February 5th, 2008 by Kateastrophe

I have a question Internets.

Hypothetically –

As a gift, you are presented with a $550 gift card to Zappos.com. Do you:

1. Find one amazing, ridiculously expensive item (saaay Couture shoes or a bag) to spend that credit on and get yourself something you’d NEVER buy yourself in real life but would LOVE to have if you were frivolous with money that way.

OR

1. Spread it out and get as many items as you possibly could

My next question:

What would you buy on Zappos.com?

Send links! I’m curious to see your favorites on that incredible site!

Also send help. (Hypothetically)

February 5th, 2008 by Kateastrophe

Want to know what upsets me a little?

The fact that, since I chose to register as an Independent, rather than affiliate myself with a political party I don’t always agree with (that’s both sides, for the record), I am not allowed to vote today in the state of Arizona. And I’m irritated.

I realize it’s a Primaries and that we’re deciding just the delegates from the two political parties, but I truly feel that everyone should be able to have a say in this election as well, since the results WILL affect me, my family and friends in the very near future. I WANT TO VOTE TODAY DANGIT!

I love the right to vote. I love the fact that there is a chance my vote will affect the outcome of our government.

One of the delegates is from Arizona. Most likely, he will win here, which is frustrating to me because MY vote wouldn’t have been for him. Today, my vote just might have mattered a lot. And I can’t go vote. Grrrr.

That being said, everyone who CAN vote today, GO! Let your voice be heard!

February 4th, 2008 by Kateastrophe

So I played hookie half-day on Friday. I literally just walked out of my office at 12:30 and didn’t go back.

I desperately needed an eyebrow wax. I was starting to look a bit like a wookie. See?

It’s a bad picture taken on my cell phone but can you SEE those horrid extra hairs? I have made it a life goal not to touch my own eyebrows because whenever I do, the results are scary. Like a few weeks ago when I thought I’d “just trim the long hairs” and I took a chunk out of what is supposed to be the thick part of my eyebrow. Or a few years ago when I over plucked and took off the thin end of my eyebrow. Or the time I tried to wax myself and took a big chunk out of the MIDDLE of my eyebrow. I should not be allowed to own tweezers or wax of any kind. And there’s a question about owning a razor, since I’ve also shaved the center section and had my esthetician yell at me for that.

Now, when I lived in Utah, I had Whitney, the goddess of eyebrows. I had an appointment with her every three weeks and loved her with all my heart. Then I moved to Arizona. I have been here for almost four years and haven’t found anyone who comes close to Whitney - until Friday. I found a place that claims to specialize in eyebrows and I think I’ve found my eyebrow home.

Now, I may have forgotten to add some color to my super blonde brows this morning but can you SEE the improvement? It’s like a whole new world!!! I was (and continue to be) SO happy!

After getting my eyebrows did, my day of hookie continued with SHOPPING!! I found sales galore and got some amazing stuff for like 80% off their original prices. Hazaa! I also got kitchen tools, which are never bad.

After shopping, I went to get my car washed because after picking it up from the shop it was nasty. This is where playing hookie goes downhill, because I discovered that the morons who “fixed” my car didn’t finish the job and under all the dirt is a crappy job. Also, the people washing my car weren’t so stellar either. I WAS PISSED. I called the shop, told them they sucked, got the manager of the carwash, told them they sucked and THEN I went to unwind with a pedicure. I was so excited until I discovered that the pedicure place had stopped using O.P.I products and I couldn’t use my favorite color (I’m Not Really A Waitress, if you’re curious) so I had to go with a lighter red, which isn’t perfect but at least my toes no longer look as though I walk barefoot over hot coals for a living.

At about this point I started adding up the costs of my little hookie trip. I think I maybe should have stayed at work . . . and blown up the car repair shop.

Saturday, Matt and I went on a field trip down to the south-east part of the valley to go to our old stomping grounds and the mall there. I may or may not have done some more damage at the sales there. BUT, I got several pairs of TEN DOLLAR PANTS! They were originally $50! You so can’t go wrong, right?! I also needed new perfume because I was out of my signature scent and that just WILL NOT DO. We had a jolly time and I was very happy with my purchases.

Until I got home and checked my bank account. Let’s see . . . car payment plus insurance plus cell phone plus credit card payoff from last month plus car repairs . . . equals C.R.A.P. I have no more money.

There is a distinct* possibility that Matt and I may be eating ramen for the rest of the month. Whoops!

*Ok the possibility of that really happening is not distinct. It’s not like we’re broke and it’s my fault. It’s like we’re back in college and making ten dollars last two weeks until payday**

**Ok that’s not true either. I’m just being over-dramatic. Hi, I’m Kate. Have you met me?

February 3rd, 2008 by Kateastrophe

Welcome back to Soap Opera Sunday! Thanks to Shellie of Little But Loud for hosting this week! We love, love , love you guys for hosting for us! For the details and rules of SOS, check out this post!

Now, my story has been going for quite a while now, so if you need to catch up (prepare yourselves) you need to go
here
here
here
here
here
here
then finally here for the whole story.

