Heart & Soul... And a Few Laughs

New Blog- Please Read!

2011-02-04T22:07:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone,

I've moved my blog over to http://www.kaitlinwehlmann.wordpress.com
Please check it out if you'd like.

Cheers,
Kaitlin

Fashion Friday: Things I Should've Been Wearing to Properly Woo the Future Father of my Children

2010-10-02T00:08:00.002-05:00

Oh, my loyal readers! I'm so sorry to have left you waiting so late on Fashion Friday! Not that you guys don't have like a billion better things to do with your Friday than anxiously (or begrudgingly) await my FF post. But still, I'm sorry.

I've been completely spastic all week, ever since my nerves were shot to hell. Oh......... poor word choice. Is it too soon? Yes, it is. But I went there. And now I regret it. I'm doing a lot better in dealing with the shooting, actually. I've come to terms with it, and I'm only slightly afraid of that area of campus. So definitely positive improvement. I hope everyone else is healing.

By the way, the title of this post refers to the gorgeous man I saw yesterday. I may or may not have already planned our lives together. Anyway, I want to make up for this lack-luster week of posting with some ACTUAL fall trends. Not ones I invent because I want them to be trendy. So, without further ado:

Actually Trendy Things!!!

1) Studded Detail

I am a huge fan of this trend, as long as it is done correctly.

I own these pumps from Target. So, naturally, they are a spot-on representation of flawless, on-trend style. (P.S. I got mine on sale for $15.)

Okay, technically they're buttons and not studs on the Twelfth Night Dress, but I adore it and it's a Shakespearean allusion. So deal with it.

I adore this studded cuff. There are many like them everywhere, I just stumbled upon this one.

This cuff is another great one. It's not exactly studded, but it's still fem meets rock and roll, ergo I approve.

These flats are ridiculously cute. They remind me of "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" by Paul Simon. Except these are studs. On the tops.

These studded heels remind me a little bit of Christmas and a little bit of Rock and Roll. And I don't know how.

2) Glittery Things

This trend is hard to put into words, but believe me, you'll know it when you see it.

I adore this Sparkly Dress and I think it could be dressed up or down. So cute.

These silver pumps somehow seem like a holiday necessity I never knew I needed before now.

This top is kind of studded, kind of metallic... so I'll just lump it here. Because I exercise great care with Fashion Friday.

If I could have one birthday dress... Well, this probably wouldn't be it, because I'm picky. But I do adore the peek-a-boo sequin effect on this sassy little number.

I'm sure you've seen a zillion of these Headbands at Target and the like, but they are absolutely gorgeous and deliciously on-trend right now.

Can you say "New Year's Eve?" This Global DJ Gold Sequin Dress is the basis on which I would layer fabulous glittery dreams. I'm thinking a velvet black mini over top? Or maybe a loose, short sleeved black off-the-shoulder sweater? Sigh. I'm not even sure what I would do with that many sequins. A girl can only dream.

3) Speaking of Velvet...

Another trend that can either be delightful or horribly, horribly wrong.

I was picturing this mini layered over the sequin dress. Wouldn't it be cute with the sequined top and then the form-fitting sequins sticking out of the bottom, too? I certainly think so. If I was cleverer, I'd photoshop them together to show you what I mean. But... eh...

I don't know about you, but this sweatshirt looks like the most comfortable thing ever. I'll take one in every color known to man, please.

This velvet dress would be perfect for a holiday party or picking up investment bankers at a swank bar.

This jacket would be SO cute layered over any ole top with a scarf, some skinny jeans and riding boots. Fall perfection.

I want this amazing, luxurious, beautiful Winter Kate Ophelia Tunic Dress more than almost anything in my life. It's everything I want my fall wardrobe to be... except for that pesky price tag. I would die for this tunic. The name alone is perfection. Winter = my favorite season. Kate = my favorite actress (Winslet). Ophelia = Character from my favorite Shakespeare (Hamlet) who was ironically played by Kate Winslet in Kenneth Branagh's filmic adaptation of the play. I mean, seriously, could my life get any more circular and perfect? Clearly, I MUST have this in my wardrobe. Sadly... I think it should only cost about $20. Such is my life.

A) These aren't really a trend, but I've been lusting after them all week, so I thought I'd include them.

Necklace One is stunning and beautiful and I don't know what else to say. The two pictures are the same necklace. I just couldn't get them to line up 100% perfectly.

Necklace Two is intricate and beautiful and I lust after it. I have a thing with pocket watches. And necklaces that like to pretend they're pocket watches.

And that's all for me! Y'all have a great rest of your weekend, and if you're craving some sweet purse action, head on over to Big Mama's Fashion Friday where you will weep over her superior wit and taste in handbags.

Lighter Fare

2010-09-30T07:30:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been both uninspired and depressing these last couple of days. It's completely understandable given the circumstances, but I'm not going to dwell on those things anymore. My heart goes out to Colton Tooley's family and I pray for him and them. I know something awful drove him to do this and while I don't approve or understand, I still have pity for the boy. I hope all my fellow longhorns are healing and recovering well.

That being said, I'm not entirely "over" the incident, but I'm not going to dwell on it here anymore. So let's move on to lighter fare, shall we? Mainly, the unfortunate incident tonight at HEB.

Let me first paint you a picture of me:

Marginally depressed, dealing with ferocious allergies. Hair dirty and in a messy ponytail. No makeup. Intense allergy circles under my eyes. Messy tank under an open cardi and loose trouser jeans. All that to say: NOT CUTE.

I was frowning my way through the aisles when by the deli case I see the most attractive man I've seen in a long time. He was TALL. About 6'3' and was wearing a blue plaid button down shirt, nice fitting jeans, and brown boots. He had short, clean-cut brown hair and blue eyes- a fatal combination to me.

When I saw him, my mouth might have dropped open and my heart skipped a beat. He was gorgeous. I knew right then I wanted to marry him and and have his babies. Maybe he sensed me staring, but he looked up and met my eyes. He smiled at me and the heavens parted and the angels sang. It was beautiful. He nodded at me and I smiled back.

And then I realized I looked homeless, pushed my cart as fast as I could out of his line of sight and immediately texted all of my friends about my sexy deli rendez-vous. I ran into him later and again high-tailed it out of there because I was seriously repulsive. I am only barely passable when I actually try to look good, so when I don't try, I fall into the ranks of the forgotten/ psychologically scarring.

Anyway, that should teach me to "run to the grocery store." Nothing simple is ever simple, is it? Y'all have a good day, and remember to primp if you go to HEB.

I Don't Know What to Write

2010-09-29T17:40:00.000-05:00

Honestly.

I can't get myself together today. I'm kind of depressed and just blah. I know it has to do with yesterday but everyone else seems to have already forgotten about it. I just don't forget things like that.

I couldn't wake up this morning and slept until 12 but I'm exhausted. I skipped my classes today, but I think I'll make my way to my lab tonight because it just involves clicking on a computer and not talking to anyone.

I just want to sleep and for this week to be over. I need a break from school, but sadly, those breaks don't exist. Right in the middle of midterms. I really need to get myself together, but I can't.

Change of Plans

2010-09-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

I pulled my previous post to update.

I woke up this morning and started the coffee pot. I stretched a little, grabbed some almonds for breakfast and opened my laptop to facebook. There, I saw a status of one of my friends that read "Gunman at 21st and Guadalupe."

I frantically searched the news sites and twitter, and it was true. There was a gunman in the PCL. As of this time, news reports are inconclusive as to if he injured anyone else, but definitively: he has shot and killed himself.

Police are now searching for a second suspect. The University is closed and all classes were cancelled.

I am safe at home, thank God.

I am in shock. I am afraid. I hear sirens and helicopters. My prayers are fervent and desperate for everyone in the UT Shooting. Things like this are difficult, but I'm grateful and thankful that I am safe and that all my friends are safe.

Also, thank God for social networking, because I would've been heading to campus without it.

Beware the Groove!

2010-09-27T09:22:00.000-05:00

Gutentag, everyone! I hope your weekend was swell. Mine was amazing! Truly stupendous. So much so that I was beyond exhausted last night and therefore did not pre-write my Monday morning post. For shame, I know. So it's actually Monday morning as I write this. And guess what?

It is 60 degrees outside! The first day of fall in Texas! I'm so happy I could cry. That doesn't make a lot of sense. But I'm still groggy, so y'all must excuse me.

I'm sorry, did you come here looking for an actual post? Well, last Friday was Fashion Friday edition two, so go read that if you're wanting to see clothes that I want to buy. I spent actual time and effort on it. As opposed to this post which is frankly just a hindrance to me, since my real goal at this moment in time is eating my cheese stick.

Tomorrow will be a weekend recap and all will be right with the world. As for now, I'm going to go enjoy my cheese stick (confession, I initially wrote cheesecake and boy, do I wish that to be so.) and the amazing fall weather and maybe dance around my room until class throws off my groove.

Fashion Friday: Maybe They're Trendy, and Maybe I Just Want Them

2010-09-24T07:30:00.001-05:00

Hola and welcome to another Fashion Friday! Are you guys so proud of me that I've kept up my blog schedule for a full week? That's totally fine if you're not, because I'm proud enough for all of us. I really enjoy blogging, so I'm glad I'm finally making the commitment. I end up writing so much every day between the blog, my prayer journal, any writing assignments or papers I have plus writing for fun... Why did I ever resist my future as a writer? Silly Kaitlin, stable employment is for business majors!

Once again, I digress. Let's get to the fashion, shall we? This post is all about the trends I'm digging for fall. I've gathered the trends through various online snooping as well as reading some fashion magazines, but, be warned, it's a whole lot of "I want these things, ergo they are trendy." So take everything I say with a fashionable grain of salt.

Trend #1: Lace Detailing

Now, we all know that lace can be a little grandmother-y, but when done tastefully and sparingly, lace makes my heart sing and 21 years of girlishness come squee-ing to the forefront of my personality.

Ironically, this is Not Your Grandma's Sweater. I swear, I didn't plan my jokes to match. Anyway, I'm in love with this simple lace detail and think this sweater would be beautiful with simple jeans and boots or even a cute patterned skirt with chunky knit tights.

Oh my word, how much do I love this smoke and mirrors dress?? Answer: A lot. You might recall how deeply I feel about gray for fall. Wouldn't this look darling with those blue suede wedges from last week?

Trend #2: Plaid and Lumberjack

I kind of have a lumberjack fetish. I know. It's weird. I just like comfort of flannel and the masculine strength I associate with these patterns. So sue me.

How comfortable does this Lumber Jill Top look? Bonus points for the clever name. Modcloth never disappoints me there.

This J Term Tunic is a beautiful, slightly more put together plaid option. I would adore this with a cute brown belt and tall riding boots.

And how about This Rad Jacket? It looks so dang comfy! And it would be effortlessly cute on casual days. I want it. Just being honest.

Trend #3: Jewel Tones

I adore Jewel Tones and they are always in for fall, no matter what the fashion mags say. This is definitely an example of what I want to be trendy. I guess we could splenda-coat it and say I'm a trendsetter?

In case you didn't get enough adorable coats last week, I adore this Babylon Coat in this beautiful shade of emerald. Gorgeous.

How about this amazing sapphire-toned sweater? The name says it all: A Cozy Sweater Kinda Day. I would love this with some comfy jeggings and embellished ballet flats. It would be the fashionable way to basically wear pajamas to class, it would be that comfortable.

I am in deep, deep like with this Claudette Hat. The model kind of freaks me out, but I am too much in like with the hat to care.

This "dress" 1) looks suspiciously like a tunic and 2) cashes in on multiple fall trends: Jewel tones and feminine ruffles. Maybe it could be a tunic. On a good day.

Trend #4 and #5: Muted Neutrals and Feminine Ruffles

These three amazing finds just happen to all embody two trends. So deal with it.

As a coffee lover, I've been eying this Macchiato Dress ever since it appeared on Modcloth this week. So cute. It would look darling layered over a long-sleeve t-shirt in a nice jewel tone to make it more fall appropriate.

I adore this Petit Fours Glaces Dress. It would look so cute with the Claudette hat from above and maybe some pretty brown wedges.

This Smoky Eyes Dress has been toying with me for what seems like forever. It's just so beautiful and would look smashing under any pretty, feminine coat you wish to put it under.

That's all for me on this Fashion Friday! If you're craving more, head on over to my inspiration, Big Mama. Y'all have a great weekend. Go forth and be fashionable.

It's One A.M. Do You Know Where Your Cheese Is?

2010-09-23T05:30:00.001-05:00

The title of this post has little do with the actual post and more to do with the fact that it's one in the morning while I'm writing this and I'm really hungry. Specifically for cheese. But I will not give in to cheesy temptation, no way.

Something unfortunate happened yesterday (Wednesday. I know it's confusing. Maybe only to me.) I pulled a muscle in my back. The same ding-dang muscle I initially pulled while leaving California and hauling my two 50+ pound suitcases down three flights of stairs. I did this because my dorm didn't have an elevator, not because I'm an idiot. Unless you count choosing a dorm without an elevator as grounds for idiot status. Anyway, after the stair-lugging, I had to lug them uphill about 2 blocks to my ghetto rental car.

Then I spent a night in a ritzy hotel and the bell boys did the lugging. Oh yeah. Sadly, my reprieve was short-lived as the following day I had to do massive amounts of lugging through LAX. With that dang Miley Cyrus song on repeat in my head. Dang her with her catchy music.Dang her. THRICE DANGED!

Anyway, somewhere between stupid dorm and LAX, I pulled a muscle in the middle of my back, on the right side. Kind of where my waist is. That general area. I pulled it again like... a week after that, because I didn't let it heal properly the first time. And now I've pulled it again. THRICE PULLED!

And that's about all I have to say other than that I'll be sleeping on an ice pack tonight. Which will be great, especially since I adore freezing to death. I'll be back tomorrow for Fashion Friday! Ya'll have a good day.

Somewhere, in a Distant Teepee, a Tribe is Doing a Raindance.

2010-09-22T07:03:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Hell.

Okay, okay I'm exaggerating. Unless I was on another Caribbean cruise, because I totally went to Hell, Grand Cayman. But I digress.These might be the last words I ever write. Which is pathetic because they're awful and neither beautiful nor inspiring. Kind of they are boring.Which is a real shame.

The reason I'm going to die, you see, is because earlier Tuesday evening, the skies opened up and the heavens rained down and my shoes and jeggings got soaked. I protected my boho satchel and my choir music, but my poor, sweet Forever XXI flats might not make it. Fatality: 1

Since I was by the communications school, I ducked in to use one of the student computers and to wait for about an hour and a half until my screening. This seemed like a good plan until I discovered that it is approximately -7* in the comm school and therefore I no longer have soggy feet, but frozen, icy stumps.

And that's pretty much all I have to say about that. Other than that it's almost 1 a.m. and there are evil banshee women screaming outside. Maybe I really am in hell. Except not, because I'm pretty sure I'd be all on fire and all like afraid of Satan and stuff.

This is officially the worst post ever. Apparently the frigid a/c has frozen my brain as well. I hope you enjoyed my cookie post from yesterday. I'll see you guys upon the morrow. And by "see" I mean "write to and hope at least one of you answers."

The Carbs Are Worth It

2010-09-21T07:15:00.004-05:00

I'm an extrovert. Really and truly I am. I delight in the attention of others. I get my kicks not on Route 66, but by making new friends and telling jokes and making people laugh. That being said, I LOATHE group assignments with a fiery, burning passion.

I wish to fling my project (and some of my group members) to the seventh circle of hell! That reminds me of a story... When my baby brother was about 5, one Sunday in Sunday School, the kids were asked to draw a picture of God beating the Devil or something like that. My little brother came home with a piece of paper where God was saying to Satan "I vanish you to heck!" Because he mistook "vanish" for "banish" and he knew "hell" was a bad word. Isn't that just one of the most precious things you've ever heard? But I digress.

