gjesdaka

yawn

2009-10-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

While I do have day to day adventures- and rearranging my furniture might be exciting to some, I feel that all in all I have very little to add to the blogging world. At one point I thought of it as an online journal... then I realized: that is about the dumbest thing ever. If there is anything I do NOT want the entire world to see, it is my personal "journal".

So, if you are all wrapped up in what I have to say here, shoot me an email with your very own email address. Ask me what you want to ask me (yep, all eight of you), and I will tell you what you want to know. Heck, shoot me an email asking me to update you when something cool happens. I'll try my best to oblige. Then again, as I have demonstrated here, I am not the gold standard of compliance.

Patience is a virtue.

Good day blog, your days are numbered.

blurry

2009-10-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

Looks messier, but progress is being made. Slowly.

I haven't really tried to take any good photographs so you get a mix of natural light and well, darkness plus a lamp. Neither are quite representative of what the place looks like, but its a start. Again, feedback is a-okay.

Pat on the back to James, installer of clothing rack and bully to the bullies.

How hot is that bike!?
The Multicare Security guys love it when I leave my door open... They come around the corner ready for a bad guy breaking into my place, and find me, posting a picture of my open door, waving at them. They smile.

Nighttime falls, hulu appears on the screen...

I've got nothing smart or witty to say. This is my kitchen.

Aaalrighty. More later.

In case you were keeping track

2009-10-08T21:42:00.000-07:00

The new address is as follows:

414 S. I St. #8
Tacoma, WA 98405

Allow me to give you a tour (of the tentative layout... this is by no means the final product!)

When you open the front door, this is what you see.

Take a step back and check out that kitchen you just walked through...

And now, the dining table/desk, bookshelf/office stuff.

Finally, the "get ready for the day" area. Dresser, mirror (which will eventually be hung) makeup stuff, closet, and BED.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, takes you full circle. You have just experienced a day in the life of Kara's new studio!

Hope you enjoyed the ride.

I am very very open to suggestions. I have a bunch of stuff that was not included in the photos... namely, an awesome, old, HEAVY bicycle. As well as boxes full of books, vases, wall decor, lamps, etc.

Depending on the numbers, I'd like to get rid of the dresser (which holds more than you think: the usual bras and undies, socks, swimsuits, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, towels, washcloths, and some makeshift curtains) and trade it for an armoire of sorts. Then I could use my skinny little closet for storage.

We will see. I'm just happy to have my own place. And at the moment, my focus is not so much on myself as it is on Mommy-to-be Mer! Gotta give the little peanut a friendly welcome, right!?

More at some point, thanks for the patience!

absence makes the heart grow fonder

2009-09-10T23:21:00.000-07:00

Right?

Right.

So here is the deal. I am back in Tacoma for at least a couple weeks! This is what I've been up to:

First, I spent two weeks or so in Sioux Falls for Caitlin and William's wedding.

The Beautiful Bride and I

The "pretending to be hammered" Groom and I. (He didn't have to try TOO hard)

Next, I got back to Tacoma, unpacked, did some laundry, packed, and headed off to Athens (not THAT Athens), Georgia (sorry, not that Georgia either). Anyway, my friends Ali and Brent were kind enough to pick me up in Atlanta and drive me to their home in Athens, provide me with my very own room and bathroom, sign me up for a 5k (I did it!!), teach me all about tennis, feed me delicious food, make me coffee, introduce me to super nice people, take me to the pool.... I could go on...

Ali and I at the pool
Brent, me, Ali, and Laura living the good life. Food, drink, and merriment.

Anyway folks, I'll try my best to get back on track. These next few weeks will not be without excitement either... I will be moving (somewhere, not sure where yet), and with any luck, finding a full time job.

Send me good vibes, I'll be needing them!

He's all grown up!

2009-08-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Many of you have heard this story, but I'll share it again the best I can.

April 20, 2008. On the phone with Michael.

Mike: Hello?
Kara: Hey
M: Whats up?
K: Not much... Happy Birthday!!!
M: Thanks
K: So the big one-nine. Your last year as a teenager! How cool! Man, enjoy yourself while you are young. Soon you will be in your TWENTIES. So mike, this is your last year as a teen, what are you going to do? Big plans?
M: *pause*
K: So happy birthday! Nineteen years! Mike you are growing up so...
M: Kara?
K: Yeah?
M: I'm 20.

I'll post the pics that inspired this post.... at a later date. Right now, reminiscing with the brother :0)

quarter century

2009-08-17T00:25:00.000-07:00

I'd love to say something deep. To really take a step back, observe and analyze my current state of being, and share eloquently stated pearls of wisdom... but this is not going to happen.

Instead, (three days late), you get old pictures of me!

12 days

1 year

2 years

Apparently 3 and 4 were not photo worthy, so here's year 5

And year 6

Would you just look at how rockin' we all look in that last picture? Daaaamn!

Funny how things change. Anna, my cousin, the one in the white polka dot shirt, now has two boys, the oldest being exactly the age I was in this picture.

Well anyway. Tomorrow I'm off to visit that cute little guy in the blue and white tank top and yellow sunglasses. Only now he is 21, has a girlfriend, a house, a motorcycle, a car, and a job running sound for events at South Dakota State University.

Ahhh life.

This is why I like solo roadtrips...

2009-08-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful that I made it home and am no longer sitting in my car. I'd like to make it known that for that final stretch, I was rockin' to Billy Joel. This made me very happy- not so much the act of listening to Billy Joel, but knowing that if there was video footage of me in that last hour or so of my drive, it would be hilarious. Deeply embarrassing, but hilarious. Windows down, stereo as loud as it would go, smoking a cigarette, singing (badly) at the top of my lungs, playing the steering wheel drums, and just having a grand 'ol time.

Needless to say, I am running on adrenaline. I am officially so tired I'm giddy. You know what I'm talkin' about. More tomorrow 'cause right now

I

am off

to la-la-land

Old Maids

2009-08-10T01:50:00.000-07:00

I said I would update, I haven't. But ya know what? I am pretty sure the people who actually read this are the ones I spend all my time with anyway so they know exactly whats been going on. There are no big surprises here.

However, I think I had a good thing going when I was coming up with at least one thing to be grateful for each day. I dont know if you liked it, but I enjoyed doing it, and I'm all about starting that up again.

I have had a really great week. I mean- I don't feel like giving the world a great big hug, but I don't want out so desperately either. Perhaps this is weird, but I feel it most in my eyes. I dont know if you can tell by looking at me, but this last week my eyes have been open and anticipating and actively taking things in. I have had happy eyes as of late- as opposed to being all droopy and cynical or darting around desperately trying to avoid eye contact with others. I can fake a smile, speak happy words, and make it seem legit... but my eyes are (or at least feel) more telling. Yeah, maybe this is weird.

Anyway, I'd like to get back on track with my documentation of what makes me smile for real. Whole body smiles. Things that really truely bring me joy.

Today (yesterday, I guess) I went to Beth's, a very cool cafe less than a block from Lance's house in Greenlake with Kristen, Lance, and Brice. Beth's is known for their 6 or 12 egg omelets. (The four of us split a 12 egg bacon something-or-other omelet. It was delicious, and I am still full a solid 13 hours later) They also have an interesting way of decorating the place... there are stacks of plain white paper, big 'ol packs of crayons, and masking tape to stick your art to the walls wherever you can find a space. I was feeling less than inspired, but Lance and Kristen went all out. Kristen's artwork is what I am going to officially be grateful for... but really, it was the whole day.

Above you see photo documentation of some impromptu art that kept me giggling for quite some time. Thank you Kristen, Lance, and Brice. You guys get an A+.

I am thankful for friends friends friends.

2009-07-20T01:51:00.000-07:00

Its been a busy weekend... update, and multiple photos within a week or so!

Back!

2009-07-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have returned!

The next few days are filling up quickly. Today is for regrouping, organizing, laundry, etc. Tomorrow I'll be back to babysitting, and in the evening my friend Nic and a buddy or two of his will be staying with me and spending the next few days in the Tacoma/Seattle area. There will be appointments here and there, planning for my August trip to Sioux Falls, and catching up with friends.

But for now, coffee.

Adios!

2009-07-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

Well everyone, I am off! Going to spend a few days with the fam, then some more days with my other family.

Happy 4th, catch ya in a couple weeks!

Oh, Mister Sun?

2009-07-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Sun? Mr. Golden Sun?

I'd like to thank you for being around the last few days! I am grateful for your presence, Mr. Sun! You are quite a pal. (If you are not too busy, I would looove it if you could come to Winnipeg with me next week! We'd have a blast, really!)

Thanks again, hope you stick around!

