How Felt-tipped Pens Changed My Life

So this was today. The highlights including:

Well, actually the highlights start with last night. When I received a text from that dear boy Logan that said: casablanca and fiji at tap house tonight? If you don't know me at all, you maybe confused as to who "casablanca" is...but it refers to the residents of 1613 Wilson Ave, in our "house of white". Tuesday was an eventful night to say the least. Flip nigh at Tap House, followed by an adventure downtown to El Rancho (which is apparently full of hippie, potheads on Tuesday night) and then a quick trip to The Cottages swimming pool. You never know what a week night may bring, but if you're with Fiji boys, it's probably an awesome thing.

I had a Which Wich sandwich for lunch.

I just started using felt-tipped pens and they are changing my life. Everything I list, doodle, jot is as bold as I could ever dream.

I have been watching Mad Men, season 3. I forgot how much I missed this show; for reasons besides that I dream of having Peggy's job and Joan's boobs without the inequality of the 1960s. From today's episodes, I would like to share this witty tweet: "You need three ingredients to make a cocktail. Two is an emergency." #madmen That's college, one big emergency... I would also like to share this other quote from Don Draper that I love, "When a man walks into a room, he brings his whole life with him." Huh, that'll make you ponder.

The roomies (or some of us at least) had dinner on the porch tonight. We're a diverse group, with meals ranging from spinach salad to my plate of literally chicken, bacon, cheddar and ranch. I will probably die at a very young age because my veins will be full of shit..

I finally completely my summer CD: The Last Summer Song. Choosing the songs, organizing them into the perfect order and decorating the CD cover is probably the most difficult thing I'll do all summer. Well, hopefully. The CD is as follows:
In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
My Maria - Brooks & Dunn
Amie - Pure Prairie League
Fire and Rain - James Taylor
Wait So Long - Trampled By Turtles
Long Hot Summer Day - Turnpike Troubadours
Even the Losers - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Farmhouse - Phish
Good Things - BoDeans
Gold on the Ceiling - The Black Keys
The Lion's Roar - First Aid Kit
Gypsy Queen - Van Morrison
Sentimental Hearts - She and Him
Virgin - Manchester Orchestra
Crash Years - The New Pornographers
Some Nights - Fun.
Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Memphis - Marcy Playground
Where Rainbows Never Die - The Steeldrivers
Motorcycle Drive By - Third Eye Blind



And this is the first time I'm using the embedded Spotify playlist, so forgive me if I've done it incorrectly. It was a bitch to figure out.

Movie night with Abbie. We're watching "M", "Dead Poets Society" and "Munich"...it's going to be a busy summer.

And that was my day. Just a quick reminder, if you haven't signed up for Emilie Bell's giveaway you NEED to check it out! Free things, that's what I'm tell you. Go here and comment.

Homeade Beer Pretzels

If you know me at all, you've heard me at least mention the lovely Emilie Bell. She has a fancy blog called Scarborough Food Fair. By fancy, I mean to say that she updates it on the regular, which is no easy feat considering her posts are food recipes! Furthermore. She does giveaways...WHAAAAAT? She is so beyond me on the blog-spectrum. Regardless, you have to check out her giveaway before June 1st, HERE. You could win a smore kit, a sweet camping cook book or a My Politic CD. So do it.

In honor of Emilie, who posted a recipe in honor of ME, I'm going to make Homeade Beer Pretzels. First, check out the inspiration, HERE. Now, follow along on my journey.

Em posted the pretzels over a week ago...and so obviously, it took me 10 days to get myself together and do the dang thing. I really had everything I needed, except yeast, so I picked that up today and was ready to rock!

Awwh, Great Value. The brand of college students.

Let the yeast foam.

Add yeast to beer, flour and salt.

Knead for 10 minutes...it's a work out!

Let rise. This takes an hour, so I hope you started before you were hungry.

Make into pretzel shapes and glaze with egg.

Make yo' cheeeese.

Aren't the lovely!?

Nom nom nom.

And so there it is. Tasty Homeade Beer Pretzels! I'm taking them to a little grill-out we're having tonight, so we'll have to see what the consensus is.



Also created today, a little idea journal for my job:

A Little Catching Up

Well, my blogging life has become non-existent. No one tells you that a job working 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. will actually be much more time consuming than college. In class, you have plenty of time to catch up on reading all your favorite blogs and to prepare a blog post of your own. Even though I sit at computer screen (well, two screens actually) all day, I have real things to be doing. If I put this much effort into class work, my GPA would be above a 4.0...probably.

