Laa Laa Looooo.... here is my Blogaroo

Up up and Away!

2011-02-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

I can officially walk, without much of a limp even! Can walk down stairs slowly although it challenges my range of motion a bit...but all in all things are progressing faster than expected at this point.

Its great to be able bodied again. When all is healed and brace is removed I think I will be the most grateful outdoors girl known to all of Albuquerque! I will be biking, climbing, hiking, and nimbly hopping around the house with a shining happiness previously taken for granted.

Last night I went to see a Flamenco performance at the UNM campus with Eva. It was inspirational and amazing to see such a feat of grace, speed, and coordination! When all is healed I am signing up...those three characteristics are something I need to develop :)

Could a blog save my sanity?

2011-02-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

So it has been five days since surgery, I am still in a locked Bledsoe brace, cryocuff ice pack, and on crutches. Starting to really have moments of extreme cabin fever. I have been off Percocet for two days, the pain has been very manageable with ibuprofen...needing one Percocet at night...the pain is mostly hamstring. I think of taking Percocet just to pass the time with a drug addled nap but it makes me nauseous so it's not without problems.

I am bored watching movies with Blue. I am jealous of my dog. He naps and is completely relaxed.

Movies I have watched so far:
Knocked up
Ice age
Iron man three to tango
Point break
Star trek movie
The first 3 episodes of Breaking bad (tv show)
Pushing daisies (tv show)

I think my favorite has been Breaking Bad a very good tv show filmed in Albuquerque which is neat. Alex and I watched iron man last night for our romantic valentines celebration. I want to see iron 2 again now.
Tomorrow I go to PT, my big outing...going to attempt to drive today in preparation for driving to pt tomorrow.

I'm going to make an espresso now. Read for awhile.

ACL goes kaboom .... The Long road to recovery

2011-02-14T09:53:00.002-07:00

December 2nd after hitting a silly little kicker at Monarch mountain and landing just a bit wrong I managed to blow my knee. Shit.

From Colorado w Alex

MRI revealed a severed ACL, possible small tear to lateral meniscus, minor gastrocnemius strain and bilateral posterior tibial bone bruising. The bone bruising caused excruciating pain with ambulation for the first week and was therefore on crutches.

Two months later, after a fabulously refreshing two and a half week vacation in baja Mexico beach camping with my boyfriend Alex, I was back and ready for surgery. February 9th I had ACL reconstruction with hamstring replacement and 40% meniscus removal with regional nerve block and general anesthesia.

Gentle Leader

2009-07-15T19:30:00.003-06:00

Today I broke down and finally bought the Gentle Leader head-collar walking system thingy for Blue. and he doesn't even look stupid wearing it.

Review: AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Example: Walking though the park, Blue spots a woman walking her dog about 50 yards away (obviously a major threat, one that he would ordinarily lunge for while barking like a rabid beast)...so he lunges and whippity skippidty before I can even say "No" the gentle leader has him swung around, sitting, and facing me with a verrry confused look on his face and not barking. and that was that!! Passed many other dogs and he didnt even look!

Warning: Blue does now have a bit of a socially awkward habit of rubbing his entire upper half of his body on any square of grass nearby in attempt to remove said device from his face. Must be rather frustrating like perma-headgear.

Long time no bloggy

2009-06-17T22:28:00.003-06:00

Cant sleep. I want to be on a boat. Anybody got one to spare?

A little puppy love

2009-03-28T17:57:00.002-06:00

Kate's New Job

2009-03-15T10:06:00.005-06:00

I soon leave the calm quiet of the NICU for the loud chaos of the ER which is giving me a lot of anticipatory anxiety about what it is REALLY going to be like. I hope it is exciting, sometimes hilarious, sometimes intense, and overall satisfying. The things I have some anticipatory anxiety about are: smelliness, violence, being barfed on, being sneezed on directly by a smelly violent barfy alcoholic...that I suppose is pretty specific but from what I have heard not at all uncommon. oh boy.

I have started my ER education with a basic arrythmia online module which I am trying to get through a little at a time during down time at work...its a tad bit dry. hence my blogging for procrastinative pleasure. For my nursing friends, have a stab at the following strips:

Theo sings the Blues

2009-02-16T21:41:00.001-07:00

A Cosby Show marathon while I was in the break room inspired a re-visit to my all time favorite Cosby Show episode. Here it is:

Step one: Enjoy your surroundings

2009-02-05T09:58:00.011-07:00

I am on my way out the door for a fabulous ski trip to Wolf Creek. I have never been before but am really quite sure it is going to be a blast. Skiing, hot tubbing, possibly a hot springs trip to Pagosa Hot Springs (see pic)

Trail map of Wolf Creek:

After my vacation is done, I have my first real action taken on my road out of the ABQ...meeting with my first nurse recruiter.

I will be checking out Mercy Hospital in Durango, CO. I plan on checking out the town, the hospital and of coarse the skiing and hiking opportunities.

Trail map of Durango Ski Resort (aka Purgatory):

Pictures of Pups

2009-01-21T21:14:00.003-07:00

Today Blue (the adorable black lab) is officially 3 months old (awwww, so cute eh!) He started puppy kindergarten yesterday...I am thinking about bringing my camera next week to take pictures of the very interesting assortment of dog and owners that look like each other. Hilarious!!!! Although I am not one to talk, Rae tells me I have a square head like Blue...and Dave very much looks like Isaac (the very adorable German Shepherd.

Well said I say, well said.

2008-12-13T13:40:00.001-07:00

Recently read on the CrossFit Bulletin Board:

"Be the pig!"
It's like bacon and eggs: The chicken is involved, but the pig is COMMITTED!

I really like it.

Creepy Christmas

2008-11-30T15:55:00.006-07:00

Christmas shopping online is such a phenomenon.

In a million years I would never have guessed that I would consider buying a loved one a giant stuffed replica of chlamydia, but I am tempted now after seeing this amazing website: Giant Microbes. I love google.

Other fantastic plush stuffed germs are available such as:

The Dust Mite

Flesh Eating bacteria

E. Coli

Many are also available as GIGANTIC microbes. They would make for funny dog toys. Happy Holidays everyone - remember to wash your hands!

Blue

2008-11-12T13:59:00.002-07:00

The date has been set for my puppy to come home!!!!!!!

December 14th

Check out the cute pile of puppies from the Enchanted Pines Kennel in Estancia, NM...and one of them is mine a few short weeks. Lots and lots to do between now and then...decide on what kind of dog food to buy, collar, leash, poop bags, training school, puppy bed. Oh I am in love. Disgusting.

My in-ABQ move!

2008-10-09T08:47:00.006-06:00

Proudly, I can say, I have done the seemingly impossible (only with the help of my sister of course). I have found a decent place to live in the NE Heights (the NE quadrant section of Albuquerque...see map) that both is somewhat affordable AND is letting me have Fraggle and my future puppy!!!!

It is a beautiful townhome in a private community type set up (most of the units are occupied by their owners) in the Eubank and Academy area!

View Larger Map

It is close to all things important: Whole Foods Market, Albuquerque Academy (where I run), much closer to the mountains and foothill trails, I have a neighboorhood Starbucks, Ben and Jerrys, and Keva Juice. Good stuff. Lots of safe places to walk a puppy!!!!!

I move in as early as Monday...I work Monday night so I might just take a few boxes over so I feel somewhat productive in the transferring of homes. It will be weird to be living solo again after living with Rae and Dave for the past few months...poor Fraggle will miss his three brothers too Ill bet, especially when a puppy shows up to be his friend :0 Thank goodness we started the Prozac!

My darling friend and dedicated blog reader Liz Waltman will be arriving in the ABQ just in time to help with the move. THANKS LIZ in advance for making my move a fun and hilarious time with lots of good food and sparkly beverages :)

Before the sparkly bevys can begin...the moving tasks are already piling up. Find boxes, sort my stuff out from Rae and Dave's stuff, etc. ugh. Anybody want to do it for me? For free?

Frantic Fraggle starts his new life

2008-09-19T14:36:00.006-06:00

After three months of waiting for Fraggle to stop peeing in the laundry room, stop pooping on the doormat and start getting along with Rae's three kittys (Swayze, Dusty, and Snowflake) I took action. He was a nervous wreck and more than a little aggressive to kittys twice his size. Who would have though he was an alpha kitty? Little man syndrome I guess.

Fraggle went to the vet and with a short discussion and some lab work, Fraggle began PROZAC FOR KITTYS! Such a great idea, I dont know what took me so long to ask about it.

Noteable improvements since Prozac has been on board:
1. No more peeing inappropriately
2. No more pooing inappropriately
3. Less fighting/attacking other kittys
4. Increased activity level
5. Improved agility (able to jump onto the couch again!)
6. Weight gain/increased appetite

Bonus: The pharmacy is able to convert the medication into a transdermal route med that I apply to the inner portion of his ear!

Bloggers block

2008-09-19T14:36:00.002-06:00

Okay, so it is remarkable how many times in the last two months I have said "Oh my god I am going to blog the shit out of that!"....but quite obviously I didnt. So many blog topics it became hard to choose just like Thanksgiving dinner...

Two dolla

2008-07-27T08:44:00.004-06:00

So last night Rae and I went to the movies to see The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Here is the conversation I had with the man at the ticket booth, we shall call him Carlos.

Kate: Two for Prince Caspian please.
Carlos: Thatllbefourdollars
Kate: What?
Carlos: Yousaidtworight?
Kate: Yeah, two for prince caspian please.
Carlos: Right, thatllbefourdollars.
Kate: , Im sorry, did you say (slowly and louder) four dollars?
Carlos: (mockingly slower and louder) Yes, four dollars.
Kate: (handing him a ten dollar bill and waiting for him to say it was insufficient money I am handing him) Okay, four dollars.

