2009!

I'm back baby, back!

My new year's resolution is to restart my blog - for the few people who are interested (i.e. Robyn and maybe my mom). So, apparently my last post was in June 2007. So lets have an update!

July 2007: My dashing boyfriend moved in with me...into a one-bedroom apartment. Twas tight. Also I turned 28 years old! Go me.

August 2007: I went to Port Huron and kicked it with the family. Also! I quit my part time job since I had a suga' daddy to pay half the rent.

September 2007: Returned to school for the 3rd and final year of classes. That was exciting.

October 2007: Boyfriend Matt turned 29 years old and we went to Dave & Buster's. I liked it there...it is like Chuck E. Cheese for adults with liquor.

November 2007: I applied for an internship for 2008/2009 - that is the last step of my doctoral training! Also Matt and I started seriously shopping for a house to buy.

December 2007: Christmastime! I was given a trip to Disney World to take place in March. Also, I went on several interviews for the aforementioned internship. Twas grueling and very tense.

January 2008: The new year brought more internship interviews and lots of praying that I get a good one. There was also snow. And Matt & I continued to try to live in our tiny apartment. It was made easier by the fact that Matt's job had him travel for a week every month.

February 2008: Is it bad that I can't remember what we did for Valentines Day? Oh yeah, he just reminded me, Matt was in Miami with another woman (for business he says...) and later we went out to a nice dinner. Also! At the end of the month I got an internship I wanted at a local insane asylum! Yay!

March 2008: I got to use my Christmas present! Matt & I went to Disney World - it is the happiest place on earth you know. Also, we found a HOUSE! We put an offer on a house!

April 2008: We closed on our house! We - well Matt cause he has the money - bought a house! It is a three bedroom bungalow in Alexandria, Virginia. We have a great big front porch and a garage out back. We were very happy and scared cause it is a lot of responsibility, owning a house! Things were heavy but we hired movers. One of the midgets was only four foot tall but he strapped that dresser to his back and hauled away!

May 2008: There were many boxes and unpacking and to-do in the new house. I did not paint anything because we had other things to get out of the way - such as waterproofing our damp basement and installing central air conditioning. No one can live in Virginia without air - at least that is my opinion. I also had finals to complete and papers to write for school.

June 2008: This was the last month of my last semester of classes for the graduate school! It entailed a great deal of work and it was also nostalgic, as my classmates and I knew we were all soon going our separate ways off to internships across the country (and in two cases, outside of the country!) Also - my boyfriend Matt became my fiance Matt! I got a giant ring full of diamonds. I usually am not one for a lot of bling - but I wouldn't trade it for nothin! See people, some people do buy the cow!

July 2008: I turned 29! I tried not to let it happen, yet it did. I officially entered the last year of my twenties...and I didn't cry. I also started my internship at the hospital. I only got a few days off between school and internship - so it was a busy month!

August 2008: Matt got a raise at work, which was excellent since my internship pays less than I would get working the fast food counter. Also, it was hot. Very hot.

September 2008: My mother hosted a lovely, small engagement gala at her house in the beginning of the month. There was a hurricane the same day! Is that lucky or not? I am not sure.

October 2008: Matt turned 30 and we had a pirate/parrot themed party at the house. There was beer pong. Matt and his boss were a team and they won! Matt's brother & sister-in-law had their one year wedding anniversary. Year-old wedding cake does not taste good. No, it does not.

November 2008: I (and Matt...but mostly me) hosted Thanksgiving at our house for twelve people. For some reason I bought a 24 pound turkey and I cooked it f***ing beautifully! It was a masterpiece of poultry. It was so huge nothing else fit in the oven.

December 2008: And lastly - December. The holidays went by too quickly! But now that we have a house so I could actually fit a Christmas tree! It was big and did not have many ornaments on it at all - despite my "ornament making activity" (i.e. forced labor) on Thanksgiving. And in writing this, I realized that I did not take a single photograph of our first Christmas in our first house. Now I have another New Year's resolution - not only write a blog once a week, but fill it with pictures!

Peace Out!

Longest Post in Existence!

1. What is the last alcoholic beverage you drank? A grape jello shot...wait...is that a beverage? It is more a gel than a liquid.


2. Do you follow college football? Not particularly , no.


3. Who took this survey before you? My brother and my sister.


4. Who was the last person to send you a text message? Kirsten. We were coordinating meeting up to Race for the Cure, which is tough with 7,000 people around.


