I never liked November much, anyway.

Well, the month is over and the drive to post in my blog on a daily basis is no more. I can relax, and just live life, without worrying about documenting it. This is a relief. I know a lot of people who respond to the end of NaBloPoMo by not writing for ages, but that's not me. I need too much to express myself through words, especially with all the chaos running rampant around me at present.

I can, however, relax knowing that if the words don't come so freely, if they just aren't ready, it's okay. Tomorrow's another day.

I did it. I'm done. I can relax.

We're still here.

So I'm Kinda Done

I'll still do this whole NaBloPoMo thing, because come on. There's only two days left. But I have no interest in doing any Learning to Love You More assignments today. So, you know, I'm not gonna.

Laini and I saw Twilight again today. Man. Okay, so the books? I didn't really get into them at first, because I didn't really like the writing style. I dug that the books took place in Forks, WA, because really? Nothing takes place in Forks, WA. However, you can totally tell that the author hadn't been to Forks before writing the books.

I had a minicrush on the idea of Edward when reading the books. I am totally an Edward girl. But that was all.

And then I saw the movie. And I want one. This movie causes me to regress back to a boycrazy 14 year old. Laini and I giggled the whole time. Grandma made fun of us. It cracked me up. But seriously? The looks Edward gives Bella make me jealous. I want someone to look at me like that. To hold me like that. I know, it's just Hollywood's unrealistic view of what love should be, but I want it anyway. I want someone who can't keep their hands off of me, and I don't mean in a sexual way. Edward is always touching Bella in some way, a hand on her back, around her shoulders, protecting her. I want someone to feel protective of me.


We're still here.

To My Lovely:

We'll get through this, together. You're stronger than you think.



We're still here.

These are things I don't do:

I don't get in the middle of other people's relationships. I am happier when my friends are in relationships than out of them. I certainly don't want to be responsible for breaking someone up.

I give input, and advice if asked, but that's all. I don't expect people to follow it. Heck, I'm no expert.

I don't pretend to be perfect, and I don't think I am above self improvement. I know I am seriously flawed, and I am constantly working towards becoming a better version of me. It will take me a lifetime to get there, but I'm blessed with patient people.

I don't believe your lies.

I don't party. I am not out at all times. I don't do drugs or drink profusely. I don't rebel.

What I do: I listen, I support, I grow, I stay at home, I put my pajamas on by 7pm, I play with my family, I try so hard to simplify, I learn to let go.

I'm pretty sure you can't read this, but your words have no power. Your lies are not welcome here. I'm done giving you anymore energy. You aren't worth the worry.

We're still here.

Make a Protest Sign and Protest: LTLYM Assignment #34

Instead of protesting something, we chose to raise awareness. Here is Nini and I at the March of Dimes.

Describe What To Do With Your Body When You Die: LTLYM Assignment #51

When I die I don't want to be cut open. I don't want to be embalmed. I don't want my corpse to last forever, that's silly! I just want to be buried the way I die, quickly. Why drag it out?

When I die I want to be buried in my glamorous black dress that reminds me of Donna Reed. I want to be buried in pearls, and my red heels with the peep toe. I want my pretty red coat, in case the afterlife is cold.

I want my hair flat ironed, and I want red lipstick.

I want all of my friends to come to my funeral, but only the ones who really matter. I don't care if it's a small funeral, as long as the people who are there are people who love me.

I want to be buried someplace pretty.

After I'm in the ground, I want everybody to have a fantastic party. I want good food, and good music. It would be a plus if my mom could meet a man at my funeral. I'd like to be responsible for that. And I want everyone to dress up, but not necessarily in black. Just wear something super glamorous!

And a Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

So every year I say some variation of the same thing. I say: "I'm like Nordstrom's, baby! No decorations till after Thanksgiving."

Every year I lie. I mean, my house isn't decorated or anything. I haven't pulled out my N Sync and Christina Aguilera Christmas albums yet. But I have decorated my blog. Cause I'm silly like that. :P

But I waited until the day before Thanksgiving, and really? That's good enough.

So today is the 27th of November. That means I only have to Learn to Love You More 4 more times. Fantastic! I have done today's assignment, basically, but I need my laptop in order to post the pictures.

Next year Nini and I are going to do a NaBloPoMo challenge together. I personally am just stunned we both managed to do it on our own this year!

I finally learned what Rick Rolling is. Weezer, you are ridiculous. That is why I love you.

For those of you who are fans of the other NieNie, there was a very pleasant surprise on her blog last night! I am surprised at how good Christian looks. I expected worse.

I am having an amazing hair day today. I am so thankful for that. :P

You know, now that I come from a "broken home", holidays are somewhat anticlimactic. I used to relish in Thanksgiving and Christmas, with both my brothers at home, and my parents doing the cooking thang. The last Christmas that things were really okay with my parents, Donovan and I were still together, which just added to that increased awesome of having your family around you. My grandma would be here, and sometimes relatives from California would come up as well. Or we would drive to Montesano and stay with my aunt and uncle.

Now Donovan is engaged to someone else, my dad is celebrating his holiday in Pt Angeles, and Bryan is stationed in California and could not come home. Grandma is still here, and Joe has been added to my family, but my relatives down south aren't doing as well. And my aunt and uncle? Divorced. Brutally, messily divorced. We're not even cooking dinner. We're going to a restaurant, after my mom gets off work. I miss having my family around me, and it's times like these that make me realize how much I do want my own family someday. I want to be able to create something that resembles what I lost. I don't know if that's "healthy" or not, but it's honest. That's all that really matters, anyway.

