All I Need

Time is a flyin'

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I apologize for being so MIA for the past, uh, month? Or has it been more than that? I guess I could check by just going to my last blog post, but that would require saving this page and backtracking, and frankly, right now I'm just too tired to do so.

These past few weeks have been a roller coaster, a whirlwind, the colors of the wind as Pocahontas might say (I'm so tired that I'm just making up stuff). It has been a mishmash of feeling overwhelmed, excited and nervous. There's been lots of snapping, lots of waking up early, lots of going to bed late, lots of realizing "Oh my god this is the reality of our education system in America," lots of paperclips, more paperclips, making copies, looking tired, circles under the eyes, missed calls from my mom and dad (I'm sorry), feeling behind, feeling inspired, working harder than I ever have, lots of smiles, lots of frustration, lots of being grossed out by dorm bathrooms, too many emails, more emails, lots of sweating, more sweating, even more sweating, a wee bit of crying (sometimes happy tears, other times not so much), lots of laughing, lots of hope.

I think that just about sums it up, and yet, I could probably ramble on for a good hour with my thoughts. I won't though. Again, as I said, I'm really tired. I'm not thinking too clearly. I tried making an analogy the other day about loading my plate up too much with pot stickers on top of pasta on top of pizza on top of salad and so on. It made sense in my head at the time, but everyone else just said, "Kathleen, you seriously need to go to bed."

And so I guess that's what I'll do. I just wanted to pop in and say "hello!" If you are reading this, I hope you are doing well. I hope you have found some quiet time to read outside under a shady tree. I hope you've drank a glass of cold lemonade at least once this summer. And I hope you haven't been using a dorm shower for the past month, but if you have, I feel ya pain.

A preview of Wyoming

Wyoming : Where life is simple and beautiful. And where you can learn how to country swing dance.

Yep, my heart just melted

If you don't like this, hit the road.

Checking out the Chan Chan Man

Chandler has always been my favorite. I don't really feel like explaining why. He just is. I think his mannerisms, quirks and awkwardness speak for themselves. Do you have a favorite Friends character? My ranking goes: 1) Chandler 2) Phoebe 3) Ross 4) Rachel 5) Joey 6) Monica. As far as I'm concerned, Monica can take a hike. Except for the throwback episodes; she kills those. I hope my ranking doesn't offend any readers. To be honest, I have a spot in my heart for each character. Yes, even Monica. Sometimes. Not when she's annoying.

Here are some of my favorite clips highlighting Chandler's goofiness:

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Oh happy day!

It's so beautifully beautiful outside today! Just sitting on my stoop and reading and eating chips and salsa. I'm so content right now it kind of makes me want to do a handstand. Like Mallory:

Only problem is that I don't know how to do a handstand. And, now that I'm thinking about it, I haven't even done a cartwheel in about four years. Uh oh. I wonder if I've lost the capability to do so. I would try it out, but I bruise like a peach and I have some classroom observations coming up and I don't want to be all pale and blue. Here is proof that I bruise easily.

Mmmm look at that hotness. This happened at a football game. No, I was not playing football. I was merely observing from the stands, and yet, I still managed to leave injured. I was taking part in an ole' school tradition in which after the 3rd quarter the song "Jump Around" comes on and the whole student section... jumps around. Well, I guess it got a little too rowdy. I was on the end and ended up taking a tumble. The back of my leg hit the pointy corner of the metal bleachers. Good times.

Side note: In that first picture, Mallory fell hard about 1.2 seconds later.

Cubicles

I'm a little behind the times, and I just got around to watching Michael Scott's farewell episode on The Office. I teared up. More than once. My favorite line was when he's speaking with Jim in his office and he pulls out his recorder and says, "T-shirt idea: Goodbyes stink."

Working in a cubicle use to not seem appealing, but The Office and this following short film make it look not so bad. Deceiving? Does cute stuff like this actually happen?

You're right, not my life

Other than the first three, "You're born, you learn to walk, you go to school," these tidbits don't really apply to me. But nonetheless, this PaperCut ad is creative and fun to read.

Although I never "stole a chocolate bar," one time at a summer swim meet when I was in 1st grade, I saw a a boy a few years older than me steal a fruit roll-up from the concession stand. I thought that was like the worst thing a person could ever do, so I told on him. They never found the culprit, but I knew he was out there. I KNEW!

{click the image for a closer look at the text}

Seriously, why am I leaving Madison?

That's a rhetorical question. I know WHY I have to leave Madison - the whole graduating and moving to the Twin Cities to teach just about sums it up. But, I look around this place and think back on all the good times I've had here (nostalgia is my middle name, more or less) and get a lil misty eyed thinking about how this will no longer be "home." This past year I wrote for UW-Madison's school newspaper The Daily Cardinal. Here is my last column. Kind of a goodbye piece. It somewhat communicates how I feel about leaving college. It's an attempt, but some feelings just can't be put into words.

