Tuesday, February 14, 2006

*whoosh...whoosh...whoosh* (AKA the best Valentine's gift ever!)



My sister and her hubby went to the doctor today for their first check-up, and they heard the baby's heartbeat! YAY!!! She said it sounded like a whoosh-ing noise. I got all teared up just thinking about it! I can't believe my little sister is going to have a baby! I'm so excited...she's only 14 weeks along, and I'm already thinking about all the fun stuff I'm going to buy for it. Praise God for a healthy baby!!!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you are spending it with those you love...

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Extreme Makeover Home Edition needs to come with Kleenex...

Oh my...I have just spent the last two hours choked up in front of my television. We usually try to catch Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and tonight was no exception. Tonight they had a two hour episode about a woman who used to be a fabulous dancer and is now suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

For those of you who don't know, my dad was diagnosed with MS almost 2 years ago. The past two years actually haven't been too bad for him. He had a day where he had four or five seizures, but once the doctors changed his medication he was fine. I have noticed that he is slower than he used to be, and that he sleeps a lot more. Thankfully, he hasn't really lost motor skills at all, but I'm pretty sure that will come in time. For now he is thankful that he can still play guitar and that he can still walk pretty well (although he sometimes needs a hand to hold).
I have known about MS for what seems like my entire life. My dad's childhood friend, Mark, has had MS for as long as I can remember. Mark is living in an assissted living center now, and can barely walk. I know that there is currently no cure for MS, and that this will probably be what takes my father's life. But, hearing all these things said on television tonght - watching this woman who used to be such a graceful dancer teeter on two canes - broke my heart. I sat and cried for two hours. I'm drained, really.

I'm not sure why I'm blogging about this. Obviously my dad needs much prayer. He doesn't know the Lord and still struggles with a past that haunts him every day. I also have to wonder if one of my siblings or even I will have MS. Every time I lose my balance or feel too tired, I wonder if I have it already.

God is so good. I know that He hears our prayers, and I thank you for listening to my emotional purge tonight.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Worst Day or Best Day Ever?

I can't seem to make up my mind. Was yesterday my worst day at my job ever, or was it my best day?

The spring semester started this week at Asbury. I love the beginning of the semester. After months of no activity on campus, suddenly everything comes alive! People are everywhere, chapel is amazing again and we get a bit of a break at work now that everyone is admitted. Well....maybe...

There are always a few people who wait until the VERY LAST MINUTE to apply. It's inevitable - I should learn to deal with it. It just infuriates me though! I'm such a planner, so people like this are offensive to my way of life! Okay, so I'm not really that dramatic, but they do make me rush around and bust my hump to get them in. On a financial level, we need all the students we can get, so I really need to do what I can. On a spiritual level, I know that these people are following a call that God has placed on their hearts, so I need to honor that too. It's just very frustrating...

This semester is no exception, so of course we are all rushing around trying to get a few people in at the last minute. We had admitted a couple people on Thursday who really needed to get registered and in class, but we were running in to a brick wall that is technology. I swear, I felt like I was in an old Abbot and Costello act or something. It went something like this:

Student: I need my login information so I can do my e-mail orientation and get registered for class.
Admissions: The system won't send you that until Monday, and we can't force it to go any faster, so let me get you through to Information Commons. They can help you with this.
Student to Info Commons: I need my login information, and I can't wait until Monday to get it.
Info Commons: We can't give you that information. You have to wait to get it from the system. (not true)
Student to Admissions: Info Commons won't help me.
Admissions to God: WHY DID I COME IN TODAY?????

I proceeded to tell my boss about the situation, who then called the Info Commons boss and he worked it all out no problem. Crazy.

On top of all of this, financial aid packets didn't go out to Fall students until yesterday. The deadline to have all that turned back in is March 1. What?????

At this point I am pissed beyond belief. I have NEVER felt this way at this job - EVER! These type of feelings were an everyday occurrence at Fifth Third, but since I've been at Asbury, my work life is amazing until now. I'm seriously starting to cry at my desk because it seems like all the hard work we did to get these students admitted is all for nothing. Financial Aid doesn't give a rip about getting their packets to them in a timely manner. Info Commons won't help them out. I'm just a mess.

