Dance for Breast Cancer

Incredible video of a group of hosipital workers dancing for breast cancer awareness!

my personal favorite is the man dancing with the mop :)

ugh the miss you teen angst

after chilling with andrew in the cape and having a constant companion who would willingly entertain all of my strange and insensible bloodgamish (jk) plans, i find myself terribly forlorn and missing all of you very much. sometimes it's easier to go on hiatus than to see you one or more of you (or have the definite prospect of seeing you in the near future) b/c it drives me nutso and chills my insides. i guess missing you all currently occupies my mind more than other destructive and unhealthy things, so that's good, but i just wanted you to know that when you feel lonely for some inexplicable reason, i commiserate with you!!

in other news, i slept for an hour at a gym while my housemates worked out.

and i'm beginning to fear that my capacity for loneliness is steadily shrinking!

Well, I'm coming home!

Well, after 5 days of not sleeping and surviving only on the salt of the tears that ran down my face (ooh, angstypoetic, right?), I have decided to come home.

There are a million reasons to stay but more to go home. The program wasn't great, the people on the program weren't great, and basically I spent my time filling my schedule with things to do to make my time pass quickly. And I though, why not just go home now? Wel, that took days to decide. It was actually miserable. Like seriously. I felt like I was insane.

Anyway-I am moving to the Big Apple (called that due to horsevracing-wtf?) and trying to find a job in the arts (hey, if you know anyone, help a girl out). As of the 18th, I will be home to stay :D I am really, really looking forward to it

I realized that you are all way cooler/smarter/funier/cuter than anyone I have met since graduating. And frankly, I want to be closer to that.

See you soon.

ps
I only work for 6 of the next 20 days in Spain- so I am planning a trip to Italy, Salamanca, and Madrid. Oh, god, it will be so, so hard to work 40 hour weeks!

Happy Turkey Day!!

Ready for corny, sappiness?

I'm SO SO thankful you guys are my friends....

Only y'all would understand that I once made up a song with a friend in middle school about a radioactive turkey to the tune of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I'd like to share it and it went something like this:

Tom, the shiny skinned turkey (turkey)
Had some very shiny skin
And if you ever saw it (saw it)
You would even say it glowed (like radioactive turkey skin)

All of the other turkeys (turkeys)
Used to laugh and call him names (like Radioactive Skin Boy)
They never let poor Tom (Tom)
Join in any turkey games

Then one misty Thanksgiving Day
Grandma came to say ("Get in my Belly!")
"Tom with you skin so white
Won't you be my dinner tonight?"

Then all the turkeys told him (told him)
As they shouted out his name (Radioactive Skin Boy!)
Tom, the radioactive skin turkey (turkey)
You'll go down in her tummy!

P.S. Home, Home on the Range

I got home today after a family funeral in Iowa, a great-aunt of mine who I'd maybe met twice, and tonight whilst searching for a movie to watch after my parents had gone to bed, I found a video of my speeches from my sophomore year Speech class. This is only noteworthy because I want those of you who tease me about my pronunciation of "bayg," "hayg," and "kayg" to know the tremendous linguistic strides I've made since 2001. Like seriously, I sound like a hillbilly in this video. And to preempt Carolyn, I know I still sometimes sound like a hillbilly.

I guess the other, potentially more embarrassing feature of the video is the information speech about J.R.R. Tolkien. Yep.

We're still friends right?

From Bolivia with Love (and Employment)

OK, so I know I've been super absent from the friend blog since, well, its inception but all that's about to change. Now, after months of fruitless albeit enthusiastic networking, I gots myself a J-O-B. That's right, I'm finally going to have an active lifestyle which is certain to be filled with hilarious, blog-worthy stories! I mean really, why else would one seek employment?