And sure enough he gives me six dollars back in change. Weird! I quite seriously thought it was more likely he was saying that will be FORTY dollars than FOUR dollars. But indeed, it was just TWO DOLLARS each!!! I have NEVER heard of such a cheap theatre in MY ENTIRE LIFE. Rae was quite blasee about the whole thing and claims there is a theatre in Syracuse that was just $1.50 each to see a movie. A whole movie!
Crazy!
I have been getting ripped off for YEARS!!! I think I shall go see a movie every night and catch up on the ones I didnt see because it was not worth the 10 bucks...two dollars, I would see Reno 911 on the big screen....oh wait, I did see that on the big screen, for TWELVE F***KING DOLLARS!!!!!

oh, and Prince Caspian was quite good although it is two and half hours long.

Doggies

2008-06-28T11:31:00.002-06:00

I am officially quite bored. Good thing Rae and Dave arrive in three short days :) To distract myself from the fact that I havent been able to run for the past 7 days (Ahghghghghgh) this morning I am drinking coffee and researching dogs. This cute guy is a "seven week old, one pound, multicolored lab mix"....I how the kitties would respond to a barking dog?! I wonder if the bark would be like "chirp chirp WUFF!"

I am looking at both golden retrievers, labs, and mixes of the two. There are lots of animal rescues in the area which is probably the route I will go with because the breeders are mostly out of state. Its so fun to websurf for doggie related information...local dog walkers, doggie daycare, dog parks, dog friendly restaurants. I am so excited!

Other news from New Mexico:
Yesterday I made a second attempt at annihilating the cockaroacha population. The exterminator visited and I encouraged her to spray the shit out of my house and yard. She was very friendly and taught me a few things:

Cardboard, due to its processed paper content, is like candy for cockroaches. (So I am now throwing away all of my moving boxes, which sucks but better than having creepy crawlys)
Plants growing very close to the house are like highways for bugs. Apparently, the bugs follow the root system of plants (path of least resistance). If the roots are close to your house they are more likely to get into your walls/foundation and NEST. YUCKKKKK!

My first three shifts of being a nurse on the newborn intermediate care nursery unit went very well. By the 3rd shift I was caring for 2 infants pretty independently! Amazing experience. I gave two babies their first baths. So fun. I am on this unit for one more week before orienting to the newborn ICU. Wish me luck!

You work Sunday, Monday and Wednesday....

2008-06-22T21:39:00.004-06:00

Does the baby look like he is disappointed I am not at work tonight?

Yup. After all of my pacing, planning, and blogging I listened to my voicemail at about 11am today and received a concerned message from my nurse supervisor asking, "Where are you?"

What????? I thought I worked tonight at 7 PM!!!!

Nope. I was supposed to be there this morning at 7 AM!!!!

Crap.

So, a bit of a false start. Miscommunication...why would I orient on days if I was hired onto nights? Obviously some assumptions were made and not good communication.

So...now Im REALLY excited for my first day of work...tomorrow morning!

Kate goes to work

2008-06-22T06:52:00.003-06:00

I have now been in Albuquerque for 20 days! Wow, time flies! I am adjusting pretty well, there are lots of new things to get used to including the heat, the constant sunshine, the lack of owning a car, new varieties of bugs including cockaroaches in my backyard and occasionally in my house, brown recluse spiders in my house, and of coarse the centipedes, scorpions, and snakes (HAVE NOT SEEN AND NEVER WANT TO). I was going to include pictures but after Google Image searching I have the most awful creepy crawlys and anxiety that I will protect my faithful blog readers from experiencing. If you feel masochistic Google any of the above bugs.

Interesting weather phenomenon - New Mexico is experiencing an early MONSOON season. Yup. There are two major weather seasons: the windy season and the monsoon season. Weird. Apparently, during monsoon season it is a typical summer day but then in the late afternoon high winds and thunderstorms develop which last about 2 hours. Weird huh! I look forward to a good thunderstorm. I love thunderstorms. I just request that they dont occur while I am biking anywhere. Please?

Tonight is my first shift as a GN in the UNMH NBI.
Translations
Shift: The 12.5 hour time period of work required 3x per week. This includes two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch break. Wow. So really its only an 11.5 hour shift. I think I may be exhausted! I have the night shift so I will work from 7pm to 730am.
GN: Grad Nurse. I am not a RN until I pass the NCLEX (nursing boards) on July 9th. As a grad nurse I am required to have an RN supervising my patient care. This is a comfort because I dont know what Im doing yet!
UNMH: University of New Mexico Hospital
NBICN: Newborn Intermediate Care Nursery. This unit contail 28 beds and cares for babies with less acute care needs than the NBICU provides. I will spend my first 2-3 weeks here learning the basics before starting in the NBICU.
NBICU: Newborn Intensive Care Unit. This unit contains 32 beds and cares for babies born prematurely or with birth injuries. This is the unit I was hired into.

I am trying out my sleep strategy to transition into working at night today for the first time. I woke up at 530am this morning...no problem because I conked out at like 900pm last night :) My plan is to be up and active until I go to bed at noon and sleep till 500pm. I will probably be exhausted by 730am but I will work the following night too which should work out well because I will be sleeping all day! Weird huh! Its kinda blowing my mind.

One thing I am interested to find out: What on earth am I going to want to eat in the middle of the night?? Will my body know when to eat? What is I start craving weird foods like fried candy bars or brussel sprouts...or maybe I will just always want popcorn because that is my typical late night snack. hmm. yum.

New but well armed

2008-06-06T19:43:00.003-06:00

The SureFire E2D LED Defender is only one of the tactical weapons now available to me in case of home intruder, random assault, or cockroach invasion. I could really F* some people up. No lie. If only there was a better word than THANK YOU to describe my extreme gratitude to Ryan for helping me move into my new house in Albuquerque and outfiting me so well with self-defense flashlights and knives.

Real friends give switchblades. It should be embroidered on a pillow.

I am officially in my new place and begin orientation on Monday. This weekend is going to be a test of my comfort with the city living when I embark on a nineteen mile run...I might bike somewhere to do it. Probably will be aided by my new favorite gadget (again...Ryan is the super friend of the year) the Garmin StreetPilot. This little gadget not only tells you in a British/Aussie accent where to turn etc. but also can identify the nearby restaurants/attractions and has BlueTooth so I can receive phone calls through it! Totally freaking amazing.

The big, freaky Albuquerque adventure has definetly been centered around the cockroach population of my backyard. I will dedicate an entire blog post to this Saturday. An education you may never forget despite wanting to.

Luck needed? Maybe just a bit of a nudge needed...

2008-05-23T08:59:00.003-06:00

My current hurdles:

1. Getting out of the house this morning to complete my EIGHTEEN mile run in the nasty rainy weather. Why did I sign up for this marathon? More importantly, why is the forecast for rain/SNOW in late May??? F**king Montana.

2. Packing up my home into little brown boxes. Overall, this is going well but it is just an annoying ONGOING task and I have a hard time keeping each box in the same category...is it weird to have a box containing office supplies, a carpet cleaner, bed sheets, and flower pots?

3. Ice Cream screaming my name nightly...in copious amounts. Vanilla with chocolate sauce...and some M&Ms :) with a little Battlestar Galactica on the side.

My coping mechanisms:

1. Sleeping in and then once up drinking copious amounts of coffee and blogging :)

2. Reading my fantasy fiction novels about the life of a doctor in the 18th century and her smoking hot romantic Scottish husband Jaime in coffee shops drinking copious amounts of coffee.

3. Eating ice cream like its my job...and as of last night that takes place while sitting on many pillows and blankets because I no longer have a couch!

This weekend is going to be decadent. Bachelorette party at some Idaho Hot Springs with the girls...lots of wine, junk food, games, and wig wearing :) I cant wait. No running, no packing. Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Images of ABQ

2008-05-01T07:25:00.008-06:00

Excellent hotel - I would give it five stars. Great comfy beds, good view of the city, central location just off the freeway, and a indoor/outdoor pool and hottub.

A near attack by a pit bull prompted a immediate change in direction for our decision making about where to live. Its neat how the universe pushes you in the right direction, sometimes subtly sometimes not (pit bulls are not subtle).

A post-pit bull near attack chocolate milkshake and coconut cream pie re-charged our souls to get back out there and find a safe place to live...and we were immediately successful!!! YAY!

And here it is! Deep in Obama territory...okay, maybe just our neighboor but with our yard sign it is officially Obama land. Yeah Obama.

This guy has giant billboards all over the city for his attorney services...is this not Ron Burgandy??? It would crack me up every time I saw it! I wonder if he is serious or if he is spoofing Ron Burgandy. Either way. Hilarious.

Our trip was a success. We found a place to live and explored our new city including checking out just a few of the MANY great restaurants. Oh I cant wait to fully explore the many culinary options! Best perk of ABQ - chips and salsa are a staple food and restaurants compete for the best salsa!

Delicious Restaurants in Albuquerque:
Church Street Cafe
This restaurant is in "Old Town" and is in a peublo that is over 200 years old. Its very pretty with dining inside and in the adobe walled courtyard with waterfall
El Pinto Similar in decor to the Church St. Cafe but way bigger and newer
Il Vicino Delicious brick oven pizza right on Central Ave in Nob Hill.
Flying Star Cafe The new standard place to grab a quick bite. Delicious salads, coffee, breakfast, or desert. New food favorite, they put fried feta cheese cubes on their greek salad. Whoa delicious!

XXX - NUDITY!!

