There's Always Someone Cooler Than You

2012-01-12T22:06:00.000-08:00

So this happened to me a few days ago and I thought, "I should blog about that." But then I was busy, but I keep thinking about it at weird times, like in the shower this morning and it was making me mad just thinking about it so I will write to get it out of my system.

So I'm at the gym, minding my business, like I do. I happend to be finishing up a 4th set of 25 push-ups on the half-balance ball thing with the flat bottom (you know what I mean). And no, I can't do 100 real push-ups, I do them on my knees.

Backstory on this gym thing: I go pretty regularly (although you might not know to look at me). I'm there 3-4 times a week pretty much the same time. Me and the guy that works the front at that time (I think he lives there) and a few of the trainers are on a first-name basis.

Anywho, this trainer who I've never seen at this gym before comes up to me to try to drum up a little business. And I find this to be annoying, but I understand - we all gotta pay our bills. But after this one, I want to be put on the "do not bug me" list. Officially. Maybe I'll ask one of the cool trainers to spread the word. I mean, I didn't just join the gym yesterday. I've had a trainer before and when I want some more sessions, I'll let you know. In other words - don't call me, we'll call you.

So the trainer's pick-up line is "Hi, I noticed you're breaking your form there." Me: "Oh?" "Yeah, you're head's out of alignment and I'd hate to see you hurt your neck." Me again: "Umhumm." But what I'm thinking is "Duh, I'm just finishing my 100th, which is a miracle really, of course my head's out of alignment." Really, you're picking on that? It's not like I'm doing a ridiculous belly-up or misusing a machine or slamming the weights down. I'm no gym rat, but I do know my way around. Maybe I was just more annoyed she didn't just come right out and say, "Hey, I need to train some people, can I train you?"

But anyway back to the conversation. Me: "Umhumm." Her: "Yeah, you wanna give me ten more then?" Me: Uh, ok [thinking: No! I don't want to give you ten more because I just did 100 and I'm tired and I only told myself I had to do 100, not 110, but thanks." But of course I don't say that because I don't like confrontation.

So after I "give her 10 more," she says, "SO what are you trying to accomplish by doing those push-ups?" Seriously? Why do you do push-ups? We have a couple more seconds of ridiculous gym small talk which I know is all building up to her pitch and I don't want her to get to the "so could I show you a couple more things?" So I just say, "Look I've had a personal trainer before and it's great, but it's just not realistic for me to have a trainer right now."

And she says...wait for it..."Yeah, it's not realistic for most people...ESPECIALLY IF IT'S NOT A PRIORITY FOR YOU."

I wanted to punch her. First of all, "saying it's not a priority" is just a fallacy. Everything's a priority (if it's on your radar at least - I mean I'm at the gym and I've had a trainer before, so you know it's on the list there somewhere). I think what she meant to say is "...if it's not high on your list of priorities." Anyway, these mechanical problems aside, I wanted to say something like this. You're right lady, clearly since I'm here, fitness is not a priority and having a trainer is just something I've decided not to do because I'm lazy. But here's the real thing: I can't afford to pay someone a dollar a minute to help me during my workouts. I'd actually love to, but college was also a priority and now I'm paying for that. But I'm here. Right after work, at 7:00 pm, straight from work, when you could also make the argument that maybe my priority should be at home getting dinner ready and feeding my cats and tidying up so that when my husband gets home from a long day at work, his wife is home and calm in a nice clean house with dinner ready instead of me running in like a sweaty mess right when he gets home and trying to throw dinner together and hop in the shower and put all my crap away and still have eaten dinner by 9. (Wow, that was a really long run on sentence, but I'm not in the mood to edit). But you're right lady (her name's Laura btw), not a priority. Not at all. And thanks for trying to guilt me into having you as my trainer.

I just feel like, I pay money to be here. Please leave me alone unless I ask, OR unless you know me and it really is friendly advice and not a sales pitch.

When she said "Especially if it's not a priority for you." I just said, "Yep," and stared at her. Then she tried to make some more friendly parting small talk and started to walk away. And then as she walked away, she turned and said, "And no more cheating...I caught ya before." Yes. Yes you did. And guess what else? Having a trainer is on my priority list. And someday it's going to be closer to the top. And do you know what you've just ensured? I won't be asking YOU to be my trainer. Good work here.

Really?

2011-06-06T21:03:00.000-07:00

So two things happened in the last few days that just made me think that I must be on candid camera.

The Library Card Incident:
I joined a book club about a year ago. It's with some ladies that I work with. I bring the average age down considerably. But it's great fun. We meet in one of our conference rooms after work one Wednesday a month to eat take out, dessert, and discuss our book. But everyone in the office calls it "Wine Night." Admittedly, sometimes the discussion is not that much about the book, but I digress.

Anyway, buying all these books was getting expensive and we don't have that much shelf space, so I decided to get a library card (I'll upgrade to a Kindle one of these days, but I'm not ready yet). I had a library card in L.A., but when we moved to Lake Forest, I never got one. So I went on the OC Public Library website and signed up for my card and set my pickup location for the local El Toro library. I stopped by on my lunchbreak on Thursday to pick it up. I gave her my driver's license, but the lady who takes her job very seriously said, "Ma'am [yeah, ma'am - I already dislike her, but she was old so I'll give her a pass], do you have anything that has your current address here in Lake Forest on it?" So I pulled out my address change card that I printed off the DMV website. Unfortunately she informed me that if I'm going to use that I need the whole page (yeah, like that fits in my wallet); I made the cardinal sin of cutting it down to a wallet size. Or she suggested that maybe I have a piece of mail in my purse or car. But since I don't leave anything in my car because it's not a storage locker (I know that will change when I have kids, but for now) or carry mail around in my purse (am I the only one who gets it out of the mailbox when I get home from work and sort it when I walk in the door?) I was out of luck. Really? It's a library card (I could get some medical marijuana easier than this - I only know this from my line of work, not from personal experience). I'm being punished for being tidy.

