Last post of 2006

Sorry, guys. I have been pretty busy and my computer has been a Beee-ooootch. Christmas was fine. I got some presents I wanted and some...I didn't. I have found that as I get older presents mean less and less. I'm certainly not wealthy, but I have enough money to buy most of what I want. Gifts don't really excite me. I like giving people stuff they want. I gave my dad a scrapbook of his life, my brother got a three tiered Craftsman tool cart, and Jenny got a beer fridge. I tried to give everyone special present because this is the first year I have been able to buy nicer gifts. So, what about yourself? Did you get something you really liked or just enjoy giving more than receiving?

P.S. Happy New Year's! See you in 2007

Off to Nashville...

I'm heading home to Nashvegas tomorrow in preparation for Christmas. I feel pretty excited about the holiday and just being home. I am going to do my share (and maybe yours, too) of baking. I need to prepare my father's present...oh, I didn't tell you about it? Well, since Scrooge doesn't like anything, I thought I would opt for not buying a traditional present and instead make a scrapbook of his life. I've talked to several family members and a couple of friends and I am going to put them together in one album and give it to him. He may not like it, but I think it will be a nice keepsake for coming years. I'll keep you updated. I'm sure I will post before Christmas, so ta ta for now...

Is it just me...

or does Mary Kate Olson's new platinum hair make her look like Cruella Deville? Ick.

Lost and Found

Yesterday my Christmas spirit was at an all time low. I was pretty upset about this as this is my most favorite time of year. For some reason it's back and I am not letting it go. I just need to accept that it won't be perfect and be happy despite other people's scrooginess. I have to admit that when I shared my lack of Christmas spirit with Mr. Scrooge himself (my father) he was quite alarmed an even said in a worried voice "Katie...that's just not like you. What's happened? Is everything okay?" I guess we both play roles every year. He humbugs while I sing Christmas carols. It's what we do.

Well, give her a cookie!

Lindsay Lohan hasn't had a drink in a week? After her year at AA? Way to go! This 20 year old must feel so proud of her achievement.

The Regression is Complete

I have now taken to tivoing the cartoon version of Berenstein Bears. Good stuff. So sad how much I enjoy watching the stories. I guess I'll be switching back to soft foods soon. We really should have seen this coming after the desire for footy pajamas, eh?

Holiday Movie Party

Tonight was the night. We changed up the movie lineup a bit, but we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas, Christmas with the Kranks, and Love Actually. The food was tasty. We had mini pigs in a blanket, sausage balls (you know, to cover the important processed meat categories), regular and chocolate rice krispie treats, rotel dip, and eggnog. Several of my good friends stopped in and watched the movies. Honestly, the evening ended earlier than usual and very little alcohol was consumed (also, not a regular occurrence for the party). All in all, it was a little more reserved than usual and has me feeling rather old. It makes me actually contemplate abandoning the party. I mean, most of my friends don't even like Christmas movies. It's kind of like I make people come over and watch movies I like to watch and torture them. Oh well. I guess that's what friends are for.

Are we really this lazy?

I keep seeing advertisements for a dvd/cd opener. Apparently, we as Americans are so lazy that we can't even manage to unwrap plastic from cd or dvd cases. I think it should be a rule that if you can't open your own dvds or cds (and don't have a physical impairement) then you should not be allowed to own such items.

You know what makes me warm and fuzzy?

The song "Oh Holy Night." Everytime I hear a good version of it, I am almost brought to tears. I get chills and really feel like I am getting what Christmas is all about. Favorite version: The Three Tenors; Second Favorite version: Josh Groban (trust me, I am as surprised as you); Least Favorite version: Celine Dion (ick. double ick). Do you have a favorite carol?

So Excited!

I get paid on Thursday and then I will be able to go Christmas shopping! I have been waiting for this ALL season! Put your requests in early, who knows how long the money will last?

Torture

I am working at my part-time job right now (the one that I was working at before my library job) and I am listening to the dull roar of ill-behaved children playing foosball and running around and disturbing other people while their parents play tennis and ignore them. Lately, I have found that there are generally two sets of parents in this world: the kind that herd their children and the kind that get herded.

The kind that herd:
They keep a fairly good watch over their kids and make sure that they don't act up too much in public places and don't destroy too much public property. They also seem to realize that other people don't find their children nearly as endearing as they do or have the ability to tune out the noise that they make. I find these kinds of parents to be responsible and doing the best they can. Their children also tend to be pleasant and as well-behaved as children are likely to be.

The kind that get herded:
These parents are being played by their children like a violin. They meekly tell them to "shush" when they are screaming and running around (which has a negligible effect, if any) like tiny yetis. They continue on with their shopping and errands without regard for the suffering of other people. Their children will most likely grow up to be serial murderers or the kind of people that show off their unencumbered body parts when getting in and out cars.

Word of Advice

It seems to me that celebrities (particularly ones of the young and female persuasion) have been making some poor decisions of late. I think you know where this is going...

Britney, Britney, Britney...for someone who has as much money as she does it seems like she could make some allowances for panties. Or longer dresses. Or the skill to get in and out of cars without showing everyone what God gave you and then some. Also, she was working on courting public opinion and basking in the glow of shedding her dead-beat, pathetic "rapper" husband and then she has to start hanging around with Paris "that's hot" Hilton. I may be mistaken, but doesn't she have two small children at home? As a friend of mine suggested, maybe Brangelina adopted them. Can you imagine the horror of being Sean Preston Federline at the age of 13 or 14 surfing the internet and catching a glimpse of your mama's nether regions. Take a moment and pray, people.

And on to Lindsay Lohan. Apparently she has been attending AA meetings. Good for her. Perhaps she might want to quit drinking before wearing her 90 day sobriety chip. I think that's the point of the organization. It's like if I joined Weight Watchers and brought donuts and to the meeting and told everyone I was "thinking" about losing weight. She also needs to invest in underwear as Britney is not the only young lady in Hollywood going commando...and proving it.

Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

Sarah asked for the recipe, so I thought I would go ahead and post it:

Use your standard recipe for regular Rice Krispie Treats. Make sure that you SLOWLY melt the butter in the pot. You can't rush the process. Nothing nastier than burned butter. Also, SLOWLY melt the marshmallows (the only thing nastier than burned butter). This is when you add the chocolate chips. I don't measure them, but it probably works out to a cup and a half. Let the chocolate melt completely, pour in the rice krispies, and remove from the heat. Take a buttered spatula and scrape the mixture into a really well buttered rectangular dish (9X13). Do not use PAM. Use butter, it tastes better. Let cool. Enjoy. They're really good!

Take heart

My Christmas spirit is not in jeopardy. I am still going to enjoy the season and I am offering this proposition for anyone who reads the blog:

The Virtual Holiday Movie Party 2006

For those of you not in the know, I have an annual holiday movie party. The first year was 1998. And I have had one every year since. Anyone reading this blog is invited to participate. For everyone who reads this blog and lives in Birmingham you are invited to my party on Saturday Dec. 9th (time TBA) at my place. For anyone who lives somewhere else I encourage you to watch along with us at home. The proposed movies/holiday specials are:

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Christmas with the Kranks
It's a Wonderful Life

If these are movies that you have seen or want to watch something else, past movies are as follows:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
A Christmas Carol
Elf
Love Actually
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(and anything else you want to watch that gets you in the Christmas mood)

Snacks are also important. We always have regular and chocolate Rice Krispie Treats, cocktail weenies, and Rotel dip. Anything that is high salt, fat, sugar or other various processed foods. Mmmm-mmm.

Go forth and be merry

First step. Final realization.

I put the fabulous tree up over the weekend and it is just as beautiful as last year. I tried to take a picture of it, but the lights make it impossible to tell what it is (and without lights, what is a Christmas Tree?). Very exciting stuff. I love looking at the tree and in looking at its near perfection, I have come to an important conclusion: Christmas will never be what I want it to be. I watch the movies, read the books, plan the perfect dinner and set the bar too high. I am disappointed every year because I have set my sights on the impossible dream: a storybook Christmas. What should I do about this? Lower my standards or try not to be bothered by my dad and his scroogy-ness. Abandon the movies, books, and dinner plans and just take it as it comes? I just don't know, but something needs to change. Are you perpetually disappointed on Christmas or is really just me?

What conclusion to draw?

Let me first state: I live in a good neighborhood. Nothing too scary, fairly middle class. With that, I am a bit alarmed by the activities of my downstairs neighbors. Last night I heard a lot of bumping around and something close to a crash. Then I heard their front door open and close. I looked out my window and saw their refrigerator sitting on the front lawn. Ya'll, I live in an apartment. Generally the fridge stays in the apartment at all times. 10 minutes later the refrigerator was back in the apartment. Bizarre behavior? Yes. I watch a lot of Dog the Bounty Hunter and I have decided they are running a meth lab. Maybe some of their concoction spilled inside and they took it out to clean it. Sure, meth lab seems a little like jumping to conclusions, but I don't have the most patience for this neighbor to begin with. I have to listen to her amorous encounters at least two times a week (her bedroom is right above mine and quiet she is not), listen to the hacking coughing that comes from them smoking pot (I can smell it outside the door when I'm walking Teddy), and the loud television watching - I can actually hear distinct dialogue through the wall. I am going to be so pissed if I get blown up by their home chemistry experiments.

