1. I am making steps toward starting my doula practice. I've enlisted the services of a very talented graphic designer friend to develop my logo, and I'm meeting with my aunt (a successful business owner and all-around amazing lady) in two weeks to talk about the business side of things. The skills I know about from grad school are mostly under the non-profit administration side of things, so I have a bit to learn.
2. I am going to apply for a fellowship with one of my dream organizations. It's due at the end of March. I'm trying VERY hard not to talk myself out of it. If I get it, that means Penny and I will pack up and head to New York City for a year! So, my friends with experience in the city (YOU know who you are), I may need your expertise and advice in finding an apartment in a not-scary part of town. Or to figure out how far I can commute. This fellowship is SUPER competitive so I highly doubt I'll get it, but if I do, then it will be fulfilling a quite literally lifelong dream.
3. I accidentally paid my March student loans with my January and February ones. Whoops! But that also means I am safe until like April 6.
4. I'm really loving my life here. Exciting things are in the works! It would take something like this awesome fellowship to take me away from it.
That being said, and keeping in mind I don't really have reliable internet and am currently typing this while standing up as my laptop sits atop my telephone stand, I haven't felt like blogging much lately. And I think that's healthy. But for those of you who still care and sometimes read, watch this space, because something is going to happen. Probably not what I think. But something.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
I'm still alive!
I kind of hate blogging right now. Perhaps it's because of my unpredictable internet connection. However, I thought I could at least give you a few updates with projects I'm working on or have completed. And because a blog about projects without pictures is really boring, here they are!
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| Finished my color wheel project. Here are the first six. The blue and purple one is along the lines of the orange and yellow one. |
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| My dishwasher broke and they left behind one of the shelves. Naturally this became a hanging collage. I call it the Magpie Nest. Basically anything shiny or interesting goes up there. |
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| I'm experimenting with art. This is an illustration from The Six Swans. It's supposed to reflect the transformation moment. Still a piece I'm working on. |
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| So, this is my couch. It is actually the couch my mother used for her first apartment. She and her mom found it at a flea market and my grandmother made the cushions. Yes, these cushions are over 30 years old. I already got rid of the rocking chair cushions but needed to save some $$ to make cushions for the couch. Upholstery foam is expensive! As is upholstery fabric. On January 2, I grabbed my Joann Fabric app on my phone and went to town. Foam was 50% off, and I used a 40% off coupon for the fabric. |
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| I could only really afford one cushion, but still. I have enough fabric for another cushion, and I'm going to make some throw pillows out of some other fabrics I fell in love with at the store. If I use my coupons wisely, I won't have to pay full price once! Also, in a testament to my insanity and sheer hatred of measuring and fear of sewing machines (we're working on it), I hand-sewed this bad boy. Eventually I'll probably pull out the stitches and put in a zipper. |
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
My open letter to Ann M Martin
Dear Ms Martin,
As a child, I loved being read to but really didn't get into reading. The books that my school offered were boring for the bright second grader that I was, and it seemed like I would never get hooked. That is, until I stayed late at Children's Courtyard and pulled out "The Ghost at Dawn's House."
I was so enthralled that at eight years old I stayed up until 11:30 reading My parents ended up making me go to sleep and not letting me finish the book because it scared me so much (I showed them, though, I read the last page!). But I had found the series and I was hooked.
Kristy's Great Idea, Claudia and the Bad Joke, The Truth about Stacy, I read all I could get ahold of. Babysitting became my main goal. My dad made a deal with me: since the babysitters' club sitters were 11-13, I could start sitting at 12. I read the tips for sitters two years before that, and I became fascinated with the way kids act.
Furthermore, I began reading. Not just reading, devouring books. I read all sorts of series and some junk books, but also read and fell in love with Greek Mythology, the Ramayana (at 10!), and The Chronicles of Narnia. I also decided I would be a famous...what? Poet? Novelist? Both? Either way, I started writing.
As a babysitter, I was exposed to all sorts of parenting styles (and some abusive parents) and became interested in parenting and child development. As I planned for college, some part of my goal to be a counselor was to help children like those in my care as a sitter.
I continued writing. I took college classes in high school (just like Janine!) and was second in my senior English class. By now I was reading Bronte, Austen, Robin Mckinley, Juliette Marillier, and in love with Tennyson.
In college, I majored in psychology. I wrote one of my final papers, my theory of psychology, stating that everything comes down to development. Throughout this time, I continued babysitting and nannying. I also began writing a novel.
After college, I took a year to figure out what exactly I wanted to do. I worked in child care and became a nanny for another family.
As I pursued my graduate career, I realized my heart still sided with children. I wanted so badly to make their environments safe and supportive. With this in mind, I focused on parent education.
In May, I received my Master's Degree in Family and Child Studies. I am currently working at a preschool that focuses on parent education. I hope to eventually work as a doula, childbirth and parenting educator, and general facilitator of family empowerment and problem-solving.
In addition, I have kept writing my novel. I also started writing short stories and re-tellings of my favorite folk tales. I tell stories whenever possible, and hope someday to have my work published to other young readers.
So, as strange as it seems, I owe a lot to you, Ms Martin. Maybe without your books I may have started reading and writing. Maybe without the stories of your seven sitters I would have become interested in child development on my own. Maybe, but I choose today to recognize the part you have held in my life. Maybe someday you will google search yourself and this blog will come up. Maybe you will never see it. Either way, thank you for your impact on my life and the lives of others.