I've been sans-car for the last two weeks. My good ol' Ford Focus finally when kaput. In the middle of the Broadway turn lane. After some searching, my mom found me a nice little white Toyota Corolla. It's a 2001...BUT it has 40K miles on it and it was only $5000. That's a damn good deal and it only has to last me until I find a nice doctor husband to buy me a new one. Being without a car has been challenging. I am so grateful to Trever, who has taken me to and from work a little early each day. The situations, though not ideal, has it's advantages:

• It prevents me from spending money during lunch because I am forced to bring my own.
• It saves me on gas money, though I will gladly pitch in to pay Trever.
• It forces me to wake up earlier and be promptly on time.
• I get into work 30 minutes early each day and am able to build up hours so I can leave early on Friday afternoons. This is especially nice today, as I make my way to the lake at 2 p.m. -- woot!

Mom is meeting me at the Lake of the Ozarks this weekend and will be bringing along my sweet new wheels. She is so awesome to have found this car, communicated with the dealer and drive it to me. I may have a real job now, but the task of searching, finding and buying a new car is a daunting one, and I don't think I'm ready yet.

Since I have been such a poor blogger lately, I'll just give you a quick update as to what's been going on in my life. We'll start with Game of Thrones, not the TV show, but the book. It's the nerdiest looking thing, with a cheesy photo of Sean Bean (of the TV show and The Lord of the Rings) sitting in the intentionally uncomfortable throne of swords. It just has the "I also play W.O.W. until 4 a.m. every morning" look. Regardless...it is one of the best books I've ever read. Ever. It's so well written, in a style that's enchantingly and beautifully vintage. The characters, though numerous and difficult to keep track of, are interesting and the storyline is complex and exciting. Even when it's boring, it's exciting. It's over 600 pages long and I love every page of it.

50 Shades of Grey, on the other hand, sucks. I'd read about it and heard about it, so I figured I'd get on board. But the thing must have been written by a middle schooler...a really kinky middle schooler? I thought it was a joke at first. I thought the author was trying to create this young, immature character reflected by her writing style. That is not the case. So, I just gave up after the first chapter and skipped to the more interesting chapters, which is what everyone is so up in arms about. It was weird. The concept is strange and not entirely awful, but there is just no way I can stick around when the writing is so terrible. I heard on a radio talk show that women love it so much because the main character ends up changing this guy who is so controlling and emotionally unstable. Which is fine, women love what they love. But that doesn't mean they should have to read CRAP to find the kind of stories they love. Disappointment.

This is the banner I designed for the our intern orientation.

Work at the lovely JES Holdings, LLC has been going nicely. Tuesday and Wednesday were Intern Orientation. Though I have been here for a month I was still required to participate. There were 10 of us from either Missouri or Georgia, each interning in a different department: marketing, IT, property management, investment accounting, leasing, etc. It's a weird thing, to through together 10 people who are essentially strangers and force them to spend two days together. Don't get me wrong, they were all really cool people, but I can only talk about what I'm doing over Memorial Day weekend and what it's like to be joining the SEC so many times before I need the company of someone I know a little better. Tuesday was spent mostly in the conference room listening to various speakers explain different aspects of our company. Tuesday night we got to go out to Room 38 for dinner (on JES) and then to Quinton's for a little patio time, trivia and $2 Big Girls. The outing was a good time, and let's face it, the preferred way to get to know 10 strangers. We stumbled in Wednesday morning and worked on one of our properties to prepare a unit for leasing. We cleaned and painted the place and then got to buy decor accessories to dress it up a bit. The orientation ended in dinner with one of the executives in our stylish (sarcasm) and poorly-fitting Nike golf shirts (not sarcastic).

Anyway, I've been sitting at work for the last 40 minutes working on this post because I if I clock in early, I'll have to leave before Birthday Lunch or go over on my 40 hours. Baaaah. But it's about 8 a.m. now, so I'm headed off to do some property newsletters. I know, I know. THRILLING.

Let me know if you're going to be at the lake tonight, we're going to a foam party...should be fun. Have a great Memorial Day everyone!

Dear Momma...

You'll have to excuse me for not posting this earlier today. Also, I DID get her a gift too, so this isn't a cop out. Ha.

Dear Momma,

Well, here we are to celebrate a day made just for you,

To put aside the whining and the other things we do.

Like getting sick and needing love from two hours away,

Like dating older boys which leads to your dismay,

Like gaping holes left in our legs that will not heal for days,

Let me stop this nonsense now and pause to give you praise.

I praise you for your patience and your slow-to-anger care.

It would be understandable to want to rip your hair.

I praise you for piles of laundry cleaned, now that I do my own.