Social Commentary

Okay, since I have been discussing several things that have happened in the news of late, I thought I would throw the whole Kelly Ripa vs. Clay Aiken vs. Rosie O'Donnell thing out there. In case you missed it basically Clay was guest hosting on Regis and Kelly and Kelly Ripa must have said something that annoyed Clay or whatnot and he reached over and covered her mouth with his hand and said "You never know where that hand has been..." or something to that effect. Rosie O'Donnell has weighed in on this issue and called Kelly homophobic because of what she said and did. First off, Clay is not out of the closet so as far as anyone is concerned he could be gay or straight. Rosie also stated that had it been someone else (like attractive) Kelly would have reacted differently. Nice Rosie. Out Clay Aiken AND call him fugly. Good Lord. Mel Gibson and Michael Richards really did say hateful things, but Kelly basically conveyed that she didn't want someone's hand over her mouth. It's not like she said "get your fucking gay-ass hand off my fucking straight mouth." I could give a crap who people sleep with and I think Rosie overreacted and stuck her nose in somewhere it doesn't belong. Has Clay come out and spoken about how he felt so offended or discriminated against? No. Until that time, Rosie is just putting words and thoughts into people's heads.

What do you think

About Michael Richard's racist tirade at a comedy club? It seems quite reminiscent of Mel Gibson's anti-semitic remarks after he was arrested for drunk driving. I just wonder what people are thinking when they say these things. What possesses someone to call people such hateful names? Just because they got heckled? As far as I know, being heckled is part of the job when you are a stand-up comedian. How do you explain it away or apologize enough? Just to note, neither Mel nor Michael are from the southeastern part of the United States. In case anyone wants to point fingers at the South for their racist tendencies, I will have you know that neither my friends nor I would ever say the kinds of things that either Gibson or Richards said. They deserve public condemnation.

Peeved

Though, I shall not name names, I am going to vent a little about someone here on the ole blog. Someone (once again, who shall remain nameless) is supposed to be visiting me in Nashville today and tomorrow, but I have not heard from this certain someone since Friday. Friday. This person does not know how to get to my house in Nashville and it is a little irritating that they are MIA. I could be making plans with some of my other friends up here, but I was waiting for this person to call and say they were coming or weren't coming. At first I was just worried that something may have happened, but another friend of mine let me know that they had logged into their myspace account yesterday. Hmmm. Not looking good for this person and I am still peeved. I think I will just make my alternative plans and not worry about the other person. I know that this post is a bit rambling, but I had to express my displeasure.

sad.

I talked to my brother tonight and he informed me that our family dog, Murphy has doggy cancer. It is a form of melanoma and they don't really know how it will affect his quality of life or how long he will be with us. I got really upset. He was my first dog and I housetrained him and cared for him during his first formative months. He may not be the smartest or best trained dog, but he is one of the sweetest. He was also my mother's dog. He gave her happiness and comfort when she was sick and couldn't really go anywhere. He was with her when she died and he stayed with her until someone found her. He meant a great deal to her and if he dies then it means I will lose one more thing that was connected to her. I have faith that he will be okay for a long time. I'm just not ready.

The List

The best part of Christmas is that when you get presents from your friends and family it doesn't matter if you are naughty or nice. They will still give you presents. I will still give you presents even if you were bad. Only Santa can judge. With all of this said, I have started my list of people to give presents and what I should give them. I have already figured out what to get some people, but there are several stragglers. My father is one of these stubborn "hard to shop for s.o.b.'s" (I mean that in the most complimentary way possible). If you recall, I have already discussed this problem (see posts from Nov. and Dec. of 2005) and my father is never satisfied. I have no idea what I am going to wrap up and put under the tree. It doesn't really matter what I get him. He will hate it and forget what it was within 36 minutes. A loving, generous father he is. Gracious gift receiver he is not. What are you getting your dad?

Optimism

Generally, I don't discuss politics too often on this blog, but the recent elections have inspired me. I am hopeful about our political situation for the first time in several years. Due to our recent election, the Democrats have taken control of some of our political future. Do I align myself strictly with Democrats? No. Republicans? No. Do I think something is severely wrong with how things have been going lately? Yes. I think it is time for change and a party shake-up is just what we needed. Can't wait 'til the presidential election!

It's beginning to look...

A lot like Christmas...yes, it's that time again. If you are a little taken aback by my early holiday spirit then you need to read the posts around this time last year. I have tried to put off my celebration of Christmas to after Thanksgiving, but I just can't. I've already bought some hot apple cider mix, candy canes, and seriously contemplated pulling out The Tree. I have resisted the urge to get the tree out, but I am bowing to the need to get into "the spirit." Christmas music is just around the corner. Who's ready?

I love it.

Props to my friend Ashley for informing me of this little tidbit...

My favorite driver, future baby daddy, and all around hottie, Dale Jr. is in the new Jay-Z video "Show Me What You Got." I saw it by looking up the title on YouTube. Not only is he a talented driver, but he is also super cool. Check it out and enjoy.

My punishment

I am the proud new driver of the world's smallest pimp mobile. A gold Kia Rio. I'm not going to lie - it's a pretty sweet ride. I got a rental car while my car is in the shop. I knew I wasn't going to be ridin' in style, but I thought it would be a little better. It only has 12,000 miles on it, but trust me it has been a rough 12K for this little car. As I approached the car I noticed a lovely array of stains on the seats and the tempting aroma of stale cigarette smoke. Mmm-mmm. Since the guy at the body shop seemed quite doubtful that my Civic will be fixed before Thanksgiving, me and my Rio are going to be together for a while. yyyyyeeeeeeessssss!

I'm pretty well aquainted with Murphy

As in Murphy's Law. You know those phrases like "life is what happens when you're making plans" or "You plan, God laughs." I like looking into my financial future and trying to plan what I am going to be doing in the next few months with my finances. I do this because Christmas is coming and I am moving in with a friend so my rent is going down.

Then I am driving along today on my way to meet a friend for brunch and it happens. Car Accident. I am fine. They're fine. It was just that, an accident. I feel stupid because it was just one of those things, but I keep thinking "how much is this going to cost?" I have insurance, but there are deductibles, rental cars, and incidental costs. My front bumber is toast. My car was in perfect condition because it was only 8 months old. They're back bumper is just scratched. I would still have it this way. Thank God they were okay. They were great. I cried. My dad fussed. I feel stupid.

If it's not one thing, it's another. sigh.

Yes, Ma'am!

I got my donuts. After Jenny and Roach and I saw Borat, I made them go to Krispy Kreme with me (I sure did have to twist some arms...). I got a dozen, shared two of those and the rest are with me - Oh what will I do with all these donuts? I'm sure I'll think of something.

I will include a movie review in this post since I mentioned Borat. I laughed repeatedly, but some of the movie I felt kind of sad. It is kind of a poor statement on the United States. Some of the things the people said in the movie were horrifying, but not surprising. I wonder what they think after realizing they were duped? I know that the character is an exaggeration, but some of the stuff in the movie (especially the anti-semitism, homophobia, masochism, etc) was a little much. Don't get me wrong, I still laughed alot and enjoyed the movie, but it did make me think...and cringe. I would say it would be a 3.5 out 5.

A tiny piece of heaven

Krispy Kreme donuts. I want a yummy, warm plain glazed donut. There is just not anything better. I love them fresh. Not from the grocery store, from the actual Krispy Kreme store. Yum, yum. At some point this weekend they will be mine. Mark these words. Yup, yup.

It is so sad how happy this makes me...

I was on one of my favorite sites for tv updates (www.thefutoncritic.com) and I saw that Reba was going to be on the CW Nov. 19th. I was confused at first because Reba was cancelled last season - which I thought was a big mistake on the part of the network. I did some googling and found out that due to viewer response they are bringing it back for 13 more episodes this season. This makes me so happy. I really liked this show and I am glad that it is back on the air, even temporarily. I know, I'm pathetic. I don't care, I'll be too busy watching Reba.

Happy Halloween from the King

These are pictures of Teddy in his too small Elvis costume I got from Target. They only had a small so the little jumpsuit and "hair" are way too tight, but it just makes it that much more hilarious. The only thing I can compare his behavior to (when he has this lovely outfit on) is when you put a cat on a leash. He just freezes and stares. Cruel? Yes. F*ckin' funny? Hell, yes.

Mainstream cult

Scientology. I watched a 48 Hours Mystery episode about a man in his mid-twenties who stabbed his mother 70+ times. Before he committed this crime he was hearing voices and was experiencing other problems with his mental health. Since Tom Cruise and his other cult members believe that psychiatrists are evil and mental illness doesn't exist he never got any help. WTF? Am I the only person that believes that Tom, John, Kirstie, Leah (Remini) are members of a cult?

The sign to leave

As it is Halloween time, I have been watching spooky movies and this has brought me to one conclusion...or a personal rule if you will. First, let me set the scene: you know that part in a ghost movie where one of the characters is in the bathroom and bends down to wash their face or opens the medicine cabinet to grab something and when they look in the mirror next the face of a scary ghost is staring back at them? Well, if this ever happened to me, I would grab my sh*t and get the f*ck out! I would not look for the ghost, I would not go to the local library and study why the ghost is in my house, I would not consult the local town folk and debate what to do. I would be a former resident of that town and finding myself a new home. That's just me.

