Just another day.

It's been a while

2012-01-14T11:21:00.000-06:00

Well hello old friends, it's been a while since I poked my head out, and for that I appologize. It'll probably be a while longer again even if I do plan on writing here.

Currently, my life is pretty great. There are a few unfortunate things, but the good outways the bad, and I'll take it. Since writing last, I got married, we went to Canada, I've taken a year of ASL, Adam graduated, aaand we found out we're expecting (quite possibly the greatest part), we also relocated back to the grand Tri-Cities, and it's good to be home.

Soo, I guess that's the simmary of the last 7 months I guess. My life is moving quickly, and I kind of hope it slows down soon so I don't miss much.

Rewritting a poem.

2010-11-08T09:41:00.000-06:00

In my Creative Writing: Poetry class we had the assignment of looking through a punch of literary journals and finding two poems we liked. After we found these two poems, we had to write a poem similar to one of the ones we had found, and we had to write it in the voice of the original author. Check it out:

Kaleidoscope
By Maria Stanton

She used to think it would be fun to be a piece of colored glass at the end of a child’s kaleidoscope, a tiny part of a bright pattern that shifted every time the amazed kid turned the handle and looked through the eyepiece, but now that she’s in here, a gleaming glass bead, she’s not so sure. Whee! Here they go again! The little beads shake and shimmer against the mirrors, and another gorgeous symmetrical design appears, but she’s beginning to have trouble telling herself apart from the reflections of herself. Is she really up here or down there? Of course it doesn’t matter, she tells herself, it’s the overall impression that counts. …and now she’s spinning again, bumping against other glass beads, part of a new arrangement, and she tells herself she should be proud to be a representative of ephemeral beauty. But why is the kid shaking the kaleidoscope like that? Now he’s banging it against the wall. One of the mirrors breaks. The glass beads spill out, and she rolls under the bed next to a dusty M & M.

(Found on Page 100 of the Denver Quarterly Vol. 42 Num. 2 2008)

First
By Mark Halliday

For me it was Robin Hentz:
In fourth grade and fifth grade she made me tense.

Her beauty was inexplicable and utterly cogent
Like talent;
She reminded me of Prince Valiant.

Robin was quick and dark and small.
On our field trip to the planetarium, to be beside her
And have her see me
Was the thing in the universe that mattered at all.

I don’t know if she moved away
Before I moved away (from Raleigh, NC),
Somehow I don’t recall;
But each of us needs a first discovery
Of the kind of love into which you fall—
Admiration madding and immense—
And for me, it was Robin Hentze.

(Found on pg. 18 of Never Before: An anthology Edited by Laure-Anne Bosselaar)

-----My poem written as Maria Stanton----

Paper Airplane

The hands that created me folded me with care, for distance, speed, and tricks. I dance around the room, elegantly without fault flying passed the cat, hoping it doesn’t jump at me. Dodging the bookshelf, I know that I’m lucky this time. The ceiling fans gusts give me more power, making me soar down the hallway, passed photos of the boy who created me. Here I go, for one last loop making it as fancy as they come. Oh no! He forgot to open his door, my body smashes against my nose, and here I lay, crumpled, wrinkled and used.

Creative Writing Class

2010-09-02T15:29:00.003-05:00

For my Creative Writing: Poetry course we had to write a poem with these instructions:

Picture in your head something that you've experienced/a memory that you've had. The examples were camping and such. You were encouraged to elaborate or embellish.
Here were the prompts:

Title: Fill in the blanks "The _______ of ________"

1st sentence: Looking down from above-descriptive
2nd: Action sentence- Something moves.
3rd: What are things people brought with them? Elaborate.
4th: Quote something someone said.
5th: More scenes-Include images, and things that are happening that you're not aware of.
6th: Write a sentence starting with "All along"
7th: Write two sentence fragments.
8th: Write a desire- Bonus points if you begin the sentence with "let me".

So... Here is what I came up with:

The End of Coming as You Are
by KaTrina Gayken

The city looked awfully busy that day.
Cars flying by going west and crawling headed east.
Students carried book bags and had a sort of stench that high school boys could never leave at home.
Driving by, someone was attempting to sing along with the radio "I'm so happy 'cause today I found my friends, they're in my head."
Eventually we pass the scene, a car overturned with sirens blaring and people rushing around trying to account for everyone.
All along, as we traveled to Seattle, the boys were only in it to get out of class.
A girl fell. Smelled stench. Gagged.
"Let me buy you some soap" she thought.

So...That's what I wrote. At first I wasn't a big fan but when the professor read it out loud, it just sounded better coming out of someone else's mouth. He called it "strange" and "provocative" I enjoyed it. When he reads peoples works, he doesn't read their names and after class people were talking about it and about how much they liked it! One person even picked up on a few things I hid in the poem!!! It was so exciting to have someone pick up on the fun things I put in the poem.

Want to know what it was that I put in the poem? Nirvana references. Six of them to be precise.

Hope every one's having a great day!

Stupidness....

2010-09-02T15:11:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had one of those times where you and a friend got in a sort of a ... "tiff"? and for some stupid reason haven't talked since. Where you and a friend had a sort of...Disagreement? Not even really a disagreement, it's just that one was a little upset over something the other thought was stupid. Now, both of you are too hard headed to really talk to each other. Why would you throw away a friendship for something so stupid?! Ugh. Frustrations.

Prayers.

2009-11-21T18:57:00.003-06:00

Today has been a very eventful day, both good and bad. For now, I'll post about the bad... Later, I'll post about the good, but I believe the bad is much more important at this time.

I was at the playoff game for our football team when I received a call from a very upset soon-to-be-sister-in-law... Adam's cousin passed in a car accident last night. To make it worse, their mom and older sister are currently driving back from Colorado where they were attending a funeral for their great aunt who died because of cancer a little over a week ago.... His cousin died in Asheville North Carolina, his girlfriend survived, and was released from the hospital this afternoon. Adam had two cousins living there, and the other is on a plane on his way home to be with his family.

...I feel like this post is scatter-brained at this moment... But my mind is going a million miles an hour.

Because Adam's mom and sister aren't here to help support Adam and his younger sister, a lot of that has been put on myself, Mick (Adam's step-dad), and Jake (Adam's older sisters husband)... We have to be strong and support the family, while two of the major supporters are gone. Adam's eldest aunt is on her way from Colorado with his sister and mom, and she will also help be a strong support team.
At this time, I'm finishing making two casseroles to bring to the family, and we brought them KFC earlier... I need to make sure they eat, and take care of themselves. I just feel so helpless. I need prayers. I need prayers to know the words to say to comfort them, and prayers for strength so I can help support them. Please pray for the family too. They need it so much right now, everyone is so confused and hurt.

...his cousin was 29... why do these things happen?! ..I'm just so angry right now and I don't know how to react to it.

Adam and his sister are currently sleeping. They need it. Soon I'll wake them to bring food to their Aunt's house.

...Parents shouldn't have to bury their children....

Applebee's is giving away free meals

2009-11-11T09:02:00.001-06:00

to Veterans and current members of the military; look here for the meals you can choose from and the list of identification that will be accepted:

http://applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx

And she vanished...

2009-10-06T19:16:00.001-05:00

I'll be disappearing for a while.

Sorry.

Awesomeness...

2009-09-01T23:05:00.001-05:00

My mom has posted a new blog, and I'm so proud of her I thought you should have a chance to be proud of her too.

First day back to school.....

2009-08-31T07:33:00.000-05:00

Today I'm going to my first day of class, and of course, I'm ready too early...It happens every time lol.

Happy birthday to....

2009-08-01T00:58:00.001-05:00

ME!!! :)

Another great shift...

2009-07-22T23:33:00.002-05:00

So today I went to work... This is my 3rd of 14 shifts in 17 days...Anyway, thats not the point..

I'm becoming a trainer so I had a girl following me around my shift just to kind of get the feeling for how everything works. Anyway, I was in the back and noticed a ticket that was about ready to come up so I went through and explained it to her, then I noticed that the table for a couple of old ladies that come in together wasn't rang in right (they ALWAYS get the same thing), and so i told the cook that the entree needed to be split onto two different plates, but the cook said it wasn't rang in that way, so he's not going to do it because its not my table so i dont know what im talking about, so the guy that had the table came into the back and i told him and he didn't really seem to care, so I said whatever, and helped him bring stuff out to the table.

When we got there the ladies said "oh, they normally split this up for us in the back" and I MAY have had a slight smirk on my face, but I wasn't in front of them and I wasn't talking to them, so I had no idea if I did it, or if I did that they had noticed, it was more just me thinking in my head that I was right and they should have listened to me. Anyway, apparently as I was walking away they said something to their server saying that I was laughing at them having a problem with their food, and that when they were finished eating they wanted to talk to the manager on duty. Well I was thoroughly embarassed, especially because I was being followed around by a new girl, and she had to experience all of this, and also because i had another table on the opposite side, so they heard the entire thing! So that too was embarassing!

I went up to the manager on duty and told him what was going on, so he went over and talked to the table, and as soon as I walked out to check on my table they point at me and say "that one!", so I ignored them and continued talking to my table and walked away like I was oblivious to everything. I walked past their table to another one of my tables and still pretended to know nothing, and they looked at me and glared and then had a smile like they had just accomplished something they were really proud of so I smiled back. But the story gets better!!

Apparently my table talked to the manager after the old cat ladies had left and they told my manager that they were talking about how they know how to get free food everywhere they go even when things are right that they're always going to complain about things so they can get free stuff. But my manager was cool with everything and just told me to ignore them that they were just dumb old hags, and that they were.

Too bad they ruined my entire night though.

A new prayer to say before going to work....

2009-07-19T11:55:00.003-05:00

"God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food, by His hands, we are fed, but please give your server their daily bread...and by that we mean the suggested 18-20% please."

Dear Blogging world,

2009-07-08T00:17:00.002-05:00

I'm tired of working, can I quit yet...???

It wouldn't be so bad if my days off were consecutive and that it was only 1 shift a day for 5 days, but nooo it's Mon, Tues, Thurs, Friday from 4pm-11pm and then Saturday at 10:30am-2pm and then 5pm-12am.

I don't know how much more I can go with just having Wednesday and Sundays off anymore. It's icky.

Don't be bored this summer....

2009-07-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

Volunteer!

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T17:44:00.000-05:00

He may have been a little strange, but you can't deny that he was a musical genius.

Realburgers for Real Heroes

2009-06-23T01:00:00.002-05:00

My place of work is doing "Realburgers for Real Heroes", and yes, I know I just gave away where I worked, but I don't care because I don't do many "I hate my job" posts anymore. But the reason I am talking about my job is because of the promotion we're doing.

If you go on to this website you can nominate whoever your hero is, and they're eligible for something like $1,000 drawn every week. To promote this we have a cover that fits on the magnet of our name tag, and it says "Realburgers for Real Heroes! My Hero:" and you fill in the blank, well....Mine says "Brad Gayken, my dad." I know it's a little cheesy but it's true!

I got a little flack about it at work on Saturday...during my 13.5 hour shift... So I just want to set the record straight. No, I didn't put that my dad was my hero because of Father's Day that was Sunday, I've been wearing this name tag slip for over a month, and I didn't even realize Father's Day was coming up when I was writing his name on my tag. Would you like to know why my daddy is my hero? Here's why...

Dear Dad,

You're my hero in so many different ways, and not just because you kept me safe when I was younger, and raised me, but because you did it with pride, and a sense of accomplishment. You're my hero because you've always been there for me, whenever I needed you to be. When it was just the two of us, I remember you making me breakfast in the mornings, and watching Dinosaurs with me at night, taping every episode of Rugrats so I would have something to watch when I didn't want to go out side and play with the two puppies you got me, Bart and Lisa, or even when you saved me from the big giant rooster that attacked me because I went to swing on my swingset. How about when we used to throw Bud, our cat, into our pond and call him back over and over and over again... Or when you let me shoot the Bebe gun into the pond at the Koi Fish...It doesn't matter that I was 3 or 4 years old, we had fun, and thats all that matters. You're my hero because you took so much pride in having a daughter, that you put me in all of your Christmas commercials at work. You're my hero because when I was a teenager and lied to you about going to a school basketball game, and instead met up with boys, you made them run all the way home, even though we didn't follow them, and on top of that, I'm still alive to talk about it. You're my hero because even when you thought that Amy and I set my bedroom on fire you still didn't kill me again. You're my hero because you took other peoples children into your home when they were unwanted in their own home... You're my hero because even though it was a 20 minuit drive to youth group, and you didn't attend church, that you still made sure that my friends and I got there, even in the cold winter, we were still there. You're my hero, because even if it may have taken me asking you to go to church with me when I was very young, eventually you came around, and are now a very active member of the church. You're my hero because you got baptized, and I love the fact that I got to be a part of it. You're my hero because every time I get off that plane to come home, you're there waiting for me, and I love that you're the first face that I recognize. Daddy, I love you so very very much, no matter what you're always there for me and I appreciate that more than you could ever imagine. Thank you for everything.