2008-04-23T08:52:00.003-06:00

I am so proud of my sister Rae for beginning her first blog, Thoughts & Adventures. I thought perhaps a bit of inspiration might be called for...so I made another fun video. Perhaps it will be just the inspiration somebody else needs to start one?

Happy Wednesday everybody. I started my morning with blueberry pancakes made by a world record holder, things are going good :) Now Im off for a run in the rain.
Joe- how do you like being a video personality??
Liz - Any word on the puppy???
Rae - What the frak? Did you see my totally awesome viper?
Dave - Really? Still no new post, very very disappointing, you will be flogged in ABQ.
Ryan - Nice countertops, any word on our trip to Glacier in a few weeks? Call me!
Andrew - Justin Timberlake fan eh? hot.
Other blog stalkers - If you don't comment then I don't know you read and thus you get NO personalized blog nods and you irritate Kate, but just go ahead and blog stalk, I know you will.

New blogging blog readers!

2008-04-21T07:59:00.006-06:00

May I draw your attention to my blogroll of fantastic blogs in the right margin...there is a new addition: Rae's Blog!

I think blogs are fantastic and encourage everyone to become a blogger! Many people wonder how to get started though, and how to attract more viewers. How to decide what to blog about, how to add pictures, how to add links etc. Lots of fun stuff to learn and if anyone needs help I would be happy to :)

Rae - Some blogspiration: Signs - you recently erected your first front yard sign, if everyone was required by neighborhood law to have at least five front yard signs, what would you have? What would some of your friends or neighbors have? What would I have for that matter??? (I will give this some thought and post a comment)

Dave - Remember your blog? Maybe up the goal to posting more than once a year??

Other people I know that would be EXCELLENT bloggers and some blogspiration for them:
Ryan - Adventures in Home Depot and a love affair with Coors Light
Liz - New puppy adventures - he chewed/peed on WHAT??
Andrew - Thoughts on making circles from Canada to Mexico
Courtney - Movie reviews and how to have cool hair
Joe - Single Minnesotan male nurse looking for ladies

Check back this week for a educational video about how to attract more viewers :)

Miles, Clocks, and Calenders...nothing slows down time

2008-04-19T10:21:00.006-06:00

This morning I read a motivational article in Runner's World that just really hit the nail on the head for my feelings lately. The article was called The Long and the Short of it. It talks about how time is tricky....the days are sometimes long but the years are short. So true.

This is especially true for running of course as you slog your legs through another heinous mile feeling like you have bricks tied to your shoes sometimes but then looking at your log book to see that you have run hundreds of miles in a year, or like me realize this is my third season of running!

The tricky time phenomenon is also quite true of life though. In just 21 days I graduate...it is sad to think how fast the last three years of school has gone. Even stranger is thinking about how fast the past TEN years has gone...living in my house on Gunson Street in EL across the parking lot from Courtney and Ashley seems not so long ago but it was 8 years ago!

I have been feeling like i am trying to slow down time but time as some mean spirited trick speeds up instead. If only I could make it conform to my ideas of how the time line should go...if time keeps going at this rate I am afraid I wont get a chance to do all that I want to do and I think I am a person who gets a lot done. Yet, here I am 17 months from turning 30 years old and unmarried, no kids, no house, no dog. When will it all fall into place? I think I need to reanalyze how I am approaching fulfillment of my priorities before another ten years has flown by without my permission!

On a thankful note. I should be thankful for all that I HAVE achieved in the past few years:

Skiied lots with really amazing people
Made lasting relationships with some of the most wonderful people on this Earth
Ran over 791 miles
Learned many valuable life lessons about men, money, and malapropisms
Lived in Washington and Montana
Gone on Amazing backpacking vacations in Montana and Alaska
Finished 4 half marathons
Enjoyed Fantastic times in nursing school
Made a huge and great decision to move close to family in ABQ
and of course being days away from achieving my biggest goal of all: my BSN degree

Do I sound like me? Strange.

2008-04-16T08:01:00.005-06:00

Yesterday I was on the radio for the second time in my life....the first time was an unsober Weezer request in middle school in which I sounded like a complete idiot. I think this time I managed to not sound like an idiot. Its all I can ask :)

This link will download it into iTunes or other player for you:
Montana Evening Edition The interview is 8 minutes 20 seconds into the broadcast.
or
You can go to the Montana Public Radio website and listen to it there.

Will.i.am is not Wyclef, true.

2008-04-11T12:50:00.006-06:00

Recently, it was brought to my attention that the black man in the "Yes We Can" video is NOT Wyclef Jean (see picture below). It is in fact Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.

My bad.

For the record however, Wyclef DOES support Obama...so I was not completely falsifying information...thanks Andrew for the heads up though :)

Other notable Obama supporters:
Rae and Dave Littlewood
Will Smith
Nas (who woulda thought?)
!!OPRAH!!
Stephen Colbert

When I googled for Stephen Colbert and Obama I found a pretty creative face morphing of Stephen and Barack.
I always thought face morphing was neato. Remember the Black or White Michael Jackson video?

In other news, my big "The Health Care Crisis: Student Nurses for Change" event is tomorrow! (and yet here I am blogging when I should be preparing!) It is very exciting. My MT NPR interview should be archived online tomorrow. I will post a link for my faithful blog readers to listen to and judge for themselves if I sounded like a felt. I wish I had a picture to accompany it...I found myself staring with a stupid huge grin on my face while breathing quick shallow breaths and NOT listening to the question but then realizing that she asked ME a question and trying to come up with something remotely related to the two or three words I actually heard.

Yeah, Kate was just a LITTLE nervous. No nervous laugh though....maybe I have finally gotten rid of that horrid social response? I havent met any boyfriend's parents in awhile though, that will be the test...I am breaking into a sweat thinking about it. How funny. I am not nervous to get in front of an audience of 300 tomorrow but just the thought of meeting a guy's parents makes me go into a downward spiral of nervous energy!

Okay, so I have had too much coffee and cookies.

Rae - good luck running your subjects today :)... Dave - Are you bringing your golf clubs to ABQ?...Liz - Congrats on the new hybrid car (I am green with the envy)... Ryan - I think I am in ABQ on those dates, I will call ya later...Andrew - Good luck today with your geophysisizing in Utah (fun new word?)...Joe - We are going to kick ASS tomorrow!!!!

Keep on Ba'Rockin!

2008-04-05T18:34:00.003-06:00

This morning I was a V.I.P. attendee at the Barack Obama Rally in Missoula at the Adams Center. I could not believe the line of people outside waiting with tickets in hand to get through security, it was seriously one mile long. My classmate Joe (see side bar picture of Nursing Student of the Year)and I got VIP tickets after a persuasive visit to his newly setup office in Missoula. His representative communicated respect for the nursing profession and gave us two tickets! So, no waiting in line, we got right in and up to the skybox to watch Obama rally the crowd.

Joe - You have officially gotten your blog cred. You owe me a beer.

I had not decided between Clinton and Obama prior to this event but was leaning toward Obama. He was a very engaging and charismatic speaker. He made the promises about healthcare, education, and the economy that I wanted to hear. He was passionate, hopeful, and positive. He shaked hands. He kissed babies.

In comparison, Clinton is visiting Missoula for a $250 - $2000 per plate breakfast tomorrow morning followed by a last minute (seriously, yesterday) rally at an airplane hanger at the airport that is first come first serve seating for about 2000. Joe and I have been contacting her people for a week trying to get tickets to the breakfast or some sort of VIP to the rally and were flat out denied! Score: Obama 2 Clinton 0

I would like to officially blognounce that at the May Montana Primary I will happily vote for Obama for the U.S. Presidential Democratic candidate.

They played this video at the rally. I was surprised at my happiness knowing that me and Wyclef Jean support the same candidate.

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

2008-03-28T08:46:00.002-06:00

Its really not all I got you!! Watch your mailbox!

2 hours if you are Superman

2008-03-27T18:53:00.002-06:00

Okay, where were my faithful blog readers on this one eh?

Here I am bloggishly deluding myself that Las Vegas is two hours from ABQ (even with the freaking map directly in front of me) and nobody says, Hey Kate, P.S. It is actually more like EIGHT hours!!!

I totally almost bought a plane ticket from Missoula to Las Vegas for 160 bucks thinking, "wow what a savings, it will only be a short drive and I will save lots of money!!" Thank goodness Rae (the older and much wiser and freaking ALWAYS smarter than Kate) happens to mention it to me as I punch in my credit card number!!!

I do recognize this was a hilarious error now...I just had to post something because now my stupidity is forever documented in my previous posting. I suppose I could edit it out but that is like cheating.

ABQ Here I come!!

2008-03-23T21:39:00.004-06:00

I did it. I accepted the unbelievable job in Albuquerque, New Mexico!!!! See map for a quick review on exactly where that is...3 hours 45 minutes north of Mexico or 2 hours from Las Vegas depending on which debauchery destination you prefer to orient yourself with.

The official moving date is the second of June so I can be there and settled by my first day of work, June 16th!!! Thank you to all of my friends and family that supported me through my endless debate about this big decision...now for the endless planning for such a big change!

For examplesssss:
Should I use a professional mover or move myself?
What route should I take?
What about my car, should I try and sell it before I move or risk paying to ship/tow it there?
What about Fraggle, will he overheat, will he get along with a doggie full time?
What kind of doggie should I get?
Should I buy my scrubs now or wait?
Do I get to buy new nursing shoes? What color?
So exciting. Not to mention the excitement of living in the same town as my sister and brother in law for the first time since 1995!! Whatever shall we do with ourselves? I have a feeling there will be a lot of celebrating: Kate's/Rae's/Dave's first day of work celebration? New dog celebratory dog park visit? Move-in wine, olives, and cheese party?