PHEW. All caught up? Ok let’s continue . . .
——————-

Pretty much the rest of the trip to New York sucked for me. I won’t go into the gory details, but as you can tell, Richard spent a lot of time on the phone, presumably with SHE who shall not be named (at this moment at least!), a lot more time watching sports and ignoring me. I spent a lot of time trying not to cry as I lost the boy I thought was my future.

On the plane ride home we talked and I tried to calmly beg him to give me another chance. He was having none of it. It was too fast (UM who’s fault was THAT?), it was too much, he wasn’t ready, blah blah blah.

His family was at the airport to pick him up when we landed. We waved good-bye and I hopped in the car with Rhonda and her boyfriend (who had picked us up) and held in my tears until I walked in the door of my house.

Then the gates of hell were opened. Right in our front entry, I dropped my suitcase, fell into a massive heap on the floor and started to sob. I had never in my life, despite being dumped more times than I care to count, felt this kind of emptiness and despair. I felt hollow and broken. I cried and cried and cried until I couldn’t speak and there were no more tears. I fell asleep sobbing and woke up every hour through the night and began sobbing again.

I couldn’t get out of bed the next morning. My Mom had to drag me from under the covers and force me into the shower. It was my first day of my final semester in college and there was no way I could miss it. My usual half and hour morning routine took me two hours. My skin was ashen, my eyes were lifeless and my hair was limp.

I went to school but I wasn’t there. I went to work but I wasn’t there either. I don’t know where I was. I was like a robot, going from place to place with no real concept of what was going on around me.

Adrienne was furious when I told her what had happened. She too had thought Richard and I were meant to be together. She had known Richard since the beginning of high school and couldn’t believe he would treat anyone the way I had been treated the last week.

My other friends, who already hated Richard, I’m sure had to bite their tongues to hold back the “told you so” and they were so wonderful. They were with me every day, trying to make sure I was eating and functioning.

Within four days all of my clothes were too big. My already skinny body began to look emaciated and hollows began to form around my once shining eyes. I was in a deep dark depression and felt like I was never going to get out.

Then, exactly one week from the day we returned from New York I got a message from Richard on my cell phone.

“Hey bud! I miss you! Where have you been and why haven’t you been calling me? I still owe you a romantic birthday dinner, just the two of us. Call me back and we’ll make plans. Wherever you want, whatever you want. Seriously, I miss you. Call me back.”

February 1st, 2008 by Kateastrophe

T.G.I.F has multiple meanings today. Thank Goodness it’s Friday, of course, but also Thank Goodness it’s February!!

First, the good news. My Mom is doing significantly better! There was a small scare yesterday afternoon when the doctors did a CT scan and found that whatever was blocking up her intestines hadn’t moved despite significant efforts via medicine and tubes, etc. so they had an opening with a surgeon and whisked her in to find out what was up. I was halfway to the airport to be with her when I was told to hold off because my Mom’s husband was on his way (only took him three days and a surgery. Sigh. Another story for another time.) so I went home and prayed. After about an hour and a half we were told that everything was fine. She had some scar tissue from a surgery two years ago and it had formed almost a string and wrapped itself around part of her intestines and was basically “kinking the hose.” All this is a relief because there’s nothing permanently wrong with her and now that the string thing has been removed all will be well in Mommy-land. Thanks so much for your kind thoughts and comments. You’ll never know how much they mean. My Mom even says thank you in an especially funny “morphined” out voice. I wish I could record it and play for you. Nothing funnier than Moms on Drugs.

Next up, the bad. The week just doesn’t seem to be getting better!! I’m exhausted, not feeling exceptionally well and work has been IN.SANE. Not the usual insane that my office is. It feels like happy hour in the mental institution. No one can decide what’s going on, who’s in charge, what we’re doing or what anyone’s job really is. It’s been this way for a while now but today it seemed to come to a head. There was yelling, stressing, almost quitting (not by me, never you fear), and almost firings today. INSANE I tell you. The silver lining is that I was told I am highly valued and my job is not in any way in question. I’m relieved to know that but feel the stress around me significantly. Me no likey stressful work environments.

I made Corn Chowder tonight and while it was good, I was disappointed in the recipe. It was soupy rather than . . . chowdery. I want CREAMY CHOWDER dangit! If any of you have recipes, please share!

Lastly, I’ve been without my wedding ring for over a month now. It is being re-engraved (it’s got these cool engravings on the sides that are done by hand) and getting stones reset, etc. It was supposed to take three weeks and it’s been five. I LOVE the jeweler who made it and is fixing it and I know it takes him a long time to work his magic, but I miss my ring! It was supposed to go out in the mail today, but he missed the FedEx pick-up and it won’t go out until tomorrow. BLAST! There will be much rejoicing on Monday when my baby is back on my finger where she belongs.

Luckily a new month starts tomorrow AND it’s Friday. Even if the week continues it’s downward spiral and it’s a bad day tomorrow, I have at least two days to recover from it. Knock on wood. Watch my car explode or something just to top ‘er off. Ugh.

NOW, to end on a happy note! Groundhog Day is on Saturday! My best friend Brillig and I have a special bond with regards to Groundhog Day. It’s a really hilarious story that I’ll tell for Soap Opera Sunday one of these days, but I wanted to publicly wish Brillig and the rest of you a Happy Groundhog Day! Here’s to hoping this blasted winter is over already!!