*yawn*

While I do have day to day adventures- and rearranging my furniture might be exciting to some, I feel that all in all I have very little to add to the blogging world. At one point I thought of it as an online journal... then I realized: that is about the dumbest thing ever. If there is anything I do NOT want the entire world to see, it is my personal "journal".

So, if you are all wrapped up in what I have to say here, shoot me an email with your very own email address. Ask me what you want to ask me (yep, all eight of you), and I will tell you what you want to know. Heck, shoot me an email asking me to update you when something cool happens. I'll try my best to oblige. Then again, as I have demonstrated here, I am not the gold standard of compliance.

Patience is a virtue.

Good day blog, your days are numbered.

blurry

Looks messier, but progress is being made. Slowly.

I haven't really tried to take any good photographs so you get a mix of natural light and well, darkness plus a lamp. Neither are quite representative of what the place looks like, but its a start. Again, feedback is a-okay.

Pat on the back to James, installer of clothing rack and bully to the bullies.

How hot is that bike!?
The Multicare Security guys love it when I leave my door open... They come around the corner ready for a bad guy breaking into my place, and find me, posting a picture of my open door, waving at them. They smile.

Nighttime falls, hulu appears on the screen...

I've got nothing smart or witty to say. This is my kitchen.

Aaalrighty. More later.

In case you were keeping track

The new address is as follows:

414 S. I St. #8
Tacoma, WA 98405

Allow me to give you a tour (of the tentative layout... this is by no means the final product!)

When you open the front door, this is what you see.

Take a step back and check out that kitchen you just walked through...

And now, the dining table/desk, bookshelf/office stuff.

Finally, the "get ready for the day" area. Dresser, mirror (which will eventually be hung) makeup stuff, closet, and BED.



And that, ladies and gentlemen, takes you full circle. You have just experienced a day in the life of Kara's new studio!

Hope you enjoyed the ride.

I am very very open to suggestions. I have a bunch of stuff that was not included in the photos... namely, an awesome, old, HEAVY bicycle. As well as boxes full of books, vases, wall decor, lamps, etc.

Depending on the numbers, I'd like to get rid of the dresser (which holds more than you think: the usual bras and undies, socks, swimsuits, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, towels, washcloths, and some makeshift curtains) and trade it for an armoire of sorts. Then I could use my skinny little closet for storage.

We will see. I'm just happy to have my own place. And at the moment, my focus is not so much on myself as it is on Mommy-to-be Mer! Gotta give the little peanut a friendly welcome, right!?

More at some point, thanks for the patience!

absence makes the heart grow fonder

Right?

Right.

So here is the deal. I am back in Tacoma for at least a couple weeks! This is what I've been up to:

First, I spent two weeks or so in Sioux Falls for Caitlin and William's wedding.

The Beautiful Bride and I

The "pretending to be hammered" Groom and I. (He didn't have to try TOO hard)

Next, I got back to Tacoma, unpacked, did some laundry, packed, and headed off to Athens (not THAT Athens), Georgia (sorry, not that Georgia either). Anyway, my friends Ali and Brent were kind enough to pick me up in Atlanta and drive me to their home in Athens, provide me with my very own room and bathroom, sign me up for a 5k (I did it!!), teach me all about tennis, feed me delicious food, make me coffee, introduce me to super nice people, take me to the pool.... I could go on...

Ali and I at the pool
Brent, me, Ali, and Laura living the good life. Food, drink, and merriment.

Anyway folks, I'll try my best to get back on track. These next few weeks will not be without excitement either... I will be moving (somewhere, not sure where yet), and with any luck, finding a full time job.

Send me good vibes, I'll be needing them!

He's all grown up!

Many of you have heard this story, but I'll share it again the best I can.

April 20, 2008. On the phone with Michael.

Mike: Hello?
Kara: Hey
M: Whats up?
K: Not much... Happy Birthday!!!
M: Thanks
K: So the big one-nine. Your last year as a teenager! How cool! Man, enjoy yourself while you are young. Soon you will be in your TWENTIES. So mike, this is your last year as a teen, what are you going to do? Big plans?
M: *pause*
K: So happy birthday! Nineteen years! Mike you are growing up so...
M: Kara?
K: Yeah?
M: I'm 20.


I'll post the pics that inspired this post.... at a later date. Right now, reminiscing with the brother :0)

quarter century

I'd love to say something deep. To really take a step back, observe and analyze my current state of being, and share eloquently stated pearls of wisdom... but this is not going to happen.