Then I had to call our counselor in Orlando for something. I'm obviously ina bad mood, and because he's sensitive to these things, he can tell. We talk business for a minute and then he says something like this: "Katie, I'm going to say something to you, but you're going to need to swallow it with a big dollop of grace." I'm immediately worried that he's going to say something I'm not going to like. Josh isn't a mean guy at all, but usually when someone says something like that, they're about to tell you something about yourself that you just don't want to hear. Not being in the mood for such a self-revealing conversation, the thought crosses my mind that I should just hang up. Then I realize that, um...well, he'd probably just call right back and come on, we work together. I can't get away from him for long, so I stayed on the line.
"Katie, you are amazing." What? Did I hear him right? Yep, he said I was amazing (or awesome or wonderful...who cares? They're all the same word, just spelled differently). Then he proceeds to tell me that he thinks all the divisiveness at Asbury is just stupid. Florida campus vs. Kentucky Campus. This department vs. that department. It's not what we're all about. Then he asked me to partner with him in praying for Asbury. Seriously - it was like Shakabuku. You know, it's a swift, spiritual kick to the head that alters your reality forever. (Grosse Pointe Blank reference - if you haven't seen it, SHAME ON YOU! Go rent it right now. Well, finish reading, THEN go rent it.) I seriously needed to hear that. He single-handedly helped me turn my day right-side up.

It was a great day after that. We had a finger blaster war at the end of the day at work. Matt and I went with some friends of ours to the best Chinese buffet ever and made ourselves sick on Mongolian Barbecue and crab rangoon. Then we all went bowling at this great place for like 3 hours. I actually didn't do too badly. My best game last night was 102. I've only broken 100 once before in my life! Obviously I suck at bowling, but I had a lot of fun. Then we crashed at home and I actually slept in until 8:00. We woke up to at least 3 inches of snow too, so it's really pretty around here today. We never get snow, so this is pretty fun. I may go out and build a snowman or something.

You know, looking over this post, I've decided that yesterday was a pretty great day. I love my job. My life is pretty awesome too.

Today is my baby brother's 20th birthday. Okay, so he's not a baby at all. He's actually half a foot taller than me, so he's really not a baby! I remember when Robert was born though. My dad came home from the hospital to dress me for school, and he put me in the more horrendous outfit ever! What did he know? At least I was dressed. I don't remember all of it, but I do know that I wore a purple plaid pleated skirt with a polka dotted shirt and a sweater vest of some kind. I'm pretty sure none of the colors matched and the patterns certainly didn't, but I was on top of the world. I had a baby brother! My mom had asked me many times during her pregnancy whether I wanted a brother or a sister. I already had a sister, so I said I wanted a brother. Well, I got what I wanted. My mom reminds me of that any time my brother pisses me off. "You ordered him." Yes I did. Now he's a tall, handsome, talented man who is still finding his place in life. (Aren't we all?) I love you Bob-ert...

Geez...I'm getting all weepy. What's up with the hormones lately? I'm going to get away from this computer for a while and do something productive. I think if I get the house cleaned, then I'm going to reward myself with a John Cusack film festival. Grosse Pointe Blank, Runaway Jury, America's Sweethearts, Sixteen Candles...the works! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!

P.S. I just realized that I have been spelling bourgeois wrong for my entire life! Not that I use that word much or anything, but as I was reading something earlier, I thought, "That's not how I've been spelling it. I suck!" I did win the science department spelling bee my sophomore year though. I spelled "deoxyribonucleic acid" and stole the show. I was invited to advance to the school wide bee, but realized that I was already a big enough dork. My then boyfriend teased me enough about winning the science one! Oh well...it's probably his fault I've never spelled bourgeois right.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Son Volt, Steve Zahn and other things I miss out on...

My friend and co-worker, Rob, just popped in my cube to tell me that he was at The Dame for a Son Volt concert last night and Steve Zahn was there. WHAT? Why do I miss out on all this fun stuff? I totally knew that Son Volt was coming to town, yet I didn't buy tickets. Am I completely repelled by fun? I love Steve Zahn. He's so funny! He's totally a guy I would have wanted to date in my former life. Rob says he's short though, so maybe not. No offense to short guys, but for someone as tall as me, it's weird to think about dating someone shorter. There are a handful of guys I probably would have dated in high school had I not been so shallow. I won't name them though - they may show up here someday! All of this to say that I'm really bummed I missed that show. Oh well...

I am glad that I stayed home last night though. I made some yummy spaghetti sauce, balanced my checkbook, folded laundry and (best of all) got to talk with my friend Jaime. It's been forever since we've really talked on the phone, so it was really great to catch up with her (even if we were on the phone for almost 2 hours!). She's honestly one of my best friends ever, and talking to her last night made me feel 10 years younger. She's a blast...
Last night I also worked out to a new video called "Belly Dancing for Wimps". It was so silly, but it was a lot of fun! I had to turn it off about halfway through though because I was laughing so hard at myself....

So - Asbury College (across the street from the seminary where I work and where Matt is a student) has chapel services Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:00 am. Yesterday's chapel service is still going on! Apparently there is a revival stewing over there. I wonder how long it will go on? I'm hoping to go over there for a little bit today. Be praying for the Asbury students involved, as well as for the Wilmore community as a whole. This could turn out to be a pretty major event!