Mmmm

2009-06-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

So lately I have started some new medications. Some days I think I feel better, some days, not so much. Today, is a good day though. One side-effect of these meds is a marked decrease in my appetite. Without giving it much thought, it seems like a fabulous side effect. Weight loss goals finally attainable!! But really, it can be a bit of a bummer. I never really realized how big a role food has in every day life. So many interactions take place around food. That, and I really like food. I would like to eat it thankyouverymuch.

I would love to be thin and toned, but not at the expense of feeling lethargic all the time or on the verge of passing out. So, I've started reading lables. Very closely. It is really something I should have been doing all along, but this kinda forced me into it. I have to get a lot of bang for my buck when I eat. Luna bars and protein shakes have been lifesavers. And today I am grateful for a new discovery...

Veggie burger from Trader Joe's baked in the oven (it was the recommended prep)
Big 'ol dollop of guacamole
Lots of cilantro
Topped off with a couple slices of tomato

We've got protein from the burger without the bad fat of real burgers, good fat in the guac, and maybe a couple vitamins/minerals/whatnot from the rest. And in my humble opinion, it tasted pretty good!

backtracking

2009-06-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

I've missed a few days, please allow me to make amends.

I am grateful for the feel and smell of clean laundry coming right out of the dryer. Heavenly. I am currently enamored with all things Mrs. Meyers Geranium Scent. I have the hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, and dryer sheets. Its a bit on the spendy side, but the stuff lasts forever. I say its definitely worth it.

I am also grateful for my computer. It does what I want it to do, when I want it to do it. It also has an application called, "Photo Booth" which enables me to show you...

How rockin' I am...

What I look when I am feigning interest...

Or that I am actually a twin... who knew?!

If I'm still missing a couple days, I'll leave you on this note. Now it is time to climb into bed (which I am grateful for) and watch some Arrested Development on Hulu (which I am also grateful for). Have a nice evening folks!

Squeeeeeeze

2009-06-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for hugs. Hugs hugs hugs hugs hugs. Then, some more hugs.

Stop Thinking

2009-06-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for Solitaire in all its forms. I really think I am.

I put some thought into it... Am I really grateful for something that keeps my mind busy with absolutely nothing of substance? Can I be grateful for a game so monotonous, so addictive, so brain numbing, and so unrelated to "real life"? Turns out, yep, at this point in my life, I am.

I am grateful for Solitaire because it keeps my mind from wandering places I do not want it to go. No, it is not productive, but it is not destructive either... and THAT is a step in the right direction.

Some of the "distraction techniques" I have encountered do no such thing. Taking a bath just makes me think about things I don't want to think about while I'm all wet. Going on a walk just makes me think about things I don't want to think about while wandering around the city. Talking it out with a friend just makes me think about things I don't want to think about while becoming embarrassed and flustered.

So I am grateful for the boring old Klondike, Spider, Tri Peaks, or whatever. Not productive, but more importantly, not destructive.

joining the club

2009-06-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson has died. The guy gives me the heebie-jeevies, but when it comes right down to it, he was absolutely brilliant.

As much as I respect the man for his artistic contributions, I am grateful for the honest comments left by all those fans (or not) of his.

Quotes yes, recognition given... nope. Deal with it :-)

"Due to the fact that Michael Jackson is 99% plastic he will be melted down into lego blocks so that little kids can play with him for a change"

"Does Michael Jackson being dead make Justin Timberlake the new "King of Pop"?"
"I think not. JT is king of Dick in a box."

"No one will be able to forget him for atleast the next few weeks."

"May you moonwalk with Jesus"

"I wonder if the Catholic Church has honored him with Sainthood yet. He can be the Patron Saint of the Bad Touch."

"sometimes i think we're his own personal dancing chickens."

"Caitlin Cummings has found something positive in the death of Michael Jackson: MTV is actually showing music videos again."

"Say what you will about his personal life, but the man could write a catchy tune and dance his bony little ass off."

For the love of Xanax

2009-06-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for pharmaceuticals.

Good People

2009-06-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for the kindness of strangers.

Yes, there are bad people out there. Yes, I have encountered a few. And yes, because of these people, I am very cautious. I hope for the best and plan for the worst.

If you are a woman and have not read the book, Cunt by Inga Muscio, you should. It can get a bit preachy, but it is worth it. She has some very practical tactics for avoiding/getting rid of unwanted attention- none of which include, "Never go out alone after dark." I find this refreshing.

I am grateful for the kindness of strangers.

I place a very high value on "alone time." I like to experience things on my own. I like to read. I like to listen to music. I like to walk. I like to sit. I like to observe. Odd as it might sound, I like meeting new people.

I find that when I am with people I know, when I am with my friends, I meet very few new people. But when I am on my own, it never fails. I WILL meet someone new. I rarely catch their name, but their stories stick with me and I am forever grateful to them. When I spent a week in California, I met a positively fantastic man at a laundry mat. We spoke for hours, even once our laundry was long since washed, dried, and folded. This time around I met the kindest couple in Port Angeles. They opened a small restaurant in October (She does the cooking, He does the greeting/seating/serving). They were both born in Mexico, her mother was Italian. They have traveled the world together, and were kind enough to share some of their culinary creations with me: a mix of what her mother taught her, traditional Mexican cuisine, and dashes of other flavors she picked up along the way. I came in looking for some free chips and salsa and left stuffed to the brim with both fabulous food and a fresh perspective on All People.

Yes, there are some not-so-nice people out there. But there are also good people. I am simply not willing to let fear keep me from all those extraordinary folks out there.

All this in two days. Imagine.

Change of Scenery

2009-06-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

I'm off on a solo outing this weekend. Heading to the WA coast and working my way up the peninsula.

Catch ya on Monday!

It's a process

2009-06-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for cilantro. I am swooning over it right now primarily because it grew quite nicely for me on my first attempt at starting it from seed. I also love the color, the smell, and taste. I like that I can go out on our patio and pick a bunch, and in a few days there will be even more. I give it a little and in return it gives me great pleasure.

a while ago

more recently

sorry Thursday, I just missed ya.

2009-06-18T23:48:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for songs like this. I adore music. I enjoy a wiiiiide variety of music (as evidenced by the 7,000+ songs on my iTunes), but sometimes it just feels good to listen to a tune on repeat. Today the song was Postcards from Italy by Beirut.

Thanks Mom

2009-06-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for my mom. Sometimes she really pisses me off, and sometimes I really piss her off, but when it comes right down to it, I know she loves me and I love her. And that, my friends, is a really nice feeling.

I'm also very proud of her. Two years and counting... she is one strong woman.

B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

2009-06-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for small gestures and quirky comments that come out of nowhere. This morning I was about to leave and when I grabbed my purse, there was a banana in it. I gave James a quizzical look and he simply stated, "I thought you might need a banana today." I accepted, and he was right. I did need a banana today. Yum.

Do you think this counts as one or three? I'll go with three.
-kind gestures
-odd comments
-bananas

Change of Plans

2009-06-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

I thought about it, and I do not think it is helpful to list negatives. So scratch that.

Today I am grateful for the big 'ol grin and bear hug I got from Thomas. Thank you, Thomas, you made me very happy.

Pretty sure everyone reading this knows who Thomas is, but on the off chance you do not...

This is Thomas

I babysit Thomas. He is four years old, almost five. He is one smart cookie, and his smile is contagious.

Pros and Cons Day 1

2009-06-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

So I have not been in the best of moods as of late. My mom suggested something she once thought was cheesy, stupid, useless, and a waste of time. Turns out I think its cheesy, stupid, useless, and a waste of time, but if it helped her in the long run, why not give it a shot.

Every day, write something down that you are grateful for.

I am changing the rules because at this point I can think of way more things that I hate than I can things I am grateful for. So as a compromise, I am listing one of each. One thing I am grateful for, one thing I loathe. And I will try to be specific. After all, it would be a lie if I said I am grateful for my friends, because honestly, they really piss me off sometimes. Same thing goes for family, a roof over my head, food to eat... sure, great, whatever, but there are things about each of them that drive me crazy. That and its so cliche it makes me sick.

Right now I am having a real hard time staying focused on the positive. As soon as I find something positive I sabotage it by thinking of all its drawbacks. I will try my best not to over-think this little experiment. So here it goes.

I am grateful: for seeing the movie Anvil! The Story of Anvil today. Steve "Lips" Kudlow might be a jerk sometimes, but his attitude toward life is really something to be admired.

I hate: being interrupted. If I am rambling on and on or have lost my focus, jump right in, but when I am trying to tell you something about myself, how I am feeling, what I am thinking... have the courtesy let me finish a sentence.

