Midwest Magic!

Tonight, I was feeling magic in the air. There were thunderstorms in the forecast and everything smelled amazing. So much so that I actually wandered outside to just be for a little while. I wanted to walk around Old Sac and just take everything in during that awesome pre-storm energy, but night had already fallen and I didn't want to go alone. Nor did I want to take away a lead from Sweet n' Hot by grabbing one of the guys upstairs. So out front I sat for a little while.

When I got home, I couldn't ignore the magic outside my window, but I had no one to take a walk with me, and it was almost midnight, so I just had to settle for an open window and blinds.

As I sat down to read more of Wicked (oddly enough the scene describing the tornado) the lightning really got under way. As I was putting down my book and thinking Screw it! I'm going out to get me some of this magic! my phone rang, my darling brother who had just turned me down for a walk in the pre-storm magic was being called outside as well.

As soon as we were outside, the sky just seemed to open up and pour on us. I couldn't have asked for much better. Only one thing that I can think of right now would have topped it, but playing in the rain with my brother while my soul was reenergized by nature is a damn close second!

Sadly, I got no good pictures of the actual lightning, but my friend Davis got the one above!

Jeff and I got some other awesome pictures. There are a select few here, and more on Facebook. I'm pretty sure that 97% of the people who read this will be able to find them on Facebook. If you can't see them because I don't know you and you would like to, let me know!



My hair is totally going to be tangled and smelling of rain tomorrow. I can't wait for the reminder of the magic!

I definitely felt like I was back in Iowa for a little bit, for all of the reasons that I loved it there. (I didn't completely hate it!) Specifically, I'm recalling a trip Mallory and I took to Maid-Rite, during which we got caught in what seemed to be a 15-second downpour the moment we got out of the car and ran inside. If I remember correctly, it wasn't even raining when we left her house, just a couple miles away.

Now back to Wicked! You don't really think I could sleep after such fuel for the soul, do you?

Grr to School

So this whole summer school thing is great right? I'll get my foreign language out of the way and be able to graduate on time, possibly with a minor in education, possibly with a jump start on the credential program.

That is of course until I have to actually PAY for my summer classes. I knew there was a down side to this situation that I was forgetting!

I'm going to have to start watching my money and really only spending it on dancing, food and gas. And by food I of course mean stuff from the grocery store, not so much going out.

Between dancing, school and work, I wonder what else I'll have time to do this summer.

Actually, it sounds kind of nice.

More Dresses!

I know you're probably getting sick of these posts, but I really want something fun to dance in. When I feel cute, I'm so much more likely to try something new, hoping that if people happen to be watching, they'll be distracted by the cute factor if I do end up messing it up. So I need a dress like these!

Ignore the picture quality, I had to screen cap from Hulu.

Any Ideas on where to get dresses of this nature?

Threadless $5 Sale!

So, anyone remember this post about wanting the awesome toy car shirt?

It's on sale for $5 again!!!

I'm totally getting it, and a few others.

I definitely want these ones...



I can't quite decide, but I only want one of these two...



I'm getting this for my brother and maybe stealing it...



Opinions please!

Great Weekend!

I know that I don't normally update on Sundays now, but I didn't update yesterday, and I have something to say, so why not?

This weekend has been one awesome weekend of dancing for me. Starting on Friday, I decided that I was not allowed to sit out more than two songs in a row at Midtown Stomp. I'm pretty good at not dancing sometimes, but that's not really going to help me, so I don't want to do it as much! I don't think that I fully stuck to that decision, but the only time that I did miss more than two songs in a row, I also wasn't in the ballroom, so I feel like I stuck to it.

I got to dance with a cool guy I met at Sweet n' Hot last week, and he started actually giving me some of the direction that I really need with Lindy. It's very exciting. I'm enjoying this all so much more than I expected to, which really does say a lot, and getting better is quickly becoming a big goal for me.

There was a party on Saturday that I didn't think I was going to go to because I was supposed to be at work until 11, but when I got out just after 10 I decided to make a surprise appearance. I don't think I've ever felt more loved than I did walking into that party full of people who'd spent the previous night trying to convince me to come while I insisted that I couldn't. Sure, many of them we drunk, but I felt loved none the less.



While I was there, I got to dance a lot more than I have before (somehow I danced for I think 7 songs in a row) and I even learned my new favorite. Hustle!

I have so much fun dancing with Jeff. He's an amazing lead, and I rarely doubt where he wants me to go. I sometimes don't read it quite right, but I'm learning! I really love the moments where I'm not so comfortable with something, but I just go with it anyway, and I figure out something new!



This week I'm really looking forward to dancing three nights! It will be my first time at Club 21 for their Tuesday Swing, so that should be interesting. Sadly for me Jeff will not be there, but I can't really find fault with him for that. Plus, it's good to dance with other people, if only to reinforce how great a lead Jeff is!

This week I will also be starting to take classes through Midtown Stomp, which Jeff is actually going to take as well. I'm very excited and can't wait to see just what I'll be able to do after the classes. Especially since Jeff is taking them as well, I know that I'll have opportunity to practice!



The dresses that I've been posting are ones that I would love to wear dancing. Not always the most practical, not always a price I would pay, and not always something that would look good on me, but fun to look at anyway!

Best waste of money ever

I bought some shorts on Wednesday.

On the Target website they're listed as $25, but I'm pretty sure I didn't pay that much for them. Anyway, today, only two days after purchase, I can almost take them off without unfastening them. I should have tried on the size 4.

PS. This is the first time I've ever bought a size 6, and it looks like I'm headed to a 4!?

Wow it's late.

I should really be in bed. It's 3:00AM and I enjoy being fully rested in the morning.

Especially when my day consists of the following:

Waking up whenever I please.
Reading in the park until about noon-thirty.
Going to Ikea with someone awesome.
Possibly having Ikea linner.
The chance of a nap (depends on how epic Ikea is).
Swing dancing with some new friends, some of them quickly becoming good friends.
Probably getting persuaded to stay out later than I should, but loving every moment of it!

For those who knew the much more callused me from middle school to even just a few months ago, it feels really nice to now put it into text that...

Life is good.

Addition to yesterday's post.