I want Footy P.J.'s

Little kids get the best clothes. I'm not talking about the starchy linen dresses or short pants, but the comfy onesies. I think some footy pajamas to wear around my house would be AWESOME. Do you know that it is quite difficult to find these kinds of pajamas for adults? I have looked all over the web and found a few pairs, but nothing that really grabs me. Anybody have any suggestions on places to look?

P.S. It's okay, I know I'm weird.

I'm a sick individual

Ever since I bought my tivo, I have become a very impatient t.v. watcher. I want to fast forward through everything and get to the good stuff. I went home to Nashville and was tivo-less for around 48 hours. I'm not going to lie, it was tough. In my desperation I turned to Marie Osmond. Yes. Marie. Osmond. She is a regular on QVC (which has no commercials) and she promotes her line of porcelain dolls. Creepy, yet fascinating, porcelain dolls. Their vacant stares accompanied by Marie's hokey descriptions of how dolls make everything better is quite entertaining. I probably watched over two hours of this lovely programming and I am ashamed, but also going through a bit of withdrawal right now.

Colin Michael

I arrived in Nashville about twenty minutes after he was born. I have never been that close to a newborn baby before and it was definitely awe inspiring and intimidating. I wouldn't hold him while I was standing because I was afraid I would drop him and break him. He is soooooo tiny! He didn't cry very much but he would just look around the room and just seemed to be taking it all in. Isabella (his big sister) took everything in stride, but you can tell she is going to get tired of all this fuss pretty soon. I know it has to be confusing to her because she has been the most important person in her family for the last four and half years and this new little person is moving into her house and he isn't leaving, ever. She'll adjust, but it's going to be hard. On a side note, I did go watch her soccer game on Saturday morning and I loved seeing all the little girls follow that ball all over the field willy-nilly. They call it herd ball for a reason.

The case for drinking.

Well, I don't need to make one. Just kidding. I thought the title would lure you in...heehee.

I am heading to Nashville this weekend because one of my closest friends (the one who left a comment on the previous post about me trying to steal her four-year-old daughter's pink chair - I'm all class) is having her second baby! I will be the godmother to this baby as well (I am also Isabella's godmother) and I plan on lavishing attention on this baby, too. I bitch and moan about some kids, but I really love that little girl and I am sure that I will feel the same about her little brother. As I have told Ashley time and again, no matter how uncool her children will come to believe she is, they will ALWAYS think their Aunt Katie is cool. It's better than having your own kids! Let me know if anybody else needs a godmother.

Ahh, the joy of children

I am around children all day. No, I don't have any of my own, but my job requires that I am in their presence constantly. Don't get me wrong, I like kids, but some of them are...um...less adorable. It seems if you get two or three together of similar age they conspire and launch upon some unsuspecting person or object and tear it apart or torture it into submission. I think the thing that gets me are the parents that seem to pay no attention to this behavior or they have become so exhausted that they don't care what kind of disasters their children leave in their wake. I understand that kids are inquisitive and curious, but I am talking about the actual breaking of things and destruction of expensive property. If I happen to look less than pleased (without actually saying anything - as I believe it is a parent's place and responsibility to discipline their own children) they give me all sorts of "eat-shit-and-die" looks. I feel like going to their house and tearing up their things and leaving them to clean it up. It's kind of like when my dad threatened to come over to my house and leave all the lights on "so I would know what it feels like" and "learn that money doesn't grow on trees."

Ramona

I have been reading Beverly Cleary's Ramona books. I used to love these books when I was growing up and I decided to read some of them again to revisit some great children's literature. Some books intended for children are not that interesting to adults, but this is not the case for these books. Ramona alway reminded me of myself when I was growing up. She always got into a lot of trouble and had no idea how it happened. I would do something bad and feel instant remorse and my parents would be angry and frustrated at me. During the course of my childhood I cost my parents a crap load of money due to my curiosity and destructiveness. The amount of money easily crossed into the thousands. A quick list of the things my parents had to pay to replace are as follows: a bathroom sink, carpeting for my room and the hall, two doors, an entire make-up kit and perfume, numerous brackets for braces, several home visits for plumbers to unclog the toilet after I flushed lincoln logs and clothing down it, and a variety of toys that I dismembered, crushed, or ruined by leaving them outside. Yes, my parents are currently awaiting confirmation on their respective sainhood.

Honesty and your parents

Due to several conversations I have had this week I am inspired to ask the question: how honest are you with your parents? If I was to give a percentage I would say that I am 85% honest or upfront with my dad. I don't talk about everything with him, but I do include him in most of what is going on in my life. It has come to my attention that there are many people that lie to their parents ALL THE TIME or they keep major parts of their life hidden from them. I am talking about ADULTS. People who can join the armed services, vote for president, drink legally and they still lie to their mommy and daddy about having a few beers. I don't get this. What are they afraid of? It seems sad to me that they feel they have to hide their true selves. Aren't parents supposed to love you despite your shortcomings?

Percentage-wise, how honest are you?

P.S. I do have to say that there are some people that are TOO honest with their parents. They tell them everything and I mean everything. One of the best things my mom told me was that she wanted me to feel like I could talk to her about important things, but she didn't want to know everything. That was what my friends were for. She always told me that she didn't want to be my friend (and I don't mean that in a bad way), but my mom.

Okay, so...

First event not so much a success. The way I figure it, this just sets the bar really low and my next event will seem like a success. Um, yeah, so that's what I'm telling myself. It's okay, I had some comfort from friends and I feel alright about it. I will just have to learn from this and do things differently. Unfortunately my target demographic is a bit hard to reach and I will have to be extremely creative. Hmmm. Something to aim for.

I'm going to take a trip...

I have decided that I'm not getting any younger (part of this realization comes from the fact that my loving friends keep reminding me) and I need to take a trip. I want to go to Memphis and visit Graceland. I can't be a fan of Elvis and never visit his hallowed home. I'm not sure when I am taking this trip, but I have the itinerary slightly planned out. I will arrive at Graceland and spend many hours enjoying the abode of The King. After my time at Graceland I am going to move on to Tunica, MS and gamble (and probably have a few adult beverages). Ahhh, Elvis, gambling, and drinking. What more do you want?

Day off

I love my job. I got vacation hours for my birthday (I know, isn't that cool!) and decided to take the day off today. I have slept an awful lot and caught up on my weekend episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210. I am making hashbrown casserole settling in for more television watching. I have an event I planned for the library tomorrow night and I am VERY worried about how it will turn out. I am sure I will let everyone know what happens, so keep me in your thoughts.

Ahhh! The relief!

I slept a little lighter last night after the news of Paris and Nicole's reconciliation. It has been a long 21 months (the feud dates back to early 2005) and I, for one, and so happy that this couple has finally managed to make things work. Join me in a prayer of thanks, people.

I'm not dumb so quit treating me like I am.

I am watching the first three episodes of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and I am struck by the thought that these people think all t.v. watchers are stupid. I will let you know that I am a Nielson rating's dream. I watch t.v., I am more than passably intelligent, and I keep up with current events. I hate watching a show that talks about "red states" and "blue states" and "Christians" and "others." Blah, blah, blah. Here's how it is: I live in a red state, I probably swing more like the blue states. I am a Christian, but I don't talk about it incessantly because I believe that spirituality is a highly personal thing. Also, if I hear one more southern joke I will delete this show permanently from my Tivo Season Pass. You want to be cutting edge? Fine, then don't assume things about people you don't know and a place you have never lived.

Wouldn't it be nice if

We actually did what we said we were going to do? I am talking about when people get together and say "we should get together for lunch." Everyone always says "definitely, I'll call you." I guess it's better than "Hell no! I'd rather have a root canal." Why do we do this? Is it because we don't want to hurt people's feelings? That we really intend on going, but it slips our mind? You don't actually want to be the one that puts themselves out there? Hmmm. I do the same thing, I guess I'm just curious to hear what you think.

Good sign

Today I had my first foray in library programming and it was a success. I was very nervous that no one would show up or something would go wrong, but this didn't happen. We had a good turn out and several of the people thanked me afterward. Cue the sigh of relief. My next programming adventure will be next Thursday and there is more pressure because I have done all of the programming and it will be off-site. All of this planning makes me feel like I am good at something that matters. Another thing that has been an unexpected result of my new job is my ability to stretch my creative muscles. I never really thought I would be someone who could come up with "cute" ideas. Generally, I am not into "cute" and I tend to mock anything that resembles adorable. I guess things change. For the better.

Dueling Topics

I have two things to talk about today:

1. The Keg Party - Several people have commented that I haven't said anything about the party, so I thought I would fill ya'll in. I had a good time. It feels good to know that your friends like you enough to gather around you and drink to celebrate the occasion of your birth. Seriously, it does make me happy that people want to be with me on my birthday. Yes, I did my first, second, and last keg stands that night and plan on NEVER doing it again. It was an experience and I will leave it at that. All of the birthday wishes I received were appreciated and I love all of my friends. And just for the record- no, I didn't have an actual 18 yr old rub all over me. My love life is still like the Sahara Desert. Make your own analogies.

2. The House of Carters: Bad reality television=Katie sitting on her house soaking it in. I can't help myself. I love to watch celebrities making asses of themselves. Most favorite quote yet? from Aaron Carter himself (of Aaron's Party - the album - fame, and the boy that romanced not only Hilary Duff, but Lindsay Lohan and created the feud that rocked the 'tween' world): "my heart's so big (in reference to what a good person he is) I can feel it beating out of my chest." I think the reason he can feel it beating out of his chest is because he is high on crystal meth. Good stuff - you should tune in.

