Snowed In

With the storm we're getting hit with, and the amount of snow expected between this evening and tomorrow night, I'm not going anywhere. Which makes it the perfect night for writing out some Christmas cards. This year, I've decided to abandon my usual tradition of making my own cards, which often keeps me up 'til the wee hours of the morning a few nights in December, in favor of sending out store-bought cards. I'm making an effort to at least write a personal note in each one to make up for it, but the extra sleep this will allow me is worth it. (One lucky blog reader may even see their name in this picture if they look close enough!)

Accompanying the cards it a nice glass of vino. Don't worry, not enough to effect the notes being written!

Also on tap, I'm hoping to do a little vampire reading!

If you're anywhere in the path of this storm, please stay safe, and enjoy a little down time as you're literally buried in the house.

Easy Christmas Makeover

Somehow, decorating for Christmas always becomes more of an ordeal than I originally think it will be.

As soon as I hung my huge ornament star (that I redid this summer to get replace the gold frame with silver) over my fireplace, I knew the three circle prints on the wall next to it would have to go.

But new artwork wasn't exactly in the budget. What's a girl to do?

With a few sheets of mat-board, some fun pink card stock, chipboard letters, silver glitter, and hot glue, and after glitter was spread all over my counters, table, and floor....

I came up with this. Glittered chipboard letters mounted on pink card stock mounted on white mat-board, which I hot glued to the glass of the original pictures.

About $15 and an hour later, I have some fun, easy, reuseable Christmas decorations.

And just because this sweet little cat is providing me some much needed comfort and cuddlin' lately, I thought she deserved a spot on the blog. Love you Lucy.

This post is linked to DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land. I haven't participated before, but have looked at and got ideas several times. For more DIY fun, check out all the cool stuff here!

Broken and Waiting

This is what life has been feeling like lately.

I'm trying desperately to hold on to the fact that my broken-ness is only a small part, and sometimes a necessary part, of a much bigger, much more beautiful picture. (If I'm honest, I'm more desperately trying to remind myself to hold on to that fact.)

We CAN pick up the pieces. We CAN move forward trusting that that one broken piece does not define the entirety of the story. We CAN trust that the bigger picture is good and true and beautiful. We WILL be able to understand. Eventually.

...

Waiting on peace, hoping for patience, and knowing it will all make sense sometime.

Christmas Tree Lights: 1. Katrina: 0.

It's 1:25. In the AM.

And I'm fighting the good fight.

Hopefully there'll be a well-lit tree for you to "ooh" and "ahh" at by the end of this weekend. Wish me luck.

Tears rush in.

Life was shaken up recently.

Not mine directly, but life of one of the people closest to me.

My brother Matt was in a car accident two and a half weeks ago, and, being the worrier of the family, it's hit me pretty hard. Not as hard as the car that hit him while he was on his bike. He's a blog reader, and I'm not sure how ok he is with me sharing much here (Matt - don't worry, the readership of this thing isn't huge), and I know this isn't his "method of coping" - something we discussed in some detail at an impromptu family meeting earlier tonight, but... for those of you out there who are on the same page as me, tonight I'm asking for prayer. For healing for him, for patience for all of us, for compassion, and really just a sense of peace that everything is going to work out.

I need this boy to be ok.

And I'm thankful that he understands that tears rolling down my face aren't all bad, and they don't scare him away.

Tonight, there may be more tears. Hopefully in the morning they'll stop for awhile.

Tonight, I'm thankful.

Tonight, I'm thankful for a quiet Thanksgiving Eve.

Tonight, I'm thankful that I don't have to worry about cooking a turkey just right for a houseful of guests.

Tonight, I'm thankful that I won't spend the night cleaning every last corner of the house worried that someone will find the dust I missed.

Tonight, I'm thankful that some Thanksgiving Eve in the future there will be a family of my own here with me. Who I'll have to clean up after and cook for.

Tonight, I'm thankful for a family right down the road, where I can go tomorrow to watch the Packer game, eat turkey, and not be asked if I'm sure that I don't want mashed potatoes, because they already know I can't stand them.

Tonight, I'm thankful that I really don't have much to worry about, but confessing the fact that I still do.