5. Last time you went swimming in a pool? Hmmm....I was in a pool on 6/2/07, but only up to my knees. But I did get fully wet at a roadside water-park in Delaware on 5/27/07.


6. Are you happy? I have much to be happy about, so yes. But I will be happier when school is out for the summer.


7. Where was the last place you went shopping? I guess online shopping doesn't really count, cause you don't go. So I guess outlet shopping in Delaware on Memorial Day weekend. Did you know they don't have sales tax there?


8. How do you feel about your hair? We have a live & let live relationship. Some days we get along, some days we don't. When we don't I fantasize about maiming it and getting really short hair.

9. Where do you live? Arlington, VA


10. Last thing you ate? Popcorn!


11. Do you wish you were some place else right now? Since I am at work, sure I do. Unfortunately I wish I were in the library or similarly occupied with schoolwork...which is sad.


12. Last time you kissed someone? Monday mornin'.


13. Do you have any expensive jewelry? Yeah, some pieces. Of course it depends on what you call expensive. Since they were gifts I don't know the actual cost.


14. AIM or MSN? AIM is generally on.


15. What classes are you taking now? Statistics, Cognition, & Learning Disability Assessment


16. How many hours on average do you work a week? I try to make 20 hours but it is slowly killing me. ;-) I shall quit before the fall.


17. What's your favorite TV show? Hmmm....I do love the Office. And Heroes. But all is over now for the summer.


18. How many kids do you want? I dunno...like four or something. I figure I'd grow a couple and adopt a couple.


19. Do you watch the Olympics? Not really. I appreciate that they exist and love that there are people who can achieve that level of athletics. But I prefer not to spend my time watching. Kinda like how I am with PBS.


20. Sing in the car? Of course. And since I am generally a passenger it can get awkward.


21. Who was the last person to call you? Matty called my cell phone to say pretty things.



22. What's your sign? Cancer...us moody crabs.


23. Do you have a favorite number? Not really no. I like to say "a baker's dozen" cause it makes no sense, but I prefer the phrase to the number it represents.


24. Last time you did volunteer work or made any donation? I have 10$ to the Fraternal Order of Police a couple months ago. But I quit donating stuff.


25. What do you spend the majority of your money on? Tuition. But that is loan money, so it isn't really mine as I did not earn it. My own meager monies are spent largely on rent and food.


26. Where does most of your family live? Some in Northern Virginia, a bunch in Michigan, one in San Francisco, and one in Pittsburgh.


28. Ever been called a hoe/slut? My sister does on a fairly regular basis...but my mom made her promise not to do it in front of our grandma.


29. Ever been called a bitch? Sure. When I worked on the psych ward I was called a bitch several times a week!


30. Got any guilty pleasures? Of course....ice cream, stupid girl novels, and cartoons. :-)


31. Favorite kind of beer? I drink a lot of Blue Moon, but am unwilling to designate favorites.


32. Have you ever experienced true love? The love for a kitty is always true.


33. Did you ever collect Beanie Babies? I didn't even have one, let alone a collection.


34. Ever bought anything on ebay? Yup! I got a faux-autographed picture of Steve McQueen on ebay, an out of print metal cd for an ex-boyfriend's birthday, and an old gameboy for which to play Tetris!


35. Myspace or Facebook? Myspace. I've never been on Facebook.


36. Yahoo or Gmail? Despite my brother's scorn, I use Yahoo. I am just used to it and I have all my folders with emails to keep in Yahoo. I hear Gmail is nice though.


37. What was your favorite subject in school? I enjoyed my "Drugs of Abuse" class.


38. Do you sometimes wish you were someone else? Not particularly, no.


39. Fall for the bad guys or girls? As a teenager sure, but I lost that unhealthy habit with maturity.


40. Favorite movie? I agree with my brother and sister, who basically said this is a stupid question. People who have a "favorite movie", no qualifications necessary, are usually idiots.


41. Last time you saw your parents? I saw my Mumma last weekend because we cured cancer together and this past weekend cause she lent me a suitcase. I saw my Poppa...hmmm...longer ago than that. I guess it must have been just before Easter when he was in town for a meeting.


42. Do you have any talents? Rocking at Tetris may not be a real talent. But who am I to judge.


43. Ever been in a wedding? I officiated a wedding! I WAS the wedding. Beat that!


44. Do you have any children? Nope.


45. Last movie you watched? I actually went to the theater Sunday afternoon and saw Knocked Up. I laughed a lot, but thought that it was only okay.