Speaking of major events - I got my hair cut this weekend! I know, not as major as a revival, but still pretty cool. I cut about 7 inches off, and it feels GREAT!

Anyway - now I'm at work, and all I really want to do is go home and get some sleep. I haven't been sleeping well lately, and I'm not really sure why. I hope you all are having a great day!

Saturday, February 04, 2006

I'm allergic to the phone...

I have formed a new theory today. Hear me out - it's a good one.

I believe that each person is born with a set amount of phone time. Some people plan their time wisely and stretch it out over years to last until death. I, on the other hand, blew my entire phone allowance when I was a teenager. Therefore, I am no allergic to the telephone.
When I was in high school, I would spend all moments not in school either sleeping or on the telephone - sometimes both at the same time. I would spend HOURS on the phone with whatever boyfriend I might have at the time and then call my best friends to tell them everything I had just discussed with the boyfriend. I would take a small break to do trivial things like shower, eat or homework, then I would be right back on the phone with said boyfriend to "say goodnight". Ridiculous...

Now I CAN'T STAND THE PHONE!!! Every time it rings at work, I cringe. And let me tell you what: I strongly believe that Caller ID is the best invention of our time. Seriously. If it's not my mother, I'M NOT PICKING UP! It's like I have forgotten how to talk on the phone. Obviously that's not the case, so the only other logical explanation is that I have used my lifetime phone allowance and am now rendered allergic to using the telephone.

Now, there are a few of you who are reading this and thinking, "What a witch! She's been avoiding my calls!" That's not entirely true. I have not singled you out - I am avoiding EVERYONE's calls! I love you - really I do. I just don't have the energy to talk on the phone anymore. I'm way too busy working and cleaning and running errands and grown-up crap like that. I would rather just get together with you in person...let's make a date! :)

That said, I had a fun day today. Matt had to work, so rather than being stuck at home all day (We only have one car. My office is seriously not even a mile away. I walk a lot.), I decided to take him in and use the car for errands. I piddled around Target for a while (one of my favorite stores), went to the mall for a while and then decided to get my hair cut. Now, let me tell you, my hair hasn't really been cut since September of 2003. I have had it trimmed a couple times, but other than that, it has just grown and grown and grown. Plus, I have been taking pre-natal vitamins lately (we're not pregnant - it's just in case...) and they make my hair and nails grow FAST! So, this morning I woke up with hair half-way down my back. Tonight my hair just hits my shoulders (and flips out just a smidge - very cute!). I love it! Anyway - after the haircut I decided that I didn't want to drive the 20 miles back to Wilmore, so I went to see a movie. I really wanted to see Brokeback Mountain, but no one was showing it around the time I wanted, so ended up seeing Dreamer. If you have a heart at all, you will love this movie! I thought it was great. I don't know what it is - maybe I've just lived in the Lexington area for too long - but I'm really beginning to love horses! They're just beautiful animals. Plus, the horse farms around here are fab-you-luss. Gorgeous, lush, green, rolling hills with white fences as far as you can see. It's awesome. Dreamer was filmed near my house in Versailles, KY, so it was fun watching it and thinking, "I know that farm! I drive by that place all the time!" Cute movie. After the movie I went to Joseph Beth Booksellers, and had a reall nice 2 hours to myself. Joe-Beth is a HUGE bookstore/music store/cafe that has some of the most amazingly comfortable chairs you will ever find. I went in, headed straight to the "Staff Picks" shelf (my favorite place to find new books) and picked up "Cash" by Johnny Cash. I don't know why I was interested in that. Usually I like fiction, but something about that book just called to me. Once I picked out the book, I headed to a comfy chair near a fireplace and read for a few hours. GREAT BOOK. I'm totally going to buy it - just not from Joe-Beth. They're so expensive. After my reading, I went to listen to some music and ended up buying Marc Broussard's "Carencro" CD. LOVE IT. I then went to the mall to get Matt, came home and ate veggies and homemade hummus for dinner. It's been a full day. Do you even care? If you have read this far, God bless you...you are one patient person! I don't know why I feel like I need to share every bit of my day with you...

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I'm feeling like skipping church. We had some really funky weather here today. It kept switching from rain to snow and back and forth. Now we have slushy roads and it's cold. I love my church, but it's all the way in Lexington, and the roads around here just aren't safe in the snow and ice. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Maybe it will be sunny and 60 degrees. It wouldn't suprise me...

I've bored you long enough. I won't even tell you about "The Office" party I had last night. Suffice it to say, I had my co-workers over and we had a great time. I love that show...is Jim not the hottest guy on TV? Really - I could eat him up... :)

Have a good night y'all!