Tonight, I'm thankful for all the crazy good things I've been given, but confessing the fact that many days I still want more.

Tonight, I'm thankful for a God who loves me in an immeasurable way, enough that I don't have to change for Him, but so much that He makes me want to.

Tonight, I'm thankful.

Baby Reese

While I haven't okayed it with her parents, I'm calling myself an honorary Aunt to this sweet baby girl. I got to spend about an hour holding her a mere 6 hours after she was born - sweet smelling, soft baby skin. It was wonderful!

Welcome to the world Baby Reese - your mom and dad love you tons, and so does your "aunt"!

Blue Ribbon Coming Soon!

You saw it here first folks. The prize-winning, purple, painted pumpkin! This baby, it all it's bejeweled and glittered splendor, is going into competition tomorrow.

Wish her luck, and I'll let you know the results soon.


By the way, if you're thinking to yourself, "Gee, Katrina, that's a mighty small pumpkin." You're right. It's barely the size of a baseball. This is all I was given to work with people. I do what I can.

The Rock-ster

I made myself a fall to-do list, and one item was to actually carve a pumpkin this Halloween. It's been several years since I've done this, and decided I needed a little bit of the nostalgic, traditional October stuff this year. Don't get me wrong, my life right now is really too busy to devote a night to cutting up a pumpkin, but I'm working on this whole "hurry" thing, and gave myself a break tonight.

Check out the finished product.... if you've ever visited the L's house, you'll recognize this little face.

Hurry

The fact that I've been absent from here (and it hasn't been for lack of things going on or opinions to voice) should tell you a little about why this quote rings so true for me tonight.

"We need to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives."

Amen sister (or more accurately, brother).

Need to go let that one sink in a little.

Hopefully you'll see me around here soon.

Here's to you Pail and Shovel Party

30 years ago this morning, 1,008 plastic pink flamingos greeted the UW Madison campus on Bascom Hill in a prank organized by the Pail and Shovel party.

3 days ago the Madison City Council sealed their place in history by naming the flamingo Madison's Official City Bird.

The Pail & Shovelers didn't pass health care reform, and they didn't do anything about the war on terrorism or global warming, but they knew how to draw attention and pull off a fairly harmless prank. And I'm smiling about it 30 years later.

A weekend of wedding fun

Congrats Ty and Amanda - love you guys!

My mom on Brett Favre becoming a Viking:

"Oh, I still like him. He's cute and sweet, just a little misguided."

Couldn't agree more! Well, not sure about the "sweet," or "little," part. More like kind of a jerk, and very misguided.

Waiting on a Whisper

"... Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." 1 Kings 19:11-12

I just need to learn to be quiet enough to hear it.

8 pounds of love

These two tiny cats, weighing it at about four pounds a piece, have turned my life upside down lately. From waking up to four eyes staring at me (or two sandpaper tongues licking my face), to finding my favorite purple chair covered in gray hair. But also having two creatures who adore me waiting at the door when I come home at night.

10 points to the first person (commenter) who can identify the real names of the pop culture duo Lucy (left) and Ethel (right)are named after!

Grandma Bea Update

Good news! Grandma's surgery today went as well as could be expected! The long recovery process is started now, but we made it over one big hurdle. Apparently late last night she and "the girls" (my aunts) had the nurses cracking up. When my aunt brought my grandma a balloon (after taking it from the gift shop that was closed at the time, but looking straight into the camera saying "I'm buying this balloon. I'll be back tomorrow to pay for it,") grandma replied by saying "I'm so glad I'm here so I can get this balloon!" So glad she was upbeat right up until the surgery. Here's hoping she keeps it up over the next days, weeks, and months.

Prayer please.

I realize I've been a bad blogger and left you all hanging waiting for word on the car (there is a new one, and pictures and all the details are coming soon - I promise!), but there are more pressing things on my mind right now.

I'm coming to you (all 5 readers I have out there) asking for prayer.

My grandmother had a heart attack early this morning, and is scheduled for open-heart surgery on Monday. Likely quadruple bypass. Please cover her, the people at the hospital taking care of her, my dad who is dealing with a lot of it, and my whole family, in prayer.

I'll try to do a better job of keeping you posted.