And thats that. Much less explaining next time. Just the pros and cons of every day.

less than elegant

2009-05-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

In effort to nurture and care for the lovely plants that adorn my apartment, I brought some outside to spray a little "go away bugs" mist on them. This particular bottle has the tendency to miss the actual target and go for walls, shelves, tables, etc. so I played it safe by spraying in a wall/shelf/table-free-zone.

Maybe you have been to my apartment, maybe you have not- but I'm here to tell you, the only wall/shelf/table-free-zone is the ledge surrounding our patio.

This one.

"Go away bugs" spray complete. Mission accompli..... @#$^&*@!

Down goes the fuchsia. *SPLAT!* I do not push it over, I do not even think I brushed against it or slammed a door or exhaled with gusto against it. This plant committed suicide. ON MY WATCH. So I forgot to water it every once in a while, I didn't sing it songs, and I might have let the bugs go a little too far. But plant suicide? Common!!!

Despite my medical training and rapid response, the fuchsia had some seriously damaged appendages. I'm not much of a surgeon, so I amputated.

Me: "Branches? Who needs branches!? Not you little guy!"
Plant: "WTF, first you try to kill me, now you chop off my limbs?! Bitch!"
Me: "Its okay, its okay. I'll put you outside where you can get some sun."
Plant: "Are you kidding me? I like SHADE lady, SHADE. Do you even know how cold it gets at night? It stinks out here, and its windy. I bet you wont even remember I'm out here."
Me: "Suuurrrreee I will little guy, hope your arms grow back!! Best of luck!"

So I was in an amputating mood. Cut cut cut. Remember how hard it was not to cut all of Barbie's hair off? Or how good it felt when you did it anyway? Remember how good it feels to snip snip snip away at a piece of construction paper, unfold, and reveal a snowflake? Or slice into a perfectly prepared grilled cheese sandwich? Good times.

I have three fuchsias. All were thriving. I hacked two to bits, and left a third untouched. My rationale? If the two dismembered plants thrive and grow to be healthy, full, and magnificent spectacles then they can rub it in the other leggy, droopy plant's face (it always feels good to be better than someone else, right?). If they turn brown, crisp up, and shrivel, then point their mangy little tendrils at me, at least I will have one healthy plant to show off to them. (SEE, I cared a little bit! One survived my masochistic ways!)

Dismembered limbs.

The one that escaped unscathed.

Wish these plants luck- they need it.

I dont know what we're yelling about!!!!!

2009-05-17T21:43:00.000-07:00

I cannot say for sure, but I think the world might be a better place if people would whisper or speak softly when they would like to be heard.

Enough yelling. Enough. You do not need to raise your voice to be heard. I hear you. Believe me, I hear you. If what you have to say is so important that you feel the need to shout, just stop and reflect for a moment. Think about it. Still need to scream in order to get your message across? Fuck it. Fine. But I'm not listening.

What do you think?

2009-05-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

So I was watching a movie with Mer the other night and I said, "dude, that guy looks like my grandpa."

After looking up photos of both my grandfather and Mr.Ackland I can say that yes, they do look sort of alike. I can also say that Mr. Ackland looks pretty much identical to every single "grandpa" I've ever met.

Grandpa Brunick

Joss Ackland

And you guessed it folks, that adorable blond bombshell in the arms Mr. Brunick? Yours Truly!

Thanks Shannon!!

2009-05-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce you to my new bicycle, graciously donated to me by the lovely Miss Shannon. Tomorrow I'll walk it down to the bike shop next to the apartment to see if they can't help me get the tires in working order and maybe clean it up a bit.

Seriously, how rad is this bike!?

growth

2009-05-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

Fuchsias:
A couple months ago...

And now.

Cilantro:

A while ago...

And now.

Basil:

Three/Four weeks ago...

And now.

What can I say, I'm giddy!

they call me mellow yellow

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

So a while back, about the time I was doing all that overreacting to James heading to Thailand, I had a bad day. A crabby, angry, poor poor me, I'm-going-to-sit-right-here-and-pout day.

Thankfully, Mer, being the brave woman she is, asked if I would like to go to Lance's with her. I probably snapped at her and grumbled some more, but I rounded up what was left of a bottle of vodka and took her up on the offer. Bless her soul! I was still feeling quite sour, but when we got there I tried hard to turn off "bitch mode" and go into "I'm fine, really, just tired mode." It may or may not have worked ("may not" being more likely).

Lance stepped up and escorted me outside to smoke a cigarette. And now it was time for booze.

Ladies and gentlemen, a discovery was about to be made. A dangerous yet oh-so-fabulous discovery. Citrus and starch. Lemon and potato. Happiness in a shot glass. *A healthy squeeze of fresh lemon juice topped with an even healthier portion of vodka.*

This drink deserved a name. Brainstorming commenced.

Mellow Yellow was born.

I've said it before, but I want to say it again. I have wonderful friends. While Mellow Yellow didn't hurt in lifting my spirits, it was Mer and Lance that brought me out of my funk. They have a way of just knowing what I need. Aside from creating a delicious drink, Lance and I did some kitchen gardening- planting some basil/chive/cilantro/parsley seeds. Aside from watching out for me, getting me out of the house, and driving around, Mer got me some flowers, a rockin' card, and picked up my cluttered room for me.

Who does that!?

^ THESE GUYS ^

The Snozzberries taste like Snozzberries!

2009-04-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

The cilantro tastes like cilantro!

Okay, I'm a dork.
But my cilantro seedlings are actually beginning to smell, look, and taste like.... *gasp!*.... cilantro! Hooray!

note the itsy bitsy teeny tiny center leaf if you are unconvinced

And the verdict on the other seedlings?

Chives- tossed. They were looking good then got all tall and gangly, started tipping over, and got some kind of mold/fungus thing going on in the soil. Not worth the effort.

Rosemary- I read after I had started a few that it is damned near impossible to start from seed. And since they happened to be in the same little container as the floppy chives, I just canned the whole batch.

Lemon Basil- not dead yet.

Sweet Basil- also not dead yet, and a few brave souls are living on the patio. They aren't growing like crazy, but then again, I tend to sit and stare at them... kinda like waiting for water to boil... I have a feeling I just need to walk away and all will be fine.

a while ago

...and after staring (and perhaps breathing heavily upon) for a couple weeks.

So yes, I get a little too excited about this... but all in all it is leading to some good insight.

-I am ABLE to do new things
-I ENJOY doing new things
-I am ABLE to ENJOY.

I will chalk this up to a small step in the right direction.

blah blah blah

2009-04-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

Turns out I overreacted. (imagine!)

James is not "moving" to Thailand as I so enthusiastically proclaimed earlier. In truth, he will only be there for about 30 days.

A few days after James returns to the states, my friend Fritz will be in town, and its off to Rainier to hike/camp/grill/etc.

Then it is very possible that I will be the one leaving to spend some time with the Fam. The length of this endeavor is yet to be determined, but it will end promptly on July 9, at which time I will be in WINNIPEG.

As our adventure in Winnipeg comes to a close, James may (most likely) or may not (less likely) join his "brother"/"cousin"/"twin" at his farm for a while.

I wasnt joking about them being twins. Not every day you find a James look-alike!

At this point, I'll be back in Tacoma, hosting a fabulous friend of mine, Nic. As soon as things return to normal... BAM!

Returning to Sioux Falls mid-August for Caitlin's wedding!

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen. A brief synopsis of my summer. Not as lonely as I thought.

Three cheers for summer!

Bummed.

2009-04-15T00:19:00.000-07:00

Just bummed.
Sad events.

Brad Odens
and
Sarah Buller

In both cases, non-sense. In both cases, people should be alive.

On a selfish bummer note,

Thailand.
British Colombia.
Australia.

Maybe I'll meet you somewhere in the middle, James.

My Bens

2009-04-08T22:20:00.001-07:00

I have two favorite Bens. One, of the "MC" type, another of the "Z" variety. MC will be in my neck of the woods as of tomorrow evening, so I have gone all sentimental and found photos of the man.

I would include captions, but all you need to know is that MC is...

1) a Jedi

2) friends with ninjas

3) has a 'lil somethin in common with Steve Martin

and...
4) an intellectual

And because I love both of my Bens so so so so much, a photo of us all.

come one, come all

2009-04-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

We rearranged. (Whenever Lance comes over I put him to work... be it moving furniture, getting the hookah going, dealing with a plethora of plastic bags, washing dishes...)

Living room then.

Now:

Dining room Then:

Dining Room Now:

Okay so the pictures aren't telling the most accurate story but rest assured, this is a far superior layout. Living room: sofa isn't dividing the room anymore. Instead you can open up the window and read from it... and everyone can see the TV if need be. Dining room: you can actually sit at the table and visit with people in the kitchen, and use the window for light. And plants are thriving. (The place is not a jungle yet, which I intend to turn my place into... once I have North or South facing windows. This E/W business is maddening.)