I left the library defeated and wasted 20 minutes of my lunch break with nothing to show for it. I went back today. I was prepared. I am now the proud owner of an O.C. Public Library card. But I'll be careful when I go to the library from now on - they don't mess around.

You Found The Cat Where?:
So our cat Patrick is anti-social. He's so adorable and sweet, but he is scared of everything...other people in his house most of all. It's our fault; we haven't socialized him properly. I wouldn't call him well behaved, but litter box trouble is something we have never had a problem with until...people started trying to make him social. Someone tried to pull him out from behind the couch while they were pet sitting for us "to make sure he was okay" and he was so scared he peed. One day some of Sam's family was over and they wanted to see him (because he is stinkin cute and so fun to squish). Knowing what happened last time and with my insistence that this was a bad idea and my pleas to just leave Pat alone, Sam pulled him out from behind the couch and guess what? Yeah. So we learned our lesson, right? No. This time we took a different approach - we held Patrick before the guest walked in and as soon as he did...Patrick peed on Sam (at least this time it was on tile - by the front door). So fearing that he had it on himself, we put Patrick in the garage. It's small - there's not much in there but the car and some stuff in one corner, so he can chill in there while we clean up and then go get him and clean him up. Well of course he hid under the car. Wanting to shield my poor cat from any further trauma, I suggested that Sam and our guest leave (they were on their way out anyway) and just leave the garage open and Patrick will come out when he's ready (he always has before after people leave).

But he didn't. I went to check on him and he's not under the car. I tear the apartment apart. No cat. I look in the corner in the garage. No cat. I pop the hood and look into my car with a flashlight (I have heard about cats doing that - something about the engine being warm). But still no cat. I am annoyed by this point and give up. He'll come out if I'm patient. But Sam came home a few hours later and still no cat. So Sam tears the apartment and garage apart (that I had already put back) and no cat. By this time I am panicking. He's gotten out, I'm sure of it. I'm a bad kitty momma for not protecting him so he ran away. Sam is sure he did not get out so he looks in the car (under the hood) and no cat. So he lays under the car and searches...and found Patrick shoved up in the rear bumper. And he is not coming out. Sam spent the next 20 minutes laying under the back bumper (my car is pretty low) sweet talking the cat, trying to coax the cat out from inside the bumper. I am sitting next to them cooing to the bumper in my most soothing cat momma voice asking my kitty to come out. Finally with a firm push (literally) and some treats, he came out. Covered in dirt/grease/oil (whatever car dirt that you'd find inside a bumper) and he has naturally gotten it all over us. So now we all have to shower...including Patrick. Sam took one for the team and did the honors.

So we are relieved to have our Patrick back safe and sound, but REALLY?? Can having kids really be worse than this?

Pray for Nina

2011-02-19T21:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted for nearly a year. I am sure I have very few readers at this point, but I have a very good reason to post tonight. A dear family is facing something that no one should have to face. I don't even know them - they are friends of a friend - but I feel as if I know them because of Rosy's posts on her blog. In August the Fredeen's daughter (5 years old) was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor in her brain stem and I have been following her blog since then. Since they received the news, they have been trying to live life to the fullest and make as many precious memories as possible, all the while praying for their miracle. It is looking like sweet Nina is not going to get her miracle, although her journey has been a miracle in many other's lives. Just her short life has been a miracle to those who have know her. Please pray for her family, for her parents and her brother Teddy as they face this trying time. Check out Rosy's blog and say a little prayer, if for nothing else than another day spent with loved ones.

http://www.prayingfornina.blogspot.com/

Changes...

2010-03-31T21:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, so not really a lot of changes, but one big change: I just started a new job.

I had been working as a planning intern at the City of Downey. Which made sense at the time I started. It wasn't too far from West Hollywood (where we lived) even though the traffic was pretty bad. But if you are familiar with Southern California, you know that when Sam switched jobs and we moved down to Lake Forest, we were no where NEAR Downey. I spent over 2 hours in the car 3 days a week to get to work. I loved the job, loved the people, but it just wasn't working anymore. I began looking for jobs and hadn't even gotten an interview for what seemed like forever. And just when I decided to stop stressing about it and find something else to do with my free time (volunteering)...TWO job opportunities popped right up. Isn't that just how it is: as soon as you let something go and turn it over to God, that's just when he gives it to you.

It was quite the story and quite the decision, but I'll spare you the details that are boring to everyone except me. Long story short, I ended up taking an (almost) full-time job as a planning intern at Laguna Hills. It's very similar to the job I was already doing. You know, except an entirely different zoning code, different permits to issue, and different procedures for EVERYTHING. But it is 10 minutes away from our house and is almost double the number of hours I was working. Plus since it's closer, if the opportunity comes along for a more permanent position, I'm in a much better spot to take it. So, we'll see what happens with that.

