Orender Family Turkey Trot

My trainer was telling me about the new Steve Carell movie, Dan in Real Life. She said that it was funny but a lot of it was totally unbelievable. She said that Dan's family gets together and plays games and has competitions with each other, "I mean, no family does that!" I just looked at her and she said, "I knew it. I knew your family would. Of course you do." I can't help it that we enjoy playing games, singing karaoke and competing in the Lindsay Family Beach Olympics. I like that about us.

This Thanksgiving we're taking on a new family adventure. For the first time in YEARS, and practically my whole life, we are not going to do the Dallas Turkey Trot. Instead, we're heading to our lakehouse in Possum Kingdom to enjoy the First Annual Orender Family Turkey Trot! We even have t-shirts! Check these out:












We only had a couple of hours to design them otherwise I'm sure we'd design a logo. Want your own Orender Family Turkey Trot t-shirt? Sorry, it's a limited print. Someday these things will sell like hot cakes on ebay.

I'm thinking that I could win this race. Finally! I WIN!!!!! I need to come up with a prize for myself. Perhaps a new pair of shoes? Yes, definitely a new pair of shoes. Speaking of shoes, I just bought a fabulous pair of flat knee high boots. I kind of look like a pirate. But I like pirates.

What's in a Dream?

Kellsey, a friend I've known since the 8th grade, left a comment not that long ago on one of my posts. I hope she doesn't mind that I post part of it here. I left out the part where she said we were engaged to each other. She's married so I'm not too worried.

I dreamed last night that I was at your parents house with you for a sleepover. We were hanging out and talking and dancing around (with your parents). When we went to bed we both slept pretty soundly. THen at 5:30 you all of a sudden sat bolt upright and said "I can't stand it anymore! I've got to get up. I can't stand to sleep late and miss half the day."

That is so me! Most people close to me know that I don't like sleeping late because I love the day time so much and who wants to waste some perfectly good daylight?

I've never slept past 12:30pm. And when I did that it was after prom and I didn't go to bed until 6:00 am. I am also pretty competitive. I used to get mad when my old roommate would wake up before me on a Saturday morning. How dare she get a start on the day before me! Maybe I felt guilty for wasting precious time. Guilt? Me? And you know what else makes me feel guilty? Watching t.v. when my roommates are busy doing something else. Automatically I feel I'm lazy. I'm sensing I have some issues here.

Anyone else have any dreams about me they'd like to share? Kidding! No, seriously. Wait, maybe I don't want to know them.

My First Visit with Archer

I am having major withdrawals now that I'm home. I couldn't stop staring at Archer's sweet little face and those tiny little lips! His dark long hair is amazing. We're thinking it will probably fall out and blonde little curls will come in its place, but you never know.

Erin is doing great. She is an amazing mother. Mom is staying at her place for a week helping her out. I helped out for two nights by sleeping on the couch and making occasional comments without opening my eyes. I don't know how she does it. I was so tired sleeping on the couch that the thought of waking up made me want to puke. Being a mother isn't for wimps.

Pole Position

Saturday I went to the Nascar Busche series race at the Texas Motor Speedway. I'm a fan. I loved it! Patrick answered all 1,425 of my questions with incredible patience and now I can speak the lingo.

I was looking at the huge pole by the track and noticing the positions of the drivers - their position on the pole - their pole position. I looked at Patrick and said "POLE POSITION! Oh my gosh! I'm 31 years old and have just realized for the first time that the arcade game pole position referred to 'POLE POSITION!' Seriously, my world was just rocked." I shock myself sometimes.

Curb Appeal

Today I found my co-worker, Donna, pulling me up from off the cement sidewalk. You see, I had just misplaced my wedge heel on a curb. Wedge heels, way-to-long pants, cement curbs, traffic, three good looking gentlemen across the street and me are a deadly combination. I felt myself falling backwards and just decided to go with it. I hear that it's better to fall than try to save yourself from falling - that's when you get injuries. I'm at that tender age where injuries are becoming more numerous; for example, the elevator breaks and you have to walk down 15 flights of stairs which makes your calves so sore that every little movement makes you vocalize your pain. My poor roommates - except they too have sore calves. Our vocalized pain together is harmonic.

So I just went with it. I fell slowly and thought to myself, "I'm falling, so I think I'll just do it with flare." My hands were full of bags so I cushioned the blow by landing on my butt - a cushion like none other. I could fall from 15 stories and still be okay as long as I land on my derierre. Of course I had to stand up dramatically and smile while laughing to let others know I was okay...and that I know I'm a dork who loses balance quite frequently in public. I hate it when people energetically yell "OH! ARE YOU OKAY?!" and then suck in their breath through their teeth and make that SHHHHHHEEE noise. I mean, it's not like I hit my head on something hard (like I did last week when getting into Christine's car....and the next day while getting into Gina's car. What is my problem?). Let's just all ignore the fact that I almost fell into traffic. Hello! Happens daily!

Archer Brennan McCroskey

Here's the little guy's first photos!

