It's December 28, hot stuff!

I'm rather enjoying my week off work here at home. It's quite nice to come back and do small unimportant things, none of which really need to be done. Here's a sample list of what I have done/will have done over my break:

-gave a short presentation about my work in church
-played lots of ping-pong with my sister
-enjoyed our new hot tub
-sleeping in, and daily afternoon naps
-eye appointment, haircut, and dental appointment
-read entire Chronicals of Narnia (or Chronic-(what?)cles of Narnia, if you prefer) (I do)
-hung out upstairs while my youngest sister threw a party at our house
-and on Friday, will be going to eat supper with a bunch of Amish people

This list makes it look like I have no free time. It's great that nothing could be further from the truth!

And it's about that time. Be thinking about your New Year's resolutions...

They're coming to Chicago!

Sure, Martha looks a little nervous. But she'll be beaming when they get all moved into their apartment tomorrow. Adam just looks happy--Keep that smile on Adam, especially when you're moving all your furniture up three flights of stairs. Hopefully I'll be there to help, assuming my bus ride home goes well.

A title? What a novel idea!

So I'm sitting here alone in my house, both of my fellow VS'ers left on Wednesday afternoon, while I don't get to fly home until tomorrow morning. Luckily no snow is in the forcast so I might just make it home in time for Christmas. I didn't have to work today, so I got to sleep in until 11:00, which is the latest I've slept in months. I then got up and 'puttzed' (sp?) around the house, doing some cleaning and laundry and packing and eating the remainder of food in the fridge. Later tonight I'm heading over to supper where I will see Rachel Reimer and Shu Tu and a couple of other people my age and we will have a good time and go sledding or play some games or something. Isn't my day interesting?

The stereo begins to softly play..."I'll...be home...for Christmas..."

I want to go home and see my family.

Instead, I must wait a few more hours, most of which will be dark.

Also, someone needs to learn how to spell "orange."

Merry Xmas all.

BloG! Random Christmas wish at right.

Hey folks. I too just read through some of the old blog posts and chuckled repeatedly. Believe or not, Martha Mouse actually posted in the blogs formative days! I emailed her, taunting her with her own blog post, daring her to visit the blog and even post something!

I'm sitting at work. I'm freakin bored out of my mind. I'm not going to lie. I check my email like bi-hourly.

Angela - we'll see about the whole "even" thing. It sounds like you've recovered. I however am still wearing one of those dorky eye patches. I might sue for emotional duress. I just looked up duress and found out that it's totally not the word I'm looking for, but I've heard it so often in conjunction with sueing that I thought I couldn't go wrong. Alas, I went wrong.

Merry Christmas folks.

PS. Chicago is indeed the place to be. So all of you who may be moving after, say, a year of service (emily, danny, steve, darla, adam) or those of you who can get a nursing job anywhere (melisa) or those of you who will finish grad/med school eventually (rachel, brett, angela) should consider joining martha, alyssa and I in the town of Chi. For real.

PSS I like titling my blogs. Give it a try. It's BLOGTASTICLY FUN.

Phil, I was going to apologize for the glittery card that sent you to the emergency room, maybe even offer to reimburse you for the cost of the visit...then when I opened your Christmas card, I was overjoyed to see the same glittery greeting. I began to dance circles around the Christmas tree. All the while, glitter fell gently open my face and onto my retinas. I fell down taking the tree with me. Luckily Brett was there to take me to the emergency room. There is no need to contact Judge Judy. Now we are even.
I guess we have both learned a lesson this holiday season...
next time we prance underneath falling glitter, put on safety goggles first.

Nice pictures Melisa. I remember going sledding with my dad and brothers years ago. We would take our minivan out on country roads and tie up our sled to the back...probably not safe, and I bet my dad would get an expensive ticket if he got caught doing that today.
So, I haven't read the New Year's resolutions yet. I will as soon as I finish posting. Brett and I haven't talked about anything, but I feel as though there is one obvious change we should make for the upcoming year. I have been hearing news from various individuals about moving to Chicago (Martha, Alyssa???). The original plan for the Bullers was to go to med school and grad school in either OH or KS. I think maybe we will just have to move to Chicago and become a part of the GC community forming there :) Well, that probably won't happen. We do hope to visit all you cool, stylin', city folk probably in April.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
I'll try to get Brett to add to the East Hall blog sometime around New Year's.

Finally some snow in the great state of Kansas!! About time for real...
So since there are no hills in the flat lands of Kansas besides the Flint Hills a couple hours away, I discover a new way to have fun Kansas style in the snow. A friend took us to his Grandparent's farm and we were pulled on a old car hood by a 4 wheeler through the snow. Talk about extremely dangerous (the cautious RN in me coming out!) but oh so fun!! You don't even have to walk up a big hill to do it again like sledding! Here are some fun pics! Enjoy! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Nice work folks. Props to Melissa and Alyssa for posting recently.