I found out late last week that I got a job with the Spitting Llama Bookstore and Outfitter in La Paz, Bolivia. If anyone remembers Dave Holman from Carleton (maybe involving an incident in which he baby-birded a Reese's peanut butter cup on stage? Anyone?) he and his wife (also, wife?! And you're under 30?) own three travel bookstores in Bolivia and I've been taken on to manage and work in the one in La Paz. I only spent a few days in La Paz when I was there last time so I'm excited to get to know it better and have more time to get mugged and knifed to death. Hopefully that sentence doesn't come back to mug and knife me to death...

What's most exciting about this job is that for many reasons, Dave really wants his stores to have a positive social impact in the their communities (not least of which being that it keeps Bolivians from burning them down during their biweekly protests. FUN!). Because the store in La Paz is newer than the others in Copacabana and Cochabamba, the community outreach component hasn't really been conceptualized or implemented yet. That means it's my job to get out into the community, get to know NGOs working in the area, and basically ask everyone, "Hi, what kind of sustainable project might you be interested in?" Hopefully there will be lots of interested parties to make that job component a bit easier.

I have to be in Bolivia in the first week of January so I thought, "why not tack on a trip to New York since I'll be on the move over New Years anyway?" So I'm going to be in New York for New Years to see everyone who's able to make it!! I'm getting in on the night of the 30th and flying out on January 4th. Get ready to rage. Those who can't make it, get ready for hourly (drunk?) updates via most available media.

That's my update, I'm ssooSOsoso glad I finally have something to report. The last few months have been sort of grim, but I think this is going to be a pretty sweet opportunity. I'll be there for at least a year, anyone interested in visiting? I'll have an apartment...and one of the cheapest living costs in the Western Hemisphere. Eh? Eh?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, SISTAH/BROTHA-FRIENDS

at home in the nc making a chocolate cake (plus or minus some differences).

the new baby only smiles and laughs and bounces around. i haven't heard him cry in the past 48 hours that i've been here (a magic baby, perhaps? a future member of the fellowship of the smiley friends?).

main concern: my tastebuds have been fluctuating in and out of commission, which is the WORST thing that can happen at Thanksgiving (sans other probably more real tragedies).

love/miss/want to hug you all. for real. not just kidding.

WE HAVE SNOW DAYS HERE

So today I got an email from my coworker giving me the "snow line" - the number you call to find out if work is canceled during the harsh new york winter. Apparently there were like 4 snow days last year. HA. The snow rarely stays on the ground here. HA.

I haven't had a snow day since like middle school. AWESOME.

Terror at 3%

Remember those times Nate (and sometimes Andrew) would chase me around Brooks House, eliciting 98% fun/exciting times and 2% terror? Well, today, we have reached a critical level of 3%. 97% fun, 3 % rapid respiration coupled with minor bronchitis.

After watching Star Trek and becoming mildly hyperactive, my friend Jenny and I discovered a fantastic new pastime called, Jenny sits on the couch covered in pillows holding her hands out. I jump from across the couch for a safe landing. It's amazing. I've never jumped no holds-bar (is that the phrase?) on top of anyone before. It's like flying, sort of. Anyway, getting my high (figuratively and literally) off of jumping, some of the fellows in this house thought it might be funny to do some smothering/kicking/pulling frenzy time. One of them pulled a Nate (i.e. originally a peace-keeper, turned boys-team) and bam! my bronchial tubes seize with mucus and frantic aspiration.

All together. Fun and terrifying. Maybe this house won't be too different on my nerves than the last house. At least I'll stay young, right, Katie? (refer to short story with freak show kids and eternal youth-craving spectating adults)

Because I'm obsessed.

Have you all seen "New Moon" yet??? Cause you should!! It's really good! Waaaay better than the first one.