In Him.
Katrina

Saying Goodbye.

That kind of woman.

"She wears her heart on her sleeve as big as Texas. She cries big and loves hard and sings like there's no tomorrow... And in her eyes I can see the wings of the angels who loved her up in heaven." -Julie Abbott (a woman whose blog of her artwork I can't seem to find now that I want to)

THAT's the kind of woman I want to be.

Dinner Conversation

Last night, over dinner my brother and I discussed...

• Ideal vacation spots
• Ideal everyday-life cities
• Communism vs. Socialism
• the merits of a Liberal Arts education
• Nationalized healthcare
• what kind of uncle he'll be someday

Did I mention this was dinner at the Food Court at East Towne Mall? That's right, all that talk over T-Bell and Sarku baby!

Have I mentioned that I adore this kid?

Tagged - more random things about me

I got tagged by Kaitlyn, and because I love the brutal, bare-her-heart honesty of her blog, I'm participating! After you read these (hopefully) 7 new things about me, go check her out!

1. I love string cheese, but can only eat it as strings (like by peeling it lengthwise, can't just bite into it).
2. I recently got two new pets - the cats my parents have had for the last 11 years. They live with me now, and except for all the hair they shed and I vacuum up nearly everyday, I love having them around. But even after 11 years of calling them by their names, it's still a little strange to call a pet Ethel (Lucy and Ethel after "I Love Lucy").
3. When I was in elementary school, my mom and I spent Saturday mornings in the winter at The Rollerdrome (the roller rink in town). I was fairly decent then. Probably not anymore.
4. I took an entreprenuership class in grad school, and started a mini jewelry business. I'd love to have an Etsy shop now, but am nervous that nothing would sell.
5. In a golf outing yesterday, I won the Women's Long Drive contest on the 18th hole. (Yes, I'm bragging a bit here...) 275 yards, in the fairway. No lie. It was pretty impressive.
6. Every phone call with my brother ends with the lines "Love you Brother." "Love you Sister." Just a thing we do.
7. Moving back to Madison has been one of the best decisions I've made in the past few years, but if I'm honest, it's left me fairly lonely for the past year as well. I'm choosing to learn something from it this time rather than letting it bother me as much as it may have in the past.

A Bit of an Update

Still around, just haven't felt like writing or sharing much lately. Hopefully the few of you out there will still be around when I get back. If not... understood.

On a random note... have you seen the Visa commercial about "when is the last time you went to the aquarium, with your daughter, on a Tuesday?" Love it. Completely reminds me of my dad. Granted, I'm 27, not 4 like the girl in the commercial, and it wasn't the aquarium, but my dad and I took days off on Monday to golf. Just the two of us. And it was wonderful. Just one of the little things I love about my dad.



Oh, and I beat him on the front 9. And I pulled off a birdie on 18 to tie him for the round.

Birds or Blossoms?

The question is, do I leave the nest alone, and let the plant die if necessary? Or upset the pretty little nest and risk the lives of the 5 potential birds sitting among my begonias?

I'm leaning towards leaving the nest alone.

In case anyone is curious, I've been told (by a bird-lovin' friend) that they are probably purple finches.

L-A-O-D-I-C-E-A-N

I have a bit of a reputation among some of my friends for watching strange sporting events. Of course, I'd argue that they aren't that weird, and some of them aren't really sporting events. I make a point of watching the three races of the Triple Crown and the Little League World Series along with all the other more normal televised events.

One of the other weird ones I typically watch, is the spelling bee. And it just happened to be on tv last night. I owe my pastor and friend back in Sheboygan, Jeff, a big thank you for letting me feel like a spelling champion. Because of multiple messages I've heard at Crossroads (my church in Sheboygan) about being "lukewarm", not only could I spell the championship word (Laodicean), I could also define it AND use it in a sentence.

So, thank you Jeff, for letting me feel like I could have held my own had I been on that spelling bee stage last night. But more importantly, for helping me understand how important it is that I NOT be like the Laodiceans, and not grow lukewarm, complacent, and indifferent in my faith like they did. But instead grow, seeking God more and more everyday, and living the faith I profess.

Bench Makeover

Last post I gave you the before picture of the ugly stool I found.