Instead, (three days late), you get old pictures of me!

12 days


1 year


2 years


Apparently 3 and 4 were not photo worthy, so here's year 5


And year 6


Would you just look at how rockin' we all look in that last picture? Daaaamn!

Funny how things change. Anna, my cousin, the one in the white polka dot shirt, now has two boys, the oldest being exactly the age I was in this picture.

Well anyway. Tomorrow I'm off to visit that cute little guy in the blue and white tank top and yellow sunglasses. Only now he is 21, has a girlfriend, a house, a motorcycle, a car, and a job running sound for events at South Dakota State University.

Ahhh life.

This is why I like solo roadtrips...

Today I am grateful that I made it home and am no longer sitting in my car. I'd like to make it known that for that final stretch, I was rockin' to Billy Joel. This made me very happy- not so much the act of listening to Billy Joel, but knowing that if there was video footage of me in that last hour or so of my drive, it would be hilarious. Deeply embarrassing, but hilarious. Windows down, stereo as loud as it would go, smoking a cigarette, singing (badly) at the top of my lungs, playing the steering wheel drums, and just having a grand 'ol time.

Needless to say, I am running on adrenaline. I am officially so tired I'm giddy. You know what I'm talkin' about. More tomorrow 'cause right now

I

am off

to la-la-land

Old Maids

I said I would update, I haven't. But ya know what? I am pretty sure the people who actually read this are the ones I spend all my time with anyway so they know exactly whats been going on. There are no big surprises here.

However, I think I had a good thing going when I was coming up with at least one thing to be grateful for each day. I dont know if you liked it, but I enjoyed doing it, and I'm all about starting that up again.


















I have had a really great week. I mean- I don't feel like giving the world a great big hug, but I don't want out so desperately either. Perhaps this is weird, but I feel it most in my eyes. I dont know if you can tell by looking at me, but this last week my eyes have been open and anticipating and actively taking things in. I have had happy eyes as of late- as opposed to being all droopy and cynical or darting around desperately trying to avoid eye contact with others. I can fake a smile, speak happy words, and make it seem legit... but my eyes are (or at least feel) more telling. Yeah, maybe this is weird.

Anyway, I'd like to get back on track with my documentation of what makes me smile for real. Whole body smiles. Things that really truely bring me joy.

Today (yesterday, I guess) I went to Beth's, a very cool cafe less than a block from Lance's house in Greenlake with Kristen, Lance, and Brice. Beth's is known for their 6 or 12 egg omelets. (The four of us split a 12 egg bacon something-or-other omelet. It was delicious, and I am still full a solid 13 hours later) They also have an interesting way of decorating the place... there are stacks of plain white paper, big 'ol packs of crayons, and masking tape to stick your art to the walls wherever you can find a space. I was feeling less than inspired, but Lance and Kristen went all out. Kristen's artwork is what I am going to officially be grateful for... but really, it was the whole day.



















Above you see photo documentation of some impromptu art that kept me giggling for quite some time. Thank you Kristen, Lance, and Brice. You guys get an A+.

I am thankful for friends friends friends.

Its been a busy weekend... update, and multiple photos within a week or so!

Back!

I have returned!

The next few days are filling up quickly. Today is for regrouping, organizing, laundry, etc. Tomorrow I'll be back to babysitting, and in the evening my friend Nic and a buddy or two of his will be staying with me and spending the next few days in the Tacoma/Seattle area. There will be appointments here and there, planning for my August trip to Sioux Falls, and catching up with friends.

But for now, coffee.

Adios!

Well everyone, I am off! Going to spend a few days with the fam, then some more days with my other family.

Happy 4th, catch ya in a couple weeks!

Oh, Mister Sun?

Sun? Mr. Golden Sun?

I'd like to thank you for being around the last few days! I am grateful for your presence, Mr. Sun! You are quite a pal. (If you are not too busy, I would looove it if you could come to Winnipeg with me next week! We'd have a blast, really!)

Thanks again, hope you stick around!

Mmmm

So lately I have started some new medications. Some days I think I feel better, some days, not so much. Today, is a good day though. One side-effect of these meds is a marked decrease in my appetite. Without giving it much thought, it seems like a fabulous side effect. Weight loss goals finally attainable!! But really, it can be a bit of a bummer. I never really realized how big a role food has in every day life. So many interactions take place around food. That, and I really like food. I would like to eat it thankyouverymuch.