Love,

KaTrina

....And that is my hero.

RIP Denny....

2009-06-21T00:35:00.000-05:00

For those of you who remembered Denny, Anita, and Karen in your prayers:

Denny passed away this morning about 1:00 A.M. As difficult it is for his loved ones, they know he went to be with our Lord, and it was a merciful release as there was no improvement after the chemo and radiation treatments.

I guess Jesus receives the best Father's day gifts of all....his children rejoining him...

Update on Denny:

2009-06-13T14:53:00.001-05:00

Please pray for my family and his at this time... Here is the e-mail I just recieved from my grandma.

Hello everyone:

Dad and I spoke with Karen this morning. Denny had been in the hospital all week but is home and they brought in Hospice last evening. One doctor said a week; another said 1-3 months. He is not able to eat, however, and they are not feeding him through an IV. He would have to be in the hospital or a nursing home to do that, and his wishes are to die with dignity at home.

Something I did not know is that there is very little or no pain with brain cancer. He is not on any meds for pain and is, in fact, pain free.

When I called Karen, I was just praying that Anita would not answer the phone. What can you say at a time like this? I would have just wound up crying and she certainly doesn't need that. If anyone has a need/right to cry, it is Anita.

Karen is in school three nights a week, six hours each night, plus she is now taking the reins of her new job. Between school, a new job, and Denny's circumstances, they are both just about exhausted. She said a lady at church asked her Denny is doing and she looked at her and said: "He's got brain cancer," (which the lady knew, of course) and turned around and walked away. Later, she found her and apologized -- but that will tell you how useless words are and how tired she is.

If any of you would like to send her a few lines by e-mail, send it to khickman@pasadenaisd.org. You know she would ordinarily be delighted to hear from any one (or all of you), but I've written all of the above so that you may know phone calls are not the order of the day at this time. I'm sure she'd welcome a note and knowing that you are praying for all of them.

Be good to your loved ones. We have no promise of tomorrow -- only the promise of a life with Christ when we get promoted out of here.

Thank you,
KaTrina

I'm just going to say this one thing....

2009-06-12T00:20:00.000-05:00

If you're going to skip out on your bill when you're one of my tables, make sure I can't find you on Facebook.

Summer travels.

2009-06-07T13:32:00.000-05:00

Hello friends and family!!

Its that time of year again, the time where I COME TO VISIT! Woohoo! I'm super excited because I miss all of you!! I'll be in town from August 11th-20th, and I'd love to see you! I'll be at a wedding the 16th, so thats the only day that is really marked as unavailable, all of the rest of them, let me know when you're available, I'll probably try to have a small get together that way it's easier for me to see everyone.

I can't wait to see all of you! Have a great day!

Love,
KaTrina

Happy birthday to....

2009-06-06T12:04:00.000-05:00

Susan!!

Happy birthday! I hope you have a WONDERFUL day!

You can find susan here.

[]D[][]\/[][]D...lol

2009-05-24T02:09:00.000-05:00

I have a friend who is posting some of his work on here and would like to have your opinion on it. Go read, go read! He hopes to be published some day, and your honest opinion is welcome.

Car Wreck.

2009-05-17T16:28:00.002-05:00

At 2:17pm today I was in a car accident.

A lady didn't stop completely at a stop sign, and then continued across the street. I saw what she was doing, and tried to swerve around her by speeding up a little because I didn't have enough time to stop. Unfortunately, she didn't see me and hit me in the back drivers side right at my gas tank. It shut my car off completely, spun me almost completely around, and smashed the front of her car.

...If I didn't speed up and try to swerve around her, I'd be much worse off. Luckily I only have whiplash, and a headache. They said if I didn't do what I did, she would have hit me in the drivers side door, and because of the impact, more likely than not I would have rolled my Jeep.

I was driving down a busy street, and miraculously no one else was driving on it at the time so no one else was involved in the accident. It was crazy.

Directly after the wreck, I didn't feel anything and was okay a few hours afterward I had the worst headache I've ever had, and my back and neck began to hurt. I went to the hospital and they helped me out, they said I had a severe case of whiplash, and gave me medicine, and a shot in the tookis that hurt really bad lol.

Everyone involved in the accident is okay, and everything will be taken care of through insurance companies.

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-10T12:55:00.004-05:00

I went to Indiana to go meet my new baby sister, and while we were there, since all eleven of my moms children were finally together at the same time, we took a picture. It helps that my step dad is a photographer. He even has his own business, and there are lots of fun pictures there.

Back row (Left to Right): Amanda Michelle (20), Brandon Michael (16), Lauren Nicole (8), Allison Paige (10). Middle Row (L to R): Rebekah Ann (2), KaTrina Marie (21), Abigail Grace (3), Caitlin Elizabeth (19). Bottom Row (L to R): Sarah Catherine (6), Aaron Jacob (5), Miriam Claire (2 weeks).

In age order it is: KaTrina, Amanda, Caitlin, Brandon, Allison, Lauren, Sarah, Aaron, Abby, Rebekah, Miriam

You're not very competent are you?

2009-05-05T14:10:00.003-05:00

**Warning, I did not censor myself, nor did I use spell check.**

Look, I'm sorry that you had an incompetent server the last time you were at our fine eating establishment, but DO NOT take it out on the next server you have. It's not my fault that your appetizer came out with your meal the last time you came in, it's not my fault your steak wasn't cooked correctly the last time you came in, it's not my fault that your server was a complete nit-wit the LAST TIME YOU CAME IN, so DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON ME!

Ugh...

I had a table full of ladies that came in, and everything was fine at first, they were fun, I got their drinks, and then I went to take their orders...and thats when everything went wrong. They ordered their appetizer, and said they would like to make sure it came out before their meal because LAST TIME it came out with their meal, so I reassured them that it wasn't going to happen this time. Also, they wanted to make sure their steaks had pink in them, so I asked if they would prefer it more medium or medium rare? and she said medium rare, so that is the way the steaks were prepared. One of them wanted a mexican chicken dish, and wanted her potatoes with bacon, cheese and sour cream, and I let her know that it comes with a mexican rice, but if she would rather have mashed poatotoes, that that is no problem, and I can get that fixed, but adding the bacon, cheese and sour cream would be an extra 99 cents. Of course, I get an eyeroll, but she guess's that'll do.

5 mins. pass..."Wheres our appetizers?", they should be comming out in a few mins. (insert dramatic sigh of obvious displeasure here) (obv. she doesn't know that they generally take 7 mins.). The appetizers come out and WHAT?! THE FOODS NOT OUT AT THE SAME TIME!?...You don't say. You mean I have sense?! ...Not according to them.. As I walk past another table to make sure they're doing okay I hear "None of the employees here are very smart." I was about to say "BITCH PLEASE! None of us are very smart?! REALLY?! Thats why everythings coming out JUST THE WAY YOU WANTED IT TO?! ...SHUT THE FUCK UP WOMAN AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, I DONT NEED YOU HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 80% of the employees here are IN COLLEGE, What more do you want from us?!?! Did you even go to school?! Is that where you learned these FINE manners?"

... They were so rude that I was almost in tears because I was so angry, and it takes a lot to get to me. I think the big reason that I was so upset is because they were being so rude, and so inconciderate, that they just didn't care about how the other person might feel. All 5 ladies were just so rude, and constantly muttering things under their breath as I was walking by, and they were GROWN WOMEN! ...

...Ugh.

Sincerely,

Mad Waitress
(Litterally mad this time, not just crazy.)

RIP Ms. Marlow...

2009-05-02T18:42:00.002-05:00

Sorry it's been so long since i've posted. I'm moved into my new place, but unfortunatly we're only a little over 1/2 way unpacked.

...Thursday I recieved a text from my sister when I was finishing the last few bits of cleaning out my old apartment. When I received it, my heart shattered immediately. A teacher, not just any teacher, an amazing teacher from River View High School passed away, and she found out while she was at school because they read a letter informing the students. I don't really know what to say about it other than she was one of the most amazing teachers I had. She was the kind of teacher, that in a small school, genuinly cared about everyone, unlike a lot of the teachers that only seem to care about the jocks. Ms. Marlow had her door open to everyone any time they ever needed it.

...Anyway. Uh, maybe I'll be okay to talk about it more later. For now, if you could please keep my sister, and all current and past students in your prayers that would be great.

Here are the articles from the Tri-City Herald, read the comments some students left, I'm sure you can get a feel for how she was percieved.

Thursday: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1406/story/562206.html
Friday: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1406/story/562874.html
Saturday: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/564434.html

I have a new baby sister

2009-04-24T13:35:00.004-05:00

Her name is Mariam Claire, but I'm going to call her M.C. Hammer.

Welcome to the world Ms. Hammer.

Love,
Your oldest and bestest, soon to be your most favoritest sister ever,
KaTrina.

May I have a drum roll please???????

2009-04-23T22:39:00.003-05:00

AND THE WINNER IS...........................................

suzansayz

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Let me know when you get your surprise gift so I can announce to everyone what you got! :)
(I already have your address ;) I'll mail it tomorrow!)

Disclaimer: I didn't draw the name -- Adam did, and he doesn't really know any of you so it was fair lol.

My first GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-15T07:23:00.003-05:00

Okay, so after thinking long and hard about what my first give away should be, I finally figured it out.

...BUT! It's a secret. It's something really really awesome and I'll post about it after I announce the winner.

Here's the catch(es):

1.) Put this in an entry on your blog so more people can have a chance!
2.) How do you pronounce the word: Nuclear
3.) What do you call the packages of noodles all crinkled together with a seasoning packet?
4.) How do you pronounce Oregon?
5.) How do you pronounce Washington?
6.) When someone says they're from "Washington" are they from the East or West Coast?
7.) How do you pronounce the word: Coupon
8.) How do you pronounce the word: Library

(When responding to these please spell them like you pronounce them. For instance, my name, KaTrina would be spelled something along the lines of Kuh-Tree-Na.)

Basically the only rule is participate in the above and you'll automatically be entered in the win! :) (All entries must be received by Wednesday the 22nd at midnight (central time) -- winner will be announced by Thursday at midnight (central time).)

Have a great day! Pass it on!

God works in amazing ways

2009-04-13T19:33:00.001-05:00

I received this e-mail from my grandma about our family friend (my Aunts dad), and I thought I should share it with you since I'd been sharing so much, that you deserve to know when God does something amazing!!

"Hi All:

Just got home from a week-end in Pasadena with Karen, her mom and stepdad, Anita and Denny.
There was a lot of laughter but it was also emotionally laden.

I went to church with Karen on Sunday morning and my tent was enlarged. Anita and Denny attended their old church. We had a lot of their families and a few friends come for lunch in the afternoon.

Denny and Anita flew into Houston last Tuesday night. They had put their house up for sale (in Washington state) the Friday before. Monday morning, a young woman rang their doorbell and said she would like to see the house; she and her husband wanted to buy it. Anita explained that they were packing to leave, so she called her husband to come over right then. After walking through it, they bought the house -- and paid full price! About twenty friends from their church were there a couple of days later to pack everything. On Friday, a friend of Karen's flew from Houston to Washington and is on his way back to Texas, driving a U-Haul truck with all of their belongings. (Anita had bought a house in San Antonio last November. Denny was planning to retire soon and they were moving back to Texas.) Karen's best friend from college lives near their new house in San Antonio and is organizing a group to come and unpack and organize the house for them.

But there's more. They had not expected to arrive in Houston until mid-April, but they got a call from the cancer specialist's office saying Denny could be seen earlier if they could come to Houston right away.
They have been in for the initial consultation and he goes for an MRI tonight. Tomorrow they are scheduled to see a radiation oncologist and expect that he will start radiation and chemo treatments soon thereafter. They do not hold out hope for a cure. Median survival time is 14 months. However, there were some good stories (one survivor of 18 years), and some not so good.