Very sincerely yours,
Skatej
As a child, I loved being read to but really didn't get into reading. The books that my school offered were boring for the bright second grader that I was, and it seemed like I would never get hooked. That is, until I stayed late at Children's Courtyard and pulled out "The Ghost at Dawn's House."
I was so enthralled that at eight years old I stayed up until 11:30 reading My parents ended up making me go to sleep and not letting me finish the book because it scared me so much (I showed them, though, I read the last page!). But I had found the series and I was hooked.
Kristy's Great Idea, Claudia and the Bad Joke, The Truth about Stacy, I read all I could get ahold of. Babysitting became my main goal. My dad made a deal with me: since the babysitters' club sitters were 11-13, I could start sitting at 12. I read the tips for sitters two years before that, and I became fascinated with the way kids act.
Furthermore, I began reading. Not just reading, devouring books. I read all sorts of series and some junk books, but also read and fell in love with Greek Mythology, the Ramayana (at 10!), and The Chronicles of Narnia. I also decided I would be a famous...what? Poet? Novelist? Both? Either way, I started writing.
As a babysitter, I was exposed to all sorts of parenting styles (and some abusive parents) and became interested in parenting and child development. As I planned for college, some part of my goal to be a counselor was to help children like those in my care as a sitter.
I continued writing. I took college classes in high school (just like Janine!) and was second in my senior English class. By now I was reading Bronte, Austen, Robin Mckinley, Juliette Marillier, and in love with Tennyson.
In college, I majored in psychology. I wrote one of my final papers, my theory of psychology, stating that everything comes down to development. Throughout this time, I continued babysitting and nannying. I also began writing a novel.
After college, I took a year to figure out what exactly I wanted to do. I worked in child care and became a nanny for another family.
As I pursued my graduate career, I realized my heart still sided with children. I wanted so badly to make their environments safe and supportive. With this in mind, I focused on parent education.
In May, I received my Master's Degree in Family and Child Studies. I am currently working at a preschool that focuses on parent education. I hope to eventually work as a doula, childbirth and parenting educator, and general facilitator of family empowerment and problem-solving.
In addition, I have kept writing my novel. I also started writing short stories and re-tellings of my favorite folk tales. I tell stories whenever possible, and hope someday to have my work published to other young readers.
So, as strange as it seems, I owe a lot to you, Ms Martin. Maybe without your books I may have started reading and writing. Maybe without the stories of your seven sitters I would have become interested in child development on my own. Maybe, but I choose today to recognize the part you have held in my life. Maybe someday you will google search yourself and this blog will come up. Maybe you will never see it. Either way, thank you for your impact on my life and the lives of others.
Very sincerely yours,
Skatej
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Farm box again
Today, I got swiss chard again, some sort of greens (thai? I think?), sweet potatoes, some hot peppers, some sweet peppers, a very long cucumber, a very short zucchini (or is it the other way around?), a cantaloupe, about a billion roma tomatoes, and some APPLES! It's fall!
I see a lot of italian food in my future. What am I going to do with these greens?
I see a lot of italian food in my future. What am I going to do with these greens?
Monday, September 26, 2011
I have a new blog!
I know, a bit excessive, right? It's not necessarily a new blog, but an additional one. Let me explain.
Today is my 25th birthday. Birthdays usually come and go uneventfully and a lot of people ask me if I feel any different and I say no.
This year, though, I feel different. I feel older, but in a good way. And I've decided this year is my year. Not only that, but I'm going to prove it.
Hop over to This is my year...and I'm going to prove it and journey through the year with me.
Today is my 25th birthday. Birthdays usually come and go uneventfully and a lot of people ask me if I feel any different and I say no.
This year, though, I feel different. I feel older, but in a good way. And I've decided this year is my year. Not only that, but I'm going to prove it.
Hop over to This is my year...and I'm going to prove it and journey through the year with me.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Never quite mermaid-like
This weekend, I was taken with the unshakable urge to do something different, something drastic with my hair.
I've long known that my very fine, very thin curly hair will never be quite mermaid-like. However, I've suddenly realized how much I like short curly cuts.
Looook at the wonderfulness:
I just love all of these. I think my curl patterns more closely fit the lower right hand picture. My dear friend Catia is smitten with the upper right hand cut, and I really appreciate the lower left.
I hope soon to get a proper chopping from a good stylist who understands curly hair and how to cut it (a rarity). This time, in particular, I plan to go in for consultations instead of just showing up somewhere for a cut. I'm so tired of that feeling of dismay as soon as I see the stylist (the "curl expert") pick up a fine-toothed comb and drag out my drenched curls into straight lines (the carnage!), saying something like "It'll be fun to see how much they shrink up!"
I'll be sure to keep all of you posted, because I'm sure you have nothing better to do than wonder about your bloggy friend's hair.
I've long known that my very fine, very thin curly hair will never be quite mermaid-like. However, I've suddenly realized how much I like short curly cuts.
Looook at the wonderfulness: I just love all of these. I think my curl patterns more closely fit the lower right hand picture. My dear friend Catia is smitten with the upper right hand cut, and I really appreciate the lower left.
I hope soon to get a proper chopping from a good stylist who understands curly hair and how to cut it (a rarity). This time, in particular, I plan to go in for consultations instead of just showing up somewhere for a cut. I'm so tired of that feeling of dismay as soon as I see the stylist (the "curl expert") pick up a fine-toothed comb and drag out my drenched curls into straight lines (the carnage!), saying something like "It'll be fun to see how much they shrink up!"