46. Are you missing anyone at the moment? Of course! But he calls and says nice things.


47. Did you take a nap today? No time for napping! I don't nap, generally.


48. What kind of car do you drive? I don't! Not owning a car, the two I drive most are borrowed. Sometimes I get behind the wheel of Matt's Audi or Mumma's Acura.


49. Ever been on a cruise? Indeed, in the Virgin Islands. Twas fun and I would like to go again.


50. Favorite vacation spot? I enjoy the Caribbean of course, but not having been everywhere yet I don't think I can really name a favorite.


51. Favorite genre of music? I enjoy anything that rox. Yes, rox with an X.

52. Do you have any hot friends? Of course.

53. Ever met anyone famous before? Not that I am aware of. Of course, I coulda and I just didn't know.

54. Favorite actor? I don't know! There are so many quality folk out there. There seriously isn't any person that, when they are in a movie, I have to go see it.

55. Favorite Actress? See #54.

56. Are you multi-tasking right now? Watchin' a Tivo of Will & Grace, writin' this thing, and eatin' some popcorn.


57. Could you handle being in the military? Probably not. I like to ask a lot of questions and I am not good with just doing as I am told (just ask Capt. Matty who I am just ignore).


58. Are you hungry or thirsty? Thirsty.


59. Favorite fast food restaurant? I don't know that I have one. I used to imagine that I could make a SUPER fast food restaurant with McDonald's french fries, Wendy's frostys, Burger King chicken whoppers, Taco Bell bean burritos, and Arby's curly fries. I would call it Kate's Get-Fat-Atorium.


60. Favorite Nightclub? Do we call them nightclubs anymore? I like 18th Street Lounge and I like places that have good martinis.


61. What is your average cell phone bill? Like my brother's, mine is on auto-pay. But I think it is around 40$.


62. Do you own a camera phone? Nope. I have four crappy background options on my free-with-the-plan phone.


63. Ever had to take a sobriety test? Nope. I mean, sure I am drunk like 75% of my day, but I don't have a car so I sobriety tests don't factor in all that often.


64. Most expensive speeding ticket? I have never had a speeding ticket. So nay-nay-boo-boo.


65. Can you speak any other languages? Esperanto. No, just kidding. I speak an itty bit of Spanish. But otherwise, no.


66. Last time you went to the gym & worked out? Is it bad that I can remember? I quit my gym and I have missed it a bit. But it was an expense I couldn't afford and something I didn't have time enough for. I do remember last time I ran...outside...with the commoners.


67. How many pairs of shoes do you own? I can't believe that my brother said five. You can put a zero after that five and have a conservative estimate of what I own.


69. Last place you were at? I am not sure I understand the question. I am "at" the couch right now. Before that I was "at" school until 8pm for class. Before that I was "at" my therapists office (cause I am crazy!). Before that I was "at" school for more work. Boo.


70. Ever been to Las Vegas? Yup. I went with my Daddy! It maybe was not the most randy time ever, as I was with my Daddy. But was tres fun.


72. Ever been to Mexico for spring break? Nope. I have never been anywhere for spring break. I kept getting sued when I was in college so I kept having to go back to the jurisdiction in question.


73. Have you ever bought a hermit crab? :-( Oh god, why would you ask such a horribly mean question. I bought Fred & Ethel, the hermit crabs, at Bethany Beach. When we came home from the movies Matt's cat had upturned the terrarium and swatted the crabs around the house! Boo! Ethel died within twenty-four hours. Fred hung on for 3 more days, but alas, he too perished.


74. Ever deleted a question off of a quiz? Why would I? It is not like they are mandatory and you HAVE to answer everyone, or even answer them truthfully. Of course, whomever constructed this quiz either can't count or did delete some questions, as there are several missing.


75. What do you think is your best feature? I guess that depends on the situation. If there were a flood I think my killer ability to float would be my best feature. If there were a plague my stellar immune system would be my best feature. Way to think topically questionnaire maker!


76. Have you ever been gambling? Yup. But I am not good at it. I just tend to break even. Plus, I'd rather keep my money.


77. Last show you saw on/off Broadway? I say Carmen with my mumma. Was that the last show I saw? I think so. I like opera, but it is long. So now I know to bring twizzlers.


78. Ever been deep sea fishing? Nope, but it looks fun. Not that I would want a Marlin hanging on my wall.


79. Do you have your wisdom teeth? Yup. Of course, they are not in my mouth. I was all drugged up and asked the oral surgeon if I could keep them. He rinsed my bloody teeth with peroxide and wrapped them in gauze without even blinking. Then he suggested I soak them in peroxide overnight to get the pieces of bloody gum off. I keep them in a pretty wood box.