I forgot to mention yesterday that I'm totally starting to see what a few people have repeatedly told me relatively recently.

I actually am pretty.

It's a weird thing to figure out at 25.

Real post later.

Please Excuse the Language but...

I'm pretty fucking amazing.



Seriously. It's taken me much longer than it should have to realize it, but I really am.

This realization comes from a boy seeming to get a little weirded out actually, or maybe I'm just reading things wrong. I have been dating a boy for a couple of weeks, and in that time he's realized that I pick up on details pretty easily. This is true. If you tell me your birthday, or I see it on Facebook, I will probably remember that it's the same or similar to someone else that I know, and therefore I will know it sooner and remember it longer than you might expect.

What's my best friend from elementary school who I haven't spoken to regularly in 15 years you ask? June 8. Her mother's? August 7.

I don't know how, I don't know why. They don't always stick, but they do tend to get in there pretty quick.

That same boy doesn't know this (yet?), but I really like doing things to show my affection. Things like mix CDs or post cards sent by snail mail. I've had some people make me feel as though the kind of attention that I can give is not a good thing. Those people are wrong.

Sure, there are people who don't handle the attention so well, and I probably won't be super close with them for very long, but that doesn't make either of us wrong. I do believe that it indicates that I'm going to be a pretty kick-ass mother though.

I've blogged before about this awesome party put on by an amazingly talented mother and how blown away I was by it. I'm starting to realize that I have the potential to be just as inspiring.

So, it sucks if I'm reading this boy correctly and he is getting scared off by things like awesome sandwiches that I make and remembering birthdays, but just think of what the one who won't be scared away will be like! And I could be totally wrong anyway, and he could just be busy. In that case, lucky him!

Lots of walking!

I walked over 60 blocks today!

First I went to the bookstore and I purchased a couple of the short stories I'll be reading for my literature classes this Fall. From there I went to the grocery store, where I picked up some toilet paper and a few other small necessities. The plan was then to go home, which I did.

Once I got home though, I realized that I really did have time to go to the rally that the Capitol that I'd been wanting to go to all day. Sure I have an opening shift at work tomorrow and I should be in bed before 9, but I'm only young once, and this is definitely a fight that I believe in. So I chugged some Dr Pepper for the sugar and caffeine, and off I went again!

The rally was nice. Though the party would have been better, I do understand what overturning a majority vote could do to our political system. We'll just have to take to the streets and organize better than we did before, and get it on the ballot again.

I also read in the park in my bathing suit today, which was nice and sweaty! I can't wait to do it again tomorrow! Maybe I'll have company then!

Summer Reading

Today on Facebook I asked for some help in compiling a Summer Reading list. I was very happy with the quick replies, but of course as soon as I posted the request, I realized that I have access to a list of possible books I will have to read this fall. Since I'm taking so many courses, I might as well get a head start on my reading and only have to skim them later, right?

So now I'd like to read about half of the books that I know I'll have assigned this Fall if I can make it happen. Here's what I've found...

For my American Gothic class:
Joyce Carol Oates: American Gothic Tales;
Charles Brockden Brown: Edgar Huntly;
Edgar Allan Poe: Tales;
Henry James: The Turn of the Screw;
Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Yellow Wallpaper
Shirley Jackson: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

For my American Lit II class:
The Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry, Richard Ellman ed.
Kate Chopin The Awakening,
Joseph Heller Catch 22,
Percival Everett Erasure,
Alice Notley The Descent of Alette.

I can't honestly say that I'm excited about the Anthology of Poetry, but at least it's modern stuff, which I tend to despise less than other stuff I've had to read.

I have two more classes that I'll have reading to do in, so I should probably really get going on some of these books. Luckily a couple of them are ones that I've actually wanted to read before, so maybe it won't be so terrible!

Thanks to all who gave recommendations, I definitely wrote them down and will be checking them out if I manage to finish all of those by the end of the summer. Any encouraging remarks about what I have to read would be greatly appreciated!

Eventful!

I woke up pretty early this morning for having finally put down Wicked just after 3 last night, so of course I picked up my book and started reading again at 8:30. I was much more tired than I'd thought though, because I ended up falling back asleep again, only to wake up around 3!

It's really nice to have three days off in a row and not feel like I completely wasted my day by sleeping through it. Apparently I needed the rest. For the past hour or so I've done about nothing, which has felt good. I do plan on cleaning my room a bit and doing some laundry at some point today, but without anything to do tomorrow, why bother right away? I'm letting the process all marinate in my mind so that I may be able to move through it all better when I actually get down to it!

I'm pretty darned sure you should get that for me since my birthday is less than three months away! (Yes I am already counting down, don't judge, even with the large number that it will be, I like my birthday!)

I think I'm going to try to tweak my Fall schedule a little bit tonight. After I get my room a little bit more organized (read throwing some stuff out) I want to really look into the Spring semester and see just what I will need to do then to reach my goals. I'd like to find a way to get 20 hours of work in each week, and that great opportunity of a Jamba Juice on campus isn't such a fancy idea anymore. That location is going to be a franchise location, so working there wouldn't have all the perks of working for Jamba, like being able to transfer to lots of different locations in the country.

I definitely need some time for homework next semester though, since this semester's grades didn't turn out the way that they were supposed to. And of course there are some recent developments that I hope to have some time for next semester as well (which also means I'm hoping they last that long)!

I don't know if I've mentioned this yet, but within 12 hours of my roommate telling me that she was giving notice, I already had a potential roommate. Let's hope that the character of this house doesn't scare him off though!

Doppleganger!

Once upon a time I searched my own name on Facebook.

There were are few girls with the same name, but only one who stood out. She happens to live in Seattle, very close to Tacoma, WA, where I was born. So I sent a friend request; she of course recognized the amazingness and accepted!

Thanks to the ever-so-functional Facebook chat we talked a little bit after finding out through status updates that we've got many a thing in common. Turns out, she was born in Santa Cruz (if I remember correctly) which is relatively close to where I live now when compared to Seattle. We tended to update our status within half an hour saying very similar things.

Obviously, we're both made of the same kind of awesome.

A couple months ago she let me know that she was coming down to visit her dad.