Brothers McCroskey

Connor has himself a partner in crime. Doesn't "Brothers McCroskey" just sound like trouble? Erin & Chris have a brand new little boy! He was born just a little while ago. We don't know the weight, height or name yet but I'm sure they'll let us know soon.

Everyone seems to be healthy and happy. Erin sounded so happy but incredibly exhausted. She worked hard there at the end. She said that he's beautiful!

I do know that he's slightly smaller than Connor was when he was born. He has dark hair and a different nose than Connor.

I heard him squeaking while talking with my sister. I cannot wait to meet him!

More updates soon!

Baby McCroskey

My sister, Erin, is at the hospital right now waiting to have a baby! She called me earlier today and was trying to decide if her water broke. She went to the hospital and they said that she was in the early stages of labor!

I'm sad that I won't be there for this but I'm going home on Wednesday and will spend a few days with my brand new niece or nephew.

Be in prayer for Erin and the baby - for their health & safety. Connor and Chris can't wait to welcome their new family member.

I'm expecting a call in the middle of the night or a phone call in the morning. I hope it's a smooth labor and delivery for her. They predict the baby will be a nine pounder. We like our babies big! Everything's bigger in Texas!

I'm Getting Married in the Morning!

Here I am in my wedding dress for Vanilla. Please God, don't let this be the last time I wear one!

Wise Words from St. Augustine

My friend Kelly sent me a devotional with this quote by St. Augustine:

Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love and the future to God's providence.

My prayer is that I will trust God in all of these things. Choosing to trust, to believe and to have faith is so difficult! I KNOW God is trustworthy, believable and faithful, but believing these things requires an extra step of faith. I hope I have the courage!

Performance Tonight!

Vanilla by Kristyn Leigh Robinson will be shown tonight at the A Table and Chairs performance. We're performing at the Bailiwick on Belmont at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10. There are some really fun one acts and it should be a good time.

See you there!

Happy Early Halloween

Headshots

I had my headshots taken last Sunday. It was possibly the stickiest, most humid and steamy day Chicago has seen in it's history of Octobers. It also happened to be the Chicago Marathon...which got cancelled because of the weather. You know me with humidity. We don't get along or agree. They kept having to stop and apply more make up over my already pancaked face so I wouldn't keep glistening...and no I don't mean in that inner-beauty kind of way.

But it was so much fun and I had a great time. Kelly went with me and helped me be myself even when wearing pounds of make up and looking into a camera while being told to say "douche" or make sexy faces. I don't make sexy faces! I make fake sexy faces. There was a lot of laughter. Brian McConkey. He's the man.

And you know what? I just don't think I look like myself when I don't smile. So here are the pictures. (okay, link won't work unless your me. sorry!) I can't believe I'm letting the public see them. I could have at least picked a few of them out. But I like them. I can find a good three pictures in there that I can use.

And one thing's for sure, "Katy, you are in the running to become America's Next Top Model!"

Done and Done

The walk is OVER! I survived the mud and the rain to see the sun rise yet another day. And I was very bitter at that sun. Of course it wants to come out and play AFTER THE WALK! The weekend is a bit of a blur for me and I don't mind that at all. It was the toughest yet with weather, snafu's and other issues, but once again, God provided for my every need. And no one fell into Lake Michigan...another added bonus. Thank you everyone for your prayers!

I'm still in the process of recovering. It usually takes a couple of weeks. I hope to be back to my normal, energetic, healthy self soon. Right now I'm mostly lathargic and have a hard time forming complete sentences.

I'm in the midst of rehearsals for another one act play that will be put up next Monday and Tuesday at the Baliwick. I wear a wedding dress the whole time and basically call off my wedding. Good times. Playing her gives me a headache. Talk about tension.

My toughest line: "I had just ordered my two scoops of triple cherry chocolate fudge trifle..." Try saying that a couple of times. I also have a hard time saying "This isn't about the Hamptons, Adam!" It comes out as "This isn't about the Hantom's Dadum!" If I were taking cold medicine, I'd blame it on that.

I hope to be updating much more frequently in the near future.

Race to Cure Rabies

Event. Coming. To. An. End. Soon. Three. More. Days.

In the meantime, I'm going to go home and rejuvenate by watching a lovely show called The Office.

Race to Cure Rabies!!!

Happy Anniversary to Me

Today is my four year anniversary in Chicago. I still cannot believe I've been here this long. Sometimes it seems like minutes ago that my dad and I drove away with a uhaul attached to my car. Other days it feels like a lifetime ago. I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams since I've been here.

This is a picture of me and my dear friend, Kathie, just a month or two after I moved. She let me sleep on her couch for four and a half months. Now that's a friend!

Four years. So much can happen in four years. High school lasts four years. College lasts four years (or five for some). I wonder what will happen in the next four years?

Four years ago the Cubs were so close to going to the world series. My friend, Chris Montgomery, and I wandered the streets next to Wrigley Field and saw the Cubs implode. Same thing happened this year. I need to find those pictures! I think they are on my other computer. I'll post them soon.


Tony Romo just threw an interception. DANGIT!

