Currently Reading: The Catcher in the Rye

by J.D. Salinger

And I'm back...

I've spent the past five days traipsing about the Midwest - Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, Omaha, Kearney. Oh the thrills. Oh the bliss. Seriously though, I had a great time overall. Jen and Maher's wedding was on Saturday - I flew into the flipping ginormous Cedar Rapids airport on Friday afternoon. I almost got lost in that place it was so huge. There had to have been at least, I don't know, FOUR gates or something ridiculous like that. The size difference between airports was fun. Atlanta. Chicago. ...Cedar Rapids...

ANYway, on Friday we did getting ready for the wedding kind of stuff, and rehearsal dinner-y kind of stuff. The dinner was at this cool Greek restaurant where I had filo baked chicken, hummus, flaming cheese (seriously. Flames and everything.), stuffed grape leaves and lemon drop martinis. Mmmmmmm.

Saturday dawned cold and rainy. Like 55 degrees kind of cold. As the high for the day. Brrrrr. Jen and us bridesmaids got our hair done at 10am. I had them do my hair kind of half-up in order to avoid a repeat of the large, Princess-Leia-meets-Elizabeth-Bennet-esque 'do that I ended up sporting for Aunnee and Heath's wedding. This go-round turned out kind of porn star-ish - it was all big and curly and poufy all up in the front. I did some creative flattening and dampening (helped by the pouring rain), and it turned out decent-looking. And after seeing what they did to poor Tasha's hair, I was relieved I'd avoided the full-on updo. Hers was MASSive. Like, a cross between Dolly Parton and that pink-haired tv evangelist lady. She ended up taking it all out and doing it over herself - and she still had to pay the stylist $40 for it.
The wedding was beautiful (of course) with a string quartet for the ceremony and a jazz quartet for the reception. Lots of fun Arabic music and dancing and such (Maher's from Lebanon. You know, the country.). There was a brunch on Sunday at Jen's parents' house in Cedar Rapids. Then I rode home with my parents. We stopped in Marshalltown on the way so I could see my Aunt Becky, Uncle Bill, and cousin Sarah. Then we stopped in Omaha and had dinner with my brother and sister-in-law. We finally made it back to Kearney at about 10pm.

Monday, I packed some stuff. Aunnee, I totally found that bag o' pictures and notes and stuff that you gave me a few years ago. Remember the notes we took in David's history of the Lutheran church class, or whatever it was? The Zinzendorf guy with the powdered wig and the useful words, like "chatecatical" and "hymnity." Oh, and then there was our short story, of course... Wow. There are no words.

Tuesday, I spent the entire DAY at appointments. Dentist at 9:00 (where I learned that because of my crumby (I just finished reading The Catcher in the Rye and he's always spelling that word like that...it just about kills me, it really does (he writes phrases like that all the time, too. Anyway...) wisdom teeth and a certain weakness of tooth enamel, I needed three fillings between my teeth - but they didn't have any openings in their schedule that day). Optometrist at 11:40 (where I shot the breeze with the eye doc for about half an hour...he enjoys a good visit. And I got awesome new glasses.). Doctor at 1:30 (it cracks me up that they measure my height every year...like I'm suddenly going to grow a couple more inches or something, having not grown (in height...) since 8th grade). Then I got a call from the dentist at 2:15 telling me they'd had a slot open up, so it was back to see Dr. Steve and get those fillings put in. I think taking med school classes has made me more paranoid than I normally would be. The whole time he was numbing my mouth, all I could think was "DON'T HIT THE FACIAL NERVE!!! DON'T HIT THE FACIAL NERVE!!!" He didn't.

Had dinner with my wonderful "other" parents last night - Aunnee's mom and dad had me and my parents over for dinner. And of course I didn't leave the house empty handed - I got a loaf of banana bread and the DVD of Aunnee and Heath's wedding. Alton and Cathy are great (Aunnee, you're thinking, "yes, they really are!" right now, aren't you?)