I would love to be thin and toned, but not at the expense of feeling lethargic all the time or on the verge of passing out. So, I've started reading lables. Very closely. It is really something I should have been doing all along, but this kinda forced me into it. I have to get a lot of bang for my buck when I eat. Luna bars and protein shakes have been lifesavers. And today I am grateful for a new discovery...

Veggie burger from Trader Joe's baked in the oven (it was the recommended prep)
Big 'ol dollop of guacamole
Lots of cilantro
Topped off with a couple slices of tomato

We've got protein from the burger without the bad fat of real burgers, good fat in the guac, and maybe a couple vitamins/minerals/whatnot from the rest. And in my humble opinion, it tasted pretty good!

backtracking

I've missed a few days, please allow me to make amends.

I am grateful for the feel and smell of clean laundry coming right out of the dryer. Heavenly. I am currently enamored with all things Mrs. Meyers Geranium Scent. I have the hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, and dryer sheets. Its a bit on the spendy side, but the stuff lasts forever. I say its definitely worth it.

I am also grateful for my computer. It does what I want it to do, when I want it to do it. It also has an application called, "Photo Booth" which enables me to show you...

How rockin' I am...

What I look when I am feigning interest...

Or that I am actually a twin... who knew?!

If I'm still missing a couple days, I'll leave you on this note. Now it is time to climb into bed (which I am grateful for) and watch some Arrested Development on Hulu (which I am also grateful for). Have a nice evening folks!

Squeeeeeeze

I am grateful for hugs. Hugs hugs hugs hugs hugs. Then, some more hugs.

Stop Thinking

I am grateful for Solitaire in all its forms. I really think I am.

I put some thought into it... Am I really grateful for something that keeps my mind busy with absolutely nothing of substance? Can I be grateful for a game so monotonous, so addictive, so brain numbing, and so unrelated to "real life"? Turns out, yep, at this point in my life, I am.

I am grateful for Solitaire because it keeps my mind from wandering places I do not want it to go. No, it is not productive, but it is not destructive either... and THAT is a step in the right direction.

Some of the "distraction techniques" I have encountered do no such thing. Taking a bath just makes me think about things I don't want to think about while I'm all wet. Going on a walk just makes me think about things I don't want to think about while wandering around the city. Talking it out with a friend just makes me think about things I don't want to think about while becoming embarrassed and flustered.

So I am grateful for the boring old Klondike, Spider, Tri Peaks, or whatever. Not productive, but more importantly, not destructive.

joining the club

Michael Jackson has died. The guy gives me the heebie-jeevies, but when it comes right down to it, he was absolutely brilliant.

As much as I respect the man for his artistic contributions, I am grateful for the honest comments left by all those fans (or not) of his.

Quotes yes, recognition given... nope. Deal with it :-)

"Due to the fact that Michael Jackson is 99% plastic he will be melted down into lego blocks so that little kids can play with him for a change"

"Does Michael Jackson being dead make Justin Timberlake the new "King of Pop"?"
"I think not. JT is king of Dick in a box."

"No one will be able to forget him for atleast the next few weeks."

"May you moonwalk with Jesus"

"I wonder if the Catholic Church has honored him with Sainthood yet. He can be the Patron Saint of the Bad Touch."

"sometimes i think we're his own personal dancing chickens."

"Caitlin Cummings has found something positive in the death of Michael Jackson: MTV is actually showing music videos again."

"Say what you will about his personal life, but the man could write a catchy tune and dance his bony little ass off."

For the love of Xanax

I am grateful for pharmaceuticals.

Good People

I am grateful for the kindness of strangers.

Yes, there are bad people out there. Yes, I have encountered a few. And yes, because of these people, I am very cautious. I hope for the best and plan for the worst.

If you are a woman and have not read the book, Cunt by Inga Muscio, you should. It can get a bit preachy, but it is worth it. She has some very practical tactics for avoiding/getting rid of unwanted attention- none of which include, "Never go out alone after dark." I find this refreshing.

I am grateful for the kindness of strangers.

I place a very high value on "alone time." I like to experience things on my own. I like to read. I like to listen to music. I like to walk. I like to sit. I like to observe. Odd as it might sound, I like meeting new people.

