The Break Up

So I was going to blog about Ireland and many happy occassions. But now that will have to wait until some future posting.

Here are the facts: Today I was told by my bosses that they will be posting my position and accepting interviews for it. They told me they would looking for someone else to fill the position, but I can still apply for it.

Now, let me put that into terms that would be emotionally comparative:

Let's role play. My employer will play the part of one person: "the boyfriend." Instead of the employee, I will be the "girlfriend." Now, I've been seeing this "boyfriend" for almost a year. Almost every day we would interact on a friendly basis, and talk about the future. Then, he takes me aside one day after work, and says we need to talk...

I'm a little nervous due to the formality of it, but still keep myself hopeful that it means something good for our future together. And then he opens up with, "This is hard," which of course is not a positive sign. He asks me, "How do you think this year has been?"
"I think it's gone very well. I've had a great year. Not everything has gone as I had hoped, but I think things will keep improving."
"Well, you know, you're a good girlfriend, but I'm just not sure you're what I need right now. I'm going to see other people."
"Oh, I see."
"You're creative and hard-working, but I need someone who has more experience," the boyfriend says with a sympathetic smile.
"I understand. It's just too bad because I thought you were my dream man. I love being with you and I saw myself growing old with you," the girlfriend starts sniffling and reaches for a tissue.
"It was a really hard decision. I went back and forth with the idea. But I'm just looking for someone who's more of a hard ass."
"I suppose you have to do what's best for you," the girlfriend wonders if he has any idea of what he really needs, knowing a hard ass probably is not going to fare well with him and his friends.
"You can still stick around and see if I pick up anyone else better. If I don't, well, maybe I'll settle for you after all."
"Right," Thanks a lot, asshole. It's as though she has heard that before somewhere.
"I'd be happy to recommend you to some other guys when you meet them."
"Sure," the girlfriend replies. She decides to give up some of her dignity by asking,"Can we still see each other this summer?" After all, she needs the money.
"Yes, we can still do that."
"Okay, well, I should go now." She barely manages to get out of the room before she rushes into the bathroom, sobbing into the sink. As she walks into her room, she realizes that she will still need to see him every day for the next few months, even though they are over now. Every day she will have to see the same guy who has just told her he doesn't want her anymore.
And, she'll have to suck up to him so that she can still have him pay her rent, car insurance, and other daily expenses. She hates being dependent on him for money, especially since this isn't the first time a guy has let her down and left her high and dry. As she gazes at her reflections, she thinks to herself. Maybe I don't want to be with men anymore. They're so fickle and will drop you with no real provocation, even when you're fully devoted to them. "Hm," she thinks, "maybe I need to look somewhere else."

The end. Enjoy the drama? Cuz I sure didn't. Stupid schools. Can anyone say, "Time for possible career change?"

All Is Fair...damn, did I already use this title? I suck.

So I decided it might be fun to go to the Wedding Fair in Minneapolis on Sunday. For a change of pace, I asked Elyssa if she'd like to tag along, and though she had been to a wedding fair less than a month ago, she agreed. Crazy, but so cool.

The main attraction? Cake. And anything that involved hot melted chocolate. I think I took in more calories just staring at the chocolate fondu fountain than I did eating the Irish cream, raspberry, cheese, vanilla, orange, or chocolate cake pieces that I also devoured that day.

Perhaps I spent a few calories grabbing for floating cash whizzing through the rushing air around me in that glass booth for money off a possible tux rental. Elyssa assured me I had to try it. I sucked at it, but still got $100 off plus other cool deals...and a free ugly teddy bear.

Or maybe I got some toning in my arm by carrying the twenty pound bag of f-ing flyers, magazines, booklets, CD's, DVD's, pens, and candy for four hours.

But no worries, a spicy meal of Sawatdee's Thai food negated any of that. What a pig out this weekend! Oh well. My twelve hour work days this week due to Parent-Teacher conferences ought to even that out.

Bleah...I'll write something remotely interesting one of these days. Maybe even post a few pictures from the other events going around. For sure I'll say SOMETHING before my Ireland trip on the 31st. And I'll have PLENTY to say afterwards (especially if I deign to kiss the Blarney Stone--if I have an antiseptic wipe for afterwards).

A Short Month, A Long List

February has 28 days this year; that's it. However, within those less-than-thirty days, a whole boat load of shite has transpired. The quickest way to go through these events would probably be a list. So here is the uninspiring title and the list that follows:

Ten Things That Happened to Have Occurred During the Short Month of February 2006

10. DJed for the middle school dance. Fun, but fuck it was a pain in the ass picking out anything that was both school-appropriate AND modern hip hop.