Oh bah. I'm off to go find something fun to do and be thankful for. Peace out folks, and remember to smile! We're still here!

Finally!

Record the Sound That Is Keeping You Awake: LTLYM Assignment #58

Oy.



http://www.richardcall.net/dogbark.mp3

I too can steal memes....

Stolen from She She:

Round One

1. Who did you spend at least two hours with today?

Lots of people! But most notably, Laini, as we first waited around for Jerry to meet us at Bobbi's, and then waited around for Jerry to tell me the webcam is in fact broken. Lame.

2. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?

Going to Nashville for New Years! Bryan coming home for Christmas! Getting my nails done on Saturday! :P

3. Who was the last person you called?

I called Laini. We are on the phone even as I type this. What can I say? I just can't get enough, I just can't get enough....

4. What were you doing at 12am last night?

Trying to calm down. That damn web cam made me all sorts of CRAZY! I was tense for days. Or, you know, a day.

5. What did you fear was going to get you as a child?

There was this Jehovah's Witness who used to come to the door often, but only when my parents weren't home. I thought that was weird. He gave me nightmares.

6. When did you last see your mom?

Sunday night, but only for a minute. I stopped by her house to drop off Joe's pretend birthday present. Her dog was locked outside. It was freezing out. It was a fiasco.

7. What are you wearing right now?

UW sweatpants, my Fresno State hoodie, and a pair of turquoise grandma panties.

8. Where is your favorite place to be?

Geographically - At the moment, I would say Lake Quinalt. I really only think that in the fall, though.
Mentally - Placid.
Emotionally - Content.
Physically - With Richard.

9. Where is your least favorite place to be?

Um... work, I guess. OOH! No, commuting home from work. The I-5 corridor es no bueno at 5pm.

10. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?

Is it lame if I say Nashville?

11. Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years?

Happy. That's all I can ask for, really.

12. What was the last thing that really made you laugh?

Lilli and her exhibitionist tendencies. She kept flashing me her butt because she knew I was filming her. Weirdo.

13. What cities/towns/villages have you lived in?

San Francisco and Fremont, CA
Fox Island, Ellensburg, Tacoma and Gig Harbor, WA

14. Are you a social person?

In measured doses. I can only handle so many people at once.

15. What do you like about winter?

Scarves! And hats and gloves and my new red coat....

Round Two -
Unconscious Mutterings:

I say … and you think … ?

Coverage - Full
Cynical - Negative
Gust - Winnie Pooh and the Blustery Day
Improvised - Fly by the seat of my pants
V - Vivisection
Guests - Be Our
Brutal - My Onnie
Grant - Laini's hot cousin. I'm a pervert.
Pull - Push &
Streaming - Live

I tag: Laini, Melissa, Karianne and Carrie

Make A Paper Replica of Your Bed: LTLYM Assignment #16

Urgent: If You Are A Webcam

than you may rot in Hades, so to speak.

My night has been awful. My night has been horrendous. I don't think Richard and I said one nice thing to each other as we fought a losing battle with my computer to make the webcam work.

Bill Gates? You may suck it, and you may do so profoundly and with feeling.

I give up. Is it too much to want to see my lovely as he speaks to me? This way I can WATCH him ignore me while he edits photos! :P

I give up. I have a migraine, and I hope the effing thing spontaneously combusts in my sleep. User friendly, my ass.

I knew I was electromagnetically fucked, as it were.

Recreate This Snapshot: LTLYM Assignment #23

So the assignment was to recreate a snapshot posted on the website. However, the idea of this month was to get me to be creative and think outside of my norm, and I didn't feel that copying someone's cheeseball snapshot was a way to do that. Instead I copied a different snapshot. I took the picture shown here, and recreated it in my own way with Laini at her mom's house. It turned out good:

Describe Your Ideal Government: LTLYM #61

My ideal government involves open minds. A leader elected by the public, because I do believe in democracy, although ideally I would like to have more parties than just the two. I hate that only democrats and republicans really stand a chance. Countries in Scandinavia have many more parties than we do. I like that, because I think it eliminates the interparty back biting we see now.

My ideal government has a social conscience. Taxes are higher, but people get more in return. The government pays for school. Healthcare is socialized. I want a lower wage gap. I want a leader who shares my morals, but doesn't allow his own personal religious convictions to rule public policy.

I want a government that believes global warming is real, and does what it can to minimize it's footprint. People shouldn't have the choice of creating waste. There should be government mandates preventing poor consumption. We don't own this world, and we need to be better stewards of it.

It's not too detailed, I know, but it's a rough overview of what I would like to see.

I'll be loving you forever....

Tonight? Oh, tonight. Tonight was a dream come true, 18 years in the making. Tonight Angela and I went to the Tacoma Dome to see New Kids on the Block in concert. It was fantastic. I don't have words, because there's too much to say. I do, however, have pictures!



We saw this car on our way into the venue. Very exciting.


Oh so eagerly awaiting the New Kids. I was bored. Angela was... Angela. :P



Oh oh oh oh oh... The Right Stuff. Jordan was hot. I was happy. Woo hoo.



Please Don't Go Girl. I like how you can see Joey kneeling down at the front of the stage. Very much classic New Kids.



2 In The Morning. This was rad, because they were close enough to really see, finally!



The digital zoom on my camera was way better than I'd realized! They're gearing up for the next song.