Where was I? Ah, yes, righteously flinging group members to eternity in ceaseless fire. Sweet. But all this hatred for my group members doesn't mean I hate groups as a rule. Au contraire. I deeply love the Women's Chorus and wish to serve them as well as I can. I was selected as Second Soprano Section Leader and so I really feel a responsibility toward the organization. Which may or may not have lead to me baking 107 cookies at 12 a.m. on Friday night.

These cookies are my specialty. They've made me more friends than I can count. The recipe is from Paula Deen, who, as you may remember, is the Patron Saint of Desserts. They are 3 kinds of chocolatey sinfullness and topped off with some heath chips. To die for, people. To die for.

First, you begin with butter. A lot of it.

Then, when you've stared at that long enough that you feel your arteries clog; you add some shortening.

I like to use butter flavored shortening, because... well... why stop at 2 sticks?

Next, you blend those two together until you make it light and fluffy on the outside. Inside, it is just as rich as you remember. Tricky.

Then you add helpful things like white sugar.

Then you pack ridiculous amounts of brown sugar. Confession: I loathe packing brown sugar;

But I simply adore the little sandcastle-like mound it makes when you dump it.

Then you give those sweet nothings a good beating. Then you add 3 eggs. Cage-free of course, for a clear conscience. At least as far as chickens go. You'll probably still feel guilty about abusing your waist-line, but hey, not my problem.

(P.S. Do I get bonus points for that sweet action shot?)

Then you add a teaspoon of vanilla. Wonky, awkward hand grip optional.

Then you shall lift your eyes up to the hills:

And you will see that it is good.

Then you segregate out a bunch of white powdery things that would probably really confuse Paris Hilton.

And now we can all take a moment to squee over the adorable measuring spoons my mother got me one Christmas.

Now look at the picture again, now back at me. Now back at the picture, now back at me. Well, you can't really see me, but I wanted to make an Old Spice joke. So sue me. Or, you know, gaze upon this glory:

Now, gather the troops:

The Mucinex in the top right corner is optional, but I think it gives the cookies a real kick. A lil' somethin extra.

Next begins Part 1 of what I like to call "Pour and Stir" because that's all you do.

Then you have to chop those cute little bittersweet squares.

And then comes Part 2 of Pour and Stir.

And after you think your arm is going to fall off and your spoon is going to break, you get this:

And it is glorious.

So then you ignore the recipe when it says to make 1/4 cup cookies. (Seriously, they're unmanageable.)

Then you bake them a minute or two less than the recipe calls for; you'll have to monitor for your oven/ how large you choose to make them.

And eventually, you'll get this:

And then you'll, of course, want to use the most precious, amazing spatula ever that your bestie gave you last year for Christmas:

And then you'll repeat until you have this:

Seriously, y'all? They're so good.

Here's the recipe!

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 3/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup milk chocolate morsels
3 (1-ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup almond brickle chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.

With an electric mixer, beat butter and shortening at medium speed until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in chocolate morsels and almond brickle chips. Drop cookies by 1/4 cupfuls about 3-inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 11 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool for 2 minutes on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks to cool.

And here's the direct link, just in case you want to print, etc.:

Three Chocolate Cookies

Y'all have a great day, and I hope you try these cookies soon! Or come visit me and I'll bake them for you. Either way, we'll all be getting fatter.

Well, No One Told Me to be Quiet...

2010-09-20T07:45:00.001-05:00

Guten tag everyone! I hope your weekend was swell. I had a great weekend, truly, but I have no idea where all the time went. I swear it was just Friday and now it's late Sunday night (remember, I write in advance now. Because I'm all like responsible and adult-like and stuff.) and I still haven't done much in the way of schoolwork. Oh well, guess tomorrow is another little-sleep kind of day. Just means I'll have to drink coffee again tomorrow morning. Oh no, how awful. However will I survive being forced to drink the most delicious thing ever to come in contact with my tastebuds?

I'm actually rather good at living and surviving on little sleep. I guess part of it is that I'm so much healthier now that I've changed my diet for how I need to eat and so I have a lot more energy. I'm not addicted to caffeine anymore, even though I still use coffee as the occasional pick me up. And because I love it. (See above: most delicious thing.) I'm completely off of diet cokes (I know, shocker.) And I'm just generally much healthier. So maybe that's why I've been able to deal with little sleep so effectively?

On Thursday night, I only got 5 hours of sleep, but I made it to the gym at a little after 8, worked out, and then showered and changed and drove to San Marcos to have lunch with an old friend. She drove up from San Antonio, so we were meeting half way and it was amazing. :) I've missed her so much, even though we try to keep in touch via phone calls, there's nothing like seeing her beautiful, smiling face. We have plans again for October 1st. I'm so excited!

After lunch I boogied my way back to Austin. That's a lie. I drove, like a normal person. I really need to work on my word choice. And also embracing the concept of editing. I had a little down time and so I did my quiet time and that was pretty much the last time I was quiet for two days, because then I went to the first leg of our Men's and Women's Chorus "Retreat." It's not a real retreat because really we all just take the Forty Acres bus to the music school. But I digress.

It was rather fun. I made a lot of new friends and got all SUPER! HYPER! because being in social situations like that turns me into a ham and I just feel the need to be the center of attention and tell all the funny jokes and then I'm like supercharged and have zillions of new best friends. It was funny because all the boys lined up on one side of the room and all the girls on another. Just like a junior high dance. I wouldn't expect choir geeks to be very adept in navigating social landscapes, though. Especially when those landscapes are ridden with *gasp!* the opposite sex.

We played a few silly games and some of the social barriers began to fall down. Then we went outside and a mass amount of men and women played capture the flag. Those of us that were too smart- I mean tired- to play in the 9 billion degree weather stood on the sidelines and bonded over our mutual detest for most physical activity. It was a great time.

Then I went to the grocery store with Kendall and then came home and baked cookies until all hours of the night. 105 of them. Tomorrow I'm going to do a picture post with the recipe so you can all have hunger pangs and sugar cravings. You're welcome. After baking, I finished re-writing a scene for my screenwriting class, emailed it to my class, and then fell into bed a little after 4 a.m.

Saturday morning, I woke up at 8. That means I got a little under 4 hours of sleep. Let that sink in. And yet, I made it to day two of the retreat without coffee or any form of caffeine. We sang for 2 hours, took a cookie break (the cookies were a huge hit, as they always are) and sang for another hour. We were in this amazing old concert hall tucked back in what was the original music school on campus. The acoustics were stellar. You might not know this about me because, well, this is a blog and therefore there are no sounds, but I can sing. Loudly. I swear, I heard myself over the entire choir a few times.

But no one told me to be quiet, so I just sang my little heart out. I think our concert is going to be beautiful. We have some amazing music this semester. I'm very excited and blessed to be a part of a choir again. I took my first two years of college off, but now I can't imagine being without it again. No matter where I go, I'll have to find a community or church choir or SOMETHING to feed my passion.

Singing is such a gift to me. It's how I worship, it's how I work through a lot of my emotions, and it's pure joy to me. I love creating music with my voice and I especially love adding my voice together with other voices to create a choir. It's a wonderful feeling and I'm very thankful that God gave me even passable vocal talent so that I could experience all these years of choir.

Sorry this was long and blabby. Tomorrow will have a lot of pictures and a delicious recipe, so that you can take a break. Although if you take too long of a break while staring at the pictures of butter, your arteries might harden. Just a warning.

Fashion Friday: Things I Would Buy, Were I but a Billionaire or a Size Two

2010-09-17T08:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Premiere Fashion Friday! How apropos in light of New York Fashion Week and all. This week's theme is very simple. Let's call it "Things I Want for Fall." Because that is the only unifying theme. EDIT: Themes could also include "I'm Obsessed with Modcloth" and "Shoes Are My Mistress."

1) A nice coat/ jacket. (P.S. my comments are below each item!)

I like ones that are military-inspired like this First Brass Coat from Modcloth.

Or how about this Military Jacket from Target? Oh that's right... I already have this little number sitting in my closet, waiting for the heat index to drop below 100...

I love things that are super quirky and weird like the Lady Obsidian Jacket. I have a slight obsession with all things Victorian, and this is just one of the most delightful jackets I've ever seen. Most of my friends would hate it, but I would wear it with pride.

I also love classic coats with a feminine shape like the Big City Blues Coat in Red.

And I am very Devoted To This Coat.

But my FAVORITE kind of coat (at the moment, at least) are coats with beautiful, frilly details. In the words of Rachel Zoe, I DIE for the Go Into Detail Coat. I don't know what I love best about this coat; The frills, the double row of big buttons, or the HOT PINK LINING.

I often imagine myself in a world where I had a closet full of coats. Coats for any outfit and any mood. Jackets for when the weather permitted. Colors and textures abound! Then I remember that I live in central Texas and a closet full of coats would be the biggest waste of money imaginable. But in that dream world that flickers in my heart, this Sovereign Style Coat is the piece de resistance! The crown jewel of my collection! I love it so hard, it hurts.

2. A nice, comfy fall dress.

I adore the idea of the Pleated Jersey Dress with a bright belt and boots. I tend to choose darker pieces for fall and winter, so I will choose grey or plum for many of these dresses, even though they come in other colors. This color is called "Bear Hug" so I'm really not sure how you could not buy it.

I'm all for a good argyle and this Argyle VNeck Sweater Dress is about as good as it gets. This would be so easy to throw on over leggings with some cute ballet flats for fall or boots for winter.

I am in passionate love with this 3/4 Sleeve Ruffled Dress because I think the ruffles would be absolutely darling peeking out from underneath a coat. I could just squee thinking about it!

This Academy Days Dress in Cranberry looks so effortlessly stylish and COMFORTABLE for those winter days when you hop out of your warm bed and you want to layer up fast.

Another effortlessly chic option, I love classic dresses like this Checks Mix Dress (such clever names on Modcloth.) The belt is already there! This would be charming by itself or over tights.

Now, remember that dream world from when I fantasized over coats? Be prepared to meet the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. I lust after this dress. I need to call on the name of Jesus to keep me from buying this dress. It is what I would want to be buried in, if only because that's probably the only way I can afford it right now. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit dramatic. Judge for yourselves as I present to you the Deep Within the Armoire dress!

3. I am obsessed with shoes. Here are some I would love for fall:

I basically love these Teacher's Pet Oxfrord Heels more than life itself.

And the Blue Button Beauty Boot plays into my love of all things Victorian, despite its unfortunate and rather annoying name.

I find these Get Your Kicks Wedges a delightful way to add comfortable height and a great pop of color in the fall. Side Note: Do these count as blue suede shoes?

And, to end with some beautiful boots, I think these Kagome Western Boots are wonderfully slouchy and are a steal at thirty dollars!

That's all for the first edition of Fashion Friday! I hope you all enjoyed it and I'll be back come Monday!

At Least It's Quasi-Informative

2010-09-16T23:47:00.000-05:00

Here is my new blog plan. Let's come up with a snappy title, eh? How about "Blog Writing Agenda Fall 2010?" No, that's not near snappy enough. "Blagenda 2010!" I like it. See, I smooshed "Blog" and "Agenda" together to make "Blagenda." This is the stuff of legend, people. So let's get to it:

Blagenda 2010:

1) Write a day in advance and set posts to auto-publish at 9 a.m.
2) Post Monday-Friday.
3) Totally and blatantly rip off Big Mama and do Fashion Friday. Because I love fashion and Friday and this gives my offensively frequent online shopping habit a reason to exist. Research for my readers!

So that's the Blagenda 2010. Meaning this post is the last (ish) late-night post and after this I will pre-write tomorrow's Fashion Friday! Squee! (Sidenote: I don't know what I meant by "pre-write" as I'm not pre-writing it, I'm just writing it...) So hopefully my new Blagenda 2010 will keep me honest and regular, like a good fiber cereal, and I will start to build my poor, abandoned blog back up to its former glory. And by "former glory" I mean that I wrote one really good post, and other than that, my blog has flourished in obscurity.

I Promise...

2010-09-16T00:14:00.000-05:00

I have a very ginormous post on my mind that I will be working on tomorrow afternoon. Until then, please take the time for some huge belly laughs via the recent posts from Big Mama, Jenn, and Allie. I've been in stitches all week thanks to these ladies.

Talk to y'all soon and have a great day!

I've Already Used That Phoenix Metaphor...

2010-09-12T09:00:00.013-05:00

My poor, sweet, abandoned blog.

My heart aches for the awful things I've done to you. I am an evil blogger and I have paid my retribution. Well, not really. But I am awfully sorry. And this time I'm not making any promises to hang around. I'm like a dead-beat dad. I do want to stay with you, dear bloggie, but I just never know when that wanderin' wind will kick up inside me and I'll leave again.

Except that I have done a whole lot of maturing these last few months and I'm, like, totally a billion times more responsible. Totes. The thing is, I enjoy writing. I more than enjoy writing, I love it, long for it. And it seems both silly and odd to me that I would let something as therapeutic and effortless as a blog go unwritten.

And so here I am, little blog. Here I am, and here you are, and here we'll stay. At least for a while. I also hope I'll eventually build up some readers so I can address them and not you, Blog. Not that I don't love you, of course. Just that, well, it gets lonely since you never talk back.

Xoxo,
Kaitlin

P.S. Do you want a new layout? Just wondering.

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the UT Website

2010-06-17T13:44:00.002-05:00

Perhaps I'm biased because I am a Texas Longhorn through and through. If my mom was dumb enough to join a sorority and if I was delusional enough to follow in her footsteps, I would be a legacy.

Luckily for us, instead we have a legacy of academia, fun, and accomplishment. So suck it, delta delta delta.

Anyway, the UT website isn't the best. It's kind of ugly and kind of cluttered and a bit hard to navigate. But my word, it is pure, burnt orange bliss compared to the UCLA website. I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. And I am pretty dang computer literate. I'm up with all the trends and technologies and I even keep track of the gaming world because it's now an integral part of the entertainment industry. I always have to help my best friend (holla, butt chic) with everything computer because I get it and she... um... doesn't.

Anyway, I can't find ANYTHING. Luckily, I did find my class info in an old email. So there are not as many things up in the air and I am freaking excited. The only things worrying me, though, is getting my rental car squared away and finding the proper parking and meeting my roommate. Because that can be touchy. Worst case scenario, I'd crash with some friends I have that are still in LA. If my roommate is a psychopathic murderer who wears lavender-scented things and shines her lamp in my face.

So... I leave in three days and have a bajillion things to do. Maybe on the plane I'll write about my crazy vacation and how we almost died at a small town carnival. Maybe.

And in the midst of this God-forsaken nothingness, I will fix mine eyes upon the cellphone towers.

2010-06-10T01:33:00.005-05:00

If you don't know me in "real" life, you might not know that I tend to both wax poetic and lean toward the dramatic. I don't have a problem with this. It makes my thoughts very entertaining to me. This is not to say I welcome drama in my life. I actually hate nothing more. All feelings should be talked about and expressed clearly in an adult way. I loathe fighting and I loathe being driven to say cruel things and having cruel things said to me. Words cannot be taken back and I think it best not to say things you'll regret and have to apologize for. But I digress...

Anywho, I'm starting to get crazy nervous about heading out to Los Angeles. Even though I've already done it, and for longer, there are so many lose ends! And this time, my parents are shoving me on a plane and I won't see them until I take a cab back from the Houston airport. I'm not having leaving-home issues. I love love love spending time with my family, but I also really like my independence. I'm having "there are too many open-ended things going on in my life and OMFG I LEAVE IN A WEEK AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

You know, issues like that. I need to do some super-sleuthing tomorrow/today. (Why do I always blog late at night?) I need to figure out some of these lose ends, because they contain so many possibilities that my head just starts to spin around because how am I supposed to comprehend all of these possibilities?!?! Just one of the hardships of being a perceiving person; always being able to see all of the countless possibilities life has to offer. But sometimes they can be overwhelming! Like now.