I'll be sure to keep all of you posted, because I'm sure you have nothing better to do than wonder about your bloggy friend's hair.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Oh well
So, I got my master's degree in May.
It was pretty spectacular.
I got to see some dear ones.
The only thing was, my cap was on backwards the entire time.
 | ||||||
| Photobomb courtesy Benjo |
And no one told me.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Farm box take 2
this week, I got:
A butternut squash
A couple zucchini
limes
peaches
pears
corn
swiss chard
a bag of peppers
a bag of lima beans
I'm so excited about this week! I'm going to make a modified version of Mexican street corn, and I think I'm going to do something combining the limes, pears, and peaches (jam? bread?), and maybe something involving the peaches and the peppers. What do you do with swiss chard? What about butternut squash?
A butternut squash
A couple zucchini
limes
peaches
pears
corn
swiss chard
a bag of peppers
a bag of lima beans
I'm so excited about this week! I'm going to make a modified version of Mexican street corn, and I think I'm going to do something combining the limes, pears, and peaches (jam? bread?), and maybe something involving the peaches and the peppers. What do you do with swiss chard? What about butternut squash?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Farm Boxin' it up!
So, I recently joined (because I had a groupon) a service which provides fresh local produce to your door every other week. Today, my first-ever farm box arrived!
I was so very excited!
Within were:
A head of butter lettuce
a bag of lima beans
a bag of okra
three tomatoes
four pears
a canteloupe
two acorn squashes
two zucchinis
two yellow summer squashes
two cucumbers
Basically, I'm stoked. I quickly read up a few recipes. The lima beans will probably be my dinner for tonight and lunch tomorrow. For the rest, I have great plans! My friend Emma is visiting for dinner Friday so I am making acorn squash with chile-lime vinaigrette, canteloupe sorbet (that's actually in the works right now), vanilla roasted pears (I kind of don't want to wait until Emma gets here to make these...but then they would be gone before she came. Not so hospitable.) and cucumber melon salsa.
I'm super excited to see Emma as she's been away at camp all summer and I've not seen her since I first moved in around the week of July 4.
I was going to post some pictures but my internet connection is precarious. We'll try again with the finished products, which I'm sure will look much prettier.
I was so very excited!
Within were:
A head of butter lettuce
a bag of lima beans
a bag of okra
three tomatoes
four pears
a canteloupe
two acorn squashes
two zucchinis
two yellow summer squashes
two cucumbers
Basically, I'm stoked. I quickly read up a few recipes. The lima beans will probably be my dinner for tonight and lunch tomorrow. For the rest, I have great plans! My friend Emma is visiting for dinner Friday so I am making acorn squash with chile-lime vinaigrette, canteloupe sorbet (that's actually in the works right now), vanilla roasted pears (I kind of don't want to wait until Emma gets here to make these...but then they would be gone before she came. Not so hospitable.) and cucumber melon salsa.
I'm super excited to see Emma as she's been away at camp all summer and I've not seen her since I first moved in around the week of July 4.
I was going to post some pictures but my internet connection is precarious. We'll try again with the finished products, which I'm sure will look much prettier.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Would this be considered emotional constipation?
I feel like there is so much inside of me that I can't get out. I feel like I'm one of these:
Only with all the shapes inside. And I don't know what they look like. And I don't know what the holes look like. There are so many feelings I can't name swirling around. I have no idea how to release them. I don't even know if I could label them.
Dance was the closest thing to getting all that out I ever had. A physical, intellectual, and emotional release. I'm going to have to start using that outlet soon. I don't think the neighbors would take lightly to some primal scream therapy.
Wanted to talk about one other thing. This Sunday, I hadn't planned on checking out churches yet. But I woke up early and thought "Why not?" so I got dressed and took Penny out, and then it was time to leave for Sunday school and I just couldn't make it out the door. No problem, I thought, I can just go to service. But again, I just couldn't go. I've never been that crippled by social anxiety. That afraid that I wouldn't meet anyone. And I let that fear keep me from meeting anyone, nice, mean, judgmental or otherwise. Fail.
Only with all the shapes inside. And I don't know what they look like. And I don't know what the holes look like. There are so many feelings I can't name swirling around. I have no idea how to release them. I don't even know if I could label them.
Dance was the closest thing to getting all that out I ever had. A physical, intellectual, and emotional release. I'm going to have to start using that outlet soon. I don't think the neighbors would take lightly to some primal scream therapy.
Wanted to talk about one other thing. This Sunday, I hadn't planned on checking out churches yet. But I woke up early and thought "Why not?" so I got dressed and took Penny out, and then it was time to leave for Sunday school and I just couldn't make it out the door. No problem, I thought, I can just go to service. But again, I just couldn't go. I've never been that crippled by social anxiety. That afraid that I wouldn't meet anyone. And I let that fear keep me from meeting anyone, nice, mean, judgmental or otherwise. Fail.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Only the Lonely...
So, I am loving the place where I work. On Monday, I officially start paid work wherever that may be, but these two weeks have been an awesome growth experience.
But my post right now is to sigh a little bit. Summers since grad school started are kind of lonely. My grad school best friend goes to a camp all summer long, and while I had a wonderful lunch with her and she helped me unload my first car load into the new apartment, I haven't seen her since and I miss her.
Furthermore, I am now having to make NEW friends. It's strange how hard that is. I mean, my personality can be very extroverted. I want to be with people. But my extroversion is complicated by the fact that I want to be around small groups of people who are like-minded and have strong relationships with them.
