Saturday, May 30, 2009

is it written in the stars?*

Today I woke up after having two very depressing dreams.

1. I was in the lab and all these random people were there too, and they were all insinuating I was fat.
2. I went to watch the team perform at some performing arts festival, and I realized as they were all standing on stage warming up that I was in all of the numbers they were dancing (west coast, pirates, latin medley) and Lee just didn't want me to dance. Then I realized that this meant I wasn't being placed on the Blackpool team.

I woke up giggling and missing my chemistry friends because it was so ridiculous and because my lab dream featured some of them (now I can't remember who), respectively.

Soooooooooooo. Now I want to have a chem party. And start working out with Kellie.

Happy Saturday everyone!

*Aida!!! So into song lyrics/titles as post titles right now...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

i'm freestyling...it's rrrandom! there's a picture of new york...*

Do you ever have those days where you think to yourself, "Wow I am so weird...and it is so awesome"?

Today's purse contents:
8 pairs of ballroom shoes including two very sparkly latin medley sandals
1 vial of tin(IV)oxide nanoparticles
10 completely disfigured fruit smiley fruit snacks

Being back at work has been great. I didn't even realize how much I missed being in the lab and feeling somewhat productive. Go chemistry!

Also, I think I need Kristen living with me again. It seems that since we've not been roommates I can't bring myself to cook. Plus I keep not having key ingredients...mayo for chicken salad, pasta for pasta salad, butter for rice-a-roni, raspberry vinegar for raspberry vinaigrette...and the starter for my car is being replaced so I have to walk to Smiths...which isn't really a problem, but it just takes too much motivation

*Flight of the Conchords, anyone?

Monday, May 25, 2009

star spangled

Let me sum things up-

Pennsylvania: Rocky stairs, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, pictures with Porsches (so fun! who knew I liked cars?), H&M (again), Amish country, philly cheesesteaks (apparently not my thing), and Gettysburg.

DC: monuments, Barack Obama in his limo (we really saw him pull up to the White House...so so so cool), capitol building, John Kerry in the senate gallery (yay for me and Zach for pulling that one off, we watched him debate about whether to give aid to failing foreign economies...again, so so so cool...and I do not even like him), Holocaust Museum, National Archives, Arlington, and adventures on the subway.

While on this trip I decided I sort of have a weird fondness for cemeteries. I think they're beautiful and eerily peaceful if that makes any sense. We had a chance to see a lot of them the past month.

So on Memorial Day today, I've got Gettysburg and Arlington on my mind. I'm sitting on a rock on Little Round Top, surveying the landscape below, picturing what happened there, the sacrifices that were made to preserve this country; I'm watching the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier, touched by how the meticulousness and intricacy of that process respects and honors those whose names we don't even know who gave their lives that we can be free; I'm taken back by the sheer number of white tombstones on the lawns of Arlington, so many who died...

I'll go home tonight and eat my hamburger and Sister Wilkes' funeral potatoes and someone else's jello salad, and I'll forget all of this.
But for now,
thanks.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

I clicked my ruby heels together and look what happened

I'm HOME!!!!
It feels so good to be back. Will post something about Philadelphia and DC later...it's a little daunting to think of how much I have to say about the last week and tour as a whole...

For now though, I read this in the InStyle magazine that I bought to get rid of money on my per diem card in the airport:
"Straightening your wet strands with a traditional flatiron is damaging-the water actually boils inside the hair's cortex. However, dedicated wet-to-dry flatirons use technology that converts the H2O in your hair to steam."

"Converts the water to steam"....isn't that...boiling?

Could someone explain the difference to me?

Sunday, May 17, 2009

anything can happen before sunrise

It's official.
New York City has secured its spot as my second favorite city in the US. We'll find out in about four days if DC will return to claim its place as number one. Woot!

Yesterday was our free day in the city. I spent it seeing "In the Heights" (beyond fabulous hiphop, latin, rap, salsa broadway musical), randomly popping into Tony Meredith and Melanie Lepatin's dance studio, eating Mexican and Thai food, perusing the Met for three hours (favorite piece: a real shark in a blue tank of formaldehyde entitled, "The physical impossibility of death in the mind of someone living" hahahahaha), showing up at Times Square repeatedly, watching two people in our group dance their way out of a $100 fine in the subway, getting another $8 worth of stamps (ridiculous, I know, but I bought a postcard and was out of stamps...), and missing the train and wandering around East Orange, New Jersey at 1:00 AM...

Notice the complete lack of shopping. I was so proud of myself, I went shopping on Friday for a few hours and managed to get my cheap purse, new shirt, and some H&M jewelry so Saturday was completely open for adventures not in retail.


It was ridiculously awesome. I love cities. I was meant to live in a $1500/month apartment in Manhattan, I swear.

Last stops: Philadelphia and DC :)
Only 5 days left until I'm back home!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

I may or may not be guilty of quote stealing on occasion...

Salut from Connecticut!

