Monday, October 22, 2012
Photo A Day, Day 21: Calm
Got to sleep in for the first time in several weeks while staying at my friend Tiffani's house in San Diego.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Photo A Day, Day 18: Made You Smile Today
Well...this is from a different day, but it DID make me smile. (After it made me cry)
Photo A Day, Day 17: Fruit
Do fruit flies count? This pic is actually from the summer when we had an invasion of fruit flies. My friend Katie gave us the remedy: little bowls full of water and a few squirts of dish soap. 
Photo A Day, Day 15: Dinnertime
Didn't get a picture at dinner, but this is a funny dessert - it's a 'Mancake.'
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Photo A Day, Day 11: Close Up
After a wonderful day two at my new job, I made some fried rice for dinner. Yum!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Photo A Day, Day 10: Emotion
Today was the first day at my new job and it was WONDERFUL.
I should have taken a picture of myself smiling all day. Even class was great tonight, full of laughter and good discussion. Alas, I decided to sing songs from Camelot upon my return home and that meant instant tears. Why Katherine? Why?!
Note: My face looked too red and puffy so I had to crop it. I mean, I didn't want anyone thinking I was REALLY sad...I just react deeply to certain songs.
For more info on the Photo A Day Challenge visit Fat Mum Slim's website:
Photo A Day, Day Eight: Angle
I wanted I take a picture of a funny donuts sign I saw,
but I was driving.
Instead, here's a pic of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
I absolutely love this place!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Photo A Day, Day Six: I'm Thankful For
Good, wonderful friends...and a very fun party!
Clearly, it's an inside joke!
(Hint, it's an ingredient in Sangria)
Friday, October 5, 2012
Photo a Day, Day Five: Shadow
Last day at my old job. Kinda weird seeing this office so empty.
Notice the shadows on the desk. (Doesn't this count?)
Notice the shadows on the desk. (Doesn't this count?)
For more info on the Photo A Day Challenge visit Fat Mum Slim's website:
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Photo A Day, Day One: Where You Stood
Outside my apartment building after a walk in the hot 8:30am weather. I moved away from Arizona, but why does it feel like I still live there?!
For more info on the Photo A Day Challenge visit Fat Mum Slim's website:
Friday, September 28, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
A few of my favorite things...
Favorite things this week:
1. Lentil Curls from Trader Joes. The first chip is weird, almost gross. Then you think, "let me try one more." That leads to 20 more - mmm, oh so good. Only bad thing about these chips is the inevitable trip to the restroom. (They ARE made of lentils people!)2. This cool Doctor Who shirt. I love it!!! It's available here and it makes a great gift for those in your life who love the good doctor. (Ahem, Hint, hint) Another great gift would be a life-sized real David Tennant who's dying to date a mocha-coloured gal named Katherine. Just sayin'.
3. Cupcakes - mmm so good. I love cake and have a true appreciation for a succulent cupcake. My roommate brought home some gluten free-ones recently -- some delicious strawberry goodness and some disgusting chocolate monstrosities (See pic below) that were strangely reminiscent of hockey pucks. Her brothers enjoyed hiding them in funny places - like the dashboard of my car.
Friday, September 21, 2012
The Poet
So, I found this picture and it reminded me of the poet incident at LACMA few months ago. I was sitting outside studying in the perfect LA weather. I looked up every now and then to people watch and observe the kids running through the big yellow exhibit.
At some point, a woman comes up to me. She was slightly hunched, with big frizzy, grey hair adorned with a large sun hat and was carrying a few mis-matched bags. I believe she said she was 78. She certainly had the spunk of a teenager.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm studying."
"I'm a poet."
I smiled and looked down at my book, thinking should would get the hint. She continued to stand there staring at me.
"I've won a lot of poetry contests. Would you like to take a break and hear a poem?"
Now, I know I could have shut it down at this point by politely, but firmly saying "No, thank you." But here's the thing. She looked lonely and relatively harmless. I had the time, in fact, I literally had all night.
She sat down, unloading her multiple bags and items on the floor and table and proceeded to tell me how she used to be successful, how she used to perform in poetry slams and compete in competitions. Now she lived in a group home for senior citizens. She liked to get out a couple times a week and go to LACMA or other local spots to be around people again. She commented several times on my necklace - it matched the ring she had on.
She told me about her daughter who was going through a hard time - a divorce and a bad job. Her daughter would call her and complain about things and then scream at her new puppy, hurting her mom's ears. All she had to give her daughter was her time, she couldn't do anything else for her now, but listen.
A woman from the museum staff was cleaning off the tables, sending off sounds of clanging chairs. The poet woman asked the staff to be quiet, then gave me a choice of two poems. "I won an award for this one," she said before launching into a very rhythmic, almost rap-like piece about a girl who had so much potential. Then she did the other one for me. She was good. She was very good - articulate and well-versed in the nuances of performing poetry. The words were not only well crafted, they came alive.
