Posts Tagged by random thoughts
Stuff From All Over – Special Monday Edition
| August 29, 2011 | Filled under Stuff From All Over |
Today’s post is mostly a “brain dump” sort of post for all of those things I’ve been thinking about but that don’t fit in anywhere else. Also I have a deadline first thing this morning and am kind of scrambling. Forgive me.
- I’m glad the hurricane was mostly just a lot of talk when it came to where I live. Yes, it rained but if you hadn’t said “hurricane” I never would have thought twice about it. Our power goes out enough in that area of town that it doesn’t make a difference how bad the rain is. We had some crazy wind, but nothing serious and other than a lot of debris from the trees there wasn’t any damage. Basically we got what I expected and I’m happy about that. I do feel bad for those who were hit hard.
- When in doubt, throw a party. There’s nothing a good dose of junk food, board games, and heavy mocking of weather reporters can’t cure. No board games? Grab some post-its. We had the most fun playing that guessing game where you stick someone’s name on your neighbor’s forehead and they have to guess who they are. This was even fun when the power went out and we were sweating from lack of air.
- I should have mentioned this last week in my training update, but my first training run went really badly for a number of reasons but the worst came after I finished and thought death was imminent. I felt fine while I was running but afterwards…it was actually scary. So I was scared to run again but made myself do it last night (latent junk-food guilt) and ended up doing just fine. I would even venture to say it went well. And so far? No DOMS. I keep waiting but I’m still pain free. Maybe later.
- I am going off the soda again this week and really excited about it. I’m also drinking water like it’s my job which you know I never do. Who knows how long my soda-fast will last this time (I think I made it 3 days last time I tried this). Let’s aim for 4.5 this time since I know I’m looking at a Lost Weekend and all bets are off at that point.
- Last night in a fit of “I’m over this mess” I finally actually hung my mirror on the wall. No more strangle angles to contend with when I do self-portraits. I think this will help me since I STILL can’t find my tripod. I think it was swallowed whole by a rampaging hippo. That’s the only logical explanation.
- They cancelled church this Sunday on Friday night and I was disappointed but never more so than on Sunday when I found myself laying around the house with a lot of things to do and no desire to do any of them. That never happens, for the record. But I sucked it up and watched Netflix instant movies and worked on my quilt (did you remember I was making a quilt? Cause it’s been on hold for ages).
Alright, back to work. Come back later for a real update and the story behind this picture:
How was your weekend?
Letters
| February 15, 2011 | Filled under Random Thoughts |
Dear Linus,
I’d like to modify your quote re: the Great Pumpkin to include Valentine’s Day. It will now go as follows:
“There are four things I have learned never to discuss with people : Religion, Politics, The Great Pumpkin, and Valentine’s Day.”
Thanks,
Kate
Dear all,
My car was in the shop for a little over a week and while it was there, so was my favorite chapstick. When I got the car back, I celebrated by tweeting about how glad I was to have the chapstick back. Only the auto-correct on my phone changed it to chopstick. And NO ONE called me on it. When I discovered the mistake, I sent out a blast to let everyone know I really meant chapstick. The immediate response from the general population was that I am apparently eccentric enough to form a relationship with just one chopstick. Not a pair. Just one. For the record, as long as they’re clean I could care less about the implements I use to put food in my mouth. I don’t have any unusual attachments to my silverware (or woodenware as the chopsticks might be). True, we all have our things. A single chopstick is not one of mine.
Smooches,
Kate
Dear Colbie Callait,
Stop trying to happen on my John Mayer station. You are not welcome here. And cut your hair.
-Kate
Dear Rihanna,
I know this isn’t your fault, but the fact that I have to buy your entire CD to get the one song I want rather than being allowed to buy the single from iTunes makes me dislike you a little bit.
Just thought you’d like to know.
-Kate
Dear Comcast,
Die. That’s all.
-Kate
Dear Body,
You are not as tired as you’re pretending to be. I know I was asleep before 10 last night. Wake. Up.
<3 Kate
And in case you need a pick me up today, here are two blogs I've just started following that I absolutely love:
Catalog Living. Have you ever been looking through a catalog and wondered, “who puts a giant piece of driftwood on their kitchen table?” Or, “Does anyone really have antique bicycles just chillin in the family room?” Catalog Living follows the antics of Gary and Elaine – the people who live in your catalogs. I dare you not to laugh out loud while you read this.(Fair Warning: I’ve never seen a swear word here, so enjoy often and publicly).
White Whine. We have white girl problems, sorority girl problems, and now you can have some whine to go with them. These have me cracking up. (Fair Warning: foul language included).
Lately
| January 13, 2011 | Filled under Random Thoughts |
I do this thing where I get in my car, put on the music, start singing and/or talking to myself. That’s not new.
