Life is full of challenges. Sometimes they make you stronger, sometimes they make you stranger, and sometimes they just make your brain hurt. These last couple of weeks have had a mix of all three.
I've been living in DC without the majority of my stuff for almost 4 months now. Some days I feel I should sell it all and become totally portable, a theatre gypsy. Sometimes I feel like I really, really, REALLY miss my stuff. Let's just call it a dichotomy of emotion. This week I was missing my craft supplies- in a big way.
So far I've realized I don't have- an awl, hammer, mini-screw driver, zipper foot, the cord to connect my camera to my computer, a photo set up, many thread colors, sand paper, an x-acto knife, and someone to date. In the grand scheme, these things are all attainable via either a quick trip to my storage facility-date excluded-8 hours away or a 4.5 to 10.75 hour trip to NYC where I can get it all (most likely date included). Instead of interstate driving I decided to try to find what I'm missing right here in DC. I even scheduled a real live date with a real live guy in my real live city.
It would seem to me that in a city as large as DC I should be able to take care of my list and still get home in time to shower, make myself beautiful and head out the door for a long anticipated date. This plan was flawed. Almost as flawed as the US plan to invade Iraq, just with less civilian casualties.
I figured I could get my list taken care of at a fabric store, a home store, and Ikea (extra points if you already see the flaw) and still make it home for a shower.
Never, never, never go shopping anywhere the weekend the dorms open. These words should ring true as "never get involved in a land war in Asia". It's similar to slamming your head in a door, realizing it hurt, and then doing it again-just to make sure it really hurt. Anyway I'm getting off topic. I made it thru the stores. I didn't find half of the items on the list, bought something I'm pretty sure was called "Fukit" at Ikea, and headed home for my date. Almost as soon as I walked in the door my iCrack buzzed and the date was canceled.
Normally I would blow someone off after the second canceled date (or if I sit in a bar for more than 30 minutes waiting on them to show up). This time it was the 5th date this dude has canceled with me. I'm not sure what or why I allowed him to make and break 5 dates with me, but I did. Maybe it was the angel sitting on my shoulder telling me to be nice, or maybe it is the fact that I am bordering on desperate to meet an intelligent male within 20 miles of my zip code. Either way, I've been chasing a lot of wild geese this week.
I think I'm gonna throw in the towel and head to NYC soon. At least there I know where I can buy a zipper foot.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
What Makes America Great?
4.5 : Number of hours it is supposed to take to travel between DC and NYC
6.5 : Number of hours spent in the car traveling between Washington DC and NYC on Friday
12 : Number of Twizzlers eaten in car.
48.65: Dollars spent each way in gasoline and tolls
38 : Hours spent in NYC
7.5 : Amount in dollars to see the Coney Island Freak Show
10.75 : Hours spent coming back into DC from uptown NYC
2 : Number of bridges closed between NYC and DC on Sunday.
This past weekend I headed into NYC to enjoy a little hard earned R&R and spend some time with people I know and love. On Saturday we headed down to Brooklyn so I could see Coney Island for my first and possibly last time. For those of you who have never been to Coney Island: put down the computer mouse, gas up the car and go. Now. If for no other reason- Coney Island is about to be closed and torn down (or as they call it-reorganized) for high rent schmancy beach front apartments and condos.
I grew up in Orlando- the land of homogenized Disney cleanliness and niceties, so I have always thought I didn't like amusement parks. They are too clean, too fake and too nice. Disney is famous for the whole hand point (as to not offend anyone by accidentally pointing at them) Not at Coney Island. Coney Island is about as sleazy as it gets. People let the bird fly as freely as the seagulls and the booze comes by the yard.
No where in Disney can you load a paintball gun and shoot at a 17 year old kid (dressed in protective gear) who is telling you to *suck his cock*. Yup. Suck. His. Cock. Let that sink in for a moment. A day at Coney Island made me realize what is actually good about America; and it is a guy in moto-cross gear telling me to suck it.
Other things that make America great are to be found at the Freak Show where a handlebar moustached man named Johnny Vomit reminds children "never major in Liberal Arts" right before he pounds a nail into his skull...these are the messages that are not getting to children early enough. Parents: take notes at this freak show.
Additionally you can see an exhibit called the 'Waterboarding adventure" where it "Don't Gitmo Better Than This".
Yes friends. These are the things that make America Great.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Bloggy blog
Howdy everyone!
Well, it's been a while and here is the update........
In the last couple of weeks I have:
Spent my first night in an airport- 12 hours in BWI to be exact. You know it's gonna be a bad night when some goldfish crackers and a second airline blanket seem like luxury.
Gone to Florida to visit my family.
Come home to no air conditioning, limited Internet access, and a very pissy cat.
Tried to schedule some dates with men I met on the interweb- sadly, my *particular* brand of humor didn't go over so well. Note to self: Never make jokes about shovels, dark alleys and quicklime before the first date.....