Summary, come visit. Give me ideas. Your presence alone will make it feel less of an apartment and more like a home.

For my sanity

2009-04-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

On an average day, keep track of what you eat. Not only what, but how much. And please, please... if only for my peace of mind... be honest. We are talking an average day. Not the day you woke up to discover you had to do a dance to get your jeans on and only ate a salad with no dressing and two potato chips because you couldn't resist. I'm talking an average day, plus drinks. (and all those random trips to the fridge count... the glass of milk, the big mouthfuls of cold leftovers, a couple slices of sandwich meat, those precious oreos on the verge of becoming stale...)

Anyone? Anyone get less than 2,000?

I feel like I eat relatively healthy food with the (big) exception of alcohol. But I get hungry, and I eat huge portions of "good" food. Add in my drink(s) of choice, and *surprise!!!* I'm eating more than I burn.

For heavens sake, a quarter cup of plain old almonds (which is supposed to be healthy and good and blah blah blah) is 205 calories, and two IPAs (which are excellent for stress relief and mental health blah blah blah) are 460. I am nearing 700 calories in my day and I haven't even had a friggin meal. This makes me want to make it six brews, pop a multi, and call it a day.

But I have resisted the temptation. I've been well behaved for the last week or so, calorie wise, and I can tell. I do not own a scale, but I look less pregnant when I exhale. Kudos to me!

But I know its only a matter of time before I polish off that box of Mac'n'cheese, half a pizza, big bowl'o'Pho, spring roll, leftover Thai, bag-o-kettle chips, and a double portion of Ben&Jerrys Phish Food. And thats if I forget to eat breakfast! *sigh*

I am trying, it is working, but this lack of sustenance is making me irritable. Bear with me folks, I doubt it'll last long.

Three cheers for all those hours before noon!

2009-03-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

I enjoy mornings. I am a morning person.

On an ideal day, I enjoy watching the sun rise. I enjoy the slow, but purposeful pace of the morning. I like to wake as the sun is rising- give myself a few minutes to process the fact that I am no longer sleeping, and make my way out to the coffee maker. I like to make (and eat) breakfast. I like to read the "paper" (since I do not subscribe to a paper, I scope out the online periodicals. Gotta be honest here.) I like to take my time in the shower. I like to enjoy the quality of light that is "dawn."

This video depicts my ideal morning, including ideal birds.

If I am running at a faster yet leisurely pace, I like to stop Satellite or (at least previously) Blackwater, pick up a drip or an americano and the paper (real, this time) and take my coffee drinking/news reading elsewhere.

This video depicts my ACTUAL morning, including non-fiction birds. For real, (not) this (exact) woodpecker lives on our rooftop. He frequents my fireplace around 7:30. E.V.E.R.Y. D.A.Y.

Fast pace = Out of bed, curtains open (it is probably light out by now), coffee on, shower taken, coffee poured, find the keys (they are always hiding on days like this), out the door.

Even faster? Shove a Diet Coke in the purse and hope nobody notices (or cares) that I smell like yesterday's funk.

No matter the pace, I am glad to be up.

BUT, the best mornings of all are the ones I'm not alone.

Same $h!t, different day.

2009-03-16T21:59:00.000-07:00

I rearranged my room this week. It is a lovely change! What a difference swapping out a few key pieces of furniture makes.

I still have some qualms. The major issue is the big empty wall above my bed. I lack the funds for anything real cool. I've oogled blik, I've paced back and forth, back and forth in stores such as Pier 1, World Market, and the like. But I just cant justify spending more than $50 or so, and the cool stuff just costs more than that. (As it should, I suppose)

And this is what throws me... I could make my own art. I loved what Steven did with coffee mugs and coffee on a simple sheet of paper. Reminds me of this, but the cost of making it presentable (canvass? frame? all the shit you need to do these two things?) blows my mind. If I could just tack a sheet of printer paper to my wall I would be good. But that just doesnt work for me.

Enjoy the pretty flowers. Be kind and do not zoom in, they are only lovely from a distance. :)

A springtime mystery

2009-03-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when one stores clean sheets and clean blankets in a clean box, they come out smelling all weird? What IS that smell? Nothing smells quite like linen coming out of storage.

Sheet swap! I am giving the snow a good 'ol "fuck you" by storing the jersey knit.

Hope everyone is bringing in Spring with as much enthusiasm as I.

Bathroom fun

2009-03-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

Look out! Its an octopus!

I love dry erase markers. Why dont I use them more often?

s.t.o.p m.o.t.i.o.n

2009-02-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

Saw this incredible video, had to share it.

What was THAT?

2009-02-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

So I was in my room, watching the final episode of Heroes Season 1, and I hear a funny noise. I attributed it to Spencer playing video games in our living room. A few minutes later, Mer knocked on my door.

Mer: "Did you hear that? I think there is a woodpecker in our chimney!"
Me: "THATS what that was?" leaps from bed to living room in a single bound, the noise returns "Holy @$%&"
Mer: "Yeah I've heard it a few times now. I dont think it can get in, but we had a bird get in our house once... it was not a fun situation." woodpecker noises
Me: "Lets block the fireplace with cardboard or something." more woodpecker noises (loud ones, I might add)

Long story short. We found out that our apartment's office is not open on Sundays, we have new neighbors (who also heard the woodpecker), our fireplace is now surrounded by cardboard, and tonight I will be dreaming of birds bent on jack-hammering their way into my room.

The bird went away... we think he was actually on roof just pecking at the top part of the chimney... but DAMN am I glad Mer was around to help me investigate that noise. Otherwise, I probably would have freaked out. More than I am freaking out right now. Yikes. Never thought I was afraid of woodpeckers!

Zach

2009-02-19T23:54:00.001-08:00

I do not know where these thoughts are coming from or why they are hitting me so hard lately... I cannot think of a single trigger. But no matter the origin, I am feeling this drive to write about it.

I cannot stop thinking about Zach. Zach was a friend of mine, not best friends by any means, but a friend nonetheless. He died around Christmas time last year (as in mid-late Dec. 2007) and for some reason I've just been missing him like crazy lately.

This man gave the best hugs. I have some pretty good huggers in my life but Zach easily made the top three, he might have even been number one. Its hard to say. Anyway, on a particularly rough day, Zach was there for me and we just hugged it out.

It had been a while since I saw him, but about a week before he died I saw him on campus. He saw me too, but we were far enough away that neither of us were sure, and we were both en route to different destinations. We caught up on facebook after our brush with one another and decided to meet for lunch sometime after Christmas break. It was not to be so.

Crazy and I went to his funeral. It was fitting, it felt right... it was done like it should have been. But I still miss him . Lots.

V-day

2009-02-14T00:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!

Jayne made this card for me... yeah, made, as in created it. Thank you so much, Jayne.

Anyway, I've been chatting with Brad, so the actual update is, um... non-existent. But here are the pictures! Enjoy, and Happy Valentines Day!!

Procrastination- Kara style

2009-02-08T17:30:00.001-08:00

How RAD is this photo!? I like to check out This Week in Pictures on Telegraph.co.uk on a regular basis (this is where I found the Rainier photo). Its fun to see what is going on around the world, and its less brain-straining than reading an actual newspaper. Really, I try to keep up to date on what is happening around the world, but I usually end up in the "weird news" sections or giggling at the News in Brief section of the Onion.

Another recent discovery which left me laughing out loud for a solid hour is CakeWrecks. Man oh man. You must check out the Flash Drive one.

Indexed is a fun site-

You get the idea.

And last but not least- I've been looking at bicycles. At this point I have not seriously looked, so of course the bikes I want (pictured below- Felt Cafe Series) are way out of my price range. But seriously, HOW COOL are these bikes!?

Thats all for now folks, hope this finds you well.

sigh

2009-02-02T21:47:00.000-08:00

I've had a lovely night. Nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary, it was just nice. Made dinner with Mer and Spencer (rather, Mer made dinner for Spencer and I) and James was able to stop by for about an hour. We chatted for a long time, Mer and I drank wine. James took off, Mer and Spencer went down to Olympia to watch Heros. I get to catch up on the day's headlines + whatever the Onion or the Colbert Report has to say.

While I dont often write about shitty days I've had, I want it documented that today was a good one. Sometimes on those crappy days its hard to recall with much accuracy the days that went just a-okay. So yes, today, has been a good day.

And a song to top it all off. Elton John- Tiny Dancer

Mahna Mahna

2009-01-29T17:23:00.000-08:00

I've had this song stuck in my head for days. The least I can do to share it with you so we can go crazy together!

Really!?

2009-01-28T23:45:00.000-08:00

Really. Clint Eastwood.

Clint. Eastwood.

Clint Eastwood was born May 31st, 1930.