What’s new is that I find myself gripped by this conviction that there must be someone in the backseat – on the floor, I mean.
And the horror that fills me can only be dispersed by checking to be sure no one is there. Once. Twice. Sometimes three times.
My fear?
It’s not that they might hurt me.
It’s that they’ve heard me talking to myself and now think I’m crazy.
Or that they’re sick of the song I’m playing.
Honestly.
I don’t get me either.
Monday
| November 22, 2010 | Filled under Random Thoughts |
Last night I was convinced I must be allergic to something in my shower because every time I take a shower I end up having sneezing fits. There are only 600 different products in my shower, so really, it could be anything.
This morning, however, I have an itchy throat and a bit of a sniffle, so I’m pretty sure this is not a shower-related allergy. I am, however, massively bummed about this turn of events.
This month has completely gotten away from me. It’s absolutely ridiculous how quickly it’s flying by. I’m happy, because nothing is worse than waiting for time to pass, but at the same time it would be great to slow things down just a little bit.
Anyway, I am really happy that this is a week I have no plans. I feel a little nervous admitting that because I feel like telling the universe that will mean suddenly 100 things come up. But I am going to do my absolute best not to make any plans at all this week because I need a break. And my to-do list is as tall as me.
I’m excited about the Christmas presents I’ve already bought for people. I love having so much of my shopping done this far ahead of time – I hope to make this a tradition. It will be really fun to have presents under my tree as soon as I put it up.
My goal for this month – a new twitter name. I like my current one, but I feel like I need to make it more transparent as to who I am. I’ll be taking suggestions, if you have any.
Because it’s raining and I can
| November 16, 2010 | Filled under Random Thoughts |
Meredith: …and now you’re looking at me again. Stop looking at me.
Derek: I am not looking at you. I am *not* looking at you.
Meredith: You are looking at me. And you watch me… And I’m really trying here to be happy, and I feel like I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe with you looking at me like that…
Sometimes rainy days take on a whole life of their own. Especially ones where I’m left alone with my thoughts for way too long. This kind of thinking is definitely not what I had in mind when I decided I needed to re-prioritize my week.
But it sure is fun.
It’s even more fun to find that Grey’s Anatomy has a perfect quote for what you’re feeling. Because I can’t take something too seriously when I find that Meredith Grey can sum it up in a few lines. Even when it’s from one of the best episodes of that show ever written.
On Faith
| January 17, 2010 | Filled under Random Thoughts |
One year ago today I met some missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
You already know all about how my life has changed since then. Today I got to celebrate this “anniversary” by going to church in New York City with the missionary who baptized me. I also got to see a few friends I knew from my ward up there. Over all it was a truly amazing day.
It’s really incredible when all the pieces fall into place. When I look back over my life and realize that so many things led up to this moment and that everything, absolutely everything happens for a reason I can’t help but just feel so full that I might burst.
I know that there is a plan for each and every one of us. I know that if we stop letting the buts and what-ifs get in the way and let our hearts defeat our minds, and really allow ourselves have faith in that plan then amazing things will happen. I know this to be true. And now I hope you will let go and find out for yourself just how true it really is.
On Bedding
| November 5, 2009 | Filled under Random Thoughts |
I started to write this post about cleaning. I have really strong opinions on when and how you should clean (often and publicly). I was going to share these opinions, but I just couldn’t keep from sounding really condescending. Many of my good friends (and family members) do not share my opinions and I was afraid some of those people might think I was referring to them. Possibly because it was a comment by Miss Fiercehair that got me thinking about this topic at all.
Instead, I’m going to talk about my new sheets.
Tonight B took me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday since she’s going to be out of town for my actual birthday. Afterwards, we went to Target. I’ve talked all about what happens to women when they go into a Target. I had no shopping to do, I just agreed to go along because B needed something.
But then I wandered into the bedding section and I thought, “Sheets!” When I first got here, my mother vacuum sucked all of my sheets and put them in storage. They’re buried somewhere in our storage room which is, in a word, terrifying. The Empress Dowager asserted that while I stayed with her I could just use her sheets. She did not, however, let me in on the secret of where she keeps these fabled sheets. I have set on my bed that I literally had to beg her for so I could wash the old ones.
Still, I know that of the 4 sets I own (even though they’re in storage) every single set is either stained (ink on one, mascara – not even MY mascara, which is the worst part – on the other), has holes, or is missing pillowcases. I know that you really only need 2 sets of sheets, but I also know that having more sets extends the life of all your sheets. Just like having additional pairs of shoes extends the life of all your shoes.
