Men Peein'

Skye and Eko and I were walking down Olive Street when I heard a voice say "look at the men peein'."

Disgusting! I look around for the dudes doing public urination (and damn it Mardi Gras is over! Piss in your own house!) and spot the talker. He's kind of red neck looking in a car with an spreddy out H on it (Honda? or Hyundai?).

Well, slap me with a big ol' solar light blub! He said "look at that Min Pin" but with his regional accent and slow Deputy Dog drawl speed it came out "Men Pee-in." (Kathryn)

Cotton Socks

My black cotton work socks are shot. They do that uncomfortable slide-into-your-shoes move. After searching thirty minutes at the red-circle-dot store and not finding any black socks with any more than 80% cotton, I've run out of time because Katee has to get to work.

Then the sock fairy directs me to a display that shows hanging organic blend cotton socks. They even have the soothing mantra of "Simplify" knitted into them. The label reads "Finding the union between mind, body and spirit brings you closer to your true well-being. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY no chemicals, no pesticides, mild dyes..." I've found what I need. Then I see the fiber content is 85% cotton/12% polyester/ 3% spandex. I won't even tell you what the cuff of these organic socks are made of. I buy one pair at $2.99 and will wear them tonight.

Why do I think I need 100% cotton? It's about control. I stand on my feet at work, which means I have no cubicle, which means I have no input over my work environment or my polyester uniform. If you're wrapping me in mandated crappy fibers I'll spend time going natural on the rest. I'll shop for hours looking for 100% cotton pants with pockets (but not too many pockets because a dealer could stuff money or chips into them).

The job forces me to rebel anyway I can.

I get radical by waiting for until the last minute to button the top button of my shirt (I do tuck it in before leaving the house--I'm not for anarchy).

I'm not wild enough to take my cell phone into the pit, even with the ringer off. But then again I don't have a cell phone...

I have gone nearly off the deep end by slipping a notebook and pen into my pocket. A couple of months ago at a "huddle" (that's casino speak for pre-shift meeting) we were told no paper, pens or purses allowed on the casino floor.

All I want is natural fibers next to me as much as possible. So I'll give these impure sock a try. It's a good thing it's winter. It think even with this little bit of polyester in the new socks my toes will get roasty. Even with the all cotton socks there are some nights towards the end of my shift I have to go outside and take my shoes off and cool my feet on the freezy metal floor of our boat. I do this while the smokers are huddled together, wrapped in blankets, puffing away. (Kathryn)

maybe i think too much.

I feel like I never have any time. I'm not even going to school this semester, and somehow I never have time to do what I need to do. I'd really just like to take some time off from hanging out with my friends and getting some stuff done. Our house is a mess because no one cleans because we don't have time. My cat misses me because I'm never here. My body is exhausted. I just need, you know, time to myself I think.

The seventh Harry Potter book comes out on July 21st. I'm really excited, but also kind of sad. It's just. . .the end. But it seems kind of appropriate, too, in my case. I discovered Harry Potter when I was 13, the beginning of my teen years, and now it's ending when I'm 19, at the end of it all. Just seems kind of poetic. You know, in a really nerdy way.

I'm going to try and write in here more. I've been on like a two month hiatus pretty much, so I'm going to try to write maybe three times a week. I'd also like to join a gym or something. And maybe work less. There's a lot of stuff I'd like to do.

Excuse my ramblings. It's almost 2 in the morning and I just got off work about an hour and a half ago. I'm tired. But I'll be okay. I always am. :) (Katee)

Super

We watched the Super Bowl but only after hitting the Goodwill 50 percent off sale. And then calling the gas company because we smelled gas outside when we arrived home. I apologized for calling him out (Katee actually called) during the game. He said his teams didn't make it.

After probing the ground with a long rod like thing and checking in the house he declared us safe. He said we were probably smelling a gas leak that belonged to someone else and it was wafting over. I had no idea "gas the stuff that heats your house" would do that but it makes sense since it is a gas.

By the time we got to watch the game we had to rewind the DVR and fast forward through the actual playing of football so we could watch the commercials. I didn't see them all but my favorites are: FedEx: Don't Judge, GM Stripping guys to wash your car, Bud Light English lessons, Bud Light Gorillas, CareerBuilder: Office Jungle Fight, Taco Bell Lions, American Heart Association, Frito-Lay Enjoy the Game, Meet the Robinsons ("I have a big head and little arms) and Budweiser Beer-Stealing Crabs. (Kathryn)

Damn TV

I had to take Katee to Willis Knighton Quick Care yesterday because she seems susceptible to growing strep throat.