That's great because one of my favorite married couples lives in the city, but I haven't even seen them in awhile. I was supposed to see them tonight but I had a work thing.
I guess that cup is feeling empty right now. Loneliness is a particular goblet which for me can only be filled with quality time with close friends. I just don't have a lot of those here yet!
(PS, thinking of what word to use for a cup just now put this scene from The Court Jester in my head. Another movie on my wish list!)
But my post right now is to sigh a little bit. Summers since grad school started are kind of lonely. My grad school best friend goes to a camp all summer long, and while I had a wonderful lunch with her and she helped me unload my first car load into the new apartment, I haven't seen her since and I miss her.
Furthermore, I am now having to make NEW friends. It's strange how hard that is. I mean, my personality can be very extroverted. I want to be with people. But my extroversion is complicated by the fact that I want to be around small groups of people who are like-minded and have strong relationships with them.
That's great because one of my favorite married couples lives in the city, but I haven't even seen them in awhile. I was supposed to see them tonight but I had a work thing.
I guess that cup is feeling empty right now. Loneliness is a particular goblet which for me can only be filled with quality time with close friends. I just don't have a lot of those here yet!
(PS, thinking of what word to use for a cup just now put this scene from The Court Jester in my head. Another movie on my wish list!)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Okay, so I moved into my apartment about ten days ago. It was insanity. Brother and Father did pretty much all of the heavy lifting and I basically stood in the room and told them where to put things. I felt like such a stereotypical girl.
I had met one guy already in the complex who awkwardly introduced himself (every time I see him it's like he pops out from behind something and startles me) as Alex.
Then while walking Penny I ran into another upstairs neighbor named Kenny. He was nice and mentioned he would definitely remember my dog's name because it rhymed with his.
So then the next day I was late for my first day of work, so I was running out the door when I saw Kenny sitting out by the pool juggling. Like with juggling balls. I had just enough time to think whaaaaaaat? and wave hi back before I ran off to my car. That night he saw me coming out of the apartment with Penny and waved me over. I met one of his friends and he invited me to go to dinner with them and another one of his friends. Sure, why not?
I found out that he is a circus arts enthusiast but a plumber by trade. Crazy!
At this point in the story while relating it to my friend Catia, she asked "Are you going to marry him?" No. No no no.
At dinner, he was talking about one of the other neighbors who is just insane, and I stopped him. "It's not Alex, is it??"
"How do you know Alex? Oh, Kate, please steer clear of him. He's crazy."
He went on to detail the insanity of Alex. This guy was arrested on the fourth of July because he had his friend tape a lead pipe on his back as a concealed weapon and then tore up a guy's car or something. It seems he has a drinking problem and he gets very violent. "If he ever knocks on your door after dark, don't open the door, just call me."
So then a few days later I heard loud loud loud music upstairs. It wasn't over my bedroom so I figured I could sleep anyway. Then I heard pounding on the door across from me. LOUD pounding. And Alex yelling something about "Pounding on the f***ing ceiling" and "open the door!"
Penny didn't like that one bit. (I'm so grateful for her intimidating big girl bark.)
That morning, I saw that he had left a note on my neighbor's door explaining that he was a very calm person and they could have been friends if she had come up and knocked on his door and politely asked him to turn the music down.
I related all of this to Kenny when I ran into him on the way to work the next morning and I guess all he heard was that Alex was playing loud music.
So then I saw Alex again and he apologized for playing music so loudly. I told him that was okay, it was the pounding on the neighbor's door that scared me. He didn't seem to hear that part. I think he was already drunk.
I ran into Kenny (he's always by the pool) and he said he had talked to Alex and told him it was unacceptable to play his music that loudly because now they had neighbors and he had to be considerate, so I would probably be hearing from him.
My mother is in town for a conference and is helping me get everything set up. I did a quick run into the apartment and Alex stopped me.
"Hey, can I ask you a question really quickly?"
ohnoohnoohno
"Sure, what's up?"
"Have you heard my music since that last time it was really loud?"
"No, and really what scared me that night was you pounding on the neighbor's door."
"I'm sorry about that. I have tried to talk to her about it but she won't open the door."
And just because I have a death wish or something
"Well, I think yelling obscenities through the door probably isn't the best way to get a girl to answer."
"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm sorry. I left a note on her door apologizing."
"Oh okay. I get the feeling she doesn't really want to make friends. I have to go, my mom is waiting for me."
Ah, neighbors...
Anyway, apartment is coming together. You will not see pictures until it is all set up. Work is going well and I'm having a great time with these little kids in my training period before I start for-real work on the first (A week from tomorrow!). I have a weird homework assignment from them and I'm going to have a bit of trouble with it because I don't know how to build lesson plans yet. I think it's pretty straightforward with toddlers, but still, I don't know how it is supposed to look.
On top of all of that, my sink or my dishwasher or both are leaking. The maintenance guy told me that it was leaking from the backsplash, but I don't believe it. Kenny is going to come fix it for me sometime today. Hooray for connections.
I had met one guy already in the complex who awkwardly introduced himself (every time I see him it's like he pops out from behind something and startles me) as Alex.
Then while walking Penny I ran into another upstairs neighbor named Kenny. He was nice and mentioned he would definitely remember my dog's name because it rhymed with his.
So then the next day I was late for my first day of work, so I was running out the door when I saw Kenny sitting out by the pool juggling. Like with juggling balls. I had just enough time to think whaaaaaaat? and wave hi back before I ran off to my car. That night he saw me coming out of the apartment with Penny and waved me over. I met one of his friends and he invited me to go to dinner with them and another one of his friends. Sure, why not?