And Alyssa! Look at you - making a comment! I'm so proud.

Now we just have to get the rest of these slackers on board.

Guess what? The week after Christmas, I'm helping Martha and Adam Mouse-Ruggles move into their new Chicago apartment! They're going to live about 10 blocks south of us. I'm quite excited to have some more friends in the neighborhood!

Wow 2 posts in one day...I should save it but I just can't....
in honor of East Hall the tradition lives on in Kansas.
Anyone for a nasty pumpkin...perhaps a food run???
I thought it would be easier to toss this when frozen but darn Kansas weather and the bitter cold and wind..yet no snow...Grr... Nothing can describe the squishy ozzy thawed feeling... I smile when I enter and exit my apartment and think of the many yesteryears and fun in East Hall! Wonder what the neighbors think?

Alrighty...so I am feeling a little guilty that I haven't keep up on this as well as before...especially since I have had several nice compliments on the subject reading back through.
Well this year I am not feeling so organzied and really can't think of much change happening in my regular life so I am not sending out the Christmas newsletter. (Gasps of horror! I know) Since there will be no witty composition or pictures to include, what is the point of even sending the cards with just a signiture? I intend to spread my holiday joy through this blog to my favorite East Hall friends so if you don't participate in this blog no holiday joy from me to you this year. Sorry.
















Above is my sad attempt at holiday decorating this year.

Sadly my Kansas roommate is not in to that and I am going home this year and Mom has all the real stuff. A little bit is better than nothing in my book! Alyssa I found two cans of fake snow if you want me to send them your way!I have to work Christmas Eve night at the hospital so I will be on the 12 hour Santa watch. Christmas Day I hit the road for a week of home and relaxation, tons of food and presents! We are blessed.

Keep up posting and awesome blogs! I love it! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

On two different occasions, I observed German tourists on their way to the Museum of Science and Industry riding the same bus I took home from school each day. One time, they were a couple and the woman had the smallest ass I've ever seen. MaryClair would agree. Anyways, I sat there imagining and preparing for entire conversations that might start if I simply asked where they were from or if they were going to the museum. But alas, I didn't take the plunge.

Over the past few weeks, our VS unit has been hanging out with a German girl we met over Thanksgiving dinner. It's been kinda nice to try to brush up on the ol' language skills. It also reminds me of how poor I am at speaking something coherent under pressure ("You speak German? That is great! Say something!" "Umm...Gestern ich habe ein...oh scheisse, what's that verb?"). Does anyone else derive such simple joy from getting the opportunity to speak their second language, be it German or Spanish or Chinese?

In these holiday times, I can't help but reminisce about east hall Christmases past. My debut as the Christ-child, our upstairs packed with friends and strangers, crafts and cookies at the corner table, and that warm sensation/mirage of popularity.

David, Ross, Greta and I have had a few smaller, more adult (kinda) holiday parties in the last few eves. Martha, Adam and Luke braved the winter storm on Thursday night to join us for dinner. It took them over two hours to drive on LakeShore Dr from Hyde Park on the south side up to our apartment. It wasn't pretty.

And last night Steph and Aaron Wieand came over for another holiday gathering. We drank (strong) egg nog and played games. Good times.

meanwhile...our blog is looking kind of boring. How can we communicate the awesome entertainment power of the blog to our old housemates? Look how bored these girls are as they read the sporadic entries...

hmmm....maybe they should contribute! (m birkey - i know you help out...you're cool.)

Seriously. it's so easy and fun too! email me (philipyoderkendall@gmail.com) if you need help figuring it out. The intrinsic rewards are great!

I just want to take this opportunity to give props to our very own Philip Kendall. There's a little link to the right that you can click on to get to his excellent blog. It's frickin' amazing and should be required daily reading.

In other news, our Christmas decorations are up and are, quite frankly, the bomb. Check out the sweet snowflakes hanging in our living room; bring back good memories of the ol' Hall?

I thought maybe I'd diversify the gene blog pool by writing my own post instead of letting everyone (and when i say everyone i mean the four people who actually use this thing) else speak for me. Well, Phil as you were looking out at the gently falling snow in G-town I was working on my tan down here in SanAntone. Melissa as far as moving to Wichita...mmm..how do you say...not a chance in hell. I think you guys are great and all but i need either coast line or mountains Goshen was enough for me. Hey, peace out. Phil have I told you lately that I love you. Melissa I could probably go for a hug right about now. And Danny you make me squirt milk out my nose a pee my pants a little bit. And for all the rest of you that don't post what's wrong you. Gosh here we are us diligent bloggers trying to maintain our relationships with one another and you just suckle off the teets of our labors....?...yeah, don't ask me.