Here, in pictures, is the makeover of that very stool. Warning, it got uglier before it got better.

A little scraping of paint...

A little stripping of paint...

I forgot to get a picture of the repainting. Basically just a coat of primer with spray paint, and a coat of gloss black with spray paint.

A little un-upholstering (and revealing even further ugliness!)...

And a little reupholstering...

And the result... a much cuter bench that now resides in my pretty bedroom!

Two Pictures: One Pretty, One Not

First, the pretty.


Aren't they precious?! Precious is kind of an under-used word. But it kind of reminds me of my grandma when I say it. Not that my grandma says/said it, but it sounds like something A grandma would say. Enough of that, let's just say I've adored this little bouquet for the last few days after picking it up at the Farmer's Market this weekend.

And, the not so pretty.


This little stool was a flea market find this weekend (along with the hubcap in my last post). Too bad it's just plain ugly right now. I feel like it has so much potential. It could be cute! So this is my latest project. Any thoughts on how to clean this baby up? How do I get that white/rusty paint off? (I want it black.) And do I reupholster it black and white? or teal and white? It will eventually find it's way in to my teal/black/white bedroom. Stay tuned. There's sure to be more pictures of the whole pretty-fying process.

I'm not a car girl by any means.

My somewhat beat up older car with it's quirks is fine with me. I know next to nothing about cars. And I'm not all that impressed by nice cars (although they are fun to ride in Brother!).

So it's a little strange that I have this little wall dedicated to cars in my entry way. But I absolutely love it.

The pictures are a gift from my sweet friend E (Sorry that my picture of the wall is pretty boring.), one of the hubcaps is an awesome roadside find, and the other is one I got a great deal on at a flea market!


Love it!

That Bird? Mine.

I've claimed this bird as my own. She made herself a nest right above the main entrance to my condo building, which is right outside my door. A couple weeks ago, every time I walked out the door she was spooked and flew to a nearby tree. She'd sit on the branch, just a few yards away, just watching her nest, and watching me. Over the past few days, she's either become even more protective, or has warmed up to me, since she won't leave her nest at all.

I'm choosing to believe it's the latter, and am claiming her as my own little bird.

To my mom...

who has not only been the best mom I could ask for, but also best friend, example, role model, and woman I know, thank you mom. I love you more than I'm able to say.

Sheboygan = Dead Zone?

Starting to wonder if my phone doesn't work when making calls to Sheboygan County.... 4 people not returning my calls!

Beautiful Day!

It's April 24th - a Friday. In Wisconsin. And it's supposed to be over 80 degrees. All of that together means I would be crazy to not take vacation! I decided at about 3:30 on Weds that I'd be taking a day off, and I'm so glad I did!

I've already played some golf, met Nicole, did lunch with Matt, and am now soaking up some sun at the Union. Can't ask for much more.

"Why are you looking for love, Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?"

Spring has Sprung!

This little treasure can only mean one thing...
...the Farmer's Market is back! Today was the first Farmer's Market of the season, and you can bet I was there! This is one of my favorite things about being back in Madison. It was a beautiful spring day here today, which made the walk around the square wonderful! Hot, Spicy Cheese Bread from Stella's Bakery is a must anytime I'm there. Over a pound of hot, melty (and spicy) cheese in this baby - it's amazing!

I also found some pretty little pansies - some of the flowers are half purple and half orange. They made themselves right at home in a cute pot on my porch, right next to my fun new adirondack chair with brightly striped cushion (where I spent some time reading in the sun today).

All of it just screams Spring, and I love it!

A new attempt at Easter eggs

I know it's a few days late, but here's my attempt at naturally dying Easter eggs this year. Check out what blueberries, grape juice, coffee, turmeric (what you really use turmeric for, I'm not sure), and red cabbage can do!

Don't know that I'd really recommend trying it, it made the house smell kinda crazy, and wasn't all that successful, but it was fun once!

Missin' ya

Missin' my Sheboygan people tonight. Just feel like I could go for chips and salsa at Chili's (folks in Madison aren't nearly as enamoured with it as all of you are), or the incredibly fast service at El Camino, or just hanging out at Apache or 18th St or Heather Valley... you know who you are.

