Fun but Silly

Oh how I love Jib Jab!! This is Cory, Me, his sister Katherine and our two best friends, Joel and David!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/genbuQiSUvKL06YM#/owner/genbuQiSUvKL06YM

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Holidays Begin!

I always forget to add pictures first and it messes up my stuff! Anyway, I just love this little ornament so I wanted to show it!
My little Christmas Tree!

Right now I am in the middle of finals, so this blog entry is going to be a quick one. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week at the River. I call Georgetown my new hometown because whenever we have family get togethers, it is almost always there. I went Black Friday shopping for the first time and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be (even the waking up at 4:30 am). Poor Cory couldn't sleep in the inferno that was his and Gilliam's room so he got up about 3 and went for a walk (and gave mom a bit of a scare when she walked outside and he was coming up the porch steps to make sure I woke up). We didn't try to go to Walmart and when we saw there were cars parked along the edges of the Target parking lot we decided that wasn't worth it either. Our first stop was Dick's Sporting Goods where we ended up not buying anything but we did run into Uncle Charles! The bad part is that by 9 am, I was exhausted. We kept on trucking until about 11:30 when we finally got out of the Bass Pro Shop after many adventures, including getting lost and almost ending up in North Carolina! I lasted long enough to show Mom what I bought and then promptly feel asleep for 4 hours! Sadly, that still only added up to 8 hours total for that day. Next time, I will definitely stay with Papa and Miss Anne who are about 45 minutes closer to everything than we are at the River.

I put up my little Christmas tree on Monday. It is not as big as the one I ussually have because I will be moving in less than 2 weeks(now 1 week!!) I'm so excited to get out of this apartment because it is just not the same now that I am alone here. I've tried to spread my things out in an effort to make it seem not quite so empty, but I still don't like it. I'm moving in with my Dad's cousin Nancy who is like an adopted aunt. We try to do dinner at least once a month and we always have lots of fun. I lived with her the summer after my freshman year when I went to summer school and it was great, so I am definitely excited! She lives in a cute townhouse one exit down from Cory's house which is an extra perk. :) She's letting me have the two upstairs rooms and will be buying new appliances for the kitchen so I can cook for her! Nance is many things, but a cook is definitely not one of them! Since I love it so much, I don't think it will be a problem. I'm not offically moving until next Tuesday, but I am going to be staying there after Saturday because Cory and I are taking my bed to the river on Saturday when we go to Thompson family Christmas! I'm excited to be seeing everyone! We always have a lot of fun and good food!



This year I decided to use the newspaper to wrap my gifts, or at least decorate them. I got suckered into subscribing to the weekend paper by this high school kid who knocked on my door. I don't live in the best neighborhood (my neighbors may or may not be drug dealers) so I knew he wouldn't have much luck. I just couldn't help myself. But I will say, I have enjoyed looking at the sale papers at least! Anyway, I just went through the papers and cut out pages or things I thought the person whose gift I was wrapping would like. Then, I either wrapped the present in the page, or wrapped it in paper and then taped the pictures on there. It has been a lot of fun so far, and cheap!

Old Maid Status

My birthday was on Monday. I turned 22. Yikes. I know people do not consider this old when they are older than this, but to my formerly 21 year old self, 22 was really grown up. I have thought about why I feel this way, and I think it is mostly because now all the "now I can do something I couldn't do before" birthdays are gone. Now all I get is another year older, no new privalages. (With the exception of 35, when I become eligible to run for president.) That seems very grown up. When my grandaddy called to wish me a happy birthday he said "I was about to get married when I was 22, but your grandmother was still only 21." Thanks for that. I am now an old maid.