9. Sat in the living room and stared at the Christmas tree in the room thinking, "Hm, I should buy a plastic bin and take the Christmas tree down. Maybe this weekend, if I have time."

8. Went to a benefit show for Chris's aunt who has cancer. It was uplifting seeing all his family there in a great show of support, but a little weird drinking beer, eating a burger, listening to a cover band, and playing with pull tabs while doing so.

7. Saw Timothy Zahn again and had him sign all seven of his Star Wars novels. Best part? Seeing the 20 people in various Star Wars costumes, including the Fetts, many stormtroopers, Amidala, an X-Wing pilot, Admiral Daala, and the garbage-can-looking droid "Gonk! Gonk!"

6. Spent hours upon hours either at school or doing school work due to numerous factors inluding:
a. inputing data into my online curriculum map so that it can be evaluated by St. Paul Public Schools
b. catching up on half-foot stacks of papers to be graded and written into my revamped grade book
c. reading 10 different young adult novels in an attempt to figure out how the hell I want to use literature circles in my classroom
d. preparing lessons and materials for the ART class I have chosen to teach for the spare hour in the afternoon despite the fact that I haven't taken art class since I was in eighth grade and have very little artistic talent

5. Have tried fitting in the required six more times to attend the Y within the last 10 days. Just two more times, today and tomorrow, and I've got my 8 times in so I can save $20. ::sigh:: I designate March as "Make Myself Actually Go to the Y at Least 2-3 Times a Week So I Don't Have to Rush at the End of the Month Like the Lazy Procrastinator I Am" Month.

4. Celebrated Anti-Valentine's Day at Tricia's with many friends and many foods, despite the shiny ring on my finger.

3. Saw Heiruspecs and Wagner and the Zombie Men in concert. Hip hop and zombies all in one weekend--it couldn't get much cooler.

2. Finally blogged for the first time this month, today. I guess this means I only will have one entry for the entirety of February. Oh well. At least I now have 28 "friends" on MySpace.com. Hey, 28 friends for 28 days. 28 Days is the name of a zombie movie. Hm...coincidence?

1. Booked plane tickets and car rental for trip to Ireland with Mom during Spring Break in April. "Éire go brách!"

Definition of Bliss

Crossing Over to the Dark Space

So I joined MySpace.com. I'm a joiner; I admit it. I just couldn't take the pressure anymore, and caved. Oh well, can I tell you a secret? I like it. I wouldn't say I love it or adore it in any way, shape, or form, but it is amusing.

I do enjoy looking at people's profiles and wondering what in the world were they thinking. They say there's no nudity allowed, but I wonder how closely they really look. Because I'm telling you, there are some people with profile pictures that may as well be on Girls Gone Wild or some crudely named porn like Two Chicks, One Dick, and NO, I have not been looking at porn at any place called Love Doctor or Sex World in the past week, so stop looking at me like that because I have no idea to what you are referring.

Ahem. So check out my other space if you have the inclination. If you don't, well, don't worry. I probably don't care. :)

Katie's Top Ten Events of 2005

These events were very difficult to put into ascending order of kickass-ness, but I tried anyway. I'm sure I left some pivotal, life-changing moment out, such as learning to knit a couple weeks ago or turning left at a random intersection at a moment which could have inadvertently saved my life (you just never know). Just read and enjoy it, for posterior's sake...I mean, posterboy's sake...I mean...it's just good to remember some things.


10. Becoming more independent by buying my very first car, insuring it, and paying all sorts of lovely new bills.

9. My long road trip to "The Southeast Corner" to see old friends and family. Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago all in one trip...I cannot express just how much it rocked, except to say, "Do you have any sixes?" which no one but Liz would understand.

8. The hoppin' parties. Halloween party that spanned two floors of the house and had a stellar crew almost completely decked out in creative costumes. As a tradition started last year, a tres bien Bastille Day party full of the usual “delicacies” of crepes with Nutella, baked Brie with croissants, and potato chips. And, the twins' Early 90’s party complete with scrunchies, flannel, neon, and a live performance of “Possum Kingdom” and “Regulators” by the Flaherty's.

7. Getting “the” job I've always wanted at a school I adore. Score.

6. Running the 5K in Fish Creek, WI with Tricia while our families waited with ready cameras at the finish line. That reminds me, I still need to get those pictures.

5. Awesome 2-year anniversary spent "on vacation" exploring the museums, higly acclaimed restaurants, and beautiful parks of the Twin Cities.