To say it has been a physical, emotional and spiritual whirlwind is putting it mildly, and the journey has just begun. However, everyone there for lunch yesterday was in agreement and awed by the hand of God, which has so surely and lovingly opened doors and smoothed their path.

Denny maintains a loving calm spirit, thanks everyone for everything, and continues to crack jokes. It is perhaps hardest for Anita, as she tries to remain calm and strong for Denny, knowing that she will probably lose him.

This has been a rather long message but I but I feel as though I've been to the front lines, watched the battle, and heard a real witness about how good our God is. Your prayers for them are greatly appreciated.

"The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another." Genesis 31:49

Love, Joyce"

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers -- this is going to be an amazing journey.

An interview with a dead man

2009-04-12T18:10:00.001-05:00

For my history paper I had to interview some on that was dead from American history...Here is the result:

KaTrina Gayken
American Historical Survey
April 10, 2009
Jack Ruby

A Day with Jack Ruby

On Wednesday February 11, 2009 I was headed to my American Historical Survey class I was taking the short route from Garrett Strong to Wells Hall and right before I was crossing the street to Wells Hall, I received a text message; I naturally responded to the text message, not realizing that I was about to step foot on the cross walk right in front of a huge truck. The aforementioned huge truck ran right into me at about 10 miles per hour, and while that may seem very fast when you are driving, when getting hit by a car, as I can attest to, it hurts pretty bad, not that I remember much of it anyway. The next thing I knew I was in the hospital attached to a bunch of wires. Now the fact that I woke up in the hospital is rather interesting, but not nearly as interesting as the dreams that I had while I was unconscious.
While I was out cold, I had a dream that I had met a man formerly known as; Jacob Rubenstein who had changed his name to Jack Leon Ruby and was more commonly known as Jack Ruby. While I am pretty sure that Jack Ruby was not just a random person my brain chose while I was knocked out, I figure it is probably because I have heard stories about him since my great grandfather, Fred Hickman, and a few of his friends started the Texas Highway Patrol back in 1935, and Ruby was well known around the department, according to my family and stories my grandfather had told. The fact that he was well known around the Dallas Police Department is even recorded from in a trial from a testimony of Jack Ruby’s brother, Earl. In the testimony, there were questions about why it was so easy for Jack Ruby to go into the jail and shoot Lee Harvey Oswald, to which Earl Ruby replied, “Some question has been brought up on several occasions why was it, or why did it seem so easy for Jack to enter the jail, why was he so friendly with so many policemen? Well, I would like to relate an incident, and I think it is in the Warren Commission. At one time, two officers of the Dallas police force were being attacked by several hoodlums. Jack went to the aid of the policemen and helped them subdue these hoodlums. And in that fight, one of the hoodlums actually bit off part of one of Jack's fingers, and a statement from one of the officers involved later on said that Jack actually fought like a tiger to help them. Those were his words. And I would think from an incident of this that this is why or how Jack developed such a friendly relationship with the Dallas police force. That's about all I have to say, Mr. Chairman.”¹
When I was in my dream, I was sitting across the table from Mr. Ruby, and I took the time to interview him, so his side of the story could be heard. This is what we got accomplished:
KaTrina: Mr. Ruby, it is so nice to meet you. I understand that you would like to get your side of the story across. Do you feel you have been misunderstood?
Jack Ruby: First, KaTrina, go ahead and refer to me as Jack, and secondly, yes, I do feel as if I was misunderstood. When I acted in killing Oswald, it was a crime out of passion. You see, I’ve always been very fond of presidents, past and present, but for some reason I really connected with Mr. Kennedy, and had a great deal of respect for him. All I wanted to do was just be a hero, but it looks like I just fouled things up good.²
KaTrina: Mr. Ruby, I mean… Jack, I am sorry. Where did you grow up?
Jack: Well, I was born in Chicago and lived there most of my life before moving to Dallas.
KaTrina: And how was home life?
Jack: What do you mean by home life?
KaTrina: Were you religious? Did you get along with your parents? Siblings? Where did you land in the placement of all of your siblings? Were you the oldest? Youngest? Middle child?
Jack: I was raised as an Orthodox Jew, and a lot of people made fun of me for this, it caused me to get into a lot of trouble, I was constantly fighting with kids who made fun of my religion.³ My parents were divorced when I was ten years old, but I do not care much about the bastard of a father my mother was married to. He constantly would abuse my mother. I believe that all of his abuses lead my mom to be a little disturbed. ⁴ Well, it probably also did not help that my mom had eight children, myself being number five, and her having to raise us all by herself. We were eventually taken away by social services. ⁵
KaTrina: How did the fact that social services took you away from your family affect you? Or rather, how do you believe it affected you?
Jack: Well, considering that after I was released from the foster home, I lived on the streets, sometimes being called the neighborhood tough guy, not that I was not. I had a big temper, and I was not someone you wanted to mess with. People would pick on or annoy my sisters, and I would show them who was boss. The same thing happened whenever someone made a snide remark about my being Jewish.⁶
KaTrina: Did you ever learn to control your temper, or did that always play a part in your life?
Jack: No, eventually I learned to control my anger, and I felt really bad for being so hard on people. Well, at least while I was in Chicago. Once I moved to Dallas, that was a whole different story, and a different issue.
KaTrina: We will get back to the anger issues in Dallas in a bit, for now I am still curious about your life growing up in Chicago. You said you were taken away and put in foster care. When you were released from foster care you didn’t go back home did you?
Jack: No, there was no way you could get me to go back there.
KaTrina: Well, if you didn’t go back home, how did you afford to live, or stay afloat by yourself?
Jack: When I was much younger I would earn money by selling racing tip sheets, and with Earl, my brother, I would pawn off stuff that people needed, like medicinal snake oils, costume jewelry, vitamins, razor blades, you know, just common stuff we could get anywhere but still get quite a bit of money from. ⁷ I guess you could say I was a little street wise.
KaTrina: So, saying you were street wise, does this mean you stole a lot, or were involved in illegal activities?
Jack: Who are you getting your information from?
KaTrina: What information? I am just trying to help you get your side of the story out to the public. I figured by asking these questions, it might help people understand the real you.
Jack: Fine, but this is strictly off the records. I was a friend of Al Capone, he called me Sparky. I would just run errands for Mr. Capone, nothing too bad. ⁸
KaTrina: How many people were there running errands with you?
Jack: There were twelve of us. My friend Barney was also there with me helping get some of Mr. Capone’s work done.
KaTrina: How long did you work there?
Jack: Not too long. I was not about to try and get into the organize crime ring, what kind of moron do you take me for?
KaTrina: I do not think you are a moron, just a simply question is all. Now, did you not go to the West Coast for a while and try to start a union?
Jack: Yeah, but that did not work out too well. I ended up going back to Chicago; I preferred the familiarity of it all over there. The mob came in and took over that union. Actually, I was a friend of the union’s secretary, Leon Cooke. The story of Leon is a tough one for me though.⁹
KaTrina: Why is that?
Jack: Well, Leon was a good friend of me, but the mob made me kill him. You could call it my first hired assassination if you wanted to. I felt horrible about it, but I knew it was either him or me.¹⁰ I went and had my middle named changed to Leon, in his honor.
KaTrina: That was very thoughtful of you. Why was it that you moved to Texas after moving back to Chicago?
Jack: There were a lot of people making big money off of night clubs. I knew that if I just had a chance, I would be able to do the same. I thought that it would give me success and notoriety. That I would finally get the recognition I deserved. ¹¹
KaTrina: But why did you choose Dallas?
Jack: I loved Dallas so much, I would boast to people what a wonderful city this is…I used to boast about the skyline, about our master plan. I just know Dallas was going to be the most beautiful city in the world. This is the city that if you wanted to sell anything at all, you could walk into a millionaire’s office and they would listen to you.¹²
KaTrina: Where do you think you went wrong? I know that you eventually went bankrupt.
Jack: Not too sure. It could be that I was a little tough on people. There were a lot of times where I would get really angry at people that would not treat others with proper respect, or would just mouth off, and I would throw them down the stairs straight into the polices arms.¹³
KaTrina: Can you tell me the stories of some of the issues you would have?
Jack: Sure, that’s easy. There are a few that specifically stick out in my mind. Once, when some smart aleck came to the door and tried to give me a hard time, and I tried to be very pleasant to him, and he was becoming all the more belligerent and I finally had to hit him and knocked some of his teeth out. ¹⁴ One night a fellow got into a hassle with our comedian Wally Weston, and Wally threw a punch at him, and the fellow said some remark about Wally to go to Russia. Anyway, I picked him up and bodily threw him down the stairs. ¹⁵ One evening some fellow had broken a beer bottle over this man’s head and it just made me sick, and I hit this other fellow with my pistol and he went down. They both pleaded with me that they would never come back if I would just let them go.¹⁶
KaTrina: So, you say that you hit them with a gun… Did you often carry a gun?
Jack: Well, some drunk tried to throw a heavy wooden chair at me. I decided in time to save my life and I started to hit him and beat him up—close to death. I then realized how important it was for me to always have my pistol on me if I wanted to stay alive.¹⁷ I also carried a lot of money on me. I was going to buy a safe, but they were too expensive, around three or four thousand dollars. And while, I knew I could afford it, I was not going to put out that kind of money for a safe, so I carried around about twenty-five hundred to three-thousand dollars.¹⁸
KaTrina: What kind of gun was it that you were carrying?
Jack: It was a Colt Cobra. It was the same kind of gun that a friend of mine carried. His name was Joe Cody; he was a Policeman in Dallas.¹⁹
KaTrina: Did you often make friends with the Dallas Police Department?
Jack: Well, they do refer to me as a stickler for the law. I always thought of myself as a kind of a cop. The Justice of the Peace even gave me a card saying I was an honorary Deputy Justice of the Peace. I always respected and treated the Dallas Police Department well. Anytime they came into one of my clubs there was always plenty of liquor, and the girls paid special attention to them.²⁰
KaTrina: Have you always had a sort of fascination with people in positions of power, i.e., the police, the president, etc?
Jack: Oh yes. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, I was always defending those in power. I actually got into a few physical fights over the deaths of Roosevelt and Eisenhower. Once John F. Kennedy came into office, I knew he was going to do amazing things for this country and I felt he deserved to be honored more than any other president.²¹ The United States put a great Jewish man in office.
KaTrina: Is this why you killed Lee Harvey Oswald?
Jack: Saturday morning before I left the house, I watched the Television and they had a prayer service for the President. And Rabbi Silverman was speaking [about] how the President was so courageous and fearless and fought every adversary—and to have someone shoot him from behind, this broke what little pieces were left of my heart.²² I had been thinking about killing that lousy Commie since that Friday night. In fact, I attempted to get a shot off Saturday night in the hall of Justice, but the Police were blocking me. I was afraid of hitting one of them. ²³ I stalked Oswald all weekend, and my first opportunity for a clear shot happened when I had least expected it.²⁴ It was a little after 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, I was driving past the City Police station on my way to the Western Union Office, which was just one block east of the station. When I passed the station, I looked down the ramp to my right and saw a lot of people down in the basement. So when I finished with Western Union, I walked west down the ramp just out of curiosity. Because I practically lived at the police station, and had been walking up and down that ramp so often each day, no one really thought anything of it, little did they know the opportunity of my lifetime was about to present itself. The ironic part is this—hadn’t I made an illegal turn behind the bus to the parking long—had I gone the way I was supposed to go, straight down Main street, I would have never met this fate. Because the difference in meeting this fate was 30 seconds one way or the other…So I walked down the ramp. I noticed a police squad car at the head of the ramp and an officer leaning over talking to him with his back to me. All I did was walk down there—down to the bottom of the ramp, and that’s when the incident happened, at the bottom of the ramp.²⁵
KaTrina: What incident are you talking about? When you shot Oswald?
Jack: Well, yes. I came out and all of a sudden, I saw his defiant, cursing, vicious, communist expression on his face. I can’t convey what impression he gave me. I just lost my senses. I yelled ‘You rat, sonofabitch! You shot the President!’ and before I knew it, I shot that rotten Commie.²⁶
KaTrina: Did you get a chance to run away or shoot him a second time?
Jack: No, before I knew it I was wrestled to the ground and taken to a holding room. All I remember saying at that point was ‘I hope I killed the sonofabitch, I hope I killed the sonofabitch!’ Then Detective Archer told me that he thought I may have killed him. I remember being angry because I had intended to shoot him three times.²⁷
KaTrina: Were you happy when you found out your gun shot had caused a wound that made him die?
Jack: Oh yes. I knew that justice had finally been served.
KaTrina: Well, Jack is there anything else you’d like to say or are you happy with how you were able to convey your side of the story?
Jack: I would like everyone to realize that I did it for Jackie and the kids. That is all.²⁸
KaTrina: Mr. Ruby, I thank you for your time.
Jack: Thank you, KaTrina.