Yup, yup - TMI

The following is going to be a rant/tmi post. Here ya go:

I watch a fair amount of television, right? Well, I have noticed the number of hot men gracing the airwaves of late and it is just a little frustrating. There they go, prancing half naked across my screen and what do I get to lock my gaze on at home? A smelly (but sweet) schnauzer. I am in the worst shape of my life - slugs have more muscle tone than I do. And the last eligible bachelor I met was so long ago it was probably while I was mastering the art of cursive in third grade. The likelihood of my going on a date with someone that I didn't troll around and find on the internet (not just yet) is approximately the same chance that George W. Bush has of marching in a gay pride rally. yup.

A Lady of Class

That's me. I am turning 28 Tuesday and my friends are having a birthday party for me tonight. Actually it's a kegger. Yep, I am sliding towards 30 and having a keg. Woo-hoo. I am sure I will update everyone on tonights events.

I smell Rice-a-Roni

Seriously. The window in my den was open and I smelled Chicken Rice-a-Roni. Very bizarre, especially considering that I don't have it in the house and haven't had it in years. I went outside and my neighbors (the ones that I think are Amish) had their door open and for some strange reason that smell was wafting from it. Clearly, as they don't seem to watch t.v. and can their own veggies, it must have come from the homemade, free-range chicken stock they made and the rice they grew in their own pattie, seasoned with herbs found in their organic garden and cooked over the fire they created by chopping their own wood and lighting it with sparks from two rocks.

To be a kid again

During my lunch break today, I took a some books with me and sat and read for a while. You know what books I picked? The Berenstain Bears! I used to love these books when I was growing up and it was great to read the stories and remember how much I loved reading about this cool bear family that lived in a sweet treehouse. The best things about these books is that they have stood the test of time. They can't age because their outfits were ridiculous anyway. They have very little technology (aside from a rotary phone), and the themes are things that still effect kids. I loved those bears. My favorite one from the series was "The New Baby" because this is when Sister Bear came along and I liked to think that it was how my arrival affected my family. Haha.

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

Checkout the Bears cool website: www.berenstainbears.com

So much t.v, so little time

Every September I am pulled in many different directions. Why? It's the start of a new t.v. season and there are numerous shows that require my perusal and discerning taste to choose which shows to add to my tivo schedule. I have several shows that are conflicting with one another and I need to decide soon what I want to watch now and what I will watch during the summer. Do you realize the kind of planning it takes to establish a satisfactory viewing week? I know that many of you think that I watch too much television, but I really only stick with the stuff that ends up on the tivo (and some of that I don't even get to). Since purchasing my tivo, I find that my "mindless" t.v. watching has declined exponentially. That's right. I'm an efficient television watcher. Professional, even. I should market my skillz, bitches.

Not bad

I had a low key weekend. Except...I stayed up REALLY late both nights and have ruined myself for waking up Monday. I had a nice dinner with a friend Friday night and proceeded to stay up until after 3 am because another friend came over and then I stayed up and read for while. I slept pretty much all day Saturday and went to dinner with Jenny and then we went to another friends house for a party. I still managed to stay up until 3 am, again. I slept really late today and I am planning on doing very little to top off my fairly low key weekend.

BTW, I had a very sad experience this weekend. I was listening to the classic rock station on Friday night and they played "Better Man" by Pearl Jam. WTF. This is a song from the mid-nineties and it has already made its way to classic rock? This made me feel quite old. I still protest the inclusion of the song on their play list, but it is still sad.

Let's conduct an experiment

Every weekend I swear that I am going to be low-key and just bum around. Every weekend I end up going out and being up late and feeling like the weekend lasted three minutes. Last weekend I had no plans and I ended up going out both nights and one of those evenings I didn't get home until 4 am. This weekend the only thing I have planned is a party at a friends house Saturday night. Let's see what will actually happen and I will report back Sunday night.

What's your opinion?

I have deprived everyone of daily posts, so I am offering two in one day. It is another poll the audience!

What do you think of the arrest of Dog the Bounty Hunter?

Here is what I think: I know they are pretty cheesy and Beth's rack defies all laws of gravity, but I believe they are sincere. Andrew Luster (the guy that Dog is accused of illegally bounty-hunting in Mexico) was a despicable man who drugged and raped numerous women and showed no remorse. He ran off to Mexico and lived in luxury for months before he was tracked down by Dog and his team. I think it is wrong that American citizens are arrested for a "crime" that actually saved the taxpayers millions of dollars. The fact that U.S. Federal Marshals carried out these arrests is offensive to me, since they were actually taking people who hunt down criminals for a living off the streets. WTF. I know it is important for governments to respect the jurisdictions of other countries, but I believe that this whole thing is bullsh*t. I am so sorry that the Mexican government believes that it is wrong to hunt down criminals. As you may be able to tell, I think the whole thing is ridiculous.

The drought is over!

I'm so glad that google finally figured this out. It's good to hear from my blogger friends! Things at work are good and I am settling into things. I realize that I am always loathe to celebrate good things or talk too much about them for fear that it will all go away. It almost feels like I am tempting fate by being happy. I am feeling alot better in general, but I don't like to talk about it (or write about it) because it seems like I am going to jinx everything. This is really weird because I don't believe that God would punish me like that, but there is that part of me that kind of does believe it. That's just me.

Here's the thing

I like my new job. I feel like I am learning alot and the people are really nice. People think I am really capable and the "perfect fit" for this position, but I keep thinking they are going to find out. Find out that I am just trying to stay a little ahead of the curve and look like I know what I am doing. This job forces me to leave my comfort zone and be more upfront and direct with people that I am working with and people that I am doing business with. I'm a bit overwhelmed, but I am still enjoying what I am doing. The upside? I am feeling like more of an adult.

Lookin' good

Teddy got a new shirt. It's a polo and he loves to wear it with the collar popped. He's just too trendy for me - He's just out of my league. The sleeves were a little long for him and was walking a little funny, but sometimes you have to suffer for beauty. Sorry I haven't been doing much posting lately, but life has been busy (in the good way). I think things will start to calm down soon and I promise to treat you to stories from work.

Ah. Technology

Blogger Beta Blows. From now on if I am intending on using this phrase it will be know as BBB. Ironically enough I was asked by my new boss to represent the library by attending computer classes (along with someone else) and bring the knowledge back with me and help my colleagues. I looked at the schedule for the once weekly, four hour classes and noticed that I may be a little over-prepared. Class 1? It includes important information like "starting your computer," and the ever difficult device called a "mouse." Once we tackle these things we move onto...wait for it...the KEYBOARD. I hope the computers we are provided have internet access and I can update the html on my blog. Technical enough? Oh, and by the way, BBB.

P.S. give commenting a try using your login. Apparently they (evil beta techs) are working on fixing this.

Speaking of Comments

I have gotten word from several people that they are having trouble posting comments. I looked it up on blogger and it seems that people who haven't switched to the beta version may not be able to post a comment. Try posting as anonymous or other. BTW, Sarah - your comment has shown up, so whatever you did, do it again. I hope all of this gets sorted out because I like to read people's comments. Thanks!

Eh. Theme week abandoned.

Due to lack of response and my lack of interest, I am moving on to a regular post. My first day of work went well. Everyone seems really nice and very welcoming. I think that I am going to enjoy this job and can see myself really fitting in with everyone. It is definitely a big change from where I was working before, but it feels really good to have a "real" job. I can't really express how nice it will be to be on my own and financially independent from my father. Ahh.

P.S.

Tomorrow is my first day at my new job. I'm a little nervous, but more excited and ready to get started. I hate being new at something. I can't wait to be used to working at the library and knowing everyone. Wish me luck!

Question 1: Why do you...

Blog? (or if you don't blog, why would you?)

I blog because I like talking to people. I find that I am often struck by thoughts during the day that may not be appropriate to talk about in a work setting. I also like making observations about life and seeing what other people think about things. The number one reason I blog is to vent. Over the past year I have faced several challenges and blogging about them makes me feel better and even if I don't feel better then I am comforted by the comments people leave. Last, but not least, it is a great way to keep up with people that I am not able to see on a regular basis.

Just a note

After watching the quality program Two-A-Days (on Mtv about Hoover HS football - located in a suburb of B'ham) and the "team chaplain" say a prayer over this PUBLIC school team, I would like to say:

God has better things to be worried about than football

Oh that's right, I said it.

It's that time again...

I just thought I would give everyone a head's up for next week. I've decided it's time for another theme week! The questions I will be asking (and answering along with you) all begin with "Why do you...?" If you have any suggestions let me know and I might include them. I've got a couple of ideas already, but I am always open to other people's input. It's a little early, but I hope everyone has a great weekend. Talk to ya' Sunday!