The Katherines Wessel would be in the same state, and for a little while, the same city! This was obviously going to either solve all of the world's problems, or bring on the apocalypse.

That's right, you can breathe easy tonight. We met today, and I see no signs of impending doom, which only leaves one reasonable outcome.

All is now right in the world.

Also, we're both reading an amazing book that you should probably check out.

I should be asleep.

I officially have an A in the class I thought I was getting an A- in, and a B in one of the classes I thought I was getting a C in.

The other four remain to be seen, but it's likely that a lot of those are Cs.

My roommate today let me know that she's giving our landlord 30 days notice this month and will be out by July 1. Not sure exactly what I want to do about getting a new roommate or finding my own place, but I have a couple ideas for roommates if I do stay here.

Dancing was a lot of fun tonight, and tomorrow night at my new friend Amanda's graduation party it should be lots of fun as well. I'm getting more comfortable just going with the flow, which is probably good for learning new things and not forcing things.

I'm going to be extremely tired tomorrow, but it will definitely be worth it.

Midtown Stomp

I was determined to really write something interesting today.

Instead I took a 4 hour nap and I've been doing just about nothing!

Tomorrow morning over brunch, all the worlds problems will be solved. Get stoked.

Productive Day!

I had a very productive day!

Woke up smiling and being distracted from studying. Eventually got to study, and then took a final for a class that I hope to pull a B in.

After the final I had a few hours before work, so I decided to go for a jog, and combine that with the errand I needed to get done! I ended up walking because my workout pants are too big for me now and fall when I run it seems. I ended up going for about 3 1/2 miles in around 45 minutes.

I couldn't get the errand done, but I did find out more information about it, I guess.

I made it to work on time even though I fell asleep less than an hour before I should have been there!

Now I get to go to bed because I'm working again in less than 6 hours. (I should mention that I've been home for only one hour.)

Tomorrow I intend to be just as much if not more productive!

Summer Courses

I just signed up for my summer courses. If I can get into the class that I'm on the waitlist for I'll be taking 11 units.

Let's hope that I can, because I don't want to have to take more English electives at Sac State if I can take them at a community college.

I looked up my grade in my Grammar class today, and it seems that I didn't understand the big assignment as well as I thought, because I got a 15/20 on it, and since it was late I really only got 13. Because of this, the best that I can hope for in this class is a B.

I'm not looking forward to the final in half an hour.

I am looking forward to watching I'm Not There tonight though!

Discovery!

At 7:40PM on Tuesday I found the option to delay posting.

Love it! Now I can write about the million things in my head when they're in my head and save them for later!

Lots of things!

I might just be crazy!

Click for a larger image of course, and see just how crazy I am!

Those are the classes that I am currently enrolled in for the fall semester. There are LOTS more that I would love to take, but I do have to have time for homework for these classes, and you know, actual WORK. With some luck though, I'll be able to figure out a pretty regular work schedule on campus so that I don't have to worry about a changing schedule. I just remembered that I should have more freedom from money next semester, so I won't even need too many hours working, which is pretty awesome!

It's been hot in Sacramento lately. Not exactly hot enough that it justifies leaving a fan on all day when only the cats are home, yet my roommate does it. The bathroom stays pretty cool, and they hang out in there anyway, why leave the fan on in your room if there is no one to benefit from it? If I didn't already move so much I'd be really tempted to find my own place and just make sure I work more next semester.

I've really enjoyed dancing the past several weeks, and can't wait to learn more. If anyone reading this knows more than me (and I know there are at least two of you) please share with me what you know! Watching some videos of friends completely intimidates me, but also excites me and motivates me to see how far I can go!

I had a pretty productive day today.

After completing an "exercise in time management" provided by my English teacher (it's funny, time management isn't in the course description or the syllabus) I went to the grocery store and got some gas. I don't actually remember the last time that I got gas, but I'l try to pay attention to the next time that I do. I love living so close to everything that I do!

While I was at the grocery store I bought the items pictured below.



To avoid eating most of the box in just a few sittings, I bought the snack bags and divided it up!



I checked the box, and a serving is supposed to be only 55 little fishies, which those bags are definitely not. There are supposedly 32-ish servings in a box, I divided it into 18 bags. (Please note the earrings on the table, it was totally intense work while watching the season finale of 24.)

I have some pictures of a car that I see a lot that amuse me, but I think I've made this entry long enough, and I might forget all the things I think of tomorrow to write about, so I will save it until then!

I had so much to say!

There was so much that I saw to comment on today, and it's all totally gone now.

These were some good things too.

I should be studying right now, and it's just not happening. I think I'm going to lay down for a little while. Maybe just on the couch while I watch 24?

And I've finished!

All of my papers and anything else that I have to turn in to any class has officially been turned in. I have four finals next week, and some of them I'm not currently so prepared for, but it's only one a day, which I can totally handle. Especially since the first one is definitely the easiest, so I have more time to focus on the others!

Now that I'll have a little more time in my schedule, I'm really looking forward to taking care of some things that have been a little neglected over the past few weeks. During study breaks and then definitely after I'm finished around noon on Thursday I look forward to getting at least a few, but hopefully all of the following things done:

Cleaning my room.
Organizing my room as I clean.
Officially signing up for summer classes.
Figuring out applying to the Jamba Juice on campus.
Dancing a LOT more.
Trying some new recipes in exchange for some awesome dancing lessons.
Sleeping in without feeling guilty.
Testing out my mom's pool to make sure it's good for the year.
Reading for pleasure!
Writing for pleasure on a more in depth level than this blog usually gets.
Working and making some cash!
Riding my bike.
Lots more that I can't even think of right now.

Look forward to much more interesting updates!

Nearing the End

This week has felt pretty crazy. Last weekend and the beginning of this week I seemed to have a kind of block on writing the about 30 pages that were due over 8 papers this week. I think a big part of that came from being forced to work on one piece all day Monday when I prefer to be able to work in short bursts.

Today I'm down to 5 papers that I have to turn in tomorrow. One of which is so done that it's got a fork sticking out of it, but another I have yet to begin. The other three I've made decent progress on and now I just need to get my brother over here for some truly brotherly (read brutal) editing and I'll be just about good to go.