But I don't have time to freak out over possibilities because today ended the first leg of a family trip to visit my Grandpa and Uncle. We're up here in the Texas panhandle, y'all, and I'm shocked by how rural Texas still is. I spend most of my time driving from BIG TEXAS CITY to BIG TEXAS CITY and had just forgotten how beautiful and sometimes barren our great state can be.

So we're up here in the panhandle, and I can't say where because since there are like... 2 other people here, a stalker could easily track me down and torture me before killing me slowly and painfully and then committing unspeakable acts unto my slowly rotting corpse (I warned you I leaned toward the dramatic). And tomorrow starts the family-seeing and the food-eating and the good times that I really hope include watermelon, because GOD, I love watermelon.

And when I look out at the barren highway and the rolling plains up here, it's hard to stress about all these nebulous futures looming over my time in Los Angeles. Because life is simpler here, and I like it. Give me a couple of days, and I'll miss the hustle and bustle of the BIG TEXAS CITIES, but for now, I'm very much at peace here.

Even if this town only has like 8 restaurants and no mall.

Remember that one time I saw Steve Carell in the grocery store?

2010-06-07T21:46:00.002-05:00

Yeah, probably you don't. Not because it never happened, but because I never blogged it. Now that it's been just over a year, I think it's safe to talk about it.

I'm just kidding. I'm not going to bore you with a story where I didn't talk to or get a picture or autograph from Steve Carell.

No, instead, I'm going to regale you with a clever and new tale about my current life. So fasten your seatbelts and take a shot of your preferred liquor, because this is about to get bumpy, ya'll.

... ...

Not really. I don't think my life is particularly interesting. Which is maybe why I shouldn't have a blog. In any case, I woke up this morning and applied the crap out of some internships. I applied for a lot of cool ones, some not-so-cool ones and some really weird ones (who knew Toby Maguire had his own production company??). I already got an email back, asking me for an interview. So that's really exciting. I guess my resume this year is muy impressivo (that is m own version of Spanish, and if it's correct, it's completely by accident. But I doubt it is.) and that my wit and sparkling personality just shine through a harsh, cold corporate email.

Or this company is in a pinch and/or looking for a SLAVE. Because I am nothing if not a functional amount of paranoid. But I feel like this is a good omen. Things are looking up for me, at least career-wise. My personal life, however, has taken a mighty downturn. This might not be the proper arena, but I'm going to vent anyway.

My best friend is all the way across the country, doing an awesome internship with GE. My other best friend is in Oklahoma, tucked away at school and far from me. And that's kind of it. Somehow, I've lost a lot a lot of friends. People I never thought would let me go/ I would let go. I have a couple of friends who are newer to the equation, so while I love them and enjoy their company, I can't yet count them among my best friends.

One friend is at a different school, as we all are, and she has become completely enamored with her new friends at school, to the point of forgetting the friends she used to have. One friend is too busy with all her activities to have time for me or even for herself. But the startling trend in my life is that I have a couple of "friends" who think it's okay to treat me like crap. I'm tired of being put down, insulted, hurt. The two have very different issues and I have very different relationships with both of these people... but the root of the matter is, I don't deserve to be treated this way.

I've taken a major blow to my self-confidence through these people. I no longer feel loved. I no longer feel beautiful. I no longer feel desired or wanted or cared for. I've become overly-critical of myself, seeing me how they see me; One sees me as a fat, ugly funny girl. The "ugly" friend you keep around to amuse you and make you look better. The other one sees me as an annoying, overemotional bother. Someone who is simply a waste of time.

It's been hard to deal with. Hard to handle being these awful things to people I love. So I'm on a slow path, sealing my heart from one of these friends in particular, who continues to hurt me and give false promises. One of the positive things about me, I guess, is that I care very deeply and passionately about people. I am slow to put up walls and easily manipulated, because I see only the good in people. However, once those walls go up? Good luck getting them down again.

Sorry this post took a turn for the emo.

To make up for it, I'll tell you my Steve Carell story. I had just moved in to my new apartment in Los Angeles (the Burbank area) and my roommates and I took a little drive down Cahuenga to the Studio City Ralph's. We were standing by the apples, and I was looking at all the shiny, delicious choices, when my roommate grabbed my arm and whispered furiously, "That's Steve Carell!"

I casually looked up, apple in hand, and was literally a foot from him. My heart started beating really fast and I went back to looking at apples, glancing up at him whenever I could. He was wearing a baseball hat pulled low and had his son with him, so we didn't want to bother him. That certainly didn't stop us from kind of stalking him around the store. But only for a couple of aisles.

Maybe this was a sign. Maybe Steve Carell will be my new best friend, since some of the ones I have aren't who I thought they were. It's a comforting thought.

I'm a little bit hungry and a lot bit distraught

2010-06-06T01:17:00.006-05:00

It's 1:17 in the morning as I write this. Which is fine. If you know me at all, you know I'm a total night owl. Except I hate that expression, because I am afraid of birds and even though Harry Potter made owls seem all cool and magical, one time one sat on the roof outside my window and hooted at me all night long and it was extremely creepy and now I hate owls even though I still think Hedwig is cool beans and I also checked to see if that night-hooting owl was carrying my acceptance letter from Hogwarts because even though I was 18, I still had hope that it's all real!

And how's that for a run-on, ehhhh?

Anyways, I'm writing this blog post to say a few things. You know, like how people who blog usually do?

So, without further ado, I present to you my current thoughts in convenient list form!

1) I promise, once again, to post with more regularity. I really, truly do. So... let the posting commence! With this very post! I can't lose!! Exclamat!on Po!nt!!!!

2) I'm kinda hungry. Which is a problem, because night eating is a major weight loss no-no.

3) Speaking about expressions I hate: no-no. I vow never to use it again. I'm embarrassed. My bestie and I, Kendolla are stuck in some weird pattern where we rather consistently say phrases we hate. We don't know the reason behind this strange compulsion, but we're slaves to it all the same.

4) Four score or some odd weeks ago, I was really excited because I came up with this super awesomely super script idea. And then a few days later, I became absorbed with brainstorming more about the world of the story, and this amazing backstory came to me and I was chugging right along, brainstorming the way only I (and other ENFPs) can, when it struck me... This wasn't a script, this was a novel. Now, I'm not inherently against writing a novel. In fact, I wrote my first at the tender age of 11. I didn't finish it, but it was rather good for an 11 year old. I don't know why I didn't finish it. I mean, I'm sooooooo good at posting on the blog. Anyway, I'm not against writing a novel. The problem is: I have one year of school left in which I need to write my little fingers off so that I can have finished scripts to shop around when I'm a penniless Comm School grad. I don't have time to write a novel. And I'm unreasonably sad about that. And so that is why I'm distraught.

5) Well... I don't have much to say, except that this chapstick is NOT living up to my standards.

6) And my knee hurts.

7) and Kendolla wanted me to post a picture to prove/disprove to her the difficulty of posting a picture in a blog. Ergo:

hmmmm... she is right. Maybe something is wrong with Blogger? Because I can't even get my picture to post/am too impatient when I'm this hungry/distraught to wait for it to load.

8) So the point of this was only to tell you dumb things and to impress you with my list.

9) How are you, my internet darlings?

Love,

Kaitlin

EDIT: Here's the damn picture. I took it on vacation last year.

Oak Pollen, thou hast bested me for the last time!

2010-05-10T20:28:00.002-05:00

Sniff. SNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFF.

I loathe allergies. Usually we coexist and tolerate each other's existence while maintaining a cool distance. I'm usually aided in this endeavor by my friend, Claritin.

BUT CLARITIN HAS FAILED ME. I am a raging pile of snot and gooey eyeballs and sniffing. I am the opposite of cute! I am atrocious! My left eyeball is swollen and red and puffy and A MUTANT EYE.

I hereby vow to never breathe outside air again. I am becoming a recluse. Except I will still invite people over and have them walk through a decontamination station (ha.) before I shower them with affection. I will buy sunlamps and grow my own vegetables inside. I will take online classes. I will skype my friends and family.

I WILL NEVER BREATHE OAK POLLEN AGAIN!!!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go put eyedrops in my mutant eye.

Don't Take my Schtick.

2010-05-09T01:27:00.004-05:00

It is no secret that I am fond of the Jews. (My favorite is Jesus.) They have given us many, many things that have enriched our lives for the better. Things such as challa bread (Mmmmmmm.), matzo ball soup (double Mmmmmmm.), Fran Drescher, and Andy Samberg.

However, the best thing to ever come from the Jewish community (besides Hollywood) is, undoubtedly, Yiddish.

Oy vey! I'm plotzing! I'm verklempt! What a schmegegge! Oy, you're such a schmuck! Would you like a schmear for your bagel? This isn't madness, this is meshugeneh!

And, of all the delightful expressions in Yiddish that I LOVE to say (on a daily basis), my favorite Yiddish word is: Schtick.

Schtick. Say it aloud; Schtick. Doesn't it just roll off the tongue so delightfully? Anyway, that is really all I had to say today. That is really all I have to say any day. Schtick. Schtick. schtickschtickschtick.

Shabbat Shalom!

For Your Son

2010-05-04T23:27:00.001-05:00

He had his ear pierced, even though he was older. We used to joke with our dad about getting an earring in his 50s, like Harrison Ford. Piercing your ear after your 20s doesn’t make you seem cool and hip, it makes you seem like you never quite outgrew that foolish mindset.

His eyes were a deep brown, like the fertile land America was built upon. They seemed to contain as much history as the land. His face was creased; not quite wrinkled but not smooth either. His clothes were non-descript. Who notices the small leaf next to the mighty tree?

“Excuse me, Miss,” He said, stopping me on the street. “Are you familiar with the area?” I glanced around, a bit wary of being approached by a stranger, even though it was broad daylight.

“Yes,” I said, hesitant.

He seemed to have more and more lines in his face. It was as if someone had cut into a great tree and started counting the rings on the surface of the trunk, and with each numbered ring, a matching line appeared on his face.

“I’ve been trying to buy a bus ticket all day,” he said, keeping a respectable distance. I relaxed. “I’ve been to the Greyhound station and the ticket is thirty dollars. I’ve tried to go to some places around here and some of the local churches but everything is closed because of some festival.”

“So you’re trying to find somewhere to buy a Greyhound ticket?” I asked, not sure what the problem was. He heaved a great sigh and looked at me with those ancient, deep eyes.

“Here’s the situation: I’ve been in the hospital downtown all week.” He hesitated for a second. “My son passed away this morning-”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m so sorry,” I said, not able to look him in the eye anymore. I glanced down and saw, for the first time that he was holding a stuffed elephant. My heart broke. I looked back to his face and he hid his eyes beneath his hands, the same thing all men do when they are overcome with emotion. After a moment he moved his hand and continued his story.

“We’re originally from San Antonio and my son’s body is being shipped back there. I’ve been to all the places to get a ticket.”

I was very confused. I wasn’t sure what he was asking me. Did he want money? Did he want directions? Did he want a ride?

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I really don’t know anything about the Greyhound busses.”

The man just sighed and looked at me with those haunted, haunting eyes.

“I have the worst headache. And I have to get back to San Antonio.” He started to back away.

“I’m sorry. I really don’t know what to tell you…” I couldn’t even make sense of the conversation before it was over. He continued on his way, and I continued on mine.

I walked briskly, the summer sun shining down on me, and my heart slowly started to crumble. I wanted to turn back and run to his side. I wanted to hug him, to offer him the fourteen dollars burning a hole in my pocket. I wanted to let him talk to me, to cry to me, to tell me about his son. But I didn’t do any of those things.

I kept walking.

Why didn’t I help him? Was I afraid? Was I confused? Was it because I thought he might get violent? Because he was a stranger? Because he was an older man? Because he was black?

Why didn’t I help him? I’m so sorry, sir. I’m sorry that you felt compelled to reach out to me for compassion and all I could muster was a shallow apology. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry I’ll never know if you’re okay. I’m sorry I didn’t think of any of these things until it was too late.

I hope you got where you needed to go. I hope someone was kinder than I was, more compassionate than I was. I hope your heart heals and that you learn to accept the loss of your son. I hope you know you were a great father and that your son was proud to be your son.

I hope your son took pride in being your son and made you proud, as I have failed my Father by failing you. I hope he was a better son than I am daughter.

I hope every father, omnipotent or earth-bound, who has lost a son, can forgive me. It will be a long time before I can forgive myself.

I’m so sorry.

Pride Goeth Before Massive Embarrassment and Public Humiliation

2010-04-11T02:52:00.002-05:00

At least I wish it would.

I am sick and tired of people and pride. I myself can be prideful at times. I am not claiming that I do not fall victim to this terrible pandemic. I just feel like pride-fullness is running rampant in our society right now.

From people judging Tiger Woods (Ummm... am I the only one who doesn't care? And didn't care about him when he was a golfer? Is that rude? Am I tipsy? Answer to all of these: yes.) to people who are 20 and yet feel entitled to tons of life perks, I am tired of it.

No, this is not the life update I promised. And that's coming, I assure you. This is just weighing really heavily on my heart tonight and I wanted to address the issue.

Not that I have anything meaningful to say or that I can even propose a solution for this problem. I just wanted to acknowledge that it exists.

And that I care. Just not really about Tiger Woods.

And Like A Phoenix From the Ashes, I Rise...

2010-04-09T01:18:00.008-05:00

I will be vigilant! I will be constant! I. WILL. RISE.

Queue dramatic music, lead to crescendo, annnnnnd: Scene!

I know, it's been an inordinate amount of time since I've updated. But I had to keep you cats guessing. I had to stay one jump ahead of my enemies. One jump ahead of the lawmen. That's all, and that's no joke. These guys don't appreciate I'm broke!!

...Riffraff! Street rat! Scoundrel! Take that!

Okay, Aladdin quotes comes to a close. But as I sit here, eating processed Kraft cheese, drinking $5 sale wine, and listening to the subtle boom boom boom of the drunk party in another apartment, I have to ask you: How's your life been?

I'll be updating on mine soon.

'Til then, cheers!

Just like Ye Olde Housewife

2009-10-16T05:30:00.002-05:00

I wish I had a windowsill upon which to cool my pie.

Except I made cheesecake and not a pie.

And is it just me, or is windowsill a really weird word?

In other recent news, I am just ready to curl up with some new beauty products, slather on some lovin', get in my pajamas and call it a life. This week has plumb wore me out. So much so that my East Texan is coming out of hiding. Although I've only lived in South and Central Texas and don't so much have an accent...

The point of that delightful (is your eyebrow cocked in skepticism? Mine too.) anecdote was to tell you that this is kind of going to be a cop-out post. Which will actually please some of you, because it will be way more informative than my posts usually are. Unless you count an inordinate amount of injuries, illnesses, and freak accidents like simulated face herpes. Which, who does?

So without further ado, I give you The Pumpkin Cheesecake to end all pumpkin cheesecakes. It's a Paula Deen recipe, ya'll, so you know it's good. I refer to her as the Patron Saint of Dessert.

Step 1: Combine all things sinful and mash them down into a crust. Add more butter if you're feeling footloose and fancy free or if your pants feel loose.

Step 2: Get frustrated that the cream cheese isn't beating smooth even though it's ROOM TEMPERATURE and add the pumpkin puree anyway. Try not to think about what it looks like. Also do not taste this. Cream cheese and pumpkin do not a pumpkin cheesecake make.

Step 3: Get excited when it beats smooth because you did things like add eggs and sour cream. Get disappointed when it still doesn't taste good.

Step 4: Add a bunch of dry ingredients and helpful things like sugar.

Step 5: Mix it all together. With love.

Step 6: Get excited when it looks good when you pour it into your new springform pan.
Step 7: Pop the sucker in the oven for an hour. Notice your oven door looks like something out of a horror film.

Step 8: Admire the baked cheesecake that didn't crack! Let it cool in the oven for longer than you think it should take.Step 9: After letting it cool, take the cheesecake out of the oven at 3:17. A.M. This adds a certain flavor that can't be recreated when normal people walk the earth.

