Wednesday, July 29, 2009

ooh! another one!

K, this site is beyond hilarious too.

Cake Wrecks.


A taste:

"Mo-ooom! Have you seen Giselle?"

"Suzy, what did I tell you about leaving your dolls lying around?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know? So you're telling me you don't remember any of the HUNDRED times I've warned you about leaving your toys strewn around the house?"

"No."

"So you don't remember what I said yesterday? About what would happen if I found your doll on the floor one more time?"

"Ummmm... Maybe you said something..."

[silence]

[whining] "But I want my dolly! You HAVE to give her BACK!"

"Oh, don't you worry, honey. I'm sure she'll turn up after dinner."

See the cake here.

I'm going to submit the Brick Oven guarantee card.

So I'm sitting at work, trying really hard not to laugh audibly, and I am failing miserably.
Why?

This site.

Preview: Stop! Wash your hands before touching "a" puppy! "You" can-pass-germs from puppy-to-puppy!

Too funny. I spotted this on Kylie's blogroll. Many thanks for the laughs. :)

Sunday, July 26, 2009

The good, the bad, the Shakespeare

To Whom it May Concern:

We recently dined at your ********* Pizza Factory location. Living in ********, we've been to the ***** and ****** Pizza Factories many times and have thoroughly enjoyed our dining experiences there. We were looking forward to a similar experience as we went to the Shakespeare Festival in *********.

We were disappointed.

First, your waiting area has a TV with trivia and advertisements playing as guests wait. The slides are all out of order. We were informed that Mount Vernon is the cause of tsunamis, the average mosquito has George Washington amount of teeth, and the most popular boardgame in the world is "Baywatch".

But it didn't end there. Our meal started out with very bland, irregularly-shaped breadsticks. The delicious butter/garlic basting sauce that we've come to love and expect at Pizza Factory was spread over a thin ribbon of the enormous and bulging breadstick. Our waitress then brought out our salads which were drenched in so much dressing that the lettuce was soggy and the entire course was unappetizing. Perhaps leaving the dressing on the side so the diners may use it at their discretion would be a wise choice? Our pizza and pastas then arrived. The alfredo sauce was the most bland alfredo sauce I have ever tasted. At this point we were all wondering whether your kitchen stocks garlic at all. I asked for salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder (surprise, you do have some) which I used to give the dish at least a little more flavor. The marinara sauce tasted like pureed tomatoes with, again, no spice. The pizzas were delicious, although the cooks messed up our order the first time.

It is disappointing to us that the original Pizza Factory is being surpassed in quality by its secondary branches. Our suggestions: figure out your trivia, invest in a spice rack, and for goodness sake cut back on the dressing.

Sincerely,
Austi
Jody
Kim
Katie
Megan

P.S. blog readers, account of Shakespeare Festival to come :)
Actual city names will be filled in when I mail this to the company. :P

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

wrap up

I'm home! Burbank was very chill and very fun. Did the whole Venice Beach thing again (and ate at that one awesome little cafe with the delicious BLTs. It's become my own tradition now), went shopping on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena (3 cheers for H&M and a good Forever 21!), ate taquitos and bought ceramic chili peppers on Olvera Street, saw Harry Potter twice, discovered this delightful and incredibly good Chinese restaurant a few minutes from my grandma's house, and saw American Ballet Theatre (one of the top companies in the world) perform Romeo and Juliet. It was beautiful. I thought that I'd get a little bored (it's 2 hours and 55 minutes long with two 20 minute intermissions), but I was completely enthralled the entire time. It clipped right along, with no 20 minute pas-de-deux or anything. It was highly dramatic with all the emotion that Harry Potter lacked. :)

It is, however, nice to be home. I'm looking forward to a roadtrip with the girls this weekend, having Kellie stay in my room, going to Park City with Josh, working in the lab again, and TAing for next week's dance camp.
Cheers!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A night in review: Harry Potter 6

My siblings and I went and saw the "Half-Blood Prince" two nights ago at 12:35 in Burbank. Now back at home...people get a little crazy at midnight premieres. Especially at midnight premieres where there is ample opportunity for dress up. We thought we'd have some fun and go along with that a bit, so we bought white v-necks at Target and painted them with fun Harry Potter things. Becky painted "I love Harry!" in Gryffindor red and gold, Jenny painted "Ginny is my homegirl!", I painted a Ravenclaw crest and stuck a Ravenclaw quote on the back. Jeff was the only smart one and opted out of the shirt making. We show up at the theater at 11:00 wearing these over-sized, hand-painted shirts and NO ONE is wearing anything out of the ordinary. Maybe it's because all the crazies got 12:00-12:03 tickets and were already in the theaters or waiting in lines out of our sight. All I know is everyone is dressed in regular old clothes minus a few schoolgirl outfits here and there. Becky and I quickly zip up the jackets we wore just in case this should happen as we make our way to the only group of four seats left in the theatre: front row baby! aka seats so close you have to move your head to fit the screen all in.