So. Flew out of Kearney at 7 this morning on a teeny tiny little plane, got back to Augusta around 6-ish, played some trivia, Wal-marted a little, and hung out. Now you are updated.

Currently Watching: Pride & Prejudice

I'm blue, so I'm going to do a survey and be all sarcastic and witty and cheer myself up. Or I'll be boring and mundane and not really accomplish much of anything. Either way, it's on.

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Today did you...

1. Talk to someone you liked: Yep
2. Buy something: My third tank of gas in less than a week and a Diet Sunkist.
3. Get sick: Nope
4. Sing: Yes. Yay for kinship.
5. Make out and/or kiss someone: No. Oh wait - Sophia Sansbury, age 1 1/2, kissed me on the cheek. Baby kisses...kinda slimy, but oh-so-cute.
8. Talk to an ex: No.
9. Miss someone: Yes.
________________________________

Last person who...

10. Laid in a bed with you: Haley and I shared a ridiculously small twin bed whilst I was in England. I love my sister with all my heart. I do not love sharing a twin sized bed with her.
11. Saw you cry: Kathy
12. Made you cry: Me...
13. You went to the movies with: Sean and Kathy
15. Said I love you to you: My mom
________________________________

Have you ever...

16. Been in a fight with your pet: I don't have a pet because my landlord "doesn't allow dogs." Funny how the girl who is moving into my place when I leave just happens to own a dog. Am I bitter? Nooooo...
17. Been to California: Last July for the AMI conference
18. Been to Mexico: When I was 8 or 9
19. Been to Canada: Last April - I was in Toronto for the medical illustration student exchange
20. Been to Europe: Yep.
1999 - Germany, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France
2001 - France, Italy, Monaco
2003 - England, Ireland
2005 - Holland
2006 - England, Holland
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Random:

21. Looking forward to something: Seeing Jen on Friday - haven't seen her since ISU graduation two years ago. She's having her wedding on Saturday...but she's been married for over a year. Oh yeah. Puzzle that one out.
22. What book are you reading now: Artemis Fowl...can't remember which one, and I'm starting The Catcher in the Rye
25. What do you sleep with: Many many superfluous pillows
26. What's under your bed: Nothing...I hope
27. Favorite sport to watch: Football
28. Location: 'Gusta. My bedroom.
29. Piercing/tattoos: Two in each ear (piercings, that is)
30. What are you most scared of: Loneliness
31. Where do you want to get married: Dunno
32. Who do you really hate: I don't "really hate" anyone...however, there are several people for whom I will admit to harboring a distinct loathing
33. Do you have a job: ~sigh~ Yeah. A pretty awesome one, actually. Starts in three weeks.
34. Do you like being around people: Most of the time. I need my alone time so I don't go completely insane, but I like having other people around.
36. Have you ever cried: Uh, yeah. It's weird because I'm really not much of a crier, but I've been kind of a watery basket case lately...I hide it well, though.
37. Are you lonely: Sometimes.
38. Song that's stuck in your head: Fred Jones, Part 2... STILL. "and I'm sorrrry, Mr. Jones...it's tiiime..." Freakin' Pat.
39. Played strip poker: I've never played poker, let alone strip poker. Strip Happy Days Game, anyone? Yes? You get two cool points.
41. Been on radio/TV: Not that I know of
42. Ever liked someone who treated you like crap: Well, their treating me like crap had a severe impact on the state of me liking them, but yeah.
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Firsts:

1. First crush: Dominic. Kindergarten. He gave me a ring with an apple on it and wrote me love notes on lined notebook paper. It was magical.
2. First screen name: I can't remember back to my ICQ days...I'm thinking klarson_15?
3. First big trip: First BIG big trip was the first time to Europe. We did lots of family vacation type things when I was young, though. The one that comes to mind first is probably the trip to Washington DC when I was 12.
4. First celebrity crush: Ha! Probably Jonathan Taylor Thomas. I had a poster on my closet door. Oh my. I feel old now.
5. First job: Detasseling corn. I'm from Nebraska, people. NEBRASKA.
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Lasts:

6. Last person who hugged you: Will and Sarah - don't remember which was last. People need to hug me more. I miss hugs.
7. Last song you heard: Doubting Thomas - Nickel Creek
8. Last car ride: Half an hour ago, driving home from kinship
9. Last time you cried: Too much lately
10. Last movie you watched: Pride and Prejudice (the new one - it was actually good! I didn't think they'd be able to live up to the original A&E version with Colin Firth)
11. Last food you ate: Eggplant Parmesan
12. Last T-shirt worn: ISU Cyclones
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Aaaaaand done. Ok. I'm less blue now.

Currently Playing: Cloud Cult

Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus

VULTURES! You're all VULTURES!

I'm not talking about you guys. This is simply being shouted out into the void. In the past three days, I have received no less than five phone calls from people who heard my apartment was going to be available soon. Apparently, after my oh-so-successful cookoutbarbecuepartything, word got around that my place is pretty sweet and thus all the incoming medical illustration students are trying to put first dibs on the place. Of course my landlord is thrilled since he has three apartments in this house that will be coming available soon.

After the first slew of calls, the guy I heard from first called back. Turns out he's going to take the place and wanted to know if I'd be willing to sell any of my furniture. Having already promised the couch and chair to my friend Kathy, I asked what all he had in mind. He proceeded to name everything from my bed to my curtains. Anything else? How about a nice kidney? My soul, perhaps?

Not two minutes after this conversation, my friend Kathy called. She was "just wondering" if I'd be taking my coffee table (a cool wicker chest my mom and I found) with me when I leave. She proceeded to outline this whole plan that involved putting her books inside the chest so she could take down her bookshelves and arrange her new couch and chair (MY old couch and chair) in a more company-friendly configuration. The vehemence of my "I'm keeping it" may have startled her...

It's a strange feeling having your friends sitting around planning how they're going to use your stuff once you're gone. It would be like if I went back to Nebraska and wandered through my parents' house eagerly eying their furniture and saying things like "Wow, I can't wait until you kick the bucket so I can use this beautiful handmade china hutch to display my porcelain unicorn collection*." Not that I'm comparing my Salvation Army-find wicker chest to my Mom's china hutch, but you know...

*To be clear, I do not now, nor have I ever, had a porcelain unicorn collection. I was being facetious. Now Haley, on the other hand...

Currently Watching: Scrubs, Season 3

It's been a weird week. Yeah.

Anyway, so my apartment is a mess. And I hate that. Don't even get me started on the jumbled mess of shoes on my closet floor. I can only stand the cluttered chaos for so long until this unavoidable urge to clean invades my being and I stay up until the wee small hours cleaning and organizing the apartment and ultimately placing my shoes in neatly aligned pairs arranged in a complex order that takes into careful consideration the style of the shoe, the level of my current infatuation with the shoe, and, to a lesser degree, the amount to which the shoe makes me want to amputate my own foot rather than endure the pain of wearing it again. I am only partly joking.

This is funny...and a little sacrilegious.

And then there's this:


















I do love me some Edward Monkton cartoons.

Currently Watching: The Office, Season 1

HAVE YOU SEEN THE OFFICE SEASON FINALE? Jim Halpert is my hero...just...yeah...

Currently Playing: Switchfoot

The Beautiful Letdown

Kristen, MS. Heck yeah.

So graduation was Friday. My parents flew and Jerilyn drove down for the occasion - good times! The day was a long one, but definitely memorable. The hooding ceremony was at 8am, followed by a breakfast reception. The graduation ceremony was at 2 in the afternoon. I was pretty pleased with the ceremony. Pleased, that is, until The Bad Luck of Kristen struck again. So I'm up on the edge of the stage, my name is called, I walk proudly toward the college president to receive my diploma and BAM! I fall flat on my face. I'm just kidding. You'd have heard of my death by mortification had that actually happened.