Anyway – I decided I wanted new sheets. But then I got into the aisle and started feeling the sheets. At the risk of sounding ridiculously pampered – how does anyone sleep on 200 thread count sheets? Maybe they get better after the first few washes, but how exactly do you reach that point?? They felt like sandpaper to me! 400 seemed much more reasonable – which meant the 600 were perfect.
Naturally, the colors I liked were not available in 600 count. Not that I wanted to spend that much money. And then I came across the flannel sheets. They were on sale. And they were ADORABLE.
They also were pastel pink with little snowmen and magenta snowflakes. For about 5 minutes I really thought, “I shouldn’t buy these because my future husband is not going to want to sleep on pink sheets that look like they belong to a 12-year old.” And then I thought, “No 12 year-old should have queen sized sheets.”
I finally settled on, “I won’t marry someone who would be such a diva about the sheets.”
I bought them. And I’m so excited about them that I’m sad my sheets were just changed yesterday. I would have stayed up until the new ones finished washing just so I could put them on my bed IMMEDIATELY. Added bonus: dryer heat. What a dream.
So for those of you who are wondering why I’m so worried about my future husband’s opinion since I’m currently single, it stands to reason that I’ll only get about 3 months of use out of the flannel sheets every year which, when you subtract the time during those months the flannel sheets aren’t on the bed, comes to about 1.75 months out of the year. At that rate, these sheets will be around for many years. Was this something that factored into my logic pattern? No. What really went through my mind was “These sheets will make me happy, I sort of need them, and they’re on SALE!” so I bought them – the diva part came later. Future husband can deal. After all, he’ll already be living with my pink kitchen appliances. What a great guy.
Four Months Later
| October 19, 2009 | Filled under Random Thoughts |
In my last post I mentioned having mixed feelings about living here. I am highly ambivalent about being here.
In many ways, this area is wonderful. I know where everything is and there’s enough new mixed in with the old that it would be hard to run out of new things to try. In terms of a future here, this area is generally safer in terms of the economy and job opportunities (there are many times I look around and think “what recession?” cause people are still out shopping and eating out like they don’t have a care in the world). The cost of living is high, but your salary/benefits are on par with that and unlike, say, New York you get what you pay for in terms of if you pay $1000 in rent you’ll have your own bedroom, bathroom, walk-in closet, etc. The schools are excellent, and there are so many opportunities for people of all ages – book clubs, sports clubs, internships, you name it.
Still, I can’t escape the feeling of being stuck. The pace of life here is faster than fast. I have hung out with friends because they “had a cancellation” and suddenly have a 30 minute window of time for me they didn’t put in their day planner. If you haven’t made your birthday dinner reservations and corresponding e-vite 6 weeks in advance, someone else will take over because you’re not making decisions fast enough (and at this point it’s probably too late to get a table, and half of your guests have already rsvp-ed to something else anyway). Here, there is no such thing as “not feeling like it” – you show up, you shut up, and you drink up (usually water, probably, cause no one doesn’t drink alcohol or iced tea) or everyone will be demanding to know what your problem is. Oh, but they won’t ask you to your face, they’ll corner your best friend and torture her in your stead cause it would require being patient and caring to actually speak to you about something directly.
And yet, that’s the world I’m used to. I love everything about the dinner parties and the drama. I love that “I can’t be photographed in the same thing twice” is actually a valid excuse to go shopping because I will be photographed. I love that people notice when I don’t show up to things and care enough to comment, even if they can’t do it nicely, because it would be worse if no one noticed or cared. I love that I have history here. I love that my very best friends are here. I love that it is impossible to go anywhere without running into someone I went to high school with and at the same time still be anonymous enough to wear my laundry day outfit to the grocery store.
But I want more than what this corner of the world can offer me from where I’m standing. In many ways I am stuck here. I think of it as a hole. Oh sure, I could climb out, but it’s so much easier to just fall back to the bottom and let everything be. I mean, everyone gets so annoyed when I kick up dust. “Well last year you did this one thing and now you want to do this other thing…what will be next?” (translation: “why can’t you just fit in our mold of who we want you to be and stay that way?”). Obviously, I am really bitter about some aspects of my life here. But it’s so much easier to just let it be than to go around trying to make the changes that will make me happy.
Which I think is why I keep thinking it would be nice to move away. I don’t mean soon, I did sign that 2-year gym membership contract, but in the future. Having a clean slate, with no holes to get stuck in, seems so tempting. It would be nice to get away from all those things that make me feel so helpless and frustrated.
The thing that most frustrates me is that I know this is where I’m supposed to be right now. I know this. I know there are important things I need to do here, and I could choose to walk away from them but I won’t. It would be like leaving the house messy and going on vacation. Your trip would be awesome, but the mess would still be there when you got back. And there are few things I hate more than coming home from vacation to a messy house.