I think I may need to redirect my focus from the planning to the school which is SOOOO hard now. I had a really good weekend after a pretty life altering Thursday, lots of going out with friends and having a Kate revival...kindof spring break-ish :) Thanks to all my friends that helped me remember how to let loose!

The big choice

2008-03-17T20:41:00.004-06:00

After my whirlwind adventure to Salt Lake City and Albuquerque over last week I have a big decision to make:

Which job shall I take?????? I cannot believe that I have been so lucky to have four job offers. Its overwhelming.

The decision will be made Thursday. All input is appreciated.

Hables espanol?

2008-02-25T08:08:00.005-07:00

Rae and Dave are on their way - CONGRATULATIONS!!
Things to do in New Mexico (click on the links):
1) Play tennis!!
2) The Albuquerque Half Marathon is August 31st - Lets have a family run this year, eh Dave? eh Mom?
3)Check out CrossFit Albuquerque
4) Learn to speak Spanish (cause you will need it)
5) Drink delicious coffee in one of the 2000 coffee shops
...FYI: there are 500 Starbucks in Albuquerque
the Flying Star cafe looks neato!

I am so excited for you both, it is going to be a big change but I think for the better! Good luck with all of your planning!!

Running, Interviewing, Walking a dog named Duke

2008-02-25T07:35:00.005-07:00

Tuesday I got my first call: Primary Children's Hospital Float Pool New Grad Program

Wednesday I got my second call: University of Utah Neonatal ICU

Thursday I got my third call: Primary Children's Hospital Neuroscience/Trauma New Grad Program

I am totally blown away that I now have THREE interviews scheduled! I made the interviews for over spring break, they offered phone interviews but I would like to meet them and tour the facilities in person. So with a very large swipe of the credit card I now am scheduled for flight, hotel, and rental car March 9-13th!!! How freaking crazy is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Exclamation points portray the level of anxiety)

Two hours and ten minutes of running on snow and ice was just what I needed! I finished the Snow Joke Half Marathon with a new PR which was surprising due to the road conditions. I ran with "spikes" called "Get a Grip Ultra" which now that I have Googled for an image of them I see that I in fact wore them BACKWARDS for the entire race. Oh well, at least I didn't fall. The snow made the footing pretty interesting and made for some tight calves and hip flexors!

Dogs are supposed to decrease anxiety and stress levels right? Oh good. I am dog-sitting this week for my classmate Chris and I am just so very excited!!! The doggie is a black lab/malamute mix named Duke. I am going to be the best dog sitter in the world. Lots of walks planned. It will be my first experience with many dog related tasks: Picking up dog poop, morning dog walks, etc. It will be great. The picture of the dog is not Duke but is a Malamute/lab mix just to give you an idea.

Does anybody hear that ticking sound?????

2008-02-16T20:35:00.004-07:00

When: 830pm Saturday night
Where: The Break Espresso (aka. home)
What: Kate Lost her mind
Why: Spent Saturday night in the Break Espresso tweaking resume and cover letters to the ever more irritatingly intricate needs of the following excellent application prospects:
Primary Children's Hospital (done yesterday thank goodness)
University of Utah Hospital (done yesterday thank goodness)
University of New Mexico Children's Hospital (Albuquerque)
OSHU Hospital (Portland)
Stanford Children's Hospital (Palo Alto)

It is such an uphill battle because they all kindof need to be done at the same time so that if (okay, not if, WHEN)...WHEN there are interviews and job offers they are timed so I dont have to tell anybody to wait a month for a decision....ahghgahahg...and now that I have officially applied at Primary Children's and University of Utah, the clock has officially started TICKING. TICK. Fucking TOCK!! ahghghghghgghgh.

Its honestly very exciting but the anxiety is getting the best of me from time to time, mostly right now on Saturday night at a coffee shop. Thank goodness for blogging or my eyeballs may pop out from the pressure in my brain right now. Its not even that I feel anxiety about the actual "where and how and why" of the job search right now, it is pure logistics of getting the damn applications in the mail!!!! Rae, I now know your hell experienced over the internship search. Its nice to know there is an end in sight, if you made it thru than so can I right?

Im going home and eating popcorn. Maybe some wine too. tick tock tick tock......

Last day of January???

2008-01-31T18:57:00.001-07:00

Wow. Where did January go?

First day of the last semester of school!

2008-01-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hip hip HOORAY!!!!

Well there could NOT have been a more un-enthusiastic way to start the first day of the last semester of school. Orientation is done in the same room by the same un-engaging woman using the exact same overhead slides every semester. Not exciting...me and Holly played Scrabble on my PalmPilot, which by the way is the very best program on my Palm. I highly recommend it, especially because it is only 20 bucks and I have gotten more than my money's worth.

Other exciting news:
My trip to Utah was a blazing success!! I toured five different hospitals with the assistance of nurse recruiters and nurse managers. It was very eye opening and got me all jazzed to start my career! Primary Children's Hospital is my top choice currently because of their excellent new grad programs and their highly acclaimed status for patient care.
We (Mark and I) also went skiing at Brighton Ski Area which was unbelievably good - fresh powder ontop of fresh powder made for a day of bottomless turns. We met a super friendly guy at the bus stop on our way up the mountain who ended up getting us free tickets for skiing and was our personal tour guide for the mountain. Thanks Jason!

Quick Review of things I learned about Salt Lake City:
1. The city is a grid with the center being the LDS Temple which is very helpful in getting around a new city. If you are at 300 North and 400 East, then you are 3 blocks north of the temple and 4 blocks east of the temple. Interesting, eh?
2. The PC phrase is: "Are you LDS?" (neat combo of letters...RULDS) not "Are you Mormon?"
3. It is only 25 bucks to rent a car for the day from the airport, very convenient.
4. The Brazilian steak house "Rodizio Grill" is NOT yummy, cheap meat, nasty fish, soggy salads.
5. Ruth's Diner is yummy.

I am very excited to move to SLC...looks like it will probably be beginning of June!!!

Mahna mahna

2008-01-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

1969 Muppet Show - I think is the best show that I totally had forgotten about. It is posed for a most excellent comeback in 2008 I think. My brother-in-law Dave got my sister a DVD collection of The Muppet Show which made Christmas night a hilarious TV viewing experience.

This tune will be in your head for 5-7 days, be prepared.

And Now Ladies and Gentlemen, the Muppetballs.
Attention!! Tuning up.
I wonder if this would be an effective way of getting student's attention in class? I think if professors showed this video on day 1 of class and from then on said, "Attention!! Tuning up." it would be fun and not nearly so angry as the quiet glare.
Mahna mahna.

A good omen

2008-01-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

I did it.
I did it.
I did it.
For the past six months I have had a goal: One full unassisted pull-up.
January 1st, 2008 - This goal has been achieved!!!!!!
Totally unexpected achievement after being on vacation and doing no training for 10 days, my return was triumphant!!

Also, I have on the same day made some pretty big new goals - I have put my money where my mouth is and signed up for some races!!

1. Frost Fever 5k - January 26th
2. Snow Joke Half-Marathon - February 23rd
3. Missoula Full Marathon (yikes!) - July 13th

Pretty wild start to the new year, but I have alot of support to get me there.

Thank you to my two biggest supporters: My motivating and inspiring training coach Daniel and my ever enthusiastic cheerleader and encouraging sister Rae.

Other fantastic support is given by my three most faithful blog readers: Dave, Liz, and Ryan. Thanks for your attention, it is very motivating to know I have people who want to hear what I say (or type)!

Four other theories on why this year is going to be a good one for me:
1. Peanut Butter is delicious which may have altered the entire space-time continuum
2. Most things that rhyme are good: Kate and 2008
3. Graduation
4. Last full calendar year being under 30 years old (yikes!)

I hope everyone makes and achieves big things this year! Go Big or Go Home!

Best cure for Eeyore day

2007-12-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

Best music video

2007-12-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

Obviously not a new video, but one that has stayed with me as an all time favorite.

What is amazing is how he memorized how to sing his song (or at least mouth the words) backwards so it appears he is singing forward while in reverse....pretty mesmerizing.

2007-12-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

In the next few days I am going to be a dedicated blogger.

My plan is to present a best of....not a best of this year, just in general. Thank goodness for YouTube allowing a video representative of some items....first up: Best video.

Post comments of suggested other categories!

He-Man

2007-12-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Wow. That is a one armed barbell snatch of 198 pounds!!!!
I can do like a 30 pound one arm barbell snatch. I am motivated to try a little harder. That is freaking amazing...or maybe just freaky.

PS. what is with the music? Kind of a weird choice eh?

2007-11-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the referral to "What age do you act?" It was a fun procrastination item...and down right bizarre that I act EXACTLY my age...I would have guessed younger!

You Are 28 Years Old

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

Brynn was 33 years old (actually 24 years old)...my most mature friend is younger than me turns out :)

What Age Do You Act?

2007-11-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Bear Attacks

2007-11-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Best quote about Bear attack - in the Missoulian newspaper: McDonald then began removing the wrist straps from his hiking poles so he could reach the bear spray at his waist. Then the bear attacked, and started working on McDonald's leg.

Just to keep track...

September 9 - hunter was attacked by a grizzly north of Gardiner

September 14 - man was mauled by a bear this morning while elk hunting north of Yellowstone National Park in the Beattie Gulch area.

October 6 - A man was mauled by a grizzly sow with three cubs while bow hunting for elk in the Beattie Gulch area, north of the boundary of Yellowstone National Park.

October 31 - hunter who apparently startled a bear near Corwin Springs...The bear knocked one of the man's eyeballs from its socket and severely damaged his nose and face.