So Thursday I got to go to an advanced screening of New Moon for this VIP opening gala at the new Showplace theater by my house. The tickets came from my aunt, but she told the people in charge that I was her intern so I could go in her place! (haha, I'm thinking...I'd like to make that permanent arrangement.) The theater is really, really fancy. They had hundreds of workers stationed just about every 5 feet to greet and welcome us. I'm not exaggerating. We had assigned seats in the VIP balcony too!
I stole this... :]


The VIP lounge was 21+, so we flashed our IDs and they led us to this fancy room with a bar. It was so awesome and all drinks and hors d'oerves were on the house. They made bacon popcorn for us! It was popcorn dribbled with bacon drippings and had pieces of bacon cooked with it. The perfect artery clogging snack! Throughout the evening various managers would walk over to where we were sitting and introduce themselves, ask us how we were enjoying things, etc, etc. One guy even took pictures of us. Ashley and I felt like real VIPs...plus we were the youngest people there! haha. It was super awesome. Its like the theater is trying to make movie date nights super classy now.

The theater itself was amazing. Huge leather chairs complete with coat holders, cup holders, and so much leg and arm room you can't see the people on either side of you. The screen was 62 feet and the clearest picture I have ever seen! I could see every 8-pack line on Jacob's stomach!! haha.

People got drunk off the unlimited free alcohol. Throughout the film some older woman kept yelling "WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! YEAAAAH!" during random parts of the movie. Actually, all the older woman were like catcalling whenever Jacob or Edward were shirtless...which was quite frequent. It was kind of awkward.

But yeah, Chris Weitz really delivered with this film. He promised to make it JUST like the book. And he did, they seriously didn't cut out anything of importance and it was edited creatively to allow inner monologue from the book without having to do voice over the whole time. Plus with their massive budget for this film the costumes, the make up, special effects, dialogue, and acting were much improved. Kristen Stewart didn't stutter annoyingly through this one. Very pleased with the result. All in all a really great time! :]

Miss you guys.

Bacon popcorn!!

the melting point of soda cups

So today at work, I had grabbed a paper cup (intended for the pop machine) and was about to fill it with hot cocoa in our starbucks machine when the lady next to me freaked out and was like "NO, IT WILL MELT." Though I didn't believe her, I was a bit alarmed at her urgency, so I quickly switched to a cup intended for coffee. Of course, when I sat back down, I had this urge to fill a paper cup with cocoa just to see if it melted. So I snuck back to the machine and tested the cup. It did not melt.

Amy: 1, Lady: 0

Though I enjoy being right, I was kinda looking forward to the cup spontaneously combusting when the cocoa hit it...I'll test a flimsier cup next time. :)

Time flies

Can we talk about how it's going to be 2010 in a month and a half? WHUH?
This vid does a really good job recapping the decade.

I still remember putting a hat on my kitten and chilling with my parents in pajamas when it turned 2000.

Trivia trivets!

I'm in charge of creating a newsletter-trivia section about the people here. last year, they did a matching game (names one side, facts the other). any good ideas??

Ultra-sounding

they're fun! I'm probs only saying this because my ultrasound came back negative (i.e. NOT PREGGERZ!!).

jk.

just so you all know, i'd thought i'd felt this uncomfortable lump in my body, so i got a chest ultrasound today, and discovered that there is nothing to worry about.

i've been feeling funky for a while for uncertain reasons, but now i think i'd been unconsciously uncertain about this whole thing. when i walke dout of the office, it was like lifting damp sweater from a struggling helium balloon. (i'm sorry, i've used this simile too often)

also, interesting stuff. so i may or may not be a "peacemaker" according to the Enneagram test.


fun facts. at unhealthy levels, this is what i can expect:

Level 9: They finally become severely disoriented and catatonic, abandoning themselves, turning into shattered shells. Multiple personalities possible. Generally corresponds to the Schizoid and Dependent personality disorders.

typically, i think i fall between "healthy" and "average":

Level 3: Optimistic, reassuring, supportive: have a healing and calming influence—harmonizing groups, bringing people together: a good mediator, synthesizer, and communicator.