My last day at Downey was Friday and I started Laguna Hills on Monday. So it's been a quick transition, but so far so good. I already have several cases to do while I try to figure out...everything else about the job. But it's only day three. Things are already getting easier. My computer usually works, I have a phone on my desk now, and I have a little electronic name badge thingy so I don't get locked out of the conference room anymore.

Oh and there is another change: the time change! LOVE IT! Who cares if you have to get up in the dark if you can come home from work and still have daylight to enjoy? Plus, now that I'm working closer to home, I don't even have to get up in the dark anymore! Yay! I like change...this time anyway.

A month later...

2010-02-18T12:17:00.000-08:00

So I'm a little behind. But luckily my life's not that exciting so I really only have to recap on our Valentine's/President's Day weekend. Just like last year, Sam and I went to Mammoth for the long weekend. But this time we went with friends. And we did not get a flat tire. We got Friday off work so we could leave in the morning...which was such a good idea. It was so nice to get there early so we could get all settled and pick up my lift ticket and snowboard rentals for the next day.

I took a snowboard lesson ALL DAY Saturday. Such a good and bad idea all at the same time. I never really got good at snowboarding and was at a bit of an impasse so I decided that if I want to be able to enjoy the mountain with my husband, I had to bite the bullet. They placed me in an intermediate class (whose idea was that?) which, of course, meant that me and one other woman were the only people over the age of 15. All the older people were in the beginner class. So I'm sure it was good and it pushed me, but man did I want to be in the class with all the older people (and by older, I mean post puberty) who had the fear of falling in them. At any rate, I made it and can fairly successfully navigate non-steep terrain. However, I have never been in more pain in my life. Seriously.

Anyway here's some of the fun everyone else was enjoying while I was incurring multiple minor injuries:

There was a video of the tubing but it was taking too long to upload. I assure you they were having a lot of fun.

Sunday, equipped with my newly acquired skills, Sam and I went snowbarding with Ben and Kalyn. I of course seemed to forget everything that I learned the previous day, but Sam quickly jogged my memory. The guys spent the morning with us on Schoolyard Express (no joke, that's what it's called) and then after lunch they hit the big boy slopes and Kalyn and I hit the lodge to lick our wounds (well, me anyway; I guess I should speak for myself).

The weekend was great. Perfect weather, great friends, and a much needed break from the real world.

On the glass

2010-01-13T17:12:00.000-08:00

I don't mind hockey, but in general I could take it or leave it. But when you get to sit on the glass, I turn into a die hard fan. It's a totally different experience - and a totally awesome one.

One of my father-in-law's co-workers gave him 4 tickets and Sam and I were lucky enough to get to go with Sam's brother Ben and his girlfriend Kalyn. Aside from the great view, another advantage to those seats is access to the club level. This is important because they have better food and cleaner bathrooms with no lines.

The downside of sitting so close: we got an up close view of Teemu Selanne getting his jaw broken. Ouch.

Here are a few photos of us soaking in the evening.

One Year of Marriage Down...

2010-01-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

We've been married one year now. To celebrate, we decided instead of gifts (since we just had Christmas) we would go out and enjoy a nice dinner together. We love Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fierri on the Food Network and had just watched a Christmas at Disneyland special with Guy Fierri that highlighted the Napa Rose restaurant at the Grand Californian hotel. So when Sam asked me where I wanted to go, I told him it would be fun to go there. And there we went. It was so nice. The food and service were totally worth the price. Plus, you get 5 hours (5!!!) of free parking at the valet for the hotel when you eat there.

He cleans up nice doesn't he?

We ordered the "World's Best Hot Chocolate" for dessert. And let me tell you: they aren't kidding. And the homemade doughnuts that go with it are to die for. They even dressed it up for our anniversary and gave us a box of truffles to take home as a gift.

I love the lobby of the hotel. So pretty and just a nice place to be. Plus the Christmas decorations were nice.

If you get the chance to to, the two must orders are the scallops appetizer and the hot chocolate. Both of which are also served in the lounge (if you want to keep it on the cheap). I still dream about those scallops. The sauce on them was so good I used the bread to soak it up. I told Sam that if it weren't such a fancy place I would've licked the plate. True story.

Christmas Morning!

2009-12-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

As usual, we all spent the night at Grandma Wolfe's house for Christmas Eve. Em, Caleb and the boys and Todd and Brenna were all there. Grandma's house is starting to feel pretty small with all those people. At any rate, here are a few photos of our morning.

Unfortunately dad wasn't there because he had to have emergency surgery on his knee due to an infection. So things were a little crazy. Todd came to town a week before Christmas an got the tree for Grandma's. It was a little Charlie Brown-ish. But after mom and I gave it a little TLC and decorated it, it didn't look so bad.

The rest of our time in Pittsburgh, Sam and I got to go to a movie with my siblings, visit the Carnegie Museum of Natural History to see the re-vamped dinosaur exhibit, and went to a 5 year class get together with my High School senior class. We also got to visit with Aunt Nancy, Willie, Miriam and Donnie. I hadn't seen Aunt Nancy and Willie in quite a while and it had been even longer since I'd seen Miriam and Donnie, so it was so good to be able to catch up. I am so bad with keeping in touch.