Adding to my spring allergies tremendously. I never had them before, but now they're in full force.

Mallory in front of Lake Mendota.

Quick photo op break with Lauren during our bike ride.

Pretty view of the city from Picnic Point.

Terrace chairs at the new Union South.

James: The Best Buddy I could have asked for.

Girls night out at Johnny O's.

Kristi, me, Shauna, Lauren, Alli

Graduation

Varsity!

And Lauren's hand notably grabbing Mal's fine behind.

Bascom Hill

At the Terrace

Me and my main man Bucky

Red nails, white dress. On Wisconsin!

Buuuut, drinking coffee in a white dress... I've made better decisions.

Me and Mal outside our dear Marion home.

Celebrating at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse with our families

Ann, Lauren, me, Mallory

I just graduated from college on Sunday. Surreal. I'm sure I'm not feeling or experiencing any emotions that are unique. I know I probably feel how every recent graduate feels... "What's happening? You mean, I have to leave this grand ole place called college FOREVER? People wake up before 8 o'clock? People pay serious consequences if they wait until the last minute to do important things? Imma hava boss?"

Even though I'm fortunate enough to have found a job for the coming year, I still find myself saying, "What now?" It doesn't help that Madison is feeling sort of like a ghost town. Three of my four roommates have packed up and left. The fridge is empty. The lights are off. And there aren't any drunk people passing my window singing "On Wisconsin!" at 2:30 a.m.

Anyway, graduating college is strange. Real strange. Buuttttt, I did have a great celebration with my friends and family when they were here for the weekend. So happy I could share such an exciting and overwhelmingly happy day with those that I love. Without my family, my enrollment at Madison wouldn't have been possible and I probably would have cried on the phone a lot more about petty things such as stupid Early Brit Lit papers. Without my dear friends, Madison would be a lot easier to move on from.

Thoughts while eating a turkey sandwich at 2 a.m.

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- All dressing rooms should have chairs in them. Plain and simple. If there isn't a nice spot to rest behind, the chances of me buying clothes has been decreased by 50%.

- Don't assume that just because I'm a girl I want the regular sized sandwich at Pot Belly's. It only makes me feel bad about myself when I say, "Ummm actually I'll have the large."

- Yo Abercrombie and Fitch, I haven't bought clothes from you in like six years, but I still have something to say about you. Tone down the cologne and the club music. In the six seconds it takes me to pass your store, I already feel like I'm going to pass out.

- Booooooooo hiss any store that subtracts money off of gift cards. Ok, so what if I didn't use the gift card in a year? It's still money and it should go to good use. AKA buying me more socks.

- What up open windows?!?!?!?!?!?

- Bike rides = some of the best times of my life. Minus the whole butt hurting afterward. Other than that, golden.

Hi Momma, Happy Mother's Day

I love you. That is all. Oh, and you're pretty. That is all.

{Thanks for the freckles. To be honest, I wouldn't have minded if you gave me some more. PS who is the old lady trying to steal your thunder?}

{Feathered hair like a 1970s goddess}

Past mother's day tribute

he's got 2 left feet

{having two feet would really stink}

And teach them how to dance

House in the mountains via

don't you worry, there my honey

we might not have any money

but we've got our love to pay the bills

maybe I think you're cute and funny,

maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you,

if you know what I mean

Oh, let's get rich and buy our parents homes in the South of France

let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters

and teach them how to dance

let's get rich and build our house on a mountain

making everybody look like ants

from way up there, you and I, you and I, you and I,

well you might be a bit confused

and you might be a little bit bruised

but baby how we spoon like no one else

so I will help you read those books

if you will soothe my worried looks

and we will put the lonesome on the shelf

oh let’s get rich and buy our parents homes in the South of France

let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters

and teach them how to dance

let's get rich and build our house on a mountain

making everybody look like ants

from way up there you and I, you and I, you and I

oh, let’s get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France

let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters

and teach them how to dance

let's get rich and build our house on a mountain

making everybody look like ants

from way up there you and I, you and I, you and I

Quick Stay in MN

I just had a whirlwind of a trip to the Twin Cities. Left Thursday night and got back a little bit ago. I can't wait to move there in August. But fiiiiiirst I want to enjoy every last moment I have left in Madison.

In unrelated news:

I like coffee. A lot. Seriously how did I ever manage without it?

I hate waking up with a dry mouth.

Goal for the future: become a more efficient packer.

It's really annoying when people share stories about themselves that ultimately end with their grand point being "I'm awesome; don't you love me?" Well, I might have thought you were okay, but now, not so much.

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