I found out that he is a circus arts enthusiast but a plumber by trade. Crazy!
At this point in the story while relating it to my friend Catia, she asked "Are you going to marry him?" No. No no no.
At dinner, he was talking about one of the other neighbors who is just insane, and I stopped him. "It's not Alex, is it??"
"How do you know Alex? Oh, Kate, please steer clear of him. He's crazy."
He went on to detail the insanity of Alex. This guy was arrested on the fourth of July because he had his friend tape a lead pipe on his back as a concealed weapon and then tore up a guy's car or something. It seems he has a drinking problem and he gets very violent. "If he ever knocks on your door after dark, don't open the door, just call me."
So then a few days later I heard loud loud loud music upstairs. It wasn't over my bedroom so I figured I could sleep anyway. Then I heard pounding on the door across from me. LOUD pounding. And Alex yelling something about "Pounding on the f***ing ceiling" and "open the door!"
Penny didn't like that one bit. (I'm so grateful for her intimidating big girl bark.)
That morning, I saw that he had left a note on my neighbor's door explaining that he was a very calm person and they could have been friends if she had come up and knocked on his door and politely asked him to turn the music down.
I related all of this to Kenny when I ran into him on the way to work the next morning and I guess all he heard was that Alex was playing loud music.
So then I saw Alex again and he apologized for playing music so loudly. I told him that was okay, it was the pounding on the neighbor's door that scared me. He didn't seem to hear that part. I think he was already drunk.
I ran into Kenny (he's always by the pool) and he said he had talked to Alex and told him it was unacceptable to play his music that loudly because now they had neighbors and he had to be considerate, so I would probably be hearing from him.
My mother is in town for a conference and is helping me get everything set up. I did a quick run into the apartment and Alex stopped me.
"Hey, can I ask you a question really quickly?"
ohnoohnoohno
"Sure, what's up?"
"Have you heard my music since that last time it was really loud?"
"No, and really what scared me that night was you pounding on the neighbor's door."
"I'm sorry about that. I have tried to talk to her about it but she won't open the door."
And just because I have a death wish or something
"Well, I think yelling obscenities through the door probably isn't the best way to get a girl to answer."
"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm sorry. I left a note on her door apologizing."
"Oh okay. I get the feeling she doesn't really want to make friends. I have to go, my mom is waiting for me."
Ah, neighbors...
Anyway, apartment is coming together. You will not see pictures until it is all set up. Work is going well and I'm having a great time with these little kids in my training period before I start for-real work on the first (A week from tomorrow!). I have a weird homework assignment from them and I'm going to have a bit of trouble with it because I don't know how to build lesson plans yet. I think it's pretty straightforward with toddlers, but still, I don't know how it is supposed to look.
On top of all of that, my sink or my dishwasher or both are leaking. The maintenance guy told me that it was leaking from the backsplash, but I don't believe it. Kenny is going to come fix it for me sometime today. Hooray for connections.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Quickly, quickly...
Okay, friends!
I have a JOB now! I'll start working on the first, but am going to intern for the two weeks before that so they can determine the position they want for me. It's at a preschool as a toddler teacher (either lead or associate).
I'm writing this from my new apartment! A nice one bedroom in the southern part of town with good rent overlooking the pool. Pictures to come.
I am so sorry but I really don't feel like writing lately. I need to get back to unpacking!
Kate
I have a JOB now! I'll start working on the first, but am going to intern for the two weeks before that so they can determine the position they want for me. It's at a preschool as a toddler teacher (either lead or associate).
I'm writing this from my new apartment! A nice one bedroom in the southern part of town with good rent overlooking the pool. Pictures to come.
I am so sorry but I really don't feel like writing lately. I need to get back to unpacking!
Kate
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
In the works
I PROMISE I haven't forgotten about the blog. And actually, a lot is happening in my life right now. I just don't feel like writing about it. It's not bad, actually it's quite exciting. But it's all in the works right now, so there isn't a lot to tell.
I had an interview today, which went well.
I have an interview tomorrow, which should also go well.
I am HOPEFULLY going to begin searching for apartments this week and next week, and move ASAP (I must be out of this crazy house by July 15, but that's another blog entry [sidebar: always get everything in writing. Always.])
I went to a birth doula workshop last week and it was amazing and affirming and exciting and I am totally interested at some point in only being a doula. We shall see.
North Carolina was beautiful, but Blogger's picture uploading system bugs me so much that I can't be bothered to upload any. At some point I may try.
For now, though, there's not a lot to tell.
I had an interview today, which went well.
I have an interview tomorrow, which should also go well.
I am HOPEFULLY going to begin searching for apartments this week and next week, and move ASAP (I must be out of this crazy house by July 15, but that's another blog entry [sidebar: always get everything in writing. Always.])
I went to a birth doula workshop last week and it was amazing and affirming and exciting and I am totally interested at some point in only being a doula. We shall see.
North Carolina was beautiful, but Blogger's picture uploading system bugs me so much that I can't be bothered to upload any. At some point I may try.
For now, though, there's not a lot to tell.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A compendium of nicknames
Thanks to certain creative friends of mine, I have many many nicknames. Through pursuit of purely my own enjoyment and with no thought to my reader (because really, how many of you could there be?), I present a list of these and their etymology, in no particular order.