I've got so much I could say about my process and how I intend to use the rest of my day, but this is just intended to be a short break so I can trick myself into working on one paper for two of those short bursts back to back!

I will have much more to say tomorrow afternoon and this weekend once my paper writing week is over!

Positive Outlook

In going through the papers that I've received back from my Professor with comments and unofficial grades, I realized that the two I've gotten back from him are actually marked as a B- and B/C. He's a pretty harsh grader, and I would be totally happy with a C+ in the class, especially since I don't feel like I've put as much into these papers as I should have. It looks like I'm on the right path though, since I'll be doing a bit more revision to those papers before turning them in, and I've done a decent amount of revision on the other two I have for that class.

I've still got two more papers for different classes, which are a little more involved and I need to get back to working on them now.

And yes, you read that right. I have 6 papers due before 5:00PM on Friday.
I've already turned in 3 papers this week.

Countdown!

Finals are totally killing me, but I think I'm starting to get a little bit of a rhythm. Before my classes start tomorrow I should have everything done that's got a hard deadline of Thursday. Then I get to stay up all night to finish the gajillion pages I've got to turn in on Friday!

On a more fun note, my hair looks kinda nice when I just take a shower and finger-comb it while writing essays. But apparently my chin doesn't really like finals because I'm a tad broken out!

Not a too terrible lot to go!

Time

I've got so much work to do, and simply can't get motivated to do any of it. I'm definitely starting to run out of time.

I got my shift covered at work this evening to be able to have more time to work on the 15 or so pages I have left to write. I don't really need the hours anyway, as long as I'm staying good about not spending money I don't need to.


In other news, I didn't think that there had been much activity with the toilet paper, but I looked in the cupboard yesterday and we're somehow down to 12 rolls again. I don't understand where it's going.

Last week of instruction before finals!

I’ve had a rough couple of days. Ironically brought on by one really amazing one. I’m working on letting go of things in my past that I haven’t been able to forgive myself for.

I’m a little bit better today, though admittedly still a bit unsure of things.

I got to talk to an old friend today, which felt amazingly good. It was only on Facebook chat, but it felt just as comfortable as I would have felt talking to her 8 years ago when we were seniors in high school, or 14 years ago when we met in 7th grade.

Things like that make me happy.

I may observe a bit of a posting fast this week. I’ve got about 18 pages to write before Friday, so I should really focus on that. I may find my way over here if I need a few minutes of scholastic escape though!

"I like it!"

Probably my favorite part about the baptism I attended this afternoon.

Almost Forgot.

I came really close to completely forgetting to post today!

If I hadn't come to my blog to link a friend to a particular entry, I wouldn't have remembered at all!

Some exciting things are happening tomorrow. I'm not going dancing like I have been each Friday, but I think I might enjoy the evening none-the-less. My favorite Midtown restaurant, smoothies and a movie can't really let down, right?

Zombie Katherine

For getting about 4 hours of sleep last night and having been up for 12 hours already, I’m pretty dang happy and awake!

I wish that I could bottle this feeling and use it whenever I wanted.

Kind of makes me sad that it’s inevitable for this to become routine and therefore to lose the magic of keeping me awake on days like this. I guess I’ll just have to enjoy it for now!

Smiles!

Those look good, right?

I totally agree. Especially when I'll be making some myself, and probably discussing Bob Dylan and how not being able to understand him heightens the effectiveness of his message while eating those.

There might be more to it than that.

I should be writing

After class yesterday I came home to find two random rolls of toilet paper added to the stockpile.

Today we are back down to 16. My roommate seems to be blowing her nose a lot, and I actually spotted one roll in her bedroom which explains some of it, but to go through a whole roll in a day? I just think that's crazy.

Where does the toilet paper go?

This is the kind of thing that bothers me on two levels of green. Financially and environmentally.

I have no idea how only two girls can go through as much toilet paper as we seem to in this house. I'm pretty aware of it, and am confident that I am not over-using to any degree, yet I bought a 12 pack less than two weeks ago, and my roommate just bought another the other day. We currently have 16 rolls, I plan on watching to see how quickly they disappear.

I personally believe that 16 rolls should last us about a month at least, but it seems as though they will be closer to two and a half weeks. I don't know that there's anything to be done if my roommate is using it up way too fast (how do you tell a grown woman that she's using too much toilet paper?) but I can try to entertain myself by noticing the rate of disappearance.

New Music

Anyone have any recommendations?

I'm a bit in love with Lily Allen's "The Fear" and I've been thinking about getting the whole album, but I've been spending a lot of money lately and don't think that I should spend more if I'm not sure about it. If EMI would just include a digital download of the album with the vinyl I would already have both, but I don't want to pay $21 for something I can't take with me.



I have the same issue with The Decemberists' The Hazards of Love. They at least have 17 tracks for only $9.99 on iTunes.


(I know this isn't from Hazards of Love but I still love it. Now I'm realizing that I need all of their stuff!)


What are your favorite artists lately?

Midtown Stomp

Even with being sick (I think I've finally figured out that I'm sick, I don't have allergies) I had a blast at Midtown Stomp tonight.

I think I'm going to have to get used to the idea of updating after midnight on Fridays since even when I'm home and supposed to be in bed by 11:45 it doesn't seem to work out.

Tomorrow I get to celebrate my little brother's 21st birthday and write as much of a paper as I possibly can!

I'm sure I'll find time for an interesting update while avoiding homework!

Written during British Lit on Tuesday

Sometimes when I'm in class and not wanting to really pay attention, I get really frustrated that I've left two essays* that I've already started at home. I've got more to say about each of them and would love to feel a bit productive if I'm going to tune out my teacher, but I also don't want to change the point that I'm making by joining two separately written pieces. I've done that before and it's a very ineffective way to attempt to prove a point. Some would take the leaving of the other drafts at home as a bit of a sign to actually pay attention in class, but not I! I see this as a challenge to distract myself by discussing the lack of things to distract me. I feel like I should receive some sort of an award or at least acknowledgement of this accomplishment.

Not quite yet though! I'm only 30 minutes into class and we're discussing poems that I actually enjoy. You never know, I might just cave and participate!

