Cereal Bar

My little sister loves cereal, and when she was little that was all that she really ate. She would eat it 5 times a day if our mom had let her.

As a joke, I asked the caterer at her wedding to let me set up a cereal bar the the end of her food table. This is my cousin Hil enjoying the very fancy and refined bowl of Lucky Charms at my sister's wedding.

Credit or Debit?

Is it wrong of me to like going to the mall this time of year?

I like to go and sit and watch the quiet desperation of the other frantic shoppers as they cruise the mall.

Last minute shoppers come in many shapes and sizes and the Jane Goodal in me finds a slight thrill in observing them in their natural habitat.

The first breed of procrastinator is the most common. It is named the ambler. The ambler slowly goes from store to store in search of something that will suffice. No gift is very important, merely a formality to which the ambler must conform. It sees something, slowly checks the price, tilts the head roughly 7-9 degrees to the right. A small shrug follows and the entire experience is wrapped up. The ambler goes out to its car, takes forever to get in and pull away. On the way home ambler wonders what the point of the whole thing is anyway. It really doesn't make much sense to the ambler.

The ambler is the bane of the next breed's existence. This breed is so intense it usually dominates the entire season. It is very territorial and can make it's target from half the mall away. The Maelstrom. While the ambler slowly weaves from side to side, the Maelstrom can often be found snaking close to the walls where there is least mall traffic congestion. The Maelstrom can size up a store in a second and make a killer bee-line for the gift in question. The Maelstrom comes to the mall with a list, a map of the mall layout, and battle plans A-E. If plan A is foiled, say by an ambler blocking the path to the goal, the Maelstrom can seamlessly transition to plan B. The Maelstrom will have done research to determine the optimal time and place to achieve each objective. Professions most prone to becoming Maelstroms: Green berets, CPA's, Army Generals, Soccer Moms.

The ambler has a vacant, confused look in their eyes while at the mall. Conversely, the Maelstrom is emotionless and cold. The third type of last minute shopper has a derailed, hopeless and slightly strained look to their countenace. They seem to be lost in oblivion, wandering from store to store. A quiet desperation fills every action of the seeker. The seeker comes with a mental list of their loved ones and no ideas about what to buy to demonstrate its love. It is looking for that perfect gift that, on Christmas morning, will produce the same feeling in someone else that it had the morning it received that bike/puppy/dollhouse, or slot car track. It wants to see tear filled eyes look up from the joyously ripped away paper and suddenly know that the recipient understands its love. It will go to every store, search high and low with no goal in mind. Then, suddenly, it will enter a store and all light save one glowing pillar falling gently on THE gift will appear. Heavenly hosts will be singing hallelujah as this downtrodden soul will be lifted, exalted, and fufilled. While the gift is perhaps twice the price the seeker had budgeted, it doesn't matter to the seeker because nirvana has been met.

I like watching people and categorizing their searching styles.

It gives me a little boost to see their plight and know that I am done with my shopping. Perhaps a little sick...but is it really that wrong?

Holy awesome weekend!

This weekend I went to two of the best parties I have ever been to....ever.

I'm not really a fan of the big, impersonal party where I don't know anyone and things are crazy. I prefer getting together with people I know and having smallish get together where everyone is involved in the same conversation and you end up laughing all night long.

Friday night I went to my friend Helena's graduation party. Her boyfriend's mother was throwing it for her. I figured that I wouldn't know hardly anyone at the party, and the guest list would be mostly comprised of family members. This situation can be a bit uncomfortable, but I went anyway.

And boy am I glad I did.

The moment the ear doctor (yes, my real live boyfriend) and I walked into the door we were greeted by the most warm, inviting, friendly woman I have met in a really long time. Genuine love just seeped from this woman's every pore. Immediately we were set at ease. The whole night I ended up speaking with the most interesting people who were honestly interested in me and what I was doing. It felt like they were my family. The food was great, the conversation quick and funny, but the most impressive thing about the whole event was that at the end of the night I gave the hostess a big, hearty, sincere hug. She invited the ear doctor and I down to her house any time, and I really believe she honestly wanted us to come back.

Last night my friends Amy and Brett hosted their annual Christmas party/dinner. This year there were 6 couples. 3 of them were celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple, the host and hostess have been married a just over a year, one couple just got engaged and the ear doctor and I. We've all been friends for almost 3 years now, so the group was the very best of friends. Over dinner of delicious soup and bread bowls we laughed about the process of wedding gift registry. After dinner we sat around and laughed about trips we've all taken together. Over some piping hot wassil we laughed at the white elephant gifts we brought, and afterward we laughed over dishes and putting together the host's house. For one moment I sat in the high backed dining room chair in front of the roaring fire and looked at each face in our circle. I was overwhelmed with appreciation for each person there. I was floored by how lucky I am to have such great friends. I was enamored with the man sitting to my right. I was truly happy in that Halmark, peace on earth, goodwill to men kind of way.

The Line

I know a lot of people don't like the line at weddings, but, lets be honest, it really is an efficient way for the bride and groom to welcome everyone to their party.

This pic was taken from the deck above the line, and I'm actually kind of proud of how it turned out. Kinda artsy.

Warning: ANOTHER post about how great the ear doctor is

I know this blog sometimes gets a little on the effusive side about how great my boyfriend is, but he's just so awesome that he deserves a little recognition.

Last night we went on the perfect holiday date.

First, he had called around and tried to get us tickets to see a Christmas Carol in Denver, but the show was sold out. Plan B, he called around and got all the details about the Christmas lights at the Denver Botanical Gardens.

On my way home from work he called and filled me in.

We decided that the Gardens were for us. Because the garden is in Denver, and he lives between my house and Denver, we decided that it really would make more sense if I drove to his house and then we took off from there. Then he said, "I really want to make sure this is a date and I want to come pick you up." So cute, but in the end impractical. (Even though I really wanted him to come get me too)

Last night was bitter cold and I figured that if we were going to be strolling around outside that I'd really need to bundle up. As I squeezed my arm through the sleeve of my new Eskimo coat I seriously thought about taking one of the 5 shirts off that I was wearing under my sweater, but I'm glad I didn't because it was COLD!

When we arrived at the garden we decided to get the holospek glasses for an extra dollar. Boy, am I glad we did. These glasses were awesome because when you put them on all of the little twinkle lights became shaped like little 6 pointed snowflakes. It was really breathtaking. As we walked around the light filled gardens, I was just plain happy. All along the path they had arched abors covered in icesickle lights dangling down. At the top of each arch there were huge balls of mistletoe. We took advantage of each and every one.

In the middle of the garden they had set up a heated tent where a bell chorus was performing. It was really really beautiful and awesome to watch these people really into their music. One lady looked like the nicest grandma who was obviously a retired kindergarten teacher. When she got really excited by the music she would smile, dance and stick her little tongue out a bit. It was really great to see her that happy.

After the performance we went up and talked to the conductor of the group. With the ear doctor's knowledge of sound and my knowledge of bell making and vibrations/acoustics/physics we had quite an interesting conversation. I love talking to members of interesting little subcultures. They get so excited when someone outside of their circle of acquaintances gets interested in their passion.

After a totally romantic, festive, fun activity, the ear doctor and I tried this new restaurant in Denver. It was amazing. They seated us right by the crackling fire and brough us the most amazing food. I had a fairly simple dish of penne pasta, chicken, carrots and green beans in a lemon cream sauce. The vegetables were so fresh and almost shockingly flavorful. Really, amazing. The ear doctor had the best pork chop I've ever tasted sprinkled with gorganzola cheese (which I found a bit to mold tasting, but he loved it).

On the way home we listened to Christmas carols in the car. Despite my best efforts and raucous singing, I got warm and tired and fell right to sleep mid Joy to the World.

Wow

Holy long-time-without-a-post Batman!

Finals are officially over and I am 1/4 of the way done with my Masters degree. How awesome is that! This semester has been a roller coaster, but I've learned a lot doing it.

1) Prioritizing. There comes a point when I meet my limits and at that point I have to decide what will be sacrificed. Keeping priorities set right guarantees that I will be happy down the road with the choices I make.

2) Having a boyfriend that is willing to be supportive and leave me alone when I need it is crucial. I wasn't sure about how going to school would affect our relationship, but in the end everything turned out great.

3) Realizing that getting an A in a class isn't as important as learning the material. Usually one indicates the other, but sometimes it doesn't, and that's alright too.

4) Serving others keeps my head on straight. I'm so happy I have the chance to serve people through my church position. It is so important for me to remember the needs of others when I am feeling like my world is getting a little too difficult.

5) Staying positive about things really does wonders. Mid way through the semester I didn't think I was doing what I wanted to be doing. I just kept getting more and more negative about school and work. Good thing I got a swift kick in the rear because now I realize I wouldn't rather do anything else.

Eskimos are very smart people

Here in the beautiful state of Colorado we are in the middle of our first really cold spell of winter.

Becuase I have been working in a cubical all day long for the last two years I haven't really paid as much attention to my inventory of coats as I should have.

All I had was a wool pea coat and two ski jackets.

Yesterday I acquired this beauty:

I always thought this type of coat was reserved for rich, yuppy, snobby people who had a house in Aspen that they only used 2 weekends of the year.

Boy was I wrong.

The fur lined hood provides a wind barrier and catches all the little falling snoflakes, holding them far away from my little cold face.

I love this coat and may never take it off.

The fact that it only cost me $42 from Banana Republic doesn't hurt either.

Raging Competitive Beast

or RCB for short.


Saturday night my friends threw a birthday party.