November 2 - An employee at the Great Bear Adventure drive-through bear park in Coram was mauled in the groin by a grizzly bear.

If the bears keep up their current attack schedule, they are due for an attack any day, and they are becoming more specific in their attack targets...the groin? REALLY? is that entirely necessary? - not a good time to go outdoors. I have decided to not attend class until the bears have officially gone into hibernation.

Okay, maybe its not the bears, maybe I just dont want to get out of my pjs...maybe I am half bear and am going into hibernation?

The performance of a lifetime

2007-11-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

A recent vacation to the Double Arrow Resort, just outside of Seeley Lake, MT.

It is one of the very few Montana style resort/ranches that overlooks a golf course, absolutely beautiful...lots of deer grazing on the well manicured fairways. Mom decided it was the perfect venue to perform an interpretive dance of unknown inspiration or origin. Very engaging in form and content though, I give it a 9.2 out of a possible 10. Well done.

Who said this famous line?

2007-11-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

Probably the best video ever taken.
Ever so blog worthy too, thanks Rae - you are hilarious.

Long time no bloggy

2007-11-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

There must have been at least 20 times in the past two months that I have said, "Wow, I am so blogging the shit out of that!"

But obviously I didn't.

I vow to update my blog more frequently, because frankly there are things that the world needs to know about that are happening in Missoula, Montana on at least a weekly basis!!

For example:
Halloween has come and gone - what was I for Halloween you may ask?
How many people have been attacked by bears in Montana lately?
What am I going to be when I grow up? ICU versus NICU versus Pediatrics? Utah?
Courtney and Ryan came to visit - was it fun? Pictures perhaps?
Mom and Rae visited too, did we ride horses? Was my horse gassy? Is there video?

These questions require answers.

2007-09-29T08:53:00.000-06:00

Wow. QUite the intensity was thrown down this weekend at CrossFit.
It was really fun and a great workout as usual. Mark, Brynn and Nate came to watch which was great, thanks for the support!

My score was 246 in class C which breaks down like this, three rounds with 1 minute per exercise:
Wall ball 21-15-17
Sumo Deadlift High Pull 24-19-20
Box Jumps 23-19-16
PushPress 21-14-10
Rower Machine 12-8-7 (scored by calories not distance)

Lewis and Clark....AGAIN!

2007-09-23T21:48:00.001-06:00

2006: 2 hours 33 minutes (11:42 pace)
2007: 2 hours 16 minutes (10:25 pace)

All in all, a really neat race course on both trail and road up and down and through a few neighborhoods and trail systems. Check out the map :)

It was like 45 degrees and rainy/misty which was actually kindof nice.

Huge congrats to Melinda who broke the 2 hour race time goal, you kick ass girl! and of coarse her smokin fast boyfriend Ben, who was far under 2 hours. Such a hot couple :)

Thanks to dear Mark for being such a great supporter of my race. Seeing you at the finish made the last .25 miles the best part of the race, thanks for documenting my finish too :)

Fight Gone Bad Fundraiser

2007-08-30T20:25:00.000-06:00

Donate Here!!

I have been involved in the CrossFit program for just a little while, its a workout/training method that is really fun and different. If you have never heard of it, I suggest you check it out in your town!! Go to: http://www.crossfit.com/cf-affiliates/ to find your local CrossFit by state!

I am raising money for Prostate Cancer research by partcipating in a nationwide Fight Gone Bad.
What the hell is a Fight Gone Bad you ask?
Not a bar fight involving a man who transforms into the Incredible Hulk...but that would be bad.
Fight Gone Bad is a workout that is pretty typical of CrossFit. Basically, there are five stations, you have one minute at each station to complete as many reps as you can. After each round you have a one minute break. You do 3 rounds.

The stations are:

Wall-ball with 20 pound ball, 8 ft target. (Throwing medicine ball up onto wall)
Deadlift high-pull 75 pounds (weight negotiable)
Box Jump with 20" box (jumping up onto a box)
Push-press 75 pounds (lifting bar above head, weight negotiable)
Rowing machine

The clock does not reset or stop between exercises so no being slow between stations. Scoring is basically one point per rep, except on the rower where each calorie is one point.

Its intense to say the least.

Your support of my fundraising is so very appreciated !!

Home again

2007-08-25T12:25:00.000-06:00

Lazy Saturday. So nice.

I had school orientation on yesterday, what a reality check...it was neat to see my classmates again and find out what everyone was up to for the summer. Rafting, internships, weddings, travel. I cant believe summer is over and its our senior year.

Bought my books which are now staring at me from across the room.
I wonder how much I will read them this semester.

I feel the need to spend this weekend doing things to prepare for school...buy notebooks, organize house/desk/computer area, grocery shop, etc. But instead, I sit on my couch and blog all morning, what is that all about? Blogcrastinating. I think I will go for a run although it is pretty smoky outside today. Then to B&N to look for pretty notebooks to make taking notes fun.

Did not get eaten.

2007-08-23T10:40:00.000-06:00

Not very often you can title a blog post with "Did not get eaten"

Got back from Alaska last night after a two weeks of vacation there including a most excellent Liz and James wedding. Liz and James's family made our stay in Alaska seem like home, with great places to lay our head and kept us quite well fed too. Thanks to Liz, James, Meg, Bob, Rick, and Kelly. It was great to get to know you all :)
After the big day, we went for 8 days of backpacking in Denali with Mark.

Here is the short and dirty report:

0 times we got lost (yay us!)
1 great wedding
1 shower (oh, the joy)
2 photos taken of us by tourists
6 moose sightings (including 2 babys!)
8 days of wet boots
10 dehydrated meals
12 grizzly bear sightings (including 4 cubs!)
16 cups of granola - homemade by me!
20 cliff bars - blueberry crisp is favorite
30 minutes spent talking to Alaskan bushman that flagged down train for ride into town
32 hours of rain (in a row)
42 hours of travel by plane, train, and automobile - whoa!
359 arctic ground squirrel sightings (estimate)

To learn more about my most excellent trip to Alaska, keep an eye on my backpacking blog for pictures and postings in the next few days :)

Just for the Lion named Ryan

2007-08-01T17:07:00.000-06:00

Today was moving day (the picture is of my old place at 530am this morning).
And I am officially into my new place.
HUGE thanks to my moving crew Holly and Jess. You are life savers pure and simple.

I promise my postings will become both more frequent, witty, and varied when I return from the big Alaska trip at the end of August. I am taking a blogiday but will return with tons of blog worthy content I am sure :)

So, till then, my loyal blog readers - check out some other witty bloggers like my brother in law Dave! (Go to his link: Dave's Little Blog)

June Vacation

2007-06-15T15:21:00.000-06:00

Lake Placid was my June adventure.
The vacation was planned around my sister and me running a half marathon, which we dominated (finished) and loved (didnt die).
13.1 miles in 2 hours and 29 minutes. Not bad at all (according to Dave's advanced long division skills we finished in the top 71% in fact).
I would have to say the other activities in New York however were quite fun as well.
We rented canoes the evening of our race and took a paddle around the lake...not the whole lake, just enough to work up an appetite and see huge lake homes with boat houses larger than most peoples actual houses. The paddling itself took a bit of effort, none of us being preofessional boaters by any means...see picture below:

Another fun activity that nearly blew my mind was tandem bicycling which was actually an after though activity done just before I boarded my plane home in Syracuse. Actually quite a difficult thing the tandem biking, lots of coordination and balance...another activity that will definetly be added to the Syracuse fun things to do list.

My Rocking Out Machine

2007-06-04T17:50:00.000-06:00

Note the size difference...the plant was included for reference. My old CD player, while quite wonderful in its own way (oh yes, having dual tape players is a plus) was just to honkin big and clunky, not to mention it would occasionally choke on CDs.

The iGroove. I am quite happy with my purchase, bought at Costco for a steal today...and I figure if it craps out it was a costco item which is so darn convienient if return is needed. YAY!
I am listening to it currently, great sound quality, for such a wee bugger it sure does kick out some sound! Really exciting.

Application

2007-06-02T17:23:00.001-06:00

Today was a triumphant day.

Despite it being a beautifully sunny and scorchingly hot day I found a suitable apartment!! It is about 1.5 miles to downtown (not bad, right now I am 7 miles) so it is totally bike friendly and the neighboorhood is good.

It is next to the train tracks which will take some getting used to again, lots of train related noises to sleep through. Honk Honk!! I like train noises though, I am kindof looking forward to it :)

Steak and guacamole and chips for dinner tonight in celebration! YAY!

The search for a place to live....again.

2007-05-31T16:15:00.000-06:00

My body is stiff.
My eyes are dry and bloodshot.
My jaw is clenched.
I have a overwhelming sense of frustration.
Disappointment awaits me at every turn.
I realize meth is a problem, but is every rental tenant in Missoula cooking it in their apartments or does it just look that way because every landlord is a fu*king slumlord.
Maybe its just the places that accept pets are shiteholes and I am therefore stuck renting places that either look like rodent infested prison blocks or like moldy flop houses for addicts and prostitutes?
I may freak out.
I may freak out.

My new blog!!

2007-05-27T21:40:00.000-06:00

Well, I have been thinking about it for awhile but today I finally did it.

My new blog is here. Dont worry faithful blog readers, this blog will continue because I still have many random things to say. But the new blog....the "Wild Backpack Blog" will be all about backpacking stuff!! FUN!!!!

Check it out here: Kate's Wild Backpack Blog
or link to it from my links column on the left panel of this blog!!

2007-05-21T10:06:00.001-06:00

Liz and James, originally from Alaska, told me about this one....I think it is quite blogworthy.