Average Levels

Level 4: Fear conflicts, so become self-effacing and accommodating, idealizing others and "going along" with their wishes, saying "yes" to things they do not really want to do. Fall into conventional roles and expectations. Use philosophies and stock sayings to deflect others.

i wonder if quoting parts of books as if they're actually real falls under "philosophies and stock sayings."

stanky leg infant...um...?

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXaYaU63sUA&feature=player_embedded#

Paranormal Letdown

I have to say that I've never been less scared and more willing to laugh than when I tried to watch The Grudge a few years back. This will just make New Moon that much better!!!

The Grab Bag Post.

Some random things to share:

I found a funny online store called "I Heart Guts"...some woman cartoonized human internal organs and is selling plush toys and printed t-shirts of them. Who knew your spleen could look so cute? Leah and Ryeon--I figured you'd find it amusing. :]

Saturday night I went to see Atreyu with my friend, Ashley. I haven't rocked out that hard in years...in fact the last time was probably when I saw Atreyu when they came to MN 3 years ago. Well, it was a pretty gnar show. I ended up falling down in the circle pit and someone stepped on my head. Luckily some skinny emo kid managed to pick me up off the ground before any more big metal dudes fell on me.

Last night I was talked into to watching "The Hangover." All I can say is if the guy I was marrying had a bachelor party like that and almost missed getting to the wedding...I would KILL all the groom's men. For real.

Finally, I just really love this song. Listen to it. You'll like it too.

Plus we're all either turning 23 or are 23. :]

Same as it ever was...

Hey! Thanks for the Birthday wishes everyone! I had a great birthday including delicious Mexican food, margaritas (at that place where we went when you visited Carolyn), and a key lime pie "cake." The night culminated in a talking heads cover band, which was really really good, although, tragically, I left before psycho killer. My parents then took me out the next night for Indian food - they NEVER EAT ETHNIC! I really appreciated their divergence for something I like and I thought of y'all and the evening was filled with anecdotes about eating at Chapatis. Then, finally, they took me to see the symphony where the soloist was a cellist who played the concerto that I was learning before I stopped playing regularly...made me want to play again so bad!

Tonight I'm going to see paranormal activity with a guy named Brandon. It is unclear whether this is a date or not - we'll see. I hear that even NATE was scared by this movie; I'm already in fear!

Quote of the Day

"All relationships are bad for you."
--courtesy of Ktizzle

***not intended to demean those of us in healthy relationships***

Returning to Carleton?

Sorry to be a blog hog...
But I found a job opening at Carleton and I'm applying for it. Its to be an Administrative Assistant for the Office of Intercultural and International Life. Not really what I have always pictured myself doing, but I figured I'd give it a shot. Its 37 hours a week and you get benefits...which I need badly, considering I have no health insurance. The job states they want someone who has experience working with "International and/or underrepresented students"...and I'm thinking "Does 4 years of going to school with them count?" Its so strange filling out an app/writing a cover letter to Carleton cause its like they could just walk to the building next door to talk to my references or call up the registrar to look at my academic records. lol. I feel like being an Alumn should give me some sort of a leg up, right? I mean, I understand "Carleton's Mission," I know the campus, I know the people, I'm not dumb, I can "work independently and quickly,"etc etc. Who knows...we'll see how it goes. If I get this job, I'll have to buy a car somehow. But working in Northfield will have benefits... :]

UMM

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/11/04/finally-an-iphone-app-that-lets-you-track-your-bathroom-habits/
@ Brooks House
(rye maybe you do want an iphone after all)

Happy November!