On the plus side, I definitely got some super cute presents! Cory got me a bunch of things I wanted, but I had no idea he knew I wanted them. For instance there was the cutest little jewelry organizer at Hand Picked that was green with white polka dots and then it would have your initial on it in pink that I totally wanted and told no one. Well, he totally got it for me and now all my jewelry is nice and organized. I think he believes this will help me to get ready faster, but actually now that I can actually see all my things, it is going to take much more time for me to choose between them. :) He also got me this really cute silverware that I wanted from Target. We had looked at it before because all the silverware I have now is Naomi's and she is about to leave, but I had not really pointed this one out as my favorite. One thing about me is that I do normally have a preference about things, but a lot of the time I give off very mixed signals about it. I like having other opinions to help me because I am really afraid of making the wrong choice. Anyway, he also got me the coolest collapsable strainer and some jewelry. He is really too good to me. :) I know a lot of women are not into the whole getting useful things for special occasions, but I LOVE it. I seriously asked for (and got) a vacuum tow years ago for Christmas. I think it is just because that is my personality. I like things to be clean and I love to make things. I think I would be so good at living on a farm. Maybe not, one thing I do not like is poo (and being woken up by noises I do not like). My parents got me this super snazzy sewing machine that I am SO excited to use! When I was a little girl, Granny would make me the most beautiful things (clothes for my barbies and a bridal gown covered in lace for Halloween when I was 5. Seriously, I was probably the luckliest little girl EVER) and I've always wanted to be able to sew as well. Hopefully I will get the time to actually take it out of the box soon! I am looking forward to Christmas break when I will have the chance to be all crafty, hopefully. I have so many pictures to scraptbook and so many cool new tools thanks so Teffy that I am really looking forward to it! I am going to be moving sometime next month as soon as I can find a place so one of the first things I want to do is make some curtains (If my Papa can do it, so can I). Hopefully it will turn out well.

I have so much more to report, but alas, I started this on October 28th and it is now November 8th. Blast myself for thinking I would have time to make this way better over the past 11 days. I should have known I was a very busy girl! I will try to update again soon, but like I said I am very busy so I make no promises! :)

I just really liked this picture I took of Cory

My first ever NEW car! (It's a Mazda 3)

Emily In Real Life

Oh gee wiz and good golly gosh. I am about to loose my mind I think. Right now school and work are in DESTROY EMILY mode making everything all topsy turvey. I really was not planning on working this far into the semester, but several things have caused my plans to go awry. Firstly, my boss likes me too much and was very slack on the whole getting a replacement for me thing. Secondly, when they finally did hire someone two weeks ago I was super happy for about a week until she quit quite unexpectedly. Thirdly, the new girl who started today has never before been in the apartment biz so now I am basically training her. Fourthly, my boss is now on a two week hiatus so we are all going to be stressed explaining to everyone that while we understand how much they would like to talk with Trevor, it is just not possible (those types of conversations never go well). Fifthly, I have some crazy sense of obligation which seems to make me more willing to slowly watch my own demise than say "I'm sorry, but this is just a little too much." So basically, I am juggling 18 hours of work a week (which maybe does not sound like a lot but it is basically 18 hours of me stressing about homework I need to do but can't), 6 classes, church, family, boyfriend responsibilites and also trying not to become a human blob of junk food (I have a love/hate relationship with Halloween). On the up side, Cory and I did go to Biltmore (America's Largest Home, for those not in the know) two weeks ago and it was absolutely lovely. We got to examine gargoyles, watch a sheepdog herd some ducks, and other exciting things. I'll post a couple of pictures from that. The sad thing about having a romatic day trip is that you never get good pictures of the two of you. Oh well, some sacrifices must be made I suppose. I have some other news about my book club I just started, Naomi's bridal shower I am planning (any good ideas?) and a few other adventures but they will have to wait until next time.

Cory and his best friend are in a beard growing contest with each other and no, I don't like it. But alas, boys will be boys, or men as they like to call themselves. :)

And So It Begins...