End Notes

¹ http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/russ/jfkinfo2/jfk4/hscaearl.htm
² Gus Russo, Live By the Sword; The Secret War against Castro and the Death of JFK (Baltimore: Bancroft Press, 1998), 491.
³ Ibid., 492.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Ibid., 493.
⁹ Ibid.
¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Ibid.
¹² Ibid.
¹³ Ibid., 494.
¹⁴ Ibid.
¹⁵ Ibid.
¹⁶ Ibid.
¹⁷ Ibid., 495.
¹⁸ Ibid.
¹⁹ Ibid.
²⁰ Ibid.
²¹ Ibid.
²² Ibid., 497.
²³ Ibid.
²⁴David Kaiser, The Road to Dallas; The Assassination of John F. Kennedy (Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2008), 362.
²⁵Gus Russo, Live By the Sword; The Secret War Against Castro and the Death of JFK (Baltimore: Bancroft Press, 1998), 497.
²⁵ Ibid.
²⁶Gerald Posner, Case Closed; Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK (New York: Random House, Inc., 1993), 396-397.
²⁷Melvin M. Belli and Maurice C. Carroll, Dallas Justice; The Real Story of Jack Ruby and His Trial (New York: David McKay Company, Inc., 1964), 39.

Bibliography

Belli, Melvin M, and Maurice C Carroll. Dallas Justice; The Real Story of Jack Ruby and His Trial. New York, New York: David McKay Company, Inc., 1964.

Kaiser, David. The Road to Dallas. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2008.

Posner, Gerald. Case Closed; Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK. New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1993.

Russo, Gus. Live by the Sword; the Secret War Against Castro and the Death of JFK. Baltimore, Maryland: Bancroft Press, 1998.

A Final Resting Place

2009-04-11T12:58:00.002-05:00

My SAI sisters brother, Adam, passed a few short hours ago. He's no longer in pain and is now dancing at the gates of Heaven.

The family has been on this journey for a year and a half, and will always be left with memories. Reading their blog about their son/brother, has really opened up my eyes and heart to what Jesus can do for us all if we just have faith.

If you could continue keeping the family in your prayers, that would be amazing, and I know they'd appreciate it.

You can read about Adam's journey here: http://www.caringbridge.org//visit/adamwisdom

Sincerely,
KaTrina

2009-04-10T00:49:00.002-05:00

This is an Sigma Alpha Iota sisters little brother, he's in the final stages of his cancer, and i'm sure her family would really appreciate any thoughts and prayers...

http://caringbridge.org/visit/adamwisdom

I'll leave you with that. prayers are more than welcome.

Adventures Part 2

2009-04-10T00:18:00.003-05:00

So last weekend I went on an adventure because my mom came to visit and i drove her back to Indiana (That's a long rather boring story..how she got here and needed a ride back, not her being here or the drive!). So this last weekend I drove 20 hours in 2 1/2 days. Oh joy. lol it was a lot of fun though!

Anyway, I did that...

Then my cousin from Richland (Tri-Cities, my home town-ish area), was in Pella, Iowa visiting her Fiance because he goes to school there, so because it was only a 3 1/2 hour drive, we thought that it would be fun if I could go see her since I haven't seen her since the day after I had graduated high school. So a friend of mine, Ami, and myself set out on an ADVENTURE! We went through some really scary roads with some really scary broken down abandoned lonely houses, almost got killed by a really big bird that had a snake in its clutch, got lost even though we were still on the right track, and eventually found Pella. My cousin, Ami and I hung out in her hotel room until her Fiance, Derek, was done with baseball practice, then we went out for Chinese food. After food we talked for a while and then Ami and I had to make the long trek back. We decided not to go the scary abandoned giant bird getting lost but being on the right trail, way, and instead took a way that was a little more familiar to Ami (she is from Iowa after all). On the way back the trip was going rather smooth, and all the sudden I get pulled over...For going 4mph over (i think he was just bored), but obviously when you get pulled over, you can never find exactly what it is that you're looking for...You know, like the newest insurance card because apparently my old insurance card expired 2 weeks ago. ...So now I have to fax them a copy of my newest insurance card and pay a $50 paperwork fee --that's crap if you ask me. I think he was just bored. After that Ami and I were going back towards home, and we almost hit two possums, they scared me half to death. We also made up a medley of Spice Girls songs.

What an interesting adventure. --I might post more to the story later -- For now, I'm tired. Good night.

Adventures

2009-04-09T09:10:00.000-05:00

It seems I've been going on a lot of adventures today -- last weekend, I went to Indiana, today I get to make a 3 1/2 hour drive to go visit my cousin (from Richland) in Iowa!! (She's there visiting her fiance who goes to school there)

Woo hoo! I'm excited!

More details later (and pictures from both trips), we're (me and a fraternity sister) leaving directly after class!

Personality Test...

2009-03-30T13:28:00.002-05:00

So I just took a personality test that is supposed to help me decide on what I want to be when I grow up...I got it from a school counselor.. I'm an "ENFP" and here are my results:

ENFPs make up 8% of the US population.

ENFPs are people-centered creators with a focus on possibilities and a contagious enthusiasm for new ideas, people and activities. Energetic, warm, and expressive, ENFPs love to help other people explore their potential. They tend to be curious about others and preoccupied with discovering the deeper meaning in people and ideas. ENFPs often consider the pursuit of happiness to be the highest priority in life, for themselves and for others. They place great importance on personal freedom and prize the ability to go wherever inspiration leads. ENFPs are typically adept communicators, using their wit, humor, and mastery of language to create engaging stories. Creative and original, ENFPs often have a strong artistic side; they appreciate activities that allow for authentic expression and a deeper understanding of human experience. ENFPs love novelty. They often have a wide range of interests and friends from many backgrounds. ENFPs are easily bored by details and repetition and seek out situations that offer engaging emotional experiences.

Popular hobbies for the ENFP include writing, creating and appreciating art, playing musical instruments, listening to music, participating in community theater, and reading fiction.

At work, the ENFP is concerned with using creativity to help others. ENFPs are motivated by their beliefs in humanitarian causes and want work that is consistent with their values. ENFPs are inspired to explore the possibilities in their work and like a constant variety of new challenges. They seek out fun, exciting work that allows them the flexibility to address problems and projects in their own unique way. ENFPs prefer to set their own schedule and chafe when saddled with excessive regulations or mundane details. They have a tendency to switch jobs and careers frequently; if they are to be satisfied in one career over the long term, it is typically one that allows them to express a great deal of creativity and spontaneity in their work. The ideal work environment for an ENFP is relaxed, friendly, and conducive to ingenuity and imagination. The ideal job for an ENFP allows them to follow their inspiration, satisfy their curiosity, and develop solutions that benefit people in innovative and original ways.

In leadership positions, ENFPs convey enthusiasm and excitement for their ideas. Their leadership style tends to be democratic and flexible, with an eye toward developing human potential. They enjoy helping others grow as employees and as people, and grant plenty of freedom to their reports to develop innovative and unique solutions. ENFP leaders motivate with their passion for their ideas and beliefs, and they are often insightful in their assessments of people problems. Because they are so focused on their ideals, ENFP leaders can sometimes neglect the practicalities of implementation. They may need to develop planning and organizational skills to ensure that their great ideas become reality.

Popular careers for the ENFP include:

* journalist
* screenwriter
* actor
* musician
* art director
* interior decorator
* TV producer
* marketing consultant
* public relations specialist
* management consultant
* corporate trainer
* personnel recruiter
* human resources manager
* restaurateur
* environmental attorney
* social worker
* psychologist
* teacher
* nutritionist
* holistic health practitioner
* massage therapist
* chiropractor
* physical therapist
* occupational therapist

In relationships, the ENFP is warm, encouraging, and emotionally engaged. ENFPs connect with others by sharing their feelings and experiences; they are expressive with their mates and want their mates to share openly with them. ENFPs place great importance on personal development. They encourage their mates to pursue their dreams and want the same encouragement back. Although they are quite sensitive, ENFPs can be guarded when it comes to their deepest feelings. When conflict arises, the ENFP can sometimes withdraw; ENFPs need a supportive partner to help them express any hurt feelings. The ideal mate for an ENFP supports their creativity and caring for others, and expresses appreciation for the ENFP’s unique qualities openly and often.

Good matches for an ENFP include other Intuitive Feeling types (ENFP, INFP, ENFJ, INFJ). When paired together, Intuitive Feeling types have one of the highest rates of couple satisfaction of all possible combinations.

As parents, ENFPs are creative and devoted. They enjoy creating new experiences for their families and want to inspire their children to grow as individuals. Although they can be very passionate in their ideas about correct behavior, they are not often strong disciplinarians; they value close relationships above all else and may avoid discipline for fear that it will distance them from their children. ENFPs deeply value their role as parents. However, they tire quickly when subjected to mundane chores and demands from their children. They get the most joy out of parenting when they are connecting emotionally with their children and joining them to explore possibilities for the future.

Famous ENFPs include Bill Clinton, Phil Donahue, Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, Will Rogers, Carol Burnett, Dr. Seuss, Robin Williams, Drew Barrymore, Julie Andrews, Alicia Silverstone, Joan Baez, and Regis Philbin.

Interesting facts about the ENFP:

* On personality trait scales, scored as Enthusiastic, Outgoing, Spontaneous, Changeable, Impulsive, Energetic, and Understanding
* Scored among highest of all types in available resources for coping with stress
* Among women, underrepresented among sufferers of heart disease
* Among men, underrepresented among sufferers of chronic pain
* Rated by psychologist as among most likely of all types to have trouble in school
* Overrepresented among academically talented elementary school students
* Personal values include Home & family, Friendships, Creativity, Learning, and Community Service
* Commonly found in careers in counseling, teaching, religion, and the arts

Sources:
MBTI Manual, Third Edition, Briggs Myers et. al.
Introduction to Type and Careers, Hammer
Just Your Type, Tieger and Barron-Tieger
Please Understand Me II, David Keirsey
Do What You Are, Tieger and Barron-Tieger
Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types in Organizations, Berens et. al.

A real update:

2009-03-22T09:41:00.001-05:00

My grandma sent out this email, and since you all have been helping us with your thoughts and prayers, I think it's only right to share the information with you. Here we go:

"Hi all:

Sorry I didn't get to this sooner; our guests are here from Canada and we are keeping a busy schedule.

Denny's surgery went fine; they were able to receive some of the pressure on his brain and have a permanent shunt in place. They don't know anything yet as to the type of glioma or the prognosis; the pathology report will be in on Monday.

He and Anita will be coming to Houston to stay with Karen and for him to receive treatment at M.D. Anderson -- one of the major hospital that is part of the huge medical complex. Unless they have been able to attract a much higher caliber of physicians to the Tri-Cities, I think the return to Houston is a much better alternative.

Hope you are all well; will send word when I know what they say concerning Denny's possible treatments and chance for a normal recovery. There are three classes of glioma cancer; the first gives a patient 12 months or less; the other two ranges from 3-5 years, but of course the patient is being treated and battling, so I'm not even sure how preferable that will be. Either way, he has a difficult road ahead of him.

When Karen and Anita stepped off the elevator into the waiting room area, Karen's music pastor was sitting there. He simply said: "They sent me instead of flowers." He and his wife have been close friends with Karen for years, so while it was a big surprise, she was very happy to see him. He's a good prayer warrior as well as a great friend.

Take care; love you all very much.

Mom/GMA"

update.

2009-03-21T00:50:00.001-05:00

Surgery went well. They got everything out and got a shunt in place. They will know more on Monday when results are back from the lab. Please continue to pray.

still no update.

2009-03-20T15:58:00.001-05:00

Still no update on Denny yet. It has been 5 hours. Please say a prayer.

Today...

2009-03-20T11:29:00.000-05:00

is the surgery. Please pray for Denny today. He is in surgery to remove a brain tumor. It''s supposed to last 5 hours. Pray for his family while they are waiting.