The movie was pretty darn good I have to say, definitely one of my favorites. Seeing Daniel Radcliffe on liquid luck was probably the best part for me. Absolutely hilarious. However...I thought it was really funny that they sort of ignored the whole Half-Blood Prince part...seeing as it is the title of the movie, you'd think they'd do a bit more with that. Also, when are they finally going to make the endings sad enough?! I mean, they kill off Cedric in number four and all we got was some downtrodden and solemn looking Hogwarts students. They kill off Sirius in number five and yeah, Harry looked angst ridden, but I was still wanting more...I thought for sure that they'd get it right at last with number six, but alas, I was disappointed yet again. The most powerful wizard, the only one who really presented a challenge to Voldemort is DEAD and all you're going to do is raise your wand in remembrance (I did think that was a nice embellishment on the book and overall a lovely scene, but)?! I need some sobbing here! I want students with disbelief and fear written all over their faces! I need some What?! No! He can't be dead! He's Dumbledore! And what?! Snape killed him?! It can't be! What's going to happen to us?! Who will save us now?! Where can we turn for protection?! Voldemort's going to kill us all!!!
But I digress. Overall, nice movie. Way to go Potter people.

One last thought...
who's beyond excited for "Sherlock Holmes"? :)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Expelliarmus!

In honor of tonight's premiere of "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince", I have chosen to share with you all a hilarious dialogue from this site. (Check it out for more hysterical commentary on celebrity outfits.)



RUPERT GRINT: Dude. Apparently my getting swine flu brought with it a previously unpublicized side effect: I no longer show up to premieres looking like I just rolled out of bed! Now I wish I'd gotten it earlier!

J.K. ROWLING: I'm a gazillionaire. And this color looks great on me. AND I'm not working on a crazy deadline anymore. How awesome are things for me right now? Pretty awesome.

EMMA WATSON: I am ALSO pretty. Tonight is going SO WELL! What a relief!

DAN RADCLIFFE: Oh gosh. Am I....wearing a suit that closes with a TOGGLE?

RUPERT: I look charming and Dan's suit closes with a toggle! AT LAST RON WEASLEY COMES OUT ON TOP! Come on, everyone! How about a rousing round of "Weasley Is Our King!"

JO: I wonder who talked Dan into that toggle-closure. Was he Confunded in his dressing room? I mean, if that were real.

EMMA: Poor Dan. Someone's going to need to buy that boy a drink. He looks so alarmed. I told him not to go for the toggle. Why doesn't he listen to me? What HAPPENED with him?

DAN: What HAPPENED to me? Is there any way I can blame this on dark magic? Think, Radcliffe! THINK!

Friday, July 10, 2009

The fog comes on little cat feet.

Greetings from San Fran!
It's the first time I've been back here since I was ten (? maybe?), staying with my aunt and uncle in their truly lovely home.

Highlights of the trip so far include:

tour of Genentech, many thanks to Uncle Al who's a patent attorney there-
ohmygosh, if I were to be a biochemist (or change my major to biochemistry...have been playing around with that idea lately...), this would probably be my dream job. Great facilities, huge company, awesome atmosphere, fabulous cafeteria (very important when selecting a job). Becky pretty much summed up that experience, "This is like Disneyland for Katie." Wooo!!!!

Muir Woods-
beautiful, awe-inspiring redwood forest. It was absolutely incredible. I'd rank it up there with Niagara Falls as random-outdoors-place-that-I-thought-would-be-way-overrated-but-surpasses-all-the-hype.

Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square-
fun shopping, quaint atmosphere (at least the square was), and I ate a chocolate cupcake with coconut cream cheese icing (felt very Rockstar Diaries-esque).

We also drove past the "Full House" house, took photos of the cute Victorian houses, drove on Haight and Ashbury, shopped at Nordstorm Rack, went to the Academy of Science, Bay cruise, and walked on the Golden Gate Bridge.

This summer I've really been blessed to travel and see all kinds of fascinating places, whether it was Jared's mansion cabin in Island Park, Washington, DC, Burbank with friends, Philadelphia, the Sacred Grove, New York City, Boston, Indianapolis, Kirtland, Nauvoo, Independence, etc. And it doesn't end there. We'll be headed back to Burbank next week, I'm doing a roadtrip to Cedar City with some friends the weekend I get back, might possibly be going to Vegas, and will be going to Irvine, CA...all before school starts.
I may not have gotten to go to Europe this summer, but I feel really grateful for the opportunities I've had to travel throughout the country, literally coast to coast.

Monday, July 6, 2009

odonata

It's so interesting to me how the smallest things can trigger a memory that you haven't thought of in years...