This weekend in the Anchorage Daily news:

The bears of the Russian River area (very popular recreational fishing area) are to be tranquilized...to make it easier to dye their hair an assortment of eye catching colors including yellow, green and orange!

The dyed hair is a new idea to help track "problem bears" that get a little too close to the fishermen. Now when Bob the fly fisherman from Illinois is scared out of his waders by a grizzly he can say, "Oh yeah, it was the bear with the orange butt that tried to kill me!"

and the bear is thinking:
hmmmm...that guy over there really looks like that f**ker that dyed my hair pink....dinner time!

Shoe Review

2007-05-10T12:56:00.000-06:00

Dave's blog does Golf.
Kate's blog will do Running.

My recent shoes are ready for review:

I recently bought some two terrific pairs of shoes at Missoula's fantastic and knowledgable local running shop:

The Runner's Edge (325 N Higgins, Missoula MT 406-728-9297)

Review #1:

The New Balance Women's 767
Motion Control or Stability shoe for people that over pronate (me).
Good balance of cushion to weight ratio (9.9 ounces) making it great for roads but also handle well on trails. This shoe has performed well in hot weather, it has a mostly mesh upper for nice venting you can feel in the wind. One perk is the laces on this shoe. They are the shaped kind that stay put once tied. The shoe also comes in three color choices for the fashion concious. I went with the one pictured (blue and silver). Check out the link above for shoe specifics and technology blurbs. I give this shoe two thumbs up.

Review #2:

The Adidas Supernova
Motion Control or Stability shoe for people that over pronate (me)
This shoe really feels like it hugs your foot all the way around in a good way. I think the cushion is pretty similar to the New Balance. I feel this shoe is a little warm for hot weather runs, maybe its the hugging fit. It does look a bit like a space shoe but there are other color options available if you buy online (I didnt have this option unfortunantly so I feel rather sci-fi while running in these).

I hope my reviews are helpful and enlightening.
I would next really love to find some running sunglasses....adidas had some really awsome euro trashy ones I want to try on...I dont think anyone in Montana probably sells them but maybe while visiting Liz in Colorado we could find them in Denver.

Done....

2007-05-08T22:27:00.000-06:00

First...for finishing THE hardest semester of my entire 8 years of college education I award myself with some much deserved flowers and fruit baskets.

For the next 110 days and 9 hours or to be more exact 2649 hours, I am NOT IN SCHOOL.

The end of this semester was horrific for a number of reasons that honestly I think I will completely leave out of all conversation for the coming week in order to regain sanity because currently when it is brought up I develop a twitch in my left eye and start stuttering obsenities no matter what social setting it may be.
Inappropriate.

For the next 110 days and 9 hours I have some pretty big plans, including the following:

Visits to various states to see family and friends most importantly. Colorado, North Carolina, New York, and Alaska!!
Increasing the time spent with Mark to time spent driving ratio to one that is not insane. Including lots of backpacking and camping :)
Running - two half marathons planned for this summer...considering a full, we shall see.
Golfing - this is going to be the summer I get good at golf :) Maybe even beat Dave?
Leisurely drinking coffee....possibly in a comfortable reclining lawn chair with my new book (THANKS RAE) the Outlander.

Sigh. Im so exhausted from exams. Its bedtime. Its over. Im done with the semester. I cant believe it honestly. Im so exhausted. Im so exhausted.

A good cause

2007-05-01T19:54:00.000-06:00

My sister is such an inspiration, not only running in training for several races, captain of the tennis team playing like four days a week, and going to school for her doctorate in psychology but she also raises money for AIDS charity. Some might say she has a motor....I would agree :)

The Run for Respect

2007-04-21T11:51:00.000-06:00

31 minutes 55 seconds
Today was the Run for Respect 5k in Missoula. Pretty fun, one huge hill then otherwise flat. Got a neato t-shirt and some fun freebies.
Ive been running now for about a year...which made me wonder about the statistics of it all...so here are some fun Kate the Runner statistics:

Note the upward trend of my longest run per week lately...I am hoping to increase that by one mile per week until my half marathon which is in June (Lake Placid, NY).

Thanks for the wonderful support and encouragement from my friends and family, it makes it fun to run thinking of how proud I make everyone. Yay me. Yay you. Yay.

100th Post

2007-04-18T18:22:00.000-06:00

One hundred posts!
I think I gain 5 nerd points per 100 posts. YAY!
Maybe this post will gain me a couple more points for techy nerd information?

The new gadgets that would be so fun to afford:

Flash drives are just so boring arent they? Good thing some smart people thought to disguise them as fun creatures and some made in memory of the old flash drives that were made of wood.

I have a confession....my external backup hard drive scares me. Im scared it is going to kersplode without warning. It makes funny sounds sometimes. And it just isnt as beautiful or durable as this wonder of wonders:
Its made by LaCie, creator of the beautiful pink hard drive my sister enjoys.

As mentioned on Dave's blog - the podcast addiciton is both educational and enjoyable. But there is just not enough time to listen to my iPod...however, my three hour drives to Bozeman would be great broadcast from my iPod to my car stereo in one seamless wire (instead of the ridiculous invention of the FM transmitter that SUCKS!)....I havent done alot of research on this item but this is one of the stereos I have looked at:

On the same line of iPod gizmos but I swear this one is needed in every household!! I think this is pretty neat, the ultimate solution to shower time boredom

I will update about my gadget obsessions more later - school and sleep are two things that sadly gadgets wont do for you. But they make excellent procrastination tools dont they!

Scary pressure exerted on student...will student be crushed?

2007-04-13T20:23:00.000-06:00

I did it.

I registered for the GRE.

June 29th.

1pm.

I got the study guide yesterday, and now the day is set.

I actually really like tests so I should be excited, I am more nervous at this point though, maybe once I get into the study guide I will feel more excited. I am going to take the "diagnostic exam" this weekend to see where I am at to start.

Wish me luck!

Educational Post

2007-04-10T18:50:00.000-06:00

The Harpy Eagle

According to Wikipedia this bird can "easily grab a 5lb monkey and fly away with it"...pretty freaking impressive. In greek mythology a harpy was a wind spirit that would take the dead to Hades. I suppose a soul weighs about five pounds?

The talons of this huge bird (7 foot wingspan) can exert a pressure of 42 kgf cm² (Im sure this means something to somebody). Oh and did I mention its talons are longer than a grizzly bear's? Scary huh!

Does this bird look familiar? Are you a Harry Potter movie addict caught red handed? You guessed right, this is the bird that was used as the inspiration for Fawkes the Phoenix (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

Laugh!

2007-04-05T23:00:00.000-06:00

Make sure your volume is up so you can hear this.

Seriously. Probably the most deliciously adorable thing Ive seen in the past five months. Apparently most people have been done discussing this by the water cooler for months but lets face it, I live in Montana where the news just doesnt travel very fast.
I love it.
Especially the old man no sound coming out laughing!!
Hilarious.
Cant help but smile.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

2007-03-21T21:37:00.001-06:00

http://www.myheritage.com

Credit for finding this neato site goes to Pete (my brother in law's brother). Pretty neato. I think the celebrity look alike feature is so year 2007....I want to find a site that you can try wild new haircuts and colors on your downloaded picture.
I think I will post some celebrity look alikes of other people soon. FUn game.

Best song EVER

2007-03-21T20:45:00.000-06:00

Thanks Dave for the helpful YouTube research!! Here is the spectrum song and this may be quite helpful to those committed to learning the words!! FUn!

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE SPECTRUM SONG!!!

or cut and paste this into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFY1GuhXGLI

The Spectrum Song - Paul Frees

2007-03-21T12:12:00.000-06:00

The Spectrum Song
I cant find a recording of it to post here but I fully encourage everyone to look it up on iTunes and then commit a few hours to memorizing the lyrics so we can all sing it together next time we meet ;)

Here is the lyrics:

Red, yellow, green, red, blue blue blue
Red, purple, green, yellow, orange, red red
Red, yellow, green, red, blue blue blue
Red, purple, green, yellow, orange, red red

Blend them up and what do you get?
Ceries, chartous, and aqua
Mauve, beige, and ultra marine, and every colour in between
Hazo ka li ka no cha lum bum

Colour has it's harmony and just like I have said
Red, yellow, green, red, blue blue blue
Red, purple, green, yellow, orange, red red

Blend them all and what do you get?
Ceries, chartous, and aqua
Mauve, beige, and ultra marine, and every colour in between
Ing za ri ka fo zi brun brun

Colour has it's harmony and just as I have said
Red, yellow, green, red, blue, pink, grey
And white, and plaid and blue, green, white, yellow and toodinz 'n' and and and
right and and strips with blue and a black and Plaid and a....a

oo and ...vut vut, vait a second, vut vut's going on wid all da colours?
Blue, red, green, green, white, white, black....
vut ever happened to just plain old lavender blue dilly dilly dilly dilly.......dilly
....silly

Tom is my friend

2007-03-14T16:19:00.000-06:00

I would officially have to call myself a "spacer", I think MySpace may be nearly worse that Sims in being able to make a person lose control and all sense of time.

You could call me Myspastic.

Lost in Crackspace...Im a spacehead.

And Im a blogger.

Im a Myspastic blogger. Currently totally blogcrastinating.

Im a big internet NERD!

My day continues to suck

2007-03-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

My day continues to suck despite Patrick Swayze's dancing...shit.

Nobody puts baby in the corner

2007-03-08T15:29:00.000-07:00

I needed something to make me feel good. And lets be honest...this is the best dancing movie ever. Where is Johnny Dirty Dancing when you need him? If only a summer's worth of dance lessons could make me be able to dance like that.