I had my first two days of class last week and so far I really like them. I feel like I won't know for sure until a few weeks in because everyone is on their best behavior still at this point so you can't really tell. One of my first assignments is to write an introduction letter to my teacher. This is something that is very typical of an education class and so I have written a ton of them. Even after all the practice, I still do not like it at all. I never know what to say. How do you sum yourself up in one page or less??? Double spaced, too! I hate the typical, "my name is Emily and my favorite colors are blue and red. I want to teach high school." Geez Lousie, how boring! I once wrote my autobiography and entitled it "Almost Alma." At the time, it was a very good representation of me I believe. I think I will post here under the rough draft of the one I just finished for class. Maybe it will help you get to know me better, and maybe it will just confuse you. Anyway, here they are.
I love stories. If I had to choose a most defining quality, that would probably be it. I always have a book in my purse. When I start a book, I can hardly stand to put it down until I have finished. I have had to work very hard to control this because it can greatly inhibit my productivity at times. My choice of my geography major stems a lot from this. I enjoy looking at a culture or place and getting the story behind it. I really believe there is a story in everything if we look hard enough to find it.
My story is that I am a Senior plus one semester. I changed my major to geography the semester after I returned from my study abroad in London, England. That semester was one of the defining parts of my life. I learned a lot about who I was and who I wanted to be while I was there. I have always wanted to make a difference in the world, and that desire was magnified through that experience.
I want to have a classroom built on love. I realize this seems completely idealistic, but at least I can try. I hope my students will come to genuinely care about the world and people around them because it seems that not very many people do. We live in an extremely selfish society and I want to do what I can to change that, in however small a degree.
I am the oldest of three children and the only girl. My parents are still together, which is something for which I am very grateful. I am very close with all of my family. I write a blog just for them and won’t let anyone else read it (my boyfriend knows about it, but he hasn’t seen it). I have lived in South Carolina my entire life, but have travelled a lot. It is one of my favorite things to do because it gives you such a different perspective about yourself and the world.
I could go on forever, but I think I covered the important stuff. I like to talk a lot and have an opinion on most everything so I am really excited about sharing them and developing some new ones over this semester.

See, I told you these things are ridiculous. I feel like someone asked me to paint a self portrait, but only gave me enough paint to finish my arm.

Almost Alma

an autobiography in third person by E.K.K.

Emily Kathleen King was born on October 27, 1986 in Florence, SC a town to which she would return a least once a week for the next 12 years of her life to get allergy shots. Gross. She has two younger brothers. One is a year and 1 day younger and one who is 8 years and 2 weeks younger. She loves being the oldest and getting to do things first because she always feels young when compared to her peers.
As a child, Emily was very clumsy and her dad would always hum the theme to “The Twilight Zone” when ever she did something like fall out of a chair. She would like to say she grew out of it but that would be a lie, and Emily is a very honest person. You might say that she doesn’t sugar coat things, although she wouldn’t say it because that conversation has never gone well for her.
She grew up in the middle of nowhere before moving to a small town and has no desire to ever live in a small town again, but will consider living in the middle of nowhere with a large enough dog.
Emily currently is a junior at the University of South Carolina with a major currently under construction. She likes being able to hold up her hand during the alma mater at football games. After she graduates she is considering going to grad school or on a mission or moving somewhere exciting like England, Vermont, Tennessee, Canada, Colorado, Greenville, or Charleston, just to name a few of her favorites.
If you want to understand her better you should watch Anne of Green Gables or any Jane Austen novel made into movie, those are the characters on which she has based her life. She realizes this automatically means no boy will ever understand her. She lived in England for a short while but refuses to even try to do a British accent, except when asking questions she sometimes does it accidentally, much to her embarrassment. She does like to say British words sometimes even though she has run into a few people who think doing so is rubbish. Oh, and she sometimes does an imitation of the lady that announces the tube stops like “The next stop is Baker Street. Alight here for Madame Tussaud’s and the Planetarium.”
If Emily ever somehow had a million dollars, she would hire a driver/bodyguard because she hates driving and likes feeling safe.She is very afraid of elevators, which is sort of inconvenient because she lives on the 5th floor of her apartment building. She realizes this fear is irrational, but she can not help it and will take the stairs if the elevator appears likely to be sketchy.
She sometimes feels like she should be 90 because she likes crocheting, rocking chairs, and sitting on porches. She is afraid of becoming a scary old lady.She is really good at beating people playing darts. She has absolutely no control over where her dart lands, but somehow she always wins.When she was born her dad wanted to name her Alma, but her mom said no because she always wanted to name a girl Emily if she had one. As a result, she got stuck with the boring name.
Emily loves running and is currently training to run a half marathon with her dad in January. Her dad ran marathons when he was in college and it has always been her dream to run one with him. Right now she is settling for just a half.
Emily likes to read advice columns even though the advice never applies to her. Her favorite column is Dear Margo on Yahoo. She also really likes quotes.
In her spare time Emily likes to read books and watch movies. She loves Remember the Titans and cries every time she watches it. Music is one of her favorite things and she loves John Mayer lyrics. She also really likes Michael Jackson’s songs even though she thinks he is horribly sketchy in real life. Emily also likes to play sports even though she usually gets injured somehow when she plays. She wishes she got to go camping more often and her favorite bug is the firefly.