A New Command

I've definitely been living a life of busy-ness the past few months. I've kept myself occupied with anything and everything. Most of it good stuff, but "stuff", nonetheless. I've been very good at filling my time, but not necessarily so good and filling my heart.

Holy Week crept up on me this year.

A few weeks ago I posted about the 40 days of water challenge. (Yes, I did it, with just over $100 headed to the Blood:Water Mission. And for those of you who are curious, my first non-water drink on Friday was none other than Diet Coke!) The whole challenge kind of coincided with Lent, but that wasn't really what I was doing it for. I really wasn't in the mindset of anticipating the remembrance and celebration of what Christ did some 2,000 years ago. I've heard other people talk about what they "gave up for Lent," and went on to question their faith in my head, almost chastising them for their sacrifice, but wondering how much of the other 325 day of the year they surrender things to Him. They're ugly, ugly thoughts on my part. I haven't really cared where their heart was, or what pain they were carrying around, or what brought them joy. I've just belittled their way of celebrating the Easter season. And what's uglier to me, is that I've hardly been celebrating it in any way myself.

On Thursday of this past week, at about 3:00 in the afternoon, I realized that my church was having a Maundy Thursday service at 6:00. It hit me that day that Easter was just 4 days away. I did a little schedule juggling and was able to make it to the service. I remembered going to a Maundy Thursday service a time or two before at the church I grew up in, and walked in thinking, yeah, it's the day we remember the "Last Supper." But on Thursday, I learned of another whole part to that last meal that I hadn't put together before. That same night, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, (check out the end of this post for a cool story on that!) and later said to them "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John13:34-35.

Wow.

Love. That's it. That's how they'll know I love Him.

The word Maundy comes from the Latin translation for commandment. So really, this past Thursday we were to remember the new command that Jesus gave on the night before he died on the cross. Simply to love. Sound simple. But is really hard in practice. Lately, I've gotten so caught up in what's going on in my life, and with keeping myself busy, that I haven't loved anyone. Convicted - completely guilty.

Tonight, I remember what He did for me, dying on the cross, because He LOVES me.
Tomorrow, I'll celebrate how He conquered death for me, because He LOVES me.

My Worst vs. Your Best

"As women, we compare our worst to everybody else's best."

(I'm almost embarrassed to tell you who said this where, but I will, because she's completely right - Marie Osmond on Oprah.)

So true Marie, so true.

When are we going to start appreciating our "bests", rather than obsessing about our "worsts"?

A rant about taxes... but probably not what you're expecting.

Maybe it's just because so much of my time lately has been spent doing taxes, but the commercials I've seen for Associated Tax Relief, or Taxmasters, really make me angry!

These people (sure, I know they're actors, but that's beside the point) go on camera, smiling about how they "owed the IRS over $135,000, and Associated Tax Relief saved us over $99,000!"

People... if you owe the IRS, you should pay the IRS! The rest of us do! No, not fun to pay taxes, but do you drive on the roads? Do you appreciate the fact that there are police and fire departments that will help you when you need it? Do you use city water? Because you aren't paying your taxes, I'm paying extra so you can use all of those services! I definitely understand the desire to minimize taxes, but once it's determined what you owe, I kind of expect you to pay it!

No Ark Necessary

I'm 16 days and about $50 in!

(click the picture for more info)

101 Things

In case you care about this kind of thing (and absolutely no offense taken if you don't - promise!)...

Before the "25 Things" phenomenon on facebook came the "101 Things" trend on blogs. Given that you're reading a blog, and not facebook... here's a list more than 4 times as long as the one you would find on facebook. Hang on, here we go!