Winding down (get ready - it's a long one)

"A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself." ~unknown
"A friend is someone who dances with you in the sunlight, And walks with you in the shadows." ~unknown

So far, this week has been really good. I have been taking better care of myself and catching up on some much needed sleep. I don't mind going to work in the morning because I know that I don't have to do it too many more times. My new job starts Monday and I feel really hopeful and excited about it and my life. It has been so long since I have felt genuinely hopeful about much of anything in my life and I am grateful for the way things seem to be working out. Lately, I have heard of several people close to my age commiting suicide and I am thankful that I don't feel like that anymore (although my thoughts never reached beyond passive musings). You want to be happy, but you just can't seem to get it together and you feel like nobody else really gets it and even if they did you don't want to burden them when they have their own problems. I think that one of the things that kept me going and putting one foot in front of the other were my friends. When I was a kid I was not one of the popular kids, in fact I was one of the unpopular kids. I was made fun of and never really felt like I belonged (you know how cruel kids can be), but after I was around 13 I started making some very close friends. I think that I have an eclectic group of people that I call good friends and I hope they think of me in the same way. My oldest friend, Lee, has been there since we were babies and somehow we manage to keep in touch and keep our respective parents in line. Ashley and I have been friends since we were 13 and beyond all probability we have remained close. During high school I became (and remained) friends with Peyton - remember freshman orientation when we were actually sophomores?. Casey and I couldn't stand each other for an entire summer before I finally called to make amends and the rest is history in that regard. I got to college and met some more cherished friends along the way including several people who read this blog and some who don't. Angela and I met on the first day we met with our advisors and I knew she was going to be my friend the moment she uttered the words "I'm more autistic than artistic." Claire and I met our freshman year, but we didn't become really close until sophomore year and now I get to be her Maid of Honor in her wedding! I also met Sarah (Belle of Madison) and we became friends despite the huge gap in our ages (um, she was totally a freshman when I was a sophomore - gasp!). Then fate stepped in and I met Jenny. As you may know from reading this blog we hang out a lot and are the best of friends. She probably makes me laugh more than anybody I know and we have gotten into a lot of mischief together. After college I lived with Sarah S. (actually now, F) and we had a lot of fun being on our "own" for the first time. In the past few years I have met so many other people that are great friends to me including Roach, Sara G., Rachel B., Fran, Jenny W (now R.) and on and on. I guess this started as one post and now it's become some sort of thank you to my friends. So, if I left you out, I'm sorry because I love all of you. If I put you in and you don't agree then too bad :) - I'm not letting anybody go!

Back from the beach

The beach was great! The weather was perfect and I had a lot of fun hanging out with everyone, but I was glad to get home and see Teddy. We listened to a lot of music while we were down there and I got made fun because the cds were mine. I am secure enough to say that one of my guilty pleasure songs is "Come Clean" by Hilary Duff (you know, the song they play at the beginning of Laguna Beach). Despite everyone making fun of me, I held my ground and remained loyal to it. Other than that, most of the songs we listened to were a bit naughty, but that's what I like so everyone else just had to go along.

On to my first topic for the week, I would like to get everyone's opinion about Fergie's song "London Bridge." I just don't get it. I guess this shows how much I am just not cool with the "kids" these days (of course, Fergie is actually several years older than me, but whatever). She asks in the song "how come every time you come around my London Bridge, you wanna go down?" Honestly, if I am interpreting the song correctly, I just don't see the problem. It seems as if she is on the winning side of the scenario. I shall continue to ponder this mystery so if anyone wants to provide an explanation, I would be happy to hear it.

Gone to the Beach

Just a quick post before I leave from work straight to the Gulf. Hope everyone has a great Labor Day and the weather is good for most of you. I know some of my east coast friends have been inundated with rain from Ernesto (sorry guys, I used my influence with the Big Guy upstairs and prayed for it to go east). Take a deep breath and get some relaxation in because a lot of us have some big stuff coming up soon. Some people are having babies (Avery's mom, my friend Ashley), some people are starting new jobs (me!, Peyton!), some people are getting back into school (Claire, Jamie, Lyda - well, teaching at least) and the rest of us are gearing up for the busiest time of the year at work and at home (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years). Take care,

katie g.

It's finally here

I don't have a digital camera, but I finally figured out how to send cell phone pictures to my email and upload them on blogger. Behold my favorite doggy in the entire world: Teddy. He may drive me up the wall sometimes, but he is very sweet and cute. This picture is from a trip we took to Nashville and he is looking at me from the passenger seat because he is my co-pilot.

3rd Times a Charm

I have another cold. If you know me in any way you will realize that I get every cold that comes within a 90 mile radius. This is the third cold/sinus infection I have had this summer and I am over being sick. I am going to the beach for Labor Day weekend and I better be on the mend by then. Random people will offer suggestions on how to ward of colds (echinacea, zinc, vitamin C, voodoo), but the fact remains that I am just going to have a cold forever. The sad thing is that I made a (seemingly) delicious cabbage beef soup yesterday in my crockpot, but by the time I got home last night my sense of smell was gone. I tasted NOTHING. It looked really good though. I comfort myself with the knowledge that soup always tastes better the second day.

The Runner-up

I have decided that in the unlikely and unfortunate event that Dale Jr. will not be able to fulfill the duties as my "future babies daddy," I have appointed an acceptable replacement: Simon Baker. Now he is not the most famous person or someone that many people have on their radar, but he is delicious. Check out the examples I have provided for your (and my) viewing pleasure. Look at those eyes. His smile, his smouldering sensuality (okay, so maybe that is a little difficult to see in these pictures, but take my word for it). If you are unfamiliar with his work then check out the movies The Devil Wears Prada, Something New, and The Ring Two. He also starred in The Guardian on CBS for three years. I've been a fan of his for a while and I encourage you to enjoy his body of work (pun intended), but remember - he's my back-up.

'Da News

You Are Here: We have Claire P. here to deliver us some news today (some of you know her from a little sorority we belonged to back in the day and others may know her as a good friend - or both in my case): She's engaged!!
YAH: So, how did he pop the question?!
CP: It was THE most romantic thing EVER! We spent a few days at an amazing b&b this past week. The day in question began with horseback riding. After changing we went on a picnic down by the river. The chef prepared us a fantastic basket lunch. We found the most beautiful spot. Jeremy chose that moment to sweep me off my feet once again. It truly was better than anything I could have dreamt. It was only half way through our trip so from then on we were celebrating. SOOOO Romantic!
YAH: rumor has it you two will be celebrating the nuptials at the Magic Kingdom. (A bit of an inside joke here, people - her mom saw a special about weddings at Disney World and suggested it to Claire)?
CP: Well, let me just straighten that up now. NO! Can you imagine? It's perfect for some, but not us. (heh. snobs.)
YAH: Where do you think that you'll be having the wedding?
CP: That is the big question right now. A b&b in the mountains? A vineyard in the mountains? We're on it but no decisions have been made.
YAH: When are you having the wedding?
CP: Right now the plan is sometime next summer. The future is so unknown because of graduation, etc. but that is our goal.
YAH: what will I be doing in this event?
CP: Well, Katie, we've been thinking you could escort our cat Delilah down the aisle as ring bearer. What do you think?
YAH: I'm so honored. So, are you knocked up yet?
CP: Oh right! This will give everyone the chance to meet our newborn. It's been the best kept secret!! :) JK!

You heard it here first. Congrats, Claire!!

P.S. that is NOT the engagement ring. I found it by looking on google images under the search terms "fugly ring"

Got some news

But I'm not sharing yet. It's not about me, but I will be letting you know Monday. In the meantime, I have another question.

It was announced this week that the latest season of Survivor will be divided up by race. I think that this is a bad idea. These kind of games can get really ugly and grouping people by their race only encourages certain stereotypes. One of the articles about it had Jeff Probst (the host) discussing how it would require people to look beyond stereotypes of how some races are believed to be faster or smarter. What?! I am not easily offended, but this offends me. I just think it's a bad idea.

Kitchen Envy

I hope that I am not stepping on Jamie the Gastronome's toes here by talking about things having to do with food, but I have been thinking about this particular topic for a while. I have kitchen envy. I love watching Food TV and looking at all of the state of the art, beautiful, fully-stocked kitchens. I am always jealous of how Rachael Ray, Alton Brown, or Ina Garten are able to go to their pantry or refrigerator and pull out all of the needed ingredients. I know, I know, it's television and they stock everything they need ahead of time, but I want that kind of kitchen. The one where you can decide what to cook on a whim and be able to make it without having to make a special trip to the grocery store. In an attempt to achieve this type of kitchen, I am going to poll the audience and find out what your top "must haves at all times" in the kitchen are. Mine are olive oil, onions, and garlic. Unfortunately, these ingredients make a great start, but I need more stuff. So, what should I always have on hand?

What happened to Joey?

I don't know about you, but I used to have a major Joey Lawrence crush when I was about 12 or 13. As memory serves, it was around the second and third season of Blossom when he was at his height of teenage hotness. The hair, the body, his signature "whoa" - he was the total heart-throb package. Well, he has now been relegated to that status that many teen-idols now occupy: the D-List (if you watch Kathy Griffin, you'll know what I mean). He will now be on Dancing With the Stars and oh how time has not been kind. He chopped off all the luxurious hair (the picture to the right is a bit more forgiving than the other ones I have seen) and looks like a younger Telly Savales. Am I the only person that feels really old after seeing these photographs?

Wanna Smoke?