I also discovered that Caribou coffee (my very favorite that I have to get my fill of while I visit) had new, improved mochas. I was skeptical, but they were really good. I think I stopped there 7 of the 10 days I was home. When are they going to open Caribou in California? One in Lake Forest maybe? Just my business alone would probably be enough to keep them afloat.

Tradition!

2009-12-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas cookies with the Bovards. It all started with Erin and me and our moms making and decorating Christmas cookies when we were in grade school. Well, the tradition has continued and includes our ever growing families. The more the merrier I say. This was Sam's first year at cookie decorating. Turns out he's got a hidden talent - he was good. And Phin really cranked them out this year too. He was pretty good. Silas just enjoyed eating the cookies.

Light One Candle for Peace

2009-12-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

This is a video from Phin's preschool Christmas program. Notice he's the only one in his class even trying to sing. Good job Phin!!

Christmas with the Crocketts

2009-12-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

Since Sam and I were going to be in Pittsburgh for actual Christmas, we spent the weekend before pretending it was Christmas. We went over Friday night after work and had dinner. I made a yule log for the first time - complete with meringue mushrooms. It ended up pretty good. A lot of work but I would probably do it again.

We all spent the night and woke up to a wonderful Christmas breakfast complete with homemade doughnuts before spending the morning opening a TON of gifts.

I made out like a bandit! Ben and Kalyn got me a breadmaker - one of the things I didn't think I needed when I registered for our wedding but found I was really missing. I got a ton of wonderful gifts. Sam really out did himself this year. He got me a beautiful bracelet and an equally beautiful bag. It's going to be hard for him to top that next Christmas.

The best part of our wonderful "Christmas morning" was that we got to go do it again with more family in just a few days!

Visitors!

2009-12-06T20:46:00.001-08:00

Continuing on my mission to get caught up with posts...

November was filled with visitors (well, the most houseguests our apartment has seen anyway). First off was Erin and Dan who came out for the Ducks/Pens game. And I'm proud to say that the Pens won...but Sam got to sit on the glass so it wasn't a total loss for him. I didn't get any pictures until the actual game, but here's what I have. We also got a quick trip to L.A. in to see Tim and have some Pink's hot dogs. It was my very first Pink's hot dog even though I lived a half-mile from it for about a year.

Next was Emily's trip out for USC's homecoming game. I don't really wanna talk about the game, so I guess it's okay that this is the only picture I got.

While we were in L.A. we got to hang out with Emily's friend Rebecca - also don't have any pictures of that. But I do have proof of Emily's requisite visit to the beach. San Clemente to be exact. It was a perfect Southern California fall day!

(Please notice our pile of Starbucks drinks on the bench that I thought would be out of the above picture). Can't be without our Starbucks.

Next up: Thanksgiving and my birthday. A little rushed and low quality but I'm almost caught up.

Birthday!!

2009-11-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

I got the golden ticket! How fun that we got to take advantage of getting into Disneyland free on my birthday. And that we all had the day off anyway because it was the day after Thanksgiving.

We started the morning at the Character breakfast in the park with Sam's family which was so fun because I had never done anything like that. I convinced Sam to stay late (which we don't usually do) because it was all decorated for Christmas and I like the lights. We even got to watch the holiday fireworks (which weren't that great, but the hot chocolate we shared while we watched made it totally worth it).

Fall Speed Recap

2009-11-26T23:55:00.000-08:00

Time to catch up. Not with everything...just what I feel like writing about. Lets start with these couple of random things:

This was how I received the invitation to Silas's birthday party. Notice written across the bottom in large writing: "PHOTO DO NOT BEND." Good old USPS.

Next up: "TOE TRUCK." If it's supposed to be a clever thing, I don't get it.

Pumpkins!

2009-10-31T00:03:00.000-07:00

We went to a real live pumpkin patch. I didn't even think they existed out here. And we carved them. My first one since I left for college 5 years ago.

Summer Update

2009-08-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

It has been over two months since my last post, so I figured it was time for an update. This will be my first post of the summer and now it's almost over. In L.A. it already feels like fall. We have had the most unbelievable June Gloom lately. The marine layer rolls in by 7 and sticks around until 8 or 9 at least every morning. I'm not complaining because I like this weather - it stays cool.

So a lot has happened this summer, but most of it has been pretty boring. Props if you stick around to read it. The insanity really started with an unexpected job change for Sam. It ended up working out really well (so far). It's a smaller firm than he worked at before and he says he likes it a lot better but is still getting the swing of things in the new office. He's also been putting in a lot longer hours. To be expected at this point - and totally a good thing - but sad for me.

His new job is also in Laguna Hills, leading me to the next big change. We have been planning to move for some time now. As much as L.A. is really cool and I do like it, we are both getting a little tired of the constant traffic, congestion, and stress that comes with it. Not to mention the astronomical rent. So we had apartment hunted for a while and decided on a place we like, but had to wait to see if they had an apartment open when our lease was up. In the meantime, I overthought it and decided I didn't like it anymore. It was beautiful, but there was not enough storage and the floor plan was such that there would literally be no where to put Dexter's litter box. The when Sam got this new job, I decided to expand the apartment search even further south. I was rewarded (although I'm going to be punished with my commute to Downey three days a week). I stumbled on an interesting place online, so we made an appointment the next day and went down. We were not impressed by the one bedroom we saw, but she told us the price of the two bedroom and we couldn't resist seeing it. It was PERFECT!! More storage than I could ever want and a downstairs entryway (like we have now) for Dexi's litter box.