Thank you.

Something serious.

2009-03-17T00:45:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone, I'm really sorry I know I said I'd post about a give away, but I'm sorry, I need to post this:
It's an e-mail from my grandma, and I'll give you a little back story-- my grandparents were both married to different people before each other, and both had 2 kids before having one together (my mom), my grandpa remained good friends with his ex-wife, and they visit each other whenever they're in town. Long story short; his ex-wives husband, Denny, has brain cancer that is inoperable. He is my cousins grandfather, and a dear friend of the families. He's always warm and welcoming, I even had my 15th(?) birthday party at his house--it was a pool party even.

Anyway, onto the e-mail...

((Footnote: My aunt lives in Texas, as well as my grandparents))

"Hi Guys and Katrina:

Karen learned today that her stepfather, Denny, has brain cancer. One tumor is in the frontal lobe and they will remove it surgically this Friday. A cat scan done today showed more cancer in an area of the brain that is inoperable. We do not know any more at this time (e.g., if it can be treated with radiation or chemo.)

She is flying to Washington on Wednesday and will have a day or so with her Mom and Denny before the surgery.

To say that she is upset is putting it mildly. To meet Denny is to love him; he is warm, friendly, gentle, funny, and always willing to help anyone. Denny has been, in many ways, a second dad to Karen and Gary. He also has a very special relationship with Gary's daughter, Mary Grace. We are all praying for a recovery; a special healing, and longer life. Failing that, I know his loved ones will accept it with grace in the face of their grief."

If you have any encouraging messages or thoughts for my aunt, uncle, cousin, or the rest of my family I'd be happy to pass them on, and I'm sure my grandma wouldn't mind hearing them either, and you can get to her blog here.
As a side note, Denny was a public school teacher and a principle in the area the Tri-Cities and he has touched many lives. This will hit a community hard as well as a family. He is a very respected man in the area that he lives.

Thank you,

KaTrina

100 POSTS

2009-03-13T13:24:00.005-05:00

Holy cow kids, I'm on post number 100.

...Does that mean a give-away is a brewin'??? Quite possibly, yes.

Well, I didn't even know until just now that it was 100, so a give away will have to wait till post number 101. So keep your eye out.

This is what I had planned on posting for this one: **To slow it down so you can read it, there is a speed lever at the bottom**

How would you like....

2009-03-12T12:13:00.000-05:00

A box of AWESOME?! Go here and you could have a chance to win!

...

2009-03-11T13:44:00.002-05:00

I think I'm going through a pre-midlife crisis. I can't deciede what it is I want to do with my life, and I keep wanting to change majors. I just can't seem to find anything that suites me.

So what did I do? I took a questionare to see what they think I should do. ...Here are the results:

What career will suit your personality?

This description is a generalisation. If it rings true, you've found your career type. If it doesn't, return to the quiz, decide whether you answered truthfully, and not by what you think you should answer. Redo your answers and read your new results.
You would be very happy in a career that utilised your level-headedness, and allowed you to work mainly on your own. You want a career that allows you to be creative, without having to be involved with lots of people. Some careers that would be perfect for you are:
Artist
Historian
Banker
Novelist
University Professor
Photographer
Vet
Paralegal
Graphic Designer
Online Content Developer
Webmaster
Producer
Managing Director
Nutritionist
Advertising
Nursing
You like working and being alone. You like to avoid attention at all costs. You tend to keep to yourself, and not interact much with the people around you. You enjoy spending time with a few a close friends. You like to listen to others, but don't like sharing much about yourself. You are very quiet and private.

You are very practical, and only act after thinking things through. You don't like being forced to answer quickly. You have to evaluate the situation completely. You make decisions based on what you can verify with your senses.

You like to be deeply involved in one or two special projects. You like to be behind the scenes. You are very logical and fair. You feel you should be honest with others and protect their feelings.

You trust your gut instincts. You are easily inspired and trust that inspiration. You are very innovative. You analyse things by looking at the big picture. You are concerned about how what you do affects others. You worry about your actions and the future. You tend to use a lot of metaphors and are very descriptive and colourful in your choice of language.

You are very creative, and get bored easily if you don't get to express yourself. You like to learn new things. You don�t like the same old routine. You like to leave your options open.

...Not a fan of the results, I should add... What do you think?

Being Productive

2009-03-05T14:54:00.002-06:00

What a productive day! I'm so happy!

Today it's nearly 70 degrees and SUNNY with a nice breeze, so I locked my kitten away (how mean of me I know), and put my puppy on his lead and let him roam around in the front yard, while all the doors and windows were open, and I cleaned house with candles lit and music turned up to a nice non disruptive level.

My house is now clean, and smells amazing, and I have a lasagna in the oven. My homework is even done! Oh goodness.

I just have one question....
When did I become so responsible?!

And another one bites the dust...

2009-03-04T12:18:00.002-06:00

Bwahaha.... Another person has been converted! Welcome to blogger Laurel.

You should go over and check her out here.

I am not held responsible for anything she posts.

A message to my mommy;

2009-03-03T20:26:00.001-06:00

You're officially fired.

I tried to call you an hour ago and then again about 10 mins ago, and it went straight to voice mail BOTH TIMES. Then, I tried to call your cellphone about 10mins ago and that too went to voice mail..

Oh it gets worse!

Then I tried to call your daughter, Caitlin, yeah that one, to tell her the phone was off the hook, and I got a busy signal.

...This is no way to treat your favorite daughter, you ma'am are FIRED from being my mommy, I want a new one, you were getting old anyway.

Landlord letter update.

2009-03-02T14:45:00.001-06:00

I just received a call from the landlord, saying that the letter attached with the rent was upsetting and she's very sorry for our experience with her.

20 Radom fun facts...

2009-03-02T13:27:00.002-06:00

My friend Laurel and I eat breakfast together every Monday, Wednesday and Friday... We always come up with weird questions, or statements, or facts... So I thought it'd be fun to find an internet site with fun facts, and I chose 20 of them:

1.)In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.
2.)In 1886, sales of "Coca-Cola" averaged only 9 drinks per day.
3.)22,000 checks will be deducted from the wrong bank accounts in the next hour.
4.)As of July 2005, the smallest country in terms of population was Pitcairn Islands with 45 inhabitants!
5.)40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.
6.)The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.
7.)Nearly 90% of American teens used the Internet in 2005. (((Thats really strange, I would have expected it to be all of us.)))
8.)Orangutans warn people to stay out of their territory by belching.
9.)An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
10.)Abraham Lincoln faces to the right on a penny while all the other presidents face to the left on US coins.
11.)Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.
12.)In 2005, each person in the world consumed, on average, 77 beverages made by The Coca-Cola Company.
13.)House flies have a lifespan of two weeks.
14.)Google's name is a play on the word googol, which refers to the number 1 followed by one hundred zeroes.
15.)In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.
16.)A lump of pure gold the size of a matchbook can be flattened into a sheet the size of a tennis court.
17.)Sneeze travels out of your mouth at over 100 miles (161 km) an hour.
18.)Rats are incapable of puking.
19.)You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
20.)Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.

...Which ones are your favorite?

A letter to my landlord

2009-03-02T11:33:00.002-06:00

The following is the letter I'm attaching to my rent. Its not too mean, is it??

March 2, 2009

To (Landlord):

We will not be renewing our lease at (Address). If you would like to show the apartment, we would be more than happy to make it look its best with two days notice.

There are a lot of reasons for us not renewing our lease. The upstairs neighbors are FAR too noisy, and there is a window in the bedroom that hasn’t closed since the day we moved in. Also, the pipe that was “fixed” under our sink came un-fixed yesterday. The tile still has its water damage, as it did when we moved in, and if you have an area rug and would like to cover that to make it look better when you’re showing the apartment, we would gladly put that down.

Thank you for a year of your business, we will be out by April 30^th, enclosed is our last two months rent. When we have the apartment completely cleaned, we would like to go over an inspection of the apartment with you so we can regain our deposit.

Sincerely,

(names)

A few post all in one...

2009-02-28T09:30:00.003-06:00

There are 3 different things that I have wanted to post about the past three days, so I think now we'll smash them all together in one. :)

Thursday:

On Wednesday I had a knock on my door and there was a package, I bring it in and open it up, and inside was the most delicious thing in the world... Skipper's Clam Chowder, all courtesy of Kelly. I ate it for lunch on Thursday and called my mommy and bragged. Needless to say, she thinks that Kelly should send her some too. I told her that she can't use my resources. lol

Friday:

Ever since I've been a server, I've wondered how much we actually walk during a normal shift. Well, I went to Wal*Mart and bought a pedometer for $5.00, and put it on when I walked into my place of work, and took it off when I was leaving. I walked 2.99 miles in 5 hours at work, and it wasn't even busy. Tonight we should be busier, as Saturdays are usually busier than Fridays, so we'll see how much I walk tonight. I just thought that it was kind of interesting.

Saturday:

Last night there was some disgusting talk of snow, and I woke up to 4", when last night on weatherchannel.com, they told me light snow flurries. It must have been light snow flurry-ing for a long time to cause this much gross cold stuff to accumulate. Yuck. Snow.

The End.

I'm going to marry this boy.

2009-02-25T14:49:00.003-06:00

This is AMAZING! His name is Nick Pitera and he has a lot of stuff on youtube, if you want to watch more. He doesn't just do Disney songs, its just that this one....Well, just watch :)

Amazing, right? I told Adam I'm going to marry him lol

Birthday fun.

2009-02-22T10:51:00.005-06:00

Happy birthday Mr. Kellyveronica Michaelmichelle Sorenson!

You're pushing 30 but we'll still accept you just the way you are :)

I'm kind of a big deal

2009-02-21T23:49:00.002-06:00

So today at work, I was hosting. Annoying, I know. Shoot me. I'm a server, not a host, but unfortunately a few of the people who no longer work there weren't competent enough to know, that if you'd like to keep your job, you have to show up.

Not the point...

Anyway, a couple came in and I got them seated. While the couple was sitting down, the lady looked at my name tag and said "Oh! You're the Diary of a Mad Waitress girl, aren't you?!" And I'm sure my face got a little white thinking "Oh goodness, I'm going to lose my job!", but no, she said I'm "hilarious", and that she loves reading my blog, and knew I had to work where I work because of something I said. It was highly amusing, and I asked her if I could blog about her on here. So here is the blog about her.

Thank you Mrs. Diary of a Mad Waitress stalker lady, I appreciate you.

***Just kidding she's not really a stalker, its just funny to put it that way, please don't get offended!***

So, aside from becoming an internet celebrity over night, we were busy as all get out, and I wanted to tell people to go to a different restaurant in town that is more expensive but probably won't have as big of a wait, but did I do that? No, because I'm a good little robot worker girl. Instead I took the dirty looks of people when I said the wait was 25-30mins with a smile and a "We'll get you seated as soon as possible."

This is the Mad Waitress, signing off.

***Autographs and faster seating will be given upon receiving a minimal donation of $5.00***

Prayer Request

2009-02-18T18:34:00.001-06:00

KaTrina Marie Gayken

Today at 5:33pm

Xan,

I just wanted to ask you a quick question. My mom is a part of a prayer group with ladies all around the world, it's called Hearts at Home; I was wondering if you'd like me to pass on the information about your brother to these ladies. When these ladies pray, it seems like miracles fall out of the sky. If you want me to pass the information about your brother along, I will. Just write a little blurb about him and whats going on, and in minuets there will be thousands of new ladies, families, and churches all around the world that will care about him, and pray for him.

I love you Xan.
-KaTrina

Xandria Colvin

Today at 6:30pm

KaTrina- OMG! That would be amazing! Adam's full story is on caringbridge.org. The website name is adamwisdom.

Adam was diagnosed on October 8th, 2007. He has gone through many different treatments including radiation, chemo, and stem cell transplant procedures that didn't take. The doctors have given us hope and have taken it away so many times. I found out yesterday that St. Jude's Hospital was sending him home after months of waiting to go there. They said his cancer spread even more. They sent him home with pain killers and told him to be with his family. They said it is a blessing each day that he wakes up.

Adam was born an angel. He is the kindest person I have ever met in my life. He is always more concerned about others than he is about himself. I have learned a lot from him and he is only 16 years old. He is amazing. The website will go into more detail. I'm sorry. I am trying so hard to be okay and trust God. I know he has a plan. I know everything will be okay in the end. I am just so scared of forgetting things about him and being strong for my other siblings. I love him so much!