Racism???

I recently read a blog entry about Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series and the possible racist elements it contains. Here is a link to the article. http://alisavaldesrodriguez.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html#3554407638079814097
I posted a response to it in her comments, but I wanted to post it here as well. *warning: there are some spoilers to breaking dawn.*


While your blog is obviously very well written, I do have a few issues regarding your reference to the Mormon faith. I am and have been a practicing Mormon for my entire life (all 21 years of it). I have read the Book of Mormon several times and the messages you say exist do not. Yes, throughout the majority of the Book of Mormon the Lamanites are a fearsome people; however, as one commenter said it is the choices that make them that way, not the color of their skin. You could say that their skin was made to reflect the color of their hearts, not the other way around. There are even instances where the Nephites become wicked and are brought back to righteousness by the Lamanites. You can see Helaman chapters 4-6 in the Book of Mormon as a specific example of this. You also mentioned that their skin was made dark in order to make them unattractive to the Nephites. I am not sure where you got that from exactly, but I would be interested in the context. What I do know is the attitude of the Nephites toward the Lamanites is not one of hate. There are countless examples of Nephites giving their lives in missionary service to bring them back to righteousness. In the book of Alma, multiple wars rage between the Nephites and Lamanites and yet the captains remark how sorry they are to shed the blood of their brothers.
In regard to Mrs. Meyers books specifically, I think that Native Americans were chosen to become werewolves because they are a culture with many legends and so it would make a much more believable story. I think that is also why the Volturi exist in Italy, because Europe is a region full of legends. It just works for the world she created. I also wanted to point out that in the end the Amazonian vampire Zafrina, a person who is in the category of those believed to be the descendants of Lamanites is the one Bella has the best friendship with. And in that same token it was essentially one of them who saved them all with the appearance of Nahuel.
As for racism in general, is not being different a curse to us all? How hard has it been for us as a human race to learn that it is not what a person looks like that really matters? So much unnecessary pain and heartache could be avoided if everyone could see this. Racism, in all its forms is something I am very strongly against. Growing up in rural South Carolina has provided me with ample opportunity to see it from every side. I believe every person needs to Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals (I spelled this wrong in my first draft. I meant to look it up before I posted this and forgot so my badly misspelled version was left by accident). It is a book that changed my life.
I believe someone also talked about the mountain meadows massacre. An article which appeared in the LDS monthly magazine about the incident is located here. http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1c234dc029133110VgnVCM100000176f620a____
You may want to see how we Mormons view it.
Also, in the majority of the pictures of Jesus Christ published by the Church, he has brown hair, olive skin, and green eyes.
I agree that we should not ever stand for something that makes another person seem less valuable than another. I do however think you are wrong in the argument you chose to make here.
If you would like to learn more about the Mormon faith, please visit http://www.mormon.org/.
Emily King
Ps- The book of Mormon 2 is not a book in the Book of Mormon and neither is the quote “the curse of the black skin.” You may want to check your source on that. A searchable version of the Book of Mormon is available here: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=84010fd41d93b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0

Crazy, Busy Times

Vannah came to visit one day at the beach!
Me with Cory's sister Katherine at the YSA conference.
Me and Cory all ready to go out to dinner.
Cory and his nephew Hampton at the beach!

