. Built a snow fort (They tend to be pretty pathetic because I get claustrophobic pretty easily)
25. Held a lamb (Actually I've never held the whole lamb, but the part I did hold was rather tasty)
26. Gone skinny dipping (my morals never allowed me to do this with members of the opposite sex and my good sense helped me to see how stupid it would be to do this with guys)
27. Run a Marathon (I've never stuck an ice pick in my eye either)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (#12)
29. Seen a total eclipse (How do you miss these? It seems everybody is outside each time it comes around)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (this is somewhat more difficult in the east where you can't often see the horizon)
31. Hit a home run (I hit a double to right field in my only hit during my only year of little league)
32. Been on a cruise (That's where I met Paige and told my friends in high school that she was the first girl I ever kissed. She was real, but the kiss was a figment of my imagination)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (as opposed to seeing it out of person)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (#12)
35. Seen an Amish community (it's pathetic that we haven't been up to Amish Acres yet)
36. Taught yourself a new language (I've been working on Spanish so I'm counting this one)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I don't like this one because I'm pretty satisfied right now, but I would like a truck and a Polaris RZR to put in the back of it. Of course that would require me to build a carport on the side of the house and we just don't have the money for that stuff, but I'm still pretty satisfied currently)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (#12, and #33)
39. Gone rock climbing (I've been rappelling a bunch of times, but that climbing thing hasn't really appealed to me)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David (#12)
41. Sung karaoke (heaven's no)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (We'll probably do this again before all that Europe stuff too)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (I've given Strangers money but I'm not too sure they used it for a meal...)
44. Visited Africa (not too high on my list of priorities)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (yeah with my siblings when I was a kid)
46. Been transported in an ambulance (I've never even been a patient in an ER)
47. Had your portrait painted (but Spencer draws me all the time)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (Maybe next year)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (#12, seriously what's with all the Europe references? Where's the questions about Machu Pichu, The Amazon, or Iguacu falls? Now those are some worthy destinations)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower (I give up)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (in the tub)
52. Kissed in the rain (seriously what married man hasn't been forced to do this by his wife?)
53. Played in the mud (every chance I get)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (I've driven to them lots of times, but I've never seen a movie there)
55. Been in a movie (Usually I'm the director, but occasionally Melissa takes over and I get in on the action)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (what's so great about the wall? It's a giant wall that stretches across a continent, big deal.)
57. Started a business (hoping to never do this)
58. Taken a martial arts class (I don't know if Capoeira counts as Martial arts, but I took a Capoeira class in Brazil)
59. Visited Russia (not until we get to Hawaii, Brazil, Europe, and Africa)
60. Served at a soup kitchen (Sadly no)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (hence the title of the post)
62. Gone whale watching (I do this all the time and something tells me I'm watching in the wrong places)
63. Got flowers for no reason (I got them for Melissa)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (not as much as I should)
65. Gone sky diving (Definitely a top 10 moment of my life)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (Europe again?)
67. Bounced a check (I am way too anal for this one)
68. Flown in a helicopter (Engine failure makes me a little afraid to do this anytime soon, there's no coasting in with a helicopter)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (then sold it on ebay for $300 and bought a universal weight set that I gave away to a neighbor in Yakima. I sure miss that toy)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (Ah Good old American landmarks)
71. Eaten Caviar (fish eggs? I don't think so)
72. Pieced a quilt (I am a heterosexual male, no offense to any of you men out there who have pieced a quilt. Wait a minute no male is going to read this post all the way to #72)
73. Stood in Times Square (We'll get to that hopefully before Hawaii)
74. Toured the Everglades (I've been to Okefenokee swamp. I think that should count)
75. Been fired from a job (not in this lifetime)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (Europe is quickly moving below Russia on the list of places to visit)
77. Broken a bone (I did break my nose, but that doesn't really qualify as a "bone")
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (I've never even been on a under-the-speed-limit motorcycle)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (We listened to NKOTB all the way there and all the way back with our exchange student Hajime)
80. Published a book (I'm working on my skills through blog posts like these)
81. Visited the Vatican (Isn't that in Europe?)
82. Bought a brand new car (Only after the Probe died on the road between Tooele and WVC, I don't plan to buy a new car ever again)
83. Walked in Jerusalem (Definitely want to do this before Europe)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (I'm from Cedar City, UT and we have our own newspaper so this one isn't too difficult)
85. Read the entire Bible (I have according to the Gideons)
86. Visited the White House (I've driven past it. Does that count?)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Ah the joys of growing up in rural Utah)
88. Had chickenpox (I think this one's a yes, but I'm not entirely sure)
89. Saved some one's life (I'm not too sure how instrumental I was in the life saving, but none of my code patients have passed on my time....yet)
90. Sat on a jury (I hear the ticking every day and it's driving me insane. When will my time come. It's like waiting for the Code siren to go off.)
91. Met someone famous – (this is very ambiguous because what qualifies as famous? I’ve met people that are “Utah famous”)
92. Joined a book club (I leave these to Melissa)
93. Lost a loved one (We lost Mark once coming down from the cabin, but we found him a short time later)
94. Had a baby (I'm really beginning to think I'm of the wrong sex to be doing this)
95. Seen the Alamo in person (I don't like Texas)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (It was more like bobbing)
97. Been involved in a law suit (not yet)
98. Owned a cell phone (I sure don't want to)
99. Been stung by a bee (Only once)
100. Read an entire book in one day (one day I read six, and Spencer loved every one of them)
So there you have it folks. I'm not going to tag anybody because just having read this far I think you've suffered enough.
I think that for the next sewing group night I'll make up my own list of 100 things that all men should do. I can assure you the only reference to Europe on that list will be driving on the Autobahn in a Ferrari (or the Italian sports car of your choice).
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