May 29th, 2008 by Kateastrophe

I am guest posting over yonder at Brillig’s today, where I’ve written a random list of songs that remind me of my best girl.  Go check it out!  And if you’re not already reading Brillig, you sort of need to.  She rocks the hizous in a serious way.

May 6th, 2008 by Kateastrophe

Um, so my girl Rhonda had a birthday last week and due to my crazy travel schedule, insane work week and some other unforeseeable distractions, I didn’t get her birthday post completed on time. Let it be known that I suck. A lot. BUT, fix it I shall and here it is!!

Rhonda and I have been friends less time than the other girls I call my best friends. We met through a mutual friend during the summer of 2001 . . . and sort of became inseparable. We spent that entire summer eating at Los Hermanos, going waterskiing at Deer Creek, having barbeques and parties, tanning at Ye Old Apollo and other such shenanigans. By the end of the summer it was as if she had always been part of my life. And to this day I don’t know what I’d do without her.

In the years that I’ve known her, we’ve had more fun than I can even describe.

Roadtrips with junk food? Check.

Jack in the Box gooood

Peeing on the side of the road on a roadtrip? Check, check.

Look closely and you’ll see two puddles.

Cougar football games? Triple check.

Digging the guy to our right.

Many, many trips to the lake? Another check.

This picture so doesn’t represent it, but remember the time I pulled off my spray on tan with the wakeboard boot?

Viva la Mexico? What’s Spanish for check?

Subway surfing? Check(and fall down).

We also tried to hitch a ride on a train during this trip. Good times.

Stranded at the airport and a little bored? Cheeeeeeeeeeeck(yawn)

Rhonda’s got one of the hottest bodies around.

She’s the one in the middle. I mean we all have nice butts, let’s not get stupid. She just has the nice butt in the middle.

Ha cha cha!

Also, amazing fashion sense.

I mean HELLO hot pants. Sorry for the blur.

Rhonda holds a pretty significant place in my life because she manipulated the getting together of myself and the man who would eventually be my husband. She saw us through from the beginning to marriage and I’m forever and ever grateful to her.

She also facilitated my move to Phoenix, getting me my job and my first place here. As soon as she’d worked it all out and I was settled, she ditched me and moved back to Utah. I’m still sort of mad at her. But not really.

I have enough inside jokes with Rhonda to make up five or six posts, and alienate most of my readers. She IS joy. She is always smiling, always willing to be crazy, always willing to have a great time. We’ve been through MANY boyfriends, MANY hair colors, MANY different body weights and clothing sizes, two moves, several job changes (and periods of joblessNESS) and packed a lifetime of friendship into seven short years.

Rhondalicious, I really am sorry this post is so late. Part of it was my business, part of it was my slackerness, and a lot of it was not wanting to have to go through old pictures and realize how far away from me you are now, and how sad I am going to be so often when I realize I can’t convince you to drive an hour up to my house just to sit with me an laugh. I miss you like crazy already and I love you more than you’ll ever know.

And I leave you with Rhonata. OLE!

April 27th, 2008 by Kateastrophe

Well hello there.

I am currently lounging in a fancy bathrobe next to my Mama, who is also in a fancy bathrobe, in a fancy hotel owned by Chain ala Marriott.  (Um, seriously, the SHEETS!?  Amazing.  Also, the Bath & Body Works concoctions in the bathroom?  Fughettaboutit.)

You’ll forgive me for not writing a Soap Opera Sunday today.   I had lots of best friends to see, cute babies to hold and giggle with, lots of crab legs to eat, and lots of hotel lounging to do.  And tomorrow there will be skiing.  I am both excited and frightened.  Mostly excited.

So, I might be missing for the next few days, but then again I might not.  I mean if I can blog from bed . . .

April 2nd, 2008 by Kateastrophe

Today is beaituful Sara’s birthday!!!! Whooo hooooo!! (And I know, could my friends have more birthdays this week!? Sheesh!! Everyone’s parents got busy toward the end of June, I tell you what!!)

Sara and I met during my senior year in high school, which was her freshman year at BYU. She lived down the hall from Hannah in the dorms, and they had quickly become friends. Hannah introduced us and we immediately hit it off. Of course the first night we met, Hannah pantsed poor Sara, underwear and all, so I like, met Sara, if you know what I mean! Then she was just sort of seamlessly integrated into our group of friends and we’ve been in love with her ever since.

Sara is BY FAR the happiest, cheerfullest, funniest most darlingest human being I have ever met. She is ALWAYS smiling and laughing, her blue eyes sparkling with glee. I seriously can’t figure out how so much joy can be packed into such a petite person! Even in her moments of deep despair and sadness (which are RARE), you’ll find a smile or a laugh somewhere in her and pretty soon the world is bright, sunny and delightful again. That’s what I always think of when I think of Sara. Sunshine.

