A Wintery Walk

My parents visited me last weekend. And it was just what I needed. A small break from that whole school routine that can be so exhausting (for me and every other college student). We went for a walk on the lake-shore path by the Union, drank coffee, and just enjoyed one another's company. Later we went out to dinner at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse where we ate the best bruschetta I think I've ever had.

{pops on the frozen over Lake Mendota}

{canoes}

{trees}

{lake-shore path}

{the Red Gym}

{ma and pa}

{moi}

The Third Man Ending...

... is breathtakingly beautiful -- the culmination of everything worthwhile -- the GREAT BAMBINO!

*if you don't know what I'm talking about in that last one, either A) you need to brush up on America's pastime or B) need to watch the Sandlot.

I suppose you shouldn't watch the clip if you haven't seen the move yet and intend to do so. But if you have seen the movie or never will (BIG mistake), you should bask in the glory of this ending.

The tall dying trees, the long take, the stationary camera, the lighting of the cigarette -- it's all just really grrrrrreat.

Here is Ebert's review.

***

Smalls: Oh yeah, the Great Bambino. Of course! I thought you said the Great Bambi.

Ham Porter: That wimpy deer?

In Unrelated News:

- On my exam this morning, we had an essay question on an article that I didn't read. First part was to name the author's 6 main ideas. My thoughts upon reading the prompt, "Well, I am in quite the pickle."

- Handed in the first draft of my screenplay. Turns out it is a lot easier to write a screenplay in your head than on paper.

- I can't pronounce Amadeus.

- I need to get a new sleep pattern.

- Alec Baldwin is kinda foxy in Beetlejuice.

"Astute" observations

Ok. Well maybe they aren't astute observations, but they are observations nonetheless.

My life would be a lot easier if...

1) I didn't procrastinate.

2) I didn't have bangs

3) I didn't have scissors (that way I wouldn't attempt to cut said bangs)

4) I called my mom more often just to say "hi".

I just realized that Audrey Hepburn and I have the same bangs (super thick and a bit pushed over to the side). And while she can clearly work them, mine just look like I have a huge, unflattering brick of hair on my forehead.

Wowza. Work it, Audrey! But I have a question, who did Gap pay to make this? Did Audrey's relatives receive any royalties?

Bottle Rocket

Picking out my favorite quotes from the movie Bottle Rocket is all kinds of fun! Writing a ten page narrative analysis on Bottle Rocket... not so much. On Thursday I promised myself that I would be DONE with the paper by Sunday. It's Monday and I have one page down. Well what is a promise to one's self unless it gets broken? Am I right or am I right? I don't think I have kept a school related promise to myself since like 2003 when I was an ambitious, overly organized student. Those were the days.

But anyway, how about some quotes?

1) Dignan: How does an asshole like Bob get such a great kitchen?

2) Anthony: You..you've really gotten into the bad habit of asking a huge amount of questions, lately.

3) Dignan: When I was little I wanted to know what caused thunder.

4) Anthony: Okay, one morning over at Elizabeth's beach house, she asked me if I'd rather go water-skiing or lay-out. And I realized that not only did I not want to answer that question, but I never wanted to answer another water sports question or see any of these people again for the rest of my life. Three days later I was on my way out to the desert. And that was that.

5) Anthony: Wow, that guy was a real chatterbox.

6) Kumar: Man, I blew it. I blew it, man!

Anthony: Kumar, what were you doing in the freezer?

Kumar: I don't know, man; I lose my touch, man!

Dignan: Did you even have a touch to lose, man?

If you haven't seen Bottle Rocket, two things....

1)Go see it ahora!!!

2) Sorry for boring you with quotes. But hey, it's your fault for not yet seeing the movie. Just kidding.

OK so about that paper...

Oh and Luke Wilson is such a hunk in this film. Hubba hubba!

Dog Comic Strip

My dog is one of the laziest out there. But he is also really, really loyal. Thanks Lenny, buddy ole pal.

{found via this awesome website}

Heeeey Lenny!

A "Meet-Cute"

{I believe that this couple had a meet-cute. Maybe they met at their first UW football game}

{I took this after leaving Camp Randall...I understand that I'm a creep. Whatever. It was too cute to pass up}

Wikipedia defines a meet-cute as: "In film, the encounter of two potential romantic characters in unusual or comic circumstances. Usually involves something awkward or embarrassing taking place." Well, I would say the following true story definitely qualifies as a meet-cute.

Four years ago, when i was 18, i noticed that at night my front window is very reflective so i was pretending to dive in slow motion and shoot, dual pistol style. Suddenly a really hot girl walked past and i was startled and fell over. Embarrassed i waited for a bit and then stood up. As i stood up i saw her slowly shooting an imaginary rifle from behind a car. We then proceeded to do this for 10 minutes until she died an extremely dramatic death. She wasn't getting up so i went outside to meet her. Once i got to where she was, there was nothing but a piece of paper with a mobile number on it. Today, we are getting married.

{found via Tumblr betterversionofme}

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ! ! !