80. Favorite place to be? Europe.


81. Have you ever been to New York City? Woohoo. The big city! I went there once with an ex-boyfriend and I went there once with my mumma. The trip with mumma was righteous. I enjoyed it so very much.


82. Favorite sit down restaurant? I enjoy the place up the street, Harry's Taproom, quite a bit. I also enjoy the Blue Duck Tavern.


83. Ever been to Disney Land/World? I enjoy the happiest place on Earth so very much! I have gone several times, both as a child and as an adult. It never gets old. Never!!!


84. Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Hmmm. That is a tough one. Instead I will go with my top five in no particular order: Cosmo from Fairly Odd Parents, Bender from Futurama, Stewie from Family Guy, Bugs of course, and every gay person on the Simpsons.


85. Last thing you cooked? Popcorn. Really. I did not microwave it. I made it on the stove, in a pot.

86. How is the weather today? Hot. Humid. Gross.

87. Do you e-mail? This has got to be the stupidest question I have ever responded to. Yes.


88. Last letter/piece of mail you received besides junk or a bill? I got a lovely thank you card from Sam n' Mike n' their baby. I gave a gift.


89. Favorite store? I don't think I have one. I like Target. And Ikea.

90. What's your ideal car? A free one that always runs no matter what and never needs gas.

91. Last voicemail you received? Matty (boyfriend) instructing me how to reach him since he is travelling for work.

92. Do you drunk dial? Nope. I don't need to as I rarely drink alone. I mean, maybe once or twice in the past, but the question is posited in the present tense.


93. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone? I threw it at my then boyfriend once cause he pissed me off. The screen got cracked. I am impulsive I guess.


95. Favorite band? I don't have a favorite. The last new music I listened to and really liked was Amy Winehouse, but she is one person not a band of folk.


96. Last time you were sick? I don't know. Oh wait, yeah. I had some sort of food poisoning back the week before St. Patrick's Day. Twas gee-rhoss and I did not eat solid food for days.


97. Do you dance? Yes.

98. Last concert you went to? I think that was O.A.R. with the boyfriend. Twas my Christmas present to him.

99. Ready for the weekend? It is only Monday. So yes. YES.

100. What did you do last night? I was at a BBQ until 8ish. Then I swung by my parents house to say hello and borrow a suitcase for this upcoming weekend's jaunt to the Motor City. And then home to watch the cartoons Matt n' I had Tivo'ed. They were reruns, but still.

I'm not a good blogger...

...But I can do other things! We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of mine!

I can cure cancer! I spent Saturday morning (we left the house at 7 a.m.) walking to cure cancer. I hadn't known that is all it takes and I got free yogurt & sunchips at the end. Yay!

I cannot pass up funnel cake. On Saturday, after a long nap, I went to the Herndon Carnival. Is anything better than a sunny day with carnies and funnel cake? I think not. If I ever get married there will be funnel cake instead of a traditional cake.

I can make my boyfriend throw up. If you make someone ride with you on multiple rickety carny rides after feeding them only funnel cake, they may throw up just a little bit.

I cannot tap a keg so that it appropriately vents the air. I felt bad when the first dozen round of beers were all head. I was at a graduation party for a gal my boyfriend knows. They assumed that my UofM background made me some sort of kegs-pert. Ah well.

I can push through my accelerated summer semester at school, or here's hoping I can. It lasts until the beginning of July and, so far, during the week I get about 4 - 5 hours of sleep each night.

Worst Day Ever? NO! BEST!

I had thought that today was going to be crappy...but then I thought about it and it isn't.

First: A raging thunderstorm woke me up at 4 a.m. Initially I was annoyed but then I realized, I love thunderstorms! So yay!

Second: The snotty girl at the coffee place thought I was invisible and would not give me my cup and when she finally did the urn was empty of coffee! But then the French Vanilla came out full and happy!

Third: I wasn't very hungry for dinner so thought some cereal might hit the spot. So I opened the box of Lucky Charms my favorite Robyn in the world sent me to see me through finals last semester. I hadn't opened it yet and when I did I saw the strangest thing in the world! It was so bizarre that I had to call people and tell them. I opened the box and then I opened the plastic bag...and what did my wondering eyes behold? No Lucky, all Charm! There were no oat pieces at all! It was ALL MARSHMALLOWS!!! Initially I thought, Ew! But then I realized, it is all marshmallows! So yay!

Kate Update (It Rhymes!)