"Remember when we said Girl, Please Don't Go. And How I'd Be Loving You, Forever...." Tonight, Tonight (one of my faves!)



Um. Hello. Jordan Knight. No shirt. 'Nuff said.

I have more pictures, and some video, but I'm not sure if they pictures can be edited to suck less. I'll talk to Weezer tomorrow. Right now I am tired, and ready for bed!

Let's try this again.

My moment of anonymity is over. Not that I all of a sudden feel this exhibitionist like need to broadcast my bidness to the world, but I no longer feel like I have to hide myself either.

So hello. I'm back. Password protection is off, and this blog is public again.

Angela and I are going to TGI Fridays for dinner, and then tonight is the New Kids on the Block concert. Everybody squeal like a girl!

Between Twilight last night, and New Kids tonight, this weekend is shaping up to be pretty eventful. Although I am still nursing the world's largest and most unrelenting hangover. Yeah I am.

Take a Picture of the Sun: LTLYM Assignment #27

So this assignment was to take (duh) a picture of the sun, and I had been waiting for ever, because where I live you can never see the sun! Finally today I just gave up. This is what the sun looks like in the Pacific Northwest. Read Twilight? She's not lying. All we get is rain.



I decided to go ahead and just take the picture today because Laini and I looked up in to the clouds and saw God. It is hard to pass up that photo opportunity!

Hang a Windchime on a Tree in a Parking Lot: LTLYM Assignment #15

Or, you know, my driveway.

Fantastico!

This is my desktop background. Nini sent me the picture from Flickr. It's fantastic, and one of two that I want to recreate.

Get a Temporary Tattoo of One of Morgan Rozacky's Neighbors: LTLYM Assignment #12

Laini drew this for me. His name is Barney.

This is what's real.

I am ready for November to be over. This nablopomo thing is growing tedious. I didn't finish it last year, because I was sidetracked by a boy. It's important to me to accomplish the goal this year. But man, I am ready to be done.

It's especially hard because I decided to get off my butt and do this Learning to Love You More business. I'm ready to stop. I think I love you enough.

I get so worn out coming up with these assignments that I don't have time to talk about what's real. Here are some of the things that are real:

• Laini cut my hair into bangs. I look like Jenny from the L Word.
• Weezer is buying me a web cam. It is en route to my house. I can't wait.
• Twilight is on Friday and Laini and I are having a sleepover!
• NKOTB in concert on Saturday!
• It is hard to type with acrylic nails.

Kbye.

Spend time with a dying person: LTLYM #31

So this time the assignment is to spend time with a dying person, not talking, just sitting and concentrating on them, and you, and what you are feeling.

The proof is to write my name, their name, the place I visited, and the date and time. I can't do that. It would be illegal.

So just know that my name is Katya, their name is their own, it happened at work, and it happened today. It's happening right now.

If one more person tells me "it's a mom thing"

I'm gonna punch all you moms in the face.

Kbye.

Perform the Conversation Someone Else Wished They Could Have: LTLYM Assignment #65

Her:



Him:



Starring Katie Curry and Laini Romig

BTW: My brother's hoodie could not make me look fatter if it tried.

Draw a Constellation From Someone's Freckles: LTLYM #9

Something I Love

The only thing I like better than these shoes...

Are these shoes with these pj pants!


Also, we did more crafting today. I made these decorative dishtowels. What do you think? Good for the shop?

Draw a Picture of Your Friend's Friend: LTLYM #49

This is Laini's friend, Tiana.



I am a terrible artist. Kbye.

Write Down a Recent Argument: LTLYM #37

A: (leans forward into the refrigerator, moving things around) Did you eat my pasta?

K: Oh, yeah. I didn't have food for work.

A: (rolls eyes)

K: Oh, don't even. You finished my pasta last week!

A: (looks at K) I'm not even going there.

K: (turns and walks away)

Kind of anticlimactic, but I haven't really had an argument recently!

(Edit: I accidentally did two in one day, so I'm moving this one. Lame? Maybe. Do I care? No.)

I'm not a human, I'm a DANCER!

So last night Laini and I had a girl's evening, and met at Sky Nails to get nails done. As you can see, they turned out quite cute!






And by the way, don't you love my new coat?

Crafty Twins.

So tonight I am spending the night at Laini's, and we are working on Christmas presents. I made my sister Maria's present. She's getting a wallet. Here it is. And ignore the washedoutishness. I didn't care to fix it.




It turned out pretty cute!

Take a Flash Photo Under Your Bed: LTLYM #50

Twinkle Twinkle

Fan freaking tastic!

Everybody Put Up Your Hands

I'm growing annoyed. I've been supremely emotional for the last couple of weeks, and I am pretty much over it. At this point, I can't really tell if I'm even being rational. Like, I feel a lot more sane. And something will happen that really bothers me, but I can't tell if my frustration is rational or not. I know one person who thinks it's not.

I'm not really happy right now. Which I hate, because I am usually a really optimistic person. I think. And I'm not sure if the unhappiness is my fault for not being happy with where I am, and instead trying to push forward faster, or if it's someone else's fault for refusing to concede that there may be other points of view than their own. Just because things don't bother you doesn't mean that other people are wrong when things bother them.

Or maybe it is a combination of the two of us.

So all day I have had that Good Charlotte song stuck in my head, the "I don't wanna be in love" song. Laini downloaded it for me, and I have been listening to it on repeat while typing this. I don't know. I guess cause it's so catchy. Which is silly, cause it's not a very upbeat song.