Well, sunshine and sugar. Sara has a love affair with candy that you’d be pressed to find elsewhere. Her love of JuJu hearts rivals the passion of Don Juan. I love going to her house because you can always find some tasty treats hidden away in her cupboards. She showed me the joy that is a chocolate covered cinnamon bear. Ohmagosh.

We lived together for one semester during my sophomore year at BYU. She was studying nursing (and like really studying hard all the time) and I was my spazzy Music Dance Theatre major (non-studying) self, but we had a blast sharing a room. During that time she introduced me to the delicious nectar called Diet Dr. Pepper (we’ve both since witched teams and play for team Diet Coke now, but at the time, Diet Dr. Pepper was the juice of life). I have so many fun memories of living with Sara. One night when she was making dinner I heard hysterical screaming from the kitchen. I rand down to see that she had somehow lit our cheap, crappy stove on fire. NO real damage was caused but it was FUN-NY. I think she was making fajitas . . . Another time she was making sugar cookies and we all forgot about them and they burned. We ran the smoking tray of cookies outside and set them down under our stairs to “cool off” and . . . well, we left them there for the rest of the semester. I remember moving out of our apartment and seeing those cookies still sitting there. It was so dang funny. We stayed up late talking and laughing. We drove to Crest to get bevs. We talked about cute boys and our futures. Those are some of my sweetest memories of college. I can still see Sara laying in bed, Diet Dr. Pepper at her side, studying her thick chemistry books and telling me funny stories.

Sara is an amazing wife to her (darling!) husband Dan and an even more amazing mother to her two (darling!) kids Sam and Lucy. You can just tell by looking at those kids that they are adored and happy. Their home is filled with laughter and joy and it’s infectious. I love, love, love being there. I am trying to convince them to move to Arizona so I can get me some of that joy more often!

Sarbee, you have been such an amazing friend and such a joy to have in my life. You brighten up every room and when I see your name on my caller ID, I just start smiling my biggest smile because I know when I pick up, I’ll hear your happiest “Kaaaaatttiiiieeeeeee!!!” You are an amazing woman and an even more amazing friend and I think all of us who know you and get to call you friend consider ourselves very, very lucky. Have the happiest, happiest birthday ever! (Oh and Rhonda and I have a SWEET present for you. Just you WAIT! You’re gonna love it! Also, when I get home I have even more pictures. So check back for updates tonight or tomorrow!!)

LOVE YOU SARA!!

March 29th, 2008 by Kateastrophe

Well it appears that March 29th is a good day to be born, seeing how two of the most beautiful people I know were born on March 29th. Today is Adrienne’s (aka AD or 80) birthday too!!

I met Adrienne my senior year in college in an Advanced Jazz dance class. I knew immediately I wanted to wrap her up and take her home in my pocket. She was like a breath of fresh air to my final year as a Music Dance Theatre major. We arranged our schedules so we had all the fun classes together, and within about a month, we were basically inseperable at school and after, due to long strenuous homework projects. I was at their apartment so much, I think her husband Kyle thought he was never going to get rid of me.

Then Kyle and Adrienne set me up with one of their best friends (um, does the name Richard ring a bell?? Hahah). All of a suddenI was around even more. At first it was to be with Richard and then it was to seek their comfort when things with him fell apart. (For the record Ad, you don’t need to feel bad about that whole thing. It was meant to be . . . and now we have another person to mock endlessly. The list is growing daily!) I recall distinctly the day Adrienne told me she was going to “cut all the fat off the steak in her freezer and force feed it to me to put some meat back on my bones.” She took good care of me.

Adrienne has got to be the most hilariously irreverent (I mean that in a good way, AD!) people I’ve ever met. We spent our senior year smacking each other in the boobs, cracking dirty jokes and, if I recall correctly, snorting a lot of Diet Coke out of our noses with laughter. She also taught me the art of the cornhole, something my husband hates both her and me for.

Despite the hilarious irreverence, she is one of the strongest, most faithful, amazing women I know.

When we decided to do our final big MDT project together at the end of our senior year, I don’t think we had any idea how much fun (and stress!) we would be having. When we got all of the pictures you’re seeing developed, we laughed so hard we actually collapsed on the floor at Wal-mart. Every time we watch the video we laugh until we cry and rewind the mistakes and funny parts again and again, then watch them in slow motion. (If I had it in me I’d post an exerpt from the show here, but I’m not sure I could figure it out before I have to be to church in 8 hours.) You’ll just have to settle for the pictures.

AD was there for the biggest Kateastrophe of all time and narrowly missed being part of the wreckage. We still laugh about that until we cry too. To us, the story never gets old. To Kyle, I think it got old right after he saw it happen.

