Here's a way to ring in the new year...

*ring ring* (that's a cell phone)

Me: "Hey baby"

That Guy: "where are you?"

Me: "out and about, why"

That Guy: "there was an accident involving your car at your house, I think you should get home."

I hadn't a clue what i was walking in to, but my heart sank when I saw this:

So yeah some guy, with no insurance and no id did this to my car, took out some landscaping belonging to my landlords and hit the back of a truck.

Thank goodness no one was hurt, and I got to see his ass hauled off in cuffs.

Happy new Year!

The little things

This Christmas had a different vibe to it. I felt a bit distant from my family, kinda like an outsider looking in on a family. It was odd. Possibly because we haven't been together as a family in a long time. Because we are all doing our own things, because our lives are growing up and growing a bit apart.
My Christmas was full of so many things- literally. I realize how damn spoiled I am- and I appreciate ALL of it. It's amazing. The one thing that made me smile more than anything was a little note tucked into my stocking- that is now in my wallet so I can read it anytime I feel a bit down.
I just can't believe how time flies, how this year is almost over, how the years are speeding by at warp speed. It's crazy. I have made so many changes in my personal life this year- and I feel like I have a better grasp on me. Letting the guard down a bit, easing up on myself and others, realizing that the world is what it is, and if at some point in time I may have the chance to change bits of- awesome. If not, I'll try to make it the best for myself.
I hope you all had a great Holiday season, and lets bring 2007 in with fireworks.
I hope to see lots of smiles, hear lots of laughs, and feel lots of hugs in the upcoming year.

Tis the Holiday season- yet again

It's crazy how fast time seems to be flying the older I get. Christmas is 7 days away- wow. My little sis is on her way home from school today, and we get to have her in town for a little over a week- and I'm super excited about that. I miss her like crazy when she's gone as long as she has been.

The parties have started, tree decorating is done, wrapping as well. I swear it was just the end of September, that I had just moved in to my fab apartment, that it was still super warm out during the day. Now, I'm somewhat settled in my "new" place, its butt freaking cold outside, and this morning my car was a giant ice cube. (Good thing I have new windshield wipers.... LOL)

This Christmas feels a bit different than that past few have for me. I'm happy. Not smiling but grumpy inside, I am truly happy. So many wonderful things and people in my life these days, there isn't a reason in the world for me not to be happy. My family has had some low points this year with losses and fights with health issues, but all in all- everyone is great. Something I have prayed for, for a very long time.

There will be another butt at our table Christmas dinner this year, and my family is happy about that.

One thing that is really hard for me to deal with is seeing my parents and Gramma tear up. My mom cried last weekend- said it didn't feel like the holidays because the house is so empty. My sister is up at school, and I haven't been around much. It made my heart drop. Made me realize I need to step it up with the family again. I know that I get lonely from time to time, but never expected my parents- who have not only one another, but 3 cats and a dogs to keep them entertained- to get lonely without my sis and I there. Crazy.

So, I wish everyone and their families a warm, cozy and safe Holiday season. I hope to see lots of smiling pictures after Christmas!

My couch

is a bit small for two to snuggle on. But so wonderful to snuggle with someone on.
Winter rocks for the snuggle factor.

I love waking up and falling asleep to the sound of rain.

I hate laundry, but clean panties are a necessary evil.

I'm caught up on my desk from being on vacation, although the work keeps pouring in.

I am done with Christmas shopping, and tonight will be done with all of my wrapping.

Haircut tonight, sleep after that.

*Big hugs*

Sweet

Sentiments.
make me smile.
a lot.
yeah! :)

"Kid Stuff"

I love it. From board games to puddle jumping. It's all so innocent, so fun.

Today I began decorating my apartment for Christmas. (I realized half of my stuff is at my Gramma's house about 10 minutes into it. LOL) I love the lights, the candle glow, the smell of the candles I only burn during this time of year. Unwrapping the decorations and getting a bigger smile across my face each time one of my "favorites" comes out of a box.

It's like when I was growing up, and there was that one decoration I HAD to put on the tree. I'd search for it, find it put it to the side, and it would be the last thing I would hang on a branch. It didn't have any kind of monetary value to it, it was old and falling apart, but it was my favorite thing in the whole world at Christmas time.

I miss those days. Where things didn't have to have rhyme or reason to them. Explanations of "because" worked. You could love something without reason.

Innocent minds and uninhibited ideals on people, places and things is what I miss most. Brutal honesty was acceptable and encouraged, and being starry eyed at something like a Christmas tree was the norm.

Time to step back and enjoy the "kid stuff". Seeing things as they are, and embracing all that is in the same light.

Who's on vacation??? Oh yeah, that'd be me! :)

That's right folks. For the first time in 15 months I will be on a vacation. 11 1/2 days of doing whatever feels good. I'll be out pushing for Rogue monies, cleaning, drinking coffee, reading, visiting my Gramma, just being.

I thought about taking a few days and venturing out of town, and decided that I didn't feel like it. I just need some down time in the good ol 'No. Visiting friends, causing trouble, whatever works!

I do plan on getting some Christmas shopping done, although I am not sure what exactly I am buying. LOL Sporadic shopping sprees are some of the most productive trips ever!

So tomorrow is the big turkey cookin day. I'll eat some, visit with the family, then become "meals on wheels" to certain persons that didn't want to actually attend dinner with my family. Not like I can blame them, my family is odd, but I love em to death.