Remember when simply folding clothes would make me moan and groan?

I praise your cultural knowledge and keeping me in the know.

Because honestly, let's face it, you're cooler than I let show.

I praise your sense of style and every gosh darn thing you pin,

If I took a poll among my friends "Best Pinner" would you win. 

I praise your constantly feeding my need to craft and create.

If I ever make it in advertising, it's because of you I'll be great.

I praise the nagging way you push me to succeed.

Without this lovely nagging, I wouldn't have this job I need.

 

I praise your likable personality and your ease with all you meet.

I strive to be this everyday though I often fail the feat.

I praise they way you treat others with love, equal and fair.

It's the most admirable thing to do and YOU do it because you care.

I praise how you raise your children, since I know more than most,

And if I'm half the mom you've been to me, then maybe I can boast.

I praise your unconditional love, though I may not say so enough,

Which is why sometimes I'm a jerk;  but you love me even if it's tough.

I know sometimes I'm difficult, as each your children are.

My sarcasm --though hilarious-- is often taken way too far.

Though you constantly are serving me, I fail to do the same,

I think first of my selfish needs, which I know, is totally lame.

So now I'll try to reign it in and shut my yapping trap,

I know my rhymes are long-winded and cornier than crap.

You know I really mean them plus a million, times a lot,

You know I really love you and I thank you as I ought...to.

Love Always,

Your Kaitlin Rose

Forgive Me, Blogger, for I have sinned.

Forgive me, Blogger, for I have sinned. It has been seven days since my last blog post.

DIY: Having Strep Throat

MATERIALS NEEDED:
- kleenex
- so much water
- ibuprofen
- penicillin
- MOM

STEPS:
1. Wake up from your insanely detailed and realistic fever dreams and realize you are NOT healthy.
2. Begin taking ibuprofen in large doses, frequently.
3. DRINK WATER CONSTANTLY.
4. Go to the Health Center.
5. Pick up and immediately being your penicillin prescription.
6. Take a final.
7. Bomb it.
8. DRINK WATER while you wait for mom to arrive.
9. Watch movies and do nothing.
10. Suffer another night of bizarre dreams.
11. Wake up, take penicillin and DRINK WATER.
12. Car shop.
13. Nap.
14. Go to dinner and a movie.
15. Take penicillin, DRINK WATER and go to bed.
16. Sleep...without crazy, fever dreams for once.
17. Study all day and DRINK WATER while your throat starts feeling much better.
18. Continue taking penicillin as prescribed for 10 days.

TIPS:
- DRINK WATER
- Keep a trash can and kleenex near by at all times.
- It really doesn't matter what drugs you have, you need your momma when you're sick and I'm so glad I had mine. Nothing makes you feel better faster...
- Just keep taking ibuprofen. When it starts to hurt, take some. 



Soooo. I did two versions of today's post. I wasn't sure which I liked better. Please comment your opinions, did you prefer the clever DYI Guide to having Strep or the regular post?

I've been a little under the weather. Sunday I was stricken with a stormy bout of strep throat. It was horrifying. With a final on Monday, I pathetically attempted to study and called mom for a little mobile comfort. Before the final, I made an appointment at the Student Health Center, was examined, had my blood drawn, verified as having strep (not mono, thank Blogger) and picked up my penicillin prescription. All before strutting across campus to the Geological Studies Building and domination that final. Not true, it kicked my ass almost as hard as the strep throat.

I went home and slept until my momma showed up and started saving my life. She did my laundry (that had been piling up) and cleaned my room. She went and got us pizza and some movies and then we camped out in the living room and watched movies...while I tossed and turned as my body temperature changed from sweating to shivering every few minutes.

After a tossy-turny night of sleep Tuesday, I woke up feeling a little better. We used the morning for a little car shopping. There was nothing in Columbia that we felt was a better deal than the Toyota Corolla that we had as an option back in Bolivar. So, we committed to that and I'll be back on the road by May 25! We came home and I had a little nap before we got dinner at Murry's and saw Cabin in The Woods. The movie was great. Leave it to Joss Weadon to take your typical horror movie and give you a great twist. That night, I started assembling my Retail Marketing study guide.

Wednesday morning, I worked on my study guide while mom did my grocery shopping. She left a little while after...
I know it's not as much fun for my mom to come to Columbia to care of me, but it was much appreciated. Next time she's in town I'll have to be extra perky and healthy. Thank you momma, I love you.