Nineteen.... THIRTY. It is 2009. That makes a man coming right up on 80 years old. I guess I wasn't off by THAT much, but I really thought he was in his early 70's rather than later.

My theory on age: When you are young, it matters, and when you are old, it matters. 10 vs 20: big difference. 20 vs. 30, the gap is getting smaller. 30 vs 40, 40 vs 50, no major gap to speak of. 60 vs 70? 70 vs. 80.... the gap is widening again.

Not as eloquently put as I wished, but you get the idea.

I have seen 80 year olds... Clint Eastwood doesn't fit my paradigm. Perhaps I need a new one!

sidetracked

2009-01-27T20:26:00.000-08:00

I dig this site, I've been perusing for about an hour now!

"So Hip it Hurts"

Road Trip

2009-01-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Just got back from a lovely trip to Portland with Lance. I was hoping to take a bunch of pictures- or at least a few- but ended up with none. So words will have to suffice.

We took off Saturday morning and made a bee-line to Ben, Ben, Steven, and Laurent's place near Woodstock and 52nd. I thought I remembered how to get there, but I sure am glad Lance had his iPhone! We said our hellos and not thirty minutes later, Steven's parents arrived. LOVE these two. I have spent at least two Thanksgivings with Steven's family, but this was the first time Lance had met them. Steven's mom has a heavy German accent and her energy puts mine to shame, his dad is beer-connoisseur-extraordinaire, and both are some of the kindest folks around. Ben MC, Lance, Shannon, Steven, Mr.&Mrs. Donovan, and I went to Henry's for Happy Hour appetizers and drinks. Fantastic food, delicious drinks, good company... all for the reasonable price of zero dollars thanks to the generosity of parents. Gotta love it. We made our way over to Powels, then headed back to the house to regroup before a night out.

Um, I'm going to finish this post in a bit. I'll go ahead and post what I have because I'm not figuring out the draft thing right at the moment!

January

2009-01-19T18:58:00.001-08:00

Well, I had this big elaborate blog to post... then I read it. I am such a bore! I couldn't even finish reading it and I wrote the thing.

Anyway, I was talking about where I was a year ago, and where I am today (Summary: last year=Parkland, this year=University Place). But as far as where I stand life-wise, I found a better way to illustrate.

Apparently, I havent really changed that much since I was one and a half.

My room is still a mess, I still don't like the cold, I still like reading (especially by the fireplace), and I still love shoes. (Though I am happy to say my tastes have moved from moon boots to cute heels)

Hope this finds you well. More soon.

fun with photos

2009-01-15T22:37:00.001-08:00

I approve!

2009-01-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

This is a music video for "The Show" by Lenka. Cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI8Ysr1BgmQ

Success!

2009-01-14T22:46:00.000-08:00

Windows has been installed.

I think I deserve a gold star!

Whoever said, "ya know, we should have two operating systems... and make them completely incompatible." YOU SIR OR MADAM, deserve two thumbs DOWN. Shame on you for making my evening unpleasant. Tsk Tsk.

Anyway, I made it through today. Go Me.

Computer Savvy? Not I.

2009-01-14T20:12:00.000-08:00

A drink update in case you were curious...

I went damn near my entire Christmas break sans alcohol. (23rd of December through the 4th of January = 13 v-e-r-y l-o-n-g d-a-y-s) This is an accomplishment, my friends. It is. It is. Nearly two whole weeks without so much as a shot. Totally, completely, absolutly, perfectly, downright SOBER as I brought in the New Year. (This turned out to be one of the smarter decisions I have made in this lifetime).

Once I got back to Tacoma, I successfully abstained for about 24 hours, then split a bottle of wine with Mer and Spencer. True to "Kara Logic," I took that as failure and figured, what the hell, already fucked that one up, whats another drink?

So yes, I had a beer with Mer this evening, and went back to the apartment to find.... WindowsXP on my doorstep. Brought it indoors and immediately poured myself a drink. Anything computer-related and I immediately admit defeat. Its not even a good fight, I just hang my head and give my white flag a half-assed flutter. I hate dealing with this stuff.

Yep, here I am. Desperately calling my brother,
Me: "It says I should back up the important information on my computer before I do anything else... is that really important?"
Mike: "If you have anything important on your computer, yeah, its important."
Me: "Shit, well, how do I do that."
Mike: *sigh*

Just me... drinking my drink, backing up my HD, installing Windows. (And if the gods give me the green light, I will even have a functioning printer by the end of the week.)

Here goes nothing, wish me luck!

Thanks everybody

2009-01-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

Eck, so, I wanted to take some new pictures- but light is scarce in the apartment. And the light I ended up using... the flash... is friggin scary and intense. You'll get the idea though. Lance gave me a beautiful vase (very similar to the one on the current first page of DesignSponge. I feel so "in" haha)

and Jayne gave me these stunning bone china tea light holders (a while ago). Very pretty.

And my parents gave me a new computer... hooray!!! And I bought myself some flowers from Trader Joe's. Go me.

Hope this finds everyone well.

An Image

2009-01-07T23:10:00.000-08:00

"It is rumored that maraschino cherries are prepared with a chemical resembling formaldehyde, thus can neither be assimilated nor eliminated but must ride in the baggage rack of the bowels for a lifetime, like the seabags of the Flying Dutchman. If that is the case, and one is prepared to believe the worst of maraschino cherries, looking, as they do, as if they were picked in the orchards of Pluto; as if they were carved out of spoiled neon; as if they were vegetable visitors from the twenty-third century, beamed here to make us appreciate our old-fashioned beets; if it is true, then we could say that Alobar and Kudra were maraschino cherries lodged in the tubes of history's paunch."

-Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins

Bread

2009-01-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

I made bread tonight! All by myself (we will just set aside those three calls to my mom)! Real bread. With yeast. And kneading!

It smells so good.

And tastes really good!

But now what? I had some, now I have a ton left, and it will never be as good as it is right now. What do you even DO with bread? I'm not a big bread person. I'd rather have all the stuff that goes ON bread.... like cheese and meat and veggies.

Anyway, I am proud of myself.

PS

If you need a button sewn on, I'm your woman. Thats right. I sew buttons. And you thought you knew me.

Hooorayyy!!!!

2009-01-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

The saga is over! My camera battery charger has arrived! I can once again take pictures with my own camera. Kind of makes me feel like Riverdancing.

More soon.

Happy Holidays

2009-01-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

"What? Its already January 3, 2009? Whoops." says the ghost of Kara Past.

Well, I still wish everyone a very Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year

Heres to a new year, full of old photos... and hopefully some new ones soon.

Sound like me?

2008-12-25T17:55:00.000-08:00

Just took a little personality test thing. I'm a total sucker for this kind of thing. If you are too, here ya go. http://www. 9types. com/newtest/homepage. actual. html

The Peacemaker (the Nine)

Peacemakers are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

* If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure.
* I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advatage of this.
* Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit.
* Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally.
* Ask me questions to help me get clear.
* Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery.
* Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings.
* I like a good discussion but not a confrontation.
* Let me know you like what I've done or said.
* Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life.

What I Like About Being a Nine

* being nonjudgmental and accepting
* caring for and being concerned about others
* being able to relax and have a good time
* knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
* my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
* my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
* being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being a Nine

* being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
* being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
* being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
* being confused about what I really want
* caring too much about what others will think of me
* not being listened to or taken seriously

Nines as Children Often

* feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant
* tune out a lot, especially when others argue
* are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Nines as Parents

* are supportive, kind, and warm
* are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Feeling small

2008-12-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

Feeling small, and stealing idea's from Jayne's blog.

I took a trip to Northern California not long after I graduated. (Which was a year ago now. My my!) I love the Redwoods for so many reasons. I went by myself, which meant, quiet.

Quiet.

Total. Complete. Quiet.

For a while, the only time I was alone was when I was in my car. I would drive and drive and drive, just to be by myself. And while I could turn off the radio and find an isolated road, it was not... quiet. Take a hike into the forest? Quiet. I am melting a little just thinking about it. silence.

And it is so BIG. The ocean is so big. The trees are big, the sky is big, the mountains are big. Nature does a beautiful job of putting one back in ones place. "You think your problems are important? Think again." (For example, the photo below. You see the peninsula of sand. On the bottom left side of the main part of the peninsula you see a darkened area. Not a shadow, but seals. The little sandy area this side of the peninsula... boulder at the point... there are people on both sides, fishing.) The world is big. Real big.

And we are but a speck in time. Here is some petrified wood.

Have I mentioned that small feeling? I could easily walk into this tree without ducking. I am 5'6. How neat.

Alone time is not given enough credit. True quiet is underappreciated. Feared actually. Who wants a lull in the conversation?

I do.

Congratulations!