Well, if you know me, then the answer is no. I know I can be a nag a lot of times for my friends, but I really have their health in interest when I bitch and moan about smoking. I work at a smoke-free environment - this means that you are not allowed to smoke on the property at all. I work at a gym (that shall not be named) and there are so many people that literally put out their cigarette right before they come in the door. What's the point, people? They proceed to lift weights, do cardio, stare at themselves in the mirror to make sure they have achieved their healthy goals and then leave the club and light up a cancer stick. Fine, I'm biased. The damn things basically led my mom to an early death and I don't want anyone to smoke. I just don't get why someone who works out every day would waste their time on smoking. Oh well. I have my vices (caffeine, beer, cursin') and everybody else does too. Officially off the soap box.

Crying? Yes. Good? No.

Paris Hilton says her album is so good she cries. I doubt not that her album makes her cry. I think it is for other reasons. Perhaps it could be that it has surpassed all other levels of crap? Or maybe that she realizes that this may be the last gasp of her ever unrelenting inexplicable fame? If not that, because it finally exposes the true weakness and inevitable conclusions that the Hilton bloodline has been compromised by inbreeding and laziness? Or maybe it's just that good and that she has finally conquered the last bastion of American "art" (in addition to impressive modeling, acting, and professional clubbing) left untouched by her vapid presence. Oh well, who knows.

Everybody else has pictures of babies

I wanted to share a couple of photos of my goddaughter Isabella with everyone. These are older pictures back from the summer of 2002, right after I got Teddy. Her shirt is wet in the front because she was fascinated by the puppy but she was also scared and would run away from him while doing some sort of strange spitting thing. It was pretty funny at the time and the pictures still make me laugh. She looks so cute and I can't wait to spoil her little brother when he arrives sometime in October!

Blogging experiment/promotion

Ya'll know that I am fan of Nalini Singh and I am looking forward to her new book and coincidentally there is a promotional experiment going on right now with this new book and I decided to join in!

I am participating in a blogging experiment hosted at dearauthor.com. To enter the contest, put up this blurb, image, and trackback and you are entered to win the following prize package.
$200 Amazon gift certificate
Signed copy of Slave to Sensation
New Zealand goodies chosen by Singh
ARC of Christine Feehan's October 31 release: Conspiracy Game You can read about the experiment here and you can download the code that you need to participate here.
SLAVE TO SENSATIONNalini Singh Berkley / September 2006
Welcome to a future where emotion is a crime and powers of the mind clash brutally against those of the heart.
Sascha Duncan is one of the Psy, a psychic race that has cut off its emotions in an effort to prevent murderous insanity. Those who feel are punished by having their brains wiped clean, their personalities and memories destroyed.
Lucas Hunter is a Changeling, a shapeshifter who craves sensation, lives for touch. When their separate worlds collide in the serial murders of Changeling women, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities…or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation.
Excerpt

Top posts

I don't know how to link in my blog 'cause I'm dumb. Anyway, I am going to provide the dates of my favorite posts and you can go back and see some highlights. Let me know what your favorite was.

August 9, 2005 - Beer Cooler
August 11, 2005 - First Waver Theory
September 26, 2005 - Top 10 List
October 31, 2005 - Teddy
November 3, 2005 - Christmas
November 7, 2005 - Jake Gyllenhaal
February 20, 2006 - "Wrinka"
And all the theme weeks

Enjoy,

ktg

Thinking back

I had every intention of going to bed early last night and I just could not fall asleep. I had my light out by 10, but I just tossed and turned and could not find a comfortable spot. Despite my best efforts, I still woke up just as tired as I usually am. Sigh.

On to another topic, a friend's little sister just went away to college this past week and she is having some adjustment problems. I talked to her earlier in the week and told her about how miserable I was when I first got to school. I started thinking back to those first few weeks as a freshman at a new school in a new state. I missed my parents and friends way more than I EVER thought I would. Just for kicks, I would like to know how you felt the first time you left home (either to go to school or for some other reason). Were you homesick, excited, a bit of both or what?

Back to the Idiot Box

I haven't discussed t.v. in a while, but I am about to remedy that. I apologize in advance, but this post refers to a show that many of you probably don't watch, but I am addicted to. The show?

Big Brother All Stars

Love it! I have watched the majority of the seasons of this horrible show and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. This season is awesome because it has brought back several of my most favorite and least favorite players and all I can say is this sh*t is good! The sheming is better than anything I have ever seen. It is quite the study in psychology (especially evil Dr. Will), he is the best player EVER. I have enjoyed every episode this season and it is my "can't miss show." The best part is that if I miss an episode I can watch the entire thing on the web. CBS has hooked me up with their online programming. It's a little late to start watching, but if you want to guarantee your brain cells will slowly seep out of your ear - this is the show for you. I love America!

Another animal post

I couldn't help but comment on this story I saw on cnn. A man dipped kittens in grease, and tried to fry them in a frying pan. It is on the home page of www.cnn.com and you can watch the video link. I think what I find more disturbing is the reporter at the end who says "some people may not think this is a big deal." What!!?? What kind of people is that? I believe if you don't think it is a big deal then there is something definitely wrong with you. I believe in stiff punishments for people who abuse animals. I mean many years in jail. Animals are trusting creatures and if you abuse this trust then you should pay. I going to try to get off this animal tangent, but not today.

Ooooh, that makes me so mad!

I just read a story in People Magazine about pet owners and Hurricane Katrina. When the storm first struck, one of the big stories was about pets that people had to leave behind because they couldn't take them to shelters or other circumstances. I felt so bad for the pet owners and could understand how devastating that would be to an owner. I would be heartbroken if I couldn't take Teddy with me. This brings me to the story. After people left their animals in shelters or at their homes, those pets were adopted out to other families. Now, the original owners want their pets back and often times the new families won't give them back. In many cases, these people have lost so much and now they can't even have their furry friends. I don't think it's right and I just had to post something about it. Maybe I am in the minority here, but I still think it's wrong to keep someone else's dog or cat.

P.S. I am talking about good owners, not ones that shouldn't have had pets to begin with.

Fake Nice or Real Mean?

*To those who wanted a recap of my favorite posts, I think I am going to spend the rest of the week picking them out and post it closer to the weekend*

The title of this post refers to the stereotype (that is pretty true) that southerners are nice, but fake and people outside of the South tend to be more truthful, but less polite. This is where I stand: generally, I like fake nice. This is not in reference to my friends or family, but for aquaintances and strangers. It may be a cliche, but you get more flies with honey than vinegar. You wanna get what you want? Be nice, even if it makes you grit your teeth. Treating people rudely will get you only so far, but once you get there your food will probably have spit in it, people will glare daggers at your back, make your life more difficult and subtly let you know that you have pissed them off. I bring this up because a young woman came into the place where I work and asked me if one manager in particular was available. I told her that she was in and the woman told me to "get her to the front desk." No explanation, no thank you, just a demand and she went along to browse through our merchandise. She was from a city up north (not to be named) and clearly expected to me to grant her wishes and believed that she was more competent than I (based on another interaction we had a few minutes later). I took all I had, but I was nice - even though I didn't mean it. What do you think (and what part of the country were you born in), fake nice or real mean?

I missed my own anniversary

I knew my blog-iversary was coming up, but I didn't realize I had actually missed it. After several months of contemplation and trying to come up with a name for the blog I wrote my first post on August 8th. A lot has happened in the past 12 months. Some good, some bad, but I am still here to bitch about it. I love reading blogs because they allow me to keep up with my friends, hear about other people's lives and comiserate when things aren't going so well. From August 8 2005 to August 8 2006 I have posted 276 times! Isn't that crazy? That is an average of every 1.3 days. I hope you have enjoyed reading it much as I have enjoyed writing it.

On the Road Again...

I am off to Kentucky to visit my friend Angela tomorrow, thus continuing my goal of reaching all states below the Mason-Dixon line before September. Just kidding. Angela and I met our freshman year at college and despite all odds, have managed to keep in touch since she transferred in 1998. While I live the life of a swingin' single (harhar) she has gotten married and had a baby. For anyone who ever met Angela she would have been the last person you would have guessed to become so domesticated. I believe she swore off marriage and motherhood in her late teens, but had a change of heart. I am so glad for her and cannot wait to meet her beautiful baby girl tomorrow. I am only spending the night and then I will head back to Nashville for a couple more nights of rest and then it is back to B'ham Saturday.

Back from Boca

Hello everyone! I had a nice, relaxing trip to the beach, but I was happy to get back to Nashville (where I am staying for a few more days) and hang with Teddy. I'm such a nerd. I got a little burned, but not too bad and ate a lot of great food. All of my expenses were paid and I took the fullest advantage. The resort even had a hospitality suite where they provided free wine and beer. Ahhh, my kind of place. Hope everyone else had a good weekend and I am sure to be posting soon.

Why am I anxious?

I could not fall asleep last night. I tossed and turned and even kicked Teddy out of the bed because I just could not relax and go to sleep. Part of it stemmed from the fact that I had a late cup of coffee yesterday, but the other reason is I am anxious about going on my vacation. I don't even know why I feel like this. I don't have anything that is pressing that I need to accomplish before I leave town, but it feels weird to get a week and a half off from work. I wish I could get more excited, but I just can't. I keep feeling like something bad is going to happen (Storm Chris is not doing me any good). Maybe it is because I am going to be spending five days with my dad and we are sure to get into some sort of argument about politics or some other nonsense. I think I will declare a truce and we will just avoid topics that we disagree on. Hmmm, after pondering this it leaves my father and I to talk about the weather (not global warming), and gardening. Should be fun.