Step 10: Go to bed at 4:15 A.M. because the sucker is still not cool enough to go in the fridge. Set your alarm for 4:45 A.M. And cry.

Step 11: Wake up in a stupor and get out the plastic wrap. Remember to take photographs. Fail to notice if they're blurry.

Step 12: Drop the plastic wrap in your perfect cheesecake. Smear its uncracked, unmarred surface.

Step 13: Cry. Throw the offending wrap haphazardly over your shoulder. Decide to let the cheesecake go uncovered because Fridge is another one of those elusive 3 A.M. flavors that can only be harvested by fluorescent light while wearing dirty glasses and a frown.

Step 14: Put the cheesecake in the refridgerator and vow to cover the scraped part with homemade caramel and cinnamon whipped cream.

Step 15: Turn around and see what you've done to your kitchen. Cry.

Step 15: Stumble into bed at 5:00 A.M. Crying optional.

Here's the recipe. It really is worth the heartache.

Ingredients

Crust:

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 stick melted salted butter

Filling:

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:

In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

For filling:

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

And Yea, though I walk through the valley of F, I will fear no D-

2009-10-15T05:30:00.002-05:00

I am a terrible student.

This wasn't always the case. Somewhere between high school and college I realized hey! no supervision! No one knows if I don't study! No one knows if I don't go to class! and I became lazy.

Not only lazy, but complacent. By the grace of God, and the grace of God alone, I assure you, I have been able to achieve a slightly better-than-average GPA.

I can't count the number of understanding professors, the test questions that spring from the one page of notes I happened to glance over, the essay prompts that I was able to research ahead of time without having to go to class.

But I realized, enough is enough. What's the point in stressing myself out when I'm cramming or waiting for a test to begin, or WORSE, waiting for a test to be returned? If I would just budget my time a little better, I would have more time to do everything I am supposed to do and everything I want to do. I might even have time to, you know, bring glory and praise to the Lord.

So that's what I'm going to try to do.

So help me, God. Even though He already has.

Curiouser and Curiouser

2009-10-14T10:53:00.002-05:00

Today's post will be a random listing of oddities I observed in a time-span of approximately 30 minutes and 2 blocks. Mostly because this heat has rendered me lazy and uninspired (not that I'm complaining, mind you). And also because I, like most decent Americans, enjoy a good list.

1) Two women climbing out of a pick-up that were the QUEENS of Trailer Park, USA. They had the biggest, most peroxide-laden hair I've seen outside of television and the 80s. One had on a bright turquoise jumpsuit, a gold lamé purse and matching turquoise and gold bangles. And turquoise eyeshadow, of course. I initially thought this woman's hair was a wig.
It looked like this:

Except it was the distinct color of bottled Malfoy hair.

2) I was eating a delicious breakfast croissant at Jack in the Box and I watched as one by one, a small congregation of Latina women and their toddlers gathered. Not so strange. What offended my sensibilities, however, is the language one of the women was using. Multiple f-bombs, sh!ts, etc. were said in front of (and to!) children ages 2-4.

I accidentally made eye contact with one of them (they were across the restaurant, by the way, and I still heard every word) so I left.

3) At 7/11 I saw the new issue of Glamour. Scarlett Johansson is on the cover. She is not wearing pants. I find not wearing pants to be many things, but glamorous is not one of them.

It was like something out of the "The Exorcist"

2009-10-13T21:38:00.004-05:00

October is shaping up to be a saucy wench. It's a cool 76 degrees (but feels like 79 degrees, according to Yahoo! weather). That's just sacrilegious! I'll give October a couple more days, because it's still the first half of the month. It has two days to get its act together.

Although, considering the events of the last 24 hours, it might be in my favor to cease making threats toward October.

Last night I was coughing and felt something come up (like a snot-ball), but much to my horror, when I spit it into a kleenex, I saw blood.

Blood. I coughed up BLOOD. And then I did it again. It was the scariest thing that's ever happened to me, other than almost being the target of a child predator in Taco Cabana while I was in high school. But I digress.

First I thought: "OHMYGOD!!!!!" Then I thought: "I wonder if I have Consumption, like in Moulin Rouge."

But then I realized that I'm not in the midst of a passionate love affair to be written about in the history books, or, you know, to be the subject of a smash Baz Luhrman film. So Consumption was clearly out of the picture.

After some sweet internet sleuthing on WebMD I was all CANCER! WHOOPING COUGH! TUBERCULOSIS! COLLAPSED LUNG WITH A SIDE OF AIDS! So I called the 24-hour UHS nurse advice line.

They are dead to me. Not helpful at all. They basically said, "Well, you probably won't die, so just call General Medicine D in the morning."

By that time, I knew that I most likely just had Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) due to a broken blood vessel brought about by a particularly harsh coughing spell. I presented my theory to General Medicine D and they agreed with me, though I had to spend the day checking my snot-balls for blood and taking my temperature.

What an appropriate start to the Halloween season. And clearly a reason I shouldn't threaten October on my blog anymore...

Heavier Fare

2009-10-12T20:43:00.011-05:00

I clearly scared October into submission with my last post. It's now a jolly 65 degrees here. I assume the temperatures will continue to drop.

...Or else.

I'm going to be back to regular posting starting today, so be prepared. I am feeling a LOT better, though I still have a lingering cough that just won't die and I get tired pretty easily. Not that these things stopped me from attending opening weekend at the Texas Renaissance Festival with my friends Kristen and Patricia. It was epic. We had so much fun and had this ginormous photo shoot in the middle of the garden/forest walkway. And people kept stopping us asking to take our picture because we were that legit and beautiful.

I'm going to spare you the rambling post where I lament the fact that I wasn't born in another time. Be thankful.

When I got back to Austin today, I laid down on my couch, turned on the television, and took a 3.5 hour nap. No big deal, except that my screening for one of my classes starts at 5 and I woke up at 6:12. Whoops.

I went online a little while ago, to look at my French assignments, and lo and behold, I discovered that our screening for tonight had been canceled! I was immediately overcome with humbleness and I was awed by the fact at how perfectly each action fits into God's plan for us. I needed that nap, to ensure I stay healthy and to keep my mind sharp as I start to study. I also needed to go to the screening that didn't happen because I need to keep my grade up and to stay current on the topics we discuss in class.

I am astounded and blessed that my day turned out this way. I love getting reminders of how deep and how gracious is the Father's love for me, a fact I sadly am quick to forget or to dismiss.

We are singing a song in choir based off of Psalm 23 and I am currently obsessed with this verse.

Psalm 23

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

These are some other versus that speak of and remind us of the love that God has for us, his children:

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies (Psalm 36:5).

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 36:7).

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever (Psalm 52:8).

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15).

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:26).

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love (John 15:9)

**P.S. sorry for the formatting issues, Blogger will not give me uniform fonts no matter how many times I try to change it.

Once there was the Sun, shining bright and wonderful.

2009-10-08T16:29:00.004-05:00

Why yes, that was a quote from the 1994 classic Thumbelina.

In the category of "Other (un)Interesting Tidbits and Factoids": I went outside today. How come nobody told me it was 9000000 degrees outside?

I will having a few choice words with October when I no longer laugh to myself because I just pictured myself rolling like a little ball all over my apartment.

You will be soon enough. Bring out your dead!

2009-10-07T01:03:00.009-05:00

Now that I have Swine Flu, a whole new set of etiquette questions arise.

If I hold my breath and walk really fast, is it appropriate to take out my trash? I have leftover microwave Mexican casserole to dispose of, people.

Is it appropriate to go on my balcony to try and absorb some vitamin D so that my only source of happiness isn't Big Mama?

Can I check my mail?

Is it acceptable that I haven't changed my clothes in three days?

Should I get angry if my friends don't take my Tamiflu rants seriously?

Is it okay to facebook stalk all my friends for 12+ hours a day?

The answer to all of these is no. No, these things are not okay.

And in other H1N1 news, I took my cough medicine last night. I didn't take it Monday night, when I got it, because I was so busy coughing up phlegm that I thought if something where to surpress my coughs then I would drown in un-coughed mucous.

Anyway, my coughing has decreased seven-fold today so I decided it was time to take the cough medicine. I poured it into the teaspoon and got nervous. It was the consistency of honey and the color of lemon-lime gatorade, the ONE flavor I detest above all non-juice flavored drinks.

I might have held my nose and said, "Ew, ew, ew, ewwwwww!"

Might have.

But you know what? It actually wasn't bad. Because, hello, I'm not four anymore and I've tasted things like 100 proof vodka. Which, coincidentally enough, might also cure swine flu. It is that potent.

The best thing about the cough medicine was how smoooooooooth it went down my sore, scratchy throat. Heaven in a little bottle. Unfortunately I forgot that everytime I bend over I cough up a snot-ball, so when I plugged in my phone for the night I spent the next 5 minutes trying to cough up THE TINIEST SNOT-BALL I HAVE EVER SEEN. And I've seen some tiny ones.

It was literally half the size of my pinky nail. And the smaller they are, the harder they are to get out. And if I don't get them out, I keep coughing and coughing until I'm crying and gagging and red in the face with this horrible, gurgling cough that quite literally sounds like something more appropriate for a 98 year old with terminal lung cancer. And the cough is so loud that I feel like everyone in my apartment complex can hear me, because hello, if I can hear you singing a terrible rendition of Kings of Leon's Somebody then you should be able to hear me hacking up snot-balls.

All this Swine Flu business is so glamorous. I went on to cough up 2 more tiny snot-balls at 4:30 in the morning last night. Because all I do is sleep in random 4-5 hour bursts, so I was awake at this time. And boy, oh, boy do I miss the days when the snot-balls were the size of quarters and took only one great, hacking cough to expel!

Is this too graphic for the internet? I'm sorry. I'm just trying to bring this illness to light. I mean, it's barely getting any media coverage. No one has even heard of it!

But hey! At least I'm one degree closer to Rupert Grint! <3

Bring out your dead! (I'm not dead yet!)

2009-10-07T00:25:00.005-05:00

So I know some of you (-4) were worrying about me since I haven't posted since last week. You probably thought that I actually died of fright from seeing Paranormal Activity. Nope.

I have Swine Flu.

Thus I have spent the last 30 hours doped up on Mucinex DM, Tamiflu, Advil, and the inhaler for my bronchitis. Because H1N1 is not enough for this girl, no way, I need bronchitis to seal the deal!

What has this drug cocktail done for me?

I am less congested, and I have stopped coughing up snot-balls (Mmmmm), but more importantly, it's treated me to these daydreams/hallucinations/fever-dreams:

1)My high school geography teacher (who is young and fabulous and still my friend), my friend and I going on a cruise. On said cruise I fell and skinned my knee (sound familiar?) and my teacher helped me pick the scab.

2) I was on a TV show with Dick Van Dyke called Diagnosis: Swine Flu! The opening credits were terrifying.

3) Crocs were attacking me. The shoes, not the reptiles.

Back to regular posting when I can breathe sans labor again and when I can leave self-quarantine.

EDIT: And ALSO to assume that THE ONLY THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY TASTE GOOD is microwavable Mexican Casserole...

I was wrong.

Is Tamiflu supposed to make me crave mexican casserole, garlic bread, corn bread, orange sherbert and strawberries (not all at once)?

EDIT 2: I regret spending $100+ for a weekend where I would be frightened to death and get swine flu on someone who thinks it's FUNNY that I'm dieing. Dying. In the process of meeting death.

That means you, Jeremy.

EDIT 3: I regret saying that, that was mean. We should all find humor in every situation.

And now I'm going to go back to bed before this post gets me forever quarantined because I'm that annoying.

The L-Files: Mysterious Laundry Happenings

2009-10-01T21:53:00.003-05:00

Why is it, dear Internet, that no matter how many I buy, I NEVER have enough hangers? Come laundry day (which, to be frank, comes about once every 1.5 months, because I have an inordinate amount of clothing) I am always left scrounging around, looking for hangers. Although I do shop a lot, I just don't think that my shopping to hanger ratio is so disproportionate.

Maybe my closet eats them.

No, that's irrational. Closets can't eat!! Maybe there's a vortex IN my closet that sucks empty hangers inside itself and then turns them into dust and blows the dust all over my shelves. That would explain so much.

And in other unsettling laundry occurrences, I've been losing a LOT of socks lately. Stupid dryer vortex. Apparently my apartment is a right cosmic center for quasars and other intergalactic phenomena.

AND (oh, yes, there's more) this is the most disturbing thing of all: Today I put my bras in one of those little mesh bra bags (so the hooks don't snag your other clothes, of course). I remember for sure that I put them in the bag, because I set it aside and forgot about it. I loaded in my other delicates and started the washing machine. Then I turned around and saw the mesh bag, so I threw it in with the rest of the load.

When the wash cycle was done, I loaded the dryer handful by handful (because my washing machine won't stay open due to poor shelf planning by the apartment complex) and I suddenly noticed that a bra was in my hand. One I DEFINITELY had in the mesh bag because it is my 'spensive and fansssy brassiere.

The bag was nowhere to be found. NOWHERE.

Unless it's in the dryer. I got tired of bending over, so I gave up my search pretty early.

But still, CREEPY. Cue Twilight Zone theme song.

Hitchcock Knows Best

2009-09-30T17:57:00.006-05:00

As per usual, I'd like to begin today with a letter to September:

Dear September,

I am so glad this is the last day of you. You have done nothing but disappoint me and play mind games. Are you bipolar or something? You're hot then you're cold.

You're yes and you're no. I can't figure you out.

Maybe next year, if you change, we can reexamine our relationship. For now, you are dead to me.

xoxo,
Kaitlin

Why would I break up with September in such a public arena?

Because it's approximately 9000 degrees outside even though HEB started selling pumpkins already. And even though the weather is not getting in the mood for fall, fate and irony certainly are. More specifically, in the mood for Halloween.

When I was walking back from the gym, I started to get really uncomfortable as I heard the unmistakable screech of a flock of blackbirds hidden among the trees.

Now, internet, it may be too early in our relationship to divulge this tidbit, but I'm going to go there:

I'm afraid of birds. That's ornithophobia for all you academic types. Why yes, I did just google fear of birds to get that word! I haven't been formally diagnosed by a psychiatrist, although many would argue I should consult one. For several reasons, such as that I was late to the gym today because I had to step on every leaf in my path, on the offchance it would give that satisfying crunch...

Anyway, back to my ornithophobia. Because this is a rare (and stupid) condition, I will elaborate on my symptoms. No, really, I want to.

I am not afraid of small birds like little swallows and sparrows and whatnot. I'm not going to e their best friend, but I'm not afraid of them. The exception is the hummingbird, because I fear I will hear a rustling and in the next instant, a sharp, needle-like beak will peirce my eardrum and the hummingbird will suck my brains out like that sweet nectar.

I am nothing if not realistic.

I am comforted by the thought that I could probably thump a hummingbird away before it could lacerate my eardrum. Anyway, I'm really just afraid of big birds. Not to be confused with Big Bird. He's cool.

When I hear a bird chirp or call or squeal or screech I get goosebumps on the back of my neck. And then I start to be really afraid that the bird will attack me. I JUST KNOW that the evil bird will peck either my eardrum (again with the ears...) or the little nob at the base of your neck in the back. Like where your spine starts. It's irrational, it's terrible, it makes me walk crazier than when I step on every leaf.

So I was walking home and there was literally a FLOCK of birds in the trees on the side of the street I was on. I am not ashamed to say that I stepped in front of a car to get out of the war path.

Birds have flown into my head/face multiple times. This is not completely unfounded.

And no, I have not seen The Birds and I NEVER will. Why would I willingly submerge myself in my deepest fear without professional aid? The original Psycho scared me to death and Rear Window used to creep me out when I was younger. Hitchcock knows how to scare me WITHOUT my greatest fear.

So, yes, that is the only Hitchcock I will never see.

You like me! You really like me!

2009-09-29T13:54:00.005-05:00

I'm afraid I have nothing interesting to talk about today.

"But Kaitlin", you ask, "how is that any different from any other post?"