And for the dirty dancer in all of us:

Aunt Traveling Linda

2007-03-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, one of my favorite TV shows of all time was Fraggle Rock. For those unfamiliar with Fraggle Rock you have missed out. They were muppet like creatures that lived in caves...it was very complex...check out the official Fraggle Rock website if you are clueless.

Anyways, my adventerous friend Linda is currently adventuring in India. Her latest email made me feel like a little kid hearing about Uncle Traveling Matt's adventures on Fraggle Rock (hence the blog posting):

Everyone in India smears different colors of paint on their faces and runs through the streets carrying on. I was also part of the festival and had bright pink smeared on my forehead and had holy water thrown on me. I took the train from Delhi to Dehra Dun, but accidently got off on the wrong exit and ended up in Haridwar, which is a town before Dehra Dun. I was completley lost and had mobs of people surrounding me and wanting to take pictures of me.

Uncle Traveling Matt was a neat Fraggle who was an explorer and would report back to Fraggle Rock via postcard..."the world "out there" is inhibited primarily by Silly Creatures, multi-sized, two legged beings with bizarre habits". So true. As Linda Im sure would agree.

And for the record...if I were a Fraggle I would be half Gobo - half Boober.

Bye Bye Linda Lou

2007-02-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

Today my fantastic friend Linda leaves for India for an adventure in nursing. I am so totally amazed by her unfailing bravery to go see the world solo. She is going to have so much fun...and hopefully not so much of the diarrheal diseases while she is there. I cant wait to hear about your adventures Linda, be sure to update your blog often (Linda's Blog: Where in the World in Linda?) The picture of the train was the first thing to come up if you google "India, funny"....dont get on a train like that Linda. Plain old not safe!

As posted a few weeks ago, the first annual girls ski trip was a raving success. In honor of the fun, Linda was crafty enough to mail me this hilarious t-shirt!! I will wear it with pride...and shake my ass double time while wearing it.

Note the new haircut. Fun to have short hair again :)

Signs you may have a coffee problem

2007-02-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

You're Drinking Too Much Coffee When . . .
1.You ski uphill.
2.You get a speeding ticket even when you're parked.
3.You speed walk in your sleep.
4.You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
5.You sleep with your eyes open.
6.The only time you're standing still is during an earthquake.
7.You lick your coffeepot clean.
8.You're the employee of the month at the local coffeehouse and you don't even work there.
9.Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.
10.You chew on other people's fingernails.
11.Your T-shirt says, "Decaffeinated coffee is the devil's coffee."
12.All your kids are named "Joe."
13.You've worn out the handle on your favorite mug.
14.You walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in.
15.You've built a miniature city out of little plastic stirrers.
16.You've worn the finish off your coffee table.
17.Starbucks owns the mortgage on your house.
18.Your taste buds are so numb you could drink your lava lamp.
19.You want to be cremated just so you can spend the rest of eternity in a coffee can
20.You want to come back as a coffee mug in your next life.
21.Your birthday is a national holiday in Brazil
22.You'd be willing to spend time in a Turkish prison.
23.You go to sleep just so you can wake up and smell the coffee.
24.Your lips are permanently stuck in the sipping position.
25.You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.
26.Your lover uses soft lights, romantic music, and a glass of iced coffee to get you in the mood.
27.You can't even remember your second cup.
28.You help your dog chase its tail.
29.You soak your dentures in coffee overnight.
30.Your first-aid kit contains two pints of coffee with an I.V. hookup.

Super Bowl Sunday

2007-02-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone.
I cant wait till I am "grown up" and can have ROCKING awsome Super Bowl parties at my house. I would make delicious snacks and it would be so fun!
Is this a weird thing to aspire to?

Other things I aspire to achieve:
Graduate in top 10% of my class
Read the entire Wheel of Time book series
Get into NP school wherever I want (okay specifically, in CO, UT, or OR)
Learn a foreign language really well (either Spanish or German)
Cook the world's best lasagna (okay, I may have already achieved this)
Be the best bachelorette party planner for Liz :)

Side note: Really exciting thing of the weekend was a previously viewed movie deal at Hastings (3 for $12)...I got Little Miss Sunshine (YAY), Pirates of the Carribean 2 (oh, Johnny Dep), and Miami Vice (never seen it).

Fun.
Go Bears.

Girls Gone Wild

2007-01-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

Over the holiday a new tradition was begun.

The Annual Girls Ski Trip

The 2007 Girls Ski Trip started the tradition with a bang. What a blast to ski Colorado with the girls (this year: me, Jess, and Linda). There is definetly something to be said about traveling with women and skiing with women. Its so different than the usual testosterone influenced dynamic! And best of all Linda's ass was our mascot cause she was shake shake shakin it all week!! (oh linda, you are priceless).

We were really fortunate too because Jess had so many great friends that were willing to hook us up with free stuff!! Thanks to Dickie, Mel, Joe, and everyone for making our trip "totally sponsered!".

Plug for Joe: Thanks for the AMAZING dinner at Taddeo's (Italian Cuisine). I highly recommend it.

Blog Bully

2007-01-14T00:09:00.000-07:00

Matt Frankenstein is as sober as a lightbulb.

Post Christmas Effect

2006-12-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

My christmas was so great.
Mom, Rae, and Dave were all in Montana visiting.
I think I am a bit depressed now that they are all gone :( I hope someday soon we all live in the same state or at least the same region of the country. There is definetly something to be said for having family to visit. Hopefully sometime soon.

I still have over 20 days of vacation before school starts back up, how crazy is that!!? I am in Bozeman at the Co-op making music mixes for Mom and Mark. Such fun. Then off to do a bit of skiing perhaps.

Merry Christmas (belated) and Happy New Year to everyone.

Oh and for a bit of added knowledge (I was always curious).....the words to that New Years Eve song they always play which is called Auld Lang Syne:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the hills,
and pulled the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine (dinner time) ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

This song is also used for graduations and funerals in Taiwan. The melody of this song is used for the fight song for the University of Virginia....Interesting eh?

Merry Christmas

2006-12-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

Im done. I managed with just a squeak to keep my 4.0 status. Thank goodness, its not that I am obsessed and a perfectionist its just it is all so pretty on my transcript with all of the A's...it would be so sad to ruin this streak of vowels!! But either iether, I am done. Well, at least with one semester...Im a quarter of the way to graduation. Three semesters to go. One and a half years. Oh my god it seems so far away still!!!!!!

At least it is Christmas.
My sister arrives tonight. Mom tommorrow. Dave the day after that.
Im so excited.
We are going to Big Mountain in Whitefish, MT for Christmas this year. Skiing fun and hot tubing and presents. It doesnt get much better than that.
Merry Christmas to all of my blog viewers.
Congraduations and pat pat on the back to anyone who is another semester closer to graduation.

Ski Photo!

2006-12-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

Me and Mark are in the SnowBowl Ski Area photo of the day from last Sunday. That is Mark in the yellow jacket and me in the red jacket and black helmet. Pretty neat!

Last day of clinicals

2006-11-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day of clinicals in the hospital. In review, for those not in the health profession, I have provided some images so you feel like a part of the fun.

My favorite things I did this semester included injections, the flu shot clinic was the funnest thing Ive done in the past 4 months at least. Also, staple removal from an abdominal surgical site, watching a skin graft was mind bogglingly amazing.

Most excitingly, yes Rae people really do get this done while awake and alert, I finally today I got to insert a urinary catheter (female) ~ whoa was that strange!

And I got to do it all in ammazingly NOT stylish WHITE SCRUB PANTS! How awsome is that???????? Yay me.

Next semester is all pediatrics. I cant wait. It will be many of the same procedures with itty bitty equipment and twice as much charting! Such excitment for my strange brain.

Are the Europeans/Australians really that weird?

2006-11-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

Slacker on the blogging lately. Oops.

Update of Kate: I am in Bozeman this weekend visiting boyfriend Mark. Today I am at the co-op studying for a major pharmacology test I have on Monday morning, Mark is at work so it all works our perfect. It is a beautiful day. Lucky me, I get to sit by a window and watch it go by. Oh well. Maybe Ill hike with Mark tomorrow.
I leave to visit Bellingham on Tuesday and I am just so very excitied. Especially because I get to go skiing at Mt. Baker while Im there, they have been getting lots of snow unlike the areas around here. Well, I guess Big Sky has a decent amount but that place is quite ridiculous in many ways. Melinda is going to drive over with me, she has never been to Washington before so she is quite excited too.

Blog worthy moment this week: My friend Brynn dragged me to her house to see a "super hilarious" thing. She really built it up and I was ready to be disappointed as frequently happens when a thing is built up as being the funniest ever. But it really lived up to it. Id like to share. Its nothing new, many people have seen it but it was the first Id ever heard of it.

Get in my car!

Attrocious. And for real? Is that necessary/make any sense at all?
Dont worry. You dont have to go crawling the web to find more, here is a second dose just in case you are severely ill with the Hoff-cravings:

Hooked on a Feeling

I feel like I did drugs after watching these videos. The Hoff is kind of teetering on the edge of reality in my opinion.

Halloween

2006-10-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Oh how I adore Halloween!
This year I went as Captain of the year 3000 flyball team. Its a really popular sport in the year 3000, you wear a jetpack and throw a shiny red ball that looks similar to what people now call a football. Thanks to my creative sister Rae for the great costume guidance this year. I am still trying to get the freaking electical tape gooeyness off of me, it is quite stubborn. Please leave goo removal ideas as comments if anyone has any suggestions. I look like the dirty kid unless I wear a turtleneck.