We had mercifully short bus ride from Rahway, New Jersey to Bridgeport, Connecticut this morning. On our way we stopped in Westport, Connecticut, home of Martha Stewart and David Letterman. As someone on team said, "swankiest little village I've ever seen." Totally picturesque, had no problem imagining Martha running around with a box full of centerpieces or something. Almost paid $24 for a ridiculously cute headband at Banana (it came with a free 9 track download of some awesome artists...that was half the reason I wanted to get it), but talked myself out of it. If I still want it I can always get one in...Soho on Saturday!!! Woo!!! Free day in New York!!!

Anyway, here's what the title of this post is referring to (sick, ended in preposition, if anyone could come up with a sentence that avoids that, let me know because I could not).

"Life is like a box of crayons. Most people are the 8-color boxes, but what you're really looking for are the 64-color boxes with the sharpeners on the back. I fancy myself to be a 64-color box, though I've got a few missing. It's ok though, because I've got some more vibrant colors like periwinkle at my disposal. I have a bit of a problem though in that I can only meet the 8-color boxes. Does anyone else have that problem? I mean there are so many different colors of life, of feeling, of articulation.. so when I meet someone who's an 8-color type.. I'm like, 'Hey girl, magenta!' and she's like, 'Oh, you mean purple!' and she goes off on her purple thing, and I'm like, 'No- I want magenta!'"

- John Mayer

(so the magenta's not magenta...but...whatev, you get the point)

Thanks Josh for more reasons why John Mayer is awesome.

Peace out from the preppiest state in which I've ever been! :)

Monday, May 11, 2009

PS

I am in love with this country.
The east coast in particular.

The American dream from the mind of Katie:
Georgian style (thanks to Rachel I know what that is), yellow exterior, white picket fence, one red wall in the kitchen with stark white cupboards.
In Boston.

:)

Sweeter than any other

Often, I have said this to myself:

I just keep hoping that one day I'll wake up and be my mom- not take crap from anybody and still be the most selfless person I know.

From 1500 miles away, I love you Mom.

Happy [belated] Mothers' Day!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

half full :)

I've realized a few things while being on tour:

I adore old houses. It's been so fun to drive through residential neighborhoods and see adorable houses painted all sorts of interesting colors. I'm thinking I would love living in a yellow house. Doesn't that just sound so cheerful?

I also adore the midwest. I think the landscape is so beautiful out here. As we travel from state to state, I keep thinking to myself, "Hmm...yeah, I could live here." Bring on the fireflies, thunderstorms, and cornfields, baby!

I adore sending snail mail. Buying $8 of stamps was totally worth it because I've been buying all sorts of postcards and normal cards (I realized I'm missing Mothers' Day, my roommate's birthday, my mom's birthday, and my sister's birthday while on tour). It's give me such a kick to write to people by hand. So much more personal.

I adore going to church history sites maintained by the LDS church. It was so interesting to me going from the Kirtland temple (which is owned by the Community of Christ aka RLDS church) to the rest of Kirtland like the Whitney store, the sawmill, ashery, Whitney home, etc (owned by the LDS church). There was such a different spirit about it! I loved walking around the rest of Kirtland. The temple was beautiful and everything, but it just wasn't the same to me...
Granted, I am biased in a major way. But there was something different between the two sites (sights? have been debating all week about the proper word choice)...

I adore Josh Cluff. And that's all I have to say about that. :)

Peace out from Ohio, friends!

Monday, May 4, 2009

gah.

Heyyyyy everybody!

I'm currently in the lovely capital of Indiana. This is the first time I've been back since my family moved away when I was eight. Unfortunately I won't be going anywhere near where I used to live, but returning to the state and all is pretty cool anyway.
Yesterday we went to Nauvoo, which I apparently do not remember at all because it seemed totally different when I was there 12 years ago. It was really neat though. I got my Nauvoo brick and horseshoe nail ring through a series of miraculous happenstances and a little bit of sinning. Fact: the tour the Community of Christ Church does run a little long. Fact: All the Mormon attractions (everything that gives you free things like aforementioned rings and bricks) close at 5:00. Fact: The COC red brick store (where bricks are sold for $2.50) stays open until 6:00. Something that may or may not be true: Elisha bought me a brick and some rootbeer from the store...on a Sunday...so I wouldn't have to "break the Sabbath" (ha, right, I know that doesn't work) :S
Fact: All I wanted from Nauvoo was a stupid brick, and dang it, I sure got one.

It's been interesting seeing all of these church history sites. As we visited Carthage Jail today, I was thinking that it sort of feels like we're chasing Joseph Smith's ghost. We're tracing our way through all of these places where he lived and stayed and died and yet it doesn't quite seem real to me. I can't wrap my head around the fact that I was staring at the floor upon which he stood or that I was standing in the room he was shot.
It's disappointing really. I think I need an attitude adjustment. I'm letting all of these amazing sites (sights?) and places pass me by...So many people would kill to be where I am, and I'm taking it for granted...

I can't help it.
Confession: I want to be home.