It Sucked and then I Cried

Tonya Jean, as promised, here are the pictures:





One of those books has your name on it!

Tales from NW

Earlier this week (like so many times) I circled my car around the neighborhood for twenty minutes, only to find a parking space in a two hour zone. Gave up, parked the car there anyway. Got up before the crack of dawn to move the car to a legal space, but it took ten minutes to find one. Cussed. A lot.

Just now I circled the block around my building three times. No parking. Found a spot four blocks away. Walked to my building only to find an empty parking place right in front. Now, if I go back to my car by the time I get to this new open space in front of my building it will surely be taken. Then I will drive back to the old spot cussing that I wasted my time, and then that one will have been taken too. So, I leave my car where it is (and p.s. it's a spot only open on the weekends, so I'll have to move it later anyway) and think about how nice it will be to have a driveway again someday.

Safety never takes a vacation

I heard that from someone.

I was just unpacking from last weekend (and the only reason I'm getting around to it now is because I have people coming over tomorrow night, otherwise I'm sure it would be even longer before I got around to it - don't judge me) and I found a bottle of hairspray left in my backpack by accident. Not like a travel-size bottle, like a full-on bottle. And not a peep out of TSA. Seriously, what's the point?

Ash Wednesday

"You come from dust, and to dust you will return."

Oh Boy

Last Saturday I went to Flag and saw Stampead do their thang.  There is more to write about my little jaunt to Arizona, but for now...

A little history. If I were still on MySpace I'd be really dumb and link to a blog I wrote there about the first time Andrea and I stumbled onto this band.  Our band, as we like to say.  Thankfully, it no longer exists and I can pretend I didn't really write that story.  Ever since, we have had fun stalking these boys like it's our job.  I think the music is brilliant, but seriously, the icing on the cake is the audio/visual experience of watching them perform right in front of you.  This weekend we got to see them in action once again, and it was just as good as I remembered.

They played all of our favorites, which if you asked the other girls there with us they would tell you our favorite is every song they play, but I digress.  I still think Commotion is one of the greatest, Bang Our Glasses Again has the hottest guitar you'll ever hear, you can't help but smile when they play Milk & Honey, and Calm Me Down is the saddest song ever.  I love everything on their new album, but Don't Tease The Lion is definitely a fave.  My Widow and Funeral Train are sad, but beautifully written.  Oh Boy has the greatest first line to start the album and between that song and Alabama, it just captures my happiness, and Rain On Your Rooftop is a totally sweet love song...  I could go on and on.

[Side note: Isn't it fantastic to watch people do what they love?  No matter what it may be.  I have no musical aspirations, but seeing these guys do what they are meant to do is totally inspiring.]

[Side note to Katie June: Don't read any further.  It's for the best.] 

They had a new kid with them this time, David, playing keys.  He was a total kick in the pants!

Can I just say that Ivan is possibly the most adorable human being on the planet? I want to put his joyful self right in my pocket.  I can never understand what he is saying, but he's just so damn happy!

And Sean is just one of those people that you feel instantly comfortable around, like you've known him forever. And he is an uber talented drummer. I think they hide him in the back because they know he's really the coolest.

But those Jewish boys, I tell you what: I just can't get enough of 'em. I stand firm in the belief that if everyone just watched Eric do his thing on the harmonica it could bring world peace. He's also quite possibly the most amazing guitar player ever. And that hair... good god.

I kind of had an Andrea-head-tilt-"huh" moment watching Judd perform. I absolutely love the lyrics he writes, love to watch him belt out songs with that voice, oh boy - that voice (lol!), and I like that he seems a bit shy in person. (Because I totally make up their lives in my head, of course.)  Anyway, he caught me watching him a couple of times and held my eyes while he sang. Man, those boys know how to work it. I guarantee there isn't a girl in the world who has watched them put on a show and not wanted to fuck everything in sight afterwards. I'm just sayin'.

For documentation purposes

"KTJane is right, as always."

Really?  I guess I won't argue.

01.20.09

I've been counting down to this day for a few years now.  Literally.  

When I started that countdown I didn't even know who would be running for President.  I certainly didn't know I'd be this happy and thankful for who would end up as number 44.  I'm pleased that the majority of Americans cast their vote for Obama.  And I hope others will soon be able to clearly see that he's not the foreign terrorist they thought he was, but a decent man, a fellow American, who is doing his part to bring as much change for the good of all people as he knows how.