Two things about modern life:

1. While hospitals are set at a nice icy 50 degrees QC was baking in heat. I had to keep going outside because it was so hot in there. It was either that or take my shoes and socks off 'cause when my feet get hot, I'm toast.

2. There was a TV blasting in the waiting room. Why? I'm a major remote flipper but there are some places you shouldn't be forced to watch television. What's wrong with nice and quiet? Or even elevator music? However, since this is Louisiana, all ours should be Cajun zydeco.

No strep for Katee. We just had to buy some nice cough medicine with codeine. Only ten bucks. I can't complain about that price. (Kathryn)

Will This Party Never End?

Who doesn't love those goofy paper party hats Brits wear? I've been remaking some long duster vest things and have an abundance of sleeves scattered about. I took them to mom's house Sunday and made everyone wear them while we ate chocolate cake and danced for four minutes to the song Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright from the Shrek soundtrack. This was the only photo that didn't have Katee's picture and she said the only way I could take a picture was if I didn't post one with her in it.

I then regaled them with my Samuel L. Jackson story:

On my birthday I was in the high limit blackjack pit on a fifty dollar table. I was shuffling the cards when a black man wearing a cozy hat approached my table. He didn't make eye contact. I said hi (in my friendly casino employee voice). It was after greeting him that I realized it was Samuel L. Jackson.

He switched directions after seeing the minimum bet was fifty and went to the twenty-five dollar table. I only had two players. The quarter table was loaded. Mr. Jackson came in with a white man and a white woman. The woman juggled a notebook. Both stood around while he settled down to play.

Seconds later there was shrieking and then the general yahoos started scrambling in from the regular part of the casino. The black man and black woman on my table agreed with me that there was no reason to act like you were raised in a barn and resort to hysterics when you spotted a celebrity. Finally, security was dispatched and Mr. Jackson was able to play a couple of shoes with a little bit of peace. I went on break and when I came back twenty minutes later Mr. Jackson had vamoosed. (Kathryn)

Not A Bad Birthday

This is what I woke up to on Thursday. I promised the person with the purpled out eyes I would not publish this picture but I apparently lied so I gave her a little bit of space by keeping her anonymous (I think it's okay that I lied because this was all a part of my birthday celebration).

Chocolate cake and Hy-top ice cream.

Ya-hoo. What more could a gal ask for?

Oh wait I forgot ...Samuel L. Jackson spent part of my special day with me.

The end. (Kathryn)

The End

News reports stated that Monday was the dreariest day of the year. It just punctuated what we've been feeling the last ten days or so. For Charlie the highpoint of sadness came when the tow truck carted away the Blazer last week after the insurance company declared it totaled.

A moment of silence for the music he lost...

While he did remove the stereo from the vehicle he forgot to remove the CDs from over the visor. The next day when he went to where ever they had towed it the CDs were gone. (Kathryn)

adulthood.

When did I grow up?

Somewhere between the mood swings and heart breaks and joy and tears, I grew up. I only say this because I've figured out how to be responsible. I guess it dawned on me last night when my manager from Blockbuster called to ask if I knew how to get a hold of Ken who hadn't shown up, I volunteered to go in. It was my night off and I was going to go in and close, when I had to open today.

I don't know why. I guess it's because I don't want to let people down. I don't want to look like a brat because I'm not. I've been thinking too much about this lately. There's so much that comes with being an adult. It's scaring me a little. I'd love to go back to being 14 again. :
I have too much on my mind to even begin to write down. (Katee)

Not a Military Family

We are not a military family. My father served stateside in the Korean war. None of my siblings served in the military. There was a point where my husband thought it would be a good idea if Katee wanted to enlisted. I nixed that idea. We are not lucky people. We do not win lotteries. But I have a feeling we would be "lucky" when it came to body bags.

The one family memory I have of the military is when a cousin came back from Vietnam with severe facial and brain damage. "He's just different now," was the only thing my mother's family would say.

On KTBS last night there was a story of a Shreveport mother who served in Vietnam and was now proud that her two sons were heading off to war. I watched the young man in the story and saw fear. The mother went on to say "I knew the day they enlisted, that they would face the reality of being in Baghdad." The youngest kid is a senior at Byrd and will be leaving for basic in May.

Faiza Al-Arji is a Baghdad mom who blogs. When bombs started raining down in her city in March 2003 she went to the flower shop to buy roses because she wanted to be happy in the last moment of her life. Al-Arji says the meaning of "Marine" in Iraq is murderer.