One of the games we played was this candy bar game that is kind of like a white elephant gift exchange. There is a huge pile of candy in the center of a circle of people. You pass a pair of dice around and when you roll doubles you can either take a candy bar from the middle or steal one from someone else. The catch is that if you want to steal you have to remember who had the specific candy and ask for it by name. This twist usually means that as soon as people acquire a little nugget of chocolate goodness they hide it away so no one knows who has what.

Now, it doesn't really matter what the game is, there is a little switch inside my brain that pops up like a turkey timer whenever I'm involved. I've tried to quell it, hide it, deride it, be snide to it, but it just won't go away. I know it is unattractive and not very much fun to be playing against, but it is part of me.

Anyway, throughout the game I kept pointing my finger at other people, lying, and just generally being secretly rotten. In the end, everyone was shocked to see that I had a nice little stock-pile of 7 candy bars to take home with me.

The bad thing is that when I have candy, I don't really eat it.

I store it. I hide it away in the corners of my room. I just like HAVING candy....not really eating it.

Normally, this is just a cute little endearing trait of mine, but recently we have discovered that we have a little mouse problem at my house. They have decided to move right in and become the annoying non-rent paying roommates.

My roommate made the comment, "well, they should pretty much stick to the kitchen because we don't really have any food back in our rooms."

All the sudden the color drained from my face because I, in fact, have copious amounts of sugary confection tucked away all over the place. Places so deep and dark that I have forgotten them and now make very attractive little dens of squalor for these furry little brown tyrants.

This one is a pretty standard shot of the two of them outside the temple. I think they are one good lookin couple.

Why I have such high expectations of the Men I date

I almost forgot to mention one of the sweetest things that happened over the break. As previously mentioned, Tree day is a big deal in my family. My mom goes to great lengths to make is special for everyone. Usually my dad just tries to stay out of our way.

This year he went to the hardware store for an hour or so. When he came back he pulled my mom aside for a minute and gave her a beautiful poinsetta. He said it was her Tree Day present. She works so hard to make it special for everyone else, and this was his gift to make it special for her.

Pretty thoughtful, huh!

Two of my favorite people

The ear doctor came up to be with me at the wedding.

Aren't they great?

Tree Day

My mom is very clever. In the spirit of Tom Sawyer she has devised a way to trick our entire family into happily helping her put up all of her many, MANY Christmas decorations in one day.

It is called "Tree Day" and it is almost as highly anticipated as Thanksgiving itself. The day after Thanksgiving everyone comes over to my mom's house and participates in decorating the tree, and house. You can almost feel the house throbbing to the rhythm of the most wonderful time of the year. My sister works on the gingerbread houses and I put the lights on the tree. Presents are handed out hourly. This year they culminated for me in an at home soft serve ice cream maker.

Anyway, this year to add to the festivities, my two little nieces put on hourly shows for the family. Every hour or so they made us all take a break, drink a diet coke, and watch their shows. Really, it was the same show over and over, but it was so cute it really didn't matter. My little niece, Kathryn:

would hold two big red bows on strings, one in each hand. Then, while Lexi switched on the musical carousel playing Jingle Bells, Kathryn would jump up and down and swing the red bows around, num-chuck style. After the aerobatics were over, she would serenade us with her own rendition of the classic jingle bells that went a little something like this:

Dashing tha-woo the snow...in um um um open um....oh the fiewds we go....laughing all the way, HA HA HA (at ear splitting volume)....bews on bum bum bum....making spiwits bwight....oh em fun ........OH

Jingo Bews, Jingo Bews, Jingo all the way.....OH McFun it is to wide in a one hose open slay. HEY! Jingo Bews, Jingo Bews, Jingo all the way.....OH McFun it is to wide in a one hose open slay

I called it the McDonald's version and am currently looking into a deal with the server of 99 billion hambugers for a holiday endorsement.

Tis the Season....well, almost

I know, I know, it isn't officially Christmas season until after Thanksgiving, but I've had my Christmas template made for about 2 weeks now and I am so excited to put it up. It is my first decoration for the season.

Plus, I'm going home tomorrow and won't have access to the template there, so really the options were put the Christmas template up today, or next Monday.

And by next Monday I would have wasted 3 good days of Christmas celebrating, so this really is the only option.

If you're one of those people who are like, "Jeez, I can't believe they are already setting out Christmas gifts at the Mall" or "Hello, shouldn't Christmas come only a week before the big day" then you can just turn around and leave because from now until the end of December this is an official holiday stop.

My coworkers

So, it had to come out some day.

I knew they would put the pieces together, they're smart guys.

Yes, I have been discovered.

My two coworkers have unearthed the truth....I am a BLOGGER.

The great thing is that they, too, blog.

I've never felt closer to them now. All this time we've been sharing offices and copiers and white boards and I never knew that we could form a friendship via satellite trasmition.

Thank you, technology, for bringing me closer to the person I share a 10 x 15 foot area with.

Check out their blogs:

Derrick

Litespeed

Grin and Bear It

After 6 hours of having your photo taken, this happens to even the most patient bride:

The reunion

So, I know it is lame to get caught up in TV so much, but I just don't care.

Last night I both loved and hated the show.

And by "the show" I of course mean Gilmore Girls.

I loved that Lor and Rory made up. That was so perfect. I really felt Lor's excitement when she told Luke they could finally set a date.

But,

I have to admit that I think the whole "Luke has an illegitimate 12 year-old daughter" is just a little bit retarded, and over dramatic for the tone of the story. Seriously, it is supposed to be about ordinary people and this step just seemed too day-time drama for me. What next, Sukie's twins were switched at birth? Or maybe Emily will be possessed by the devil?

Seriously, writers, what were you thinking?

Pretty Girl

This photo features my beautiful baby sister in her stunning wedding dress in our back yard between the ceremony and the reception.

New theme

Because there has been such great demand, and to show off my skillz as a photographer, I am going to post one photo a day from my sister's wedding back in July. Here is the first one.

I call it "FORBIDDEN SECRET"

A few nice things

Dear Southwest airlines,

Thank you SO much for finally deciding to pick up Denver as one of your destinations in January. You really have no idea how much it means to be to be able to get a cheap flight to anywhere your friendly airline flies. When I moved to Denver, and learned that you did not fly here, I deemed it as the single fly in the ointment of Colorado. Thank you for restoring my belief that this is the ideal place to live.

Sincerely,

Katie

PS Do'nt tell anyone but I think this will be the last nail in the coffin for United. He He He

Dear People in my Spanish class,

I am a little dissapointed that only two of you showed up to our Spanish only dinner last night. I thought we had all made a lasting friendship and I was sorely dissapointed that only two of you felt like it was "cool enough" for you to attend. Shame, shame on you.

Sincerely,

Katie

Dear Student that I TA,

Still, two days later, I am a little disgrunteled with your treatment of me, your TA. When you confronted me in a very combattive matter, I responded equally combattively and now I feel there is a rift between us. Please know that if you had treated me with the respect I deserve as your evaluator, this whole situation could have been avoided, and we both would have been satisfied. The way things stand now, we are both just annoyed.

Sincerely,

Katie

Dear Ear Doctor,

I know right now you are stressed and worried about the conference, but just know that I think you are so accomplished and so well prepared that you will do an amazing job. Say hi to Shamu for me.

Sincerely,

Katie

Dear Makers of the Williams and Sonomoa 2003 Christmas CD,

You have no idea how much joy your product has been giving me the last week. I have been letting the happy, hopeful songs on your recording drift through the air of my car and it has made this incredably difficult and long week bareable.

Sincerely,

Katie

Dear Person who brings the doughnuts to work on Fridays,

Really, my appreciate for you has no limit. I have been looking forward to this moment all morning. The first, glorious, sugar filled and chocolate covered bite brings me close to nirvana.

Sincerely,

Katie

This is totally for reals

Very like the last installment of "I just realized what I said was really really dumb," my Spanish class today had a little gem of a moment.

We have finally got to my favorite section of learning another language...LA COMIDA!

I just love learning how to say food in other languages becuase I feel like it will be really useful to me.

Anyway, today we were learning how to say apple in Spanish. One of the exercises was, given a description of the food in Spanish, we had to determine the right vocab word.

Anyway, the description in the book was:

"Una fruta roja o verde" (A red or green fruit)

The answer, of course, was "Una manzana" (apple)

This girl, I'm sure before thinking, piped up and said, "So, I didn't know until a year ago that the red and green apples were different types of apples. I always thought that the yellow ones were the least ripe, the green ones were a little riper and the red were ready to eat. I totally didn't ever eat the green ones."

Yeah, and she is a SENIOR!

The whole class just tried to laugh along with her, but I was shocked and it was all I could do to wipe the, "where did you come from" slack-jawwed expression off my face.

525600

Today is a very important day.

Not because it is Monday, the start of a new week.

Not because today is the day I register for my classes next semester.

Not because my bangs look particularly slammin today.

Exactly one year ago today the ear doctor and I decided we would be exclusive.

Yep, today is our one year dating anniversary.

And since it has been a while since I've listed his amazing attributes in this forum, I've decided like today would be the most fitting of days to do so.

Reasons why the ear doctor is awesome:

• He is really smart. I mean really smart. The kid is getting his PhD for goodness sakes.
  
  

• He is so good looking, and not in that skinny, gross, MTv way. He is strong and big and I love that his shoulders are so broad that I can barely get my arms around them.
• He is so thoughtful.
• Always (or nearly) patient with my rudeness or general disregard for everyone around me.
• he can really see people. What the need and want and then tries to help whenever he can.
• He loves taking me out to dinner.
• He loves going to the movies.
• He thinks I'm funny.
• He loves Lucille Ball.