He's not a savior, just a man, but a man that inspires, and hopefully, brings change.

The Deep Freeze of '08

In the beginning it was just light flutters of cute little snowflakes.  It was fun to curl up with a blanket and eat cozy food.

And then those little snowflakes got serious and were pouring down like crazy!

This is the ice that sealed my car shut.

And more ice frozen on top of the snow...

But it sure is fun to play in!

And I have the best neighbor, Tyler, who is diligent in keeping our sidewalks cleared and helped me get my car open.  Have I mentioned I love this city? 

Missing the good old days

Office dialogue:

"Did you turn the A/C down again?  It's freezing in here.  Can you hear my teeth chattering?"

"Are you kidding?  Do you see the bead of sweat on my forehead?"

-----

"Are you hiding the plans now?"

"No. I just put things away when I'm done with them."

"Oh."

and a little later:

"Did you see how nice that was just now?  The way I walked over and found what you needed, BECAUSE I PUT IT AWAY."

"I can't hear you."

-----

"Did you have time to get together those reports?"

"Yes, and I called the bank and they already picked them up."

"I am unworthy."

"I know."

Good night

I'm sitting in my favorite chair in the apartment reflecting on a wonderful evening and a wonderful life.  There are dishes piled high in the kitchen and it still smells like cornbread and chili in here.  Last night I invited a couple of friends over for dinner this evening and they in turn invited a couple of friends and we all ate a warm, comforting meal together and shared stories.  Part of me kept thinking of all the other people in the neighborhood that I wanted to invite over, too, but my apartment couldn't hold them all at once - and what a beautiful thing it is to know so many lovely people to invite into my home.  Mostly I'm just amazed by how none of us knew each other just a few short months ago, and here we sat squeezed together around my coffee table tonight sharing each other's company like we were old friends.

I was having a conversation a couple of weeks ago with my beautiful friend, Tonya, and we were talking about prayer and God and these sorts of things, and she said something to me about moving to Portland... like didn't I feel called to be here?  And I answered something like, "No... I mean, I guess not.  I certainly prayed about moving, but I don't feel like God said YES or NO about moving.  It's not really a yes or no kind of question - I mean it's just going to make life different, but there is nothing inherently  good or bad about it."  But I've been thinking about that question a lot lately.  And I think I just might want to change that answer.  I feel like I'm at home in Portland.  I felt it every time I came to visit last year, and I still feel it every day now.  This is just where I am supposed to be.  I love it so much.  And I love the people.  People I would never know if I hadn't moved.  It is like I was called.  And I'm so glad I took the risk and answered.

Can we still be friends?

Internet, here's the thing: I moved to Portland, I now go to church in a bar and I've recently stopped shampooing my hair.  I totally understand if you want to see other people.  If, however, you are willing to love me even though I've gone off the deep end, I just want you to know I love you back.

Reading cookie recipes

I stop reading as soon as they list margarine or butter in the ingredients.  I can't take your recipe seriously if you would consider using fake butter, even though you're allowing me to use the real thing.  Sorry.

My weekend

I know what you're thinking... same day pictures?  There must be something wrong with her.  But don't worry, there will be a total lack of blogging to accompany these photos.

I heart you, Portland

I live in the best place.  Even when I'm having a rough time, all I have to do is step out into my city and I become apart of it.  It's constantly moving and breathing and changing.  The community is rich with of the things that are important.  Not to mention, I'm pretty in love with the gorgeous fall we're experiencing.

Portland is all kinds of weird, and it's mine!

Annie B.

It was just before summer, 1997, and I was spending a lot of time at my boyfriend's house.  One day a calico cat showed up on the property and much to every one's dislike: I fed her.  Naturally, she stuck around and eventually grew on everyone.  I even caught her in the house a time or two because they took pity on her (and secretly liked her).  A few weeks later the new cat had kittens.  Six of them!  Right there in the shed.  My boyfriend's parents were thrilled.  Sadly, days later, before the newborn kittens even had their eyes open, we found the cat dead by the cow barn.  One of the brother's girlfriends helped me take care of the kittens.  We fed them special milk out of tiny little kitty bottles and washed them with our finger in a washcloth to simulate the feeling of their mother's tongue, we played with them and cuddled with them all the live long day.  There were two all black kitties, two black with white markings and two calico girls - one long haired, one short.  When they were ready to break from the litter we had to find them new homes right away.  One stray cat was one thing, six were another.