I just had to share with you all (you all 2 people who look at my blog). This Alanis Morissette video is like a car wreck...I can't look away. And I can't decide whether it is just the most hilarious thing I have ever seen or if it is just weird weird weird. Either way she looks great.
I have been a busy gal! This weekend was full of stuffs, fun stuffs! I went with my lovely neighbor friend to see African drum music by women African drum music by women from Guinea. Twas very interesting and neat, made me wanna dance all around. One thing about those women, they were in no way body conscious and just seemed to be having the best time! I am so glad I know people who suggest such events. And then I woke up early early (go to work early!) on Sunday morning to walk with Kirsten all around the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms. Twas fun! It was before 9 a.m. but there were still a large number of annoying tourists with their strollers the size of tanks. I was bitchy and walked through a bunch of photos (to be fair, I would give them a good 15 seconds to take the picture!). I am also gonna get tshirts made that say "Don't Climb on the Trees! Don't Pick the Flowers!".
School has been nutty! I had to interview for externships over the past couple weeks, even though the externships would be for the next academic year. It wasn't harrowing...but it was anxiety producing. I get to hear who wants me on Monday the 9th, they start calling at 9 a.m. I interviewed at four places: 1) my Holy Grail of clinical work, 2) the convenient & probably very good place, 3) the possibly good stepping stone for future work site, & 4) not right for me. I have my fingers crossed for the Holy Grail of course but who knows what I can get! Two of the places have murderers (but I won't say which) in their clientele! Excitement!

Snow!

Yay for snow! This is my courtyard at my apartment complex...so pretty. I took a lovely walk in all this snow down to the grocery store. I was expecting it to be crazy crowded because as soon as people see one snow flake they think all stores will run out of milk, but twasn't. Apparently no one wanted to drive in all this gorgeous snow but since I don't own a car twasn't an issue for me. Yay for snow!

So I spent the afternoon making chili and trying to clean off my desk. Sadly enough (or not, depending on your perspective), snow and chili were the highlight of my weekend. I spent Friday night fighting with Matty over evidentiary standards in the American judicial system and then I went to work on Saturday. But I did enjoy the sleeping in! AND when I got home on Saturday I had Girl Scout Cookies waiting. Yay! Now, off to a new week....but maybe tomorrow will be a snow day! Here's hoping!

Happy Birthday to the Presidents

Yay for the Presidents! Happy birthday to all of them. If I ever become president, and it is highly probable, I will insist that my friends and family buy me presents and make a cake on both President's Day and my actual birthday. But for now, it shall suffice as a wonderful reason not to go to work!

For all those interested I celebrated my Valentine's Day this past weekend. While Saturday was relatively ruined by a losing college basketball game (0ver which Captain Matty was devastated), the weekend wasn't a total loss. I did manage to see Breach, that real-life spy movie. It was good, emotionally complex and whatnot. And then I got my Valentine's present (a stunning and gorgeous ruby necklace) from my man. Sunday Matty and I made the best chocolate Valentine's day cupcakes ever then went out to eat at the fancy Blue Duck Tavern. We made ourselves chubby because after we split the Blue Duck's homemade apple pie we came home and ate those cupcakes.

I sent Matty home with a dozen cupcakes (I am gonna have a big fat boyfriend), sent four to his parents, and am bringin' four cupcakes to work for my officemate. But that leaves me four whole cupcakes for me! I am gonna eat one every day for the rest of this week. Now that I have fancy jewelry I can go head and get big and fat! Yay!

Big News!

As many of you know I have slacked quite the bit in terms of the blogging world. And once I was gone I felt like I needed a big ole' comeback so that you all forget and forgive my lapse. And a big comeback requires big news! After all, my sister is probably going to Italy for the summer and my brother got a big, fat, rich lawyer job. So I have been thinking for the past couple of weeks about what kind of news I could possibly have to compare to my darling siblings.
School?....same old, same old. Plus, it's not like I can talk about my patients.
Work?...eh, dull and bothersome.
Personal life?...my gal Katharine left me for the great white north. That is sad news, not the big, happy news that belongs on this blog. My lovely boyfriend, Captain Matty, may move to my neighborhood, ending our long-distance relationship...but that isn't news cause it hasn't happened yet.
But today, mere minutes ago, I found my big comeback news in this lovely picture. I am pleased to announce that this celebrity and I have the same thong. I can tell you that it came from Victoria's Secret and that it is sitting in my dresser drawer as I speak (or type). It is my fervent hope, however, that this one minor underclothing incident is and will be the only thing this woman and I ever have in common.