1. Freakyknees: This was given to me in high school after the revelation that my knees turn purple when they are cold. This, apparently, was an unusual enough phenomenon to label it appropriately.
2. Sherlock Jones: I often stated the obvious, but I think this came from remembering where we parked the car after a Target run.
3. Kate Scissorhands: At the same trip, someone needed nail clippers, which I readily provided. They were not, however, attached to my hands.
4. No Fun Jones: I refused to sneak into the school building to play hide-and-seek on a Saturday, but instead went to my car (I was the ride) and waited for those hiding to realize they would not be sought. I thought it was rather hilarious, but the others decided I was no fun. This was my name whenever I decried something as dangerous or a bad idea in general. At times, it was shortened to a form of, "Awww, No-fun...!"
5. Katushka: After protesting that I was no china doll and not fragile at all, one friend said "NO! You're one of those Russian dolls with a bunch of little dolls inside of you! You are Katushka!" This was usually followed by someone grabbing me around the shoulders, then another grabbing my ankles, then trying to "pull me open" so that they could see all the "little kates." Usually this happened late at night after much soda and candy.
6. Pickle: My dear Catia was a fan of calling me random names. At one point she giggled and turned to me, asking "Can I call you Pickle?" and thus a name was born.
7. Muffles (pronounced "MOOOFuls"): See #6
8. Kate (Pronounced the Spanish way: "Kah-tay"): I took Spanish all through high school and had a total of 10 years of instruction. My dear friend Carrie and I loved it so much that we spoke Spanish to each other to the best of our abilities outside of class. Therefore, she became Carrita, and I became "Kahtay."
9. Kat (pronounced Kaht): This was a shortening of the above nickname and was usually only used by Catia (who was my room mate in college).
10. Jones: one of my friends, Julie, and I came up with a silly bit where we would greet each other "Julie!" "Jones!" "Julie and Jones!" "Jones and Julie!" "Going to ____!" It was hilarious to us, and a few people ended up calling me "Jones" exclusively.
11. The Cool Nerd: This lovely gem was given to me by my after school kids. They realized that yes, I was super nerdy. I taught them about natural science and read and did arts and crafts with them, but at the same time they realized they kind of liked all of that stuff, too.
12. Kato: Also "Kato Malato." My dad gave me this name. He said it was after Kato, the sidekick of the Green Hornet. I think he just added an "o" at the end of my name.
13. Lil Kate: I'm a very small person, and people in college found this quite a novelty. It was kind of strange though because suddenly, and for the first time in my life, my stature was used to explain my behavior. I disagreed with it and I wasn't very fond of the name because, for lack of a better word, it was a "diminutive," as I feel many pet names are.
14. Bette: This is probably the most embarrassing of the nicknames. In eighth grade, I decided I wanted to be the next Bette Midler. I succeeded in getting a few of my friends and the principal of my school to call me Bette. Ah, youth.
15. Kate the Bald: This joke is so inside it would break the bonds of a sacred sisterhood to explain.
16. Squire Lurdane, Bete Noire of the Deep and Mysterious: See #15
Well, that was entertaining! I think at some point I'll update you guys on my life, my trip, and my goings-on, but currently I'll leave you with that. What is the weirdest nickname you've ever had?
1. Freakyknees: This was given to me in high school after the revelation that my knees turn purple when they are cold. This, apparently, was an unusual enough phenomenon to label it appropriately.
2. Sherlock Jones: I often stated the obvious, but I think this came from remembering where we parked the car after a Target run.
3. Kate Scissorhands: At the same trip, someone needed nail clippers, which I readily provided. They were not, however, attached to my hands.
4. No Fun Jones: I refused to sneak into the school building to play hide-and-seek on a Saturday, but instead went to my car (I was the ride) and waited for those hiding to realize they would not be sought. I thought it was rather hilarious, but the others decided I was no fun. This was my name whenever I decried something as dangerous or a bad idea in general. At times, it was shortened to a form of, "Awww, No-fun...!"
5. Katushka: After protesting that I was no china doll and not fragile at all, one friend said "NO! You're one of those Russian dolls with a bunch of little dolls inside of you! You are Katushka!" This was usually followed by someone grabbing me around the shoulders, then another grabbing my ankles, then trying to "pull me open" so that they could see all the "little kates." Usually this happened late at night after much soda and candy.
6. Pickle: My dear Catia was a fan of calling me random names. At one point she giggled and turned to me, asking "Can I call you Pickle?" and thus a name was born.
7. Muffles (pronounced "MOOOFuls"): See #6
8. Kate (Pronounced the Spanish way: "Kah-tay"): I took Spanish all through high school and had a total of 10 years of instruction. My dear friend Carrie and I loved it so much that we spoke Spanish to each other to the best of our abilities outside of class. Therefore, she became Carrita, and I became "Kahtay."
9. Kat (pronounced Kaht): This was a shortening of the above nickname and was usually only used by Catia (who was my room mate in college).
10. Jones: one of my friends, Julie, and I came up with a silly bit where we would greet each other "Julie!" "Jones!" "Julie and Jones!" "Jones and Julie!" "Going to ____!" It was hilarious to us, and a few people ended up calling me "Jones" exclusively.
11. The Cool Nerd: This lovely gem was given to me by my after school kids. They realized that yes, I was super nerdy. I taught them about natural science and read and did arts and crafts with them, but at the same time they realized they kind of liked all of that stuff, too.
12. Kato: Also "Kato Malato." My dad gave me this name. He said it was after Kato, the sidekick of the Green Hornet. I think he just added an "o" at the end of my name.
