Peacemaking

I, Katy, have done what I thought would be impossible. I have brought together a Democrat and Republican in sweet harmony. Pat. On. The. Back. I always knew I was a peacemaker. Ever since I was little I've been unable to withstand conflict and tension. It eats at me and causes me to crawl into the deep recesses of my soul. Perhaps that's why I could never be a politician...nor would I want to be a politician. Just watch me marry a man who will enter into politics and be a great leader. The next thing you know his presidential hopes are shot because someone read this blog and saw that I didn't want to be a part of politics. Do I give myself too much credit? Perhaps so.
So maybe I was more of an instigator in this dramatic saga instead of a peacemaker. I faithfully read my friend, John's blog. He's one of the bestest (love that word) people out there. Here is the web address. Someday I'll figure out how to make a link...but I'm not so hot with technology...though I do know how to work an ipod (though not to its fullest potential). I digress. Save it on your favorites. I do. John gave a heartfelt, passionate and somewhat (to say the least) emotional opinion of the Gulf Coast tragedy. Of course being the conservative that I am and knowing how my best friend would feel about this blog emailed Becky and said, "Do you want to read something that will make you mad?" and attached the link. Little did I know that Beckles would make a comment....a very very long and passionate response. Please go read it so you can enjoy the tension.
I must say that John's public response to Becky's comment impressed me greatly. Kudos to you John! The next thing you know, Becky emails John to apologize and then John emails Becky. There were lots of "you made a good point" and "you're probably right about that" and it was just a huge love fest. A freakin' love fest between Democrats and Republicans. Y'all! There is hope for the world! It truly can happen! Let's drop the extreme's of everything and begin to look at people as individuals. Fear drives people to say and do crazy things (aka. politicians). Fear can bring out the best and the ugliest in everyone. Too often we see the ugly and the media is only too quick and happy to share those stories. What the heck did Barbara Bush say? Mercy! Blah, whatever.
So let's lift up our glasses and give three cheers for hope and peace!

Hurricane Katrina

The news and reality of Hurricane Katrina is more devastating than any of us can imagine. A good friend of mine's husband went down there to help with the rescue/relief effort. He said it was a living hell and that it's worse than it appears on television. But he also mentioned how amazing it is to see so many people pulling together and helping.
There's so much finger pointing and blaming going on that it makes me sick. How can we focus on that when there's so many people who need help at the moment? Let's get these people help and then we can disect the federal and local governments.
I'm going to choose to focus on the more positive stories. Going home to Texas this weekend I was blown away by all the Lousiana, Mississippi and Alabama license plates. People are relocating to Texas and other nearby states. Reunion Arena in Dallas has become a shelter for evacuees. Many of my friends were able to go through their churches to help feed, cloth and comfort those devastated by the Hurricane. They heard many stories of miracles, of tragedies and of hope. Those are stories that you have yet to hear on the news. I know people who are housing strangers in their homes because those people have no where else to go. There are stories of apartment complexes who are offering free shelter to families who have lost everything. Corporations and individuals are matching donations given to those who are in need. Yes, it is so tragic, it's devastating. BUT, there are so many people who are out there helping physically, financially, emotionally, etc. These are stories you won't hear about for a while.
Until then my heart, my prayers and my money are being sent for those who have been ravaged by the storm. There is a long road ahead. My prayer is that they are not forgotten once the news stories have stopped or a war between republicans and democrats insues.

Home Sweet Home

I will be walking through my parents home door in almost 31 hours!!!!! I have kept a countdown each hour for that moment for about 3 days now. Can you tell how excited I am to go home? It's been 5.5 months since I've seen the Texas terrain. Sadly my accent is gone and no one notices anything different about me except my over-usage of the word, "y'all." Notice I put in that .5 because I am somehow amazed by the fact that I've been away from home that long and yes, those two weeks do make a difference. Would I dare leave out the fact that I ran 5.5 miles instead of just 5? Heck no! I like to show my accomplishments or brag about my woes.
Things I want to do while I'm home:
1) Hug my family.
2) Throw the ball for the dogs.
3) Get a sunburn.
4) Lay by the pool and read a book while my sweat drops onto the pages and stains them.
5) Have a cookout (which is happening).
6) Shop in a mall.
7) Finish reading "Wicked"
8) See my sister's pregnant belly and new house.
9) See my future sister-in-law's bling bling on her left ring finger.
10) Laugh myself to tears with my best friend.
11) Get a pedicure/manicure.
12) See a movie in a cold theater after sweating from the car to the theater's door.
13) Run into a friend I haven't seen in FOREVER!
14) Learn to play the piano.
15) Go Skydiving.
16) Cure Cancer.
17) Meet Bono.
18) Get my haircut.
19) Take a nap while it's raining outside.
20) Be satisfied with my trip!