I find that when I am with people I know, when I am with my friends, I meet very few new people. But when I am on my own, it never fails. I WILL meet someone new. I rarely catch their name, but their stories stick with me and I am forever grateful to them. When I spent a week in California, I met a positively fantastic man at a laundry mat. We spoke for hours, even once our laundry was long since washed, dried, and folded. This time around I met the kindest couple in Port Angeles. They opened a small restaurant in October (She does the cooking, He does the greeting/seating/serving). They were both born in Mexico, her mother was Italian. They have traveled the world together, and were kind enough to share some of their culinary creations with me: a mix of what her mother taught her, traditional Mexican cuisine, and dashes of other flavors she picked up along the way. I came in looking for some free chips and salsa and left stuffed to the brim with both fabulous food and a fresh perspective on All People.

Yes, there are some not-so-nice people out there. But there are also good people. I am simply not willing to let fear keep me from all those extraordinary folks out there.

All this in two days. Imagine.

Change of Scenery

I'm off on a solo outing this weekend. Heading to the WA coast and working my way up the peninsula.

Catch ya on Monday!

It's a process

I am grateful for cilantro. I am swooning over it right now primarily because it grew quite nicely for me on my first attempt at starting it from seed. I also love the color, the smell, and taste. I like that I can go out on our patio and pick a bunch, and in a few days there will be even more. I give it a little and in return it gives me great pleasure.

a while ago

more recently

sorry Thursday, I just missed ya.

I am grateful for songs like this. I adore music. I enjoy a wiiiiide variety of music (as evidenced by the 7,000+ songs on my iTunes), but sometimes it just feels good to listen to a tune on repeat. Today the song was Postcards from Italy by Beirut.

Thanks Mom

I am grateful for my mom. Sometimes she really pisses me off, and sometimes I really piss her off, but when it comes right down to it, I know she loves me and I love her. And that, my friends, is a really nice feeling.

I'm also very proud of her. Two years and counting... she is one strong woman.

B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

I am grateful for small gestures and quirky comments that come out of nowhere. This morning I was about to leave and when I grabbed my purse, there was a banana in it. I gave James a quizzical look and he simply stated, "I thought you might need a banana today." I accepted, and he was right. I did need a banana today. Yum.

Do you think this counts as one or three? I'll go with three.
-kind gestures
-odd comments
-bananas

Change of Plans

I thought about it, and I do not think it is helpful to list negatives. So scratch that.

Today I am grateful for the big 'ol grin and bear hug I got from Thomas. Thank you, Thomas, you made me very happy.

Pretty sure everyone reading this knows who Thomas is, but on the off chance you do not...

This is Thomas


I babysit Thomas. He is four years old, almost five. He is one smart cookie, and his smile is contagious.

Pros and Cons Day 1

So I have not been in the best of moods as of late. My mom suggested something she once thought was cheesy, stupid, useless, and a waste of time. Turns out I think its cheesy, stupid, useless, and a waste of time, but if it helped her in the long run, why not give it a shot.

Every day, write something down that you are grateful for.

I am changing the rules because at this point I can think of way more things that I hate than I can things I am grateful for. So as a compromise, I am listing one of each. One thing I am grateful for, one thing I loathe. And I will try to be specific. After all, it would be a lie if I said I am grateful for my friends, because honestly, they really piss me off sometimes. Same thing goes for family, a roof over my head, food to eat... sure, great, whatever, but there are things about each of them that drive me crazy. That and its so cliche it makes me sick.

Right now I am having a real hard time staying focused on the positive. As soon as I find something positive I sabotage it by thinking of all its drawbacks. I will try my best not to over-think this little experiment. So here it goes.

I am grateful: for seeing the movie Anvil! The Story of Anvil today. Steve "Lips" Kudlow might be a jerk sometimes, but his attitude toward life is really something to be admired.

I hate: being interrupted. If I am rambling on and on or have lost my focus, jump right in, but when I am trying to tell you something about myself, how I am feeling, what I am thinking... have the courtesy let me finish a sentence.

And thats that. Much less explaining next time. Just the pros and cons of every day.

less than elegant

In effort to nurture and care for the lovely plants that adorn my apartment, I brought some outside to spray a little "go away bugs" mist on them. This particular bottle has the tendency to miss the actual target and go for walls, shelves, tables, etc. so I played it safe by spraying in a wall/shelf/table-free-zone.

Maybe you have been to my apartment, maybe you have not- but I'm here to tell you, the only wall/shelf/table-free-zone is the ledge surrounding our patio.

This one.


"Go away bugs" spray complete. Mission accompli..... @#$^&*@!

Down goes the fuchsia. *SPLAT!* I do not push it over, I do not even think I brushed against it or slammed a door or exhaled with gusto against it. This plant committed suicide. ON MY WATCH. So I forgot to water it every once in a while, I didn't sing it songs, and I might have let the bugs go a little too far. But plant suicide? Common!!!