Since then- life is getting back to normal.
The AC guy has been out to see us 4 times in the last week to no avail.....soon I'm gonna start sleeping in the costume shop. Holy Crap. It's hot.
Well, it's been a while and here is the update........
In the last couple of weeks I have:
Spent my first night in an airport- 12 hours in BWI to be exact. You know it's gonna be a bad night when some goldfish crackers and a second airline blanket seem like luxury.
Gone to Florida to visit my family.
Come home to no air conditioning, limited Internet access, and a very pissy cat.
Tried to schedule some dates with men I met on the interweb- sadly, my *particular* brand of humor didn't go over so well. Note to self: Never make jokes about shovels, dark alleys and quicklime before the first date.....
Since then- life is getting back to normal.
The AC guy has been out to see us 4 times in the last week to no avail.....soon I'm gonna start sleeping in the costume shop. Holy Crap. It's hot.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Holy crap it's hot chicken salad.
I moved from Connecticut to Washington DC. People said to me: "hey Katie, it's really hot in DC" and I said: "Oh sure, but I grew up in Florida, so it can't possibly be that hot"....
We can chalk this up on the blackboard of stupid statements made by Katie. It is just as hot here as Florida. I don't think (read:hope) that it will be as long lasting a heat as Florida, but until then- I'm eating lots of cold things this summer.
This is a variation on good ole chicken salad, and tastes great on spinach tortilla wraps, in a pita pocket or on top of a bed of mixed greens. It falls into the category of 'bonus boxed', because it uses bottled curry sauce. If you are feeling a little more advanced substitute your own homemade yellow curry sauce. If you don't eat meat, try it with some baked extra-firm tofu, or for the pescetarian with 2 cans/pouches drained tuna.
Makes lunches for a week, or feeds a family/house of roommates for dinner
Bake or grill: 3 fresh chicken breasts (around 24 oz.) until done (to check for done-ness, pierce the thickest part of the largest breast -juices should run totally clear and meat should be easy to cut) allow to cool and cut into 1/2" to 1" chunks. Toss it into a big bowl.
Add to the bowl:
One large (or two small) cored and chopped granny smith apple.
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 Tbls Mayo (I used reduced or fat free, but you can use whatever you have in your fridge)
3 Tbls Yellow Curry Sauce ( I use Trader Joe's brand, you can use whatever your local grocery store has)
The juice of 1/2 a lemon (watch out for the seeds)
1 tsp additional curry powder (add more if you like things very flavorful and a little spicy)
1/2 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste.
Variations: add some red pepper (spicy), some finely chopped onion, bell peppers, a minced garlic clove, some chopped water chestnuts, or some chopped grapes.
Mix with a spoon till all ingredients are well covered and everything looks yummy.
Store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Yum.
We can chalk this up on the blackboard of stupid statements made by Katie. It is just as hot here as Florida. I don't think (read:hope) that it will be as long lasting a heat as Florida, but until then- I'm eating lots of cold things this summer.
This is a variation on good ole chicken salad, and tastes great on spinach tortilla wraps, in a pita pocket or on top of a bed of mixed greens. It falls into the category of 'bonus boxed', because it uses bottled curry sauce. If you are feeling a little more advanced substitute your own homemade yellow curry sauce. If you don't eat meat, try it with some baked extra-firm tofu, or for the pescetarian with 2 cans/pouches drained tuna.
Makes lunches for a week, or feeds a family/house of roommates for dinner
Bake or grill: 3 fresh chicken breasts (around 24 oz.) until done (to check for done-ness, pierce the thickest part of the largest breast -juices should run totally clear and meat should be easy to cut) allow to cool and cut into 1/2" to 1" chunks. Toss it into a big bowl.
Add to the bowl:
One large (or two small) cored and chopped granny smith apple.
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 Tbls Mayo (I used reduced or fat free, but you can use whatever you have in your fridge)
3 Tbls Yellow Curry Sauce ( I use Trader Joe's brand, you can use whatever your local grocery store has)
The juice of 1/2 a lemon (watch out for the seeds)
1 tsp additional curry powder (add more if you like things very flavorful and a little spicy)
1/2 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste.
Variations: add some red pepper (spicy), some finely chopped onion, bell peppers, a minced garlic clove, some chopped water chestnuts, or some chopped grapes.
Mix with a spoon till all ingredients are well covered and everything looks yummy.
Store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Yum.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
On blogging and responsibility.
I've been reading feministing on my way to work each day(oh yes iCrack), and it (as a few of you know) is an intensely political modern feminist blog. Several writers post to it, and the community of feminists comment. One post this week grabbed my attention and has made me think long and hard. Basically the jist of the post was- be responsible for what you say, do, and stand for. This gets me thinking about my life, and my politics and why I started this blog.