"Everybody put up your hands
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Feel the beat now
If you’ve got nothing left
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Break it up now
You’ve got a reason to live
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Feelin' good now
Don’t be afraid to get down
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love"

That is really depressing. Except it makes me wanna DANCE!

Make A "LTLYM" Assignment: LTLYM #44

Create a "cozy" for an object other than a teapot, like your television or fishbowl or your best friend. Use bright colors and let your personality shine through. The "cozy" should draw attention to an object that isn't normally showcased.

List Five Events From 1984: LTLYM #42

1. One of my best friends, Adina P, was born in Seattle on July 9! We won't be best friends, though, for another 19 years.
2. The movie The Enchanted Journey came out. Eventually my mom would record this off of TV, and my brother Bryan and I would spend much of our childhood watching it over and over. When I was a little girl this movie scared me and made me so sad. Well, until the happy ending, of course!
3. Belle and Sebastian, a foreign cartoon about a little girl and her tiger airs premiers on Nickelodeon. While I never even knew this cartoon existed, eventually one of my favorite bands of all time would form, naming themselves after this little girl and her feline friend.
4. Don Henley released the single Boys of Summer. Eventually this song, good in its own right, will be covered by the Ataris, and I will dance to it on my bed in the mornings in nothing but a tshirt and my underwear. It's a beautiful thing.
5. Apple airs the commercial that introduces the Mac to the world. This hasn't affected me yet, but it will, as I am currently yearning for my very own macbook. Drool.
   

Make a Poster of Shadows: Assignment #6

So today's assignment was to outline shadows onto a piece of white paper in a grid. I did this. Than I colored them in. Then I went to scan my creation, and the scanner created an individual file out of each shape. I don't feel like doing it again, so I'm just posting the individual shapes. I'm lazy like that. :P

Pout.

Weezer took this picture of my favorite little girl.



We were at Jerisich Dock in Gig Harbor on my birthday. She was sad, but I don't remember why.

Weezer is so talented.

(This disclaimer states that this picture was taken by Richard Call.)

Reread Your Favorite Book From Fifth Grade: LTLYM #45

I'm so stylish!

a day well spent.

I am completely lame.

I spent the day with Laini yesterday, and we had a semi-productive day! I got to her house at around noon thirty, and we settled into the craft room to discuss our respective projects and get set up. We didn't really get anything started, though, before Laini decided that she was hungry, so we ended up heading out to Burger King for sodas and snacks.

We shipped Lilli off to "Mum"s house for the afternoon, and sat down to watch a fantastic documentary called The Eyes of Tammy Faye, about Tammy Faye Bakker of Praise The Lord fame. It was amazing. Laini and I both grew up around the whole CBN, TBN, PTL vibe, so it was all pretty familiar to us.

After the movie Ryan was hungry so we went to Shari's. He ordered this massive 80 course meal, and Nini and I each had a piece of pumpkin pie. Twas awesome.




The sewing didn't start until we got back home. However, it was less than successful. My sewing machine just would not work at all, no matter what she tried, so we did shifts on hers. And the bibs I was sewing for a friend at work? Le suck. That's all I have to say about that!


(BTW, Weezer says my toes look tiny and cute in this picture. I'm inclined to agree!)

I ended up giving up. I'm headed back out there next weekend, and I'll probably stay the night, so we'll get more done that way. I am really frustrated, too, because when I left for the night I forgot my camera. I have my next assignment for Learning to Love You More on it, so I need to get that back right quick!

Oh, but before I went home, we ventured out to Target, where I found the cutest vintage inspired clutch wallet. It had to be mine. Isn't that the cutest thing?

Make A Portrait of Your Friend's Desires: LTLYM #56

Laini Romig, age 26

Worst Pictures, Ever.

Lol, here are the pictures from my camera of the Jason Mraz concert. Enjoy! They are terrible quality, but better than nothing!

we sang, we danced, we stole things

okay. Maybe just the first two!

Angela and I rode up to Vancouver,BC tonight to see Jason Mraz play at the Vancouver Centre. It was so worth the hours long drive. Let me tell you, Jason Mraz is so sexy and he was just rockin' out onstage dancing. When he sang my song, A Beautiful Mess, I thought I was going to cry. Also, when he brought up his joy about Barack Obama winning the election the whole theater of Canadians burst out cheering for our president elect. It was moving.

Like jerks we left our cameras in the car because the tickets said to, only to find out that Jason Mraz encourages cameras at his shows. I was pretty bummed, but took crappy pictures with my cellphone instead. I'll post their crappiness tomorrow.

We are now somewhere in between the border and Bellingham and I am typing this from Angela's iPhone. I should probably give it back, though.

Write the Phone Call You Wish You Could Have: LTLYM #52

K: Hello?

W: Hey. I couldn’t sleep.

K: Me either. Why couldn’t you?

W: I was worried.

K: You don’t need to worry about me. I wish you wouldn’t.

W: But I do.

K: I’m sorry about earlier. I don’t mean to make you feel like I am unhappy.

W: Don’t apologize. You don’t have to apologize.

K: Sometimes I get so frustrated. I tell you that you make me happy. I’ve never ever said that you were anything but “good enough.” It drives me crazy when you tell me I make you feel otherwise. I don’t know what it is that you want me to do.

W: I don’t want you to do anything. I just want you to be happy, in the moment, like I am. Just be happy I’m here.