1. At the age of 21, I was served with papers saying I was being sued.
2. I waited over 4 years to actually go to court for it. I literally shook the whole 50 minutes or so I was on the stand testifying.
3. The case was thrown out a few hours after I testified - in essence, we won.
4. I buy celery almost every time I grocery show, sure that this will be the time I eat it all.
5. I throw it out 9 times out of 10.
6. I question myself nearly everyday.
7. I'm fairly sure I'm allergic to shrimp, considering I very nearly threw up on the way to the bathroom at Kiku's in Sheboygan mere seconds after eating it.
8. I think I could have married the guy I dated senior year of high school. Until the military took him away from me.
9. I have what some would say is an unhealthy obsession with the news.
10. Ok, really just with all NBC affiliated news.
11. I rarely send greeting cards with pre-printed messages in them. If it's an important enough occasion for a card, it's important enough for a personal message.
12. I hate socks.
13. I'm a big University of Wisconsin Badger fan.
14. But my favorite piece of Wisconsin clothing is not red... It's my 5 year old, purple, Wisconsin t-shirt.
15. I brush my teeth in the shower.
16. I hate texting.
17. But when I do, I try to use correct grammar. Commas, periods, apostrophes. All of that.
18. I enjoy doing taxes.
19. Punctuality is huge for me. I would rather wait 15 minutes for someone/thing, than make someone else wait 5.
20. But I wouldn't rather wait because someone else is late. If I'm early, that's fine. If you're late, that's not.
21. And that doesn't apply to getting to work. I can almost never make it at 8:00. 8:15 is no problem, but 8:00 doesn't work for me.
22. My blog started as a dare from AD, to see if I could blog as much as JB. I've met JB once, and am fairly certain he doesn't blog anymore.
23. I love hugs. But none of those weak, one arm type hugs. If you're going to do it, do it right.
24. I thoroughly enjoy playing with spreadsheets. At work, at home, doesn't matter.
25. You can call me a geek. I call myself one nearly everyday.
26. Despite being about 5'11", I wear heels almost everyday. Flats are just no fun.
27. Unless they are flipflops. Those are definitely fun.
28. 34" would be the perfect inseam length on pants. But almost no one makes those... 33" or 35" sure, but very few 34".
29. I once got in a major fight with a roommate over a cardboard box.
30. I could watch almost anything on Bravo, TLC, or HGTV.
31. Except "Little People, Big World," or "Jon and Kate Plus 8." Just can't get into those shows.
32. I must have live plants in my house.
33. I cry at Hallmark and Disney World commercials.
34. I was on a high school basketball team that went 0-20.
35. I got a concussion playing high school golf. I was hit in the head with a ball, on the fly, from 130 yards away.
36. (This won't mean much if you don't golf...) I golfed two whole high school varsity golf seasons without hitting a driver off the tee.
37. I hate the sound of windshield wipers on a dry windshield.
38. I sneeze everyday at about 10:00 in the morning. At least 3 sneezes, sometimes up to 6.
39. I can't drink a margarita that has salt on the rim.
40. Every place I have lived (with the exception of dorms and apartments in college) has been within a quarter mile of an interstate.
41. I like the sound of traffic at night.
42. I was born despising both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. It's in my blood.
43. I have never seen any of the Star Wars movies.
44. Of The Wizard of Oz. My mom thought it was scary, and never showed it to me as a child.
45. It wasn't until I was in college that I really even became aware of the movie. But then it became obvious that it was strange that I hadn't seen it.
46. I have a strange fear of someone coming into my bedroom through the window in the middle of the night.
47. This started when I had a second story bedroom, with a window that faced a fairly busy street - one with traffic throughout the night. My parents tried hard to convince me that no one would bring a ladder into our front yard with that big of a chance of being seen. It didn't really help.
48. I hate mashed potatoes.
49. My life would be a bit more relaxed if I could nap for a half hour everyday.
50. I'm a INFJ per the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator.
51. I've sprained my right ankle so many times that I can almost turn it completely sideways without it hurting at all anymore.
52. That comes in handy when wearing heels in Wisconsin winters.
53. I love Chinese food. Americanized Chinese food.
54. I had a dachshund named Roustabout.
55. My parents had him put to sleep while I was taking a nap one day (I was about 4 years old.) I still bring it up when I want to take a shot at them.
56. I took my drivers test in a "new" Volkswagen Beetle, 3 months after it first came out. I thought that was my key to passing, even if I didn't really pass.
57. I cheer for the underdog in nearly every game that doesn't feature the Badgers, Packers, or Brewers.