After an encore performance of the first poem for the woman she previously asked to be quiet, she turned to me, and thanked me for stopping and listening to her. "I just miss connecting with people" she said. She hugged me and asked my name for the 4th or 5th time.
The many thoughts running through my head caused me to feel sad. What was this woman like in her youth? How did she get here? This was someone's daughter, someone's mother, perhaps someone's sister. How long was she going to last? How long would she continue to board a bus a couple times a week to "be around people?"
I gathered my things to go to another section of the museum to grab a seat for a jazz performance. Before I left, I thanked the woman and gave her my necklace. There's no way to describe the joy mingled with tears in her eyes. "I'll treasure this forever" she said.
I can't even remember what necklace it was.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm studying."
"I'm a poet."
I smiled and looked down at my book, thinking should would get the hint. She continued to stand there staring at me.
"I've won a lot of poetry contests. Would you like to take a break and hear a poem?"
Now, I know I could have shut it down at this point by politely, but firmly saying "No, thank you." But here's the thing. She looked lonely and relatively harmless. I had the time, in fact, I literally had all night.
She sat down, unloading her multiple bags and items on the floor and table and proceeded to tell me how she used to be successful, how she used to perform in poetry slams and compete in competitions. Now she lived in a group home for senior citizens. She liked to get out a couple times a week and go to LACMA or other local spots to be around people again. She commented several times on my necklace - it matched the ring she had on.
She told me about her daughter who was going through a hard time - a divorce and a bad job. Her daughter would call her and complain about things and then scream at her new puppy, hurting her mom's ears. All she had to give her daughter was her time, she couldn't do anything else for her now, but listen.
A woman from the museum staff was cleaning off the tables, sending off sounds of clanging chairs. The poet woman asked the staff to be quiet, then gave me a choice of two poems. "I won an award for this one," she said before launching into a very rhythmic, almost rap-like piece about a girl who had so much potential. Then she did the other one for me. She was good. She was very good - articulate and well-versed in the nuances of performing poetry. The words were not only well crafted, they came alive.
After an encore performance of the first poem for the woman she previously asked to be quiet, she turned to me, and thanked me for stopping and listening to her. "I just miss connecting with people" she said. She hugged me and asked my name for the 4th or 5th time.
The many thoughts running through my head caused me to feel sad. What was this woman like in her youth? How did she get here? This was someone's daughter, someone's mother, perhaps someone's sister. How long was she going to last? How long would she continue to board a bus a couple times a week to "be around people?"
I gathered my things to go to another section of the museum to grab a seat for a jazz performance. Before I left, I thanked the woman and gave her my necklace. There's no way to describe the joy mingled with tears in her eyes. "I'll treasure this forever" she said.
I can't even remember what necklace it was.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tide to Go
Had a good, GOOD laugh with my friends Jocelyn and Heidi over the "Tide to Go" mess from Martha Stewart's Apprentice. It was years ago, but it still makes me laugh!
Here's the clip from You Tube. Fast forward to 3:55 to see both teams or go right to 5:31 for the Team Primarius train wreck.
Here's the clip from You Tube. Fast forward to 3:55 to see both teams or go right to 5:31 for the Team Primarius train wreck.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Who do I thank?
Came into my office today to find this on my desk - I was elated! Who do I thank for this?!! (Pun intended)
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Name that movie...
"On this very night, ten years ago, along this very stretch of road, in a dense fog just like this, I saw the worst accident I ever seen. There was this sound, like a garbage truck dumped off the Empire State Building...and when they pulled the driver's body from the twisted, burning wreck, it looked like this..."
Stopped at the mall
I was walking in the mall recently and started to pass by an older woman standing in front of the 'Things Remembered' store and staring at the display window.
Suddenly she grabbed my arm and said, "Look at that. That is good. Remember that." I smiled, took a picture of it and thanked her for stopping me, after all, she was right. It is good.
Suddenly she grabbed my arm and said, "Look at that. That is good. Remember that." I smiled, took a picture of it and thanked her for stopping me, after all, she was right. It is good.
Da-nah-nah-nah-nah.....
INSPECTOR KATHERINE
Okay, We've Got Some Catching Up to Do...
Or, I suppose I have some catching up to do. So, in February I decided to go back to school for many reasons. I am not going to expound on those reasons here, you'll just have to trust me. I took two Political Science classes and one vocal class. In short - the classes were great and provided me with few experiences I shan't soon forget.
Having 3 rather long night classes per week on top of my busy job and all the events I attended meant I hardly had any down time. PLEASE TELL ME WHY I volunteered to run a voting site for the California Primary? Now, I did end up getting a small check for my services, but let me be clear - it was volunteer work.
The polling inspector had to have surgery, so I filled in at the last minute. Here's the quick version:
 |
| It doesn't look like much here, but believe me, it was a lot of items! |
- Arrived to pick up the materials expecting to grab some paperwork. 3 strong men load voting boots, a big black case full of supplies, an audio booth, 6 boxes, and a the ballot reader into my 2 door Honda Civic.
- I get my exercise for the week and tweak my back carrying it all into my apartment.