For some reason, the removal of the halloween costume is always a memorable event. Remember how fun it was to take off all the paint and hair goo when you were little?

My friend Holly had a very festive party, great decorating and snacks :) Everyone dressed up great, including this guy (see picture) that dressed up as the Goblin King (David Bowie) from the movie Labrinyth (best movie ever). Tomas and Nora were awsome too, the tourist and well, we werent sure what Nora was exactly...a crazy person that likes to exercise? Very fun.

Half Marathon (Sept. 24th)

2006-10-17T13:21:00.000-06:00

It wasnt pretty (and neither was I) but I finished in 2hrs 33minutes (the timer started one hour before we started for the full marathon runners.

2006-10-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.
It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve.

It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

My first Political Posting

2006-10-09T20:52:00.000-06:00

Well, it is election time in Montana (much like the rest of the USA I know), and today I turned on my TV to be bombarded with a politician's dribble. It was the debate between Conrad Burns (R), John Tester (D) and this other guy...I watched as this man in a power suit addressed Montana as a govenor candidate and explained how Global Warming is a complete farce. Yup, its all a bunch of crap, it used to be warmer than it is now (thousands of years ago when I am assuming this politian time traveled back with a thermometer to know). Who was this wise man? None other than Stan Jones (see picture). Yes, he is BLUE. Just before Y2K he ingested so much colloidal silver (see totally non-science based fads) that he actually turned blue. Politics sucks.

This video, however, does not suck. It is hilarious, especially because it actually happened and yes, our president is that totally clueless.

Click to see Video

Shirts off please :)

2006-09-29T16:32:00.000-06:00

Me and Melinda ran a 5K race for the sweet pea parade in Bozeman over the first weekend in AUGUST! That is a bit of a delayed post eh?! It was very fun. I came across this picture and realized I had never shared our fun day. Melinda and I had another fun running day this past weekend when we ran our much anticipated HALF MARATHON! It was great too! I have pictures coming in probably 2 weeks (they had a professional photographer on coarse), Ill be sure to show them off...I look like hell, my eyes are closed in almost all of the pictures. I think I may have been half dead at the finish line :) It took me 2 hours and 33 minutes to run the very hilly (gasp!) 13.2 miles. It was great though, I will surely do another one in the coming months.
School is kicking my ass. We had our first clinical week this week, so Tuesday and Wednesday from 630am till 2pm I was on the med-surg unit giving sponge baths, helping patients with moving, walking, toileting etc. Lots of ackward charting tasks and new forms to learn how to use. And we had a test on Thursday and another one today. It was a hellish week.
Alas it is Friday though. I am studying for two more hours and then calling it quits till Sunday cause this weekend is my birthday damn it and if you cant have a day off studying for your birthday then you must be living in hell. right?

So, whooooo hoooooo TAKE OFF YER SHIRT!!!!

Goodbye

2006-09-18T15:47:00.000-06:00

Daphne Lillian Hicks (Warwick) a.k.a. Gran

Today my darling Gran will be buried beside my grandpa in Fenton, Michigan.

She was such a neat lady. She was a British WW2 bride and moved to Michigan to marry my Grandpa when she was like 19! When I was a little girl she lived across the street and we would visit her all the time. She taught us the proper way to say "Strawberry" (the English say it quite different: say "strawbree". She would take us for walks to feed the horses and rides on the golf cart down to the beach. I am going to miss my Gran.

End of rope

2006-09-15T11:18:00.000-06:00

Okay, so if you owned a coffee shop that was really nice and enjoyed by a full house of paying patrons would you get out hammers and power tools and start hammering away on the floor as LOUD as you could? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I was doing so well on studying and now it is all i can do not to scream OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!
I have to leave this place. I am going to lose it!

Never Forget

2006-09-11T07:29:00.000-06:00

First day of school!

2006-08-28T17:02:00.000-06:00

In case anyone was curious about Kate's adventures in nursing school...it has begun! And isnt it funny, I will be TWENTY SEVEN in one month...hmmmm, yes, that means I have spent nearly five years waiting for this freaking moment!! Im here, lets hope I ROCK THIS SCHOOL!! Woooo Wooooo!

Today was the first day of school for me. It was really good.
8am Phamacology class: this class is going to be really interesting, this is the class in which we get to give injections etc. as well as learn about all the medications, in a general sense at least. It is taught by two professors both of whom are hilarious. The intro today was down right entertaining, they will Im sure make the very challenging content not quite so stressful.
10am Nursing Psych: this class will be interesting too but far easier (as proclaimed by the professor) there are clinical hours of this class too but they are more observational, we go to the local psych ward for one day, to local AA and NA support group meetings, to our professor's private practice for observation. Ought to be pretty eye opening.
I get tomorrow off. I am trying to gear back into school mode but am having a bit of trouble. I need to shape up!! I have done a little reading today but mostly have watched When Harry Met Sally. Such a good movie. If anyone has some motivational antiprocrastination advice: GIVE IT!

Save the what?

2006-08-02T15:09:00.000-06:00

There are many sayings in the format of "Save this, Do this" and they are mostly funny...Ive also heard: Save Water, Shower with a friend.

Melinda, Mark, and I moved my stuff to Missoula on Saturday. We went downtown for dinner around 930. Downtown Missoula is a culture shock for us small town Bozeman people. TRANSIENT people everywhere and lots of hippies. I hate hippies. Case in point: After dinner, about 11pm there is a twenty something guy with hugely grotesque blond dreadlocks looking more than a little high/tripping/out of his mind on something walking down the street toward us carrying a small piece of drywall on which he had scrawled "Save a tree. Use Drywall."

We were stupified. What On EARTH does that mean? Was it a joke? I have googled it and come up with nothing. Mark Mr. Construction Worker insisted that it is a flawed idea if you even know the littlest bit about construction. So, either the drugs were really quite mind altering or this hippie was carrying around a sign with an inside joke written on it. Either way, I am glad that I live on the outskirts of town. Downtown is just weird.

Although of a different format, as a side note, I had never heard the saying: A closed mouth gathers no foot. I really like it though. It may be my new favorite.

Friday night at the Speedway!!

2006-07-28T15:30:00.000-06:00

Tonight we are off to the races. My new closeted favorite pasttime is something I NEVER thought I would enjoy sooo much. Race car driving. not Nascar nastiness but short track crazy loud super crazy racing. Its fun. Mark and Melinda and I go almost every Friday night, sometimes Mark's boss Joe comes too. The race starts and you pick "your" car. Like horse racing. Often the car I pick ends up losing a wheel or just puttering out and stopping but there is sometimes big crashes and oh its just so fun! I took this picture with my camera phone, it doesnt quite capture the fun.

Tonight is my last night in Bozeman as a resident of Bozeman. So sad. Its been a good day so far. Spent my morning at the co-op reading my book then went on a great run with Melinda (see my training log for proof). Then sushi. Oh the love of sushi.

Tomorrow morning me, Mark, and Melinda drive my trailer full of boxes to Missoula, the big city. We are staying there tomorrow night then back to Bozeman for a cleaning session in my apartment and grabbing the kittys. Whew. I am tired just thinking about it. Maybe it was the run today though. Im exhausted. Time for a nap and a shower.

2006-07-26T09:58:00.000-06:00

I realize that every person that reads this that has a job will roll their eyes with passion but, oh my god I am bored. Am I really so type A that having two weeks with nothing to do is enough to bore me to tears? I feel so un-accomplished, it is starting to affect my self confidence!

I am moving this Saturday to Missoula. I think this fact may be part of my crazyness. Ah well, once moved I will have plenty to do. I love moving to a new place because there is always something to do. Always a new list.

My nerdiness is coming back into bloom with school on the horizon. I have been stalking Barnes and Noble for months awaiting their lovely notebooks. Last Thursday I found them. They are gorgeous. I bought three. One with flipflops, one with hearts, and one with I forget what. But all such nice paper with a nice light grey tinge to relax the eyes. I seriously am now 82% more excited for school now that I have my nice paper in hand.

My next exciting school buys are as follows:
1. Nice new pens
2. Printer ink cartridges
3. Tape flags
4. Binders...perhaps a yellow one and a green one this semester
5. Digital recorder - this neat device allows me to download recorded lectures on to my iPod for listening later, so neat and neardy I could gasp in delight!
6. Snack food and lunch food - I like to prepare lots of food before school begins and make it into ready made meals in the freezer. Veggie burritos and chicken are my too favorties to have on hand.

Six Months

2006-07-17T12:40:00.000-06:00

This weekend was so neat. Saturday morning Mark and I got in the car for a nice drive down the Beartooth Highway. If you have never heard of it (I hadnt) you should do it the first chance you get. It was so beautiful. We got on this scenic highway at Red Lodge and drove on it to Cooke City and then through Yellowstone. It took awhile because we stopped at all of the places that were neat along the way: waterfalls, high points of elevation, mountain goats etc. Mark is so fun to travel with, him and I have such an amazing time whenever we are together. I just love how he goes with me on these trips and is so enthusiastic about it, lets go hiking, lets stop and see that...oh he is just dreamy. Once in Yellowstone we decided to be spontaneous and get a cabin in Yellowstone (not to mention we were starving and a bit tired of driving)! So we got a tiny little cabin in Canyon Village. We went and saw the lower falls of the Yellowstone (see picture of huge falls) which was really neat. We saw Old Faithful kersplode, hiked to Fairy Falls, saw buffalo, elk, deer, a wolf (wow!) and a grizzly (sortof...it was like 10 miles away aledgedly). No moose. I think I have an anti-moose smell or something. We drove out of the park at West Yellowstone and had some yummy Mexican for dinner. It was such a nice weekend.