So my blog posts are becoming few and far between these days. In a way it is not quite so terrible because that means I have been super busy with things! It has definitely been a fun but busy couple of months! I missed out on our family vacation because I had to work. I work for a temp agency and got a job at an apartment complex for a few weeks while a lady was recovering from surgery. It was a lot of work but I really enjoied it (especially since Cory works there so we got to have lunch together :)). This month I have hardly been home for a week. I went to the river for the Fourth of July and then headed straight to the beach to spend time with Papa and Miss Anne. Zach and Aaron also came and we had a great time! I was home for a couple of days and then I was off again to a YSA conference in Georgia that was fun, but not worth the 6 hour drive! Cory and I spent the night in Columbia repacking our things before heading down to the beach to stay in a condo with his brother Mike's family. Mike's boys LOVE Cory so it was really crazy but we had a blast. We spent some quality time on the beach and at the water park so I now have a little of a tan! I should hopefully have all the pictures from this up in my facebook albums one day this week! Sorry for the lack in updates! I really am going to try and do better!

Long Time, No Blog

Almost a wh0le month without a post! I can't believe it! Right now I am just getting over a nasty mysterious coughing sickness that severely inhibited my sleep this past week. Luckily, it looks as though I will make a strong recovery. I have not been doing TOO much since school has been out. I did go to the beach a couple weekends ago and it was lovely! I have lots of pictures on my facebook. I should really post the link to that sometime. Anyway, my new bathing suits came just in time (seriously, the day before). A lot of my friends were there so it was definitely fun! Being in a serious relationship with a guy who has older married brothers means I spend a lot of time on couples outings. So spending time with my less lucky single friends is a nice change. Instead of taking care of kids, we are acting like them. It was also fun because Cory and I stayed with Papa and Miss Anne and so we got to spend a little time with them.
Cory's little sister graduated from high school today. I really think they should just make a tape of one graduation and replay it every year because they are ALL the same! Really, you could make one of those bingo sheets where you cross out certain phrases all graduation speakers say like "chase your dreams" "never give up" "my last four years at 'fill in blank high school' have taught me so much." It is crazy.
Anyway, I just wanted to do a quick post and now it's off to bed!

Swimwear=Evil

Now that I am out of school, you would think things would settle down a little. But alas, I am just as busy as ever and much more restless without the structure of school. Last weekend Cory and I went to see Ironman and it was SO good! Probably the best super hero movie I have ever seen. Robert Downey Jr. did a really great job. I was a little skeptical of him at first because he is totally not the super hero type, but he pulled it off very nicely. On Monday I made some homemade cookies for FHE which took a while, but I hate it when people are slack about the FHE snacks. It doesn't hurt to put in a little effort. Dad was in town taking Gilliam to the doctor so we went to Outback for dinner and then Barnes and Noble (my favorite store). I got some cute cards for one the girls I visit teach who just got her mission call. She is having a farewell party on Saturday and I am putting together a little letter writing basket for her. I also got a copy of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. I first read this book when I was in England and I loved it so I am really excited to have it as part of my collection now! I love reading and I have read books I really love multiple times. Mostly I stick to young adult literature and classics because you never know what you are going to come accross in adult fiction. Those are also my favorite genres. I have a goal to read more academic type books and some poetry but I have not yet done so. It resembles school a little too much for me to handle right now.
I dragged Cory with me bathing suit shopping the other day. I really hate it. Being tall and modest is a rough combination. If I wear a one piece, I feel like I have to walk like a hunchback so nothing gets revealed accidentally. If I wear a tankini, I am constantly pulling it down to cover my stomach. Wearing a two piece would make everything so much easier, although much less modest. What do department stores have against tall people?!? They have an entire section devoted to petites but nothing for us giants. I end up having to order them every year which I hate because there is so much guess work involved and you spend two weeks waiting for it to get to you without knowing if it will actually fit. Anyway, enough ranting. I managed to find three that I liked for pretty decent prices, I just hope at least one fits. A girl actually created a web site that has links to a lot of places that sell modest swimwear. Here's the link if you are running into such problems. http://modestswimsuitsandswimwear.com/