2008-12-13T22:40:00.000-08:00

My Dearest Lance,

Congratulations! You passed PLU!

Sometimes you were up,

Sometimes, you were down.

But we all know how talented you are,

So there was never any doubt.

Love you lots, and job well done my friend.

Because... he ties the antlers together... with tape.

2008-12-03T23:19:00.000-08:00

And there you have it.

Happy holidays everyone!

Bristle Bots

2008-12-01T18:15:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure why I found this so hilarious, but I did. I had a video posted, but it was large and obtrusive and blurry, so here is a nice, neat link to the bristle bots. (When viewing the bot in action, I like to mentally add an array of sound effects... *weeeeeeee!!* or *vrooooom- beep beep!* for example. Don't be afraid to be creative!)

Let me tell you a story

2008-12-01T00:22:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 26, 2008. I am sprawled out on the living room floor trying to figure out an easy-yet-delicious Thanksgiving meal for two. I am on the phone with Joel. "What is the difference between 'salted' and 'unsalted' butter?" and "You really don't think stuffing pairs well with Thai-style beef or Mandarin Sole?" Fine. Steak and potatoes it is. I've got to figure out a way to haul all this stuff up to Mt.Rainier anyway. James and I are going to be kicking it at one of his client's cabin/houses for the holiday.

I get a call. It's James. No more cabin in the woods. Would have been cool to know before now, but, I'm calm. Calmer than you are. Calmer than you are.

I am at the grocery store, on the phone with my mom. "What the hell is 'light cream'? There is whipping cream, light whipping cream, half and half, half cream half light cream, heavy cream, dense cream, fluffy cream, yo mama's cream…. no goddamned 'light cream'." Hold on, I've got a call.

Its Caitlin! Really? Caitlin?

Long story short, I get to be a bridesmaid. ☺

Shit… "Mom? You still there? Frozen green beans are fine right? You just what… throw 'em in some boiling water for a bit right? Mom? Mom, how do I bake a potato? It looks easy, but do I wrap it in something? Rub anything on it? How hot? How long? I don’t have any toothpicks… will a chopstick work? Wait, different recipe…what does 'sift ingredients together' mean? I don't have anything to 'sift' with. All I remember is that Mrs. Mahacheck said sifting is very important. She also said that nobody wants green muffins, so fold gently. I fucking hate cooking."

New call. "Lance? Lets get drunk. I'll make you dessert."

Thursday, November 27, 2008. Thanksgiving day. Hung over. Shower: check. Teeth brushed: check. Coffee: check. To be totally honest with you, I don't even know what I did the first half of the day. Whatever. James came by! We. Sat. And. Did. Nothing.

Time for action. Satellite Coffee: open Thanksgiving day from 10-2. Free French press and cookies: check. Walk in Wrights Park: check.

Now it gets exciting. Hold on to your shorts ladies and gentlemen. What I am about to say will surely blow your minds.

We….went…to…a… movie!!

No really, it was fun. I recommend the flick. Australia. (http://www.australiamovie.com/) I fell out of love with Nichole Kidman, back in love, out of love, back in love… I think I still love her. I do. I love the woman. Add her to my "Celebrity 'TO DO' list."

Time to eat. Now. I am not sure if it is possible for the average human being to mess up green beans. I, Kara Ann Gjesdal, managed to accomplish just this task. I will just say that the salt came out MUCH faster and in FAR greater quantities than I had anticipated. We joked that if you imagined them to be green bean flavored pretzels, they would still be too salty.

We finished our dinner, we conversed. I started to get a bit… antsy. I was having difficulty finishing sentences. I could not focus. On anything. At all. My eyes darted, my fingers moved without me telling them to. I began to panic.

I kicked James out. ("Happy Thanksgiving, hope you had a lovely time, and now you need to leave.")

I closed the door behind him, hit the floor, cried for about 1 minute, had a full fledged anxiety attack, cried for another minute, took a walk, took a bath, and melted into bed.

The rest of my day was uneventful. As was the rest of my weekend. Uneventful in a fabulous way. I LIKE uneventful. I did not get food poisoning, I did not get in a fight with anyone, I did not cut myself while shaving, I did not get trampled by the black Friday crowds.

Yaaayyyyy ME

Sleevefacing

2008-11-30T21:04:00.001-08:00

Defeat boredom. Sleeveface.

my friends are cooler than yours...

2008-11-30T14:53:00.000-08:00

Brad is moving to Fernie, BC in January to become a ski bum. (If I liked skiing, I'd be jealous!)

Anyway, I didn't know much about the place so I did some research and thought I'd post some photos of the place.

future Brad in red

If he keeps his word and does indeed keep his blog current, you can read about his adventures at OneGoAround.

Best of luck to you Brad!

On a lighter note

2008-11-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

Artist Jen Stark

I am a fan, and here is her website!

http://www.jenstark.com/

In case you haven't had time to check the headlines

2008-11-30T00:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas is supposed to be a time of happiness, joy, and kindness.

A time to love one another.

How do we show our love? Do we offer hugs all around? Write heart-felt letters of appreciation? Do we pause to really listen to what is going on in our loved ones lives? Do we even ask what our friends and family truly want?

Nope.

We buy things for people. Yep, we buy shit, wrap it up, and say "Merry Christmas! Aren't I just fabulous for buying you all this STUFF??" And when do we buy this shit? When it as cheap as fucking possible… Black Friday. *shakes head in disbelief* Deals deals deals.

And in the spirit of giving, THIS is what happens. A man is killed.

A MAN. IS KILLED.

Dead. A man is dead. A man was TRAMPLED. He was not gunned down by terrorists, not executed for his crimes, not a victim of a natural disaster. A man was killed by frenzied assholes trying to buy cheap shit for their relatives.

what
the
fuck

A man is dead. For what? For what.

In other news...

Taj Mahal Hotel

183 people are dead, Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil has submitted his resignation, Asif Ali Zardari is cooperating, Bush says, "Terror will not have the final word."

I see, I read, I do not understand.

Just watched...

2008-11-29T20:55:00.000-08:00

Screamers. Which reminded me of watching...
Hotel Rwanda, which reminded me of the book....
A Long Way Gone.

Makes me sick.

blah.

2008-11-21T18:17:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling under the weather lately. Head cold, body aches, etc. etc. I have been taking good care of myself though and have dedicated many, many hours of the day to sleeping or watching episodes of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia or The Office on Hulu. What a lifesaver. Instant. Free. Hilarious.

Another reason for the sparse posts: I am still without a camera. I lost my camera's battery charger. Bought a new one. Bought the wrong one. Returned it. Got a new battery. Ordered the right charger. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. What a pain in the behind. So here is the equation. No camera+ nausea= no new posts.

Hope everyone is doing well. And to all you Sioux Falls folk, I will see you Dec. 22nd.

Oh yeah... that.

2008-11-09T18:24:00.001-08:00

Do you think my irritation with clutter could have anything to do with the fact that I want my house to look something like this?

Where is everything? I do not know, but I want in on this realm of existence.

Clutter

2008-11-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

I have a few "hoarders" in my life. I tend to scoff rudely, roll my eyes, and say, "what on earth are you ever going to use this for?" or "my lord, this box of muffin mix expired ten years ago!"

But recently I have found that I am also quite the hoarder.

*hangs head in shame, a single tear falls in slow motion*

I have many, many cords. Extension cords, ethernet cords, cords to connect my iPod to car, camera to computer, phone to wall, DVD player to TV, speakers to subwoofers, cords cords cords cords cords. I have a box of cords labeled "Mystery Cords." My logic? If I have the cord, I must need it. Why else would I have it? Better hang on to 'em.

I also have an abundance of old notes, exams, papers, research, etc. dating back to my freshman year of high school. Now, I have but one small folder of high school papers, and I keep those solely for the purpose of proving to myself that I have indeed, become a better writer. But all those other papers? They are just hard to let go of I guess.

But really what has gotten on my nerves lately is the clutter. Just stuff that doesn't really have a place. Spare keys. CD cases. Manuals. Notebooks. Index cards. Blank CD's. The phone book. Travel packs of Kleenex. That stupid bowling ball I stole a few years back. Unused picture frames.

I blame my failure to eliminate this mess on my apartment and its furnishing. The only enclosed, hidden space we have is in the kitchen. Those hiding spaces are already being put to use housing (imagine this...) dishes and food. Other than that, open bookshelves, open desk, open everything. All I own is in plain view.

Anyway, I am getting bored with this post. My apologies to the boredom I am causing those reading.

Stupid clutter.

Better late than never

2008-11-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

This was to be the first year in the history of Me that I did not carve a pumpkin. So sad. But Lance saved me by providing an evening of "what should we do?" "I dont know, what do you want to do?". He just so happened to have a pumpkin just begging to be turned into a ghoulish face. We obliged.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

Some old photos for your enjoyment.