So we are moving on Saturday and Sam has been staying several nights in the almost empty apartment on an air mattress because his work is literally 10 minutes away.

Another highlight of the summer was my trip back to the 'Burg' for a visit with family and friends. It was awesome. I spent the whole week at my grandmas (where mom was recovering from surgery). I got some good time in with mom and grandma. I also spent a ton of time with Em and the boys. We went to Sandcastle (a waterpark) - their "pool" and got to play in the pools and take a spin around the lazy river. I also got to try the new waterslide they put in that I had never ridden. Phin wouldn't ride with me, but I did get to hang out with Emily's friend and her little daughter who had a love/hate relatioship with the waterslide. She was terrified to go, but at the end she made a point of telling everyone, including the life guard how much fun it was. Too cute. This was the day I got schooled by Phin when I mentioned something about his "swim trunks." He said, "No Aunt Katie, this isn't trunks, it's my bathing suit." Oh excuse me.

Emily and I also went to Kennywood (an amusement park) just the two of us. It was great because we both have husbands who would prefer not to ride the rides we like (the roller coasters and anything else that's fun). So we got to ride all of the roller coasters and a few other rides sprinkled around in there. Another highlight of the day would have to be the potato patch cheese fries. You have to, really. It's not Kennywood otherwise.

Todd and Brenna even made it over for the weekend, since I didn't have time to go over to Philly. It was so fun all being together at Grandma's for a day. I also got to visit with some old friends (thanks to Kara who organized us all; I call her the cruise director) and hang out with my "other family" the Bovards.

Being back in Pittsburgh is truly culture shock. All the things that are so familiar are no longer normal. Like, there are weird things in Pittsburgh that shouldn't be allowed to be, and yet they are. And you never notice until you leave. Like the haphazard streets with no signage, houses that are absolutely in disrepair, and really bad highway drivers. But somehow it still made it more tempting to move back. Love that city.

There you have a summary of my entire summer. I'll try to put up a few pictures once I get them on my computer. The camera is packed in a box somwhere, and who knows when it will be found again. I can't wait until this move is over. Hopefully we won't have to move for a very long time - perhaps until we move into a house? Okay, that may be optimistic, but you never know.

My cat has issues

2009-06-02T21:15:00.000-07:00

I came home to both of my flip flops being entirely chewed up. He had already started on one of them, but they are apparently his new favorite chew toy, rendering them entirely unwearable. So at the bottom of the stair by the door they will sit. I'm hoping it will give him an outlet so he won't chew other stuff that he's not supposed to. Perhaps I will take a picture so you can see the extent of the damage.

At any rate. Sam's mom took one of their cats to the vet today (who is also Dexter's vet) and asked about Dex's chewing problem. He seems to think due to the variety of things he likes to chew and the extent of the damage that it might be more than teething; he seems to think it sounds like OCD. I didn't even know cats could have OCD! But of course a behavioral visit would need to take place to evaluate him and perhaps prescribe appropriate medication. Yes, my cat needs to ge have his head shrunk and then will be medicated.

I think he's just mischeivious. I'm hoping he just grows out of it. But so far, that doesn't seem to be happening. He is just getting more and more creative (and destructive) about what he chews.

Mc Crape

2009-06-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

After seeing a sign not unlike this one on my way to and from work each day (except mine is entirely inflated on TOP of a building and has subsequently had the addition of inflatable people evidently scaling the massive cup o' joe - yeah, people climbing the coffee cup - I'd get a picture if it weren't insanely dangerous for me to be trying to take a picture on that section of freeway, but maybe one of these days). And being bombarded by the unrelenting ad campaign for McDonald's "McCafe" line, I had to try one. Now, I thoroughly enjoy their original iced coffee (particularly the hazelnut), but the other day, I got a nonfat iced mocha. How did it stink? Let me count the ways. The coffee is just not good. I'm pretty sure they added water and chocolate instead of milk and chocolate (to all of you anti-skim milk people, I understand that you think skim is water, but trust me, there's a difference). And to top it all off (literally) the whipped cream isn't good and the annoying requisite chocolate drizzle was the sundae fudge which hardens when it gets cold...so you can imagine.

The one upside was listening to the girl behind me in the drivethrough try to order a coffee like she was at Starbucks. I wanted to get out of the car and explain to her that the starbucks people had not transplanted and started working for McDonalds; rather, it's the same "You want fries with that?" people who are making your espresso beverage. I think I probably should have had that moment myself before ordering an espresso drink at McDonalds. Hind sight's 20/20. Oh well, live and learn, right?

Mono Lake and a ghost town (Sunday)

2009-05-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

Bear Hug

Mono Lake

Bodie: the ghost town

They had Shell!

A fault line, Rock Creek, a rainstorm, some lakes, and hiking (Also known as Saturday)

2009-05-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

Sam and I slept in on Saturday (a little) while the rest of the crew went fly fishing. We went shopping and visited a fault line in Mammoth.

There was a hollow tree. You kind of had to.

Don't fall in - although this sign made it look kind of fun.

Then we met the rest of the fam for lunch at Rock Creek. We will not be returning - they sold the pie we ordered right out from under us. It was traumatic for some of us.

Waiting for everyone else to arrive.

Grey day at Rock Creek

Rainstorm over Lake Crowley

But sunny up in Mammoth

The lakes of Mammoth Lakes

We went for a hike. The view from the top was awesome, but it was REALLY windy.