Super Duper Fly Assassin

Today I had a wonderful day at home. It all started yesterday as I got into my bed, which is at least twice the size of the one I currently sleep in. I could just feel the wonderfulness right then. And I look up as I am about to read one of the 101 Facts I Do Not Know About Jane Austen and there is my very own Wall of Love. I knew that was what it was because that title was conveniently taped at the top of it. There were other sheets of paper that said things like "You are the best girl scout EVER" (i never really was one but I did go to all 6 years of girls camp. YCL's throw it up!) and "Emily dates hippies." (also not true that I know of.) I think it could have been the first time ever that reading lies about myself made me happy. There was also one that said "I love u -Zach" letting me know that my youngest brother was the author of the Wall of Love. He is really is the sweetest and has been doing things like that for me ever since he could write. You would think someone taught him how to be this nice, but no he is just naturally like that. Also, this is proof that teenagers are not all bad. At least not all the time.

Today I took Zach to the orthodontist and then took lunch to my grandparents which was a lot of fun. I have a mastiff (like in The Sandlot) named Beowulf that lives there and so I took him out for some exercise.

They are so cute and will sit on your feet to keep them warm in winter.

I love big dogs. There is just something strong about them that is really comforting. I have dog fever at the moment but sadly I must wait for the day I no longer live in an apartment. Anyway, we rambled around for a while (long enough for my grandpa to cut the grass in his pen) and then he got his favorite treat: a pig ear. While he ate it, I used my super fast reflexes (and a flyswatter) to kill some biting flies that landed on him. You may think this would hurt him but actually he did not even flinch. I am pretty sure he was grateful someone was vanquishing the pests. Aside from being good for Beowulf, it was also a very good way to release some tension and if I ever write a book about a girl on a farm, that is what she will do after she has a heated argument with her mom/dad/sibling or whoever else makes an appearance in the story.

My week became a lot less stressful on Tuesday when I talked with Cory's sister in law and they decided not to go on the trip after all. I would not have minded babysitting but it feels good to know I do not have to do it. I am already stressed enough about school and getting a job so I am glad to have one less thing. She did say that I could take them to the Zoo on Saturday if I wanted because they were really looking forward to spending time with me. What I was thinking was you must be crazy because I would never take my own kids to the Zoo alone on a Saturday. I of course said this a little differently to her but wow. I do think I sometimes take on too much, but that is crazy even for me! I told her if she wanted to take them during the week one day I would be glad to tag along or even take them myself but that Saturday was not happening. I was actually really proud of myself because I have a bad habit of always agreeing to do things that I know will give me a headache. I say yes because I know the person wants me to, but I have tried to get better about it because I can't spend all my time trying to please other people. I really enjoy helping people, but I just have to learn to draw a line somewhere or I will never get anything done for myself. I hope that does not make me sound like a mean person.

Don't I know you?

That is the question I am asked more often that any other. It is very weird and depending on how much I go out, someone asks me if they know me/am i related to so and so/ did i go their high school/ect. at least once a week. Last week it happened twice. I find this odd because I do know anyone who I think looks a lot like me except my brother when he lets his hair grow out. Even my cousins are bacially the opposite of me (except our eyes and pale skin. we all can be found rocking those out). I think people like me are the reason why there is talk of such things as dopplegangers. Do I have a doppleganger or am I one for at least 100 people? That is about how many times I have had this happen. I'm not making this up. When I say "People tell me that all the time" to the 100+ people who have so far asked me this, I'm telling the truth. Also, I find it weird that I have yet to run into one of these people who resemble me. Maybe I can't because then the universe would be totally out of wack or one of us would explode. Anyway, it is just really weird to me and I wonder if this happens to other people ever. I actualyl saw a show once about this girl who looked just like Anna Nicole Smith and was paid by her to go out and sign autographs like it was really her. Too bad I only look like normal people so it doesn't really do me any good and only makes me feel totally unoriginal.