So this is the time to vocalize what a person is thankful for. I am thankful for everyone and everything in my life, they are what is making it wonderful and trying on a daily basis. So, if you're reading this, thank you for being a part of my life! :)

I am, however really really thankful for Lucy, my cat. As much as she drives me totally nuts at 3am playing, she gives me the unconditional daily love I need to survive. We snuggle, we share meals, sing really loud together, play, and talk. It's so hard living alone sometimes. I grew up in a house that was moving 24/7. So, at times I get really really lonely. Thanks Jaded girl for bringing the tubby orange fluff ball into my life! :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Have a very safe and fun one.

Ain't no sunshine.....

Anywhere in the Central Valley. LOL

It seems as though Mother Nature is telling us it is officially time to hibernate. As wonderful an idea as that may be, it is certainly not practical. I like the cold, being bundled up, snuggling on the couch watching college football games, but I do need a bit of sun to thrive, to be productive.

Had a discussion with someone the other day about being "thin skinned". So what do all 2 of my blog readers think....

do we:

a) grow "thicker" skin as we age
or
b) grow "thicker" skin as we experience life?

The other question would be, why if it grows thicker as we experience life, do certain spots seem to remain "thin" for so long? Is this something we can change ourselves? Is it a mind over matter or good Karma kinda situation?

Do you realize your skin has thickened the minute someone doesn't effect you as it would have in the past? Does it take a few seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years? When do you know?

I feel as though we know when we can shrug off the bad, and keep focusing on the good, on the things that rock, the adventures that we dare to take, the hugs we give, the love we show, the smiles we share, the listening ears and shoulders we lend, and the laughs the rock the world.

Vegas!

Man O man, i am a tired katie. It was a blast, saw the lights on the strip for the first time in my life, had fun with penny slots, dressed up, went to my conference classes, ate great food, and had a great partner in crime that went with me.
It was really nice to have someone fun to go with, lots of laughs, even more smiles. Makes the tired of the trip that much more worth it! :)
As soon as I get ahold of pictures, I will post some of them!

The count down begins

10 hours until my flight for Vegas lifts off! Yeah baby!
See everyone when I am back! :)

Cheesecake, cheesecake and more cheesecake....

I decided to give a labor of love to one of my best friends for his birthday. So I found a recipe for his favorite dessert of all time. I have no idea what it ended up tasting like, but I do know that I made 3 of them tonight. One for Josh, one for work tomorrow and one for my dinner date tomorrow night.
I hope that they all turned out okay, my one fear, as one blogger knows quite well from a disastrous dinner night, is that something I cook is going to taste like the super yuckies! LOL
So, I do believe that "operation cheesecake" was a success, until further notified.

P.S. my entire apartment smells like cheesecake, dangit! :)

Productive

That's what I was last night. Got some very overdue home things done after visiting SSM at the local watering hole. My water on the rocks, heavy on the rocks was fab. :)
Got a novel idea that I needed to have super short hair again, so at 8:30 last night I found a place that was open and had it hacked off. Feels so much better, looks so much better! :)

Tonight operation cheesecake takes place.

......

Main Entry: compassion
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: feeling
Synonyms: benevolence, charity, clemency, commiseration, compunction, condolence, consideration, empathy, grace, heart, humaneness, humanity, kindness, lenity, mercy, soft-heartedness, softness, sorrow, sympathy, tenderheartedness, tenderness, yearning
Something I never want to lose


Main Entry: life
Part of Speech: noun 1
Definition: animation
Synonyms: activity, being, breath, brio, dash, energy, enthusiasm, entity, esprit, essence, excitement, get-up-and-go*, go*, growth, heart, high spirits, impulse, lifeblood, liveliness, oomph*, sentience, soul, sparkle, spirit, verve, viability, vigor, vitality, vivacity, zest*, zing*, élan, élan vital
Something I want to live to it's fullest


Main Entry: lust
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: desire
Synonyms: ache, covet, crave, hanker, hunger for, itch, lech, long, need, pine, thirst, want, wish, yearn, yen
Something that I long to keep


Main Entry: longing
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: desirous
Synonyms: anxious, ardent, avid, craving, eager, hungry, languishing, pining, ravenous, wishful, wistful, yearning
Something I will always have


Main Entry: love
Part of Speech: verb 1
Definition: adore
Synonyms: admire, adulate, canonize, care for, cherish, choose, deify, delight in, dote on, esteem, exalt, fall for, fancy, flip over, glorify, go for*, gone on*, hold dear, hold high, idolize, like, long for, prefer, prize, thrive with, treasure, venerate, wild for*, worship
Something I will always have for life

Time

Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years
All time
Passes whether or not we want it to

Time to laugh
Time to cry

Time to frown
Time to smile

Time for love
Time for hate

Time for friends
Time for family
Time for ourselves


Lots of time left in my life for all of the above mentioned

Sometimes I just wish time would pass more quickly
and then my memories and thoughts would pass faster as well

Time, all I've got is time

Phrases for ME to live by

"Worry never robs tomorrow of it's sorrow; it only saps today of it's strength" -- A.J. Cronin

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" -- Theodore Roosevelt

"Real generosity towards the future consists of giving all to what is present" -- Albert Camus

"Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up." -- Jesse Jackson

"Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy." -- Nora Ephron


WATCH YOUR
THOUGHTS
for they become your words

WATCH YOUR
WORDS
for they become your actions

WATCH YOUR
ACTIONS
for they become your habits

WATCH YOUR
HABITS
for they become your character

WATCH YOUR
CHARACTER
for it becomes your destiny

"I'm not confused. I'm just well mixed." -- Robert Frost