K: I AM happy. That is so frustrating to me. I wish that I could find a way to make you understand that. I feel like no matter what I do, you expect me to tell you that you aren’t good enough. I tell you I’m happy. I tell you that you make me happier than most. I love you. You know that. But it’s not good enough. You still think I’m upset. You still think something’s wrong. Sometimes I feel like you are creating the problem.

….

K: Sometimes I feel like I’m the one who’s not good enough. No. That’s not true. I know you care. I do. I believe you. I see it when you talk to me. I just wish that you could see that I believe it. I wish you could know that it’s enough.

Excellent.

Two of my favorite things:
Barack Obama and sweet messages from Weezer!

Write a Press Release About an Everyday Event: LTLYM #60

KATIE CURRY SLEEPS IN HALF AN HOUR, LATE TO WORK
November 7, 2008
This morning Katie Curry slept in, yet again. Sources close to her say that this may be due to a late night out Thursday. Richard called her on her cell phone at about 5:30 am to wake her up. After hanging up, she promptly fell back asleep. She then proceeded to ignore both her 7:00 and 7:30 am alarms. Her 8:00 alarm went off, and that was when she knew she needed to act fast.
“ I knew something had to be done, because I was definitely going to be late for work,” Katie told this reporter earlier today. She decided to call her boss on his cell phone.
“My boss answered, and I told him I had locked my keys in the car. I said I was waiting for my mom to drop off my spare. Luckily, he was really agreeable about it. He said he’d see me when I got there, and then we hung up.”
She then reset her alarm for 8:30 and then went back to sleep for another hour.

This post is for Laini.

Dear Laini,



Thanks for the pillowcase!

Photograph a Scar & Write About It: LTLYM #11

My scar doesn’t photograph very well, but it’s on my left calf. When I was in sixth grade I had a framed New Kids on the Block poster that I stepped on in a moment of passionate distaste for the group that had broken my heart by breaking up. I then gathered up the glass into a paper bag, put it by my bedroom door and forgot about it.

Days later, my brother and I got into a fight one morning before school. He was chasing me throughout the house, so I ran upstairs and shut my bedroom door. Bryan decided that instead of trying to get in, he would do his best to keep me from getting out. He pulled on the door with all of his 8 year old might, and I pulled equally hard on my end, trying to open it despite him. All of a sudden, as I began to scream for our parents, he let go, the door knob turned, and the door flew open, launching me back onto the paper bag full of broken glass.

The glass cut into my calf all the way to the bone, and was really freaking gross. I had to have this ridiculous bandage on my leg for forever, and even got out of PE for a couple of days. It sucked, though, because my best friend was having a pool party that night, and I was unable to partake in the chlorinated goodness.

In case you were wondering

I am blessed.

I have such a wonderful group of friends, and my family is terrific as well. Sometimes it's easy to forget that stuff.

Some things have not come very easily lately, and some relationships are strained. But I have places that I can go and people that I can talk to and they just make things right. They don't even have to try.

Bryan always calls me at the most inopportune times, but when we make time to talk I remember how much I miss my little brother, who doesn't even feel little anymore. Sometimes I forget he's the younger one. I am so nervous about his impending deployment this January, because it's so hard to not talk to him.

Last night my mom and I went out to dinner. We went to a fancy restaurant and ate in the bar. Our table was right in front of the TV so we were able to watch election coverage, and were watching the moment they called the election. We sat there forever, glued to the TV as we watched McCain give the most gracious of concession speeches, and then were inspired by Barack Obama. He moved me. I loved sharing that moment with my mom.

Laini is able to just read my mind at times. She understands me. She takes care of me when I'm down. Tonight she made me a grilled cheese sandwich and a pillowcase, because I was sad. She rights my world.

Richard, my Weezer, is an inspiration. He is so smart, and so passionate. And he's not afraid to feel things when they come. He called me last night after the called the election, and in his voicemail he was crying. He was so moved. That inspires me.

Today has felt like a fog. It's hard to believe last night was real. I hoped, but I wasn't really sure it could happen. It did. We did it.

I'm somewhat discouraged with the reaction of the internet community to this message. I don't know that I recall another election in my lifetime inciting such negativity amongst voters. Maybe it's just because I didn't really use the internet in past elections. All I know is that I am overwhelmed with the negativity I see coming from a lot of people. It's caused me to kind of sit back and reevaluate some relationships, I'm not gonna lie. It's been interesting.

I for one am so excited to see what is in our country's future. I am so proud of us as a nation, although the passing of Prop 8 in California does hinder some of that pride. It's a time of mixed emotions, that's for sure.

Braid Someone's Hair: LTLYM #33

democracy at work

So today I voted. Angela came home from the hospital, and we got ready to go. I got all dressed up, and I even wore my new red, white & blue Keds. Look: I'm patriotic!



We voted at a church a couple of blocks away from our house. We waited in line for about an hour.



I was so nervous, and excited. I did paper voting, which I am more comfortable with anyway. It was so surreal seeing Barack Obama's name on my ballot. I also happen to live in a good district, and am familiar with my local representatives from interactions on the UW campus, so I was excited to vote for them again. Now I'm biting my nails, waiting to hear some sort of official word.



Look! I voted! :P Word from Weezer is that it's looking good for Obama. He is so happy, which I think is sweet. I am afraid to get too excited, though.

...

I stayed home from work today. I'm sick. I don't care to discuss the particulars. Suffice it to say, I needed the day.