Anyway, today was my last day of class. I passed my spanish exit exam just fine and somehow managed to get everything done. My fireside ended up being really great and we had a godo turnout. Now I only have find a summer job and study for exams while being a stand in mother of three for a week. Cory's brother and sister in law are going on vacation and I am watching the three youngest kids who are not in school yet. They are 5, 3, and 1. (They also have a 9 year old and just found out yesterday they are expecting number 5.) I am a little nervous but the kids love me so hopefully it will be fine. Cory and I helped his parents take care of his other brother's two youngest last weekend while they went to a wedding in Atlanta. (His brother had committed to be in the wedding and then found out a week ago it was going to be in Atlanta not Columbia. It was crazy.) So I picked up the boys from day care and we had a great time singing to Mickey Mouse Club House and The Wonder Pets theme songs. Getting them to eat was a little harder but we found out ways to make it work and had a really good time.

I felt like I was at dinner with the Beast but I have never seen Hampton eat that much before.

Kids seem to be my lot in life right now, but it's okay because I really like it. I am going home tomorrow to see my Dad's parents and then take Zach to the orthodontist on Wednesday and then I will be babysitting until next Monday or Tuesday. The other day Cory said "I wonder when we are going to have a weekend to relax?" My response: "Never." But at least I am starting to like it that way.

A Quick One

This week has been crazy! My computer crashed yesterday. It had been threatening to do it for a while, and of course it choose to have its final meltdown in the middle of finals crunch. The day was saved when Mom came up and got me a brand new desktop(my first new computer of my very own!) We got a super good deal on it at Best Buy and I love it! Luckily I also had all my files backed up on a removable hard drive so I have spent a little time transferring them, but other than that all is well. I am busy as a bee writing papers, working on projects, writing my talk for Sunday and getting the last details straight with my musical fireside that is happening Sunday night all the while praying I pass my Spanish exit exam! Also I am doing my best to satisfy every other obligation I made weeks ago not thinking about the date including a Pampered Chef party for Cory's sister in law's birthday yesterday (On a happy note, I finally picked up a trifle bowl that I had been wanting for ages!) and his brother's birthday party Saturday. I have come to the conclusion I am going to come out of this all as either superwoman or a mental patient. :)

Evil Prom Date

Cory's sister Katherine is going to the prom tonight. Yesterday I went over to do a trail run of her make up to see what she would like and it was really fun. I don't have any sisters so I missed out on all the super girly getting ready for special events things. I was a the less time it takes the better kind of girl, which probably was an early sign of my impatience with most things. I do get a little bit of girly time with my cousins who are 9 and 6. It is a bit different though because what I call pretty, they call boring. If it is not bright blue, purple, or pink, it is not for them. But that is what makes it interesting. Savannah, the youngest once tried to put a tatoo on my face with green eye shadow but messed up and said "now you are going to look ugly." She tried to redeem the look by covering my nose with it so I would be a witch and then when her mole did not work the way she wanted she proceeded to cover my entire face in brown eye shadow so I would be a werewolf. They are nothing if not resourceful. :)

Hopefully, Kat's look will come out well since I will be well armed with my army of q-tips. Last night's run went well and I think she is a little more excited now. She has try outs for a scholarship to the USC School of Music this morning and has been extremely nervous about everything. It is a lot to go through in one day, especially for a teenage girl. It is so hard having people judge you, especially when you have worked so hard and it is something you really care about. And then on top of it to be worried about prom too.

Thinking about my own prom brings back some slightly nightmarish memories. I attended both my proms in high school rather unwillingly. The first year I went because for some reason my class elected me to the prom committee and so after spending hours and hours working on everything I wasn't going to not show up. It actually ended up being a lot of fun because I went solo (in high school I was totally awkward and awaiting college where I would finally blossom into myself. I am still awkward, but I also think I blossomed.) It was a lot of fun just being silly with my friends and having everyone tell me I looked liked Cinderella. I have since worn that dress to two different YSA Halloween dances, once as Cinderella (2004) and the other as the tooth fairy(2007). As I think back on it, that prom was really not that nightmareish, especially compared with the next year.

Me at the Halloween dance with my cousin as the middle school version of himself, my roommate as a pin up girl and Brent as Flava Flav.

