Life's Hard Y'all...Sometimes

It's been a really long and hard week. How can a difficult time also be so cathartic? I cried so hard and for so long last night that I woke up this morning and looked like I had been punched in the face. I could really use some cucumbers on the eyes right now. And I have never used so many kleenexes in my life. When I was done with one I'd just throw it towards the trash can in my room. I began crying again because I couldn't even make a basket with my kleenex. It was a very pathetic couple of hours.

And you know I journaled like mad. I used BIG FAT CAPITAL LETTERS with lots of exclamation points!!!! and double underlining. Such release!

The good news is that my parents are coming in town tomorrow morning! What perfect timing. I could use some TLC from the parentals.

Lake Winnipesaukee Pictures

Here are a few lovely pictures from our trip. They basically tell the story of eating, sleeping, reading and talking.



Here we are snuggled up which was our nightly ritual.



And this was us all weekend. I finished Harry Potter by the way and cried like a baby. So good!



The storm was an added blessing. I could read all day and not feel bad about it.

This is our first day. We're soaking up the last of the warm sun.



I made fire! I am so proud!



At the boat races.



My own personal boat race. I won!



I have nothing else to say about this.

3-0!

My game time party was a huge success last night! What I mean is that the COWBOYS WON! It was a huge victory as well. I mostly celebrated with Texans last night and a couple of people who could have cared less about football (aka. What's the Heisman Trophy?). That win was HUGE! I felt sorry for the Bears because I do love them, but I have to cheer for my hometown team!

I heart Wade Phillips.


My dad and I IM'd each other throughout the game last night. Here's a sneak peek at our conversation:


Me: Romosexuals unite!

Me: Uh oh (Romo threw and interception)

Dad: Yippeekaiyeah (we got it back)

Dad: Oh sh-- (something bad happened. I can't remember. Oh wait! The blocked field goal attempt)

Me: Dammit to hell! (Grandma's favorite)

Dad: Jerkasses (Grandma's second favorite)

Me: Romo! Help us!

Me: Penalties! (could there have been anymore? I submit that there could not!)

Dad: Yankee devils!

Me: Aw Yeah! (probably scored)

Me: Eastern Illinois (dad and Romo share this place)

Dad: Cradle of Football!

Dad: Viva los vaqueras!

Dad: Any tears yet from the bear fans?

Me: They went to bed.

Dad: This game takes my mind off of Notre Dame and Arkansas

Me: We needed something

Me: This gets better and better (27-10 Cowboys)

Dad: Friggin Great! (34-10 Final)



Amen.

Signature Room

Sometimes my job has it's perks.

Recipe Time

For those of you who asked:

Texas Caviar
The best for nights at the ranch, holidays, or fun parties with friends…

2 Cans Black Eyed Peas, drained and rinsed
1 Can Rotel, drained
1 Red Onion
1 Green Pepper
1 Avocado
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
½ C Italian Dressing
Lime Juice to taste

Mix all ingredients in large bowl, then add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with tortilla chips.

HodgePodge:
Perfect for a cold day, party with friends and even best served as leftovers...

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium white onion chopped
1 can rotel (diced tomatoes and green chiles)
2 cans stewed tomatoes
4 cans minestrone soup

Brown beef & onions together in a large pot. Drain grease. Add all other ingredients (no need to drain cans) and mix together. Add water (1 inch above other ingredients or to your preference). Heat on high until it bubbles. Serve in a big bowl with grated cheese and crackers.

**You can also add other ingredients like corn, beans, etc.

Cowboys vs. Da Bears

Sunday is a BIG football day! It's even bigger for a girl with a Texas heart who happens to also live in Chicago. Sunday night the Dallas Cowboys visit Chicago to take on the Bears. We all know that the Dallas Cowboys are America's team. Oh don't dispute it. I dare you to say it to my face while I'm holding a picture of the late Tom Landry.











sidenote: I've met Tom Landry. He's a great man who did amazing things with his life and the lives of others until the very end. This man also made the Fedora what it is today.

Then there's the Chicago Bears who had a great 2006 season and came so close to bringing home a Super Bowl Championship. I'm a fan of both. So I'm a winner either way on Sunday. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm a bigger Cowboys fan.

So here's my plea:

Does anyone have tickets to the Bears/Cowboys game on Sunday that they'd like to bestow upon me? Or how about sell me at a price of less than $250 (the going rate for the cheap seats)? I've never been to Soldier Field and this guarantees to be an awesome match up. If I don't go to the game I'm definitely having a party. Food will consist of my two favorites: Texas Caviar and HodgePodge.

Birthday Shout Out's

Happy Birthday to two of my favorite people in the world: Auntie and Andrew! So their birthdays were actually yesterday but I tend to hold the belief that people should keep celebrating the whole week!

I gave the most creative gift to Andrew that I've ever given. Well, creative might not be the correct word; it's more unusual. I donated a goat to a family in need in his honor. What 17 year old boy wouldn't want a goat donated in his name to a family in a third world country? Beats me! Now he'll have a story when someone asks, "What's the most unusual gift you've ever received?" I'm doing him a favor in so many ways.