I love you too!
Xan

New blogger!

2009-02-17T14:14:00.003-06:00

My grandma, Joyce, now has a blog! It's all about her journey through the Bible this year, you can check it out here.

Enjoy!

Un-privatized.

2009-02-16T23:58:00.001-06:00

I un-privatized my blog. Hopefully we won't have any issues again.

Valentine's Date

2009-02-15T12:15:00.001-06:00

I had to work Valentine's Day morning, so Adam and I decided to go to St. Joe, a town about 45 mins away, for a change of scenery, and their theater had the movie I wanted to see. I got off work a little earlier than we thought I would so we thought it would be fun to just spend the day in St. Joe instead of just that evening.

We went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch, and Oh goodness it was delicious. I love BW's, and I haven't been to one since I lived in Indiana 2 years ago, so when we discovered St. Joe had one, we knew that's where we were going!

After that we walked around the mall and window shopped, having a lot of fun, went to a bookstore, and walked around a few other stores since we had time before our movie started.

Eventually it was time to go to a movie, and we had bought our tickets via Fandango.com the night before so we could make sure we got our tickets, and we wouldn't have to worry about the line. So, we go to the line to get into the movie, and we have a problem, the tickets we bought were for Friday night, not Saturday night. So, they called a manager over, and the manager said not to worry about it, he understands the mistake and to just go ahead and go into the theater. I was oooh so very thankful. So we saw Confessions of a Shopaholic, and it was AMAZING. I loved it, and Adam really enjoyed it too.

After the movie we went to Chili's, had our appetizer, and waited for our food, when a manager came to our table and was really apologetic because they had lost Adams food, but mine was ready, and they could bring mine out. I asked for them to just make me a new one because I really didn't want to eat with out him, it's kind of awkward. She then offered to pay for our entire meal, and I said that wouldn't be necessary, because I work at a restaurant and understand how that happens. Our food came out in a VERY timely manner, we probably only waited 10 more mins, not a big deal at all, and it was DELICIOUS. But, we decided to save room for desert, so I have a full meal as leftovers today. We had a white chocolate molten cake with raspberry syrup, and it was amazing. I loved it. Our bill came and everything but the desert was taken care of. I was in shock, and really appreciated what they did, even though I think the ONLY thing they should have taken care of was Adam's meal, if they had to take care of anything. But our bill was $6.49, so we left a $20.00 and called it good, hoping to make sure that our server had a great evening as well.

After that we drove home, and called it a night.

It was amazing, and great fun, I really enjoyed it.

I hope everyone else had a good Valentine's Day too.

Happy Valentine's day.

2009-02-14T10:14:00.001-06:00

While looking through Wikipedia to see what they had to say about Valentine's Day, I found this great card from 1850

In the book up top it says :

Esther Howland Valentine, circa 1850: "Weddings now are all the go, Will you marry me or no"

Laryngitis...

2009-02-09T15:26:00.001-06:00

I have Laryngitis, and for those of you who know me, know this has to be killing me, AND IT IS!! I have to stay quiet! No talking! No singing! Nothing! :( It makes me a sad sad KaTrina face.

Lucky for me theres text messaging.

2009-01-31T13:47:00.001-06:00

KaTrina thinks the worst thing Obama has done thus far, is root for the Steeler's...

Theres been a lot of posting going around here lately!

2009-01-30T13:33:00.001-06:00

I thought this was fun, it's been passed around Facebook for a while, and I thought it'd be fun here.

-I tag everyone that has access to my blog!

RULES: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

Also, feel free to comment :-)

1. I've been tagged to do this thing twice, once was a month ago, the other was last night, I finally thought I should do this.

2. I grew up in Washington, do you see a "D.C" behind that?! No. I didn't think so.

3. I have a million siblings, and the only way to make sure I say all of them is to say them in age order...Ready go... Amanda, Caitlin, Brandon, Allison, Lauren, Sarah, Aaron, Abby, Becka, New Baby Noname (those are my moms) John, Alyssa, Alex (those are my dads).

4. Joining SAI was quite possibly one of the best things I've ever done. I decided if I wanted to enjoy college life, I had to make an effort to get involved and SAI was the perfect place for that.

5. I'm the worlds largest procrastinator.

6. I'm getting old. Want to know how I know? ...I watch CNN/MSNBC/FOX every morning.

7. I thoroughly enjoy some classes, and absolutely detest some...Such as math. Ugh, math.

8. My "s" key on my keyboard is persnickety.

9. I just used the last one so I could say the word "persnickety"

10. I laugh when people call me out spoken... You should have saw me 2 years ago, talk about being out spoken! Every word that came out of my mouth was MY opinion, and I didn't care. I'm much better about it now.

11. I have a close relationship with my grandparents, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

12. My mom and I go through periods where we call each other every day, even just to say we're alive.

13. My dad is my best friend, and I wouldn't trade it.

14. I grew up with my dad, and we have the "mom/daughter" relationship that some girls have with their moms.

15. I love my job, contrary to popular belief... I just think a lot of people that come into Applebee's are morons.

16. I am the biggest facebook/myspace stalker in the world. But it's okay, it's the way I know if I want to get to know a person more or not. Ha... It's not that bad, I swear. ...what was your last name again?

17. I love the color green. It's my favorite!

18. I use to get mad that I wasn't engaged yet, but now, I'm okay with it.

19. I should be leaving for class right now (I'm really odd and leave 20mins. early)

20. I hate being late for a class. Well, for anything really.

21. I love going to family functions, even if they're not my family :-p

22. In 2005, the Seahawks should have won the superbowl... The funny thing is, even some Steeler's fans will admit that.

23. I graduated in 2005 and feel ancient when I'm in classes with freshman/sophomores that graduated in 07 and 08... Ech!

24. I'm terrified of the weather in the Midwest. I think it's because I never grew up with massive amounts of rain, tornado's, and massive hailstorms.

25. And finally, just trying to get my point across a little less subtley. IT DOESN'T RAIN ALL THE TIME IN WASHINGTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...I'm from the Eastern side of WA, you know, the DESERT! That's almost a bigger pet peeve than "D.C."!! Oh, and it rains more here than it does in Seattle, so get over yourselves lol

Sorry for any hostility....THE END!

School Research Papers...

2009-01-29T19:11:00.004-06:00

So, I have three HUGE papers... One for Philosophy, one for English112 and one for American Historical Survey, all three of which are due around the same time (in about a month-a month and a half), so I figure I should get started on them early.

***Disclaimer: No you didn't die, the worlds biggest procrastinator did just say that... mostly with hopes that she doesn't fail.

But, I need some help...

For my English paper we have to pick an interesting topic/event that we would like to research, and it has to be something that we are honestly interested in, and something that we don't know much about... I think that Hanford would be a fun one. Basically just, how the Tri-Cities got their start back in the 40's(?)...

For my History paper we have to interview a DEAD AMERICAN. How the crap do you interview a dead person? ... So yeah, any ideas on what dead American person I should interview?

Oh! I also need a song for a musicale coming up in my fraternity! (Speaking of fraternity, Caitlin is doing well...not a single scratch! but she apparently had a seizure behind the wheel. Some One was def. watching over her.) Anyway! I need a song. What kind of song?! A love song!

...So basically, what do you think about my idea for my English paper?
....Got any good love song ideas? (Alto/2nd Soprano)
....And, do you know any cool dead guys?

Prayer for a "sister"...

2009-01-23T12:30:00.004-06:00

As many of you may recall, I'm in a fraternity (yes, a fraternity don't correct me and call it a sorority, it's not social it's academic.). Well, on Tuesday night we heard a rumor that a sister was in an accident and life-lined to St. Joseph (A bigger city 45 mins. away); so we decided that if anyone heard about the accident, that we should IMMEDIATELY tell the other sisters, so we can all be informed.

After the meeting there were a few sisters that had some not-so-nice things to say about our sister in the accident, and I found it rather irritating. I don't care what happened in the past, they need to get over it, especially when there is a sister in need.

I was actually the one who found out the information first, and immediately sent out texts/e-mails to the others. This is what it said:

Hello ladies;

Today in our meeting we talked about a rumor heard about a sister, Caitlin Kinman. I just thought I'd let you know, the rumor is true and she is in ICU in St. Joseph. They found internal bleeding.

I don't know much about what happened/is happening, but I know we talked about it, and said we'd pass along any news we heard.

As I said in the text message I sent to a few of you in my phone, no matter your differences, she's a sister, and she needs us to keep her in our thoughts and prayers. Don't forget; In 1910, seven young women made a pledge to help each other with sisterly affection and to stand for the utmost music scholarship, uprightness of character, and the friendly unselfish relations among women in music.

Love and Roses,
KaTrina

I don't think I was out of place saying what I did. Do you? It was a lot nicer than it could have been.

Today, I found an article online from our local newspaper, about the accident:

By Mike Herring

Maryville Daily Forum

Wed Jan 21, 2009, 08:50 PM CST

Story Tools: Email This | Print This

Maryville, Mo. -
Missouri State Highway Patrol and other area rescuers surround a 2001 pontiac Aztec, driven by 19-year-old Caitlin Kinman, after she drove it off the east side of the roadway, through a residence’s yard Wednesday morning and into a tree while traveling north on Highway EE, four miles east of Maryville. Kinman was reported to be in serious condition and was taken to St. Francis Hospital.

If you could please take the time to pray/keep in your thoughts, both Caitlin, and our other sisters so that Caitlin can get better quickly, and so our other sisters can settle their differences, that would be great.

Thanks so much.

Happy Birthday Adam!

2009-01-22T14:47:00.003-06:00

Today is Adam's 23rd Birthday! It's a glorious 60 degrees outside, sunny and marvelously beautiful!

...And today we will...

Eat Birthday Waffles!

Go to class until 4
Open a birthday present...Which contains....

All because in Philosophy the other day we watched a portion of the movie, and he said he forgot how much he liked it, and that he would like to own it. He insisted we go to Wal*Mart to buy the first one, that night, Tuesday, to buy it, and I "forgot" about it, and played a video game with him instead. Then, secretly snuck on to Amazon.com and found the Trilogy for less than $30!! So I bought it and paid for the fastest shipping, and it got here today while he was in class! Now it is wrapped and waiting for him to get out of class!

...After he comes home from class, we will go to St. Joe

...After St. Joe, we'll go to a bookstore, because Adam LOVES books!

...After books, and maybe a few other stores he enjoys, we'll go out to eat and have some more fun at....

Because we've both never been to a Casino, and he's said a few times he thinks it would be fun. Of course, we'll be sensible and only spend $20 or so.

After all that excitement, we'll come home, cozy up on the couch...
And watch...

In one hour, the fun begins!

UGH

2009-01-19T13:38:00.002-06:00

I HATE video games.... Well, it's not that I hate the games themselves, I hate what they do to the people playing them. How they steal the person playing them into their own virtual world. How they're addictive so the person playing them would rather do that than anything else, and how if you suggest something to said person such as hanging out, or playing a video game we both enjoy (Look, I'm trying here!!!!), he denies you so he can play his stupid video game that continues to steal him from me.

Bottom line guys, girls shouldn't have to compete for your attention with a stupid freakin' video game.

I know this post isn't well written, and for that I don't apologize. I don't care right now, I'm just mad.

quick update before i go to work

2009-01-16T13:09:00.001-06:00

I called the cops on the neighbors last night... i have no idea what was going on up there, there was tons of screaming for like an hour and then i heard her sobbing, while, mind you, there was blaring music upstairs, and then i heard what sounded like a body falling on the ground, and then more sobbing and screaming, so i called the landlord, and apparently the landlord has a broken arm, so she couldn't drive over here and told me that it'd be best if i just called public safety, so i did. then i heard the cops get here, and i heard them knock on the door, and no one answered so they knocked again and said "this is the police, you need to open the door" then they opened the door and it sounded like the man was arguing with the cops, then it was really quiet for like 20 mins, and the cops left, and then it was quiet upstairs except for the baby making noise every-once-in-a-while, and a lady playing with him.

New neighbors....

2009-01-08T12:15:00.003-06:00

So, in the apartment complex I live in, there are 4 apartments, two upstairs and two downstairs. I live in one that is downstairs. Last semester there were mostly girls living here, we were all quiet, and no one really had any problems with anyone else. Now, one of the girls moved out while I was in Washington, and the other day I came home from work and there was a U-Haul in the parking area, so I knew someone was moving in. Little did I know, they'd be the loudest, most annoying people I've ever not met in my entire life.