• Clearly has a thing for red heads.
• He makes me laugh SO hard.
• He likes my little sister.

• He planned the perfect 1 year anniversary night out.
• Complete with chocolate fountain fond when we got home.
  
  
  
• He likes quality in things and doesn't mind paying for it.
• He cannot find a new pair of shoes that he really likes.
• He owns the coolest new Nixon watch they make.
  
  
  
• He's one of the best dancers this side of the Mississippi, and doesn't mind that I'm not that great.
  
  
• He doesn't think it is that weird that I have a strange love for the Christmas season.
• He always wants to get people the perfect gift.
• He is always on time.
• He is very responsible.

There are more, but I should get some work done today.

Mental Prostitution

So I've been banging my head against my keyboard for the last 4 hours trying to figure out how to program.

This really nice guy I met yesterday asked how it was coming and I went off with my frustrations.

He sat down and helped me for an hour try to get this together.

And now it works like a dream.

My gratitude to him was thoroughly effusive. I seriously could not have done it without him.

After we were done we were chatting and he admitted that he doesn't have a lot of friends in the program and he was happy that he'd now made a friend.

It was so cute I almost wanted to reach over and give him a hug.

It was just like the scene at the end of Can't buy me Love when Kenneth is helping the cheerleader girl with her math so he could sit at the popular table at lunch.

Except, I am nowhere near as cool as that girl is,

Nor is my hair as big as hers,

but you get the picture.

Good News

Don't worry, the doughnuts were here this morning.

I know you were all concerned.

You may now resume your normal lives.

My boyfriend RULES

Just in case you were wondering how the ear doctor's costume turned out this year, you should all wander over to Genius's site and check him out.

Mi Amor

100 Things

1. I have a whole walk-in closet full of clothes and there are really only about 3 outfits that I really like to wear.
2. One of those consists of my hideous green sweat/pajama pants and my soft baby blue housecoat. Accented by my bright red Steve Madden slippers and you have the perfect ensemble.
3. I really want an orange kitten, but I just don’t have the time to properly raise it right now….maybe I’ll get it this summer when I don’t have classes.
4. Grad school is not quite what I thought it would be. The other week I thought about quitting. The funny thing is that I thought I was the only one who thought about quitting grad school. The more people I’ve talked to the more I realize this is a normal thing that everyone goes through.
5. I am so glad that I have learned how to open up to people….at least a little bit.
6. Every day I realize more that I have no ability to change anyone but myself. If I’m unhappy with a situation I can’t expect to complain about how I’m being treated, rather I have to be the one who changes my expectations.
7. I love carving pumpkins, but I’m really confused why everyone says they like roasted pumpkin seeds. I think they are nast.
8. I don’t like turtleneck sweaters because I have a short neck and they usually come up to my ear lobes when I wear them making me look like I am being suffocated by my own vestments.
9. Cranberry Grapefruit SoBe is ambrosia to my tongue.
10. Me gusta bialar con mi novio, the ear doctor, porque el es muy guapo!
11. I love the fact that I have some people in this world who care about me so much that time and distance are really nothing.
12. My flat iron broke…this is a serious loss felt by me and I am still wearing black in mourning the little guy.
13. I love to jump on trampolines and I secretly resent my parents for never getting me one. (just kidding mom)
14. I am SO looking forward to going to England for spring break with my family. I feel like I haven’t been on a trip with them in AGES!
15. I think my mom is the most amazing woman who ever walked on God’s green earth.
16. I am so lucky to have had the childhood I did. Yesterday I heard a story about a girl whose parents kicked her out of the house at 14, tried ever drug under the sun, has since become a born again Christian and is now getting a PhD in Physics. Dramatic!
17. I love going to college and high school football games.
18. I love cooking, but always create the hugest mess in the process.
19. I wish I had the desire to work out more.
20. I love reading and am currently re-reading the Narnia series. This time I’m reading the story in chronological order (instead of the order CS Lewis wrote them in). I am getting SO much out of the story.
21. There really are deeper levels to that book that speak to me.
22. I’ve stopped doing my hair every day. I’ve finally learned the joy of just showering and throwing that knot of wet scraggly hair into a knot on top of my head and going. It really is liberating.
23. I love going to the movies….any time of the day, with anyone, or by myself.
24. I still don’t know what I’m going to be for Halloween. I never really know until about 7 pm the day I need a costume.
25. My new job at church is very demanding of me, but somehow I am being helped to meet the needs of everyone I care for.
26. That really is a miracle.
27. I do not think that, “I’m drunk” is an excuse for being rude or thoughtless. Just because I am the sober one does not mean you can take advantage of me.
28. Being passive-aggressive drives me NUTS.
29. A person who cannot see themselves and their flaws is really hard for me to handle.
30. Right now, my entry level Spanish class is my favorite….by far.
31. Every morning I come into work and make myself a cup of hot cocoa. On Fridays someone brings in doughnuts. I get kind of annoyed when they forget them.
32. My bangs are getting a little too long and drive me crazy.
33. I love doing special things for my friends for their birthdays. Nothing makes me happier than finding the perfect gift for them.
34. I am so excited that so many of my friends are getting married and having babies right now. It is so cool to watch them go through everything.
35. I love love LOVE that my friends don’t make be feel weird or pressured or anything because I am one of the last remaining singles in our posse.
36. My ideal Saturday would be this: wake up early and stay in my warm bed reading a book. Meet up with friends for a late breakfast. Go to a farmers market/take a walk/hike. See a late afternoon movie. Go to dinner with the ED and then go out to see a show in Denver. Perfection.
37. I genuinely like Mondays… I know, weird.
38. I love Nut Rolls.
39. And Hot Tamales.
40. I’m really excited about my classes next semester. They are exactly the classes I wanted to take and learn about.
41. I hope I have the time to take another Spanish class before I’m done with my degree.
42. I love that I have a savings account and I actually use it. So grown-up.
43. I’m starting to learn to slow down and enjoy each moment of my life. If I’m starting to feel rushed or hurried I tell myself to remember that I choose my course. I’m guiding my actions and if I’m not happy I don’t have to do anything. It really helps.
44. I can’t wait for the T-shirt and chocolate covered macadamia nuts that my mom got me in Hawaii to come. I could down a whole box of those bad boys in about 3 minutes.
45. I love Girl Scout cookies.
46. I would rather be cold than hot.
47. I’m more uncomfortable in small spaces than at high heights.
48. Saturday I will be spending the whole day either working on Halloween costumes or in the computer lab. I hope the weather is crappy.
49. I rarely have food cravings.
50. I love being around people who are clever.
51. Intelligence in other people doesn’t intimidate me…it attracts me.
52. I used to define myself as “fiercely independent.” I don’t anymore.
53. I am loyal to a fault.
54. I’m an awesome roommate.
55. I love old people, especially old couples. They just treat each other with such respect. I guess that comes when you’ve been with someone almost every day of your life for over 50 years.
56. If, at the end of my working career, I have built the type of life my grandparents have I will consider myself very successful.
57. Happiness isn’t a destination, but a route.
58. Last night I watched the DVD from my sister’s wedding. The photos were so beautiful I was tearing up, but the music less than great.
59. That is kind of frustrating for me personally because I did such an awesome job of actually compiling some AWESOME music for the wedding and now their memories are all associated with weird stuff that doesn’t really say, “Maggie and Dan forever”. Boo.
60. I don’t have a bike.
61. Sometimes I wonder if I got back on one after all this time if it would really come back to me, “like riding a bicycle?”
62. Wow, that was dorky.
63. I think crocks are ugly.
64. Actually, most typical “Colorado” shoes I think are pretty heinous.
65. I love that Colorado style still, and always will, includes down vests. I love them.
66. I want to take cooking classes.
67. I thought about dropping out of grad school and going to culinary arts school….for about 10 minutes.
68. I don’t understand why other people expect you to love their dogs as much as they do.
    Why are people rude in the grocery store? Seriously, CALM DOWN.
69. When I get tired my eyes start to droop.
70. Last night the ear doctor and I spent a ridiculous amount of time at Wal-Mart. The cool thing is that because I was with him, it was fun the whole time.
71. The ear doctor already has an idea of what he wants to carve into his second pumpkin tomorrow. I have no idea.
72. That is pretty indicative of our relationship.
73. For the first time ever I sent my mom a Halloween care package. I think she loved it.
74. I wish I had the patience to be a really great scrapbooker, but I don’t. And I probably never will.
75. Photos in a shoe box works for me.
76. Actually I wish there was a classy way to just plaster my walls with photos of my friends and family. Cool idea, but it would probably drive me crazy with business.
77. I love going to home shows, but would never want to live in a house so big it echoed.
78. This afternoon the institute director is making Pad Thai. Yummmmm
79. On a sunny day there is nothing better than getting a jamba, rolling down the windows, cranking up the tunes and driving.
80. I love the ocean.
81. I love the ocean in Oregon when it is cold and misty. It calms me.
82. I love waking up early in the mountains and walking away from the campsite to be alone. When the light is in almost horizontal shafts through the trees it takes my breath away.
83. I don’t like hiking fast because I don’t like looking at the ground. I like hiking so slow that I can look up between each step and see where I am. It’s not about the destination for me.
84. I can eat a whole box of Kraft Mac & Cheese in one sitting.
85. I eat it right out of the pot I used to cook it in. Why dirty another dish?
86. I am really excited about going to London in March. REALLY excited. My grandparents offered to let us use their time-share points so it looks like our lodging will only cost about $150 for the whole week. SCORE!
87. I only have about 7 minutes to finish the rest of this. Yikes!
88. I love playing spoons with my family. We do a tournament every year at Thanksgiving and I am going to DOMINATE this year. (last year I came in 2nd)
89. I help my mom cook Thanksgiving dinner every year. We get up at 6 am and work so hard we pretty much collapse by 5 pm. It is awesome.
90. This year Thanksgiving is going to be really small…only about 15 or so.
91. That is much more manageable than the 25-30 we usually have.
92. I miss my Aunt Sandy every day.
93. I love Christmas more than any holiday of the whole year. I don’t know what I’m going to do this year without the baby.
94. I’m really excited to meet Olivia Jane.
95. I love wearing green but feel like I have to regulate my wearing of it or else that is all I would wear.
96. I have a real love/hate relationship with haunted houses.
97. I love spring more than any other season.
98. Then fall,
99. Winter and summer tie for 3rd.
100. I like cake.