The Drive to Mammoth

2009-05-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

Sam and I drove up to Mammoth this Friday evening after work. It was a fairly uneventful trip. Here are some photos. But sad times: the McCafe beverages haven't made it to the McDonald's in Bishop yet. At 9:45 pm after 5 hours of sitting in a car, that is sad, sad news.

Entering Red Rock Canyon. Sam's favorite part of the drive.

More Red Rock

Dusk

Graduation

2009-05-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I did. Graduate that is. And my family surprised me by showing up in L.A. Wednesday night. It was a short trip but a fun one. Nice to see my sister's boys too. I, of course, took no pictures all weekend, because that's how I am, but here's a couple from graduation.

Update on the continual kitty-proofing of the apartment: our dining room chairs are the new target of Dexter's oral fixation. See photos below.

Consequently, this is what our dining room looks like now. He's persistent and I'm sure he will figure out how to get around this latest preventative measure in no time.

I passed!

2009-05-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Looks like Katie gets her Master's Degree! I just did my presentation today. I am so relieved. Now I have one more undergrad final on Wednesday. I better pass that or I don't get my Bachelor's degree. And I don't think that would work out - can't get the Master's without it. So back to studying. But I got to celebrate a little - I stopped for a celebratory starbucks beverage on my way home.

Who thought this was a good idea?

2009-05-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I decided that a master's degree was necessary in life. All I have to show for it thus far is a year of debt (not a small amount), a year behind in making money at a salary job, and mounting insecurity and self-doubt as I await my grade for the comprehensive exam. It's a horrific exam where they ask you to compile at least a month's worth of work and about 50 pages of information into 25 pages and 6 days of work. I think the directors of the program are just sitting in their offices this week going, "Haha, suckers. See if you can beat this." For some degree concentrations, this may be practical, but for design, it's just plain mean. After you have answered all of the questions, if you're concise, you're left with about 8 pages to dedicate to your design. And haven't we learned that designs are evolving - a process involving making a design, getting critiqued, re-thinking, and redesigning and then starting the process all over again. There is no time for that in the comp. You get one shot at a design and if it sucks, (which I don't see how it couldn't on your first shot), you're forced to try to defend it in front of a panel that is expecting a good design rather than thinking about the unreasonable time and space constraints. Thanks USC, you're right, this has been a "captone experience." One I will always think back on with great distain.

I'll let you know next Tuesday if I passed.

Another day another vet bill

2009-04-22T21:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right. We are seriously considering getting kitten insurance (well, as serious as you can be about that, which is not very). But yeah, this one was an extra doozy because we had to take him to the emergency vet - very nice, I'm glad I know it's there now. His new favorite hiding place is under the lazy boy - which has two wooden tracks where the wooden rockers roll. We are usually good about checking, but one time is all it takes - and a broken kitty s what you get. So his paw was smooshed. Apparently he totally flipped out. But he was clam by the time I got home from work. Sam had put some bacitracin on the part that was bleeding, but his paw had swollen up to about twice it's regular size, particularly the "pinky" pad of his left foot. Huge. So I called the vet right across the street...who was closing in 4 minutes. So they sent us to the emergency clinic fearing he had broken something.

No break. But now he's got pain meds. Which is good. The bill for the x-ray to tell us he'll be fine. Less good. Oh well. Another day, another vet bill.

Life update

2009-04-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

It has been too long since I talked about what is going on in our life. And it's possible I am procrastinating because I am supposed to be finishing a presentation I have to make on Tuesday. And because of the changes in life, I no longer have time to complete it if I don't finish tonight.

Anyway, Sam is still working away at his job. This month was a really great month for him. At work that is. He was in a car accident earlier this month. Not his fault and it all but totaled the car (we kind of wish it had). We are still waiting to get the car back. And Sam anxiously waits for the day when he doesn't have to drive a crappy rental. I has now officially been a month.

The end is near for me. I am almost done with school. This month is going to be a long one though. My comprehensive exam is the first week in May (and oral defenses the following week). Grad classes are over by then (which means I have a large project due before then). But what I thought was a good idea in trying to make my last semester easy backfired. Because I am taking a few undergrad classes which do not finish until after the comp. Meaning I have to finish papers and study for finals during the comp. So I have been trying to schedule things out. I think it's going to be okay, but I'm a little worried. Not procrastinating would be a good first step.

Also, I just got a job. So all the free time I used to have is now spent at work. It's a great job - just three days per week - and I will probably be there for at least six months. Perhaps it will turn into a full time gig, who knows? We will see. I will be able to focus on work a lot better once May 15 has come and gone. Also, who thinks it's a good idea to ask for about 5 days off work right after they get a job? Yeah, that's what I thought. But I think the comp and finals is a good excuse and one they will understand. And since they're paying me by the hour...they're not loosing anything but extra people to get stuff done.

Our kitten is doing better. He's almost normal, but he pretty much always tilts his head to the right. Which actually makes him look that much cuter.

Sam and I want to move. We are paying far too much rent at this place. It's lovely, but expensive and I have had it with the management. We would at some point like to buy a house and saving about $500 per month (or more) would help a lot to that end. The lease is up in August. I have already been looking online and the search will intensify once I'm done with school. So much will be better when school is over. I can't wait. And with that in mind, I'm going to make sure I pass my classes by stopping procrastinating and getting this presentation finished.