Now, you may think I'm being over dramatic about all of this, but I can assure you I'm not. Above me now lives a couple, a young child (I'm assuming around 1 or 2), and a dog. The couple argues constantly, the child cries every now and then but is quickly screamed at, and when the family goes out, the dog won't shut up. I've also been talking to the other upstairs neighbor about this (via facebook lol), and she said the new tenants also make the entire upstairs smell...

I've thought about going about this several different ways. First, I called my mom and she said I could go up there and let them know I heard there baby, and that I just thought I'd let them know that if they need a break or a babysitter, that I'm just down stairs and if I'm not working or in class, I'd gladly help out since I'm the oldest and have plenty of experience babysitting. Now while that sounds like a great idea, I don't want them to fire back something about their child being none of my business, or even having them accept it and abuse the fact that I offered to babysit and dropping their kid off at my apartment constantly.

Another way I think this could be handled is by leaving a polite note on their door asking them to please keep their voices down and their yelling to a minimum since they're surrounded by college kids that work late so they would like to sleep in. And also asking them not to use swear words like "GD" and dropping the F-bomb every other word at their child, and also requesting that they figure out a way to make their dog stay quiet while they're not home, perhaps by keeping a television or radio on, so it gets use to others making noise, or opening doors.

I'm really not sure how to go about this, but if I wake up one more time because of their incessant arguing, I'm going to pitch a fit, and alert the landlord. The biggest thing that bothers me is them yelling at their child, and not trying to resolve the issue. I feel so bad for that poor kid. I'm not even sure what to do...

ANY IDEAS?!

Help!

2008-12-25T01:09:00.000-06:00

Is it at all possible that someone could give me a ride to Seattle Airport on Monday the 29th?? I have to be there by 11:30pm, but if you'd want to drop me off earlier than that so you could make sure the passes are open, I'm down with that too. I don't care as long as I'm able to make it over there. I'll pay for your gas...

I really was prepared origionally, I promise! It's just stupid stuff happened and so it sucks, and now the person that was going to give me a ride, there car broke and it isn't fixed when it was supposed to be.

So please think about it, and let me know A.S.A.P.

Thanks,
KaTrina

It's our turn....

2008-12-21T23:58:00.001-06:00

It's our turn to be proud of the teacher instead of the teacher being proud of us. My 8th grad biology teacher has had a rough 18 months, but has done an amazing job being positive and coping with everything, and I couldn't be more proud...

Kennewick man to run miracle mile
By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

One of Tony Greager's doctors once called him the "unluckiest" man he'd ever met.

The 50-year-old teacher from Kennewick fell ill during a family vacation in Florida in 2007 and has spent the last 18 months fighting for his life.

He endured paralysis, open heart surgery and months of uncertainty.

Just weeks ago, he was using a cane to get around. Before that, he needed a walker and a wheelchair.

But today, he plans to walk a mile on his own during the annual Cable Bridge Run.

It's a triumph that has him feeling pretty, well, lucky.

"I dreamed about being in the position where I could talk about this in the past (tense)," he said.

He's so close now.

Greager was on a family vacation at Disney World with his wife, Kaye, and son Kevin, 14, when he noticed numbness in his toes, then his hands.

That was June 2007. He went to the hospital and soon couldn't move his arms or legs. He eventually was airlifted back to Washington.

Months in Seattle, Spokane and Richland hospitals followed. Greager was able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at home, but in January he needed open heart surgery to replace two heart valves. The heart damage possibly was from medication he was taking to help with his condition.

He then dealt with more surgeries, infections and abscesses.

Doctors determined Greager had a neurological disorder called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. It's considered the chronic form of Guillain-Barr syndrome, in which the immune system attacks part of the nervous system, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. There's no known cure.

Greager had never heard of either condition before he became sick. It was difficult to go from being a strapping 6-foot-1 man used to taking care of his family to someone confined to a hospital bed, he said.

He tried not to be angry and instead tried to believe he soon would be OK.

He got to come home for good at the end of May. He now has regular physical and occupational therapy and has been walking laps at the Columbia Center mall to speed his progress.

He's often outpaced by mall walkers who are much older, but that doesn't bother him, he said. Neither did a question from a man who spotted him doing his laps the other day.

The man asked why Greager -- who takes slow, stilted steps -- was walking so funny.

"I said, 'You should have seen me four months ago,' " Greager recalled, chuckling.

That positive attitude has inspired family and friends.

"He has outstanding character and unbelievable motivation," said Kristie Wellman, his physical therapist. "He's one of those people (who believe) if you put your mind to it, you can do anything."

She's going to be at the Cable Bridge Run and plans to seek out Greager to congratulate him. He's supposed to have a large cheering section.

Family, friends and other teachers from the Finley School District are supposed to walk with him wearing T-shirts that say, "Tony is back, baby! Courage, perseverance, determination." A limo ride also is planned.

Greager's older brother, Eric Greager of Richland, said the special reception is a way to show Tony how awed people are by his bravery.

"The things he's had to go through -- I'm really proud of him," Eric Greager said. "I'm amazed at what he's done."

Tony Greager soon will have another milestone to celebrate. He's going back to work in the Finley School District -- where he's taught for 27 years -- part-time in January.

He said he feels good about the progress he's made, and that he owes it to the family and other supporters he has in his life.

He'll also feel good crossing the finish line today after such a long journey.

"It's a goal that I set," he said. "It'll be nice to go out and reach it."

Have you ever....

2008-12-20T00:49:00.004-06:00

Have you ever wondered what the 12 Days of Christmas would really cost? Click here to find out It's kinda neat :)

Anyway, today I wrapped all the Christmas presents because we're going to Yakima for family Christmas tomorrow :) It's going to be fun, but theres a winter weather warning so hopefully we'll make it back okay.

Snow snow snow....

2008-12-18T09:10:00.001-06:00

Ick. Make it all go away! lol

Theres so much snow! ...When did it start snowing in the tri-cities and not melting by noon?! Ugh. Yucky yucky yucky.

Home sweet home...

2008-12-17T10:35:00.001-06:00

We rolled into Finley at about 10:45pm. The trip back home was fairly uneventful, except when we got lost in North Bend looking for a potty... That was bad news bears, but we're better now! :)

I'm home! :) Woo! But my body is still on the 2 hour difference so I woke up at 7:30 this morning with absolutely no problem. ICK! lol

Now to figure out what to do while I'm here...Hmmm....

Minnesota

2008-12-16T12:24:00.002-06:00

is cold. I paid for internet I was so bored!!!

So I got to Kansas City Airport at 7:30am because we were trying to beat a big snow storm... When we got about 20mins away WOO here comes the snow! It was bad news bears. I knew that my plane would get delayed if I was lucky, possibly even canceled...So I went and got put on standby on a different flight, and luckily I got out of KC at 9:30am.. They had to "de-ice" the plane before it took off, boy oh boy is that comforting. ANYWAY! I'd rather spend time in St. Paul where they're not under sever weather warnings, and so I can make my next connection. With my connection only being 30 mins, i knew I needed to get on the soonest flight possible because there was a VERY real chance I could have missed that flight and not been on the next flight until late tonight, so I made it :)

Now I get to sit here and people watch. Anyway, I'm off to play on the computer some more and then i need to get on a plane and head to Seattle! Woo!

See ya all soonish!

I'm leavin' on a jet plane....

2008-12-15T19:52:00.002-06:00

So I'm packed and I'm ready to go! I leave tomorrow EARLY in the morning to head off for a day full of travel. It takes 2 hours to get to the Kansas City airport, then a 2 hour flight to Minnesota, then a 3 hour flight to Seattle and a 4 hour drive from Seattle back home. Oi vey! It'll all be worth it!

I can't wait to see you all! Just a few more hours!

Scratch that....

2008-12-12T22:20:00.001-06:00

I thought I was feeling better.... I was kind of excited about being busy at work too... that didn't happen either.

I puked at work. I got sent home. It wasn't busy anyway. On a day that most of us were expecting to make $80-$100 most of us made $15-30... Horrible.

...Goodnight.

Feeling slightly better.

2008-12-12T12:19:00.006-06:00

So I'm feeling a little bit better, which is GOOD, especially because tonight is graduation so at work tonight we will be SLAMMED! (Yay money, boo busy.)...

But, I'm not letting this feeling under the weather keep me down!

Yesterday I:
>Did dishes
>Made dinner
>Did ALL the laundry
>Addressed Christmas cards (both mine and Adams)
>Cleaned my bedroom

Hooray! It's such a stress reliever once all that is done!

Today I get to:
>Return Textbooks to Textbook services (at NWMSU we rent ours for a flat fee each semester, SO much cheaper than buying them) (CHECK!)
>Go to the wellness center before it closes to make sure I'm not dying (CHECK! Sinus Infection...Go figure)
>Buy stamps (CHECK)
>Write/Type Christmas letter (CHECK)
>Stuff Christmas cards (CHECK)
>Stamp/Mail Christmas cards (CHECK)
>Pay Bills/Mail (CHECK)
>Get half way packed
>Shower(CHECK)
>Work at 5 (this is inevitable so it gets a pre-check)(CHECK)

Oh goodness. Lets get off Blogger and get to work!

(Oh and thanks for the get well wishes! Also, I hope to use the "liarface" someday when someone lies to me about a birthday at work!)

Oh goodness...I'm a slacker.

2008-12-11T12:45:00.002-06:00

I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've had a post with any substance, this one I promise will not let you down!

Lets start with the week of Thanksgiving:
Thanksgiving Adam, Patches (my puppy), and myself headed to Indiana! It was quite the long drive, but with a book on CD I managed to have some company while Adam and the puppy took long naps. While I was driving I saw some pretty deer out in pastures, a beautiful sun rise (that blinded me) and some horribly amusing signs about how guns kill thieves, are good for protection, etc etc...
Anyway! We arrived in Indiana at about 5pm after dealing with horrible traffic in Indianapolis, as per usual. Once we got there we were mauled by children, but I didn't mind :) I missed them all too!
We had our Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving, and the next morning, my sisters, adam, and myself went out to face the crowds for some wicked cool savings and got just about everyones presents! We did pretty good. :) Then on Friday night we took my mom and stepdad out for dinner at Texas Road House... Now heres where this gets kind of interesting. Adam and I got there before my mom and step dad and my moms birthday was a month ago almost exactly when we were there so I told the waiter that and sure enough after our meal he shows up with a group of his server friends and uses the lamps as a spot light to announce a birthday for my mom and she goes "NO NO NO my birthday was a month ago!" and I said "well yeah, but I drove 10 hours and I wasn't here for her birthday so will you please embarass her just a little bit?!" and he said no and turned the spot light on ME!!!!! He then announced me as "Liarface", and made me turn all sorts of red. It was funny, but it was even better when he came with the bill and I told him I was paying ;). But he was a great server, and we tipped him accordingly...even if he did embarass the crap out of me.

So after Indiana...It was finals week! UGH talk about stress! But it's okay, I'm better now! :) Because finals are OVER!! HALLELUJAH! But now I'm sick...Ick! But that's okay too! I'm going to be flying 1/2 way across the U.S. on Tuesday so I'd rather get this sickness out of me now, and not have to deal with it while I'm having mucho fun with my family!

So yeah. Sorry I've been gone so much, I hope you understand! I'll try to post more later. :)

My family, the dancers...

2008-12-05T14:00:00.001-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Bahaha.

2008-12-04T13:54:00.001-06:00

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Digitools

2008-12-03T08:52:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone.

All of my digitool blogs have been transferred to this blog so that my normal blog can remain a little more private. If you'd like to continue reading about the technology I've been playing with, check it out there :)

Thanks!

Also, I'll write about my time in Indiana today or tomorrow, as I don't work both days.

In Indiana

2008-11-28T10:54:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone! I hope all of your Turkey Day/Black Friday festivities went better than planned! I'm in Indiana surrounded by friends and family and will definitely tell you all about it later!

Prop. 8

2008-11-14T21:09:00.001-06:00

Just incase you're not on my e-mail list!

2008-11-13T15:18:00.001-06:00

Well hello hello friends and family!!