An Ode To Colin

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Colin,
Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you,
You live in a zoo,
You look like a monkey,
And you smell like one too.

Happy birthday to you,
I don’t know what to do,
Besides sing you a song,
Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you,
I’m glad I’m part of your crew,
I think you are awesome,
And your wife is cool too.

Happy birthday to you,
You don’t smell like doo,
Hopefully after putting your name on the internet,
You won’t want to sue.

Happy birthday to you,
I have to use the loo,
This song is getting long,
And I have work still to do.

Happy birthday today,
Please party in a major way,
I’m so glad you’re my friend,
There’s nothing else to say.

Just thought you should all know how hard core I am

So my pal K in Seattle wrote this post yesterday and since it applies to me as well, I thought I'd link you over there to check it out.

Enjoy!

Christmas in October

I don't really have much time, because I'm doing this between classes, but I just needed to post.

Last night I once again realized the importance of having good girl friends. The kind of friends who make every minute with them special. The kind of people who turn a drive out to unincporprated Boulder to buy holiday scented candles from one of those "Tupperware-esque" type of open houses in the middle of October into a moment to remember. The kind of friends that make a stop at Starbucks into an event. The kind of friends who know that if they invite you to something, you'll end up having no control and just buying whatever you want, thereby giving them the liscence to do the same.

First frost

I love fall.

No, actually, I love fall in Colorado.

This morning I woke up early, before the sun was up and got ready for my day. As I opened the door to leave I noticed that my car was covered in frost. The first frost of the year is magic to me. It is the one time the entire year where I am not inconvenienced by having to scrape that thin layer of ice off my windshield. I revel in the cold enchanting vortexes of the air escaping from my lungs. The morning feels fresh, new, and full of possibilities.

Instead of feeling flustered that the ice was going to make me late, I turned on my car and let it sit, warming itself up for me. I took those few unexpected free minutes to make myself an English muffin. I put so much butter on each half that the little craters were overflowing with melted yellow goodness. I stood in my front yard looking to the left, up to the beautiful flatiron mountains. They were imbued with the first early morning rosy light. I took a deep breath and realized that today was going to be a very good day.

Big Fat Stupid Idiot

I just realized that last Wednesday was my work's deadline to buy discounted lift tickets for the season.

I'm the retard who has brand new skis and no lift ticket to use them.

What a dummy.

London

I just thought you all might be interested to know that I purchased my tickets to London for spring break. I just couldn't wait any longer. I found the perfect combination of flights that gets me into Heathrow 30 minutes before my brother and leaves London 5 minutes after his flight. That really could not be more perfect.

Now I am really excited to get the trip planning underway.

So here comes the $64,000 question. Has anyone been to/lived in London and wants to give me some hints of cool non-touristy things to do while I'm over there? I'm sure we'll hit all the tourist stuff, but it would be really cool to spend some time and really get the feel of the city away from the digital cameras and screaming babies.

So, yeah, any advice?

Maggie is Cute

My little sister has called me almost every day this week to let me know how much she loves me and misses me.

Right now I can sense your jealousy of my family. It's ok, don't worry....that is normal.

My Fall Break

Since today is the second day of fall break, and I need some cash, I decided to come in a work a full day.

It just so happened that all my co-workers were going to go to lunch yesterday, but changed their plans so that I could come with them today. Pretty thoughtful for a bunch of middle aged guys, huh!

And that, my friends, is why my job is GREAT!

Perfectly happy

I just had the best weekend possible.

No school work, no worries about work or family, or anything really.

It all started after leaving campus Friday afternoon and going home to take a nap. I haven't taken a really nice long nap in FOREVER. After my nap the ear doctor picked me up and we went down to Denver. He took me to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants (Tamayo) where we got appetizer, entres and dessert. Yum! Then, we went over to the Buell theater and saw Jerry Seinfeld. When he came out on the stage I was a little caught off guard because he was actually there, living breathing and walking around. It seemed a little surreal. Anyway, his show was so funny I almost peed and when I was walking out my side hurt a little from laughing so hard. If you ever have a chance to see him DO IT!

Saturday morning I showed up to the ear doctor's house with breakfast from Panera. We went down to Aurora to go to their "pumpkinfest." The main attraction to the event for us was the Jack-O-Launch. They had people there who had built huge catapults and air cannons and were launching pumpkins hundreds of feet into the air and watching them explode. It was so funny to see these people in action. One group was even dressed in renaissance gear, reminding me of creepy things from my past.

After the events of the morning the ear doctor and I went shopping at the mall and I was pleasantly surprised at what a great shopping partner he is. He understands the give and take required. He never made me feel like I needed to rush around the store or like he was bored. It was great! I got a sweater for our family photo in November, a new pair of kahkis, and a white pullover that I've been needing for-EVER.

After our shopping extravaganza we went up to Greeley for the XXDL championship demolition derby. Neither of us had ever really been to a demolition derby, but the ear doctor really wanted to go and I thought that it sounded like a perfect, kind of white-trashy event to attend. I was so right. It was also SO awesome to watch. In case you've never been to a derby before, allow me to explain how it works. A bunch of old beater cars go into the middle of a dirt floor arena and line up all pointing outward. Then, the announcer counts down from 5-0. At 0 they all ram it into reverse and smash into each other. The goal of the round is to be the last car that can actually still run. They break drive shafts and axles and tires rip off their rims and the backs of the cars end up looking like crumpled paper instead of strong steel sheet. It is nuts! At one point one car ended up on its roof leaking gas. Very exciting.

Sunday morning the ear doctor and I went to church and I had a great experience there. After church I invited some of the cutest girls over to my house for dinner. I made an amazing dinner and everyone was very impressed. I burnt the top of my apple pie a bit, but it still tasted amazing.

After cleaning up the mountain of dishes the ear doctor and I watched our two shows (Law and Order: Criminal Intent and Crossing Jordan) and he let me fall asleep in his arms, which he really doesn't like to do, but lets me every now and then because he knows I love it.

Anyway, I really couldn't ask for anything more.

Getting high

My heart is racing

I can literally feel my heart wanting to jump out of my chest

My blood is pumping so fast it is making my eyeballs feel like they are pulsating, throbbing, expanding and contracting leaving my peripheral vision blurred and practically non existent

There is nothing like this

I just took my first in class test for grad school, and now I am surfing on the adrenaline rush

I wonder if this is how Olympic sprinters feel right after their run

A winning run

It has to be a winning run because I'm pretty sure I just beat that test into submission

Yes, finite elements, I AM YOUR DADDY!

Mirror Mirror

All semester I've been annoyed by this guy in my math class. He's the type of guy who is a little older than the rest of the students and therefore thinks it is alright to treat the class as if it were a one-on-one chat with the professor. He makes lame comments all the time that everyone already knows just so that he looks like a know-it-all. Really drives me nuts.

To the people that I sit with I have begun to refer to him as my class enemy. I did this once, totally as a joke, but it stuck. Now every time he makes a stupid comment my friends turn to look at my inevitable reaction. They always catch my mid-eye roll.

Anyway, for the last two weeks we've been working really hard on this project for the class. Everyone has to do individual work and use a program called MATLAB. Well, I came from an undergrad program where we never used MATLAB. As a consequence I feel terribly behind the learning curve for this project....a place I am REALLY uncomfortable. In an effort to totally immerse myself in this new language I talked to everybody about it. And by everybody I even talked to my nemesis about it.

Well, I dove right in and now have a program that works like a dream. When it all came together I think I teared up a little bit looking at my computer screen. That was a nerdy first for me.

I was walking out of the lab this morning with a skip in my step and my nemesis followed me out. I caught up with me and we started chatting a bit. I wanted to go because I was going to be late for Spanish class, but he wouldn't take a hint. Then he said, "yeah, I've only been learning MATLAB for the past couple of months and it's been really a challenge."

I said, "yeah, well, try the 2 weeks that I've known the program."

To my shock he replied, "wow, you must be very bright to pick it up that fast."

He is my nemesis no more.

I am so narcissistic.

Nearing Antiquity

So I didn't know it, but appearently I'm old.

Today in my Spanish class somehow the entire class was astounded by my age.

I didn't think that 24 was that old.

But, I guess when you are old enough to have been out of high school before other people even started it makes you old.

I guess I didn't get the memo on that one.