- Instead of having 4 people on my team I have 2.
- My good natured friend and I show up the day before the primary to set up the room. There are two precincts in the same location, but I was the "host" meaning, I got to set up all the signs.
- I get a call from one of the team members. He is sick, so I'm down to 1.
- I arrive at 6 or 7 the next morning to finish setting up and open the polls.
- After the initial craziness of rushing to get everything set on time, the day goes remarkably well and we are quite efficient with only 2 people. We were able to pack everything up and dropped it off by 9:45pm.
- It was hard work, but I LOVED seeing the democratic voting process up close.
- There are some crazy stories from the experience I can't post, but I will gladly divulge for a cup of tea.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
I PROMISE!!
Okay, I know I haven't been updating this blog, or my other one, Cultured Miss.
There are lots of excuses I could cite, but let's face it, they're excuses. As penance, I submit the embarrassing picture below.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Life is now!
This week was bittersweet. My dear Aunt Sheila was killed in a car crash by a drunk driver early Sunday morning. She was 54 and a loving mother and grandmother who will be missed. Her death, and the deaths of so many friends last year led me to make a choice this week. I could reside in sadness and begin to believe this will be another year of tragedy or, I could continue to believe this year is going to be remarkable. While it is important to take time to grieve, I've learned I cannot allow myself to focus on the negative circumstances, because in this life there will be ups and downs. That is a fact.
Monday was Dr. Martin Luther King day. To commemorate, I visited the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance along with some Creative Team members from church. This was my second time at the museum, so I split off to explore other areas. I came upon an exhibit of about 15 women of colour who changed our way of living and brought new civil liberties to all of us because of their perseverance through hard times. No matter what obstacles they faced, or tragedies they encountered, they pushed toward a goal of seeing change in our nation.
I also heard two Holocaust survivors recount their experience. Each was very different, yet there was a common theme - there are good people in this world and life is worth living. Both told of horrific moments where loved ones were murdered, and those around them were inhumanely treated. One was in Auschwitz and described extreme hunger and having to share a pot of water with spoiled vegetables and eating a piece of bread that was "half sawdust." The other spoke about running and hiding from town to town at the age of 9 and 10, not knowing where to go or what was happening. Both shared how there were people who helped them and others - a priest, a worker, a fellow labourer at camp - someone who risked their lives to preserve theirs. In the midst of such insurmountable situations, both of these survivors kept going, kept living, and didn't give up.
What I take away from this week is this reminder:
Life is precious, we are privileged to be breathing. And if we're living in a nation whose citizens are free, we have even more to be thankful for. Whether I am in turmoil or incandescently happy, I will choose to be thankful and live each day to the full. Life is not my accomplishments of 10 years ago, nor is it my goals of next year, life today, life is now!
"These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, and take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Monday was Dr. Martin Luther King day. To commemorate, I visited the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance along with some Creative Team members from church. This was my second time at the museum, so I split off to explore other areas. I came upon an exhibit of about 15 women of colour who changed our way of living and brought new civil liberties to all of us because of their perseverance through hard times. No matter what obstacles they faced, or tragedies they encountered, they pushed toward a goal of seeing change in our nation.
I also heard two Holocaust survivors recount their experience. Each was very different, yet there was a common theme - there are good people in this world and life is worth living. Both told of horrific moments where loved ones were murdered, and those around them were inhumanely treated. One was in Auschwitz and described extreme hunger and having to share a pot of water with spoiled vegetables and eating a piece of bread that was "half sawdust." The other spoke about running and hiding from town to town at the age of 9 and 10, not knowing where to go or what was happening. Both shared how there were people who helped them and others - a priest, a worker, a fellow labourer at camp - someone who risked their lives to preserve theirs. In the midst of such insurmountable situations, both of these survivors kept going, kept living, and didn't give up.
What I take away from this week is this reminder:
Life is precious, we are privileged to be breathing. And if we're living in a nation whose citizens are free, we have even more to be thankful for. Whether I am in turmoil or incandescently happy, I will choose to be thankful and live each day to the full. Life is not my accomplishments of 10 years ago, nor is it my goals of next year, life today, life is now!
"These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, and take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Christmas
Sunday morning we went to church where I was happy to sing 3 songs - Joy to the World, O Come all ye Faithful and the Christmas standard, O Holy Night. Afterwards we went home to eat again and open presents. My big gift was tires for my car (so appreciated) and David's was a new laptop! Mom enjoyed receiving lots of bath soaps and salts and Dad got cologne, T-Shirts and a pretty nice gift card.
During my time at home, I was able to sleep a bunch, enjoy the fireplace and attend quite a few Zumba classes! I also met up with some dear high school friends and saw the Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Bench that was placed at our high school, University High. Gabe was an aide to Tucson Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and was shot and killed last year on January 8th at a community event.
Right before I left we played a ridiculous game called Quelf. It forced us to be silly and zany (as if we needed help with that) and gave us lots of good laughs! It was a lovely way to end the visit home.
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