4. Seeing several bands all in the same week of October, including Architecture in Helsinki at their first concert in the United States having traveled all the way from Australia to St. Paul and The Hopefuls (formerly The Olympic Hopefuls) rocking in the rain at Grand Old Days on historical Grand Ave.

3. Having my family finally visit my new place and sharing in the joys of my new home town. My parents loved Como Park Conservatory and Zoo and were able to hang out with Tricia's parents. Scott and Jennifer discovered that our apartment is NOT a hole and took us to see death and logic defying feats at Cirque du Solei.

2. Memorial Day weekend filled with a lot of hiking beside cascading waterfalls and a whole lot of romance all along the North Shore. Our stay at Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte, MN was wonderful and shall be repeated for my 25th birthday :) Yay!

1. Moving in with Chris, the love of my life. It's been 8 months and we still haven't killed each other. What can I say? I love the sweet bastard. Mushy, but true. Happy New Year, folks.

Ninja: Recovered

I was home for the holidays and survived. There were many opportunities for death and insanity this week, but somehow, I careened past the path of utter destruction and have made it safely back to my newer home. What were some of those pearls of peril?

1. Downhill skiing for the first time in my life. Really, it was more like me trying in vain to stay off my ass for more than two minutes, but hey, cross country has always been more my style. Or more accurately: I'm a wuss. Perhaps I will return to the hills yet this season. And maybe I'll run into my two instructors whose summative age would make them my peer.

2. A mouse who won't die. I set up traps, complete with a decoy granola bar in a box next to a peanut butter laden trap, but the thing just won't kill itself. Stupid smart mouse. I think our mouse has a strong sense of mortality, much like myself (except that my danger senses are overcome by peanut butter and chocolately goodness any day).

3. My parents' living room stuffed to the brim with wrapped boxes, three generations, and three dogs (one, the size of a rat, and two that were surprisingly not overweight by some strange miracle). I'm perplexed that we escaped that torture room with only a spilled beer casualty. Oh yeah, and it'll be bigger next year with Jennifer expecting her first little one sometime next summer. ::sigh:: What's with the profusion of procreation? That is one fad I'll be happy to avoid...for a long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, LONG time.

4. The emotionally gripping meeting of my ancient computer with my trendy laptop. I think my 1999 Compaq sabotaged my stripping of its files due to jealousy of my new younger and much slimmer companion. It decided that a pen drive is WAY too complicated to open and forced me to send files by email instead (after a frustrating ordeal trying to rearrange my dad's cables that WERE fine the last time I fixed them). Of course, that meant that I only sent about six mp3 files due to the escruciatingly slow process of uploading the files into email. On the bright side: "Ninja of the Night" has returned! Try looking for it online sometime...NOT THERE anymore, so thank god for an old evil computer that still has some good in it; I knew it to be true. Now if only I could find defeatyou.com. ::sigh:: Some things just remain lost.

5. Hauling all of our shit up to the third floor. I tell you, after Christmas shopping did not help our cause. My car was full, although I'm certain we could have stuffed more in if we put everything into those vacuum airtight storage bags that seem so handy in those 2am infomercials. Next time everything on my list will be smaller than my head and I will only bring what I am wearing. If it means sleeping naked and wearing a t-shirt and jeans to mass, so be it.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Week

And when is that? Why, Thursday night, just 17 hours away from a much-needed winter break that will last and last. How long is this work-free time period? 2 Weeks! Yes, two weeks of splendiferous late mornings and adolescentless days. (You may ask why I make up words, and I can tell you the answer. I'm an English teacher; I have a license to change the completely irrational "laws" of the English language at will. Like my students would realize the difference anyway.)

Tonight I spent an hour and a half looking for supplies for my teaching "lesson" tomorrow. Let's face it. Tomorrow is going to be hell on earth with kids flying everywhere in an attempt to escape through 2nd floor windows, cracks in the wall, vents in the heater, between tiles in the ceiling--anywhere they could possibly squeeze through to escape the last day of class before a long vacation. They will be hyped on sugar. They will be asking repeatedly, "Can we have a party? Can we have a party?" And just when you think it will be okay, "Can we have a party?" There will not be a moment of peace even during my hour prep period. I can feel the tension seeping into my shoulders already.

Hence, my "lesson" for tomorrow. Here are the details:
Step #1: Take attendance.

Step #2: Spend a good 5 minutes explaining the plan for the day in an attempt to kill time.

Step #3: Have the kids create hand-made cards to give to friends and relatives for the holidays using newly bought construction paper, confetti, glue, magazine clippings, and various other objects they may find on the floor in the classroom.

Step #4: While students are working, hand out old papers, including the recent test they took so that they can make needed corrections.