Update: Cowboys won in the last second! I was a complete wreck watching it. It took me a while to settle down afterwards. I think I'm still giddy.

Burn It!

Last night I went to a fun event for work. Unfortunately we had to wear the ugliest shirts I have ever seen. They were made of 100% polyester and were the shade of a flesh-colored band-aid. No one on the face of the earth looks good in this color. In fact, if you looked at me from far away I looked like I was walking around in black pants only.















Here's a picture of it. As you can see, the lighting isn't so great, but the company is! Those are former Bears players, Dennis Lick and Emory Moorehead (from the 1985 Superbowl Team). Oh, and Ashley too.

Disturbing

I saw stirrup pants at Nordstroms on Friday. STIRRUP PANTS!

Periods. They Don't Just End Sentences

Wednesday night was one of those perfect girls nights. Kelly picked up me and Alyson from work and we began our plans of dinner and a Target run. What girl doesn't need a black velour leisure suit to help her through the frigid Chicago winter?

Dinner was met with tears as we all talked about what's going on in our lives. We had to cheer each other up somehow, so the topic turned to when we started our first periods. The moral of the story is that if we could make it through our first periods in our pre-teen days, then surely we'll make it through what's going on in our lives now.

I detested any talk about periods when I was in those fragile stages of 10 and 11 years old. It had to do with the changing of my body and would eventually lead to "the talk." My mom tried to talk to me about it several times but I always cut her off with a "I KNOW ALREADY MOM!" It's true, I did know. I just picked up on things at school: discussions, stories, innuendos. I was a pretty perceptive child. I spent most of my time observing and listening to others.

I remember we had a special talk at school for girls only. The teachers gathered us into the auditorium and proceeded to tell us about the menstrual cycle and changes we could be expecting in the near future. You could order this neat little box filled with pads, pamphlets and a resourceful book on life changes. They must have sent a letter home to the parents because my mom ordered on for me and one for my sister. I remember getting the brown box filled with the goodies and being utterly horrified. Meanwhile my sister was giddy with delight and couldn't wait to read more about "life changes" out loud from the book. My sister was the kind of girl who couldn't wait to play dress up and wear my mothers heals and jewelry. I was more inclined to throw the football around and ask the boys at school to punch me in the stomach to show them I was tough. I wasn't an extreme tomboy. Most wouldn't have classified me as one by looking at me. My appearance didn't give me away, except for that unfortunate hair cut that left me with a mullet in fourth grade. Tragic and a story for another time.

First periods are startling, overwhelming, exciting and horrifying all at once. How are they exciting? I don't know. I just know that most mom's have an innate knowledge that tells them they need to act excited when their daughters tell them they started their period. It's a "My girl is so grown up!" "You're a woman!" But we all know now what our mothers were really thinking: "And here innocence ends and high-maintenance begins." Welcome to a life of water-retention, insatiable chocolate cravings, hot pads and maxi pads, midol and the fear of leakage. Goodbye white pants during certain times of the month. Hello mood swings.

If dealing with being a teenager wasn't hard enough, girls had to deal with their periods. I remember sixth grade being an especially rough time for girls who were new to menstrual cycles. Not everyone had started yet but it was obvious if you had. If a girl made the march to the bathroom carrying her purse, there were hushed whispers or unspoken thoughts of "she must be a slut." And heaven forbid that a guy got ahold of your purse and looked through it! What if he found a pad?!

Praise God for the day that I first learned how to use a tampon. It's been nothing but freedom ever since. Try going to a summer camp for 4 weeks during the summer and having to take swim class the first day of your period. How many excuses can one make up? You quickly learn to embrace the tampon. Some girls' mothers show them how to use it. Others just follow the instructions in the box and try to figure out the pictures. Most of our first thoughts were, "This can't be right. I'm supposed to stick this where?"

If only I knew back then that one day I would be laughing over dinner with my friends talking openly about my period, it wouldn't have seemed so daunting. I can't wait for the day when I can order a fun package for my daughter and explain the joys of womanhood. She'll probably scream back at me "I KNOW ALREADY MOM!" And I'll just think to myself, "That's my girl."

Restored

You know what? I have THE greatest family and friends. I have felt so loved over the last few days. I finally have my head on straight! My parents did a GREAT job of reminding me who I am and they broke the record of negative thoughts that were running through my head. So thank you for all of the prayers, phone calls, emails and encouragement.

Becky told me to ask people for help. I ask for prayers of clarity and direction over the next couple of months. More than anything I want to do what God desires of me. But I need to remember that that doesn't mean I should sit still paralyzed with fear that I'll do the wrong thing, or worst of all, fail. Failure haunts me. I don't fail often and that must be why it seems like a huge monster. I run from it sometimes. But isn't better to have failed trying than never to have tried at all? I should cross-stitch that into a pillow. It's sure to be a famous quote. What? Someone else said that already? Scratch that idea.

The posts are sporadic these days. Work is a bit busier than usual but it should only last for a couple more weeks. Then you'll have my usual array of daily commentary from yours truly.