Well, it's not. Except that I'm acknowledging it. And they say acknowledging you have a problem is the first step. I don't know what it's a step towards, but apparently I'm on a journey. I hope I packed clean underwear.

And that is a tangent that no one needed to experience.

I suppose I will just beguile you all with a list of my random thoughts. And by you all I mean me.

1. One of my best friends is coming to visit me (and other people) this weekend. I'm super excited. We are going to all the best (and by best I mean tastiest) places in Austin. One of the things we're doing is seeing Paranormal Activity. It's apparently the new Blair Witch Project and the scariest movie ever and blah blah blah. I am equal parts excited and terrified.

Scary movies and I have an awkward, sadistic relationship. The last scary movie I saw was Guillermo del Toro's The Orphanage and I watched it alone and it truly wasn't that scary. I clearly survived. The movie before that was The Strangers and it almost killed me. Like I went into dry heaves in the movie theatre.

Now, I am a STRONG believer in movie-watching ambiance. A scary movie in the theatre will ALWAYS be scarier than watching it in your dorm room. Or in sunlight. The people you watch horror films with are also very important. I hate watching with cynical people or with people who think you're lame if you get scared (unless it's a truly un-scary movie, like the remake of Psycho. You just don't touch Hitchcock, people ).

Anyway, The Strangers scarred me for life and if you don't think that movie is at least a little scary, then you need to watch it in the theatre with better people and A HUMAN SOUL. I saw it with my friend Rebekah and I made her sleep over with me for the next two nights. I am still afraid to look out windows at night and when I hear a knock on the door, my heart falls into my feet and my mouth goes dry. Even when I'm expecting the pizza man. AND I WILL NEVER, EVER STAY IN A PLACE WITH NO PEEPHOLE ON THE FRONT DOOR.

Hmmmhmmmm.

That was a long rambling way of saying that I may or may not survive this weekend.

2. I won an auction on eBay!!! I'd like to thank the academy... But I'd also like to point out how terrible I am in waiting for something to arrive in the mail. I will also be very upset if I die of fright before my beautiful purchase gets delivered.

3. My soul and body aches for Christmas so badly that I could cry just by thinking of the cheeriness and the chilliness and (woah, chilliness is a word...) a time in life when I don't have to worry about Michael Myers, paranormal activity, or strangers.

Because at Christmastime, there's no such thing as strangers!

Until they torture you to death and steal your eBay purchase. Then you can safely assume you didn't know them very well after all.

Why is Rachel Ray telling me a drunk story about her mother?

2009-09-28T12:12:00.002-05:00

I am watching the Food Network (as per usual) and Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals was just on. She was making a Limoncello Tart and it looked AMAZING. However, halfway through she launches on this story about her first "group" date with her now-husband, where her mom got drunk off of Limoncello (who brings their mom on a date?) and now RR's husband calls RR's mom "Mamacello".

I'm sorry I just wasted a minute of your life. That was definitely the abridged version, too.

But hey, if you've come this far, you might as well waste a couple of more minutes in your life, because it's not like you have important things to do like study or support your family or end world hunger. All those things I don't do.

Anyway, The huge wound on my knee is healing alright. My hand wound, however is festering. I realized yesterday that it was infected due to my keen medical knowledge. And the fact that it hurt really bad, was red in the skin around the wound, oh yeah, and had yellow pus-like material oozing out when I removed the band-aid. (Bet you don't want that Limoncello Tart anymore, eh?)

So I headed to HEB for the quaint grocery selection of:
Ice Cream
Something for Dinner
Something to heal the raging infection coursing through my veins

Piece of cake. Or, you, know, Limoncello Tart.

Anwyay, I stood in the First Aide aisle in HEB, buying hydrogen peroxide, iodine, guaze strips, this weird waterproof medical tape, epsom salts (to soak my hand in. I had no idea it had laxative properties. I was extremely embarrassed at the register, as I imagined the cashier thought I had ALL kinds of issues.), and a first aide kit. Because I should really not have to buy band-aids when I'm already bleeding.

Plus, if I ever go camping like the kids on the front, I'll be totally prepared for complete isolation, starvation and frostbite!!! There's even a page in the little first aide booklet that talks about what to do if part of you gets accidentally amputated. My response would be to cry, faint, and beg God to take me home; but apparently you're supposed to seal the wayward limb in a waterproof bag and put it on ice, making sure it doesn't get wet or freeze. (Hey, you actually learned something by reading my blog today! 5 Gold Stars!)

...Gross.

I felt so grown up buying things like hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration, for first aide purposes. I'm not going blonde.) I have an injury, I identified it as infected, I bought the appropriate materials, and treated myself. I'm so independent!

I was hit with a big wave of nostalgia as I poured the hydrogen peroxide on my knee. (Man I wish I knew the chemical symbols of Hydrogen Peroxide so that I didn't have to keep typing the whole name. HPe0. Or something.) I distinctly remember the brown HPe0 bottle in my mom's linen closet, remember her treating me and helping me heal wounds with it. And here I am doing it myself.

I guess I'm not a little girl anymore.

Except that I bought batman bandaids and still watch Nickelodeon.

A Sincere Apology

2009-09-27T01:37:00.002-05:00

Dear September,

I'm sorry if I've offended you.

If you feel like being November, you go ahead and be November.

If you feel like being April... Don't.

xoxo, Kaitlin

Now that that's taken care of, I'd like to share with you the concluding chapter of THE CURSE OF THE WORLD'S WORST UMBRELLA!!! (I know, you're only excited because I said this was the conclusion.)

Friday morning, after sleeping in and eating breakfast I decided that after my workout I would go sell back some of my old textbooks. So I packed up my huge biology book and two others I would never use again and set out for the gym. The books were really heavy and slowed my pace somewhat, but I was still making good time, despite the fact that my feet were hurting due to the fact that my crappy tennis shoes give me little to no arch support.

Anyways, I was walking along when a wayward wind or maybe the CURSE of my umbrella caused me to step off of the sidewalk. My will was strong, however, and I fought valiantly, therefore causing only half of my foot to fall on the grass. That caused the awkward ankle-wobble maneuver that toddlers and inexperienced girls walking in heels do often.

The ankle-wobble was fine. I caught myself and pulled myself upright with dexterity that was frankly quite ninja-esque. What I didn't count on was the 90 lbs of books in my backpack that would take me down with them as they gained momentum. In a flash I was on the ground, half of me in the soft grass, the other half splayed on the cobblestone sidewalk (OF DOOM).

I looked down and noticed that there was a chunk of my hand missing that was roughly the size of one of our miniature cobblestones as well as a tiny chunk of my thumb that had been scraped away. Both began to bleed. I then noticed that my knee was stinging really bad, but by that point I had been sitting in the grass, staring at my hands for about 10 seconds, watched the whole time by a nearby construction worker.

So I got up and continued walking to the gym, bleeding more and more. When I got there, I showed my injuries to my trainer, H, and she was prepared with bandaids. She took me into the bathroom and cleaned me up (further solidifying the fact that I was 5) and we went on with our workout.

Problem solved... Not. My knee? Is ugly. It's so bad, There is a bruise roughly the size of a softball and in the middle of that softball is another missing chunk of my body that is lying somewhere on the cobblestone sidewalk. I took pictures of my injuries, but when I showed my best friend my injuries via video-chat, he practically cried at how gross and hideous they are. Therefore I will not be posting pictures, but have them on-hand incase Christian Hill calls me and tells me I can sue the school.

Saturday dawned a much happier (if hotter) day, and with I slight limp I set out for today's adventures. In a nutshell (or in a blog), today could be summarized as: Went shopping with Rebekah. Ate lunch with Rebekah. Went shopping with Kathryn, Ate dinner with Kathryn.

But of course other things happened, which I will elaboratie upon later. Right now I'm going to limp to bed, slather on some neosporin and try not to let the covers touch the raw, sensitive skin of my chunked knee.

I Have Guacamole in my Hair (And other classy situations!)

2009-09-24T12:58:00.003-05:00

I have been on a mexican food kick recently and today was no exception. I skipped a class (for shame!) to write a paper that was due and instead of maximizing the 1 and 1/2 hours I had to write, I got on facebook and read blogs and messed around until I had 45 minutes left to write 2 pages.

And then I made nachos. And then I had about 30 minutes to write my paper and eat a steaming plate of nachos. I tried to do both at once... in my bed. This resulted in the most crumb-covered sheets you've ever seen and me getting guacamole in my hair (which I found in class...) and sour cream on my shirt. I am nothing if not a classy, dignified lady with perfect time management skills.

And I forgot to mention last night/this morning one of the most annoying things about THE WORST UMBRELLA IN THE WORLD (Oh, yes, there's more. Just when you thought I'd never bore you again, I bring it back into the spotlight. This is the gift that keeps on giving, my friends). When the umbrella becomes annoyed with staying in the traditional right-side-out position, it catches every single bit of wind and tries to turn inside out. I am diligent in fighting this umbrella urge and 14/15 times I prevent it from turning inside out. But in the prevention, the umbrealla SNAPS back into position, thusly flicking water at my face. Every. Time.

I hate that umbrella. And that my hair smells like Los Cucos.

Dear September, You are not November. Xoxo Kaitlin

2009-09-23T14:28:00.008-05:00

Because I am considered the "kid genius" of the meteorology profession by my most esteemed colleagues (my toes and my A/C), I've decided to give you my professional opinion concerning the weather.

This is Texas' version of California's June Gloom. I've dubbed it the September Doldrums. (My thesis concerning the matter should be published... never.) It feels like November outside but without the cheeriness of the holidays that is so interconnected with cold weather for me. I'm not sure how to feel about this. On one hand I'm happy I no longer have to subject the people on campus to the sight of me in shorts, sweating with my 50 lb backpack walking approximately 50 of our 40 acre campus... barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways (okay, I'll retire that expression now). But on the other hand, it's been raining and cold for approximately all of a week (That is a mathematical statistic. The source is in my thesis) but without the cheeriness and encouragement that the holiday season instills in me.

This puts me in such marvelous situations as trying to find my cool-weather work-out clothes which have magically shrunk so that they are the world's most awkward high-waters, forcing me to roll them into the world's most awkward capris. Then I had to throw on a shirt that didn't match, my pink and gray tennis shoes and my WB sweatshirt (which is the most comfortable sweatshirt ever and roughly the color of prison clothes) and Hey! I'm good to go! And so sexy. Add THE WORST UMBRELLA IN THE UNIVERSE and you've got yourself a prime catch. Remember, gentlemen, I'm single!

But I digress. Back to my umbrella issue, I literally have to fight it with every single gust of wind. I'm pretty sure if I even walk too quickly, it turns inside out. The very beating of a hummingbird's wings could upset this sissy umbrella. And if a raindrop hits exactly on the middle of the top, the raindrop falls through a hole that has appeared. That's convenient. Anyway, it's the only brolly I have (where did the others go??) so I'm stuck with it until I can make my way over to Target.

And I can't make my way over to Target because I have a ginormous sheet of glass in my car that I can't move by myself but no one is stepping up to the plate to help me move it so there it sits. I'm just paranoid it's going to shatter/kill someone/get me a ticket because it can't be safe driving with a giant sheet of glass unsecured in your back seat. Just guessing. So after one terrifying trip to HEB (speed bumps), there has been no more driving adventures for Kaitlin and Glassy.

And I once again digress...

Back to my umbrella. Which is really a boring story in and of itself, so I'm not sure how this transformed into a post about my umbrella. I must have depleted my vast tank of meteorology information. Which I could have used as I was walking back from Jester to my apartment. (Nice segue!) As I was fighting the evil spokes (?) of my umbrella, I swear, they took a life of their own and turned invisible or something because a guy straight up walked into my umbrella. With his face. It was tragic, but he avoided shish-kabobing his eye. Which was one of the best parts of my day.

So I made it safely the last couple blocks toward my apartment and then somewhere in the last block... the bottom of my umbrella fell off. The knob thing where you hold it and where the wrist strap is attached. I didn't notice it until I had passed it otherwise I would have picked it up. It just fell off and get this: it screws on. I DO NOT understand how this happened but I am starting to think that this umbrella is cursed and that by packing it in my backpack every day I might actually be bringing a pox on the university.

Or, you know, swine flu.

Why aren't there more songs concerning solfeggio?

2009-09-12T00:53:00.003-05:00

So I just (and by just I mean 4 hours ago...) got back from day 1 of our Men&Women's Chorus "Retreat". I'm not sure why they chose to call it a "Retreat" when it's in the music school. On campus. I mean, sure it takes me 30 minutes to walk in the increasingly heavy rain, clutching ~42 cookies in one hand, the WORLD'S WORST UMBRELLA in the other, fighting ever little gust of wind... barefoot, in the snow, uphill both ways... but that's no reason to call it a "Retreat". I'm even less sure why they marketed the "Retreat" as a social between M&WC when the first thing we did was sing warm ups... without talking to each other. Then we arranged ourselves alphabetically according to first name... without talking, using only sign language. It really helped us build our sound as a choir.

Then we split up, men in one room, women in another and worked on our respective music selections. Then we had dinner "together," meaning the girls sat together and the boys sat together on the other side of the room. Then we split back up. Then we came back "together" for dessert. Then we left. I feel like I know each and every member of the choir SO well.

Alright, I'm being a bit cynical. Because something marvelous DID happen at dinner. I noticed that below the noise of ~100 singers talking and eating, there was a song from Wicked being played. I glanced around and saw a man on the piano and a girl quietly singing beside him. I kept my eye on the pair, unsure of whether or not I could join in. Then Popular started up and I made a bee-line to the group, where two other girls and a couple of guys were now gathered. We sang. I sang loudly because, ya'll, that's my JAM. More people came, some to watch (I love impromptu performances that prove I am, indeed, cooler than the rest of these people) some to sing along. Song after song, we grew. For Good, A Whole New World, Colors of the Wind, I Just Can't Wait to be King, Hakkuna Mattata... We covered all the basics. And by basics, I mean the most amazing songs EVER.

Eventually we were broken up by one of our directors (RUDE.) but we vowed to get to The Little Mermaid tomorrow morning. I can't wait. That was truly the most fun I've had in a long time and I am completely obsessed with choir again. OBSESSED. And I met some of the coolest girls! Siiiiiigh... that's not the first time something magical has happened around a piano.

Regarding the cookies, they were a huge success and I'm pretty sure they made me more friends than my effervescent charm and sparkling wit. Which is fine by me! And I remembered to take pictures when I was almost finished so I'll post the few I got tomorrow as well as a link to the recipe. They are SO GOOD. Definitely going in the repertoire of special goodies.

And now, dear friends (/empty, desolate Internet), I must to bed, for I have another 30-minute hike into the wilderness for leg two of our "Retreat" tomorrow, and I have to leave in 6 and 3/4 hours.

Fair morrow!

Who washed Washington's white woolen underwear when Washington's washer-woman went west?

2009-09-09T22:57:00.005-05:00

Now that, my friends, is a pertinent question in today's political landscape. I was surprised President Obama didn't address this issue in his State of the Union address.

Okay, I lied. It's an old choir warm up I used to sing, dating back to ye olde junior high choir. The only thing squeakier than a junior high choir member is the one standing next to him. Why am I talking about choir at all?

This semester I am in the Women's Chorus at UT and I am 10000000% in love with it. We are singing the most beautiful songs... EVER. I've always had a penchant for treble choirs. I'm not sure why, but in my experience, the closer the harmonies, the more beautiful. The exception being "Ecco Mormorar L'onde" which the mixed choir sang my senior year of high school. That is arguably my favorite piece of choral music... ever.

Anyways, this is all an incredibly round-about way of saying that we're having a choir social/get together/retreat/meet and greet/smell each other's feet weekend. We women of the Women's chorus are to provide dessert and I just so happened to volunteer to bake cookies.