I begged my mom to take one of the kitties.  We already had Stubby, but I convinced her he needed a friend.  She only wanted a calico.  The cutest by far was the long haired, but a little girl wanted her, so she took the short hair - which was really my favorite anyway, she was the most playful.  And so was the beginning of Little Orphan Annie.

  

We called her Annie B., Annie Bananie and Stinky.  She was the best!  She would purr and purr and purr so loudly.  She loved to be rubbed right under her little white chin and her spotted, leopard belly.  She had beautiful markings, especially the black lining around her eyes.  She was just the sweetest thing, which I always thought was because she had been handled so much since she was born and didn't grow up learning about hunting for food or defending herself.  She learned quick enough with Stubby around!  They were so cute together.  But unlike Stubby, Annie took everything in stride whether it be golden retrievers or moving and road trips.  Nothing phased her, she just kept on purring.

She was eleven years old when she died this morning.  She had been my comfort through divorce and moving and starting over more than once.  It was always wonderful to go home and see her.  I'm so thankful to have had the kitties with me this summer.  I miss them both so much, but I have an extra sadness today.  I love you, Annie.

Texting

me: Listening to Oh Boy, lusting after that harmonica.  GOOD LORD... pretty sure this album could be the end of my salvation.

ae: Just downloaded Oh Boy last night.  See you in hell!

Emergency twenty

I was probably ten or so.  My mom has her wallet out.  It's black and when you open it it flips up over the top and there are two rows of cards side-by-side.  In the pocket of the first one on the left there is a twenty dollar bill folded up and tucked behind her Costco card.  It's her "emergency twenty" and she tells me when I have money that I need to always keep a twenty dollar bill in my wallet just in case.  I still do it to this day.  I even fold it up just like she did and tuck it in a hidden spot in my wallet.  Tonight someone asked me for a twenty, and although I don't really carry cash, I had my secret stash thanks to my mama.

Ten-four

When I was little my dad had a huge shop in the way back of the property.  He'd spend hours and hours back there working on Beauty, his 1941 Willys coupe.  We had intercoms in the house and the shop, and occasionally my mom would tell me to call Daddy and let him know dinner was ready.  So I would and I remember he would always respond "ten-four."  I had no idea why he liked those numbers so much or what made him pick them every single time.  I just thought he was funny.  So then I would say back, "ten-six!" or "ten-eight!" and giggle like crazy.

Don't act like you didn't know this was coming

It's frickin' freezing in Portland!  I heart the fall, I really do.  But it's so damn cold in my apartment that my toes are about to snap off.  I just want to snuggle into my new fleece sheets and come back out next June.

Feline email exchanges

from: stubbyandannie@gmail.com

to: mom@gmail.com

date: Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:46pm

subject: Where is "home" really?

Annie and I have talked, and we decided we'd like to stay here at Katie's awhile longer.  Annie loves the chicken here and is afraid she won't get the same home cooked meals in your kitchen.  I mean lets face it, you don't even like to cook for humans.  I don't want to live with those rambunctious, blonde beasts again.  And don't even get me started on traveling with them.  Why don't we say we'll stay at least through the end of the year.  That way you can get to Arizona and get settled and then we can talk about this again.  And besides, Katie really needs us here.  She'd be SO lonely without us, and we really like it here.  We enjoy being "city kitties" and all the attention she gives us.  Please consider...

Love you (but not the dogs),

Stubby-butthole

from: stubbyandannie@gmail.com

to: katie@gmail.com

date: Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:51pm

subject: Please don't make us go!

Oh-so-lovely Katie,

We got word that we're being taken to Redmond, held captive for a couple of days, and then being taken on that dreadful trip back to Arizona.  Please don't let it happen just yet!  We want to spend more time here with you.  We love being here in the city!  Remember when we lived with you for a whole year before Mom & Dad moved?  That was the best!  And we want to stay with you for a while longer.  Please, please can we stay?

Love,

Stubby and Annie

from: katie@gmail.com

to: mom@gmail.com

date: Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:56pm

subject: Fwd: Please don't make us go!

Look what I got from the kitties...

They must really want to stay to go through all the trouble of creating an email account without opposable thumbs.  How can you deny them?  And you know I really, really , REALLY want them to stay longer!  Plllllllllllease?  Pretty please with sugar on top!  I love Stubby and Annie SO much!

from: mom@gmail.com

to: katie@gmail.com

date: Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 6:03am

subject: kitties

My darling Kathryn:

Valiant attempt, but not happening!