I'm missing a perfect Saturday

I've spent the last two years sitting in my cubical thinking about all the great people I knew and the fun times I had in my undergrad career. I remembered blowing off an assignment for a while just to talk about my friend James's latest crush, or spending a couple of hours trying to sort out the cosmos with Bryan, or sorting through stuff found on the ground/garbage heaps/DI shelves with Derek, or talking about shopping with Brit. Even now, as I sit through my 5th hour in the computer lab on a Saturday afternoon that all seems so rosy and fun.

Grad school, I have found, is not quite as much fun. And actually, if I am going to be totally honest with myself, undergrad had its moments of drudgery. Waking up early to rush to the lab through the gray and slushy snow...being unfairly graded due to factors out of my control....my personal incessant need to be the best at everything...not really great stuff.

Actually, now that I think of it I'm actually pretty excited about all this, because when it's all said and done I'm pretty sure this moment of agony I'm experiencing today lost in the memories of the friends I make here and the cool things I get to do.

That's a heartening thought.

Well,

back to MATLAB.

Attack of the Killer Clowns

So I know Boulder is this ultra-healthy town where everybody runs and plays Frisbee and frolics in the grass with their golden retriever.

Yoga and palates are huge here.

Everyone is always looking for the next best exercise they can do to keep their bodies looking and feeling great.

And usually I'm like, "Whatever makes them feel good...go for it. Just don't run me over in your Subaru Outback trying to get there."

This morning on my way into work I saw something that I've decided is over the line. I just can't jump on the bandwagon of thinking that is a good thing to do.

This guy was riding a UNICYCLE on the bike paths around town.

A UNICYCLE!?!?! Since when has it been cool to be seen on one of those things outside the circus? This guy was wearing serious biking clothes (tight lycra shorts, padded bum, neon green windbreaker) and huffing and puffing on his UNICYCLE.

Maybe I draw my apprehension to this activity from my past experiences with the riders of the UNICYCLE.

In my undergrad there was a group of really weird kids that all banded together and made a club called "the Sword and Quill." Once a semester the S&Qers would set up a medieval tent in the middle of campus, dress up like Lords and Ladies, RIDE UNICYCLES WHILE JUGGLING, and recite Shakespeare. Bizarre.

Now, I'm not saying that people shouldn't do that if that's what they're into. I think it's cool to have hobbies that are a bit away from the mainstream....heck, I'm a fiddler!

My aversion to the UNICYCLE came during one of such impromptu renaissance Festivals. I was trying to get into the bookstore to get a bluebook for a test. It was urgent, and the tents were blocking my way. I pushed through the tents in my critical quest for a bluebook. Well, I guess that was unacceptable because some kid started CHASING ME ON A UNICYCLE. When he caught up with me he yelled at me for disrupting the authenticity of the scene.

Anway, now I'm jaded about UNICYCLES and all people who chose to ride them. (other than, of course, the occasional circus act. I love the circus)

My faith in humanity has been restored

Lately I've been growing a bit jaded about my fellow inhabitants of this earth. There seemed to be a vast perponderance of people whose base interests seem to be the driving force behind their actions. All of the looting and rioting and people sitting in garbage in Louisianna and Houston...all of the politicians just letting that happen. It all just seems to really be getting to me.

Yesterday the ear doctor and I went to my favorite little sandwhich shop for lunch. We were sitting on the cement benches eating outside in the sun. We were almost done with our lunch when two guys came and sat at the table next to ours. About a minute later the girl who was working the sandwich counter came out and told one of the men that he had dropped a $20 into the tip jar. He looked surprised and followed her back into the shop.

Moments later he came out and was commenting to his buddy about how impressive it was that she was so honest. She was right that he hadn't meant to give that big of a tip.

The thing that impressed me was that she didn't have to do it. She could have sat back quietly and doubled her hourly wage for the day, but she didn't.

And that is why I am back to my postion of thinking that, for the majority, people are good and honest and aren't out to cheat you out of a buck.

Perfect Colorado Weekend

Last week NPR said that last weekend was going to be best Coloradan weekend to see the fall colors...and they were right.

My pal Sarah, her husband, the ear doctor, two of our other friends and I went up to Guanella Pass above Georgetown, CO to go camping for the weekend.

As we drove away from Boulder and up into the mountains I was overwhelmed by how beautiful everything was. The yellow aspen leaves seemed to be glowing in the bright mid-day sun. Set against the deep green of the pine trees they seemed almost electrified. The aspens grow in veins down the mountain and make it seem like huge deposits of gold embedded in the sides of the majestic Rockies.

We got up to our campsite and much to our chagrin, the gates were locked. It turns out that the campground we were planning on using was closed up for the season. CRAPPY! We hemmed and hawed trying to decide if we were going to be rebels and laugh in the face of park rangers, or if we were going to submit to their unreasonable demands.

While we were waiting a very nice older couple drove up next to us. We asked them if they thought we'd be in trouble if we stayed in a locked up campground and the wife said, "Well, we're the Beckers. We do what we want and we say you can go ahead and camp there."

So, under the authority of the Becker's we decided to stay put.

The only problem was that we'd planned on car camping....which means we brought pretty much everything, including the kitchen sink. This was a problem because we now had to leave our cars outside of the gates and haul everything down the road to the campsite.

After about 3 trips each we finally had our camp set up.

We made dinners (the best tin foil dinner I've ever had) and made smores. We laughed and had the best time imaginable. As it turned colder we all decided it was time to get into our tents to the warmth of our sleeping bags.

In the morning we took a short hike up to Silver Dollar lake. As usually, Sarah took off with all the power of a steam engine, effortlessly steaming up the side of the mountain. I, on the other hand, rather enjoy a leisurely walk. I doggedly chugged my way up and made it to the lake in time. The view was breathtaking. There was actually still a bit of snow packed up above the lake from last year.

On the way home I slept as sound as I ever have. I woke up about 15 minutes outside of Boulder and looked at my friends. I realized I am one of the luckiest people because of the great people I know and love.

I'm jealous of a TV show

Last night I was watching Laguna Beach (she says very guiltily, and somewhat embarrassed) and they were taking their spring break trip to Cabo. The beaches they frolicked on and the resort they stayed at made me really really jealous. I need a fun trip badly.

Plus, there's the fact that my pal is touring France right now.

I was starting to get bummed until I heard last night that my brother had booked his plane tickets for our spring break trip to London in March and now I am SOOOOOO excited.

All the time that I should be spending working on my Matlab program has been channeled into the much more enjoyable task of trying to find some kickin internet deals on flights and hotels.

Thank you internet for providing me with yet another device to enable my procrastination.

A little off Kilter

Tuesday night the ear doctor and I went down to Denver to go swing dancing. Just in case none of you knew it, my boyfriend is one of the best swing dancers around. In his undergrad he was on the college swing team and went around doing shows and all that kind of stuff. Very hardcore.

Anyway, since we started dating he has patiently taught me how to do it and now, almost a year later, I'm getting decent.

Back to my story. Tuesday we show up and the dance floor is pretty sparse, which is good in swing. Less people to bump into. Less people bumping into you.

I was wearing some new pants that were very cute; dark with pinstripes making me feel quasi-20's-era-gangster. We're dancing the night away and things are really clicking. I've stopped worrying about how I look and I'm just dancing for the fun of it.

The ear doctor takes a step back and spins me around fast. I prep for the turn, but a split second later I find myself face down on the floor in push-up position.

Yep, that's me. My cute pants were my demise. Somehow a corner of fabric found itself caught under my shoe and sent me hurtling off kilter down to the floor.

The funny thing was that I really wasn't embarrassed at all. I couldn't care less because I landed somewhat gracefully. Nothing but my feet and hands touched the ground. I was so impressed with my cat-like reflexes and ability to fall without totally injuring myself that I considered it a credit to my skillz.

Weird, huh?

Sweet Revenge

It's official. I have evened the score with mi enamigo.

After class I glanced over at him as he was packing his bag and saw (much to my chagrin) the blue pen, splintered, broken and defiled. Fury built up in my soul and I just couldn't take it. As we filed out of the room I slid into line behind him and noticed that HIS TAG WAS POKING OUT THE BACK OF HIS SHIRT.

Normally I do the right thing, and tell the person whose tag is out about their fashion malady. But not today. Today I broke the socially acceptable course of action and let him keep walking on.

Take that mi enamigo! I bet he walked around campus all day looking like a FOOL!

(insert crazy maniacal laugh here)

Moving a step behind

So I don't know what it is lately, but I feel like the rest of the world is advancing a fraction of a second ahead of me. I seem to be late to everything I do, regardless of my good intentions to be early. The following is a list of examples of the acceleration of the world, and my inability to keep up:

1. Missed my flight to Seattle on Saturday morning. I've never missed a flight before. Ever. It was bizarre to be there standing at the big window looking out at the plane I was supposed to be on pull away from the jet way and take off without me.

2. Forgot to do my Spanish homework. Usually I am a homework fanatic. Usually I have all my homework done at least a day in advance. For some reason time decided to rush ahead without notifying me and I found myself at class on Tuesday morning completely empty handed.

3. Tuesday night all I could do was sit and watch TV. I was unable to get off my bum an do anything due to the fact that my normal amount of energy looks like total lethargy when set in the reference frame of this new dizzying paced environment.

4. Yesterday I realized that I had to get all of the homework and quizzes graded for the class I TA and I didn't have a solutions key made yet. For some reason, unknown to me, the huge gap of time I thought I had to create a key had fallen in on itself and I am left to scramble to get the grades entered.

5. My hair has grown wildly out of control and I didn't notice until my friend Amy (who cuts my hair) asked if I wanted an appointment. I didn’t even notice anything.