Okay, that was a little misleading. I've actually already participated, much like I normally do when writing during class.

I'm not sure why, but having something else to focus on during class sometimes allows me to pay attention better than attempting to force myself to pay attention. It probably has to do with the role of television in my life.** I've done so much homework and socializing while watching TV that I'm used to trying to focus on two forms of stimulation at the same time.

This is something I've been more aware of lately because I often feel as though I'm not really taking in either source while trying to focus on both. In an attempt to curb that problem I've cut down on some of the shows that I watch and try to do more listening to music while working on homework. The music is another form of stimulation, but slightly lesser with the lack of the visual. Sometimes I go as far as to put on something instrumental and eliminate the intellectual distraction of the lyrics.

Cutting back on the shows I follow has done a lot of good though. With only a handful to watch each week and all of them being online I'm able to set aside time to watch without doing much else. My infatuation with social media gets in the way of that sometime, but I'm getting a little better with keeping that compulsion at bay as well. One day I'll be better with all of it and maybe be more efficient in all aspects!

I think that this has quite adequately twisted and turned all over the place in the hour that I've been writing. Maybe I'll look like I'm paying attention for the next 12 minutes!

*I say essays because it sounds a bit more intellectual than blogs.
**Here I go getting all insightful and intelligent again.

What a day.

Sorry I don't have a relevant picture, but I love this one by Nicole Hill Gerulat.

Today was a bad day. I let little things get to me after calling in sick to work and I just kind of wallowed in the bad day for a little while. I asked for strength though and was able to make it through.

Then I got to talk about some things that I've been wondering about with a good friend.

I'm getting to bed later than I thought I would, but I think I'll sleep pretty well and be able to get up at a reasonable hour tomorrow and take care of some things that I'd like to get done.

Tonight is much better than I expected it to be and I'm looking forward to tomorrow being even better!

Sick Sucks

After going to bed earlier than I would have liked last night (though not earlier than necessary considering the time I did NOT spend lying awake in bed) I ended up calling in sick to work because I feel a little bit like I'm dying.

I have a test today, so I can't just sleep through everything, which sucks because that's really all that I'd like to do.

I'm in way too much of a pity party mood to continue with this, maybe after my classes I'll update with something better.

Smoothies at 5:30AM?

Because I had a packed day today, I just got home about half an hour ago, and I will be AT work in less than 7 hours. This means that I have no time to type the entry I wrote during my English class today and you will get a much more awesome entry tomorrow!

Monday

I'm really not enjoying these early morning shifts, but I'm getting through them.

There is a new Jamba location going in on campus this summer, so I'm definitely hoping to transfer there and have a less stressful Fall semester while completely paying off my credit cards. Sure, I'll have a bit more student loans because of this, but those have a purpose, right?

I went to collect my paycheck from The Fund today. I haven't worked there for over a month already! I was pretty sure that I worked there for 3 shifts, but I only see 2 on my check. Oh well, guess it'll take me a little bit longer to pay my credit card off. It's really only a matter of about $20, but every $20 is that much closer to the end of it, right?

I will be trapped no more!

On the note of credit card debt, since I've mentioned it twice already, I'm currently at $2,038.01 in debt. At the beginning of this month it was more than $2,600. I've already got another payment set up and I'm pretty sure that I will be done paying it off before the summer is over. I will be updating on my status, I'm more than excited to start over without all of this stuff. If I continue with my eyes open as they are I should be in a nice position to do anything I'd like involving credit by the time I'm really out of school. That may or may not include purchasing a home.

As of 9:48PM Monday night, I have no idea whether or not I work on Wednesday morning. It's a bit frustrating that because the computer is down my manager waited until today to take the schedule home and do it by hand. It's how it is though, so I'll just have to track him down tomorrow to figure it out.

This post is far too boring to continue. It's now time for bed so that I might be more entertaining tomorrow!

Crud

I didn't technically get an update in on April 25th. Oh well.

I've worn my new outfit twice this week. I definitely feel like a librarian or a secretary in it.

That's a very positive thing.

Has no food

I'm currently on campus because I had to turn in an assignment at 5 and decided to sit down in the wonderful sun with my laptop after doing so. A squirrel just came up to me as though expecting me to offer some sort of treat. Even if I had one I would not do so. I was on the phone leaving a message at the time, but I seriously could have swooped my hand down and picked the little guy up before he could run away if I'd had any desire to risk rabies.

For the record, I don't.

Blown away!

Remember these invitations that inspire me to make more time for creativity? I didn't even think about what sort of party would actually result from those invitations, but whoa does it look amazing!

Caroline totally blew me away with what she came up with. Look at me saying that as though I know her and actually got to be there! I'm seeing as much of these as you are. While the level of awesome reached here totally intimidates me, I'm determined to continue to use that for motivation.



This woman is extremely talented. I hope that once my time is less saturated with end of semester things I will be able to focus my energy to create something half as amazing. Check out her full blog for the other things that she does like her awesome jewelry and great taste in kitchen decor!

Loving those grants!

One of the best parts of this new exploring I'm doing, is that I need more dresses and skirts. I went out last night to find said new garments. With the intention of spending $100 and purchasing this awesome shirt dress, I took myself to the mall.

On my way there I passed by a shopping center with a Ross and a Marshall's, so I decided to go check out what they had. 11 dresses later, I had a bit of a self-esteem boost by fitting into the smallest of things I tried on, but I was also a little bummed that nothing really worked.

NY and Company didn't have the awesome shirt dresses anymore, so I tried on some other things. Much of it was awesome, but I have only one place to wear that style right now, and I wasn't up to investing that money for just a few great pieces that I'll wear at most once a week.

I started becoming disappointed, how is it possible that a girl can go into the mall wanting to spend $100, have things fit, and still be empty handed?

Then I went to Forever 21. I'm not a big fan of that store, but it is very possible to find good items when looking correctly. Just when I was about to give up, I turned around and found this amazing thing!



I also found a cute cardigan, but the color isn't online. This is the right sweater, but I got it in red.



I was feeling pretty good then, knowing that I had a couple of button ups at home that would make this into a great outfit. Even so, I decided to head down to Express to see what they had.