This is just ridiculous

I am leaving for my vacation tomorrow and I am quite excited. I am driving up to Nashville tomorrow afternoon and then my father and I are flying to Boca Raton Thursday morning. My brother, Chris, has wanted to go for a while, but decided that it was not something he could financially arrange. Imagine my irritation when I check cnn.com this morning and find out that a tropical storm has formed out in the Carribean and is making its way to Florida in the next few days. The name of the tropical storm? Chris. Coincidence? I think not.

(photo courtesy of NOAA)

A Sign from God

I set my mind to cleaning my bedroom tonight and I was setting up a movie on my dvd player so that I could entertain myself while putting away my clothes and rearranging my furniture. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to get the dvd player to work and I took that as a sign from above that I was not meant to clean my room this evening. I might do some cleaning tomorrow, but it just depends on what happens with my electronics.

Liar Liarson, the Lying-est man from Liarstown

I lie. Who doesn't? I try not to do it as much as I did when I was a kid, but I have a bit of talent for it. I usually admit when I lie. Most of the times when I am actually lying it is to carry out some elaborate joke. I enjoy seeing people's reaction after learning it was a lie. The reason I tell you this is because I want you to know that I lie on occasion and I believe most people do. I even believe that lying is a good thing in the right circumstances (i.e. denying that someone is talking smack about another friend to prevent hurt feelings). I was lied to this weekend by someone close to me for a stupid reason. Basically, my dad thought I would not be able to handle the information that he had a date and told my brother not to tell me. Everyone else knew about it but me. I found out because one of my closest friends found out from her parents and didn't know I wasn't supposed to know. I called my dad on it and he didn't have much to say for himself. I would not have made a big deal about it at all, but he decided not to give me a chance to react. Am I excited that my dad is dating? Not particularly. My parents were married for over 35 years and it is a little weird, but he has been on a couple of dates before and I haven't lost my sh*t. I am not going to deny that I would not really want my dad to get remarried, but I don't mind if he dates people. I think I am more irritated because he told my brother not to tell me. That's not right. If everyone else is going to know then I should too. Do you think I'm right? Or are you with my dad? I would really like other people's opinions or maybe you are scared to tell me b/c I will just not be able to handle it and freak out. Maybe you should just lie to me...

65 Hours

That is the amount of time that my weekend lasts. I got off from work on Friday at 6 and I have to be back on Monday at noon. Roughly, that works out to 65 hours. Although I have another 22.5 hours to go (that sounds depressing), I have decided to break down how my weekend has been spent so far:

Cleaning: maybe 2 hours total
Sleeping: 25 hours + (really!)
Eating: 1 hour
t.v./tivo watching: 10 hours

I have to admit I am feeling quite refreshed from my loads of sleep.

Update

Tonight, I have cleaned up my laundry room and most of my kitchen. I am pretty sure that is all that will be accomplished tonight. I hate to sell myself short, but I have a lot of Tivo to catch up on and it would be wrong to leave all it unwatched. I am very goal oriented (well, in some limited circumstances). There's still Sunday.

Nothing

That is what I have accomplished this evening. I have not cleaned anything in my apartment. Actually, I have probably made it messier. That's just how I roll.

I never want what I have

My low key weekend? Yeah, not too excited about that. Trust me, if I had some big plans this weekend I wouldn't be excited about that either. Clean my apartment? eh. Exist in my messy abode? Double eh. When I'm laying low, I want to be out and about. When I'm partying it up, all I can think about is getting home and putting my p.j.'s on. I am the Queen of the Grass is Always Greener-land. Although if I was actually the Queen, I would rather be the Queen's minion.

Flying Solo

My friends are busy this weekend. Some are out of town, some are studying, and some are working. I am not working and not doing anything for once and I am quite glad. I've been really tired lately and I just can't get enough sleep. My big plan for this weekend is to watch movies and...clean my apartment. I know I have said it before, but I really mean it this time. I am heading out town the middle of next week and I don't want to come back to a disaster area. I need to do some major cleaning and throwing away stuff I don't need. My apartment is just not big enough for extra stuff. It is already crammed full of crap and I need to weed and make everything more organized. Maybe I will buy some sort of shelving or drawers to get everything together. Hmmm, I must think about this.

Fine, I'm nosy

I admit that I like to know what the people around me are doing. Not to an obsessive degree, but I do find the people who live around my apartment particularly curious. Tonight's topic is my downstairs neighbor.

I can't figure out what she does. From what I can tell she is not in school (i.e. no parking pass, school stickers, regular outings from her apartment, etc.) and has an extremely part-time job. Her boyfriend hangs out all the time and they watch t.v. incessantly. I like my apartment complex, but it is not the type of place the independently wealthy find themselves. I guess she could be a really poor heiress or just extremely lazy who's beyond all logic paying her bills. Don't worry, I really don't think about this all the time, but I do have such a strange schedule that I am at home at weird times of the day and she is usually here. In the same parking space. I have decided on three possible occupations:

exotic dancer
Jimmy Kimmel Show t.v. watcher
Homeless person that the apartment people don't know is living here

Dad's not the only one enjoying retirement...

I speak to my father very regularly. During the week, we usually talk everyday (weekends are something different). This week I have called the house and both my father and brother are taking naps after a busy day of errands. Brother dear is supposed to be looking for a job - Dad can nap all he wants, he earned it. I am just waiting to come home and finding the two of them puttering around in the back yard wearing matching velour track suits. This is not good, people, this is not good.

Orphans all around us

I have come to the disturbing conclusion that this world is populated by a large number of orphaned children. I have two primary examples to support my observation:

1. Badly behaved, parentless children in public places: The only reasonable explanation for these unattended children must be that they have lost their parents in some sort of tragic tennis accident. Clearly, it would be absolutely ridiculous for responsible adults to bring children to public places (for example, where I work or the mall) and let them run around and get into anything they want. I was at Williams-Sonoma and I observed two children using tongs to "straighten" their hair by running them through their sweaty locks like a flat iron. Another favorite is children paddling around in the whirlpool like it was a really hot above-ground pond.

2. The Real World: this show has been on for 38 seasons in approximately 14 years and the cast members have become increasingly slutty and seemingly devoid of any moral fiber or work ethic. The only thing that can explain this blatant display of unacceptable behavior is that their parents are dead and will not have to suffer the embarrassment of seeing their son or daughter hop into bed with strangers and engage in drunken fistfights on a regular basis. The best part is that they top off the incessant partying with probably the worst job performance recorded in modern history. It doesn't matter what job these people are assigned they manage to take their laziness to a new low each and every season and confirm the opinions that older people have about our generation.

Poll the audience: Weddings

I went to a shower Saturday night and I had a good time partly because it was not one of those "stuffy" teas or whatnot. I realize that I am not the most sentimental or girly person and I tend to think that a lot of the stuff that goes on with weddings is silly. Since my brother is getting married in less than a year, I will have to be an active participant in a much of this craziness. Apparently, some people like this stuff and I really want to know where people stand on weddings and the accompanying hoopla. From what I have already written you may have guessed that my idea of the perfect wedding is something akin to a keg party. I figure if I ever get married I'll have three showers: a pajama shower (everyone gets to wear p.j.'s and gives me whatever they want), a beer shower (super casual and everyone has to give me something related to the brew), and a NASCAR shower (everyone has to wear something that relates to NASCAR - excluding Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, the Busch brothers, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, etc. - and give me something related to Dale Jr.). My "dress" will probably be track pants and a t-shirt, all my bridesmaids will wear what they want. All of this is to be followed by a really big party and a honeymoon in Hawaii.

With that being said, what do you think about weddings?

She's gone too far this time

It's Teddy again. I know I haven't posted in a while and that is because I am really lazy in the summers and things have been fairly uneventful...until this past weekend.

I got a haircut

A home haircut

That bitch practically used a flowbee to cut my beautiful hair. It was not that I didn't need a cut and curl, but she could have loosened the purse strings and sprung for a f*ckin' pro. Let me set the scene for you:

It was a lovely Sunday afternoon where the scalding temperature of a mid-July day hit around 143 degrees. The humdity hovered around 99.9% and luckily I was placed in the middle of the sun on a rusty old patio table. It get's worse. They turn on this metal torture machine that kept making scary noises and they cut on my hair with no rhyme or reason. The shaver wasn't even for animals. It was for (gasp) HUMAN hair. They shaved me everywhere...yes, even there. I lost ten pounds during the ordeal and practically passed out from heat stroke. She's trying to kill me, people. She won't be happy until I have no hair, weigh three pounds and look like some homeless dog. She better sleep lightly. This will not go unpunished.

The Rules of Adjustment

Here's the thing: when guys adjust themselves in public, it's gross. I have really noticed this bad habit the past few years. You will be talking to someone and there they go reaching for their junk. Please, if you are so uncomfortable or weighted down with your cumbersome package, take yourself to the restroom or some other place of relative privacy and move things around. It causes me to lose my train of thought when I am carrying on a conversation and someone starts touching themselves inappropriately. You don't see me doing that and I shouldn't see guys doing that. They should add this to those Miller Lite "Man Laws."