I've narrowed it down to three choices and am going to make two. I think I know the two I'm going to make, but I'm going to take all 3 recipes with me to the store tomorrow in case I run into an ingredient snafu. (P.S. The word "snafu" does NOT get used enough.) I will post pictures tomorrow as well as my reviews of the goods tomorrow. The recipes all come from the Patron Saint of Buttery Goodness: Ms. Paula Deen, ya'll!!!

I can't wait! It's been far too long since I've baked cookies.

I DECLARE BANKRUPTCYYYYY!!!!!

2009-09-07T16:48:00.004-05:00

Alright, so I'm not bankrupt. And if I were and wished to declare it, yelling it wouldn't accomplish anything; something I learned from Michael Scott, Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin: Scranton. (AKA The Office for anyone out there with a life.) I'm actually quite far from bankruptcy. Well, as far as the next college student, anyway. I'm just slowly (okay, one Target trip at a time) working my way through my savings and that makes me nervous. Mostly because then I won't have enough money to splurge on the Day After Thanksgiving sales racks... but I digress.

I have come to the conclusion that I should get a job. I have also come to the conclusion that I'm taking 13 hours of upper division coursework and have a @#$^-ton of reading to complete on any given day. And so I've been spending my time (instead of studying or interviewing for an actual job, of course) researching "Get Rich Quick" scams. And alas, they are almost all scams. And by almost all I mean every last one of them. EXCEPT for the Amazon Mechanical Turk program, where I can do simple, menial tasks and get paid $0.05 and up! Please, hold your applause. I'm not six years old. $0.05 is only half as exciting as it was when I was six. Although, let's be honest here, when I was six I thought a penny was the most valuable coin because it was the closest to gold and it was bigger than the dime...

*Tangent: Skip ahead if you don't care to read my thoughts on American coinage.
What the heck is up with our coins? One copper coin and three (minus specialty pieces like the fidycent piece or the silver dollar)sliver ones. Being over the age of six, I can understand that copper is less valuable than silver. And in a similar vein, I could understand if the copper coin was bigger than the closest valued silver coin, because you could (excuse the expression) get more bang for your buck with copper. BUT I cannot, will not, should not have to understand and accept why the second biggest coin in our money system is the nickel which is the second smallest in monetary value. Why waste the silver on a 5 cent piece? I don't understand! Simply switch the dime and the nickel sizes and my life would be that much more complete. WHO MADE THIS DECISION?!?????

End Tangent.*

Anyways, when all my "Work from Home and be a Pajama Kabajillionaire!" schemes proved to be just schemes, I turned my sights on good, honest work: Nannying. I registered with several Nanny agencies only to begin filling out my profile and get to a section that said "List your most recent 3 professional childcare experiences". This proved a problem since I've only done light babysitting and helped to raise my brother. And then I would get angry because #1) You couldn't have told me I'd need references IN THE BEGINNING and #2) How the heck am I supposed to break into the Nannying industry? and #3) Why, o why, am I trying to break into the Nannying industry?

And so here I sit, jobless, watching The Golden Girls which, quite honestly, is not a poor existence... for a ninety-year-old great-grandmother. So I've decided to put myself on a budget. Confessions of a Shopaholic-style. Except for my wardrobe has a lot more Target Brand and a lot less Fendi.

And there lies my new project: Healthy, happy living on a budget. And for day one, I went to Target and promptly bought a $30.00 dress...

Well, here's to tomorrow: May my mistakes not repeat themselves!

Undone By Mercy

2009-04-28T14:15:00.000-05:00

I realized something today. I’m letting other people and other things live my life for me. I’m not taking responsibility for my own actions and my own inactions. I’m praying, asking God for guidance, for aid, for purpose, for determination, and then I am turning languidly to the other side, and becoming angry because so and so did this. I am complaining about things I did to myself, things that fall under my jurisdiction. I am caught in a web of dishonesty, of failure, and of greed, and I built it myself. I built it around myself. God has been following me, the ever-diligent Father, cleaning up after me, rebuilding my bridges after I’ve burned them. Enough.
Once again, Matt Carter’s sermon proved so true. Just two days ago, I left church wondering how the message would be played out in my life. How God would use the recession in my life as a gift. And here it is. Here is rock bottom. And here is salvation. May my sins be revealed, may my slate be wiped clean. I’m done with complacency, with blaming others, with inaction. I am going to start living my life. Though the thought of it still seems a little overwhelming, I have unshakable trust in God. In His plan. I’ve always had that. What I didn’t have was the understanding that I, too, have a part in this. I can’t lie in my bed and expect my life to transform. I can’t openly deny the will of God and expect it to play out anyway. I’m simultaneously the car, the speedbump, and the road of my life.
Well I’m done. I’m doing this. So watch out.

Oh, Sweet, Sweet Lawds.

2009-04-22T17:51:00.003-05:00

I am in shock.

I just went to go put something on my desk. After doing so, I walked into the bathroom. After standing back and doing Ye Olde 3-Point-Turn Do I Look Skinny Today? Maneuver, I approached the mirror. I was pleased to see my hair still looked good, despite sleeping on it and running about HEB like a crazy person for an hour or so. I then bent over, invading the mirror's personal space, looking for pimples, clogged pores, pock marks, little alien invaders, anything worth picking. I flipped my hair back to look at the right side of my face, and see a brown smear of chocolate on my face. My thoughts? What the hell? When did I eat chocolate? Ew, that's probably not chocolate. I probably got it on my face when I was making lunch. It's probably black bean juice that dried.

Wrong.

I licked my finger, and rubbed at the spot. It came off. Along with like 5 layers of my skin. I stood there, in shock, looking at this white circle on my forehead (which was now burning like a mother trucker), wondering: What. The. HELL? I then vaguely recalled hitting my face with the curling iron last night. It didn't even hurt when I did it. APPARENTLY my skin is different. Apparently MY skin needs 24 hours to develop into a peel-able scabby callousy patch of ugly.

I'm not sure you realize the stupidity of this situation: I burned my FACE. MY FACE. Fml. And apparently when you burn your face, it peels off. And takes your tan with it. So then you have a little circle of white, surrounded by a little bit of chocolatey/poop/dried black bean juice looking skin. Which makes you look like you have Face Herpes.

Fantastic.

Another Attempt at Relevancy

2009-04-13T23:12:00.002-05:00

Do you know what I was wondering as I was driving down the highway today? No, not that my Snickers bar is inconveniently located in my purse but under my sunglasses case. Also not that the word "maniacal" has a REALLY weird spelling. These things are, of course, true; but they are not what I was thinking.

What I was thinking was this: What if I had road rage outside of my car the way I do in my car?? Take what happened to me on Friday: An old lady cut in front of me to get to the Express Lane at the supermarket. My real life reaction was: "Rude! Oh, wait, she's old. I should offer to help her. Or I could get distracted by these gum flavors...Pomagranate Twist? Could it be??!?" What if, instead of being borderline-helpful/ADD, I had reacted like I did today, when someone cut me off in a merge lane. That reaction yielded very un-ladylike and un-Christian-like behavior. Which I regret. (At least the only visible sign was my yelling mouth. I do not flip birds, as I hate birds and would not want to accidently throw up a gang sign that basically invited them to kill me.) That lead me to wondering why I would do these things in my car that I would never do in public/ to someone who could hear me. What kind of sick double standard is that? What is it about the car that makes it a conduit for rage and outlandish behavior? I get positively irate behind the wheel, but when someone cuts me off on campus or in the supermarket, I'm angry for a second and then move on. Is it because I see an annoying "BRTTNY" license plate and not the actual person?

I don't really have a conclusion or a solution for this... I will resolve to have a more Christian attitude on the road. So I guess that's something. But in the mean time, I'm still left wondering why this happens. And I know it's not just me. Or is it? Hey look over there! I thought I lost that list! That's crazy! Hey, look again! That magazine! I remember when I bought that one magazine with Angelina Jolie. She's too skinny. I also don't want her to adopt another baby. OMGosh there was the cutest baby EVER in Friday's today. Mmmmm. I wish I had more sweet potato fries. Those were yummy. I also need to stop eating so much. Dangit, Easter Bunny. You're responsible for this weight gain. You and my Meme. Why do some people spell it Mimi? That's weird.

No. No, I'm weird.

Because History? Is so Passé.

2009-04-07T11:10:00.005-05:00

The following took place via text message in the middle of my biology class. Because apparently I'm not going to listen to any of my professors today. In any case; enjoy and revel in the nerdiness.

Me: Class is dumb. The End.
Rebekah: I agree. The End.
Me: My body hurts. The Middle.
Rebekah: My presentation is soon. The Beginning.
Me: That's awesome you can almost be relieved. The Prequel.
Rebekah: I love you. The Sequel.
Me: I love you too and we're awesome. The Trilogy.
Rebekah: I know haha. Have a lovely day. The Epilogue.
Me: Until we meet again. The Cliffhanger.
Rebekah: Hahahaha good one. The preface.
Me: Thank you. The Dedication.
Rebekah: "You're welcome," she said. The References.

What would I do without my friends???

In other recent news, I just found out this morning that a short film I had the blessing to be a part of has been nominated for a 2009 Remi Award at the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival. We don't know yet how our other film has fared, as the director told us nominations are still being made. In any case, I am so, so, so proud, ecstatic... speechless... I think I needed this little push to assure me that I am doing what God wants me to do and that even in my younger years, I had the gifts and resources to be recognized by the industry. If even in a small way. :) I'm so so so so soooooooooooooooooooo excited. I don't really know why. I just am. :)This could not have come at a better time. I'm sorry this post isn't entirely witty or sardonic or even delightfully melancholy. But I'm verklempt!

I'd like to thank the Academy...

To Nap, or To Blog? I Choose Blog.

2009-03-31T16:01:00.006-05:00

That's right. That's how committed I am to making this one of the most successful blogs...OF ALL TIME. Though not too committed, in case I still fail, and later need to retract my statement, claiming I always knew I was too cool for blogging, and thusly never really tried. But I digress...

Plus I really wanted to eat some hummus. And I can't really eat hummus while I nap. Which is simultaneously a huge shame and a blessing. Because how awesome would it be to never have to part from my one true love?? On the other hand, my waistline and my sense of decorum thank me, because how 1) fattening and 2) repulsive. Can you imagine someone eating in their sleep? Think of the smacking, the slurping, the burping! Oh, the horror, the horror! I would say I digress again, but I now realize I never had a point to this post to begin with, so it is impossible to stray from something you never had. Unless you count Tom Cruise going out of his mind. Because he did. And I doubt it was ever there anyways.

In any case, my roommate and I watched Footloose the other day. Mmmmmm. Kevin Bacon. I'm sad they're remaking it. It's too soon. And all those gratuitous dance scenes really speak to me, even though they are stylistically antiquated. (Do I sound smart now? Good, 'cause:)I'm, like, super bummed that Zac Efron dropped out of the remake!! Because I like, totally <3 him!!! ... And in conclusion, I'd like to say that dropping out of the remake was probably a wise career move, because, honestly? How many gratuitous dance scenes with Zac-y Poo... hmmhmm... Zac Efron does America need?? Well... probably a few more. You can bet on it (bet on it! Bet on it, bet on it!).

And now, to prove that I'm relevant and make you forget about the previous paragraph, I'd like to point out that as depressing as this sounds, I just don't see how the Israeli/Palestinian 2-State Solution will ever work. I may or may not (will not) expound upon my theories in a later post.

Seacrest out!

Weekend = Godsend

2009-03-29T20:10:00.004-05:00

I often find myself snickering at the stupidity of those "friends" on Facebook who feel inclined to compose the obligatory Sunday update. This compulsion gives us, the internet community, such gems as "Fun weekend, but now I need to study calc!", "Woohoo! Vodka night with the girls was badass!", and "Last night was fun. Can't wait for next weekend- the tRi DeLt PaRtY!!! WoOoOhOo!!" And yet, to my own chagrin as well to that of the others around me, I still feel compelled to say:

What a glorious weekend! I spent it doing absolutely nothing. That's right, you heard (read?) me; Nothing. Well, actually, in hindsight, I did something. But not enough somethings to negate the nothings. Because I watched 3, count them 3, nothing up my sleeves, nothing in my hat, movies on Lifetime. And Lifetime is like the Great Equalizer of Nothingness. Any somethings you might have accomplished become consumed by the Nothingness of Lifetime.

In any case, I started my weekend out with a Fun-Filled Friday (ha). Worked out at 9. That wasn't so fun, except for that it did, in fact, release endorphins, therefore making me happy, albeit sore. And smelly. 'Twere I in a Victorian-era parlor, instead of a modern day gymnasium (which, frankly, I don't know how or why I would accomplish such a feat) the smelling salts would've had a busy day as I would have offended the sensibilities of ladies to the point of fainting. In any case... after a brief stop to buy some Powerade Zero to replenish my electrolites and a slightly longer shower, I met Kathryn for a delicious Sushi lunch and even better conversation. :) Then we walked to Jester and split a delicious cake for dessert. Then I went to CVS and shopped for makeup (don't worry I didn't buy any) before meeting Cristina for coffee. Well technically we met for tea, but that was happenstance. (Also? We as a society don't use "happenstance" often enough.) And it was amazing. Good conversation, Good god time, good perspective on life.

Then commenced the doing nothing. Sure I've cleaned the kitchen 3 times. Sure I reorganized my closet and am working on my desk. But that's it, people. I watched like... 8 hours of Little Miss Perfect. Watched a @#$^ton of Lifetime. Watched The Notebook. Let myself sleep as long as I wanted/needed to on BOTH Saturday and Sunday. As I said; What a glorious weekend! One I greatly needed. Seeing as I have an overabundance of stupid schoolwork and a History midterm this week. If I hadn't had this weekend... It would've been full on dragon-lady.

Because Time is of the Essence.

2009-03-09T14:32:00.004-05:00

First of all: Eff you, Daylight Savings Time.

Now that that's taken care of, I would like to inform everyone that the Spring restlessness set in today. I can't believe I am sitting here, studying biology. That I will read for government and do french homework. Is this my life??? ("Is this real life?? Is this forever? AHHHHH!" http://tinyurl.com/c59334 )

UPDATE: I'm in Government class now. And I'm just as restless, just as angry. Although happier now that bio is over with and my french examen orale is done. I can't believe I'm already to this point in early March. I usually don't get like this until April. But I do become this irrational, restless energy-machine at least once a year. Usually in spring. I just start to panic that I'm not doing anything. I don't mean as in I sit around and watch TV all day. Au contraire, mon frere. I mean I'm not making a difference, I'm not making a recognizable or effective contribution to life. I'm not DOING anything. Just a little tiny nobody in a school in a city in a state in a country in a continent in a world in a planet in a solar system in a galaxy in infinity. I am nothing. And yet, I am something.

Do you know what I'm not? A good student. I'm not able to concentrate. I'm not good at sitting still. At doing NOTHING.

So if I call you, begging you to do something with me, or just talk to me, or listen to some silly idea or half-assed attempt at a plan... just listen and smile and assure me that I'm not wasting my life away by living simply. KThanksBye.

I'm Plagarzing Myself

2009-03-03T14:33:00.001-06:00

But it's from Myspace. And No one reads Myspace.
Why are we (we being the book freaks who read, nay, devour literature at a surprising if somewhat rabid rate) so enamored with books? The beauty of the prose, the complexity (or lack thereof) of the characters, the ludicrousness of the situations, the twists and turns of the plot... it's all intoxicating in the most glorious of fashions. But why? What is it about books that touch us so deeply and profoundly? Is it because it satiates our perverse need to be someone else, live other lives? Is it a sick way to cut ourselves down or build ourselves up? I'm not lucky enough to be like Bella, she has Edward. Or: well, I certainly have it better than Kartik. To be outcasted like that and without family? 'Tis a shame indeed... Or is it the town gossip in all of us that delights in being able to see the thoughts and actions of others in a most candid way? Is it their (their being books, of course) ability to take us places we've never even dare imagine for fear of reality becoming that much more jolting? I don't know. I don't know, but I do so love to read.