Lunch was a delish vegetarian chili, with monterey jack cheese on top. So yum. I was going to make some fettuccine alfredo, but I didn't have any butter. I had a whole stick of butter last week, but it seems to have disappeared.

Angela is at a skills class at the hospital today. I want her to hurry up and come home. We are going to go vote together. I am so excited.

Tonight my mom and I are having a very classy dinner at Stanley & Seafort's. She has a coupon. The downside is that I'm going to have to get out of my sweats and clean up nice. The plus side is they have yummy lemonade.

After dinner I'm off to Laini's to curl up on the couch and watch election coverage. Go Obama! I am so sick with nerves. This is the first time I have ever TRULY cared about an election. It hurts me in my nervousness. I can barely stand it!

Ask Your Family to Describe What You Do: LTLYM #35

My brother, Chris (age 17):
My sister Katie tends to spend her time doing a bevy of activities. During the weekday she is some sort of social worker with old people at a death factory, i.e. nursing home. When she gets home I can only assume she eats some sort of food, and then proceeds to watch a movie or one of her several shows online because her roommate is cheap and won’t pay for cable. Whilst doing so it is almost a guarantee that she is talking with her sort-of-kind-of man-friend. If she isn’t doing that she is almost always at my home being bitchy and annoying and saying horrible things about me being a homo.

My cousin, Joe (age 12):
My cousin Katie threatens to punch people in the uterus. She emails people, like Richard and stuff. She sleeps a lot. At work she tests people’s memory and to see if they are depressed. She stays on the computer a lot watching most of her movies.

My Laini (age 26):
She snuggles with her puppy and she thinks of stuff to do to be creative, at really random times. She likes to read, a lot. She throws the alarm clock across the room several times before begrudgingly rolling out of bed and stomping to the bathroom. Then she begins her search for an obscenely large Diet Coke. If it’s a work day she sits in her car and swears at people loudly in between singing along to the radio. She probably checks her email when she gets to work.

i want to live where soul meets body

I'm watching Catch and Release. I thought I was going to think it was totally lame. It's not. I actually think it's quite cute. I usually don't love the guy who plays the main character in this movie, but his character is really sweet. Even if his name is Fritz.

I am currently obsessed with all Life is Good products. I want to lose weight so I can fit their clothes.

Weezer took this picture of me when we were on vacation.


He took this one, too.



But this one is my favorite!



As it turns out, I am not the only one who enjoys taking pictures of the inside of my purse!



I am so excited for tomorrow. I hope that all of you go vote!

*All of these wonderful pictures were taken by Richard Call. Isn't he talented?

Photograph a Significant Outfit: LTLYM #55

This is the outfit that I wore when you dropped me off at the airport. You kissed me and then you kissed me and then you kissed me, and with your arms around my waist, told me we’re still here.

Write Your Life Story In Less Than A Day: LTLYM #14

This one's a long one, and probably pretty boring. I figured I'd get it out of the way!

I was born on October 9, 1982, in San Francisco, CA. My parents were very young, 23 and 25, when they had me. Of my Onnie’s 11 grandchildren, I was the first one born locally.

I only lived in San Francisco for the first couple of months of my life. Then my parents moved to Fremont, CA. My brother Bryan was born a month after my third birthday. The rumor is that I was not too thrilled with this. There is a story making the familial rounds that I may or may not have tried to gouge his eyes out. Had my mother not walked in at a very opportune moment, Bryan might have lived out the rest of his years blind.

My mom was a young mom, and as a result I have many fun memories with her that I might not have had if she had been older when she started her family. I remember watching soap operas (General Hospital!) and I Dream of Jeannie while playing Barbies together. I remember that I had a Mickey’s Mousercise record, and she would put it on so we could work out together. When I was four she gave me a Cabbage Patch kids record player of my very own, and one of the records I got for Christmas that year was Cindi Lauper’s True Colors single. I would not have been nearly as cool growing up if my parents hadn’t been so young.

When I was getting ready to start Kindergarten my parents enrolled me in a local Christian school, where I would attend K-8th grades. I loved my Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Woods, but not as much as I loved her son Joel. I had a very large crush on him that would last for several years. Later, when Joel lost all attractability for me, I moved on to his brother Daniel, who was in my grade.

While I was in first grade I met Stacy. I didn’t really pay much attention to her at all until second grade, until we ended up sharing a best friend. That did not go well, and we were mortal enemies for the next two years. However, in fourth grade she and I both developed some sort of argument with the mutual best friend at the same time, and from that moment on we were inseparable. We shared a magical love for our mutual favorite band, the New Kids on the Block, as well as Elvis and the movie 101 Dalmations. It was a beautiful thing. She also became the first love of my then one year old brother, Chris, who basically spent much of his formative years trying to impress her and make her love him. Now he teases her, saying that it’s her lack of love for him that prompted him to turn to guys.

In fifth grade Stacy’s parents, who had been separated for years, got back together and she moved from Fremont to San Jose. In reality she was only about twenty minutes away, but it felt like YEARS. We would attend one more year of school together, but in sixth grade she would begin homeschooling, and I would begin three of the most trying years of my life.

Sixth grade sucked. I had a falling out with ALL of my friends, who in turn told my crush that I was in love with him. Newsflash, in case you weren’t aware: eleven/twelve year old boys? They kind of suck. I spent the rest of sixth grade making and nurturing new friendships. This can be hard to do when there are 32 whole kids in your entire grade, and most of you have known each other since you were four. However, I became very close with three other girls, without whom junior high would have been unsurvivable.