Chris & Eugene

I'm such a giddy girl at the moment. Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy are teaming up once again to create pure brilliance! "For Your Consideration" is bound to be the next cult classic. My friend just sent me this article about the movie and I am wishing that I could be in this movie! Does anyone out there know how to get to Christopher Guest or Eugene Levy or any of their peeps? Huh? Help me please! This is a major dream of mine! A movie that is slightly scripted but allows room for improv and character development = bliss! I'm a slightly talented actress who makes up for any lack of acting skill with good people skills. You know how there are only six degrees of separation? This blog could be only six degrees away from the eyes of Eugene Levy or Christopher Guest. Now I'm sounding stalkerish. Perhaps you could edit this article before it's placed before their eyes. Perhaps I should attach my long resume also known as "my body of work." They may be tempted to hire me merely because of things like "Dixie Hicks," "Mockupations," "Sable." or not hire me because of things like "Dixie Hicks," "Mockupations," "Sable." Whatever, I just would LOVE this opportuntiy. I'd quit my job and move in a heartbeat.
I'm thinking this could happen. If I prayed and God saw fit to make it happen, it could and would.
So join with me in prayer.

Stale Bagel

Today at work we cleaned out a storage unit to take inventory of supplies. Someone found a bagel with cream cheese that was left in a box FROM A YEAR AGO!!! That's nasty. She was inquisitive enough and brave enough to actually look at it. I was fighting gag reflexes.

Vegas Baby!

I must be the only person who has ever been to Vegas, not gambled and went to bed two nights in a row at 10:30 pm.
VEGAS BABY!!!! I'm probably also the only person who has ever been to Vegas with her dad.

Mayor Daley

Today on the way to a work event, we passed Mayor Daley on 290 driving to see the President sign the transportation bill. I must say that I was pretty excited. I knew something was up when we passed a navy blue Ford car and the driver had one of those clear spiral earpieces in his ear. The next car up we see Mayor Daley slouched in the back seat having a deep conversation with one of his advisors (or who I assume to be an advisor).
So you know what I did? I totally pulled a Footloose. I rolled down the window (I was in the front passenger seat) and began waving my arms at Mayor Daley. Then he rolled down his window. The next thing I knew I had my right leg out the window and aimed it towards his car window. Traffic was moving at a slow but steady pace. At one point I had a leg in each window and was doing the splits while in my Britney Spears (baby baby) school girl outfit. My friend yelled out, "Ariel, don't!" and pulled me into the car just before a semi-truck hit me. Mayor Daley waved goodbye with a disappointed look on his face. You could tell he wanted me to jump into his car to talk about politics. I'm sure he couldn't wait to hear my opinions and advice about recycling, street cleaning and those damn parking tickets that haunt me.

Bleep

What makes a cuss word? And who the heck decided that these words would be words that had conotations less than desirable? So now I'm restricted from using these words freely. Okay, so many people could care less that these words are "restricted." But lets face it, it's me, Katy, I care.
I've also had issues with the whole middle finger thing. One person decided that sticking up your middle finger was something bad so now I'm not allowed to use my middle finger as I please. Personally I'm happy to use it as a pointer. It makes sense. It's the longest of the digits on my hands (which happen to be very small....yes I have small hands). I think the middle finger should be liberated.
Laura and I were discussing the whole cuss word thing as we walked around the block trying to quiet a friends baby. What if the word kitchen were a cuss word? I hear by declare the word Kitchen a cuss word! I'm not that keen on cooking, so it doesn't bother me. What if I decided that the name, Michael, was a bad word? See, it's all really subjective. Perhaps I didn't like a girl named Shania in high school, so I declared her name a bad word.
Now I do know the origins of some of these so called "bad words." It's just all really weird if you think about it for too long. I guess it's been one of those days.

Hot Box

The CTA is not on my good side this very day. The el was like one big Hot Box this morning. Why on earth was the air conditioning not working? It was nothing but stillness and hotness overwhelming us poor passengers. I could almost feel the germ filled air entering my lungs. A little circulation would have been nice.