17 years old! I still can't wrap my brain around it. It's hard to believe that this big kid is the same person as the little newborn I carried so slowly and carefully to the hospital nursery 17 years ago. He changed our lives that day in ways we never would have dreamed. The world is a better place because of him. I know, I'm gushing. I can hardly help myself.

Blaze of Glory

New Hampshire is gorgeous! My cravings for fall and all it's glory grew to an almost uncontrollable level. There's the smell and crunch of the leaves, clothes that make you want to snuggle, the smell of the fire place and crisp, cool mornings. I just described New Hampshire.

Our trip basically consisted of napping, eating, talking, reading, napping, laughing, talking, reading, eating, eating, napping, laughing, talking, and reading. Busy busy! I did find a little time to shower, kayak, and watch an antique boat race.

But my most proud moment had to be the fire I built! Saturday was really crisp and the lakehouse had no heat. The large fire place was our only source of heat except for the mounds of quilts we had piled on top of us. I reached back into the files of my days as a camper. Building a fire is a true test of survival capabilities. There were no Starter Logs to help this girl! Armed with some newspaper, a lighter and a pile of wood, I set to work to build one of the largest and most fantastic-blazing fires one has ever seen! Kristen and Kristin made smores from a hanger. It really was a beautiful thing. I couldn't keep my eyes off of it. It was my pet project. I patiently prodded the burning logs to make sure the flames would not die out. I carefully calculated the timing and position of the next log to be placed upon the fire. You would have thought I was a man.

I'll post pictures soon and you can see my pride and joy.

Boston or Bust

I travel more than most people I know. But it's one of my favorite things about my life so I can't complain.

Tomorrow morning I'm taking the first flight out to visit my friend, Kristin Adams. My other friend, Kristen, is going too. See how those names are the same but spelled differently? Yep, that's how we tell them apart.

We're going to Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire. I don't even know how to spell it correctly. I'm pretty sure that's wrong but you get the point. Apparently Uncle Buck was filmed at that Lake. You know what else is a great movie with a lake? What About Bob?. Who doesn't love that movie?!

Update: My friend was confused when she said Uncle Buck. She was thinking What About Bob?. How can those movies be confused for one another? And I did indeed spell Lake Winnipesaukee incorrectly. But I just corrected it here. See?

Some of my favorite What About Bob? quotes: "I'm sailing!" "DR. MARVIN! DR. LEO MARVIN!" "Baby steps to the elevator. Baby steps to the..." "Mmmmm. MMMMMMMM. MMMMMmmmmmmm. Mm. Mm. MMMMMM!"

A Letter to Office Max

Dear Office Max,

You have really sturdy and strong bright red boxes with handles cut out and it makes it really easy to carry things. I know you ship us paper in them but I think they make transporting materials from meetings quick and easy!

I just have one complaint. Visualize with me for a second if you will. It's a beautiful day: cool, sunny, clear and bright. It's a perfect day for football, except I'm at work. I have on my favorite brown blazer jacket (but much more awesome than a blazer. blazer may be giving you a bad mental image. it's cute is what i'm saying.) from Anthropolgie. I wear it with my favorite off-white work pants that are too big but oh so comfortable. I'm looking sharp and ready to persuade people to raise thousands of dollars for a good cause. I get to my meeting location except they have me walking all over creation (it's a University Hospital). I finally reach my destination, give a presentation and reach home just in time to go to the bathroom. I don't want to go to the bathroom in a hospital, you know, sick people. So when I do it's the first time I notice the front of my pants. It looked like I had spilled red powder all over the front of my pants. WHAT IS THIS?!!! Oh my goodness, it's the red box! It rubbed off it's ink all over the front of my favorite off-white work pants! Did the people at the meeting recognize it? Is that why that cute guy at the back of the room was smiling at me? No one said anything! And then there was that girl when I was filling my car up with gas. She gave me a look like, "been one of those days..." I thought she meant her, NOT ME! And my doorman! He probably thought I started my period. It wasn't period! I wanted to shout IT'S THE BRIGHT RED BOX FROM OFFICE MAX!

Thankfully I have my self-esteem and a small shred of dignity left. I quickly changed clothes because I had a check presentation that involved a photo shoot for the newspaper! See what I mean? Need I say more?

Sincerely,

Katy

Patrick Going to Haiti...a Country That Rhymes with Katy

Please pray for my brother, Patrick. He is heading with a group of people to Haiti today for a week long missions trip. I pray for their safety, peace, courage and that peoples lives are changed.

Patrick checked the travel warnings yesterday and saw that Haiti was added to the list of cautionary travel. It was added a week ago. Patrick thought to himself, well isn't that just GREAT?! Apparently there have been kidnappings of Americans. But they aren't heading into those areas. Thank God!

I'm so proud of him!

Here are more pictures from my weekend home. You can see Andrew in his big bad football uniform. He's #66. I just love Texas High School Football. Friday Night Lights is for real y'all!