Seventh grade was worse. My next door neighbor knew my newest crush from a stint he had done at a local public school, and told him how I felt one weekend when she ran into him at the Ice-o-plex. Oh the drama! He basically spent the next year making me miserable. It was awesome.

Eighth grade was tolerable, but I was ready for bigger and better things. Incidentally, I feel that style wise, I really came into my own in eighth grade. We had uniforms, but I rocked the plaid, pleated miniskirt and oxford shirts like nobody’s business. I dyed my hair burgundy and wore my skirt with black leather combat boots and that big, clunky mid-90’s jewelry. In lieu of actual black nail polish, Stacy and I used to color our nails with black Sharpie and then put a clear coat on top of that. I was so cool.

The summer between eighth grade and high school was rough. My grandpa died at the age of 85, and shortly thereafter we were told that we were going to be moving. My dad had left or lost his job, I never was quite sure, and we were moving to a small town in Washington called Gig Harbor. We rolled into town the day before freshman year. Incidentally? That sucked.

Freshman year was a lonely one. I made a couple of acquaintances, but really only one or two of those friendships were long lasting. It didn’t help when Stacy disappeared off the face of the earth shortly after visiting me that February. She had been having problems with drugs and her mom had sent her to a Christian boot camp/rehab center in Scottsdale, AZ. She would remain there until the following summer. I was very lonely.

Sophomore year my parents moved us from our rental house into a tiny two bedroom, one bathroom cabin that they were going to remodel into their dream home. My brothers and I shared the Master bedroom. I still didn’t have very many friends in Gig Harbor, but Stacy was back home and homeschooling her sophomore year, and things felt much more promising.

Junior year was my best year by far. I met my best friends Andrea and Laini that year, and the three of us were inseparable. That was also the year that I made the Meistersingers, my school’s top choir, and we ended up touring to San Francisco for a festival. It was awesome for my friends and family back home to see a small chapter of my Gig Harbor life. I also got my first job, at McDonald’s, and met Donovan, who would be a consuming crush for the next six months.

Senior year Andrea moved to Oregon, and Laini was pulled out of school. I was forced to step back and find new friendships, which was a challenge. Donovan and I began dating and very quickly “fell in love”. My choir toured England and did a festival at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where we won four out of five awards. I was accepted to Washington State University but chose to stay at home and go to community college because 17 is to young to move to the other side of the state. Donovan was going to move to Phoenix and go to DeVry, but chose to stay home because we were in love. He enrolled into Tacoma Community College as well.

The next two years were a relatively boring blur as we sunk into the pattern of work together, go to school together, hang out together. We began to plan our future wedding, and naming our future children. But pretty soon I began to get quite moody for no discernable reason, and six months after that we broke up.

I spent that break up summer doing all sorts of new things like wake boarding, clubbing and getting my bellybutton pierced. I dyed my hair pink before traveling to spend two weeks in California. When I came back I found out I had been accepted to Central Washington University, and would be moving in two weeks.

The move was rough on me. I had a hard time adjusting to dorm life. My roommate and I didn’t really get along. And I was so depressed. I stopped eating. I stopped going to class. I slept. A lot. I went home for Christmas and began to hang out with a new friend, Adina. We became best friends immediately. I used to drive home during the week, skipping class, and I would stay at her house, feeling miserable about my life. Eventually, about a month in to winter quarter, my mother had me withdraw from my classes and move back home. I enrolled in a CNA class at one of my dad’s nursing homes, and spent the rest of my time either with Adina or asleep.

I got a job, and my parents started fighting. My dad spent more and more time away from home, and eventually ended up moving out in August of 2003. I pierced my tongue in response. That fall I began dating Marcus, and when that didn’t work out I pierced my nose. I dyed my long hair black. I was so angry. I started seeing a therapist who treated me for depression, but nothing worked. I stopped going to class and moved into an apartment in Tacoma with a girl that I worked with.

That April we were in a car accident while driving to work. We were hit pretty hard, and were unable to continue work as CNAs for quite some time. Eventually the weight of trying to pay my bills, living with someone I resented and being so GD fat, took over. I got my old job at McDonald’s back and moved in with my mom in Gig Harbor. I would spend the next year drifting. I would get a job at a local hospital, the same one my mom worked at. I worked three days a week, lived at home, and began to shed some car accident weight.

I started seeing an old boyfriend again, Marcus. Marcus had relocated to Yakima, but this was actually easier on our relationship, initially. We were able to just test the waters without all the Gig Harbor/McDonald’s drama. While talking with Marcus, and then later my dad, I decided to change my major to Social Work. I reenrolled at my community college and applied to the University of Washington Social Work Program. I graduated TCC in August of ’06, and started UW, Tacoma, that September.

I spent the next two years in a chaotic blur. Between school full time, work three days a week, and eventually an internship, I managed to break up with Marcus, create an at time unhealthy routine with my best friend Laini, especially once best friend Adina moved three hours away, start dating Caleb, have dramatic breakup with Caleb, and land in the ER with a bipolar episode. Laini and I broke up shortly thereafter, and my second year of school I drifted along, with acquaintances and casual relationships that never became more.

I met Weezer through Facebook and began talking to him that April. About a month later I moved into my friend Angela’s house in Tacoma. I finished up my internship and graduated from the University of Washington with my Bachelor’s in Social Welfare June 2008. A week later I flew to Nashville, TN and met my Weezer for the first time.