Why are we (we being those who listen) so affected by music? What is it about the plaintive reverberations of a violin string that brings tears to the eyes, each an individual, pearlescent reverberation of former pain and sympathy? What is it about a mad guitar rif that brings even the most painfully shy kid shockingly and animatedly to life? What is it about the smooth texture of the piano keys that heals the heart's wounds? What is it about the guitar strings that deepens them? Why is it that a beautiful melody can evoke emotions you never even knew you possessed? What is it about lyrics (the prose of song, you could say) that bridge that ever-shifting and ever-evasive gap between heart and mind? Why is it that music is so powerful in the embodiment of our emotions? Born from the heart of God and carried to earth on the sweet beat (ha) of the angels' wings, music is the universal language. But why? Why can people with seemingly NOTHING in common be so similarly effected by song? I don't know. I don't know, but I do so love music.

Why are we (we being adolescents and, well, human) so strange when it comes to relationships? Please, allow me to give you a brief example of my idea world:
Boy: Hello. My name is Boy.
Girl: Hello, Boy. I'm Girl.
Boy: You know, girl. You're really pretty and I think I heard you make a reference to Heart of Darkness earlier, which means you must be smart.
Girl: If you understood my somewhat vague reference, then you must get me. I mean really get me.
Boy: I also find you smoking hot.
Girl: The sentiment is returned seven-fold, sir.
Boy: Most excellent. Would you like to make out, date, and eventually get married?
Girl: Why, yes, that I would. Do you like chocolate?
Boy: I love chocolate. We must elope at once, you are the one for me.
Girl: I will only honeymoon in Venice.
Boy: What other city is there?
Girl: I love you.
Boy: I love you.

OR, if 'twere a meeting of star-crossed lovers:
Boy: Hello, my name is Boy.
Girl: Hello, Boy. I'm Girl.
Boy: You know, Girl, you're really pretty, and I think I heard you make a reference to Mario Kart earlier. That must mean that you're tons of fun.
Girl: You heard correctly, sir.
Boy: I also find you smoking hot.
Girl: You are attractive too, but I'm not really feeling any chemistry.
Boy: Ah, unrequited love. Alrighty then. Thanks for not stringing me along for months and breaking my heart, thus leading me to a life of alcoholism and credit card debt.
Girl: You're welcome. May I point you in the direction of my friend? You are exactly her type.
Boy: Sure thing. Does she like chocolate?
Girl: She speaks practically of nothing else.
Boy: Goody! Take me to her at once! Anon!

See? No sentiments barred. No mind games. Not, of course, that I would actually want conversations to be like that, I just like the no-nonsense approach to making your feelings known at once. Here is a perhaps more concise version:

Ex.1-
Boy: I like you.
Girl: I like you.
Boy: Let's date.
Girl: Yes, let's.

Ex. 2-
Boy: I like you.
Girl: I don't really like you.
Boy: Cool.
Girl: Bye.

Why do we have to make it so HARD on ourselves? Not that I'm recommending ANY form of imitation of these conversations, ladies and gents, because they are quite capable of NEVER finding you a date, but I hope you understand what I'm driving at- straightforwardness is perhaps the most underrated character attribute of the century.

A Very Interesting Conversation...

2009-02-16T00:09:00.002-06:00

... What does it all MEAN?!??!??????

(Occurred in a Chatroom)
Him: There is a mystery hidden in your eyes.
Me: oh really?
Him: yeah right down to the color. where does your spirit take you?
Me: what do you mean? religiously?
Him: First thing that comes to mind.
Me: Love. The presence of Love.
Him: Are you in pursuit or education?
Me: Meaning have I found the love of which I speak? Yes I have...
Him: You have?
Me: Yes.
Him: And where does that love guide you?
Me: To other wounded hearts.
Him: Hence why we are talking. you possess a blessing, do you not?
Me: I posses the Love of Jesus... which enables me to occiasionally comfort others. I do not possess the power to bless others...
Him: yes but your blessing of comfort comase at an expense, correct?
Me: Not in the slightest.
Him: no pain, no fear?
Me: Occaisionally. But I am eventually left with a feeling of peace in knowing that I've spared someone else from feeling those emotions That the healing grace of God has used me as a conduit to draw pained souls closer to Him.
Him: A strong one I see. Do you hear his voice or have visions?
Me: Not in the New Age sense, no. It's more like I think myself into realizations, or find passages in the bible that speak to me and aid my journey. Sometimes thoughts and words will come to me, and I didn't know I had such insight on a subject.
Him: yes, the knowledge piece is what i was refering to. soon you will also have the voice louder than you do now. ever thought you had a spirit walking close by?
Me: As in the Holy Spirit? Most definitely. Almost every day.
Him: no no, another spirit. see any shadows. ghosts if you will?
Me: No…
Him: hmm, maybe i have the wrong person. i'm sorry to bother you. :)
Me: Who did you think I was?
Him: I’m currently on a journey gathering like souls. (*NOT Gonna lie, I thought he was a demon at this point… LOL… so irrational)
Me: To what purpose?
Him: what thought just hit your brain?
Me: A cult, or something worse, to be honest.
Him: Oh no, heavens no. lol. I’m a Christian. we are speakers of god like yourself. and we don't get into a compound i'm christian lol
Me: And the ghost aspect?
Him: but there are folks who are able to see visions it's a guardian spirit or some call their guardian angel some are actually able to see it and some speak with it
Me: but it's not the Holy Spirit?
Him: no, the Holy Spirit is your soul for you are God but we can not understand God without a guardian the Holy Spirit protects our soul from our flesh. the guardian spirit gives us the words of our call
Me: I'm not sure how that correlates to Christianity, exactly.
Him: it is nothing different
Me: Then you are saying that the spirit is to protect our humanly bodies from the holy embodiment of the presence of God within our souls?
Him: no the Holy Spirit is what protects you from the sin of the flesh. God is not sin. God is the Holy Spirit
Me: I know, I was meaning what in the flesh needs protecting?
Him: sorry, did i misword it?
Me: I believe so... but maybe not.
Him: hehe it's ok, i have the wrong individual. my apologies. :)
Me: Well... then... Good luck? Although I'm not sure "collecting souls" has a very positive connotation, for future reference...
Him: hehe, it's not collecting. it's gathering, connecting, communicating, and learning we each have our own task and have information that assists the other in theirs
Me: and do you have a name?
Him: Joshua
Me: Sorry, I meant your group.
Him: no, it is not a group .there are no meetings . it's not like waco or the freemasonry
Me: I see.
Him: i'm told to talk to folks down my path
Me: and you thought I was one.
Him: we shed light on the others and we continue on. i did. you have a very strong look in your eye
Me: Well, sorry to... disappoint? lol
Him: one that holds pain during her trials. lolol, no no, no disappoint at all
Me: Hold pain during my trials?
Him: yes, the task of comfort is not easy on the heart.
Me: Not always, but neither is it a burdern.
Him: no no, truly a blessing
Me: Well thank you.
Him: and thank you for sharing your beauty with me. God Bless!
Me: May He bless you as well.

January in Review!

2009-02-01T15:42:00.002-06:00

Happy February!! I (still) can't believe it's 2009. Two thousand and nine. tew-oh-oh-nyne. That's some crazy shit. January was a big month for me... let's review some of the things I learned/that happened to me, shall we?

1) Started a new semester of college... my 4th. Meaning in 4-ish months, I'm halfway done with college. That's also some crazy shit.
2) Spent more money than should be legally allowed for anyone.
3) Made 1300 bones.
4) Calculated that the gov'mint owes me back 1300 on my tax refund... suck it.
5) Missed my family and realized that my baby brother really is growing up... Quickly, it would seem.
6) Dropped my first college class. :)
7) Got really annoyed with the UT website... again.
8) Worked out a lot.
9) Heard a sermon about sex... it was AWESOME.
10) Bought (and used) wrinkle cream... sad day (s).
11) Started a cleanse... as in what those crazy-ass Hollywood people are doing. AKA I sold out to the man... and I don't really care :)
12) Took another acting workshop. And improved.
13) Saw some really really really good films.
14) Saw The House Bunny again. Twice.
15) Realized some really important stuff about life and people. (Apparently in February I'm going to be cryptic and vague...)
16) Fell further in love with Jason Mraz (SQUEEEEEEE)
17) Watched some pretty pimp American Idol episodes.
18) Played Alice Greenfingers... the best dumb game EVER!
19) Made new friends.
20) Saw old friends.

So yeah. And now, my friend suggested I start posting a monthly Random-Facts-About Me- section... so here's the first, February 1st... how apropo!

25 Random Things About ME

1) I am a chapstick ADDICT. I don't mean I enjoy the occasional application here and there, I mean if I don't have it, you WILL know, and I will start to freak out. I've asked random people in classes to use their chapstick before... usually people say no, but it's always worth a shot.

2) because of #1, I have some of the softest lips around ;)

3) I love love love anything to do with languages or accents. I love inventing new accents and trying to do the ones I can't. So far in my repetoire, I have an invented indian/mexican/islander accent, british, australian (it's getting good!!!!) and many american accents (brooklyn, mississippi, minnesota, etc.). and kind of irish. and kind of russian. and kind of french, although I would rather just speak french... lol. It is my dream to be able to slip effortlessly into any accent requested of me... I can get pretty close on a lot of them... I also love voices.. I accidently do them always and as a result, probably don't make friends as easily as i should be able to... lol

4) Books are my best friends in the whole world. I absolutely love reading with all my soul, and can't get enough!! And I love re-reading (which I thought everyone did) because you gain SO much more from the book with each successive reading. I wish I could dedicate my life to only reading books. I also plan on having an amazing library in my house... with a rolling ladder... on which I will sing... :)

5) Sushi is my favorite food and it IS foodgasmic.

6) I have dimples. big ones. and I don't mind if you tell me they're cute, huge, or ugly, but for the LOVE, don't EVER say, "You have dimples." No @%!@, Sherlock! I have had them my WHOLE life, and know they are there. Especially since people like you tell me I have them every day. Also, dimples are a dominant gene, therefore my children will have dimples (MUAHAHAHAHA).

7) I have a bunch of friends who are on the brink of fame. Which is weird.

8) one of the things I hate most in the world is seeing people waste their gifts and talents.

9) I'm extremely tired of all the world-wide drama of people trying to find girlfriends/boyfriends and get married. Ugh. Just chill out.

10) I've been having such frequent deja vue recently that I seriously think that some of the people in my life have been trained in the Native American art of Dream Walking and are secretly planting visions in my mind...

11) Speaking of dreams, I have THE weirdest dreams when I'm half awake/half asleep... you know, that period of time when you find the exact right sleeping position and are starting to drift off, but you still hear the clock ticking and the AC running...? Yeah... just ask Kendall. I bust out laughing when I'm asleep and then explain how there was a little boy in a sandbox... how is that hilarious???

12) I am NOT a morning person. If I'm not awake "enough" I will seriously HURT you. I think i need pajamas with a big disclaimer: "Do not talk to me if you can't see more than 45% of the whites of my eyes"

13) I usually hear absolutely everything while I'm asleep. (there are a lot of numbers about my sleep habitss...) Sometimes I wake up and remember a noise, but have no clue what it was, which, as you can probably imagine is sometimes creepy...

14) I love watching scary movies, but absolutely can not when i'm alone. It can be someone who is more afraid than I am, or someone who isn't afraid at all, but it can't be someone who makes fun of the movies... I LOVE being afraid. But only in movies. I would kinda rather die than be afraid in real life. And I'm completely serious.

15) #14 is probably why I should never live alone.

16) The scariest story I heard as a kid, and that still haunts me today, is this: A young woman lived by herself in a cabin. She would often become afraid by the sounds of the wilderness at night, but she had a loving and protective dog. The dog would sleep beside her bed, and when the woman was afraid, she would stick her hand over the edge of the bed, and the dog would lick it to comfort her. One night, she heard a lot of strange noises, and was frightened, but the dog licked her hand and she fell back asleep. In the morning she awoke to find her dog hanging, dead, from the ceiling and a note written in his blood on the dresser mirror: "Humans can lick too".

17) I'm probably going to have nightmares tonight because of thinking about #16. Also (seriously) why I can never have a part of me hanging over a bed. I'm honestly afraid someone will lick it... which i'm pretty sure makes me crazy.

18) I love cooking and baking and I would honestly love to have people over for dinner everyday. But I'm poor.

19) I truly truly love people and would like to bask in the glow of friendship forever... Also I love listening to people, lifting them up, and helping them solve their problems. No lie.

20) I don't like beer. Honestly, beer tastes to me the way urine smells. Like how lemon jolly ranchers taste the way pinesol smells. I'm not going to drink pinesol, and I'm not going to drink beer. kthanksbye.

21) Music is basically the effervescent, ethereal material (ha) that my soul is made of. I can easily cry due to the beauty of a melody or harmony. That being said, I hate a lot of modern-day music. I also love cheesy songs... It's hard to explain my criteria. But I dislike 94% of country, because the twang and predictable melodies make it hard to hear the soul of the songs. For some reason, male country singers annoy me more than female country singers... maybe because I want my men to sound like Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban, and Michael Buble, and not say "ya'll"...

22) Chips and Salsa (and/or queso) is the way to my heart.

23) I am probably the most indefatigably, excruciatingly optimistic person... ever. :D

24) I really have no problem telling people I love them. And I always mean it. With all my heart. Talk to me if you ever want to hear my theories on love... lol. (I'm serious... I have theories on love...)

25) I would rather do a thousand things than sleep, but heaven help us all if I don't get enough for more than three days in a row... ... ...

Maybe 'Tis a Bit Late, but...

2009-01-02T16:26:00.006-06:00

Happy New Year!

As I wave a fond farewell to 2008, and slowly turn on one foot (favoring the ankle that's still slightly swollen, although it's been 5 years since I've sprained it) to greet 2009 and all the uncertainty and sheer exhilaration it brings, I hear the distant cries of things and people not ready to move on.

"What about meeeeeee, Kaitlin?" they whine.

I hate to break it to you, but... Sorry. I won't be investing any more time and emotion into energy vampires in 2009. (Oh, Vampires... R.I.P. Moonlight. I will forever mourn Mick St. John. And R.I.P. Blood Ties. Henry Fitzroy was beautiful, too.) I'm not saying that I will not lend a helping hand or council you or be your friend or confidant. Not at all. Those are my roles, my jobs, my joys, and my spiritual fulfillment. If you only ever ask me whether you should buy apple juice or orange juice, I will help you.

But there are things, and people, and causes, and beliefs, and even certain coffee flavors (Pumpkin Spice??? More like Stale Vaguely Spicey Coffee Remnants. Mmmmm.) that don't appreciate my time or my efforts. And thusly, I bid you a fond farewell!

I'm moving on, baby! It's time for a fresh, clean start.

I'm already pumped for '09. Better life, better friends, better relationship with God... It's the year of improvement, of self-actualization, of self-appreciation, but also of selflessness. I am extremely, utterly, possibly inappropriately excited.

Aren't you?

Hi, my name is Four Kubicek

2008-12-23T14:29:00.003-06:00

In my humble opinion, one of the strangest things in the world is maternal/paternal predisposition. I went to dinner with some friends last night (mmmm Chili's) and of course immediately noticed all the cute babies near me. Two of the three guys also liked to look at the babies and kind of even did that awkward-across-the-restaraunt-smile-and-wave thing that everyone does and probably annoys the parents of the baby. And the waiter who's trying to serve you while you ignore them going, "Hi!! Hi there! Hi!" Two of them were cool with the fact that my baby sense has been in overdrive recently. (I blame the snowman onsie I saw in JCPenny's.) And the third thinks that puppies are cuter than babies.

You read correctly. He thinks PUPPIES are cuter than BABIES. And yes, we are friends somehow. Anyways, we started joking with him about how he's going to end up with the most kids out of all of us. Which lead to us joking about what a terrible father he would be (not really, just in this situation) and how he would just name his children by numbers. The first born would be One, the second Two, Three, etc., etc. Which got me thinking about maternalism(?). Why are some people so sure they don't want children and others so sure they do? Why do I physically want to have a baby, when the thought of a serious relationship (let alone the "M" word) and children FREAKS ME THE FUCK OUT? (Pardon my french)

Weird stuff, eh?