Step #5: Hope that all hell doesn't break loose while students are using scissors, glue, and listening to Manheim Steamroller's Christmas.

Step #6: Surprise them all with a special holiday gift of a pencil, pen, and peppermint candycane tied together with a piece of difficult-to-find curling ribbon for each and every one of my seventy students (all of which I will put together tomorrow morning before school starts).

Step #7: Thank my lucky stars they are gone for the day, the week, and the rest of the year.

Damn, I am way too good to my students. They should worship me. Really, they should.

A Scent of Accomplishment

So, aside from some sweaty visits to the gym, I have another goal completed: Tricia and I finally finished our game tonight. I think the only challenge about the last battle, or any of it really, was to our patience. It wasn't exactly a bundle of excitement. Granted, it is designed with kids in mind, but I mean, really, aren't these kids better at video games than we are? Still, for $20, it had its moments.

I was going to write more, but well, I think my brain is fried like my old hard drive. ::sigh:: I miss you, Old C.

Oohh, and here's a piece of the past: an new, very abbreviated edition of KRAP (Katie's Random Advice Post).

KRAP: On Stopping at an Intersection

One should probably find out whether one has a car with ABS before driving on icy roads.

The Day After Thanksgiving

What a crazy day. Up at 4am to join the throng of ravenous shoppers packed like salty, sweaty sardines at the local mall? I don't think so. I have a will to live; a will to live sanely...and lazily. Because that's what Thanksgiving is all about: eating a lot of food and then doing nothing for the rest of the long weekend.

Okay, so I'm doing SOMETHING by cleaning up and organizing the apartment. But have I set one foot out of here since last night? Nope, and it's lovely. The snow has been lightly falling since way before we woke up at the crack of noon, which means plenty of shoveling tonight. Maybe we'll think of leaving to bring the mail to the box a couple blocks away sometime before 4pm. I'm SO not sorry I didn't go to GB this weekend. I'd have been driving in snow and arriving there just to leave two days later, probably to have missed all Thanksgiving except the leftovers.

Besides, I just saw my parents a couple weekends ago when they carpooled with Tricia's parents to visit us. That was pretty sweet. I'm getting downright spoiled. My parents have visited twice in the last six months--that's unprecidented since I moved west (even to college in EC). Highlights from the visit?

*Fresh deli sandwiches from the best deli in town: Neson's Cheese Factory and Deli.

*Walking to the Como Park Conservatory and Zoo to see myriad flora and fauna. Various flora and fauna shown below:

*Cooking up a storm with Tricia to create a meal made in heaven for our parents. First course: summer sausage, cheddar cheese, various crackers, and plenty of beverages. Second course: tortellini soup with saltine crackers. Third course: homemade chicken pot pie with hot rolls on the side. Final course: "tunnel of fudge" bunt cake (more like pure fudge brownie that only looks like a cake) topped with real whipped cream.

*Playing my newest favorite card game called "I Goofed" with the whole gang.

*Swimming and relaxing at the Holiday Inn...the hot tub was soooo nice and hot.

*Shopping at the gigantic and over-zealously modernized and decorated Menards.

*Double-deckeroni pizza at Old Chicago. Who would have thought hot sauce was the ultimate pizza topping?

And now, two weeks later, Chris and I are contemplating our next household enterprise. Put up the plastic window coverings or clean so we can put up the Christmas tree? Or just futz around like we've been doing the last couple hours? Hm...tough choice.

Home Alone: The Near-Empty Apartment

With Tricia house/dog-sitting this weekend, and Chris off in Kansas city until sometime this evening, I've had the majority of this house all to myself all weekend long. Not to say our downstairs neighbor is "Nobody" like so many Odysseus's...but he isn't exactly someone I feel like hanging out with except on special occassions, ie our Halloween House party. Hm, speaking of, I do have a few pics I could share. Let's see...

When the mime saw the geeky math teacher, she couldn't help but exclaim, "...!" You would think the mime would be more freaked out by Mr. Wonka and the lamp. Mostly, I'm curious as to where he connected his power cord.


Ah, an advertising dream: After years of heavy competition, Ketchup and Mustard hook up. "I love your smooth yellow bottle." "Not as much as I love your hot red bottle. " Whew! Someone turn off the lamp and give these two some privacy.


Who knew that Willy was a blues guitarist? Or is that a blue guitarist? Either way, there was no lack of entertainment, or candy.


Coach Lee of Burnsville says, "Personal foul, Kagome, for wearing a short skirt that somehow never EVER blows upwards despite being involved in numerous intensive battles, torrential winds, and plummets from impossible heights." Tricia's secret? Skort.