Do you have a second to save the planet?

2009-03-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

I hear something to this effect almost every day. Why is it that when people want money from you - and for very good causes - they phrase it that way? I mean it's brilliant. On Larchmont Boulevard where I go often to run errands, there are always people there collecting money for homeless shelters and homeless children programs.

One dude was really cool and I had just spent $4 on my coffee from Peets so I felt like I might as well talk to him. I ended up making a $20 donation to some homeless outreach program. It's fine, I'd rather donate to that than give money to panhandlers. But then literally the next day, I was walking down that same stretch of street (they ALWAYS hang out right by Crumbs so they can ambush you right when you're at the most vulnerable point of your sugar coma and/or guilt for spending $3.50 on a cupcake) and some other girl asked me to donate to another homeless thing. I very nicely told her, "Sorry, I just donated to a guy yesterday for a similar program." She shouted after me, "But this one is for homeless CHILDREN!" It doesn't change the fact that I can't give everyone with a worthy cause $20 every time they ask. It's not personal. And I think it's great that they are doing it, but the way these people ask, you are forced to sound like a horrible person when you decline.

Yesterday on campus, the Greenpeace guy asked, and I quote, "Do you have a second for the environment?" Of course I have a second and of course I do care about the environment, but this isn't going to take just a second and I don't want to sign up to have you take x amount of dollars out of my bank account every month. I looked at him and actually laughed when I said no. Because there is no way to say no without it sounding rediculous. But he and I both knew he set me up. That's how they get you.

Our dizzy kitty

2009-03-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

Long story short: our kitten has vertigo.

He was at the vet following his declaw surgery and presented with symptoms of idiopathic feline vestibular syndrome. Idiopathic, meaning it has not definite cause as they ruled out other things that could cause it like inner ear infection. He had rapid side to side eye movement, tremors, a right head tilt and could not stand due to dizziness. After three days of treatment at the vet he was eating and drinking on his own and able to stand long enough to use his litter box. His tremors and eye movement subsided after less than a day there, and he was left with what is essentially kitty vertigo - dizzy kitty. He can walk and run a little, but he lists to the right and sometimes falls over. He can't jump up on things and certainly not down from things without falling - hard. It's kinda funny if you didn't feel so darn bad for him. So we try to play with him gently and help him climb up to his favorite spot on the back of the couch (which he can usually do on his own now; he just can't get back down).

The vet wants to see him in two weeks for a follow up. What I've read online about it gives him a good prognosis. He could be back to 100% in 7-30 days. There's a chance he could be left with slight symptoms and a very slight chance of symptoms recurring. But for now we hope for the best and are learning to live with a disabled kitten. Who would have thought.

Mammoth Weekend

2009-02-20T10:26:00.000-08:00

I am moving to Mammoth, I have decided. We drove up Friday afternoon - and were making great time and having a beautiful day - until we got a flat tire. Sam had to work hard to find a tire we could use up there, but we got a new tire on Saturday and spent the day shopping and relaxing at home. Sunday we went snowboarding. My second trip down the bunny hill, I decided I quit and started crying. But after a warm up in the lodge and a cup of coffee, I decided to do one more run...which turned into three. I ended up not hating snowboarding so much, but refused to graduate from the bunny hill. So I ended my snowboarding day on a good note and in a good mood and sent Sam up to the real runs so he could have some fun too. While he was out, I made friends at the bar in the lodge. I highly recommend the Mammoth Mocha. What a fun day! Then we went out to a wonderful dinner at the Mogul. Best moment of the night was when the girl sitting at the table next to us started whining and her mother said, "All these people paid LOTS of money to come have a nice quiet dinner. Now sit down in your chair and be quiet." Seriously and the little girl did exactly that. It was great. I enjoy parents who understand that other people can't tune out the cries of their children like they can. I'm attaching a few photos of the weekend. And in case I haven't mentioned it, I wanna go back.

Driving through California

2009-02-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

So Sam and I drove up to Mammoth for the holiday weekend. But rather than talking about Mammoth or the trip, I think I'll talk about the city of Mojave. If you don't know where that is, don't feel bad, neither did I. It's about halfway between Los Angeles and Mammoth Lakes. And boy is it a gem. On our way through on Friday I saw several things of note. Two interesting billboards. The first read, "Really good jerkey. 90 miles ahead in Olancha." It must be really good. I've never seen a sign advirtising jerkey 90 miles away...actually I don't think I've ever seen a sign advirtising jerkey. The second sign read: "Guns4Us." Kinda like Toys R Us for grownups who like the NRA, I guess. And then on our way home, the highway was backed up heading into the town. We sat at almost a dead standstill for about an hour only to find out it was due to the fact that the two traffic lights in town were both out thus causing the backup. I'm not sure if I feel sadder for me because I had to sit in traffic, or for the people who live there...because they live there.

Our apartment

2009-02-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

Since most of my family has not seen our apartment, I'm posting pictures. The furniture collection is a bit eclectic, but that's what you get when you're not planning on staying that long in a place and money is in short supply. Nonetheless, I think it's pretty sweet. Plus I have a really great roommate.

The kitchen. Not nearly enough cabinets.

The living room/dining room

Teeny tiny bathroom

Bedroom (yes, that is my wedding dress. I have since taken it to be cleaned and preserved)

Come on people, it's just a cat!