I need some suggestions

My dad had his retirement party catered by several people (separate people for meat, sides, desserts) and I came across the most fabulous Greek dressing EVER. It is fantastic. Very tasty and I don't have adequate words to describe the deliciousness of this concoction. Well, I absconded with the dressing and took it 200 miles south because I knew that there was no one in my house who could properly enjoy the dressing. It has now been in my refrigerator for a day and I am not sure what to do with it. Sure, the obvious answer is to put it on salad and let that be, but it seems to simple. I feel like I could add it to pasta or potatoes or something like that. Maybe a marinade? There is a little over two cups, so the supply is limited and I don't want to waste it. I know I need to describe it better, so here goes: it has an extremely rich flavor, garlic, feta cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and some other mysterious yet yummy spices and other flavors. Suffice to say, it is unmatched. What would you do with it?

Observations about food and diet

Two things:

1. Recently, I have seen a Stouffer's commercial advertising their paninis. It shows a person biting into one with a lot of joy on their face while sitting on a couch during the middle of a party. I have had the Lean Cuisine Paninis and they are delicious, but that is beside the point. If I go to someone's house for a get together, no matter how casual, I expect my host or hostess to put a little more effort into the party food. I don't want a microwaveable sandwich. I want snacks, cheese, a little crudités, things with toothpicks stuck in them. Basically, I want party food and not a t.v. dinner.

2. The other thing that I discovered is reason #243 why "Katie will never be anorexic." I like it when other people make my food. Sandwiches (ironically enough) taste better when made by someone else. Eating out is usually way better than anything you can get at home. This goes against one of the hallmark rules of someone who is trying to starve themself. They want to prepare all of their food whereas I don't want to prepare ANY of it. Oh well. I guess I'll just have to settle for some other disorder.

A Quick Trip

I was in Nashville for a little over two days (around 49 hours to be exact) and I had a good visit, but it was good to get back home. If I have a busy weekend I always feel like I need another weekend to recover. This really wasn't the case with this weekend. I got alot of sleep and saw a bunch of people I hadn't seen in a while. I also got a little waxing done, which was good 'cause I needed it. I was started to look like a cavewoman. It is truly God's joke that girls get staches. Tom Selleck Magnum P.I. staches. Ugh. Now, I look like a chick again.

He wants an ipod

My father wants an ipod. This is the same man that can go on a 10 hour car trip to Louisiana and never turn on the radio (with the exception of when Rush is on). The man that calls the remote control "that clicker thingy." The man that has no idea what to do if the t.v. accidentally gets switched to the video setting. He who threatened to shun all technology once he retired has now decided that his life would be enhanced by owning a digital music player. He will fill it up with 12 songs and listen to them over and over. Of course, he wants me to be the one who actually downloads i-tunes and puts the music on the "thingy-majig." Ah, to be so technically savvy. I am so not telling him about podcasts because before I know it the damn thing will be filled with the ramblings of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

Bring It!

I played tennis again tonight with my friend Sara and we were AWESOME. Okay, well maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but we weren't AWFUL. It was very humid and I know that I looked pretty attractive by the end of our hour of playing (tennis wears you out!). I am hoping to really improve my game and join the Tour (you know, for pros - duh). Sara really needs to observe my skills and try to play at my level, but we have to start somewhere, right? Hahaha.

The beauty of Tivo

With the aid of my favorite gadget, I am able to enjoy the best part of summer: Big Brother. I admit it is the epitome of trash t.v., but it keeps me entertained during the barren desert of summer television. A bunch of people living together, with the cameras on all the time, without the opportunity to escape? It may sound like television, but it is actually a brilliant vehicle for entertainment. Ahhh.

On another note, my father is throwing himself a retirement party and I have told him that I will be unable to attend due to my work schedule. He has sounded quite disappointed that I won't be able to come to the party. Fortunately for me, I don't actually have to work and I am coming in for the weekend and surprising him. I know, I know, I have already seen him, but this is something that is important to him and there will be a lot of people that I know and love at this little shindig so I am more than happy to attend. Daddy G is about to get a surprise.

Maybe they're Amish

So, I have some new neighbors (I think a new married couple) and I have noticed some weird things about them. First, they moved all their stuff in several months ago and most of it has remained in boxes. The reason I know this is that they have left the windows open on several occasions. During the middle of the day. In Alabama. In the summer. What are they trying to do? Air-condition the entire neighborhood? One of them has an inflammatory anti-abortion bumper sticker on a beat up car. Finally, after seeing the apartment at night during one of my walks with Teddy I realized what else was wrong with them. They have NO TELEVISION. Not a one. What do they do with their time? They must really be in love or just plain crazy. It makes absolutely NO SENSE to me. All of this technology and goodness surrounds them and they have shunned it. Sometimes they just leave the front door and back door open and turn off all the lights. Ugh. Weirdos. They might at well live in a tent.

Daddy has left the building...

He headed out this morning, but not before getting me out of bed (or should I say, couch) a full 25 minutes BEFORE I usually get up. Arrgh. Although I'm not much of a morning person, I manage to become a civil person by the time I have to be anywhere in public. Unfortunately, he kept bothering me to "get up" or "up and at 'em" which just infuriated me. As I stubbornly remained on my couch trying to get some more sleep, it occurred to me that we are extremely different people. He pops up out of bed at the crack ass of dawn and I drag myself from my blackout-curtained room. He wants to go for a "brisk" walk and I am lucky to bathe myself. He feels like you are "wastin' daylight" by remaining in bed and I feel like you are wasting your God-given right to remain in bed as long as possible. Oh well, it was still a good visit. We visited with several of my friends, had some nice meals and generally hung out together. We also avoided discussing politics, which is good because we very different feelings about a lot of things and nothing productive comes from our bickering.

The Greatest

No, not Muhammed Ali. Elvis. I know, I know, I have discussed him ad naseum, but he was the greatest Rock n' Roll artist EVER. Disagree with me, that's fine. During my half-hearted attempt to clean my apartment, I decided to clean out a drawer and found a burned cd. I wasn't sure what it was until I popped it into my computer and The King started singing to me. It just reinforced his talent and how much I love his music. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. And, just so you know, not even John Travolta has staged a comeback like the '68 special. He was on fire and hotter than ever. Amen.

Personal stats:
Favorite portrayal of Elvis: Elvis and Me - the t.v. miniseries
Favorite Song(s): Suspicious Minds, Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Favorite outfit: the comeback special leather suit (seen to your left)
Favorite Aspect of Elvis: his generosity towards strangers
Least Favorite Aspect of Elvis: that he is no longer with us

Bye-bye, Goodbye

Have you ever noticed on television shows that the characters rarely say "bye" on the phone? Jenny always noted that 7th Heaven was one of the worst examples of this phenomenon. They have all of these dramatic conversations and then just hang up the phone. Every one of the characters does this and it drives me crazy. Well, imagine my dismay when it has come to my attention that this is not just something that happens on t.v. I have noticed that I have been on the phone with several people in the past few weeks and they haven't said "goodbye" or some variation of the word. I know it really means nothing, but the call ends so abruptly and it kind of hurts my feelings. My hurt feelings don't last more than a couple of minutes, but it just seems like common curtesy. Shall we bring the goodbye back?

I'm Lost

What day is it? I am so confused. It was Monday, then it felt like the weekend again and now it's almost Thursday? What the hell?! Listen, I'm not complaining, but I am still confused. The other thing that is adding to my sense of vertigo is that Daddy G. is visiting this weekend and I am supposed to clean my apartment for him. Heh. We see how well that worked last time. I got to the den, part of the kitchen and the bathroom. That's all I had in me and that is probably all I have in me this time. If that. Oh well, the weekend is almost here!

The Pokey

Jenny and I were having a discussion the other night about prison. We were speculating as to how either one of us would do if we were in The Big House. Not to worry, anyone, I have no intentions of going to prison and I am not wanted for anything currently (I hope), but I do wonder how I would do in that situation. I'm pretty sure that I would cry like a little girl and end up someone's bitch by the end of my first fifteen minutes or stabbed with a sharpened spoon. It all comes back to my "First Waver" theory (found in my August 11th post in the archives) and the fact that I am not a survivor. Plus, I would not want to be live in prison. I would wish for death, hold my breath forever, drown myself in my tin cup of water, or something like that. How do you think you would do in prison?

I'm "that" girl

By "that" girl, I mean the one that guys come to for advice about other girls and general problems they are having. As I haven't actually been in a relationship since I can't remember when, it is often perplexing to me that they want my opinions. I find that several of my friends and/or aquaintances come to me for advice and that makes me feel good that they value my opinion, but it seems that guys have always seen me as a buddy and I want to find someone of my own - not really set people up with other people and be by myself. Hmmmm, I finally told one of these guys that he had to fix me up with someone. It's my turn...maybe...I guess...perhaps. Well, maybe not yet. Hell, I don't know.

Last one, people...

The finale to our theme week is....:

If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

I would ask God why do bad things happen to good people? I understand that a lot of challenges and problems result in a deeper understanding of life and often make a person better for it. On the other hand, there are lots of things that happen that are unexplainable and seem so pointless. I just want to understand exactly why these things happen. Why children have to die, why old people have to be swindled, why people randomly murder other people, why, why, why?

What about you?

Five People

The fourth question for our theme week is:

When you get to heaven (hopefully) who are the five people you want to meet or see?

1. My mom
2. Teddy Roosevelt (I think he would be interesting to meet and discuss his thoughts about the United States)
3. Fred (my cat who died two and half years ago)
4. Elvis
5. Truman Capote (he seems like he would have been a really fun person early in his career)

That's my five. Who's on your list?