I, Kikyo, have decided that my reincarnation, Kagome, can have my ex-boyfriend Inuyasha and the wonders of Japan's Feudal Era. "Why deal with a stubborn half-demon and nasty monsters when I can have a pro golfer and indoor plumbing?"


I know what this stunning Egyptian queen was thinking, "My husband may be dead now, but wait til he wakes up when I unwrap him after the party."


Fox 9 Investigative Reporting: What fairies and angels do behind closed doors....SLUMBER PARTIES!

Return of the Journalist

So it's been a while. My computer is back to "normal" thanks to campus computer services and about $180...sadly almost 1/5 the price of this hunk of plastic. My students are testing this week which means our schedule is fucked up for two more days. My weight has stayed the same damn poundage thanks to Halloween candy and minimal Y time. My family is doing well and my bro Scott and Jennifer visited this weekend to see Cirque du Soleil: Corteo. My friend Liz has picked out her wedding dress and we've been fitted for bridesmaid dresses.

In other words, MY life and everything in it is pretty much "normal" too at this point. The most thrilling moment in the last week? Using my power drill to screw two pictures on the wall. I could get used to power tools.

Best Bitch

Okay, so I did fall off the face of the earth for a while. Then I chucked a grappling hook upwards and climbed my way back up. Why have I been gone? Truth is, I haven't gone; my computer has. It was at Best Buy for almost 3 weeks. Did they fix it? No. Did they call me to tell me what was wrong with it? No. I called them, I went there, I bitched. End result? I have a diagnosis that the hard drive is fucked up and I need a new one. Best Buy doesn't sell any, but they can order one, to which I replied with an affirmative "Fuck no." On the bright side, my bitching meant a FULL REFUND. Damn straight.

So there my computer sits by my desk, unused and abused by the shitty Best Buy Geek Squad. And they asked on their survey if they should add capes to their uniform? Hell no. That's what SUPERHEROES wear. For one thing, they are as far from uber as humanly possible. Secondly, heroes typically HELP people...when they're not fornicating with various creatures or leaving their wives. (I'm reading too much Greek mythology).

Consequently, the only online access I've been using is at school, and blogging just isn't top on my priorities when I'm spending hours there arranging lesson plans or bureaucratic bullshit. At the moment, I'm borrowing Tricia's computer during one of the moments she's not having to work on a homework assignment, I'm actually home, and we're not watching Inuyasha or playing the PS2. Oh yeah, and I'm sick. Any questions?

Let's hear it for the girl!

On this day in history, a stupendous young woman was born in a quiet city in Wisconsin. Twenty-five years later, we celebrate her entrance into the world by means of a fabulous group dinner at Olive Garden and entertaining party back at her cozy abode. So, raise up your voices in a joyful chorus, shouting for all the earth to hear:

"HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY, TRICIA!"

I want to stay inside

Seriously. It sucks outside. It's hot, humid, and about one degree hotter out there than it is inside our apartment. That ONE degree is enough reason for me to have barely ventured into the out-of-doors the past couple days. Geez...tomorrow's already Monday...and Sept. 12...shit, we're almost halfway through September. Time is cruising past my window with no sign of slamming the breaks or even coasting.

Last week I began my first official FULL TIME JOB. And I have to say overall: it rocked. Naturally there are kids that are pains in the ass, but for the most part, they're a bunch of good kids I won't mind teaching for a year or two. The only kicker is that I have to make some adjustments for some special ed and ELL students. I found some materials that I think will help, including a history book written in Spanish, so that one of the students has a supplement to her class materials. And I'll find more materials on the internet eventually that will hopefully help fill the gap.

Anyway, another reason I haven't blogged much is because my computer has been really fucked up lately. It will work for a while and then suddenly crash for no apparent reason. It's running a bit slow, but I haven't lost any files and the virus scanner hasn't come up with any hits either. If it keeps on being a bitch, I'm going to wipe the thing and then put the programs back on ever-so-carefully. That's about it for now. I'll try to be more interesting later, but for now I've got to finish dinner and prepare for the new Simpsons and Family Guy episodes. Rock.

Algoma's Shanty Days Highlights...I guess



Note to self: next time WE pick the campsite. No more sleeping on a 15 degree incline. But at least we did "rough it" by camping and then biking into town. Maybe next time we'll try it for more than 24 hours.

Yes, I did dress like my mother for the occassion complete with a lighthouse printed T-shirt and nearly matching printed jean shirt. It helped me blend into the shore town fashion.

Can you guess what interest group may own this float? Subtle, hm?

I'd really love to see a sand castle as tall as the Algoma signature water tower.

I WANT this bike.