Middle Child

Great news has descended upon my family this past week. My little sister is having a baby! Such incredible news. She was shocked, as was her husband, that she could get pregnant after being off birth control for only two weeks. Note to self....
The fun news is that the baby is due 3 days after my birthday. My niece/nephew and I could actually share the same birthday. Lucky kid. I mean to be able to share a birthday with someone as great as me! And Liza Minelli.....oh dear.
But my best friend, Becky, just informed me that my 30th birthday could be overshadowed by this blessed event. If you know me, you know that I don't like having my birthday overshadowed! Picture this, just as my cake is being brought to me with 30 flaming candles, Erin's water breaks. Now, there is a very very sad pattern in my life of momentous occasions or moments of vulnerability that are disrupted by outside forces. Knowing me, this would totally happen. But I'm not going to let this happen! If Erin's water breaks, I'll not let anyone notice it. I will hold the court! "Katy, the baby is crowning!" "I don't care! As I was saying, I am blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and fam..." (noise of baby crying). "What's that?" "Oh, it's nothing...yes, 30 wonderful years I've been on this earth..." It would be totally classic if the baby was born before or during my 30th birthday celebration. So I'm in a quandry of what to do. I LOVE big birthday bashes and I will have one by golly...even if I have to throw it myself. You think my future niece/nephew could have the courtesy to be born at a convenient time. It could be it's first present to me.
Yes, big news has surrounded my family this year. Older brother getting married, little sister having her first child...the first grandchild in the family, little brother switching highschools (big deal b/c we all graduated from the same school). So what is the middle child to do? I need to have a little action is this game. What can I possibly do to get some attention? Becky recommended posing for "Playboy." That would surely get me some attention in my family.
I am such the typical middle child. When did this happen?

Home Alone

There's something I realized about myself last night. Or maybe it would be more fair if I said, I re-recognized about myself. I feel so lazy and get antsy if I am sitting still for more than an hour. Last night I had to force myself to stay home. I could have gone to class but it was raining outside. It was the perfect setting to a night home alone cuddled under a blanket and watching a good movie. Well after an hour of that, I felt guilty and like I should be doing something. I ignored the call of the dishes in the sink and the soap scum building in the tub (not really). I literally had to force myself to sit there. I ignored the phone because that only leads to "you're doing nothing too? Well, let's hang out." And before I know it it's midnight and I'm just brushing my teeth before bed.
So now that I'm rejuvenated from a night in, I need a nap from a carbo-loaded lunch. I think nap time should be mandatory. I just need a quick 10 minute nap. That's all it would take.
Today is the most gorgeous day Chicago has seen in a couple of months. The torrential rains last night brought blue skies, low humidity and cheery spirits. I wish I could go read a book in the park today. I would even go running...I've been bad the past couple of weeks. Days like this make me love this city.
My little brother is coming into town tomorrow. This is the first time that he has come up here since before I moved to Chicago. I think we will have a great time. There are plenty of things to entertain a 14 year old (who looks older than me because he's 6'1"). I'm sure he'll want to leave home and come live with me because we'll have such a great time! He says he has a present for me. I love surpises.
I love GOOD surprises...let me clarify that one.

Despise

I DESPISE going to the grocery store. I've never liked it. I think it's because I become overwhelmed with the crowds of people and the many selections. I've never been great at making decisions (as I've mentioned before). So the grocery store is one big fat nightmare for me. Not only that but it's the juxtaposition of easy cooking with trying to eat healthy. Is there a happy medium. Plus I have a schedule that causes me to only want to eat cereal at night because I'm too tired to fix anything else. Some may call that laziness, I call it simplicity! But I did in fact visit Trader Joe's last night. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But it still overwhelmed me and then as I lugged 5 heavy bags of food up 2 flights of stairs I realized another reason I hate the store....BRINGING IT HOME!!!!! I miss having a garage the opened directly into the kitchen. Once again, simplicity.
I also had an overwhelming urge for Wendy's last night. When's the last time I ate Wendy's? I don't know! My roommate and I ate fast food in a car. I don't remember when I did that last. It made me feel like a collegiate all over again. You know what fast food chains I miss that Chicago does not offer? SONIC AND CHIC FIL'A. Seriously, what's wrong with this city? A Cherry Limeaide would be perfect for the summer heat!
Bad move #1 yesterday: Wearing white work pants that can only be dry cleaned when it's raining outside. I get annoyed at the spots that the shoes kick up on the back of the pants.
Bad move #2: Trying to drive to Target while Cubs game traffic was entering the city. Cubs fans are terrible drivers; especially in the rain.
Bad move #3: Eating Ben and Jerry's at 9pm last night. Why do I do that to myself?
Bad move #4: Turning off my alarm this morning instead of exercising. That's not simplicity, that's laziness.
Good times. All in all, life is swell.