6. Despite my best efforts, I have been late to 3 of 4 lectures this week.

So there you see. Proof that the rest of the world is spinning faster than normally and for some reason I missed the accelerator bus.

Sincere Apology

So I have been the kind of blogger lately that I hate. The kind of person that I wish would write more, but doesn't. The kind of person that I leave on my sidebar because I truly want to see what is going on with them, and think that if for some reason I keep them on the sidebar they will feel inspired and impelled to write something.

Sorry.

This whole back to school thing is crazy and I feel like I hardly ever have any time to just sit and think about something non-school or work related. Last night I had to spend the entire evening laying in bed watching Real World just to detox from the overload.

The crazy thing is that I love my life right now. It's overwhelming and hard and pushes me to exhaustion, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I feel like I am learning so much so quickly. Everyday is filled with something and someone new. I am so happy with the choice I've made!

Mi Enamigo

Last week was the first week of classes. I was bright eyed, excited and optimistic. I looked at all the other students around me, and through my rosed color glasses, I saw an army of my peers, engaged in a righteous battle against ignorance. I elevated them, along with myself, to defenders of truth, seekers of knowledge, pure and altruistic beings.

Then, on thursday my idealistic view of them was shattered into a million tiny, sharp little pieces that have since struck my heart and left it aching, filled with rancor.

In my Spanish class there is one particular student. On the aforementioned day the sun went down on my hopes and dreams (Thursday) I noticed that he wasn't taking any notes. About 20 minutes into the lecture, he reluctantly opened up his slim looking backpack and pulled out a yellow legal pad with the intention of taking notes. For a minute he looked around in the small pouch on the front of his bag, but finding no writing utensil he slumped back in his chair. About 5 minutes later he leaned over to me and asked to borrow a pen.

As the gracious fellow student that I am, and with my newfound hope in humanity I reached down, withdrew a brand new pen from my bag and handed it over.

I sat there for the next 10 minutes smiliing internally at my little act of service.

Then, I glanced back over at the recipient of my good will, and what do I see, but his gnarly little incisors gnawing on the end of my pen.

Immediatley I was totally repulsed, and enthralled. For the last 10 minutes of class I spent my time wondering what this kid would do.

Would he suddenly realize that he was chewing on my pen and look embarrased? Would he offer it back to me after he'd demolished it with his sharp, and poorly brushed canines?

As the clock ticked on I became engrossed by the situation.

Finally, the lecture ended. He tossed his offensively yellow pad of paper into his backpack and stormed out of class.

For a second I sat dumbfounded in my chair.

I honestly couldn't believe that anyone would do that. He didn't even make a comment about the pen. I guess he thought that "borrow" meant the same thing as "keep and desicrate."

So now he has been dubbed my "enamigo" and will remain thus appelled until such time that the pen incident has been resolved.

Elation

As I switched on my right turn signal to turn onto my street last night I should have been able to sense the dark cloud of gloom emanating from my house two blocks away. It had been a long, hard day at school, but that still didn't explain my lack of normal perceptive ability.

I parked my car, climbed up the steps to my house and opened my door.

The scene of my front room was jarring.

I stopped and waited a second to put the pieces together. Scattered all over our worn, fading hardwood floor were several manuals. The pages were bent and crumpled. The entertainment center was pulled back away from the wall ruthlessly exposing the long black cords. TV, stereo, DVD player and the mystery remote were lying lifeless on the ground, their battery covers yanked off and gutted; the life giving cells stripped from their plastic beds. My roommate was sitting in the midst of this disarray, wide eyed and frantic. She had the look of a cornered animal looking up at her attacker, full knowledge of what is about to ensue.

I came to this scene and after the moment it took to digest what was going on I called out, "FURY (my roommate) what is going on?"

In a low and confused tone she said, "It's the TV, it won't turn on"

My heart rose up in my throat and I mentally counted to 10 before I spoke again.

"Do you know what's going on?"

She started to explain, "well, I the people from Comcast sent a new box today for our upgrade to DVR. When I got the box I called Comcast to tell them to cancel the old one. I hooked up the wires, and now, nothing."

Oh sweet glory.....they had taken away our cable.

My world started spinning.

What was I going to do?

How was I going to make up my mind about what I like to do?

I will be totally out of the loop with the lives of my best friends: Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, and the Pitt/Aniston break-up.

I set my mind to work. I decided I would not be a victim of comcast. I would take things into my own hands.

I looked at the wires and saw that they had all be connected correctly.

I un attached and reattached things.

I routed it through the DVD player.

I rounded it through the box.

I tired connecting it straight to the TV.

I was becoming frustrated.

The light was leaving my eyes and sweat beads were rolling down my forehead.

Suddenly, I thought of something.

With my last, halting breath I called to my roommate, "FURY, press the 'input' button."

She raised her weary and sunken hand and with her last ounce of strength pushed the little red button in the upper right hand corner of the remote.

The joy and ecstasy I experienced in the next minute defies all explanation.

Suddenly the TV burst to life. The strident constant mock of static had been replaced by the sonorous tones of MSNBC.

Like the winner of a marathon race, the victory invigorated our bodies. Adrenaline pumped through our systems as we started a full out ceremonial dance thanking the cable gods. We rompted and jumped and yipped and shouted with every thankful cell in our bodies. Light shone down from above and we felt a moment of divine transcendence as we realized that not only could we watch TV now, but we possessed the power to rewind, copy, and program our viewing. The power, the control, the total euphoria of never having to miss another episode of Gilmore Girls again.......

So not one person in any of my classes yesterday was friendly. I don't know what the deal was. I sat there surrounded by people who are going through the exact same experience as I was and no one every cracked a smile in my direction. I just sat there thinking, "what is with you people?"

I even went so far as to try to strike up a conversation with one of the classmates next to me, but he pretty much just gave me a one word response and turned around to fish some strange writing device out of his bag.

It was really disheartening.

On the other hand, my fabulous new roommate made her famous meat sauce and pasta and the boys from next door came over. We had a great dinner filled with laughs and stories. After that, the ear doctor and I went swing dancing down in Denver, and I actually didn't feel like I was doing all that badly.

Tonight we're going to the Jack Johnson concert.

The one at red rocks that sold out in about 20 minutes.

I'm really EXCITED!

I'm pissed

So I just met with the professor that I'm going to TA for and not only did he make me feel like a raging moron for not remembering how to compute a curl of a function, but he also informed me that he expected me to re arrange my entire schedule for his class. WHAT A PAIN! Now I am taking classes that I really wish I wasn't.

I sat in his office with the other TA and stared blankly at his whiteboard while he expected me to just recall off the top of my head material that I haven't studied in almost 5 years. Sometimes I'm floored by professors. They expect you to understand and remember the same amount of information that they know. Never mind that they've been teaching this material for the past 20 years and this is their lives work.

On the plus side, this class is probably going to be really challenging and interesting so I'm kind of excited to learn about it. It's pretty much 4 credit hours of free class. Not just free, but I'm being paid to become and expert on the material. So, I guess when I look at it that way, I'm pretty excited about it. Plus, now I have a goal of impressing him with my ability to learn. Bonus.

Bragging rights

Usually I try to not make every post about how awesome my boyfriend is, but today I'm just going to have to break down and let you all know.

Because,

well,

he is.

And he did something last night that totally warranted some unabashed praise.

He went above and beyond the call of duty.

He blew me away.

Last night after a grueling day of TA orientation I had volunteered to make the missionaries of my church dinner. They don't have much money and can't really cook at all, so sometimes I offer and they gladly accept.

Anyway, last night I tried a new recipe from my new Healthy Kitchen cookbook. The entree (eggplant rollatinni) was very involved and I was rushed so I couldn't do my normal do-the-dishes-as-you-cook routine.

The result, as I'm sure you could imagine was that there were dishes everywhere in my kitchen. The meal was great, and well received, but I had to be somewhere at 8 so I scooted everyone out of my house, leaving the kitchen looking like ground zero.

After I came back from my appointment I rounded the corner into the kitchen fully prepared to do dishes for the next hour.

I was overcome with the beauty of the sight upon which my eyes fell.

The kitchen was immaculate. It was sparkling and clean. Every dish had been washed and put away. The leftovers had been carefully wrapped and put in the fridge. It was so amazing.

I called the ear doctor and he admitted do the great deed of good works. After I'd left he had circled back around to my house and spent an hour cleaning up the mess I'd made.

And that, my friends, is why my boyfriend rules.

Being a TA is going to be hard

Holy Cow. I've just been to my first day of Grad Student training and I've decided that this was a bigger decision than I thought it was. As I sit here in a busy, impersonal, chaotic student computer lab I am silently missing my sweet, quiet office. I miss being surrounded by people who know me, think I'm really smart, and love my sense of humor. I tried making a few jokes with people here and they totally fell flat. This may take a little adjusting to get used to.

I had to give a 5 minute lesson on something. It was video-taped and played back for me, and the rest of the classroom to watch. Nothing is quite as humbling as seeing yourself teach on a TV screen. Plus it was some serious persuasion to get my fat butt back into the gym.

On the more positive side, while waiting in the hour long line to get myself a new student ID card I met 4 new people who were really cool. That's one of the coolest parts of being a student. Every single day you have the chance to meet brand new people and learn awesome things from them. It's always a fun, dynamic environment that is constantly refreshing itself. Making friends is SO easy.

Last thing to report is that my beautiful best friend in the whole world had her first baby last night. Olivia Jane is the new baby's name and I think that is SO cute. I wish I could be in Washington hanging out with my new little niece, but alas, it can't be. Olivia's little head was 15" in circumference, which is HUGE, so I know she's going to be a genius.