13. Lil Kate: I'm a very small person, and people in college found this quite a novelty. It was kind of strange though because suddenly, and for the first time in my life, my stature was used to explain my behavior. I disagreed with it and I wasn't very fond of the name because, for lack of a better word, it was a "diminutive," as I feel many pet names are.
14. Bette: This is probably the most embarrassing of the nicknames. In eighth grade, I decided I wanted to be the next Bette Midler. I succeeded in getting a few of my friends and the principal of my school to call me Bette. Ah, youth.
15. Kate the Bald: This joke is so inside it would break the bonds of a sacred sisterhood to explain.
16. Squire Lurdane, Bete Noire of the Deep and Mysterious: See #15
Well, that was entertaining! I think at some point I'll update you guys on my life, my trip, and my goings-on, but currently I'll leave you with that. What is the weirdest nickname you've ever had?
Thursday, May 19, 2011
10 reasons to revisit a book
One of my most favorite blogs, The Book Spy, recently came up with a top ten list of reasons why books make us angry. It got me thinking about books that merit a revisit or re-read. Now, I'm not going to pretend I'm as well read as TBS, but there are a few times I've finally gone back and given a book a second chance. This is a RARE occurrence, because my memory is such that I sometimes get bored rereading old favorites. Here, though are ten reasons to give a book a second (or third or fourth or seventh) read.
1. It's your favorite. I love Spindle's End by Robin McKinley. The world she created, the characterization of the animals, the language, the story in general. I love it soo much.
2. You couldn't get through it years ago. I started reading Jane Eyre when I was about twelve and eventually gave up. When I was eighteen I tried again, loved it, and then ended up writing my senior paper about the aspects of Gothic Romance in the book. Describing the purple, bloated figure appearing in Jane's room was quite the crowd pleaser.
3. It made you feel deeply. Any emotion. I read and loved Daughter of the Forest by Juliette Marillier when I was seventeen. So much pain. So much sacrifice. So much beauty. The Six Swans remains one of my favorite folktales (if that says anything about me). Parts of it pretty much make me break down into a blubbering mass of sadness, but it's beautiful. Catia and I differ in our preferences in the trilogy. She likes the second book where the heroine does a lot of disobedience and making her own way, but I prefer the story of one woman's sacrifice for her brothers, at extreme expense to herself. Every now and then, I have the need to just feel those feelings again.
4. You know you liked it but can't remember any of the details. Some of the Chronicles of Narnia books are like this. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, for example, I can't remember anything about. A lot of the books in that series leave me hazy (Apart from The Horse and His Boy, because it is my favorite). It's a series I return to every few years.
5. Tradition. Every year at Christmas, I read Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I have it spaced out so that I finish one stave every five days, ending on Christmas Day with the final "God Bless us, every one." The cliche is true here, I get something new out of it every year. I love the way Dickens wrote this book.
6. The subtext went over your head when you first read it, but now you are older, wiser, and appreciate the message behind it. I loved A Wrinkle in Time as a child, but I know now that it's about so much more. After I'm finished with Sense and Sensibility (which I'm LOVING) I'll give it another peruse.
7. The library only had the abridged version. I read the abridged version of Les Miserables when I was in high school. Again, loved it. I remember reading it during English class while the rest of the students studied for the final from which I was exempt. The bell rang and my teacher came over and jokingly slammed the book closed. I looked up at her with the saddest eyes and said "But Eponine's dying!" Really it was excellent and the abridged version did give the gist of the story, but I want to try again. I'm also working through Don Quixote, so perhaps I'll just have to give it a glance when I get through it. Or juggle two humongous books at the same time. Yes, I think that's what will happen. This also applies to reading the children's version.
8. You read it, didn't like it, but LOVED everything else you read by that author. Emma falls under this category. I read Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and am in the middle of Sense and Sensibility. Love them all. But Emma was a bit of a slog for me back when I was 17 (I read a LOT of books that year, which is funny because I was dancing six days a week, taking a dual credit course, taking an AP course, taking Chemistry, and involved in drama competitions. No wonder I never slept). I know Austen's goal in writing Emma was to create an unlikeable heroine, but I've liked the story (especially in the latest BBC version) and hopefully I'll appreciate it more now!
9. You miss the characters/world/story. Another reason why I re-read Spindle's End so often. I feel like they're my friends.
10. You didn't like it, but people whose taste you trust loved it. This has convinced me to consider giving certain books another try. Perhaps I was in a bad mood or distracted, and that's not the book's fault. They deserve a second chance. Never Bartleby the Scrivener, though. I prefer not to.
What do you think? What different reasons do you have for revisiting a book?
1. It's your favorite. I love Spindle's End by Robin McKinley. The world she created, the characterization of the animals, the language, the story in general. I love it soo much.
2. You couldn't get through it years ago. I started reading Jane Eyre when I was about twelve and eventually gave up. When I was eighteen I tried again, loved it, and then ended up writing my senior paper about the aspects of Gothic Romance in the book. Describing the purple, bloated figure appearing in Jane's room was quite the crowd pleaser.
3. It made you feel deeply. Any emotion. I read and loved Daughter of the Forest by Juliette Marillier when I was seventeen. So much pain. So much sacrifice. So much beauty. The Six Swans remains one of my favorite folktales (if that says anything about me). Parts of it pretty much make me break down into a blubbering mass of sadness, but it's beautiful. Catia and I differ in our preferences in the trilogy. She likes the second book where the heroine does a lot of disobedience and making her own way, but I prefer the story of one woman's sacrifice for her brothers, at extreme expense to herself. Every now and then, I have the need to just feel those feelings again.