It's a Wonderful Life(time Movie)

2008-12-13T22:24:00.003-06:00

Pros of Today: CHEESY Lifetime Movies, It's a Wonderful Life, Cinnasticks, and the soon-to-be enjoyment that is SNL (hosted by Hugh Laurie with musical guest, my african brother Kayne!)

Cons of Today: Studying... boooooo... Couldn't use my favorite mug for my coffee breaks because it was in the dishwasher... boooooo... I'm sore as $%^... boooooo.

But the pros by far outweigh the cons. Anyways, I teared up during all of the lame/wonderful movies I watched today. Which makes me feel AWESOME. haha

Did I ever mention how much of a loser I've become? I realize that studying for finals is a valid excuse... but still. I feel like I've fallen off the face of the Earth. I am floating in the nebulous, caramel-y center of the Milky Way, pondering the meaning of life, the things Jimmy Stewart does to my heart...

But I still feel like a super loser. But oh well. I learned my lesson from the holiday movies: Don't take anyone for granted. Some people in my life should maybe get a refresher in that course, and that's all I'm gonna say about that. :/

But enough melancholy emo. Let's party! And by party, of course, I mean study. And in closing, I'd like to congratulate Amy Poehler on a job well done. SNL won't be the same without you.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like CHRIIIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAAAS

2008-12-03T16:04:00.004-06:00

Okay... not really. It's 70 degrees here.

Damn you, Texas. In other recent news, I just sneezed on my arm. That wasn't the news I intended to share, but it just happened. In other other news, I'm really stressing recently. Despite the fact that the semester is drawing to a close, and I have a 7-10 page paper due Friday that I've yet to start (Ha.), I'm trying to secure my living arrangements. Since Kendall doesn't know what she's doing next year, I find myself once again roommateless and hopeless. Although I'm working out an arrangement with my friend Ashley, nothing's set in stone and there are so many minute details and ultimately tons of apartment-complex BS that needs worked out... it's so depressing.

AND I'm trying to get all my stuff sorted out for LA in the summer and I just want to have a kickass internship, but nooooooooooo. Everyone has to give me conflicting information and whatnot. Okay, this isn't really that bad, and I still have 5 months to get everything arranged... but still. I'm in a complaining mood, and I want this to be resolved!!! Also I'm getting cute business cards printed to pass out in LA. I'm so excited. I will be like, giving them to craft services people, just because I will be so proud to have business cards. Cue dramatic scene where I find a discarded card (HA!) in the trashcan, as a single tear rolls down my cheek and I see my failed future flash before my eyes...

Also? I just want to write!!! And not my paper!!!!!!!! I haven't done anything remotely creative in roughly FOREVER!!!!!! (since helping Shane out with his short film, of course!) But I mean personally. However... this weekend I am taking an acting workshop with an unknown accomplice from Marco Perella, who had a recurring role on Walker, Texas Ranger and is a published author.

Yeah.
That's right. The guy met Chuck Norris.

I win :)

Goodbye, Sweet November

2008-11-30T22:11:00.006-06:00

Goodbye, Sweet November.
Goodbye teenagerdom;
Hello 20s.

Already eventful
Beyond my wildest dreams.
27 days of 20
And already self-actualization.

Goodbye, Sweet November.
Goodbye, 40s.
Hello 50.

So much working, Daddy.
Time to work for yourself.
So much strife for us.
I don't like the sad little smile.

Goodbye, Sweet November.
Goodbye, Baby,
Hello Man.

Only 2 more months of 10.
Seems as though yesterday
You were my baby
Sweet little brother.

Goodbye, Sweet November.
Goodbye Child.
Hello Adult.

Goodbye Sinner.
Hello Saved.

Goodbye Hatred.
Hello Love.

Goodbye Uncertainty.
Hello Excitement.

Goodbye Tears.
Hello Dreams.

Goodbye, Sweet November.
Goodbye Stasis,
Hello Change.

Ladies and Gentlemen...

2008-09-09T22:59:00.002-05:00

Hold onto your hats; it's going to be a bumpy ride. the update to end all updates. And the reader's digest version of the last few weeks.

#1: Apartment
It's great. I love it, I'm happy. Pictures will eventually surface.

#2: Class
They seem to be going well. A little challenging, but more interesting than previous semesters. This semester, we have:
Intro to Theatre and Dance
French 312L (4th Semester)
History of Broadcasting
Intro to Visual Rhetoric
US History

#3: Friends
Living with Kendall. Is good. (Jealouts?) Reunited with old friends; Nicole, David, Kathryn. Made new friends; Kate, Elaine, Patrick, Blake...

#4: Parties
Epic fails. Except for Friday Night @ El Campo which was so so so much fun!!

#5: Creepers
Many. Might surpass Mexican Americans and prevalent minority group in Texas in the near future.

#6: Death/Mourning
Friend Alex Kirk passed away. Car crash. Was an amazing guy and friends with all my friends. Will be sorely missed, but is with his King now, and having a way better time than we ever can. Was depressed but I'm getting better. More at peace. Memorial service was postponed to 27th because...

#7: Ike
Stupid Hurricane. Am concerned for my friends. My family is ok. We lost some shingles and tree branches. Some window leaking. Need sheetrock repairs. Were taking down ugly wallpaper anyway. Mom's idea; Dad's money.

#8: Work
Creatively stifled this week. Too much sadness. Have decided to work on Higher Education (Working Title). WILL sell by May. Or Else.

K. so. Baitsicklee that is my life. Will update more frequently with flowery prose abound. Promise.

xoxo

I Crack Myself UP!!!!!

2008-08-15T09:18:00.003-05:00

So today is my last day of work. Thusly, I am not in the mood to work, nor is anyone making me/ expecting me to work. Thusly I went through some old emails in my mailbox. And I found the beginnings of a script I had COMPLETELY forgotten about... which is odd, as I LOVE(D) this one, and was uber excited about it... Anyway, now I have to decide what to write this year at school, as my goal is to complete and start trying to sell a script. Here are my options: (some of you will not have a clue to any of these, some of you I've told... whatever, this list is really for me, anyways)

1. Public Eye
2. Anabelle Gregory
3. Untitled Civil War Drama
4. Untitled Character Study of a Coffee Addict
5. High Education
6. Untitled Drama Dealing with the Relationship Between Sisters.
7. The Adaptation of My Short Story Stale Breadcrumbs

Sooooo... what to do, what to do? I've so many ideas!!! ick. Anyways, to clue you in on what I'm talking about... allow me to offer you this, the opening line of the kick-a script I found buried in Yahoo!

Public Eye
By: Kaitlin Wehlmann

CHARLIE (V.O.)
Things weren’t always bad with the missus. She used to bake me apple pie once upon a time. And then the twice-a-week charge at a local pie diner showed up on our credit card bill, and that was okay, too. To be honest, their pie was better, and I wasn’t going to let a little thing like marital bliss stand in the way of the perfect fusion of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Susie always put too many cloves.

HAHAHAHA Seeeeeeeeeeee? Isn't that HILARIOUS?!?!???? no? just me? Oh well. I still love it and apologize for forgetting its existence.

I'm Ready!!

2008-08-09T15:40:00.002-05:00

So I was packing/ cleaning my room (shocker, I know) and I started to rearrange (...dump into a pile on my bed...) the stuff from my bathroom last year, namely some old perfumes, some vitamins, bandaids, etc. And as I got a whiff of my perfume... memories, sweet memories, came washing over me. It's odd how something like a smell or a color can take you back. I immediately went back to fall, when the air was crisp, when I was happy. when things were right. And I wasn't sad that things weren't that way anymore; I was happy that things would soon be that way again. I guess that's the thing about being a tireless optimist: when other people would be lost in nostalgia, I can see the future and take joy in its nearness and its newness.

So here's to your future happiness, my friends; whether you can see it or not.

08/08/08

2008-08-08T23:51:00.002-05:00

Happy day that will only come once every 100 years!!!!

Hope it was great! may we all see 08/08/2108... well the ones of us I like, anyway.

A Public Service Announcement:

2008-08-06T10:37:00.002-05:00

Brought to you by Kendall and Kaitlin's Kitchen (hahaha... no? Just me?).

Okay, people (read: men): NEWSFLASH:
Calling a girl you're interested in "buddy", "pal", or any other non-gender specific terms is WRONG. If you want in our pants (or, you know, our hearts) do not make us feel like the your friend's younger brother, who tags along with you and kinda annoys you, but mostly you secretly think he'd kinda be your ideal perfect son, if you ever get married, plus you always wanted a little brother, but no matter how much you begged your mom, she gave you two annoying little sisters who stunk up the house with Nair and nail polish, and so it's kinda cool showing a little kid around all the time, but it can get kinda annoying when you want to scam on chicks...

But I digress...

The point is, GENTLEMEN, it's a complete and total turn off, and has, on more than one occasion, made me lose interest in someone, just because they called me "pal", "buddy", "bud", "pally", or ANY OTHER VARIATION.
Kapeesh?

Carpe Quesadilla Maker

2008-08-04T10:32:00.003-05:00

OHwa. MYee. GAWD. (Chandler Bing! hahahahaha)

This weekend was CRASY! And no, actually, I haven't read Breaking Dawn yet, because Kendall and I were to busy buying EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY ITEM WE COULD EVER NEED for da 'partment. And it was fuuuuuun. And we didn't even get that ridiculous with our purchases and guess what? Our apartment is going to be beautiful! I will so totally love it there and will NOT be creatively stifled, as per the dorm room (box of death). Mayhaps I will accomplish one of my goals of completing and selling a script this year... that'd be greeeeeeat. Altso, maybe it will be better for me to study in. Plusssss: KITCHEN!!! I can not even begin to address how friggin' excited I am for the kitch!!! AHHHHHHHHH and the biggest plus of apartment life? Drumroll, please...

KENDALL!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

If you live in Austin, or can make the trek, you can request to visit us and we may or may not throw you a dinner party.

I think that this year, I'm always going to be in the best mood imaginable. :D :D

Thursday, Schmursday

2008-07-31T12:54:00.004-05:00

Any day that is not Friday fails. And today is not Friday.

On the plus side, tomorrow is. Which makes Thursday, like, a 69.4%. It almost doesn't fail, but still does.

Kaitlyn left for Europe and took a little piece of my heart with her. Siiiiiiigh. I will miss her.

Speaking of missing... (ha) I miss Austin/UT. I'm so ready for this year!!!! Slaaaaash not at all because I've not prepared myself for the big move to an apartment AT ALL. Well other than the neccessities Kendall and I have been buying since last December. But those are inconsequential to life if I don't have a rockin' bedspread.

And now I must make more folders. THURSDAY- YOU FAIL.

P.S. Happy Harry Potter's Birthday!

I Have 40 Minutes Left on my Lunch Break...

2008-07-28T12:37:00.004-05:00

...And not a thing to read. Oh dear.

This weekend was fun. I did too much and am exhausted now that it's Monday and I still haven't cleaned my room. As per usual. But oh well. Maybe I can suck it up long enough tonight to touch some stuff. Maybe shift some papers around. Who knows?

Kendall (my BFF) comes back tomorrow from NY. Then we're going to inventory everything we've purchased/received for our Apartment. Which we move into in 24 days. AHHHHHH. That was an excited/overwhelmed scream. How did this summer get away from me? Work. I now know what' I've always expected- A 9-5 desk job would be the death of me. So though I'm grateful for the moolah and I've met some pretty rad people... I'm never coming back. I'm thinking about working at a cosmetics counter next summer. Because I love makeup/would like to give people makeovers/ I would sell a buttload of product because I know what I'm talking about and am personable AND have dimples. Plus if I work at the Clinique counter in Dillards in West Oaks maybe I can get an employee discount/ will be really close to some of my favorite stores! But who knows. Maybe I will get to score a sweet internship and will be with a production studio. (MY DREAM!) But anyways. I need to find a job for the school year. There are bajillions of places near my apartment building, other than the Blockbuster IN my complex... chyeah boi, living in STYLE. So I'm not super worried. I just need to make straight A's this semester (ha) so it might be better to work somewhere on campus because they're required to respect your class schedule. But I'm not really down with selling food items to my peers. So if I got an on-campus job, it would be in the Alumni Call Center. Where I would most definitely be a telemarketer.

Oh the things I do for my cash monies.

The Hum of my Laptop Sounds Delightfully Like a Kitten

2008-07-26T01:13:00.001-05:00

So I just (meaning an hour ago) got back from seeing "Mamma Mia!" and boy, oh, boy was it fantastic. Granted, musicals are pretty much the reason I live... but still. And Meryl Streep? I don't care what you say. She's HOT. Like woah. And she's 50-freakin'-9 (!!!). I love her. And I will be LUCKY to look even remotely as good as her when I'm 40, let alone 50-freakin'-9. She must wake up every morning saying, "Demi Moore can suck it!" Because I mean, sure, Demi got Ashton who woke up one day and decided to be really really hot, right when his marriage prevented us from eloping. But will Demi look as good as Meryl in 20 years? Negatory. Mostly because Demi divorced Bruce Willis and he is more than enough man for anyone and Love will smite her because one crazy biotch CANNOT have Ashton AND Bruce. Expect those crows to start digging their feet into her head pretty hard any day now. Which is actually a pretty sick mental image. ... The only person who beats Meryl Streep is Michelle Pfieffer (I spelled it right! First try!). Ok, people. Did you see "Hairspray"???? Because I was totally in love with her. "Stardust"? OMG( okay, not when she was like 198 and balding). Yes, I admit I'm in love with Michelle Pfieffer. And I don't care who knows it! But I digress...
The reason I'm writing so late (late for me, with a full-time summer job that sucks my soul. Not late for me, in college, who likes to go to sleep around 4 a.m.) is because AMC is on my shitlist. Ex. Cuse. Me. If you put 9:05 as a movie time, when I show up, there'd better be a FREAKIN' 9:05 start time listed in barely readable neon lights OR ELSE. Or else, when I arrive promptly at 8:45, weave through the crowd of Junior High (::shudders::) pimps and whores (uhhh... I mean boys and girls), fight my way to an automated ticket machine because the line is too long and there's a gross, pimply couple macking on each other and smearing their herpes onto the line divider, THERE'D BETTER A 9:05 SHOWING OR I WILL BE PISSED. But then I will get to waste an hour in Starbucks with Rebekah and pay exact change ($2.27!) for a Venti Iced Unsweetened Passionfruit Tea and I will be happy again. And then I will get to see the 10:10 showing of "Mamma Mia!" at Cinemark (where the seats at least recline a smidgen) and I will be back to my usual exuberant self.
And before you get all Neo-Nazi on me, let me just tell you that Starbucks (newsflash!) doesn't make the best coffee or tea. But hey, guess what? It's convenient. And guess what else? I still looooooooove it! I don't consume over priced beverages at the 'Bucks to support the man, for intrinsic value, or for the sake of consumerism (rah! rah! rah!) but rather because it's close, handy, comforting, and my usual one is relatively quiet. Anywho, I DID enjoy myself at a Starbucks! Wanna know why?

Kaitlin's List of the Top 5 Awesomes She and Bekah Did Whilst at Starbucks:

5) Wrote a parody of the Bon Qui Qui Video into a Christ-centered educational comedic video.
4) Sung our Favorite Veggie Tales Song.
3) Had a verbal ghetto fight using our hand puppets... you know, where you curl your hand into a fist and then move your thumb to simulate a mouth?
2) Sang (again. and quite loudly.) OK-Go's Cinnamon Lips.
1) Tide- Penned out the coffee stains on Rebekah's white sweater. One on her tummy and one on her bosom. And yes, I helped. And yes, if we didn't already frighten off the other patrons with our singing and raucous laughter, that did it.

Welcome to my life.