The Last Summmmmer

As finals come to a close...kind of...all I can seem to think about is summmmmer. What's significant (and horribly sad) about this summer, is that it's the last one. All of our lives we've waited for the bell to ring on that last day of school, or to fill in the final bubble on our last final of the semester. And while we have dreaded those school days with bitter hatred, at least we knew summer was coming. Once we graduate from college we don't get summers. I don't know if you realized, but the REAL world doesn't have summer break. REAL jobs don't last nine months of the year. It's a horrible place, the REAL world...

But alas. It's all the more reason to enjoy the wonders of summer one last time. Here is my list of things to do in Columbia this summer:

1. As per usual, I intend to take a million pictures. What's the point of having an epically, incredible last summer if you can't remember it as you becoming old and your memories fade away with your decrepit, wrinkled body?

2. Some pictures and some video please. I'm never good at remembering to bring the video camera, but I will try!

3. Sunbathing. I will do this until I am a bright shade of pink.

4. Have a garage sale of all the worthless crap in our basement. Invite a ripped guy to model in his whitie tighties (as shown below). I have a few guys in mind that could definitely generate sales. Yeah yeah...I'm a marketer.

5. Ride bikes! On the MKT trial, around the town, maybe even take on the Katy Trail if we're feeling up to it.

6. Run daily or semi-daily. I would like to be that super motivated person who wakes up and runs before work...also, this would allow time for me to start drinking immediately after work.

7. Have a bonfire party. I hear word that Eldon will be having a few...

8. Take a St. Louis road tip! Shopping, Anheuser-Busch tour, CITY MUSEUM and anything else I can think of before then.

9. Speaking of road trip...I'd like to venture to Carthage, MO to enjoy one of the few remaining drive-in theatres. Is it "theater" or "theatre"??

10. Drunk Twister. I hear it's fun.

11. I have never karaoke'd and would lovvvve to. Look at this picture :) Guy pissed his pants. Bahahaha. Loser...

12. Apparently there is an Ozarks BBQ on Father's Day at the Lake...might be a good excuse to meet up with the family over the summer?

13. Break a world record. Might as well, got nothin' better to do.

14. Family road trip to see Aunt Sarah and company in Los Angeles ! They just moved there...so it should be a fun time. If you think my list is extensive, wait till you see Mom's To Do list for San Diego. Crazzzy.

15. Take the train...from Jeff City to anywhere. I just think it would be fun. I haven't done it in forever and I like adventures.

16. SILVER DOLLAR CITY is a place where dreams come true. Apparently, it has a rep for being trashy...but then again Trever knows jackshit. I am forcing my friends to go. It is so glorious.

17. Complete my perfectly, awesome resume.

 

18. Float trips. With Fiji (July 27 and 28 if you wanna go) and with friends. I lovvvvve these. I have already started a playlist.

19. Ride the mechanical bull at Whiskey Wilds. I've never done it and I think I should. Plus...if this horrifying ginger can do it, you apparently don't need a soul. So I should be solid.

20. Attend Roots and Blues! And run the half marathon they host...thus putting my previous goal of regular running to use.

21. Crash a wedding. Don't know how, don't know when, but I will.

22. You write truths/dares on Jenga pieces and when it falls you have to do that truth/dare. Cute. Reeeeal cute.

23. Aaaawwh, the Testicle Festival. Yes well. The Eldon boys introduced us to this and we can't very well NOT go. Once in a lifetime opportunity right here...

24. Get a tiny rose tattoo. Maybe...
I promised myself I would not get a tattoo until I had an internship and was employable...well guess what m'kers. GOT ONE.

25. Be with Friends. Literally...THESE Friends...not mine. That would be lame.

26. Be hilarious and awesome and drunk when with friends.

27. See Miss Emilie Bell and My Politic on their summer tour! Woot woot. I designed these by the way...

 

28. There will be so much frisbee'ing. I LOVE FRISBEE'ING.

29. Go out for a FAKE Bachelorette Party. Can we pull it off? Probably not. But worth a try! Would make for a great story...

30. Watch Clue as a drinking game. Drink when: someone looks at the maid’s breasts, an accusation is made, someone dies or you hear thunder. Easy enough.

32. Go to Vegas? I need to sometime, so I might as well set my goals high!

33. Scrapbook it all. I've already got the book ready. Yesssz.

34. Say yes. This is a thing I always try to do. You never know what things you could do and cool people you could make friends with if you just say yes to opportunities that arise. Even when they seem not fun, or scary. Look at my internship. I got that because I FORCED myself to go to that stinkin' Career Fair even though I hated it and felt super uncomfortable. So, that's my motto this summer: Say yes.

If you have any other ideas, or want to be in on some of these awesome plans, leave a comment and let me know!