What did they have you ask? They had a buy one get one 1/2 off sale. I went for it.





Oh, and that yellow belt? Yeah, I got it in green.

I ended up spending more than my goal, and I'm totally glad that I did. I never do that kind of thing for myself, and this is definitely a good reason to do so!

My bed time has now passed, so this is going to come to an abrupt end rather than a clever one.

Things...

I don't like...

26 bug bites at one time, assuming I didn't miss any.
Taking a shower, and then taking the recycling out, only to walk through a spider web.
60 degrees at 5 in the morning.
95 degrees in April.
My eyes being weird and not allowing me to wear contacts.
Gaining a bit of weight back again.

I do like...

Learning more about who I am.
Finding out that the bite reactions are normal.
Rocking the glasses for a few days.
Going shopping for new dresses because I can!
Taking more responsibility for things I'm doing.
Getting over disappointments and taking the future for what it could be.
The future.

Miss California

While I don't agree with her stance, and yes she could have used a better term than "opposite marriage," she stood up for what she believes and didn't cave even though it sounded like the audience wanted her too be all for marriage equality. The fight is for the freedom of choice, and her freedom must be respected as well. I think she did a pretty good job of being concise and relatively respectful.

The way she spoke also shows that she isn't really an idiot, so rather than attacking, conversing and discussing would be a wise choice.

Not a fan of bug bites.

I can't even come close to counting the number of bug bites I've got right now. I woke up with 4 yesterday and noticed several more through out the day (Katie can verify that) as they started to itch. They were so bad over night that I woke up from being so itchy.

This morning was pretty much the same, but last night I could hear a mosquito buzzing around my head sometimes, so I'm a little more confident in what the source of the 10 or so new bites is.

A couple of the bites are having some odd reactions. One has a raise, irregularly shaped thing happening, and another has some weird coloring. The raised one seems to be going down again, and I'm thinking that the odd colors are more from some over-zealous scratching in class.

Somehow, I ended up with a bite in each eyebrow.

Splitting

I've decided that I'm going to create a new blog. One which I will update less frequently, but with a bit more substance to the entries. I haven't decided just what I'm going to call it yet, I had a few names that I really wanted the other day all seem to be taken, but as I'm looking for them now to link them here and show you, I seem to be creating new names because they are all showing as available.

So you tell me;

Purely Wondering
Pure Wonderings
Pure Wondering
Pondering Katherine
Reviving Katherine

Or something else you can think of?

I took a look at my history, Purely Random, Pure Rambling and some other similar ones were the taken ones. It seems I've found a little more focus in what I'd like to present in this blog during the past few days, as Random and Wondering can be related, but do not fully represent the same connotation in my mind.

I still plan on updating this blog daily. I've just come to realize that sometimes I hold back some of my favorite parts about my fun posts because I'm thinking about something a little heavier that I'd like to discuss, but I don't feel this is the right venue. In creating this new venue I hope to lessen the amount of holding back I do!

Big day tomorrow, something I'll post about on the new blog when I've got it figured out!

Boo to work

I'm not really feeling this whole work thing at the moment. Probably because I overslept and didn't get some of the things done that I wanted to this morning, also because so many people on Facebook are celebrating that it's Friday, and that means more work for me!

On the positive side, work may go by pretty quickly considering the near 80 degree weather we're supposed to have today and the customers that should come with it. Let's hope that rushes make the day feel shorter and not longer!

For those of you who haven't already, please take a look at my previous entries about the Sacramento Race for the Cure. If you're in town please sign up and join our team, if not we'd love to have your support through fundraising!

And we have a team!

Yay for the response to the Facebook event! There are a few specific people I was really hoping to have seen out there and walked with who have already replied, "Not Attending," but there are several I'm totally stoked to see on board as well!

Please join our team and talk to your friends about donating! I've got the goal set pretty low right now, so give me a reason to bump it up!

Race for the Cure!

This took me longer than I'd like, but here is the information, I hope there are lots of you who can come participate!

The 2009 Komen Sacramento Race for the Cure



My sister-in-law and I are hoping to get a team together. Most of that team seems interested in walking at this point, though I have to admit that I'd like to see if I can't run for at least one of the three miles. It is a 5K, which is about 3.1 miles, and the time I participated before it was a bit of a celebration the whole way.

It's rather early in the morning, the parking lot opens at 6:00AM and the race starts about 8:05AM, but what a reason to get up, right?

Registration fees are as follows:
Adult -- Non-Timed, 5K or 1-mile = $35 

Adult Chip-Timed, 5K = $40

Child (6-12) Non-Timed, 5K or 1-mile = $15

Child (6-12) Chip-Timed, 5K or 1 mile = $20

Child (5 & under) = No Fee (Must complete Registration Form to participate. No t-shirt provided)

Sleep In for the Cure® = $40 
(includes postage for mailing t-shirt and "I'm Sleeping in for the Cure" doorknob hanger.)

Race Day registration is an additional $5 for adults and children

There is online registration, but I guess Sandy and I should start a team before telling everyone exactly how to register. The deadline for online team registration is April 24th, so Sandy and I will take care of that tonight and I will update about it again.

If you are interested please leave a comment here or email me and I'll make sure to get you the information. purekatherine@gmail.com

More time for creativity please!

I've recently gathered quite a few blogs that I'm really enjoying reading for the creativity represented in them alone. One of the best parts of these blogs is that I often find new ones simply by reading the ones that I already follow. I found the following today, and while under some circumstances I think that things like this could be a little over the top for a 2-year-old's birthday party, if one has the time to do this sort of stuff, I say go for it. I can't even imagine the amazing parties that z man (Zach?) will have as he grows up. That's one creative mother. Way to go!

I found that great post through A Little Sussy. A great blog by a great photographer who takes pictures like the one below, which she happens to have made the subjects of! (Sorry for not showing that I'm an English major with that last sentence.)



That would also be the blog through which I found this awesome little book I've already told you about.