Anyway, here's what actually DID happen. I'm next in line. They read my name. I walk up to the president, extend my right hand for the hand shake whilst simultaneously extending my left to receive my diploma. My right hand makes contact and initiates a nice firm handshake. Big smile on my face. Left hand is poised to accept diploma...left hand poised...waiting...for diploma... Uh... "what's your name??" they frantically whisper at me. I reply in a bewildered tone. They rifle through the stack of diplomas, skimming names with panicked looks on their faces. All the while I am holding the president's hand in what I can only assume was an increasingly sweaty grip. The president tries to make light of the lengthy pause in the flow of events and gives me a courtly bow (still holding my hand, of course). Then, at last!, they've found my diploma. The handoff is made, a ripple of laughter runs through the thousands gathered in the civic center, and I walk off stage, diploma in hand. or so I thought...

I get back to my seat, start to roll up the gigantic piece of paper to place it in my diploma tube and only then do I notice there is NOTHING ON MY DIPLOMA. They couldn't find my diploma so they tossed me a fake. I was not pleased. My displeasure was compounded by the fact that everyone else in my class got their real diploma - other than Alissa, who got a place-holder diploma that at least had her name on it and a reassuring message saying her diploma had to be redone and would be shipped to her as soon as possible. I'd settle for one of those. I mean sheesh, come on, what they gave me is like what you'd give to a kid if they wanted a diploma to play with. So. Plan for tomorrow: Call registrar. Ask nicely where my ruddy diploma is.

My parents threw me a barbecuecookoutpartything on Saturday night. People from church and school were there, so it was a good-sized crowd. It's the first time I've used my backyard since I moved in almost two years ago. It was lots o' fun.

After Jerilyn left today, I spent a very, extremely nerdy amount of time updating facebook and all that on-line kind of stuff. Clearly my productivity is going to be impressive these next five weeks. Which brings me to my next point in this, the longest blog ever...

I have a job. In Phoenix. I've kind of known about it since the beginning of April, but things are pretty finalized now, so I'm sharing with you, my faithful xanga readers. I'll be working at the Barrow Neurological Institute as a medical illustrator. It's a great job - the best opportunity out there, in fact - so I'm very excited about it. The thing I'm not at all excited about...moving away from my friends here. I'll leave that whole situation for another, non-ginormous, blog.

It's Mother's Day. I have the best mom in the world. Seriously.

Currently Playing: Nickel Creek

This Side

Um. Yeah. So. I've sat here for a good solid five minutes trying to decide how best to describe what I'm feeling right now. I've decided I can't come up with an appropriate description...only that it is some strange combination of that feeling you get when you're about to go over the first drop on a roller coaster, that sort of happiness that makes you want to run around a parked car waving lit sparklers and shrieking "ay yai yai" at the top of your lungs (Scrubs? Anyone? The episode where Turk proposes to Carla over and over? Anyway...), and a dazed unreality. I finished my classes today. Wow. I just....yeah.... not so much with the words right now.

We had a "wrapping it all up" class this morning with each of the three professors doing a final short lecture on a topic. Then we had a Master's Project Showcase where we presented our projects to a crowd of people. I did well until I blanked on the word "disorders" while answering a question at the end of my presentation and stared at the sea of faces with eyes that must have betrayed my inner terror while desperately trying to come up with the word. That's fun. Not embarrassing at all. I'm sure it wasn't as bad as it seemed at the moment, but you know.

Graduation next Friday. Neat.

We went to the airport in Atlanta and welcomed Alissa's husband with tacky American paraphernalia as he immigrated to the US from Holland on Wednesday. We got lots of weird looks. I can't imagine why.