Catching Up

I've become one of those annoying bloggers who never writes in her blog. It irritates me when I go to some of my favorite blogs during a desperate need to be entertained and it's old news! I am exactly that person. I'm sure no one visits my site anymore because they'll just see the same old thing for weeks on end. And for that, I apologize. Maybe I should set a goal of writing more frequently. It's the least I can do for my 6 friends who read this blog.
I've noticed something interesting lately. Ever since the bombings of the tube and the bus in London, the red line has been sparce. I have honestly had a seat everytime I've ridden the el to work and home again. I don't know if it is because it's been so hellaciously hot outside or because people are frightened that Chicago might be next.
I have to admit that if I were to think about it too much it would be frightening. There is a slight peace from the fact that each time I'm on the train there are police officers and dogs sniffing out the train. It produces perhaps a false sense of safety, but I'll take it over paranoia that's unfounded.
My roommate gets married this weekend. I guess she's not my roommate anymore. Boo hoo. She's already moved out of her room and my other roommate moved in her room with just seconds to spare. The abandoned room was much larger than Janell's old room. I can't blame her. I would have done the same thing. My cousin moves in soon and should be a delightful addition.
So we were without a couch for a good 4 weeks or so. It's amazing how much less t.v. I watched (not that I've watched much lately anyway). There's no central area for congregating and it makes having the opposite sex over a little awkward. "Hi, we don't have a couch....and I'm not particularly keen on sitting on my bed and socializing." I'll be thankful when my new "adult" purchases arrive....meaning NEW COUCHES!!!!! I'm such an adult these days. I even bought a new set of dishes. I'm slowly working my way out of having to register when I get married. That way people can just give me money. I mean give US...whoever he may be...money.
I ate too much pizza today. Goodbye skinny ass self. Hello sweatpants! I need to get a grip. It's got to be hormonal. I have a zit on my chin.

Nothing

I have absolutely nothing to say. Do you wonder why it's been so long since I've written in my blog? Because I have nothing to say. Perhaps this means that I've been experiencing a great lack of adventure/excitement in my life recently. That's because my life has been filled with work, exercise, work, improv, improv, work and finally sleep. I sound grumpy. I'm not. I'm just uninspired at the moment.
I'm hoping that this flyfishing trip I'm taking this next week will bring new stories and adventures. Yes, yes, you heard it right. I'm going flyfishing. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing but I'm sure it will be fun. Plus I get to spend 3 days on a boat with my dad, brother and his new fiancee (who is really cool). Until today I was the only girl going. So this is a blessing!
I've prepared for this trip today by getting my eyebrows waxed and nether regions waxed as well. It's all rather exciting. It wouldn't be a blog by me if I didn't mention waxing. Apparently it runs my life. I also got a pedicure yesterday. It was a rather expensive pedicure but it had been so long since I'd had my toes worked on that I didn't care. She was sloughing off so much dead cracked skin from my heels that it was flying everywhere. I honestly was pretty disgusted. But that just showed my incredible need for a pedicure. Now when I arrive in Montana, all the fishermen will be in awe of my perfectly pedicured feet and my precisely manicured eyebrows. Or they will laugh at me and wonder what the heck I'm doing in Montana flyfishing. It's probably the latter. But hey, I'm going to give it a shot.
For having nothing to say really I sure did use up a lot of words.

Now I See

This morning brought revelation and understanding in my life. I have been quite exhausted this week. I thought this was all due to helping take care of my roommate who had emergency surgery on Saturday. I thought this exhaustion led to a severe need to cry (plus I haven't cried in months) and irritability. Tuesday I forced myself to cry. I laid on my bed and put on the two saddest songs I could find and just cried for 10 minutes. I felt so much better. I just didn't want to be around people and found myself thinking such negative thoughts. Most unlike me! Then my appetite came back with a vengeance and it was unstoppable.
So this morning as I woke up and did my usual visit to the bathroom, I suddenly discovered that I was not crazy but instead just PMS-ing. You have no idea what a relief it is to discover that fact. I overheard a friend saying Monday night that there is actually a hormone in our body that makes us forget about our menstrual symptoms. Now isn't that a unique but helpful insight?

Katy's Secret

It's official. It's been measured (right there in the store). I am no longer a 36C. I'm a 34B. Tragic weightloss consequence. I might as well wear a training bra.