My country 'tis of thee

Have you ever been in a group of people and you say something you think is totally normal, but when you look around the table you realize that what you though was normal is actually very very abnormal?

I think that's how my friend Derek felt at lunch today.

We were talking about how some people don't know what shooting stars really are and how we thought that was kind of strange. Then, I said I knew someone who didn't know there was a Washington State. Then, Derek said, (and I'm not joking here) "well, I don't know what the DC stands for."

I paused for a minute not really comprehending. Then, it dawned on me that the "DC" he was talking about was the "DC" in "Washington DC." Like the capitol of America. I was floored. I half laughingly informed him that it meant District of Columbia. Everyone in hearing distance looked at him in shock.

He then tried to prove that hardly anyone knew what DC meant by asking everyone else at the restaurant. After 100% of the people polled knew the answer he started feeling a little sheepish.

I was blown away.

We've been back from lunch for an hour now and he just came to ask my friend in the next office over all about how DC is run if it isn't technically a state.

Didn't everyone learn this in like, 7th grade?

Announcing Greatness

Good news everyone. My best friend in Colorado has graduated from school and taken a full time job as a chemist in Golden Colorado. This new stage of her life is very new and exciting, and, well, kind of boring. Like everyone else, she left her very successful undergraduate career bright eyed and ready to take on the world. She went to her first day of work and realized, with a sinking feeling, that corporate America is by and large very boring and filled with hours of unusable time.

The silver lining in this dark and gloomy cloud of disappointment is that SHE HAS STARTED A BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hooray for:

G is for Genius

Utter Failure

Yesterday morning I went through my expenses for the millionth time in my head. It seems like every other train of thought inevitable ends up in the depot of my personal finances.

I made a resolute decision that I would do no more shopping for the month of August. Things were getting out of hand and I need to reign things in a bit.

I even wrote across the top of my mirror "NO shopping!" to remind myself of my decision.

Well.

Um.

You guessed it.

I broke that goal.

I couldn't even make it through 24 hours without caving.

Although, I think this expense was justified.

Now I fully look the part of sophisticated grad student.

And since I had to wait an hour while they put my new prescription lenses into those babies, I had to pass the time.

At the Gap.

With a new pair of jeans.

I'm bad, I know.

Traitor and a hypocrite

After writing this post declaring my undying love, I've made a change. I've thrown in the towel on my old love. I've given up the fight. I've found something newer, sleeker, sexier that gives me a thrill just to look at it.

I know, I know. Having a relationship that is deep and committed means that you work through the tough times. I know I'll never learn to commit to anything unless I realize that I need to be happy with what I have. Learn to love the imperfections. Embrace the slightly worn patches because nothing is perfect in the long run.

But,

I'm human.

I like change and the excitement that it brings.

I had to give my old guy the boot and upgrade to a new model.

Feast your eyes upon my new amour

Isn't he hot.

Don't you agree that it was about time I cut my ties to a relationship that was just holding me back?

Yeah, I thought so too.

My Favorite Posts

Ways to become the most popular person in the office

Question of the Day

My writing triumph

Broken Heart

In response

A total disappointment

That's just how much I love my friends

Kraft

Maggie's Theory

Free stuff=my dream come true

The world makes sense again

Good news everyone.

This reign of terror has come to an end.

This morning the straw inventory was restocked with clean, gleaming white, perfect in every way specimens.

I'm sure you're all relieved to know.

White Trash Weekend

Friday night the ear doctor and I went to the local county fair. I love fairs...the food, the animals, the 4H projects, and especially the people. Now, the county fairs are different than the big state fairs. When I was little we would always "Do the Puyallup" (Washington State Fair). This fair was huge and drew its crowd from all sorts of socio-economic rungs in the ladder of life. A county fair, on the other hand, is straight up red neck. Things I ate at the fair:

• Pulled Pork sandwich just dripping with BBQ sauce.
• Mammoth sized pitcher of the most watered-down strawberry lemonade ever consumed.
• Large brick 'o curly fries that left a lake of oil on the paper plate.
• Completely flat diet coke.
• Powdered sugar coated funnel cake.

After wandering around and eating enough to fill Noah's entire Ark, we ambled over to the arena for the TRACTOR PULL!

Yes, I've now experienced that ultimate in white trash events. Actually, in all fairness it wasn't nearly as white trash as the WWF wrestling match I went to in high school, but it came very close.

The ear doctor made friends with an older gentleman that was sitting in front of us. Turns out he has been following tractor pulls all his life and had been personally following the career of one truck called "the Junk Yard Dog."

I've never actually been to an event where a fight broke out over whether Ford of Chevy was better.

It was bizarre.

Working for Inatech

Laying in my bed with dripping wet hair and a haphazardly assembled ensemble I looked up at the popcorn ceiling of my new bedroom and took a moment to relax.

It seems like fate refuses to let me be calm with a choice, like it forbids me from coming to any kind of equilibrium point. I feel like a marble balanced carefully on top of an upside down bowl; lying ready to fall off the one point of balance.

Yesterday at work it was announced that my department would be laying people off within the next week or two.

My once quiet and reposed mind has been uprooted and expelled into a tumultuous storm of uncertainty.

I'd made my decision to go to school, but stay working part time to support my dirty little shopping habit. With the extra time at work I can comfortably keep my car. My car. My one symbol of being an independent and successful adult. It embodies my achievement and my responsibility.

Now, if I loose my job that supplemental income will evaporate causing me to living like a poor starving student.

I will immediately go from the wonderfully frivolous lifestyle to which I have become accustomed to that bleak world of having to turn down outings with friends simply because I can't afford it.

I was so frazzled this morning that I didn't even put any mascara on.

That is bad.

Housing Fiasco Part 2

Well, boys and girls, in case you've just joined us in the recent national tragedy that newsmakers are calling, "Katie's Dramatic Move 2005," please take a moment to acquaint yourselves with the events that have transpired in the last 3 days.

After calling the new landlord and having a very calm, yet forceful discussion with her on the phone, she informed me that she would make the cleaners cancel their camping vacation and come over to finish cleaning the house. Her instructions to me were to leave the house key under the flower pot on the back porch and by the time I got home from work on Tuesday, the house would be magically transformed into a quasi hygienic, non-third world looking domicile.

With confidence that my new landlord was not going to let me down, I carried out her instructions.

After work yesterday I slowly approached the door. I hoped with all my heart that it was sparkling and clean. I hoped that the cleaning people had used as much elbow grease as Allison did this weekend. I just really wanted it to be perfect so that my new roommate, who I've recently dubbed "FURY," would be placated.

I took a furtive glance around and noticed that the place had obviously had the windows scoured. Plus, the black slime that was growing above the shower surround was much less noticeable.

Somewhat satisfied for the moment, I finished up painting my new bedroom. It is a beautiful creamy light yellow color that just makes me feel at home.

I went out for dinner with my friend Martin in Denver and when I came back at around 9 I was presented with interesting new information.

FURY was home and chomping at the bit to tell me the events that had transpired during my absence.

She said that the landlord had stopped by. FURY had walked through the house pointing out things that were still unacceptable. The landlord kept trying to make excuses for why the house was presented to us in such a horrifying states. The landlord said that she had tried to tell the former tenants that they needed to clean the house or they would be charged for it. The landlord kept trying to make it everyone else's fault but her own. FURY was having nothing of it. She told the landlord that she was very disappointed thus far in our relationship with her and felt like we needed some kind of offering to repair the relationship.

Later, after the landlord left and before I got home, the previous tenants stopped by to talk to FURY. They were really confused by why we were reacting so much to the condition of the house's cleanliness (or filth rather).

The previous girls told FURY that the landlord told them not to worry about cleaning because she was going to have all the walls repainted and the hardwood floors sanded and re-stained.

FURY and I have decided that they are both liars and we aren't going to trust what either side of the argument says.

We're drafting a list of complaints about the house, having the landlord walk through and inspect them and then demanding that they be fixed by October 1 or we are going to withhold rent. The landlord is going to sign it and so will we.

This morning as I was leaving the house for work I looked in our mailbox and saw that the landlord had left us a check. She pro-rated the rent for the month and gave us our rent back for August 1 since it was too dirty to move in.

I'd say that's a nice way to attempt to rebuild the relationship.

Because I haven't posted in a while...

I filled out this survey about a year ago, but I looked back at my responses and realized that I didn't give these questions the real answers they deserved. So, in an effort to pass the time at work and allow my hot head to cool down from my terrible moving drama this weekend, you all will be entertained with the following.

This is one of the earliest famous "get to know me" -style questionnaires. It is called the "Proust Questionnaire", of which there are two versions. Neither of them were written by Proust, but rather were made well-known because his answers somehow were saved and later published.