58. My favorite pair of flipflops cost me $2.50 at Old Navy 3 and a half years ago. They're still going strong!
59. I love talk radio.
60. I genuinely like giving gifts more than receiving them.
61. Except homemade gifts. Those are great to receive!
62. Very rarely do I make my bed in the morning.
63. But I often make it just before getting into it at night.
64. I attempt the crossword puzzle in the newspaper everyday. I'm patiently waiting for the day I finish one.
65. I would love to learn how to play the guitar.
66. It is virtually impossible for me to fall asleep with wet hair.
67. I can drink white wine, but not red.
68. Megan the wine girl on my favorite radio show says that's because my palate isn't mature enough yet.
69. I worked with Megan's husband Dave as a recreation leader at a park for three summers.
70. During one of those summers, Dave and I helped the kids make homemade root beer, complete with dry ice. We then had the brilliant idea to throw the extra dry ice in the toilet. It smoked for hours. And we ended up staying at the park hours after rec was normally done waiting for the dry ice to disappear.
71. I really don't like peanut butter and jelly.
72. Coming up with 101 things is a lot harder than I thought it would be.
73. I have a picture (painting/print/whatever - not a photograph) of a pig jumping off the end of a pier into water. Absolutely everyone that comes to my place, stops, looks at it, and asks some kind of question. But it makes people smile too.
74. Nearly every pair of shoes I have comes from Payless. Out of necessity, not frugality. I wear a size 12. No one else sells 12s.
75. I love me a good fire on a cold night. Just like the one I'm sitting next to as I write this.
76. The smell of lily of the valley is one of my favorites. It reminds me of the summer days when my mom would cut a few stems, and leave them right next to my bed to fall asleep smelling.
77. I love that my family uses the same jokes over and over with each other, but still laugh every time. And always follows it up with the line "It's the first time I've heard that one... Today!"
78. I really want to give up facebook, but can't quite make myself do it yet.
79. I'm a sucker for a good parade.
80. The saying "It is what it is," drives me crazy.
81. Ordering a "tall" coffee at Starbucks drives me crazy too. It's a small, people.
82. Ever since living in Sheboygan (and having Chili's be the default, out-to-eat restaurant of choice), I can't go there without ordering bottomless chips and salsa. If you haven't had them, do it. They're fabulous.
83. I wish I was a better cook.
84. I use the word "perfect" far too often.
85. I love stale popcorn.
86. I follow about 15 or so blogs, most of them of people I don't know personally.
87. Before I was born, my mom painted one whole wall of my room with a huge frog (we're talking 5 feet tall by 5 feet wide), with a rainbow over it. Not exactly sure where the idea came from, but I loved it! I'm a little surprised it didn't scare me.
88. I used to think I was given my middle name because of the children's librarian at the public library near our house. It took me awhile to realize that my parents probably didn't know the children's librarian until after I was born, and already named.
89. I often think of my 19 year old brother (7 years younger than me) as my older brother, and often treat him that way. He's one of my best friends.
90. I will probably always have a soft spot in my heart for Sheboygan. A few of the friends I made there are people that feel like home.
91. I think the series' Law & Order and CSI have gone too far with their series within a series concept. Enough already.
92. We had the world's best backyard for slip-n-sliding at the first house I lived in. We're talking a double hill, that was long enough to set up two slip-n-slides end to end. Our house was the place to be on a hot summer day.
93. At the next house we lived in, we got a pool in the backyard. Another good place to be on a summer afternoon.
94. My favorite vegetable is broccoli.
95. My favorite pasta is rotini.
96. One of my favorite things at my grandma's house was her picture hallway. She had taped hundreds of pictures up on the wall in her hallway, of everyone important in her life. Mostly candid shots with great stories to go with them.
97. She recently took them all down, and it made me kind of sad.
98. I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar (with Ted Neely himself!). I was absolutely sure I was being tricked into going somewhere else, and actually got a little suspicious of AD. The whole day was one of the strangest/funniest I've had in a long time. But I'm pretty sure no one else would find the story nearly as entertaining as I do...
99. I'm a closet Neil Diamond fan. And while I'm admitting it, James Taylor too.
100. The most overused phrase among people I'm immediately related to is, "What'd you have to give for that?"
101. For this blog post, about 2 and a half months of effort! This was what I had in mind when I mentioned something about having some kind of special post for the new year on December 30. Was it worth the wait?