I started this blog as a way to promote my etsy shop (as seen on the side bar>>>, now go buy something) slowly it has become a more personal blog. I talk about my life, my politics, and my thought process for leaving one home in search of a new adventure. It is a deeply personal and meaningful thing to me to share my life with the couple dozen people (?) who read about me and what I do. In the end, it is still a blog, and as such it is a very public thing.
It's a strange thing to write some words, hit post, and the next day realize people around you and hundreds of miles away know what you wrote, what you are thinking, and have a little insight into your strange and wonderful world. It is even stranger when someone you have never met walks up to you at a craft market and tells you they read your blog (I'm lying it's wicked cool). I think it's moments like these that remind me that in some small way what I do and say actually goes into the cyber world and pings off someone else's radar.
So here is your PSA for my very public and very odd little blog. Please vote. Forget all the other things I've said (except that one time) and vote. People forget how a simple act can deeply impact someone else's life. While you are at it, remind your friends to vote. If we all make sure 2 other people vote, and they make sure 2 other people vote we will be in for a rockin good time this November. So far this election has been unlike any other in history, so let's keep the momentum going.
dammit.
I started this blog as a way to promote my etsy shop (as seen on the side bar>>>, now go buy something) slowly it has become a more personal blog. I talk about my life, my politics, and my thought process for leaving one home in search of a new adventure. It is a deeply personal and meaningful thing to me to share my life with the couple dozen people (?) who read about me and what I do. In the end, it is still a blog, and as such it is a very public thing.
It's a strange thing to write some words, hit post, and the next day realize people around you and hundreds of miles away know what you wrote, what you are thinking, and have a little insight into your strange and wonderful world. It is even stranger when someone you have never met walks up to you at a craft market and tells you they read your blog (I'm lying it's wicked cool). I think it's moments like these that remind me that in some small way what I do and say actually goes into the cyber world and pings off someone else's radar.
So here is your PSA for my very public and very odd little blog. Please vote. Forget all the other things I've said (except that one time) and vote. People forget how a simple act can deeply impact someone else's life. While you are at it, remind your friends to vote. If we all make sure 2 other people vote, and they make sure 2 other people vote we will be in for a rockin good time this November. So far this election has been unlike any other in history, so let's keep the momentum going.
dammit.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Aack! an update.
Wowsa!
There has been a lot going on lately. Here is the quick run down
My dear friends got married. It was amazing. The bride and groom looked like a million bucks (thanks to the costume shop (s)). Traveling to and from the wedding was a little more difficult than I had wanted or expected, but heck, when your friends are getting married you bite the bullet and sit in traffic for hours longer than you anticipated. I'm waiting on some pictures of the tent city we erected, so stay tuned.
My moving company sent me an updated estimate based on the cost of gasoline..... I won't be getting my stuff anytime soon. I'm not really sure how to deal with it, I'm feeling a little stressed about the whole situation. If I felt more stable in this apartment, I would just go pick it all up in a truck. However, I am woefully uncommitted to so much in my life right now, I think it is better to leave my stuff in storage and re-asses the situation in 6 or so months. The good news---I found this out before I headed to the wedding, so I was able to load my car with some furniture and a few craft supplies. --nothing makes a girl happier than some yarn and paperclay!
With the return of a few craft supplies, comes the return of me adding things to my etsy shop. It has been pretty unattended to for the last couple of months, and I feel like it is time to get it loaded for the fall, and start prepping for Christmas (yeah it's July). I am working on some groovy new things for the fall, and hopefully this year I will be prepared for the holiday rush.
That's about all I can manage to think about this week, so I promise, promise, promise a better more interesting and clever post this weekend.
xoxoxo
-Katie
There has been a lot going on lately. Here is the quick run down
My dear friends got married. It was amazing. The bride and groom looked like a million bucks (thanks to the costume shop (s)). Traveling to and from the wedding was a little more difficult than I had wanted or expected, but heck, when your friends are getting married you bite the bullet and sit in traffic for hours longer than you anticipated. I'm waiting on some pictures of the tent city we erected, so stay tuned.
My moving company sent me an updated estimate based on the cost of gasoline..... I won't be getting my stuff anytime soon. I'm not really sure how to deal with it, I'm feeling a little stressed about the whole situation. If I felt more stable in this apartment, I would just go pick it all up in a truck. However, I am woefully uncommitted to so much in my life right now, I think it is better to leave my stuff in storage and re-asses the situation in 6 or so months. The good news---I found this out before I headed to the wedding, so I was able to load my car with some furniture and a few craft supplies. --nothing makes a girl happier than some yarn and paperclay!
With the return of a few craft supplies, comes the return of me adding things to my etsy shop. It has been pretty unattended to for the last couple of months, and I feel like it is time to get it loaded for the fall, and start prepping for Christmas (yeah it's July). I am working on some groovy new things for the fall, and hopefully this year I will be prepared for the holiday rush.
That's about all I can manage to think about this week, so I promise, promise, promise a better more interesting and clever post this weekend.
xoxoxo
-Katie
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