I had a date this year which in girl world usually means better, however in Emily world it meant worse. My date was a friend with whom there was not type of romantic interest at all, but he asked me 3 months before prom and I said yes because until that moment I wasn't going but then thought, well why not. Well, I am about to give you many reasons why not.
First of all, it was an extremely busy time in my life being editor of the yearbook, an after school tutor, in the school play, and trying to keep my status as class valedictorian. Needless to say, finding a dress for a prom I did not really want to go to in the first place was the last thing on my mind. Unfortunately, my date apparently has this on his mind constantly judging by the number of times he asked me about it. He was a planner, I am an Oh, I'll worry about that later. Things went downhill from there. When it was three weeks until prom, he finally just ordered a white corsage which when very well with the teal dress I bought a week later. In my defense, I had found the perfect dress for a very good price a month before only to find out that my best friend had almost the exact same one so I was forced to return it.
The dress I wore was exactly what I wanted, but it looked atrocious on me.(Don't you hate when that happens? I hate worse when I do not realize it until I have already worn it.) I wore tights and this weird type of underwear that is supposed to be slimming but in the end only gave me about 5 different fat rolls at awkward places on my body. Really, it was THAT bad. I still have the pictures somewhere that I refuse to show anyone. I should probably burn them but I take them out sometimes as penance.
When I got them back the names on the outside were Ashlee and Billy. Ashlee was my date's name. I was Billy. I have a bad habit of connecting all the lines in my E so it looks like a B. They thought I was the boy because my date had an ambiguous name. Talk about adding insult to injury. One of Cory's nieces actually wanted everyone to start calling her Billy after watching the movie How to Eat Fried Worms (my favorite book in 3rd grade, although I never wanted to be Billy or eat fried worms for that matter.). Little does she know I have lived her dream.
When we got to the actual prom, it got worse if you can believe it. The trend in high school these days is for boys and girls to dance SUPER close to each other during fast dances and let me tell you, there was no way I was going to do that. So I spent half the time running away from my date every time he got close to me. I did dance with him a few times for slow dances but I was definitely glad when the ordeal was over. Looking back on it, I should have just told him how I felt about that type of dancing, but that was not me in those days. I preferred to run. In my yearbook my date wrote Dear Emily (evil prom date) followed by all the we should stay friends ect. Although we haven't because when I left high school, I didn't look back. With these types of memories, I consider that a good decision.

My First Entry!

So here goes my first entry! Hooray! I have previously been only a blog reader of my favorite teen authors and when I saw the awesome blogs a family member created, I was just inspired! Thanks Lisa! So I am going to try and keep this updated *fingers crossed* and make it slightly interesting. So wish me luck.

I am currently a Senior at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. I am majoring in Geography with a minor in education. I will be graduating in December after which time I have no set plans as of yet. Well, I plan to get a job only I am not sure which one, a fact that I know causes much stress to my father. But I am who I am and that is a girl who changes her mind a lot. Right now I am very busy with school work having changed my major halfway through Junior year and therefore taking many hard classes all at once. I do, however, make time for reading, exercising (The Firm changed my life) and spending time with my wonderful boyfriend, Cory. An older picture of Cory and me from the days when we were "just friends."

Yes, were one of THOSE couples.

Cory's sister-in-laws have recently gotten me hooked on scrap booking as well. It is a really good occupation for one whose computer threatens to quit on a daily basis because it has to hold so many pictures. I do have to say that I love it and will whip out my scrapbook for anyone who is in my apartment for more than a minute while I look at them impatiently waiting for compliments. I also am the exception to the rule by being a college girl who both knows how to and loves to cook. I can often be found trying out new dishes on poor unsuspecting missionaries. Which brings me to my next "fact about Emily." I am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My faith is an enormous part of both who I am and who I hope to become and I am so grateful for the influence of the gospel and my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Every morning for breakfast I have cereal and a glass of orange juice (only 1/3 of a glass, all things in moderation) and sit at my computer reading the news. Some people say this is a bad idea to eat around your computer but alas, I could not listen. The came that fateful day when I lost my balance just a little and milk went all over my precious computer keyboard. I spent an hour painstakingly cleaning out the milk, but sadly it has never been the same. I think of this as I type today because the x key is acting up and I have to press it a few times before it will cooperate. So learn from my mistake, keep your milk away from your keyboard. They make a terrible combination.