• What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? To feel alone, isolated, misunderstood or forgotten
• Where would you like to live? Location isn't as important as the people who live with me....but somewhere with nice weather is always a plus.
• What is your idea of earthly happiness? earthly happiness...really understanding that there is a method to the apparent madness. Using that direction to offer that happiness to those around you. To really enjoy nature. To sit and be still. To be at peace with yourself.
• To what faults do you feel most indulgent? Often I find myself basing my judgment of others upon superficial/chance moments.
• Who are your favorite heroes of fiction? I really like the type of hero that Ayn Rand embodies in Dagny Taggart. Those who fight for an ideal. Who don't give up. Who remain true to themselves. Who represent what we all should be striving for.
• Who are your favorite characters in history? The ones who didn't make the history books.
• Who are your favorite heroines in real life? "A woman of genius leading an ordinary life"<- I plagiarized this because I think it is SO eloquent and beautiful.
• Who are your favorite heroines of fiction? Those who are strong and brave yet still retain an element of femininity. I can't think of one off the top of my head. Only Ester comes to mind.
• Your favorite painter? I haven't really had a chance to be well-versed enough to pick a favorite.
• Your favorite musician? Jeez, where do I begin? Classically speaking, I really like the Russians and the Spanish...mostly the romantics. In the Jazz/Swing arena, I love Billie Holiday. Her voice gives me chills because it is rough and real. In music coming out today...hard to say. You have to look a lot more for real "musicians." I really like Fiona Apple because her lyrics are raw.
• The quality you most admire in a man? Integrity, Self Control/mastery, rippling pectorals.
• The quality you most admire in a woman? Sincerity, Quiet strength, Loyalty
• Your favorite virtue? Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Integrity
• Your favorite occupation? Making music, working in the garden
• Your most marked characteristic? Physically, my bright red hair.....Personality, driven.
• What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty and love
• What is your principle defect? I make the same mistakes over and over without learning anything.
• What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes? Never understanding how loved and valuable I am.
• What would you like to be? The person my mom thinks I can be. To reach the potential that those who love me know I have.
• What is your favorite color? Green...It’s clean and fresh.
• What's your favorite flower? The ones that make my parent's back yard a haven from the responsibilities of my adulthood.
• What is your favorite bird? The little one that woke me up this morning.
• What are your favorite names? Garrett and Maggie
• What is it you most dislike? Failing...even worse, being mediocre
• What natural gift would you most like to possess? Charisma like my father's
• How would you like to die? With a peace concerning the future.
• What is your present state of mind? Pensive, introspective, as "deep" as I ever am. Slightly annoyed that I don't have the answers to this already figured out.

Drama Drama Drama

This weekend was awesome, but it was completely overshadowed by the crappiness that was yesterday.

I had to move.

I, like every other sane person on the planet, hate moving.

I pack all my crap up, become totally amazed by how much crap I've amassed in the past 6 years, start feeling a little overwhelmed at the daunting task before me, get over it, and start the slow process of relocating. This particular move seemed really intimidating because the ear doctor, who had been so kind and helpful moving my furniture on past moves, was up and hour and a half away, up in the mountains at hearing aid camp for the week. I figured I would have to figure out how to move everything on my own this time.

I'd decided to take the day off work so that I could bear down and get it all done.

I naively assumed that since my landlord said I could move in on August 1, that I could actually move in that day.

Foolish, I know.

I showed up at my new house at 9:30 in the morning and was informed that the floors had yet to be cleaned so would I be so kind as to just store my stuff on the back porch until they could come in and put the finishing touches on it.

I said sure, unloaded my first car full to the back porch while taking small glances at the cleaners' progress.

Feeling like this move was going to be no trouble at all, I bounded back to my car to return to my old house for the second car load.

I began refilling my backseat when I heard the sound of tires sliding in gravel to a sudden stop. Slowly I turned my head and was unexpectedly filled with joy.

The ear doctor had driven all the way down just to help me! Just seeing him pull up in his large moving capacity pick-up truck almost brought tears of relief to my eyes.

We loaded almost everything else up in my car and the bed of his truck and took off.

I was expecting the house to be cleaned and ready to move in.

What I was presented with was the contrary.

As I moved from empty room to empty room I became more and more frustrated. The corners of the bedrooms were covered in cobwebs. There was mouse poop in the bottoms of a few closets. The windows were covered in dirt, as well as the window sills. There were actually still dead flies in the tracks of the windows. The sink in my bathroom wouldn't drain properly and the hose to the sprinkler watering the dead grass had sprung a leak, soaking some of my stuff that I'd courteously stored on the porch.

This whole situation is a mess.

My roommate is refusing to pay our security deposit until the place has been properly cleaned. We have no place else to go so our stuff is in piles all over the house. Half of my stuff is out on the back porch covered by a monstrous tarp just waiting for some sketchy/inquisitive neighbor to rifle through and pilfer.

The cleaning people are coming back today to try to clean it again and I'm supposed to call the landlord tonight at 8 to talk again. She doesn't want to hire someone else because she's been working with these people for 20 years, but I'm like, "they aren't getting the job done and I refuse to pay rent for days that i have to live in filth"

Stay tuned for more developments.

New Shirt

I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy this shirt

Only in Utah

So Colin's sister found this article.

If you're one of those people who are too lazy to click links and see what the story is, I'll give you the low down.

Apparently this poor sucker is 31, living in Provo, UT and unmarried. His co-workers got together and decided they needed to take action. They've decided to pimp him out on a huge billboard to the side of the freeway. It's true! Check out the site:

www.datelance.com

Be sure to click on the video to see his reaction to seeing the big billboard with his face grinning back.

Ahhhh, where else would a group of people get together and decide that not being married by the ripe old age of 31 necessitates public advertisement?

Only in Utah.

D*** you JK Rowling!

Last night I was determined to finish the new Harry Potter book.

Exhaustion had other plans.

I passed out with only about 15 pages of the book left.

This morning after my shower I climbed back into bed and finished it up.

Now I'm melancholy and sad. It's ruined my whole day. The sky, even though it is is a brilliant clear blue, seems flat and dull. The fluorescent lights of my office beat down mercilessly on the tops of my keyboard caressing hands. The usually reassuring hum of my computer now mocks the emptiness of my chest cavity, the former repository of my heart.

JK Rowling is the DEVIL and has ensnared me with her poetic gift or story telling.

What the heck am I supposed to do with myself now!?!?!?

Smelly Girl

The last three times I've gone into the bathroom closest to my office the automatic air freshener has sent a puff of flowery scented chemicals into the air.

It's starting to make me feel self-conscious.

I must really smell bad to make the machine go off with such regularity.

Freaking out

Yesterday I started to freak out.

Holy cow! I'm moving up into Boulder this weekend and I start grad school in 3 weeks. I don't know where to go or who to talk to. I don't even know where my first class is or who my advisor will be or where the best place to have lunch on campus is.

I haven't picked my "first day of school" outfit yet.

I don't know where to go for my mandatory TA training.

I don't even know what class I'll be TA-ing.

What if it is something I've entirely forgot in the past two years?

How am I going to keep up with everyone else who hasn't taken a break from school?

AHHHHHHHHH

Birthday re-cap

This was the first birthday of my life that I've been dating someone.

I didn't know the protocol.

I just figured I would plan something for myself since that's what I've done every other year.

Boy was I wrong.

It is SOOOOO much more fun to have someone who cares about you plan something to make you feel special.

Friday night I took the ear doctor out to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival to see a Winter's Tale. I'd never read that play before, but it ended up being a great way to celebrate him finishing up his prelims for grad school.

When he dropped me off at my house it was about 12:15. He was the very first person to wish me a happy birthday. He also told me to be ready for him to come pick me up at 9am the next morning.

I complained because I wanted to sleep in late on my birthday, but he said that was when the festivities began, and there would be no further discussion on the point.

I turned, climbed upstairs and into my bed.

My eyes popped open at 6:45 am and I was too awake to fall back asleep.

I reached over and read some more of the new Harry Potter book. There is nothing I like more than waking up on Saturday and laying in my bed and reading.

I got ready and the ear doctor was at my door promptly at 9 am.

He handed me a pretty shiny bag from Nordstrom that had two little boxes inside.

With giddy, childlike excitement I opened the first.

It was a beautiful, green and blue necklace. It had big, chunky stones in it and looked very retro and awesome. The other box contained earrings to match.

He then scooped me up and set me down in his car and told me that we were going to pick up Sarah and Colin and go to breakfast.

Just so that you know, going out to breakfast is one of my favorite things to do. I love breakfast food.

When we got to Sarah and Colin's house I knocked on the door. As they opened the door to their new, very cute apartment, I was overwhelmed.

The ear doctor had arranged a surprise breakfast party for all my friends!

I was so overwhelmed with the feeling of being loved that tears started to well up in my eyes.

After a stirring round of happy birthday and my hearty breath of candle extinguishing air I went around the room giving everyone there huge and very sincere hugs. We all sat around until noon talking and laughing. I opened presents and pretty much felt like the coolest thing since sliced bread.

After everyone took off Sarah and Colin gave me their present.

It was a card.

When I opened it up I noticed there was an extra rectangular piece of paper in the card. I turned it over and saw that it was a ticket for the Tim McGraw concert up in Cheyenne, WY that night! They all told me to pack up my stuff because we were taking of for Fontier Days in Wyoming right away.

We drove up there and wandered around the fair for a while until the show started. We ate fair food, went of rickity carnival rides, looked at strange stands of Native American art, went on a search to find Sarah the perfect cowboy hat, and I almost bought a belt with my name engraved on the back.

Our tickets were for the standing room only section right up next to the stage. We packed ourselves into the huge mass of drunk cowboys and waited for the show to begin. Just as the opening band began, it started to pour. We were soaked to the skin, but having such a great time it just didn't matter.

When Tim came on stage everyone went crazy. There was pushing and shoving and chaos, but not the angry kind that you get at punk shows.....Everyone there was too happy for words.

The crowd belted out every word of every song, there was rampant dancing and just a great energy, despite the rain and cold.

After the show we walked back to the car and I thought about all the amazing birthday's I've had and realize that this was WAY up there in the ranks. I got to spend it with two of my best friends and my sweetheart. You really can't beat that!