In unrelated news: I HATE when teachers are overly ambitious when making exams. I just came back from a test in which my professor basically squished 90 minutes worth of essay questions into a 50 minute class period. NOT cool. Usually I am a slow test taker, but this time everyone was slow. I think just about every student was still writing when he said, "Hey folks hand in your exams. There is another class waiting." Don't you "hey folks" me. If you were in my position you'd still being sitting down too. Argggg frustrating. Whatever. I'm over it (but not really). To forget about that stupid exam, I am lying in bed, looking up Ty Beanie Babies that remind me of my childhood, eating a bagel with cream cheese, and about to to watch Bottle Rocket... which I actually have to write a 10 page paper on for next week.

Happy Birthday Momma !!!

Happy Birthday to a mom that makes the lyrics, "God only knows what I'd be without you," so true and close to my heart. Each day I see how I am turning into you, and while at times it is seriously scary (my cackle becoming more and more in tune with your own), I can't think of a person I'd more like to take after. Your spunk, warm personality, go get em attitude, attention to detail, sense of humor, 50's style dance moves, and way of making everyone feel welcomed, are just a few of the things that make me smile on a daily basis.

When stressed you always remind me to pause, take a step back, and look at the bigger picture - I have a healthy family, loving friends, and a good education. Little things are important, but not as important as friends and family and my well-being.

And at other times, you tell me to cut the shenanigans and JUST DO IT. Those words have gotten me through several exams, papers, workouts, games, apologies, confrontations, and the list continues.

Happy Birthday Mom. I hope you are drinking a margarita at Cafe Salsa this very moment. Or maybe not this very moment because it's only 3:45. But, in three hours I hope you are drinking that margarita.

Love you,

KQ

Greg Otto + Chicago

In July I saw a free prescreening of 500 Days of Summer in Evanston with my mom. My dad, per usual, had a thought process like this, "Ok it might fill up quickly. You should get there at least 2 hours before the show. And leave 40 minutes for driving. And maybe 15 extra minutes in case you can't find parking. Oh, and if you plan on eating, all the nearby restaurants probably will be booked, so you should give yourself another 20 minutes."

So my mom and I left about 3 hours before show time. And needless to say, we were the first freaking people there. By a lot. My dad really likes to be on time and he hates being in a rush. I should probably follow his lead, for it seems as though I am almost always in a rush (my roommate Lauren can attest to this...I usually leave like 5 minutes before my classes start... Yet I still manage to be on time. Thank you Jesus).

What was I even talking about? Oh yes, 500 Days of Summer. Well long story short, we had a lot of time to kill. Lucky me one of my favorite stores was next to the theater. BLICKS art materials. Now I am no artist (painter, sculptor, animator etc.) but I sure do like art supplies. And crafts. Crafts are fun. dgahdghasdfjaskldfhash Who cares? I think I am delirious right now. Need. Sleep. Well, again, long story short, I found these Greg Otto note cards and I bought them. The end. I hope that was enlightening. I think I just put myself to sleep. Whatever. Greg Otto is awesome, and these note cards are my favorite. Woooo yay for writing letters. Ok I'm going to sleep now. Sorry for wasting your time. But before you go, check out Greg Otto!! (actually it's a pretty lame website. it only has his contact info and such. but if you want that, then by all means, check her out!)

Wonderful Tonight

Gets. Me. Every. Freaking. Time.

I want this to be my "first dance" at my wedding. Yeah, I decided that quite some time ago. If my mom is reading this she's probably rolling her eyes and muttering something like, "Kathleen, you are always looking ahead. Why don't you just enjoy the here and now?"

Well excuse me for once in a while (aka almost every night) not being able to go to bed, putting on my "Sleepy Time" playlist, and putting this song on repeat. So what if I've already imagined this dance with a mystery fellow. So what if this day won't come for like years and years and years (if ever).

Pattie Boyd is so freaking lucky. Eric wrote this song for her, and George Harrison (sigh, swoon, batting my eyelashes, and other girly expressions) wrote "Something" for her. Any boys that wish to write me a song as romantic as either of the aforementioned are more than welcome to do so.

Oh yeah, and this may or may not be the dress I want to wear on my wedding. Ok I'll stop.

{found via Cup of Jo}

I think I'd like that very much

Olivia over at everyday musings (one of my favorite favorite blogs) is having a giveaway! AND it is a super cute giveaway. busybeelauren makes them, and this one is called "angie." Isn't it just darling? It would be perfect for a night out with some girlfriends, OR it would be perfect for a more sophisticated African Safari party. I know, you are thinking, "Kathleen, there aren't peacocks in Africa." And to that I say, "YES THERE ARE!" Trust me I've done my research. Last year I went to an African Safari party and really wanted to be a peacock, and guess what, there is the Congo Peacock. Now the girl Congo's aren't that pretty, but the men are beautiful! So I went as a male. Oh well.

{katie and me at the African Safari partaaay.}

{you can see my feathers in the upper right corner.}

{i don't know that i have ever tried smiling so hard in my life. yikes.}

Now go enter the giveaway over at Olivia's to win!!!