So I need to be here to clean up the mess (so to speak), to do all those things I feel called to do. I will fill in this stupid hole as I climb out – one handful at a time if I have to – and I will seal it with industrial concrete so I can’t get back in. Cause as long as I’m here I might as well make those changes I need to make to be more happy about being here and less conflicted. Because I can change things, and it will be so worth all the effort. And for the most part I’ve already started doing just that.
What has been good about this period of my life is that I’ve learned to put things “on the shelf”. I have goals/dreams for my future that sometimes seem really far away, but I have put them on the shelf. I find that if I let myself wallow in all the things I want for my life I get too focused on what I don’t have and that doesn’t make me happy. Instead I pack them up – but they’re right there in a neatly labeled box so I can see them, and they are put away safely so I’m not constantly tripping over them (In case you are wondering, these boxes are all pale pink with neatly printed black and white labels). I can go about my day and not have to step around those dreams or step on them and then worry that I might have put a dent in them or gotten them muddy. And whenever I want I can take a box down and sort through it and see how it’s doing and how much progress I’ve made in that direction, but I don’t have to leave it laying on the floor or all over the kitchen table where I can be constantly bombarded by the overwhelming lack.
It’s wonderful to be able to enjoy each day and not let these things trouble me. It’s even more wonderful to have been able to open one box and share the contents with all of you. And now I will make myself a list of steps to take to achieve that goal and I will tape it to the lid, and I will put the box away and go on with my life. Perhaps in another few months we’ll check back in and see how things are going.
Responding to the Call for Comments
I read a lot of blogs. A lot.
Mostly, I don’t comment on them. I know, it’s a terrible policy. But sometimes I’m just too late to add anything meaningful to the conversation other than “I agree with becky, karen, kim, sarah, stacey, heather, (and so forth and so on).” Sometimes I’m too intimidated by the blogger to admit I read her blog, which is lame because I’m sure no matter how many people read your blog you’re still excited that people are reading it.
But every now and then I feel guilty about being so stalkerish and decide to de-lurk. Usually this happens when the blogger ends a post with a question and I feel like I have a good answer. Or at least something better than “I think you’re cool, I agree with everything you write ever and I hope by saying this you’ll tell me I’m cool too, please please please tell me I’m cool” or some such nonsense. Cause I see comments that look like that and they make me a little nauseous.
So last week I saw a call for comments in the form of a post that ended with a question asking me what I thought. I commented, which I have only done once or twice before on this blog. I spent a ridiculous amount of time formulating a good comment. I happened to disagree with the post, and I said so, but I made sure to do it in a way that I felt could explain where I was coming from rather than saying something that could come off as rude.
I checked back to see how the conversation was progressing and discovered a response from the blog author that I felt attacked me and my comment. And I won’t lie, I’m kind of hurt.
Yes, I know, the internet is a public forum and I went on her blog and posted something and she had every right to respond however she wanted. Just like I would have been well within my bounds to be rude too. But I wasn’t, and I guess I expected she would give me the same courtesy. I mean, she asked what I thought and foolishly, I answered. Maybe I should have known better and just kept on lurking.
The thing is, and this is a leap so bear with me, I tend to read blogs because I can identify with the people who write them. I love some of the fun blogs like Cake Wrecks, but those are also the first blogs I skip over when I’m not in the mood to read them. I let those pile up until I’m bored enough to get around to them. The blogs I rush to check every day are the ones where I feel like I know the person because they put themselves out there for me to know them. I try to do that here because I think that’s more interesting than just posting recipe after recipe. And because I get more comments on the posts where I bear my heart and soul and for me, that’s what I look forward to. I think of a blog as a conversation and when no one responds it’s like hearing crickets. I know I’ve gone wrong when no one responds at all.
My point being that I read this particular blog because I randomly came across it and discovered the author and I were going through similar things. We were both adjusting to living here and all the joys and disasters that come with it – like how the humidity has destroyed all attempts at cute hair. I had found a kindred spirit, someone who knew what I was dealing with. It wasn’t that I thought we could be BFFs and go skipping off to picnics together, it was just nice to know I wasn’t the only one feeling so conflicted about living here.
And my first two (I really think it was only two, maybe three) comments were well-received in that if I got a response it was polite and distant in that way you speak to internet people you don’t know. So I was just a little caught off guard when I got my tongue bitten off. Oh and I debated biting back, and I debated writing this sobtastic e-mail and in both cases thought, “well that’s just too dramatic, let it go.”
So instead I come to you, dear readers. And I beg of you, please, if you ask for an opinion on your blog and you happen to receive one that is contrary to the opinion you offered up – don’t take it out on the person. Don’t belittle, just shrug it off. I mean, you asked. Don’t get annoyed when people answer.