Vampire Slayin'

"Wooden stake to the heart, and a little onion! That's all I need!"

Sure Matt. Garlic. Onion. Same thing.

Solid colors are predictable.

I've heard my mom describe me as "our safe, predictable" kid. And I've always translated that in my head as "our too responsible, no fun" kid. And to be honest, I have always kind of resented it.

I'm realizing now how right she is.

I like normal.

I like safe.

I like predictable.

And lately, I feel like I've been swimming in a pool of uncertainty, which is not something I deal well with. I like to know what's coming tomorrow. I like to know where I stand with the people in my life. I like to know that the people I love are safe and happy. And it feels like I don't know a lot of those things right now.

So, yes mom, you are right. I may not be as much fun as spontaneity is sometimes, but I think you pretty much know what you're going to get with me.

Another description of me... from my roommate sophomore year of college, describing me to someone else on our floor. She said, "My roommate is the one who always wears solid colors." Just another indicator of the consistency I crave.

Update: A couple "current event" type comments about my desire for normalcy.... 1) I've made myself turn off MSNBC lately because the anxiety all the economic news of late causes isn't treating me well. 2) I would not do well on the Bachelor (not only because of this, but plenty of other reasons as well!). Jason is a dog, a low down dirty dog.

Best. Parking Ticket. Ever.

Matt and I got surprise, free tickets to the Badger game today (Thanks P & V/K!). We parked in our dad's secret, "Permit Only" parking lot, and no we don't have a permit. After a big win for the Badgers, we came back to the car to find this.

That's one ticket I'll gladly take!

Anxious

Found this quote today...

"When we reach the end of our strength, wisdom, and personal resources, we enter into the beginning of His glorious provisions."

The anxiety is turned up to high lately. Too close to home (and if I'm honest, probably too silly) to share right now, but... Prayers please.

Strugglin'

When I posted a couple weeks ago, I pretty much laid myself out there emotionally. And then didn't say any more about it. That's not to say there isn't anything more to say, I've just been trying to figure it all out in my head. And in my heart really. If I'm being honest, and I started down the honesty road already so I may as well keep going, I've got some issues. In particular, big self-worth issues.

I know I'm not the only one that struggles with this stuff, at least I hope I'm not, but not because I want anyone else to have to deal with it, just because I hope I'm not alone in it...

I so often focus on the things that I find wrong with myself, whether it's the way my eyes get all squinty when I smile making every picture of me when I'm truly happy one that I can't stand looking at myself in, of the number on the tag of my jeans, or that tears come to me rather easily. Or I focus on the things that I don't think are all that "wrong" with me, but everyone around me seems to think are. Like the whole being single thing, or that I can only take so much time around people before it wears me out and gets me kinda grumpy.

If I make myself sit down and think about some of the good things about myself, I can get there. Like the fact that I care passionately about the people I love. Or that I have a distinctive laugh that I've been told people recognize and miss when I'm not around. Or that I really am blessed beyond measure.

It just makes me sad that those aren't the things that come to mind most often, or really at all unless I make myself. How do you manage to make the good stuff be the stuff you think of first?

I've had quite a few "just post a few pictures and call it enough" blog posts lately. I think it's because I'm trying to figure out just how much of myself I want to put out there.

So Sweet

A sweet (literally!) valentine from my sweet friend Erin, who never lets me forget that she loves me. Thank you E for knowing all the crummy stuff about me, but caring despite it. And thank you for sharing all the good stuff too! I consider you a sister and thank God for you everyday.
I only wish my baking and photography skills were half as good as hers.

Spoons in the Rathskeller

A couple projects

I got this mirror a few weeks ago, as a housewarming gift. It was salvaged from a hair salon that was being remodeled. Now, I definitely think every bedroom needs a full length mirror (except on those "ugly" days where you can't find anything to wear!), and my 6' x 2' one fits the bill, but it just wasn't doing it for me as it was.

Enter dad, a few feet of chair rail molding, and a can of black paint.

And you get a much better looking mirror!

Also, note the old medicine cabinet hanging in the hallway outside my closet on the way to the bathroom. Open that mirrored door...
And you get one fun jewelry cabinet!