There are far too many awesome blogs for me to show you something from each of them, but in the next few days I hope to start compiling a list of them in the side bar, so you can check them out there! At one point I would have been extremely envious of these women for not only their creativity, but also the time in which to pursue it, but today I have decided instead to turn it into fuel! I'm not sure how, but I am determined to find the time to make my own projects when I would like. Maybe my sister-in-law and I can start with stuff for my brother's birthday! He wants a cookie cake, I think she and I can manage that without turning to Mrs. Field's!

Lots of talk about money.

Last week I got a big surprise in my bank account. Since finding Mint, I haven't been using my Golden1 credit union account much because I can't keep track of on there and I like the idea of understanding my spending better. Because of that I haven't been checking my balance very often, why would I if it hasn't changed? I got an email through Sac State's online interface (or whatever) saying that my eRefund had been sent. I didn't really know why that would be, so I checked my account, and there was a deposit of $1,524 from Sac State!

This was a huge surprise, and I was blown away. If that had come through a week earlier I probably would have been a little bit stupid and quit my job out of spite following a couple of difficult days at the beginning. Luckily though, I found it on a day that I had a lot of fun at work and then I had a day off, so my mind was more on what "extra" I could do with the money and not on how it could cover living expenses.

I quickly made plans to pay off about a third of my credit card debt with a large chunk of this money and get a good start on a real savings account with the rest. With all of this going through my head and knowing that I didn't have to work the next day I stayed up later than I would have and did a little research.

I found the email that I'd gotten a week before about my financial aid being revised, and I tracked down where it said that I would be getting this grant. I also found something else in that research. The first $1,524 was for the Spring 2009 semester, but I was also supposed to be getting the same amount for Fall 2008. I found this along with a second email notifying me that my eRefund had been sent.

That's right, on Thursday night I had a new $1,524 in my account, and I found out that another $1,524 was headed my way.

I thought of quitting my job right away. With 3 grand I could easily get through a couple more months without having to think about money for a second. Fortunately for me though, I've just witnessed a friend having less luck than he deserves when it comes to money issues and I realized that working and continuing to earn an income is a very good idea while working toward other goals.

I had a lot of fun looking up where I wanted to start a high yield savings account that night. I found a great direct online savings bank with the following mission:

"ShoreBank invests in people and their communities to create economic equity and a healthy environment."

Um, if you happen to be reading this and you don't know me, that could kind of be my own personal mission statement. (If you do know me, I hope that you already knew that.) I'm really looking forward to setting up payments to credit cards and transfers to a new savings account in the next few days. I'm also looking forward to knowing that even paying off so much and setting up savings I still have a couple months of bills that I don't have to think about.

Sorry for the text heavy entries lately. Here's a little something from one of my favorite webcomics.

**I forgot to add, while I am glad that I was able to learn from my friend's actions, I genuinely hope that things turn out for the best for him very soon!

Sugar in the blood.

Yesterday I had way too much sugar. Driving home from Easter dinner I could feel my blood pumping. It was a lot like last Wednesday when I'd pumped myself full of caffeine to stay awake through class and then couldn't sleep.

I'm pretty sure that I've had just as much sugar today, but I've also been awake and active since 5:00AM compared to yesterday's lack of physical activity.

There will be something more substantial when I get home, for now I must go read before class!

So Tired!

It is 8:25PM and I am about to get ready for bed.

I am very tired from a very full weekend, and I have a big day tomorrow.

Work from 5:15AM to Noon.

Shower and gathering of school stuff until 12:45PM when Liz will pick me up.

Class 1:30PM-7:15PM.

Home around 7:45PM, and then SLEEP!

I've got a decent amount of reading that I need to do before class on Tuesday, not really sure when that will happen, hopefully some on my breaks at work, and then maybe during the one class that is in conferences tomorrow, though I'd hoped to be taking a nap at that point. Maybe we'll be slow at work and they can send me home early!

Just a note about today, since it's all I can really handle. Got off of work early and was able to go visit family, which was really good! I think a few of my cousins are going to join my sister-in-law and I in the Race for the Cure. I really hope that we can get a huge group together. Kristin is going to participate in a triathlon the weekend before, so she and I might actually skip ahead of those who are just wanting to walk. My brother suggested skipping the length, and if we could, I would LOVE to do that!

Glad for work.

On my way out for Second Saturday this evening I passed two churches. One just letting out of service, and one about to start. I was very close to texting Laura that I took a detour and attend service instead. I'd really like to attend some sort of service tomorrow, but at the same time I'm a bit intimidated to do so. I'm working at 7:15, so I don't really have the option, which is a good thing I guess because I like having the regular income as well.

I found a couple of artists tonight that I really like. I'm going to try to get to Second Saturday's Art Walk each month now, and hopefully with working I'll be able to actually purchase some of the work before long. I've given my mom a couple of pieces that she really enjoys, and I now have a goal of finding something for each room in her home. I think I really know what she likes, and there are certain things that just strike me as her when I see them. A couple of them tonight!



The two pieces I've included here are my favorites from the night. The ones I really like for my mom are by the same artist, but I can't find the specific ones on her site.

I need to get to bed, hopefully I'll be let off shift early tomorrow and I can go see family!

Happy Easter all, it really is an amazing day!

Now I've.... Had...

An awesome night!

I almost didn't end up going out to Midtown Stomp, but after getting a phone call from Rose and Nathan and telling them I didn't think it would happen I decided to get off of my rear and do something.

Sleep would have felt amazing, as would the homework I had considered doing, but I can sleep any time, right?

Looking forward to going back again next week, live band then!

Trying to update daily means that sometimes it's as simple as this.

Went shopping today, somehow I'm now a size 6!!!!!!!!! Seriously in doubt about that. Totally exhausted now (went to lie down more than an hour ago while watching a video on the laptop and I'm still laying down as I'm typing) but determined to get up and get to swing dancing 5 blocks away.

Wow, again?

The Simpsons will be the newest stamps in just over a month. I'm not actually a Simpsons fan, but it's noteworthy anyway I guess.

Along with those new stamps, it seems that postage prices are going up again. I just bought a whole bunch of 5¢ stamps, and in 32 days I'll need some more 2¢ ones to use up the awesome 37¢ ones I've been trying to use up! I've got at least 5 left to use, so I guess I should get on top of that. One a week should do it.