I was walking outside the chemistry building this afternoon, and I saw a dragonfly, and all of a sudden ninth grade biology came rushing back to me. There I was in my backyard with a net, running around with Kim and Merissa and Amanda and Jordan and Amanda M. trying to catch everything we could. Kim and I caught a couple of bees in a jar and christened them all sorts of ridiculous names. Merissa and Jordan took off to catch grasshoppers while I stayed firmly planted far away from the field that was chock full of them. (I'm deathly afraid of them.) Later, we were trying to catch the swarm of dragonflies that circled above our heads, just barely out of reach. I said a halfhearted prayer in my head that I would be able to catch one. After a long time of trying, we gave up. Everyone went home and I went inside. It grew dark as I ate dinner. All of a sudden I heard this unusually loud thud and buzzing sound. My mom, brother, and I went out on the deck to see what it was.

A dragonfly had flown into the screen door and landed in a spider web that just happened to be right next to it. I couldn't believe it. It was trapped there, ready for the taking. My bug collection gained a dragonfly, and I gained a testimony of prayer.

God knows us. He understands the problems and hardships we are facing. He knows what will help us to pull through. He loves us enough to help us with the things that are so insignificant in the eternal scheme of things. Does a dragonfly really matter? No. But because it mattered to me, it mattered to Him. Time and time again I have seen this principle in my life. It doesn't matter if it's a math test, an o chem grade or a ballroom competition, none of which are really important. God cares because I care, and because He loves me, just as He loves all of you.
"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."

Please let me remember this tonight.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

housewarming

My apartment's been getting some fixing up lately...mostly due to Janessa and Noelle's presence. Yay for awesome roomies! :)


Our couch is no longer hideous plaid! It's now bermuda blue! Note the adorable IKEA pillow.


No more ugly blue, awkwardly shaped chairs! Now they're sleek black!


The beyond amazing kitchen shelving unit that I want to steal when I change apartments (just kidding, I'll buy my own). Aren't the hooks hanging our pots just adorable?


Meet Bridget (as suggested by Josh), my latest experiment in gardening (ha). Photography credit also goes to Josh.


Many thanks to Jill and Garrett for new mixing bowls! I swear I've used them everyday for the past week. They are fabulously colored AND they have lids. Seriously, what more could you want?


I'm hoping to pick up a coat rack, three shelf bookcase, and a giant bulletin board in the next little while. I love new house related things. :)

Saturday, July 4, 2009

I live on the parade route

Pros of that post title:
I'm sitting in my bed watching the parade, instead of having to camp out all night (in the rain) to see it.

Cons:
I was awakened at 7:30 by it.


I've watched two large blowup creatures, two horses, lots of jeeps carrying lots of veterans, three beauty queen floats, a flock of cutest baby award winners in strollers, three, no make that four marching bands and attached flag twirling squads, bunches of cars, two senators, and a group of dancers go by as I've watched through my blinds and translucent purple IKEA curtains. As much as I keep saying parades are lame, and I'd never take my kids to one...well...it does look a little fun. The people throw candy into the crowd, the little kids run and pick it up, there's all this patriotic music and cheering, the floats are sparkly, it's just sort of a hokey, fun atmosphere. I love America. I think I maybe want to run for Miss [insert name of my city here]...kind of...it would be awesome to get some more scholarship money (which of course would not be nearly worth the amount of time and effort I'd have to put in to win some, but...), and I already know what I'd do for a talent and platform. Talent: ballroom solo. Platform: getting little kids (specifically little girls) interested in science! I could do chemistry magic shows at all the elementary schools. It would be so much fun. The only problem is March is ridiculously busy for me. I'll keep thinking about it...
(Go [insert university name here]!!! The float just went by)

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Fourth of July.
God bless America!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

"Reading is sexy." -Rory Gilmore's shirt that I want real bad

I had a request from a couple friends for book recommendations, and I thought I'd share a short list with the blogosphere (I'm trying to keep myself distracted because I have no desire to think about ballroom).

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan
(ok, let's just face it, pretty much anything by Amy Tan I'd recommend...love love love her books)
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

If you've read any of these, or if you have any other recommendations (I'm always looking for new books), please share your thoughts. :)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

I have no response

So....
my partner is no longer on the ballroom team.

And I no longer know what I want to do with myself.

My conflict: it's a Blackpool year (which means we travel to the most prestigious ballroom competition in the world in Blackpool, England), and it's always been my dream to compete there. Will my partner be able to fly out just to dance one round? In all likelihood we will not make a single cut...not really worth a $1000 plane ticket. At the same time, I feel burned out. I want to move forward with chemistry and French. I want to make the Dean's List next semester and spend my afternoons and evenings in study groups and in the library, not really so much in a studio. BUT, I also know it would practically kill me to watch Dancesport in November and not be dressed in a $800 costume and a half pound of makeup and hairspray.

Option AI. Keep dancing with same partner. Drag myself through rehearsals and lessons.
Option AII. Keep dancing with same partner. Pray for renewed determination and a major attitude adjustment.

Option B. Beg old partner for forgiveness.

Option CI. Take the year off.
Option CII. Take the year off and dance class routines with some random person on team at Blackpool.

Thoughts?