Appetite

OH LORD HELP ME!!!!! Not only is my appetite back in full swing, but it's turned into a monster. I want to eat everything in site. And even if it's not in site, I want it. From where did these cravings appear? Seriously, I thought the Lord had answered my prayers and finally turned away my obsession with food. It looks like the obsession has only grown stronger with its absense. I need another miracle!
To make matters worse, our organization won a big award this past weekend so people keep showering our office with flowers and.....chocolate of all things! We work for a diabetes research organization. We don't need chocolate here. We need fruit. Where are the fruit baskets? I need help to save me from myself! Doesn't one kind soul understand that an office of women needs something other than an entire huge basket piled with chocolate delicacies. Chocolate heaven. Mount chocula? Or wait, maybe the person knows women all too well. But I need someone to tie me to my chair so I don't run in the kitchen one more time to take a nibble of that chocolate goodness. Decadence people. That's what it is and I can't resist.
Our office looks like a florist shop. It's beginning to smell like a hamster cage though. Have you ever noticed that? Too many flowers thrown together in an air tight place and things begin to stink. It reminds me of rush my first semester of college. After bid day, the dorm smelled of hamster cage. Perhaps it smelled a bit of urine too. And it was from the gorgeous flowers! Perhaps the smell of the flowers will make me so nauseated that I won't want the chocolate anymore. Please Lord?!!!!!

Champagne Dressing Room

I made my second trip to Bloomingdales ever...and was it EVER successful! Or damaging to the pocket book...well let's just say both.
My cousin, precious cousin Lindsay, is getting married Memorial Day Weekend. Thanks to my sudden weightloss, my dresses don't really fit me right now. So I HAD to go shopping for a new one. Bummer!
Sweet Maria came with me to 900 N. Michigan for a little shopping extravaganza. We went to one store that ended up having an event. They offered us a mini bottle of Champagne. We couldn't turn that down! Maria couldn't get it open so she put it in her bag. When we were in Bloomingdales, she noticed that it was leaking.
So after trying on about 20 gorgeous and way too expensive dresses, we decided to try to open it again. I of course got it open!!! There we sat in this huge dressing room surrounded by shrouds of material sipping out of this mini champagne bottle. I felt like a high schooler sneaking alcohol...at least what I assume one would feel like. I was a good girl and was never tempted back at that age. After not having eaten in hours, the champagne bubbles made me a little tipsy. But we were such REBELS!!!!! Or maybe we were just dorks. Either way it was fun and made us laugh.
I walked away with a gorgeous dress that hugs the curves. Hopefully it's not too much for a wedding. I tried on some other fun dresses that ended up being "askanky." That's my new term for dresses that bare it all! Wouldn't that be interesting....me in a skanky dress reading I Corinthians 13. Mercy! Thankfully God loves me for who I am!

Unsolicited Compliments 2

Yes, another comment about my backside this week!
As I was walking to rehearsal on Sunday night, I passed a man on the sidewalk who so generously stated the following:
You are the first ray of sunshine I've seen all day. Thank you for that A$$.
And there you have it, it's a phenomenon! I just gently tipped my head to the side and kept walking like I never heard anything. I have to admit that it made me nervous.

Unsolicited Compliments

Let's hear it for unsolicited compliments!! Hooray!
Today at lunch I decided to go and buy some bedding that I've had my eye on (a whole 24 hours). I've been looking for bedding for over a year now and just couldn't seem to find something that really hooked me. I have been concerned about myself ever making a decision about who to marry because apparently I can't even decide on what to put on my bed. Well, things are looking brighter because I made a decision! Hooray!....on the bedding that is, not the husband. I haven't been taking applications recently. So I buy this bedding in the basement of Bloomingdales Home Store (love that place!). As I am about to walk out the doors I notice it looks really dark outside and wonder, "when did they get tinted windows?" You see, it was warm and just slightly overcast when I went to the store, but as I left, the darkness had taken over the earth and paid it's revenge by pelting down rain! Drama! So with these two huge bloomingdale bags in my hand I decide that I have to run for it. No umbrella, no coat, no common sense. I was soaked but thankfully my new bedding stayed dry in it's plastic wrap.
Here's where the highlight of the day enters the picture. As I am crossing the street with my bags, a man runs past me and yells, "WOO HOO! WHAT A BOOTIE!" I look around to see who he's so boistrously commenting upon. Then I notice I'm the only one around. So with a raised eyebrow and my head cocked to the side, I give an approving nod. You know it! The Lord broke the mold on this one when He created it! Don't think I don't think He thought it was special! (three snaps in Z formation).
I ended up reaching the office soaked with both of my booties: the one I purchased and the one that God gave me. Now I have the song, "Do you like pina coladas, and gettin' caught in the rain" stuck in my head. At least it's Friday!!! Hooray!
Moral of the story: God made us all unique and beautiful. We need to take what we have and make the best of it. Appreciate it....and of course WORK IT!