Technology

I found a new use today for modern day technology. We all know cell phones provide constant communication, immediate availability, music options, picture pages and style. But this Friday night I discovered that they provide oh so much more: Escape!

Have you ever been at a party stuck between two strangers on a couch who love talking about kickball? What about stuck between two kickball-loving strangers on a couch with no air conditioning on a steamy night? Sounding more familiar? Yes, I thought so. What great joy leapt in my heart when I received the following text from a fellow party-goer:

"We need an exit strategy fast!"

Praise God for cell phones!

Cousins

Classic sequence of events!

The Final Word from Me Today

I'm homeward bound! I'm heading home to the promised land for the first time in five months. That's a long time for me!

Hello gorgeous sunsets, shrub trees and Chic-Fil-A! And let's not forget my family.

Know-It-All

Jason and I dined together during lunch yesterday. We are definitely very different people but somehow we have so many things in common. For instance, we both are INFP's on the Myer Briggs personality test. Less than 1% of the world's population are INFP's. We would rather have one on one conversations than work a crowd. We both improvise. And finally, we both love learning and knowledge.

During our lunchtime conversation about Hip Hop music I asked him the question, "Do you feel the need to know everything there is to know?" He does and so do I. I know I was mostly asking myself this question. But why do I feel the need to know everything there is to know? I often feel pressure to be educated and well-versed on a multitude of topics. Is it the desire to be right all the time? Well yes, there's some truth in that statement. I'll admit it. But more than that I think it's my desire to be able to connect with everyone. If someone starts talking to me about Roth IRA's I want to know something about them so I can find a common denominator between us. Or maybe it's "Do you know how to play tennis?" "Why yes I do! Let's bond over it."

I am currently reading A.J. Jacob's book The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World. The author committed to reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in one year. That's 100 pages a day = 4 hours of reading a day. It's humerous, self-depricating and has even taught me a thing or two. Want to know why the Lacoste brand of clothing has a crocodile as it's mascot? Because the tennis player, Rene Lacoste, who started the brand of clothing was known as "The Crocodile." He once won an entire set of crocodile luggage. And there you have it. I'm so smart! Can't you just feel us connecting? If Rene were alive I could connect with him by saying, "Rene! I too love fashion and clothing. I also have a killer backhand."

Maybe I am meant to be in school for the rest of my life. Or maybe that's why I love being an actress. I can play a doctor, social worker, cop, mother, student, ninja and politician all in one year. Just think! I'll know a little of everything. Just enought to make me dangerous.

Despair Blog

I've mentioned despair.com a few times in my blog. It's the perfect website for anyone who has a slightly sarcastic pessimistic side. And let's face it, we all have one...even my mom, sweet Carol.

Now they've introduced their very own blog! Read it, watch the videos, laugh, cry and shake your fist at The Man. If I ever feel like I've been remotely witty in a blog all I need to do is read their blog to be reminded that there are people much more humerous than myself. That or they just have more time on their hands.

The List

It's out. It's been posted. The fifth season of Dancing with the Stars will soon begin. Do I really care about any of these people? Wait, what did I just read? Mark Cuban is going to dance. *she hangs her head and sighs* *she slowly looks up at the ceiling and takes a deep breath while placing her hands on her hips* Of course he's going to dance. We knew it was only a matter of time. Oh please don't embarrass us Mark. Please. One thing's for sure, Kelly Taylor will get my vote. Maybe by the time Dancing with the Stars has run its course every single child star from 90210 will have made their appearance on the show.

Jane

Last night I went and saw Becoming Jane with a couple of friends. It was okay. Nothing to write in your blog about...er...well here I am blogging. It really tried to hard to make something out of nothing. And frankly, Anne Hathaway was way way way too emaciated to play Jane Austen. Is it wrong that her collar bones were bigger than her breasts?

But what's really sad is that the author of my favorite love stories died young, single and alone. The very last sentence of the movie was, "Jane Austen and her sister never married and died young." (or something along those lines) How tragic! I turned to my friend and said, "Oh help me God!" If Jane Austen can't even get married...

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Who doesn't love that movie? "THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS!" Oh the joy.

I finally did make it to Birmingham on Friday just past noon. They lost my luggage and it took an hour to find someone who had a clue of what to do. I had to take a cab to the hotel and at that point I was just ready to shower and take a nap. I had had it. I showered and Becky let me borrow one of her shirts. I proceeded to go commando for the rest of the day. Needless to say, those jeans are now in the dirty laundry basket. Luggage still didn't arrive before the rehearsal dinner and thankfully Becky had an extra dress and a brand new pair of underwear. This way I wouldn't have any "Britney" mishaps. Later that night the luggage finally arrived and I brushed my teeth with glee! I did brush my teeth with Becky's toothpaste and my finger earlier in the day. It just doesn't quite get the sweaters off the teeth like a good Oral B toothbrush.

Note to self: always pack extra tampons in your carry-on luggage.

Note to self again: carry-on all your luggage.

Note to self thrice: A good friend is one who will let you have a brand new pair of their underwear.