I hope all is well with everyone. I know it's been a while since I've sent out an e-mail update, so I just thought it was due. This semester is going really well, and I'm managing to stay very busy. I'm working at Applebee's and Domino's, and taking classes 5 days a week from 9am-noon. It's a lot of fun, and I really enjoy it (most days). It's beginning to get colder than I'm comfortable with here, and people laugh at me when I say I'm cold, and that the weather we have now, is the winter I'm use to in Eastern Washington (A lot of times, they don't believe me.) It's just been that nasty wet, cold and windy. Most of you know what I'm talking about!

I've made more friends than I ever thought possible after moving away from a home I lived at so long, and I love it. I still miss home, and defenitly plan on returning to Eastern Washington eventually.

As per usual, I plan on sending out Christmas cards and such, so if you could e-mail me your address (I don't write them down or save them, for some stupid reason, maybe I'll start this year.) and also if you could e-mail me others that you think I may not get because I don't have their e-mail, that would be great!

Thanks so much and I hope you're all doing well! I would love to hear from all of you and hear about whats going on in your life!

Love you all and Happy Holidays!
-KaTrina Gayken

Addiction.

2008-11-12T08:50:00.001-06:00

Super Obama World.

.....That is all.

Amazing. :)

2008-11-10T18:31:00.001-06:00

2008-11-05T19:37:00.002-06:00

Well hello!

I just thought i'd inform you about my Artsy Friend Mindy!

She has a great knack for making little decorative pieces and interesting paintings that are sure to strike up a conversation! You should check out her website: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5694509

Go vote!

2008-11-04T08:16:00.000-06:00

I don't really care who you vote for, just go do it. It's your privilege, right and obligation.

This is a defining point in history, you should be proud to be a part of it!

The Palm Treo

2008-11-03T15:00:00.000-06:00

The palm treo is basically a hand-held computer. It is very easy to learn to use, and has a lot of great features. The camera's quality on the palm trio is much better than your average cell phone's camera. It also has a keyboard that is optional to use through bluetooth. I really enjoyed using the keyboard and I can understand how it would be useful during a meeting or other note taking event.

The above picture was taken with the Treo

Once upon a time...

2008-10-29T14:12:00.002-05:00

Once upon a time there was this guy, we'll call him Veronica, yes I'm aware that Veronica is a girls name, but you'll just have to deal with it (and so will he). Well, Veronica and I were great friends, then something changed. I'm not sure what. Just something. Suddenly he deleted me off of everything, and also deleted a really great blog he wrote in toast of our friendship. Unfortunately Veronica won't answer my phone calls, but I'd really appreciate it if he did because I'd like to know what happened. This is kind of like the time he missed my friends wedding, and beat himself up about it, so I went over to his house and made him stop.

...But Veronica just texted me and said we're no longer friends. So I guess I should just stop writing this.

..Good bye Veronica.

There are still some amazing people in this world...

2008-10-27T15:11:00.001-05:00

Its so amazing the things some people will do for complete strangers...

Look at this:

Abuse of tradition pt. 2

2008-10-24T15:47:00.000-05:00

If you want to follow up on others reactions, check here:

http://www.nwmissourinews.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticleComments&ustory_id=9d5cc398-2603-495e-a6d1-8eda92230e25

Abuse of tradition

2008-10-23T23:16:00.000-05:00

On the Northwest campus there exists a tradition: each year a new, anonymous reporter is designated as the "Stroller" and he or she writes commentary about campus life while their identity remains anonymous. The opportunity to comment anonymously on ANYTHING, in my opinion, is a dangerous thing. Professional newspapers don't allow anonymous letters to the editor--the fact that our Northwest Missourian allows it baffles me, but the Stroller should be someone with enough integrity to only write what they would be willing to sign their name to. I don't know if the Stroller would be willing to sign his or her most recent article, but for his or her personal safety, it's a darn good thing their identity isn't known. Take a look.

"YOUR MAN STRIKES UP THE BAND"
OK, so I was at the football game this weekend. You know the one where Northwest embarrassed Fort Hays. Well I have a little bone to pick with the band.
Now don't get me wrong I have no personal vendettas against the band. It isn't like I was a sweet clarinet player who got cut from the band in high school or anything. But what I want to know is when did the extraordinary athletes in the band get the right to criticize the football players?
There are no doubts the band has tremendous athletic ability, having to hold those heavy instruments for a full game; I think I even clocked one with a 4.5 forty during their sprints in the half time show, but when Fort Jays was down 49-0 and feeling a little embarrassed, the band let loose. All of a sudden the trumpets were no longer used for creating music but rather a megaphone used to talk crap.
I will be honest; I am a firm believer in good sportsmanship. You can be a good fan without looking like an idiot. Go ahead cheer for your team all you want say whatever you have to say about the other team, but when you're up 49 points against a team who isn't even your rival and still talking, you're no longer being a fan you're being a d-bag.
I would even be a little more understand if it were those Shirtless Bearcats who wear berating the other team. Oh, I mean a group of shirtless, wannabe athletes. You know those kids who come to college strictly to paint their bodies and memorize stupid facts about the opposing quarterback to "get inside their heads." That is why I would understand the lack of respect for Fort Hays coming from them; that is their social livelihood.
But the band? Come on, you guys walk around with feathers on your hats. I know most of you have spent your entire lives on the sidelines of sporting events, but that doesn't mean you know anything about sports. No one talks crap to you when you uys miss a note. Maybe when you guys trip out on the field, but come on, that's hilarious.
This is what I want to see: Big Moe comes running off the field, grabs one of the band members and throws them to the ground while screaming "That was suppose to be a B-flat you idiot." Until that day comes, lay off the quarterback for overthrowing his receiver.
I'll admit it must be hard. The fans sit through the entire game watching every play but halftime, your time to shine, well that's a time for getting goof and bathroom breaks for the rest of us. You might have a little bit of bottled up anger toward athletes, but do me a favor; stick to blowing your horn and leave the football players alone, you bullies.
The band is supposed to be the basis of sportsmanship. You guys are supposed to lead us in cheering on our beloved Bearcats. Let's be pro-Bearcats not anti-opponent, unless it's Mo. West, then bash on.

The debater in me soooo badly wants to go through this article argument by argument pointing out every single lie, faulty use of logic, and hint of hypocrisy, but I really don't have the time. Plus, whoever wrote this crap decided to use a medium that didn't require him or her to take ownership for his or her own opinions. Coward. If you're going to abuse a Northwest tradition and use your "job" as a means to trash talk an organization that does nothing but give their best to the athletic programs, I hesitate to even call you a Bearcat.

The Bearcat Marching Band does not deserve these lies and accusations. Many of our members WERE athletes in high school. We DO get yelled at for missing wrong notes. We're not bitter against athletes; we understand the part we play in creating the overall game day experience.

And I'm not even going to comment on the lack of grammatical accuracy of this article.

Look what I found...

2008-10-23T14:24:00.003-05:00

Last year for 9/11, the fraternity I'm in, Sigma Alpha Iota, was invited to see our brother fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, do a tribute to those affected by the tragic day in 2001. I found the video on YouTube, and it is still as amazing as it was while I was there.

Yay Music Greeks!

For anyone interested in going:

2008-10-23T12:07:00.000-05:00

Funeral Services for Joseph Dirksen

DANBURY, Iowa -- Joseph "Joe" Dirksen, 24, of Danbury died unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, in Marysville, Mo.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury. Burial will be in Danbury Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Friday, with a vigil wake service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Armstrong Funeral Home of Danbury and Mapleton, Iowa.

Prayers please..

2008-10-22T20:36:00.002-05:00

A guy I know passed away on Tuesday. The scary thing about it? I knew it was going to be him...

I dropped a friend of mine off at the library on campus, when a few campus safety cars went FLYING by me, and when I went to turn my car around and head home, I saw they were at South Complex (One of the dormitories). When I was driving home, 2 police cars, an ambulance and a fire chief flew by me, and I knew something was wrong. I went through the people in my head that I knew that lived in South complex, hoping and praying for each one of them while going down the list, when I hit one name, Joe Dirksen... I knew right away. I couldn't help but worry. I found the news out while at work, that it was indeed him. Its still all so surreal, and I haven't got upset about it yet, but I know once it does hit me, I may be a wreck. I saw Joe on Saturday... SATURDAY AS IN 4 DAYS AGO. I just can't wrap my mind around it yet.

Oh, and if any of you go to school with me, and say he probably died from alcohol poisoning, one more time, I'm kicking you in the teeth.

Heres the most recent post the school sent out:

Northwest Missouri State University

CAMPUS ADVISORY

October 22, 2008

Northwest student apparently died of heart attack

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- According to preliminary findings issued today by the Nodaway County coroner and a licensed medical examiner, a Northwest student who died this week in his residence hall room apparently succumbed to a heart attack that may have been caused by a hereditary condition.

Joseph W. Dirksen, 24, of Danbury, Iowa, was found unresponsive in his South Complex residence hall room shortly after noon on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Campus Safety officers were notified and responded immediately to the scene.

Northwest will release further information as it becomes available.

An unfinished essay...

2008-10-21T16:07:00.001-05:00

For one of my classes, we have to write a definition paper. I chose the word 'intimacy'. The paper isn't finished, although the last paragraph may end up being my conclusion. We'll see. Just looking to see what anyone's thoughts were on it so far.

Thanks

And there I was, on a plane;
The Art of Intimacy

Intimacy is a word often associated with being sexual, but have you ever thought of it in another way? The way you’re able to have “a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group.” Intimacy is a word not used as often as it could be, as we are often intimate with several different people.
The word intimacy is a very personal, warm, word relating to closeness, and far from affection. The word has been used too loosely and has lost a lot of its great meaning. More people are using it for sexual reference than it should have ever been. Intimacy is a great word relating to many situations in life ranging from; being in a close intimate situation with a loved one, to having a deeply intimate conversation with those around you. Since I was young, I have been taking planes to get to a few states all over the United States, because of my family being spread around, and this has come to show me that people are willing to bare all to the person next to them on a plane, that they may never see again, rather than talking to one of their ‘closest’ friends.
Intimate conversations are by far the best conversations. Being able to be open, and show raw emotion with those around you is one of the greatest experiences and feelings one could ever have. When you are in an intimate conversation, you’re able to be yourself, and bare all. You’re being as real with the person you’re speaking with as possible, and are leaving yourself extremely vulnerable, but in a way you may never be able to with anyone else.
Although a lot of people see being intimate as a weakness, or a way to get hurt, the way people should see the act of intimacy is more through the light that you’re able to be yourself and be as real and honest as possible. I do not recommend doing this with someone you’ve just met, if you’re going to see them again, unlike on a plane, where a lot of people will start up a friendly conversation with the person in the seat next to them, and begin talking about any sort of family issue, relationship problem, and all sorts of things that most people would consider keeping to themselves.
Maybe it’s just the high altitudes while riding the plane, or maybe the cabin has lost a little pressure. Whatever it may be, the art of intimacy is at an all time high in the air. What makes a person tell a complete stranger everything but their social security number while flying? Is it the fact that you may never see this person again? The idea that your secrets are safe with them? Or is it just easier to talk to someone who can’t judge you by anymore than what you’re saying, or the fact that you’re talking too much? Whatever it may be, it’s probably cheaper than some of your therapy sessions, so maybe you should just take a vacation.

Has anyone seen the movie...

2008-10-16T09:17:00.001-05:00

Swing vote? You don't have to rent or buy it just turn it on to your any national news station. Thank you Senators McCain and Obama for making my life feel like I'm in a movie. It's all I've ever wanted. I feel bad for "Joe The Plumber" for speaking his mind, now he's surrounded by news paparazzi.

Peeeectars!!!!!!!! =)

2008-10-15T23:03:00.004-05:00

New Haircut! =)

Smile pretty....
Do some weird "artistic" thing...
Look at how short the back is! (Definitely not as short as some have seen.)
Patches wouldn't look at me, so I stuck my tongue out...

Woo.

Little Miss Moxie Muffinhead and Me! =)

Kitten and KaTrina Eskimo kisses

Smile Pretty Kitty!

Look at Patches and his Halloween costume! haha

He was probably thinking something along the lines of:
"Woman, you're weird.

Patches tried to lick my face so naturally I puffed my neck out in self defense? lol

Hope you enjoyed all the pictures!

Non-Bias Election Post

2008-10-07T20:42:00.002-05:00

I'm not going to say who I support, and I'm not going to tell you what I believe, all I ask is you go to this website: http://www.electiontaxes.com/

and make a decision yourself. See how each candidates tax plan will effect YOU in their four years in office.