On the plus side, the ones that I have to use after the 37s are 39s, so I won't have to waste any money by having an extra cent of postage on the next batch. Yes, I am concerned with increments of one penny waste sometimes. Maybe I should show it in places other than postage...

Related: Anyone know just why postage prices keep going up?

Sorry Mallory...

You know that I'm a little too in love with Macs when I'm sitting in the computer lab at school and get off of a PC that I'm currently working on because I see someone get off of one of the Macs.

To be fair though, they have a much better workspace so I'm more comfortable with the extra space as well as the better keyboard and shortcuts that make sense.

I was up to go to work at 4:30 this morning. Not really. I had to be to work at 5:15, which means I was up at 4:55. I then worked for 4 and a half hours, which I kind of enjoyed, before getting home at 10. Just enough time to take a shower before editing two papers and leaving for school at 12:45! I didn't get as much editing done as I'd wanted to, so I'm now in the computer lab at school (on the much preferred Mac) finishing that work now. I'll be out of my last class at 7:15 and back home around 7:45.

Anyone else want to sign up for this schedule?

I'm amazed that I can keep up with it. I do have to admit that I opted for Dr Pepper today instead of water because I knew I would need the caffeine, and I made Liz drive today to make sure we didn't die if I ended up falling asleep driving home. This makes it a lot easier to sign up for classes next semester, since I know that I can totally handle it!

Work doesn't always suck!

Today at work it wasn't as bad as it had been. Maybe it's because I'm getting the hang of things, maybe it's because it was super rainy and there wasn't anything to do, maybe it was because I'm now determined to get through it. Whatever the reason, I didn't mind being there today, and got to know some of the closers a bit better.

There was a crazy woman who came in needing someone to talk to about nothing and everything. That was interesting. Since I have no amusing anecdotes about it, you can tell just how interesting the topics actually were.

I have to be back there in 6 and a half hours, so now it's bed time. Full day tomorrow, maybe I'll scare you with all I have on my plate in the millisecond I have free.

The Andrews Sisters

I'd gotten a little worried that I was right about the daisies being over-crowded in the pot I had them in the other day when I went to water them and I noticed that the magenta ones were a little droopy and their stems weren't as strong as the other two.

I took a look at their placement, and decided that maybe they were getting a little too much direct sunlight. That part of the porch really gets the sunlight all afternoon, and that may not be so necessary. So I switched them to the other side of the porch that still gets lots of sunlight, but gets some nice indirect light for a lot of the day as well.

That seems to be all that it needed, because just the next day those ladies were standing up straight and their stems were as strong as ever. I'm a very proud mother.

Ikea Survey

I just took this Ikea survey for a chance to win a $100 gift card. I was told at the beginning that it would take about 10 minutes to complete.

I finished in 8.

I definitely feel accomplished.

It's taken me 3 minutes to post this though, does that mean it's a wash?

Ch-Ch-Changes

Lots of things happening over here, yet nothing that feels so much like I'm actually doing anything and making progress. Not getting that feeling of accomplishment is rather frustrating to me, so I decided to make a sort of checklist of things that I can do daily to see the check marks and the progress that I'm making.

Here's a sampling or what I've got...

SUNDAY CHECKLIST

☐ 20 Minutes of Physical Activity.
☑ Prepare Lunch for Tomorrow.
☐ Get to bed before Midnight.
☑ Drink Half a Jug of Water.
☑ Eat Breakfast.
☑ 15 minutes Cleaning.
☑ Water Plants.
☐ Write a Blog.
☑ Brush Teeth AM.
☑ Do Homework.
☑ Put lotion on.
☐ Brush Teeth PM.

Other than the 20 minutes of Physical Activity, I will be able to check each of those off tonight! Not too bad for my first day, huh? There are a few things that I took off of this list because they are for me, but I have those checked off as well. I have to admit, I'm impressed.

Anything you think I need to add?

I've got another blog.

I bet you didn't know that I've got a review blog!

Ravishing Review is me, Mallory and Lexi. Though when we get good stuff from other people we include that as well. We're not professionals, and we are human. Oh, and we have excellent taste in movies that aren't always understood as they should be by wide audiences.

Edit: I should probably include that these are movie reviews, and the latest is Sunshine Cleaning. We welcome comments and discussion as long as it is respectful, I'd say we even encourage it!

Some movies you should see!

In theatres now.

Sunshine Cleaning



I thought that I might have built this up too much in my mind before seeing it, and it proved to not be the case at all. The parts that impacted me were not at all the parts that I'd anticipated would from the preview.

On Hulu now!

Crawford



I've read some things about how skewed this is by only showing the town after Bush moved, but I think it's an interesting story none the less. One aspect of it actually makes me want to teach in a situation that the featured teacher is in.

Before the Music Dies



Fascinating look at the record industry. I'd originally typed "music industry," but then I remembered something that one of the guys in the movie said and corrected myself. This is now 4 years old, and I think that things have changed a little bit more in favor of the artist since then, but I don't really know enough about it to commit to a definite position. There are some points that I would have liked to hear some more about, maybe I'll write up a whole post about it one day.

Below is a clip from the movie that explains just why I would like to teach.

Anyone else love ModCloth?

I'm pretty sure that I don't really have the correct curves for the cut of these suits, but I'm a little in love with them anyway. One day I'll get to try something like this on and see just what it really looks like!

New Favorite!

While my thighs have a little more "cushion" and "give" to them than the model, I'm totally in love with my thigh high socks from American Apparel. I have white with magenta stripes. I've got them on with a dress right now, and they're about perfect. I'm sure the staying up part won't last, but they have so far which is good!

I don't see needing them much in the coming months, what with spring already here and all, but if there's ever a really good sale on them I might get some for the fall and winter!

Also, with this new eating smaller meals more often thing, I seem to be losing weight, so maybe my thighs will end up like the model's by the time I'm wearing these regularly!

There's a road leading somewhere paved with them...

I really intended to write today, something awesome and mind blowing.

Then I got up at 4:30 to be to work by 5:15. After my 8 hour shift I had an awesome Kati and Jeff day including Prum Brossom and Sunshine Cleaning. Go see it so we can talk about it, I'm going to see it again pretty soon!