Despite my medical training and rapid response, the fuchsia had some seriously damaged appendages. I'm not much of a surgeon, so I amputated.


Me: "Branches? Who needs branches!? Not you little guy!"
Plant: "WTF, first you try to kill me, now you chop off my limbs?! Bitch!"
Me: "Its okay, its okay. I'll put you outside where you can get some sun."
Plant: "Are you kidding me? I like SHADE lady, SHADE. Do you even know how cold it gets at night? It stinks out here, and its windy. I bet you wont even remember I'm out here."
Me: "Suuurrrreee I will little guy, hope your arms grow back!! Best of luck!"



So I was in an amputating mood. Cut cut cut. Remember how hard it was not to cut all of Barbie's hair off? Or how good it felt when you did it anyway? Remember how good it feels to snip snip snip away at a piece of construction paper, unfold, and reveal a snowflake? Or slice into a perfectly prepared grilled cheese sandwich? Good times.

I have three fuchsias. All were thriving. I hacked two to bits, and left a third untouched. My rationale? If the two dismembered plants thrive and grow to be healthy, full, and magnificent spectacles then they can rub it in the other leggy, droopy plant's face (it always feels good to be better than someone else, right?). If they turn brown, crisp up, and shrivel, then point their mangy little tendrils at me, at least I will have one healthy plant to show off to them. (SEE, I cared a little bit! One survived my masochistic ways!)

Dismembered limbs.


The one that escaped unscathed.


Wish these plants luck- they need it.

I dont know what we're yelling about!!!!!

I cannot say for sure, but I think the world might be a better place if people would whisper or speak softly when they would like to be heard.

Enough yelling. Enough. You do not need to raise your voice to be heard. I hear you. Believe me, I hear you. If what you have to say is so important that you feel the need to shout, just stop and reflect for a moment. Think about it. Still need to scream in order to get your message across? Fuck it. Fine. But I'm not listening.

What do you think?

So I was watching a movie with Mer the other night and I said, "dude, that guy looks like my grandpa."

After looking up photos of both my grandfather and Mr.Ackland I can say that yes, they do look sort of alike. I can also say that Mr. Ackland looks pretty much identical to every single "grandpa" I've ever met.

Grandpa Brunick


Joss Ackland


And you guessed it folks, that adorable blond bombshell in the arms Mr. Brunick? Yours Truly!

Thanks Shannon!!

I would like to introduce you to my new bicycle, graciously donated to me by the lovely Miss Shannon. Tomorrow I'll walk it down to the bike shop next to the apartment to see if they can't help me get the tires in working order and maybe clean it up a bit.

Seriously, how rad is this bike!?

growth

Fuchsias:
A couple months ago...


And now.


Cilantro:

A while ago...


And now.


Basil:

Three/Four weeks ago...


And now.


What can I say, I'm giddy!

they call me mellow yellow

So a while back, about the time I was doing all that overreacting to James heading to Thailand, I had a bad day. A crabby, angry, poor poor me, I'm-going-to-sit-right-here-and-pout day.

Thankfully, Mer, being the brave woman she is, asked if I would like to go to Lance's with her. I probably snapped at her and grumbled some more, but I rounded up what was left of a bottle of vodka and took her up on the offer. Bless her soul! I was still feeling quite sour, but when we got there I tried hard to turn off "bitch mode" and go into "I'm fine, really, just tired mode." It may or may not have worked ("may not" being more likely).

Lance stepped up and escorted me outside to smoke a cigarette. And now it was time for booze.

Ladies and gentlemen, a discovery was about to be made. A dangerous yet oh-so-fabulous discovery. Citrus and starch. Lemon and potato. Happiness in a shot glass. *A healthy squeeze of fresh lemon juice topped with an even healthier portion of vodka.*

This drink deserved a name. Brainstorming commenced.



Mellow Yellow was born.



I've said it before, but I want to say it again. I have wonderful friends. While Mellow Yellow didn't hurt in lifting my spirits, it was Mer and Lance that brought me out of my funk. They have a way of just knowing what I need. Aside from creating a delicious drink, Lance and I did some kitchen gardening- planting some basil/chive/cilantro/parsley seeds. Aside from watching out for me, getting me out of the house, and driving around, Mer got me some flowers, a rockin' card, and picked up my cluttered room for me.

Who does that!?

^ THESE GUYS ^