2009-02-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

So, on Saturday Sam and I got a kitten. We have been planning to get one since before we got married, but we were going to wait at least a few more weeks (largely because we are going out of town in two weeks for a couple of days and don't want to leave a new kitten alone). But you know how it goes with kittens; they just call out to you and you can't leave without them.

We went to Newport to the rescue organization that camps out in front of the pet store every Saturday to "just look." We finally decided to get Dexter (his name was Baxter, but we changed it), but that wasn't the end...it was just the beginning. The people at this organization are dear people, but a little crazy when it comes to their cats.

Sam and I were required to sit through an hour-long pet parenting class - their name, not mine - where we learned that cats can die from almost anything, like seafood ("NO tuna!!"), cat food with grains, clay litter, and getting too many vaccines. You sit there long enough and you start to buy into everything. Now I realize each of these claims is founded. But lets get a little perspective here: many a cat has lived with clay litter, iams cat food (oceanfish flavor), and vaccines. Also, we apparently need to train the cat. You do this by giving it a reward of wet cat food when your cat does something you want it to do. Great. Dexter doesn't like wet cat food. Also, he had been home for all of three hours and we were already on the third type of cat litter. They all scare him (like he literally won't step in them) except the clay litter (which apparently is going to kill him). I don't think he cares. And neither do I because my carpet isn't a good litter either.

Also, you can't take just one. It will kill their little spirit if you take only one and they don't have another kitten to play with. I don't think Dexter got the memo that he's supposed to be sad and lonely without a feline playmate because he seems just fine to me.

The day was made a little longer because poor Dexter had an ear infection and was taken to the vet while we were learning how to parent him so we had to go pick him up there. Whew.

Long story short: I think people make their cat's neurotic. I love my cat, but lets just remember...he's just a cat. To quote the movie "Raining Cats and Dogs": "People, you can love your pets; just don't LOVE your pets."

Honeymoon Photos

2009-01-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

Well, I was sick for the first couple of days (I got sick literally the minute we left the reception), but it got way better once we got to the Caribbean. How couldn't it, right? Here are a few photos of our week in paradise.

View from our balcony. Can you see the humidity in the air?

Our building at the resort from the boat we took snorkeling.

Sunset on our balcony

Before dinner at the French restaurant

Dinner on the dock our last night in St. Lucia. It was really pretty.

A little late....

2009-01-27T19:52:00.000-08:00

Me and the new hubs. Well, that's a lie because we took pictures beforehand, but he is my husband now.

It rained. The ceremony was supposed to be outside, but we had to change it an hour before the ceremony. I think it turned out pretty well, yes?

My sister was a wonderful best woman (not to mention she looks pretty in the pictures - a nice bonus - way to be pretty Em!)

This is a lot of my immediate family - almost everyone. Minus a brother-in-law, three nephews, and a grandma. Pretty impressive. I am so thankful they were all there. How blessed we were that they were all able to make it out to California. And those who couldn't make it were in our thoughts.

It turned out to be a beautiful day (well, not the actual day, but you know...) and a good party with dear friends and family. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did.

(Thanks to Brant for sharing these photos. They are the only ones we have right now so they are wonderful to have).

A sad yet liberating realization

2008-12-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have been full of papers, projects, and presentations for me. As I was writing the most recently completed one, I had a realization. I was agonizing over things, thinking, there's no way the professor will think this is any good. And that's when I realized: I have no control over my grade. I usually put in about the same effort on all of my projects and papers. Which is a decent effort given the time constraints. And sometimes I get As and sometimes I get Bs. Occasionally, I'll know I did a mediocre job and I will get a mediocre grade, but just as often the professor thinks it's great. Or I will think I aced something and I'll get a B. So rather than try really hard and disappoint myself. I'm just going to do the usual and leave it up to the whims of my professors since even if it's an A effort, if he or she is having a bad day or didn't like what I was wearing last week, I might get a B anyway. Or conversely (and I like this better), it's a B paper, but the professor likes me or is just feeling the holiday spirit a little more than usual and give me an A for fun. Oh to have that power.

2008-10-31T11:03:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I watched the Today show this morning to write this post, but it was a fluke.

So, on the aforementioned show, they were doing ambush makeovers. They made over two people who were in the audience, and they truly looked great. And then...they gave them both a hideous T-shirt that was approximately a Men's XL (for normal weight women) that said "I was ambushed by Today" with the big ugly Today show logo.

Excuse me. Did I miss something? We want these women to start dressing better, right? So I have an idea: let's give them an oversized T-shirt that no one should ever be caught dead in. Seriously, is this a test?

The name

2008-10-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

The name of this blog is stolen from a Ben Folds song by the same title. If you don't know it, I'm sorry. I chose it for lack of a better title (and it's an excellent song) because everything else I though of seemed too self important or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, far too cutesy. It also is a good commentary on where I live. Los Angeles is a place where everyone is trying to be somebody. Well, I'm not. And as soon I start to think that, I just play Ben Fold's song and it slaps you right back down to earth.

It was time...

2008-10-30T15:19:00.001-07:00

I guess now that I'm staying on the other side of the country from most of my family and many of my friends, it's time to start a blog. I do not promise that it will be exciting or even entertaining, but I love keeping updated on other people's lives through their blogs, so I thought I'd start my own. I started to feel guilty about only taking from the blogger world without giving back. Haha. So here it is. Enjoy. Or not.