Since then I have gotten back together with my Laini, gotten my first “professional” job, and begun to fall in love. Who can say what’s to come next? My life has taken a path so completely unlike what I expected. I can only say that no matter what happens, I hope I am able to keep an open mind and an open heart to whatever comes my way.

learning to love you more & nablopomo

So I know I said that I was going to do Nablopomo this month, but I don't really want to find myself searching for stuff to right like last year, just to "make the (self-imposed) deadline". I'm pretty sure that's why I quit last year. Well, that and a mistake I like to call spending time with Brendan.

Anyway, Me and You and Everyone We Know is one of my favorite movies, and I've actually posted about Miranda July's project Learning to Love You More before. I've decided that my goal is to try to do and post about a project from this site every day. Today's project is challenge number 53: Give Advice to Yourself in the Past. So without further ado:

Advice to Kathleen Curry at age 17.

• It's okay that you and Matt broke up. You don't really like him, and he's kind of a stalkerish douche bag. Don't waste your time trying to get back together with him. It only lasts about two more weeks, anyway.
• If you feel an insane need to ignore my solid advice, and push to rekindle the not-so-stellar flame, know that he is going to cheat on you with one of your closest friends, and everyone who knows the two of you are dating is going to see them making out in the science wing. Try to maintain some semblance of dignity. He doesn't like you anymore. Don't try to get him to say he does just because you are a manipulative bitch.
• When Laini's mom tell's you Laini can't come to your birthday party because she's grounded, it would be a good idea to NOT hang up on her. This is because when you do she will get very offended and hold it against you for years, making it very hard when Laini finally isn't grounded and the two of you start socializing again.
• Donovan. He totally likes you. Like, a lot. And has for a long time. ASK HIM OUT. He will say yes, I promise.
• You are a really bad driver. Like, probably the worst driver ever. So when you get this insane urge to drive to Tacoma to buy Donovan a Valentine's Day present, you should probably just stay in Gig Harbor and buy him something from Bartell's instead. Because you WILL get into an accident, and it will be the first of many this year.
  
• Don't call your parents and tell them you are going to the library when you and I both know you are going to hang out with Donovan instead. Because they do catch you, and you are grounded for a week. Which, incidentally, is not a very fun way to start a relationship. I'm just saying.
• You are not a princess. Stop acting like one.
• Look, I know it's early, but try going to drama every once in a while, okay? Because when you don't, and then your teacher tells you that you can't miss school to go to London, even though you worked your ass off at McDonald's for a year to pay for the trip, it's going to be so inconvenient to change his mind.
• The plane doesn't crash. Donovan and everyone else you love are still there when you get home, so quit whining, let go of your inhibitions, have a blast in England, and stop calling home, or you will be paying off an $800 phone bill well into the summer after graduation.
  

alone, but not lonely

I think sometimes it's important to be comfortable being all by yourself. This is very hard for me at times, because I am diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, type II, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, albeit a very mild case of OCD. My point is, my thoughts sometimes get stuck on repeat in my head, and then they play over and over, louder and louder, until I can't stand it anymore. This makes weekends alone in my house in Tacoma kinda risky sometimes. And I don't like to depend on other people (Weezer, Laini) to bring me back from the edge.

This weekend I am spending some time at my mommy's house. I love my mom's house. The last time Weezer saw my mom's house, it was quite messy, but now? Now it is beautiful. It is clean and lovely, and full of comforting things that I grew up with. And Joe is at a party, and my mommy and Chris are shopping with Grandma, and I am curled up on the comfy couch in some huge UW sweatpants and a Fresno State hoodie that used to be my dad's.

I took a ride in my car and headed toward Taco Time because I wanted some lunch, but I didn't want to cook it. What I really wanted was the Panera chicken bacon dijon panini, but I didn't want to get dressed. I got the chicken taco and the white chicken chili. Pretty healthy, for fast food. And then I came home, curled up, put on some (you guessed it!) Supernatural (Season 2), and am reading some Nie.

Also, while I was in the car I found some old cds from my mom's storage shed in a bag of stuff she gave to me. I listened to Shania Twain Man, I Feel Like A Woman and Any Man Of Mine the whole way there and back, and was flashing back to senior year, driving around Fox Island in the truck, singing at the top of my lungs and daydreaming about Mr. Donovan, my first love. Such a fun time.

My NiNi and I are starting a book club. I am very excited about this. We need more people. I'll have to ponder on this.... ;)

.why I love my brother: a blog about poo.

At the risk of oversharing, (which is something I can do now that my blog is private!) I am a person who strives on being... regular, if you will. It's important to me. If I don't do my thing on a regular basis, I get cranky. (You can tell I have worked extensively both in nursing homes and with children, where you are constantly monitoring other people's bowel movements. Regularity is important!)

So I was on a yogurt kick this week, but instead of aiding in the regularity it just... messed things up. But this glorious morning, things are moving again.

Until my entire family comes downstairs and starts talking right outside the bathroom I'm using. Then my mom knocks on the door and starts talking to me. Then Chris.

So I tell him. I'm busy, and would like to continue to be busy, but the uh, conversation appears to have halted operations.

And Chris walks into the other room and says, "Mom, Katie's pooping, and she says she'd like to poop more, but our conversation has scared it." And ushered them out the door. Awesome. :P

Really, don't you all just love this new private blogging business? You'll know way more about me than you ever wanted to!