Where's Waldo and Afro Man. (Ben and Steven)

Carving pumpkins and smoking hookah at the Castle

More pumpkin carving at the Castle

One of my favorite photos ever, with two of my favorite girls. From left to right: sexy ninja, sexy cop, sexy truck driver. Like my sword made of cardboard and tin foil? heck yes.

This was taken at the tarp party... remember that? Oh goodness. Chris was dressed as a Mormon. Was this freshman year??

Hello, Tulip

2008-10-26T21:03:00.001-07:00

POP QUIZ

2008-10-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

True or False?

The following items were all found in the glove box of Kara's car.

- 1 book on tape: On The Road by Kerouac
- 5 CDs
- 1 tape: Top Gun soundtrack
- 4 mystery cords
- 1 wallet
- 2 keychains + house key labeled "Doug's Shack"
- 3 lighters
- a grip of individually packaged eye drops
- 4 dead batteries
- 1 alcohol swab
- 1 mini-bottle lens cleaner
- 2 headbands
- 4 barrettes
- 1 tweezer
- 1 nail clipper
- 1 cuticle trimmer
- 5 1/2 pairs of earrings
- 3 rings
- 1 piece of driftwood
- 2 bottles perfume
- 2 bottles room spray
- 1 tube shampoo
- 1 lower tray teeth whitening strip
- 1 fork, 1 spoon
- 1 penny

Times up!!

If you answered "True," you get an A for the day! Congratulations!
If you answered "False," sorry, you fail. Better luck next time.

Gossip

2008-10-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Always seems to be a bit of drama around here in the neighbor department. I suppose this is to be expected when living in such close quarters with such an array of families and individuals. Really makes one appreciate "normal people."

As I have alluded to before, we have an odd old man upstairs, Lee. Nothing new with him- he has been avoiding me ever since we had an extremely awkward conversation. (He asked me to call and wish a young, male relative of his Happy Birthday whose girlfriend just broke up with him. Lee thought it only appropriate to have a young, female neighbor call and try to make him feel better on his birthday. I declined. He was not pleased.) I know the old guy is lonely, but I can't help but wonder if maybe he is lonely for a reason...

Downstairs we have a young couple with a little girl who will be two years old in a few months. Their whole situation just breaks my heart. Mom and Dad obviously do not get along with one another, as evidenced by their endless screaming matches. When they fight, the little one gets ignored... or yelled at. Often not a very happy environment down there. Soon Mom and Daughter are moving out. I wish them all the best, especially this little cutie you see here.

All in all I really like this apartment. Other than directly above and directly below the people are nice and appear to be functional, respectable members of society. Honestly I don't see too much of them. Meredith and Spencer have been around more often since Mer is back in school (Go Mer Go! You are almost finished!). Its great having them around. Good people.

Beautiful

2008-10-24T17:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jayne for the beautiful flowers. Every time I look at them they seem to have changed and somehow become even more spectacular.

Check out the use of thistle. Such unexpected texture and color. Awesome.

Again, thanks so much. I am a very lucky gal.

T-Town

2008-10-22T22:34:00.001-07:00

Twix

2008-10-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

I am in line at Target.

Very important purchases to be made: One spray bottle of Goo Gone. One bottle of Dove "Shine" shampoo. One box of Target brand NyQuil softgels. One anonymous bottle of wine with a cool label from the "$12 and under" section.

I anticipate these purchases will make for a good day.

Then, I see it. I see the golden wrapper. The bold, red letters shouting, "Buy Me! Eat Me! Love Me!"

I respond.

"Okay."

Per my request, the Twix bar makes itself comfortable amongst one bottle of "fresh citrus scent", one bottle of "repairing serum", one box of "green death", and one bottle of "pineapple, fresh peach, lemon zest, and mango"

I am tempted to devour my entire shopping bag. If the item does not taste yummy or smell yummy or look yummy, it at least has the potential to knock me out for the evening.

I am home. I have all but forgotten my Twix impulse buy. I see it. I get googley eyed. I eat it in about 4 seconds.

I am transported.

I am in South Dakota. Specifically, rural South Dakota, near Mitchell, (Stickney? Mt.Vernon?) and even nearer Gary's farm. It is pheasant season (mid-October) and I am with my grandfather (Dad's dad) in his small, old, brown pickup truck.

It is like a dream in that time, sequence, and other details are blurred. For example, Grandpa and I are in two places at once; the cab of the truck, and the bed of the truck. In both places I remember it being just my Grandpa and me, thought I know there were others around.

When we are in the cab, we are parked at the end of a field waiting for, "the walkers". (I was young and walking through fields yelling, "up bird" lost its appeal by mid-morning) It is just Grandpa and me. The heat in the truck is on, and he is using a fine tooth comb to get the cockleburs out of my shoelaces and socks. I can feel the seats (like sitting on a hay bale- stiffer than anticipated) and smell the cab (like hunting things: dirt, grass, leaves, dried blood). It was a stick shift and the knob was big and round.

In the bed of the truck, we are sitting on the sides, with the big white toolbox open. Inside are hard salami sandwiches made by my grandmother (most with butter, one or two without in case my mom came along) and mini candy. Namely, Twix. We eat as much as we want of both the sandwiches and the candy and nobody tells us to save room for later or that we will get sick if we don’t stop gorging ourselves with miniature candy bars. The smell of fall wraps around us like blankets.

Fantastic.

All this because of a Twix bar.

Everything you do not need to know

2008-09-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

1) Favorite objects in your room?
Bed and books

2) Have you ever smoked heroin?
Can't say that I have.

3) Do you own guns?
Yes, but a hose or bucket does the job much more efficiently…

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
I have never been to Sonic, but adding flavor to an already syrup laden drink does not sound appealing.

5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Not so much

6) What do you think of hot dogs?
I try not to.

7) Favorite song?
Right now it is "I'm All Right" by Madeleine Peyroux

8) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee, water, or both depending upon the severity of the evening before.

9) Can you do push ups?
I can but I choose not to.

10) Can you do a chin up?
Probably not, and I choose not to try.

11) Favorite movie?
Robin Hood (animated version), The Big Lebowski, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, and Amelie are pretty much tied for #1.

12) Do you like blue cheese?
I like blue cheese dressing on onion rings. (not so great dressing + not so great appetizer = something quite fantastic. who'da thunk)

13) Ever been in a car wreck?
Not really… I once glided across my icy driveway and gently nudged a fencepost.

14) What's one trait that you hate about yourself?
That depends on the day, the hour, the minute.

16) Middle name?
"First name Mr, middle name 'period', last name T!"

17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
blah
blah
blah

18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
peppers
zucchini
tomatoes

19) Name 3 drinks you drink regularly?
coffee
water
coffee

20) Current worry?
That I wont be able to keep myself entertained with this survey long enough to finish it…

21) Current hate right now?
Feeling squashed. (no, not literally… but come to think of it…)

22) How did you bring in the New Year?
By consuming very large quantities of alcohol

23) Where would you like to be right now?
I am totally fine with where I am right now. (Which is at my desk in my apartments with the windows open and all the neighbors gone)

24) Name three people who will complete this?
Psh, don’t care.

25) Do you own slippers?
Haha, I have these giant red fuzzy slippers that I have had since high school. Dessie? You know the ones.

26) What shirt are you wearing?
White and yellow tank top with tiny hearts all over it.

27) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
Cant say that I ever have… sounds nice unless you get sweaty- am I right?

28) Can you whistle?
Yep. I usually do it while I work.

29) Would you be a pirate?
I AM a pirate. I work as a ninja though.

30) What songs do you sing in the shower?
I'm not a big shower singer.

31) Favorite girl's name?
I don’t really know

32) Favorite boy's name?
I don’t really know this one either.

33) What's in your pocket?
Ooh, I had fun with this question last time. Honestly though, I have nothing in my pockets.

34) Last person that made you laugh?
Mer

35) Best bed sheets as a child?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

36) Worst injury you've ever had?
Well, I stepped on a nail as a child (which I do not really remember), and I jammed my finger playing volleyball as a teenager (which I do remember). I guess I've been pretty lucky in the injury department.

37) Do you love where you live?
I like it very very much.

38)Do you have a tv in your room?
Uh, no.

39) Who is your loudest friend?
Tyson maybe? I don’t really know this one either.

40) How many dogs do you have?
Zero dogs.

41) Does someone have a crush on you?
I certainly hope so!

42) What is your favorite candy?
I can tell you that my LEAST favorite candy is that hard-as-a-rock, rip-out-your-teeth honey flavored chunk of nastiness. Yellow and red wrapper. You know what I'm talking about. Gross.