What's the chance that these two mothers of sons will ever sit down and chat over a cup of tea? I say this in my most radical feminist voice isn't that what being a woman is all about?

B-12

I forget how good B-12 makes me feel. I've slipped into the habit of only taking two droppers a day when I do better taking five.

This afternoon before Katee and I ride out to run errands, I slick the orange liquid under my tongue and then do it again before 4 p.m. I can feel the quiet in me and enjoy sitting on the porch knowing the litter box needs my attention but for a few minutes I'm connected to the world and not wrestling against it. (Kathryn)

Quick-Mix Concrete for Fortification

I know this is not timely but maybe if I jot this down I'll use it at the end of 2007.

It seems to me that the last two weeks of the year and a zombie attack have a lot in common. Brain dead folks running around in both situations! Especially near malls and big super stores.

My plan is to load up on supplies (food, crafts, kitty litter...) and hole up in a big secure compound 'til the thing blows over. I'll only go out for movies but then in this situation I might turn to movies on demand through my cable provider.

I thought up this plan when my brother and his family came to town to spend Christmas at his in-laws big compound in south Shreveport. They spent a lot of time schlepping supplies back from Wal-Mart. Surely there's got to be some place on the internet where Hot Pockets can be ordered?

I gloated over my brilliant idea of hunkering down for the last part of the year until that lady ran into Charlie on Wednesday -- well into the first week of the new year and proof that brain dead folks are out all the time. (Kathryn)

Goodbye Blazer?

A moment of silence for the little 1988 Chevy Blazer. Charlie was in an accident yesterday while on his way to work in Bossier City. A lady rear ended him and he slammed into another car.

The front and rear ends were damaged. Who knows if it will be totaled. It had 150,000 miles on it and wasn't worth much. Charlie is just sore and missing his little car.

It's been an exciting year for the Blazer. It was stolen and recovered in July. Now we'll have to see if it will survive its latest ordeal. (Kathryn)

goodbye, 2006.

This has been one hell of a year.

No, really. It has. I have gone from being completely antisocial to not being able to sit in my house for more than a few hours. I'm different now. Everyone's different. I've lost some friends, made some friends, and grown even closer with current friends. I got a job and made good grades in school. I went the whole year without falling in love, which might just be a miracle. I also started to appreciate my family even more than I already have.

So now I'm going to wish everyone a happy new year and hope that 2007 is amazing for you. :) I would be out partying, but I have to work tomorrow morning, so I'm being forced to go to sleep no later than 12:30 am. Get good and drunk for me, and kiss someone you love. ^_^

excuses, excuses.

Since I haven't written much at all in any of my journals in the past few weeks, I think I'll update you guys on the month of December. I started working at Blockbuster a few weeks ago. I really love my job, and my co-workers are really great, too. My second day there, this guy started flirting with me. He was kind of goofy and had lovely eyes. Meru decided to get her bellybutton pierced, and since he's into piercings and tattoos and stuff, I invited him along. We all had a bunch of fun, and he was really great.

So we started dating, I guess. But then last Wednesday I was cleaning my room a bit and my phone rang. He was calling to tell me he didn't want a serious relationship. I was little confused because we'd been dating for a little more than seven days, so I wasn't sure when we discussed this serious relationship business. I was pretty pissed the hell off, though. That night I hung out with my cousins (who are fantastically wonderful and I love them a lot omg) to get my mind off of this random occurence. By the time I had to go to work the next day, I was much more calm about the whole situation. He was getting off at 5 and I was working 5-12, so there was a 10 minute window where I would be put into his presence.

I walk into work, smile at everyone, grab the office keys from Krystal, and head to the back to put my stuff up. He then started running after me and said something like, "I got some traumatic news last night." And in a slightly uninterested tone I said, "Oh, what's that?" And he says, "I found out I'm going to be a dad."

Words cannot explain how much of a WTF moment that was. In about 10 seconds I forgave him and acknowledged that he had given me the only excuse that would've worked in this situation. Good luck to him with all that, since I am so not into helping with a baby. I haven't actually talked to him lately since I haven't worked with him since then, but whatever.

I'm actually fairly proud of myself for not freaking out and shutting down and crawling into bed as soon as that happened. A year ago I probably would've stopped working at Blockbuster because of that, but it's so pointless now. I mean, it's not like I fell in love with him or anything. He did have really great tattoos, though. Sad.