4. You know you liked it but can't remember any of the details. Some of the Chronicles of Narnia books are like this. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, for example, I can't remember anything about. A lot of the books in that series leave me hazy (Apart from The Horse and His Boy, because it is my favorite). It's a series I return to every few years.
5. Tradition. Every year at Christmas, I read Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I have it spaced out so that I finish one stave every five days, ending on Christmas Day with the final "God Bless us, every one." The cliche is true here, I get something new out of it every year. I love the way Dickens wrote this book.
6. The subtext went over your head when you first read it, but now you are older, wiser, and appreciate the message behind it. I loved A Wrinkle in Time as a child, but I know now that it's about so much more. After I'm finished with Sense and Sensibility (which I'm LOVING) I'll give it another peruse.
7. The library only had the abridged version. I read the abridged version of Les Miserables when I was in high school. Again, loved it. I remember reading it during English class while the rest of the students studied for the final from which I was exempt. The bell rang and my teacher came over and jokingly slammed the book closed. I looked up at her with the saddest eyes and said "But Eponine's dying!" Really it was excellent and the abridged version did give the gist of the story, but I want to try again. I'm also working through Don Quixote, so perhaps I'll just have to give it a glance when I get through it. Or juggle two humongous books at the same time. Yes, I think that's what will happen. This also applies to reading the children's version.
8. You read it, didn't like it, but LOVED everything else you read by that author. Emma falls under this category. I read Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and am in the middle of Sense and Sensibility. Love them all. But Emma was a bit of a slog for me back when I was 17 (I read a LOT of books that year, which is funny because I was dancing six days a week, taking a dual credit course, taking an AP course, taking Chemistry, and involved in drama competitions. No wonder I never slept). I know Austen's goal in writing Emma was to create an unlikeable heroine, but I've liked the story (especially in the latest BBC version) and hopefully I'll appreciate it more now!
9. You miss the characters/world/story. Another reason why I re-read Spindle's End so often. I feel like they're my friends.
10. You didn't like it, but people whose taste you trust loved it. This has convinced me to consider giving certain books another try. Perhaps I was in a bad mood or distracted, and that's not the book's fault. They deserve a second chance. Never Bartleby the Scrivener, though. I prefer not to.
What do you think? What different reasons do you have for revisiting a book?
Friday, May 6, 2011
Bye bye, peekaboo buddy.
Yesterday was my last day at work. After a year and a half working with these amazing children, I cleaned out my office, distributed my goodbye letter, and bid farewell to the teachers, and hugged as many of the children as I could goodbye.
My peekaboo buddy gave me such a hug. He hugged me, then he put his knees on mine and before I knew it, he was wrapped around me and refused to let go. I got to do my favorite thing, hugging him and then bending over so his hair ALMOST touched the floor, then bringing him back up and spinning. Toddlers are precious. His mom hugged me (she's not a touchy feely person) and thanked me for everything I'd done for him. I was deeply sincere when I looked her in the eyes and said "It was my pleasure."
My toddlers (well, not MINE, but yes, mine) made a tote bag for me with their hand prints on it. And I got to spend a lot of time with them that day, with them coming up and tapping me on the shoulder, saying "Hi, Kate!" So proud of themselves, some of them, that they could say my name.
Two of the teachers offered to give me references. I got so many hugs. So many words of advice and encouragement. "You'll find your way." "You'll be so successful in whatever you do!" So much love and encouragement.
Goodbyes are the hardest things for me. I am great at moving in, adjusting, becoming happy with my "now," but goodbyes are the hardest. I spent the whole day going in and out of tears. One of the moms saw that as I was leaving and she said "Well, one chapter ends and another begins." I'm not sure if that helped at all...because I started crying again.
The new beginning had better start soon.
My peekaboo buddy gave me such a hug. He hugged me, then he put his knees on mine and before I knew it, he was wrapped around me and refused to let go. I got to do my favorite thing, hugging him and then bending over so his hair ALMOST touched the floor, then bringing him back up and spinning. Toddlers are precious. His mom hugged me (she's not a touchy feely person) and thanked me for everything I'd done for him. I was deeply sincere when I looked her in the eyes and said "It was my pleasure."
My toddlers (well, not MINE, but yes, mine) made a tote bag for me with their hand prints on it. And I got to spend a lot of time with them that day, with them coming up and tapping me on the shoulder, saying "Hi, Kate!" So proud of themselves, some of them, that they could say my name.
Two of the teachers offered to give me references. I got so many hugs. So many words of advice and encouragement. "You'll find your way." "You'll be so successful in whatever you do!" So much love and encouragement.
Goodbyes are the hardest things for me. I am great at moving in, adjusting, becoming happy with my "now," but goodbyes are the hardest. I spent the whole day going in and out of tears. One of the moms saw that as I was leaving and she said "Well, one chapter ends and another begins." I'm not sure if that helped at all...because I started crying again.
The new beginning had better start soon.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Open letter to choreographers
Please please please someone choreograph an artful routine to Songbird by Fleetwood Mac. And then put it on Youtube so I can watch it whenever I want. Little sixteen year olds showing off their technique does not count as art. Do the music justice. (This goes for all dances.)
Sunday, May 1, 2011
oooommmmmggggggg
Pray HARD for this application going out if you are a praying person. This job is exactly what I want to do.
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