Merry Christmas!

Wow, what a year. Busy, busy, busy, well at least since August.

I started the year with my 29th birthday, always nice and fun. Not too long after, I took and passed my exam and became certified as an EMT-Basic! Then on to starting medical pre-req classes. I've taken two so far this year. The summer semester was weird, so instead of taking classes I volunteered at St. Mary's ER. Also, I made the Dean's List last Spring! It's a big deal to me because I've never been on the Dean's List before, neither Harvard nor my high school did that. So it's novel to me.

In April I made a wonderful big change, a new job! In Ann Arbor! At HealthMedia, Inc, which is the company I tried to get into last year! I LOVE it. It's in the health industry, which makes me happy. And since it encourages its employees to live what we do, I'm healthier myself. I've been walking a lot, which has me in much better shape, and I'm eating healthier too. We provide online preventive health management and virtual health coach sessions. And recently, we now offer an online activity tracking tool, which I built almost all of. HMI was also bought by Johnson & Johnson two months ago. All good!

Unfortunately, in May a close friend of the family, Bruce of Bruce and Marianne, died. Bruce was the first, and one of only two, I consider to be my Godfather. Sad.

At the end of August I accidentally rolled my SUV off M-14, a freeway here in MI. I was trying to avoid hitting the car in front of me, then hit some gravel in the breakdown lane and lost control. Next to the freeway was a ditch, and down I went. Side, roof, side, a full 360° back to the tires. Thankfully I was barely hurt, just one scratch, a jammed finger, and two bruises (knee and thigh). SEAT BELTS WORK! I did end up with a tense neck muscle and vertigo also, but I'm all healed now. And, I have a brand new car! (Another little SUV)

This year, Mom decided she wanted a vacation with her children, so in October we took a cruise from Boston to Bermuda and back! It was nice, lots of activities, they even had a production show every night. Dinners were wonderful too. I was a finalist in the karaoke competition! Bermuda was gorgeous, there was even a rainbow to greet us! While there, I also got to swim with some dolphins! I had planned it months in advance, and it was Wonderful! I enjoyed watching the dolphins play, I got to touch them and even kiss one. I learned a lot, like dolphins are ticklish under their fins. And then I got to swim and dance with them too! The best part was hearing them talk underwater, and then seeing them swimming under me. SO amazing!

I also got to see a lot of family this year: birthdays, shows, Up North, baking cookies, holidays - it's great. Mom comes out to visit MI more often since I stopped flying, and I think it's helped bring her side of the family closer this year. On Dad's side, as well as more time with each other, we've seen more of Cindy and Jan, which everyone likes. And I get to see Dad, Colette and two of my step-sisters more since I work so close now!

I've also been able to spend more time with friends this year, including a wedding in Ohio (which was beautiful!) and reconnecting with two old LARPing friends in Howell, which has been very rewarding for me. And, just recently one of my best friends moved only 15 minutes away from me! Yay!

I hope you all are doing as well as I, and the new year sees you in good health and good spirits. Hopefully I'll have good news to share again next year!

Labels: Year Summaries