43) Favorite Sports Team?
Are the folks on MXC considered teams?

44) Where is the next place you want to travel to?
India?

45) What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Dreaming of you.

46) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
I need to brush my teeth. Immediately.

Oh I MISSSS you guys!

2008-09-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

Soundtrack for life

2008-09-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

If my life were to have a soundtrack, today's featured artist would be Madeleine Peyroux (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_Peyroux). I've been grooving to this all day long!!

Check the gal out. Quite reminiscent of Billie Holiday.

Damn I would love to be stranded on an island with this album.

thoughts??

2008-09-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Dads

2008-09-17T20:09:00.000-07:00

As I was out cruising the streets of Parkland this morning I took notice of this: Dads. It just so happens that I often drive down 112th around the time the bus comes to pick up all the kiddos for school. At many stops there is a tired mom, maybe two, waiting with their kids and neighbor kids for the bus to come. Most excellent. But it is one corner in particular that keeps catching my eye.

At this corner there are always 2-3 men out there waiting with their children. For reasons I cannot quite articulate, this makes me happy. I guess I'm glad there are at least dads in the picture for these kids. That and the dads themselves actually look well... maybe not happy, but not bad. (Picture Hank Hill standing out on the curb with the guys, just kinda... hanging there. Probably not the highlight of their day, but certainly nothing to complain about.)

Anyway, not too sure where I was going with this. Just neat to see some male figures around the wee ones.

Forgive me!

2008-09-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

I did not realize just how long it had been since I posted something worth reading! My apologies.

Get comfy folks- here is an update!

I am sure that all of you know that enjoy a good drink. I tend to enjoy it even more when it is followed immediately by at least 3 or 4 more good drinks. I enjoy it so much that I partake in multiple drinks damn near every day and while it is pretty cool to be able to keep up with professional drinkers such as my old roommates, I don't know that constantly being blitzed is a good look for me.

Just shy of a month ago I told myself and a few others that I was going to try my best to cut back. That lasted a grand total of about 48 hours. Since I failed at that, I adopted a "fuck it" attitude... who says I need to stop drinking anyway? I do not drink and drive. I do not get trashed and do (too many) stupid things. I do not pass out on sidewalks, lawns, or other people's beds. I've never been late to work or other commitments because of a hangover. So whats the big deal?

Well, turns out just because I'm not out starting fights with the locals, does not necessarily mean I'm not hurting people. People I care very deeply about. So about two weeks ago I made a more serious effort to stop/cut back significantly. Hip-hip-hooray I made it 5 days without a drink! Not much for many of you, but considering I've been drinking on a very regular basis since Junior year of high school... um, five days is big. On day five I had a shot, then went about 5 more days without drinking. I am simply stoked to know that I can do it! That is ten days without so much as a buzz.

I guess my fear was that I would not be able to make it even a couple days. But I did, and I think in doing so it kinda snapped my body out of "must drink" mode. I have momentarily given up on complete abstinence of alcohol, but I can honestly say that this is the least I have drank in years. It feels good.... which is weird. I did not think it would feel good. I am not a confrontational person. At all. I avoid conflict like the plague and this includes coming face to face with my own fears, problems, demons, insecurities, etc. I quite enjoy what alcohol does to my demons. It makes them shut up for a minute. But now that I am actually looking my problems in the face I am seeing that they really aren't as scary as I had let them become. How neat is that?!

In these last few weeks I have had some truly wonderful and enlightening conversations about addictions (of all shapes and sizes). I am lucky to be surrounded by some pretty fantastic individuals- all with their own stories and thoughts on what makes people tick. I am the recipient of some pretty insightful pearls of wisdom. Is it not incredible that by tweaking your perspective or bringing your awareness elsewhere, an entire situation can be transformed?

Well, thats that for now. Thanks for reading all.

Free to a good home

2008-09-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

Mini-fridge.

Filled to the brim with memories.

If you frequented my old house on Wheeler you most likely drank beer from its frosty goodness.

Please take it off my hands!

"Jesus says the darndest things"

2008-09-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you all know I'm still around. Don't stop checking the blog, I promise to actually write something soon. Be patient folks.

:0)

2008-08-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

Smiling Now Primarily Used To Communicate Anger

August 29, 2008 | Issue 44•35

Area Girlfriend Still Hasn't Seen Apocalypse Now March 1, 2000
Heroic Cancer Sufferer Inspires Others To Get Cancer June 6, 2001

NEW YORK—The smile, a facial expression traditionally used to convey joy, pleasure, or amusement, is now mainly used to suppress rage, according to a five-year study released Monday by the Countenance Institute. "More than 85 percent of smiles are involuntary responses to mounting anger," the study read in part. "In addition, the length and intensity of these smiles directly correspond to the amount of anger the smile is concealing. A smile that lasts less than two seconds represents just a passing annoyance, while a smile of four to eight seconds indicates a genuine hatred for its target." The study noted that individuals smiling for more than one minute while nodding and baring their teeth are most likely preparing to kill the person they are smiling at.

Snakes dont walk, they slither... so there.

2008-08-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

This is exactly what I am watching right now... Neat!

How much do I love youtube? THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS much!

Ladies and Gentlemen...

2008-08-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

We are proud new owners of THE WORLD WIDE WEB. Thats right.

FUCKYEAH!

scowl

2008-08-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

Please help me figure out how to create links within my blog.

copy+paste sometimes does the trick but it appears as this long drawn out line of meaninglessness. I want to turn a word neon green and when you CLICK on the neon green word, it takes you to the wikipedia page about the history, uses of, current meaning, and political undertones of the color.

I will try to demonstrate my frustration- and in doing so, it just might work. Kinda like the light that is always on or the obvious rattle in your car and when you finally take it to the manufacturer, the light turns off and the engine creates a soothing, consistent huummmmmmm. Go figure.

There is a cute little button resembling the offspring of a chain link fence and Mario Brother's, Yoshi. It says "insert link"

Lets try. I would like to link you kind folks to a tapestry I am particularly fond of. Here it goes.

Yuck. Even if it works, its ugly.

Now, underneath the "Title" of my blog there is a "Link" section. WTF? I clicked "learn more" and I learned absolutely nothing more. The liars!

Help me out Blog gurus.
Help me. For I am a http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dumbass

Falling back in love

2008-08-22T12:30:00.001-07:00

I am currently soaking up all that is "Blackwater Coffee" on 9th and Fawcett. Great people, fun orange mugs, type writers, local magazines, chill music, eye catching strangers, and *drum roll please...* internet.

Thanks a gazillion to you Lance for introducing me to such a fine establishment not so many years ago.

So you may be curious- since I am obviously not writing extensive posts in my new found internet time, just what AM I doing?

Perusing UrbanOutfitters. While I find their clothing nice, I find their furnishings kick ass and relatively cheap. I have about eight things in my "shopping cart." (Dont worry mom, I've not purchased a thing... just really really wanting to is all) Check it out for yourself if you dont believe me!

might want to keep an eye on your ethics too...

2008-08-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

Withdrawal

2008-08-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

The neighbors who had been so kindly allowing us to steal internet from them have smartened up. Our formerly free (albeit unreliable) internet access is now password protected. You wont believe this, but those jerks did this without warning me AND were brazen enough to keep their password a secret. *sigh*

So until Mer and I suck it up and become slaves to Comcast the posts may be infrequent and to the point.

Just like this one :)

The perfect card

2008-08-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Not usually much of a card person, but I laughed out loud because of this one. My mom sent me a birthday card which was funny in and of itself, but let me share a little story with you.

I have this neighbor. He is an elderly gentleman, and very fickle. One day he likes me and gives me all sorts of non-perishables and offers me wine, the next, he hops on his bike and completely ignores me. (I've tied these mood swings with my actions... I visit every day and talk for hours= good side. I enjoy my life hanging out with people my age and go a week without stopping by= bad side.) I am currently on his bad side. He is an odd, kind man.

He has this system of getting my attention. He walks out onto his porch once he sees that I have come home. He stamps his foot on the floor (which is above me) and then lowers down a plastic bag on a string with various items in it. Sometimes it is a note, sometimes it empty containers from food I brought him, today... it was my birthday present from my MOM. Yep. She had forgotten to put the apartment number on the address and somehow Lee got a hold of it. I thanked him, asked how he was doing- he grunted and raised his plastic bag contraption and went inside.

Now that you have some background, CHECK OUT this card my mom sent!

How priceless is that?

Anyway, my mom so kindly sent me quite the loot. I guess now I will have to bake those muffins Lee so desperately wanted a while back (he even gave me paper cups and 25 year old muffin mix!) Perhaps I can get back on his good side.

Thank you mom, and I must say that this is probably the coolest apron I have ever encountered. And now its mine! Hip hip hooray!