Almost exactly a year ago, I was able to host Kyle and Adrienne at my home while they finalized the adoption of their son. I cannot tell you what it means to me to have been able to play just a little part in the miracle of his life joining with theirs.

We don’t speak or see each other as often as we wish now that her husband is a big shot hospital administrator in the Bay Area and I chose to live in Hell, but every time we talk it’s like no time whatsoever has gone by. I love her with all my heart and I’m so so so so grateful we ended up together in that early morning dance class from hell.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Miss America!!!

*Those are the words from a cheesy song Adrienne and I sang for our college senior project. Kyle mocked us endlessly for it.**

**Kyle mocks us a lot. We’re used to it. We mock him too. Behind his back. Or in front of his face. Either way works for us.

March 29th, 2008 by Kateastrophe

So um, like, today is, like, Hannah’s birthday ‘n stuff!!! So as is my tradition, Hannah gets an embarrassing photo montage birthday post! YAAAAYY!

For some reason I have more pictures of Hannah than I have of ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD. So watch out. It’s gonna be hilarious and disturbing. And Hannah dear? Trust me. This is going to be as painful for me as it is for you.

So where do I begin . . . well for sure with this picture!!

I’m a bug!

Hannah and I have known each other since we were about ten years old. We attended the same elementary school (where we were not friends. AT ALL.), the same junior high (where we were not friends, AT ALL) and then finally became friends in high school and finally grew to be like sisters during college and have remained that way happily ever after.

Hannah is by far one of the most beautiful, most hilarious people I’ve ever met. Hers hasn’t been an easy life and she’s accepted it and moved on with grace, humility and power. She has overcome more in her short lifetime than most even dream of facing. We’ve been there for each other through almost every important life milestone. I’ve turned to Hannah in my darkest hours and she has also turned to me in hers. Sometimes she’d miraculously show up in the moment I needed her most, just sensing that I needed someone to talk to. She’s lectured me and been disappointed in me when I’m making bad decisions but loved me anyway. She’s helped me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry and been such an amazing friend.

We had a rough go for a few years and it nearly tore us apart. Stupid petty differences and lack of vision clouded our views and we almost called it a day. Yet something pulled us back together and for that I am eternally grateful. I think almost losing each other caused us to form a bond stronger than either of us imagined might form.

Um, remember that one time I almost pushed you off this sailboat over a boy?

I’ve learned so much from Hannah.

I’ve learned to not take myself so seriously and that there is always something to laugh at.

We taught each other how not to dress for success.

Who do you think had more to learn? *hanging head in shame*

She taught me to recognize a fashion forward hairstyle when I saw it.

Duck tails are cool, no?

She showed me how to be all “Vogue.”

ha cha cha!

Nothing says “hott” like Mickey Mouse ears and some peyos.

She taught me strength in motherhood.

She taught me how to wrestle and not give up (and eventually helped me find her wrestling Achilles heel, which you should all note is simply taking off her socks because he hates the feeling of her bare feet on carpet. Hahaha)

We have shared more than one home, more than one love interest, more than a thousand pairs of shoes and outfits and even a wedding dress, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

However, I hate you just a little for being so stinkin’ gorgeous. OK, maybe I hate you a lot for that.

Also, I hope it’s OK that I’m posting this

And don’t kill me for this one

Or this one

And just know if I HAD the picture of you in the cape with the red striped underwear OVER your jeans, holding that GIANT squash, in front of our fake “waterfall” at The Colony, I’d totally post it too. Because I’m cool like that.

Hannah, I don’t know what my world would be like without you. Thank you for the joy, laughter and love you have brought into my life.

Thank you for always being you and sharing your life with me. I love you more than words could ever express and I hope you have the most amazing birthday and I expect to be celebrating about eighty more with you, kthanxbai.

Um, just for the record, we don’t surf. Hahaha.

January 1st, 2007 by Kateastrophe

Wow. Seriously. Wow.

It’s my last night here in the home land and I am so content and so happy right now. It has been a freaking crazy three days, and my eyes feel as though they were rubbed down with sandpaper then glued open, but I had a wonderful time and, with the teeny tiny exception (ok not so teeny tiny) of not having my husband be a part of it, this was almost the perfect birthday weekend.

I don’t even know where to start with the stories and the fun times . . .
Los and Puffers and Clayton and people forgetting their food. Twelve year olds and gum wrapper roses and my birthday being announced over the loud speaker at WalMart at 1:00 AM.

These things and so many more are forever engraved in my mind. I am too tired to attempt wit and humor, especially after hanging out with all the witty people I know here in Utah all weekend. I just wanted to post a huge thank you to everyone who made my birthday and the New Year’s weekend so amazing. You are all amazing and I am so lucky to have you in my life.

December 21st, 2006 by Kateastrophe