I hope you all had a great Halloweekend! I've enjoyed seeing everyone's facebook pictures. Unfortunately, 4 years of being around friends who always take pictures (I'm looking at you Amy and Leah) has gotten me out of the habit of taking them myself...oops. So unfortunately, I have no pictures documenting my evening. But here's a brief recap of my Halloween...
I went to the First Ave Halloween Party! I spent the earlier part of the evening trying to walk the thin line between "hot" and "skanky" with my costume. I decided to be the vampire Lorena from True Blood. I bought new vampire fangs that I had to mold to my teeth--scared my dad with them cause they looked so real. Then Adam came over dressed up as Christian Bale from "American Psycho." I spattered fake blood on his face and shirt collar to complete his costume...good thing I always keep a bottle of blood handy, right? Naturally I got blood spatter all over the bathroom and the next morning my mom woke me up asking if I had "Dexter-ized" someone. lol. It was pretty scary looking.

First ave was packed!! The line to get in went around the block, so we had to wait FOREVER to get in. It was freezing. Once we got inside it was so awesome. Peter Lansky a la Too Much Love was the DJ. Plus we got that extra hour to stay out because of daylight savings!
There was a costume contest...here are some of the winners: Two guys went as an AT-AT Walker from Star Wars...the coolest thing I have ever seen. EVER. They built the top part to excruciating detail complete with little figure people in the view room. They wore the top part over their heads/torsos and made coverings to put on their legs to be the legs of the walker. They then proceeded to walk around in perfect synch just like an AT-AT. Yeah, they won. I also saw a film quality Boba Fett suit and a Storm Trooper suit

Some nominaated group costumes: Monty Python, Clue, The Neverending Story, Power Rangers, and a nudist colony(which was kinda gross...it was a group of girls wearing flesh colored body suits but with boobs and butts drawn on. oh yeah, and patches of hair for, um, down there, and each with the type of person they were supposed to be... there was a 60s au natural girl, a milkmaid, a cowgirl with a star shaped area, and a stripper with pasties.)

Oh yeah, and its a good thing I didn't end up being Lady GaGa cause EVERYONE went as her this year. lol. I even saw a man dressed as her VMA award acceptance outfit. lol. Anyway, it was a great time, wished you all could have been there with me! I'm sure we could've come up with a winning group costume.

I want to go to prison in the Philippines

Maybe you guys have seen this, but I hadn't until my friend at work told me. They started with Thriller as a tribute to Michael Jackson's death and now they've just come out with the Queen Medley. This is a REAL prison...sooooo funny!!!

check yo emailz

I'm so glad that I get to try out all the things NOT TO DO with new people.

does anyone else remember this?

I was telling andrew this weekend how I used to watch this comedy sci-fi show when I was little. I looked it up today. Did any of you watch Mystery Science Theater 3000? I feel like you all would love it (at least when intoxicated...).

Fall

People rake their leaves into the street here. When I first noticed this, I thought that I was living in some crazy gated community where there were regulations requiring no leaves in your yard and where garbage men pick up your leaves each morning, but that is not the case. The leaves stay in the street. It's as if everyone thinks it looks better to have a huge pile of leave on your curb than to have them scattered around the yard. This fascinates me. I often drive through these piles and make a mess...which makes me feel a little better about this odd occurrence.

Halloloween

SOOOOOO how was everybody's Halloween?

I accidentally got ready painfully early (9pm, when nobody goes out until 1) so I looked like Beyonce for a full 12 hours. Since they don't have candy in this country (no but really) we made Halloween cookies for the party at our house. The night was mostly uneventful and consisted of moving from the house party to an American-ish bar called the Spot (where I got two drinks for $2, BOMBBB) and then to an odd club where a photographer took fancy pictures of us six American girls all night. I hope I am somewhere on a club's promotion website within the week waving a silver hand.

Best costume I saw: since people here aren't as "creative" as y'all (leprechauns and fairies but no Saladfingers or washing machines), I'd give it to my friend Nate, who dressed as Che and looked EXACTLY like him. Eerily so. One of my friends on the facebook dressed as Lady Gaga dressed as the moon -- she's awesome.

Figure I was most often mistaken for: Michael Jackson. PLEASE, people if I were gonna be MJ (which I would never do) I would try a little harder than dressing exactly as Beyonce and wearing a silver glove.