Rando

{this has nothing to do with anything. and yet, it has everything to do with everything}

1) The smell of Cetaphil face soap is literally one of my favorite smells in the whole wide world. Does that make me weird?

2) I am super grossed out by the hard stuff that forms in a lotion pump when you haven't used the lotion for a few days. Ya know whatta mean?

3) I don't understand the "view all" option on clothing websites. Why wouldn't you want to view all? Separating dresses onto a million pages doesn't make sense. Maybe I'm wrong.

4) The fitted sheet is enough. All other sheets just make me feel claustrophobic. My legs get tangled.

5) I'm really good at laughing at inopportune/inappropriate times. I gotta work on it. Like laughing out loud during a presentation when a student says the word "whiz" to describe a bike riding by is pretty immature. Not being able to stop laughing and having to leave the room is even worse. Yikes.

A Photo-shoot with Lenny

"Home is wherever I'm with you"

Don't make fun of me. I really like my dog.

{Whether or not Lenny likes me on any given day is pretty much solely dependent on how many treats I've given him}

{Smooshed}

{Lenny, you're scaring people}

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday to a man who gives so much and never asks for anything in return. I know right now you are at work, probably removing a gallbladder or doing some other kind of surgery that would make me and a lot of other people want to puke. But I hope at least at some point today you get a chance to relax in the lazy boy, close your eyes, and be at peace.

I hope that sometime soon you get to fulfill your dream of going to Estes Park, Colorado with only a sleeping bag and spending the night on a mountain top underneath the stars. I'll come with if you need company.

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you and always will.

{another post about my dad}

One year, One month, & One day Kidney Stone Free !!!

{For the sake of everyone, there were no pictures taken during either kidney stone disaster. However, I did find this gem... 5th grade... when i broke my nose and had surgery. And when i thought it was a good idea to tuck my shirt into my jeans. Double ouch}

Soooooo the disclaimer is: Drink lots of water with lemon juice. It helps prevent Kidney stones.

Though most people who get kidney stones get them when they are in their 50s, I have had the pleasure of getting them when I was 18 and 19. I've had three. WHAT THE HECK?!?!?! Total bogus. I don't know what I've done to deserve them, but they sure do like me. Well anyway, I've been a little over a year kidney stone free, and that makes me mucho mucho happy. KNOCK ON WOOD.

I'll never forget my first kidney stone. It went a lil something like this.... Freshman year. Dorms. 9 PM. Day before leaving for home for Thanksgiving break. Laying on couch. Reading Youth in Revolt. Sharp pain in back. Think I have food poisoning from eating my roommates salsa (because ya know, karma's a bitch). Go to the bathroom and lay on floor (I know disgusting). Proceed to throw up for a half hour. Cry a lot. Go to my bedroom and try to fall asleep. Can hear loud drunk floor-mates being drunk because they don't have class the next day. Go back to the bathroom and lay on floor for 1 hour. More throw up (girl on my floor who I never really talked to asks if I am alright. She thinks I'm wasted. I'm not). Go to my RA and tell her I'm really sick and think I have food poisoning. We call the hospital and the nurse tells me to just try to fall asleep. Now I start really really crying, because that's like the worst news ever (how am I suppose to fall asleep when I can barely sit still without moaning in pain?). My friend Shannon says that's ridiculous and decides to bring me to the ER anyway. Can't even walk so they wheelchair me in. Doc says "you have a kidney stone". They won't give me any medicine until I give them a urine sample (which is really unfortunate because when you have a kidney stone it's nearly impossible to go the bathroom). I go the bathroom. I cry more on the floor because I'm in pain and just want the flipping drugs that'll make me feel better. I guess I went. They give me the medicine. I finally fall asleep around 2 AM. Wake up and my dad is there. He drives me home to Chicago. I spend Thanksgiving in bed.

Fast forward about a year later to December 30... the kidney stones strike again!!! But this time I knew EXACTLY what it was. It's a very unique pain. I was trying on the Juicy Couture bathrobe my godmother gave me for Christmas. 4 hours later I was in the hospital. Happy freaking New Year's Eve.

I was always an Ashley fan

it felt like everyone liked Mary Kate growing up. but not me. i was an Ashley fan. i'm not quite sure why. i'm actually probably more like MK - louder, lil more outgoing, more tomboyish. i like how i'm acting right now like i actually know the Olsen's. if only.

So I grew up in the early 90s. And being a girl, that almost automatically made me a MK&A fanatic. It was almost a law. I even went to a birthday party in 1st grade that was Mystery themed just like their mystery adventure films. Needless to say, it was Awesome.

Oh, and a cool tidbit. circa 2003 a random website had a giveaway for two outfits from MK&A's movie "When in Rome". Well my cousin Pattie was a die hard fan and obviously entered the contest. Well she won! And she still has the clothes. She said it's almost impossible for anyone to fit their arm through even the pant leg.

{image from Nylon Magazine}