Bah Humbug

A picture I took of my dad at Thanksgiving made it into The Times online "Reader Christmas Photos" Gallery. I tried to link to it but the site is being wonky. Jerry is photo number 31.

I'm disapointed it didn't make it into the paper. I think it's a much better photo than the ones selected but what do I know?

I also noticed that there's a "buy this photo" button you can click to buy that picture. So who gets the money? The Times gets paid for a photo I took? Nothing was said about this when I submitted the photo. Geez, I better shut up I'm starting to sound like the Bah Humbug.

New Family Photo

Since we started this blog we've talked about getting a family photo up on the page. So today when we went to the Louisiana Boardwalk, I bugged everyone while we rode the trolley so I could get a decent picture of the three of us. It does have a bit of a myspace angle happening.

Charlie and Katee said I antagonized them too much but now if I'd really wanted to get on their last nerve I would have made everyone wear a red or green shirt. And stop off for a teeth whitening session. (Kathryn)

No Driving with Momma

I've been forbidden to teach Katee to drive. She kicked me out yesterday. So Charlie's taking over the driving lessons.

But really it's not her, it's me. I think she's wounded that I'm stompin' on the floor of the passenger seat side trying to find the brake. She did drive up Thrill Hill (Creswell Drive) yesterday. Did great! However that didn't keep my heart from flickering like a strand of cheap Christmas lights from the dollar store.

work!

Last night was my first night at work, and I had to close. Woohoo.

By the end of the night I was, like, limping. Gonna have to get used to walking around for 8 hours. BUT it's okay because I like getting moneys. :D

Look, I'm sorry about not updating much lately, but it's the holidays, you know? I am so exhausted, haha. I finished all my finals and so now I'm just awaiting the final grades, which hopefully don't suck.

Anyway, just a little update, to anyone who cares. :)

shine on.

So today might have been the best day ever.

A few days ago I put in an application at Blockbuster. Then about 24 hours later, the manager called and asked me to come in for an interview today at 3 pm. So at about 1:45, when I was trying to dry my hair and watching Friends, someone knocked on the door. It was my friend Lydia and a mutual friend Sam. We talked for a little bit, and Lydia let me in on a piece of interesting information.

Apparently, Mike's [ex boyfriend] roommate kicked him out because of Mike was being himself. As in, the world's biggest asshole. They got into an argument of some sort, and the roommate said something to piss Mike off. So the roommate goes up to Mike and attempts to smooth things over and was like, "Hey man, are we cool?" Because, you know, they were roommates and that's an uncomfortable situation. But Mike, who is unable to just let shit go, brought up what the roommate said in what I can imagine as a nasty, bratty tone of voice, and the roommate handed Mike his rent check and told him to get the hell out. So now he's back living with his mom.

Also, I think he lost his job at Exxon. You know, sometimes when I think about that boy it just makes me sad. I'm not really sure why he's so angry. Maybe he's bipolar and manic all the time. I don't know. I just know that when we were together I saw past all of his faults and I know he can be a wonderful person, but he can be so mean and uncaring.

Anyway, so that news kind of amused me. They left and I went off to my interview. And I use the term interview loosely because I talk to the manager for like 10 minutes. Our conversation went something like this:

Manager: Now, you don't seem to have much work experience.
Me: No, but I did a lot of volunteer work for a horseback riding place for kids with special needs.
Manager: Hmm. Did you ever do fund raisers or anything involving sales for them? Because we're a pretty small branch and have to do a lot of sales stuff to stay in business.
Me: Well, not really, but I'm very experienced in selling Girl Scout cookies.
Manager: [laughs] That's sales. Okay well, I like what I've heard, so why don't you come in on Saturday at about 2 and fill out some paperwork and we'll do a little training.
Me: . . .Okay!
Manager: Oh yeah, and khakis.
Me: What? [I thought he said "Kathy" and was not sure if he'd called me that by accident because this happens often]
Manager: You'll need a pair of khakis.
Me: OH! That's fine!

And that is the story of how I got a job at Blockbuster in the span of about 10 minutes. I'm also fairly cute and bouncy so that might've had something to do with it. I went home and climbed into bed because it is so very, very cold outside, and I called Sara back (she'd called during the interview) and will maybe possibly be doing something with her tomorrow night. Then Meru called to see how the interview went and we squealed quite a bit for a few minutes until she her break was over.

Man, I totally live for days like this. (Katee)

[Edit: Sara called while I was in the interview, but it didn't actually ring. Just in case people are concerned about these things. I know when to turn my phone on silent.]