just call me Cookie

Grandma does! Every year growing up Grandma C has made the traditional Christmas cookies. As most of you have experienced, one taste of a loved ones baked goods will transport you right back to the magical joy you experienced as a child at Christmas. Since Grandma has come here the last two years, we have started a little tradition of our own where we make cookies together. I love our time together and we usually end up eating some dough and giggling along the way. This year we finished our cookie time by making spritz cookies!

Grandma C and "Cookie" in our matching aprons! LOVE her TONS!

Faith, Hope, and Love

Lately my life seems to be all black and white. Anyone who knows me well knows that I live in the gray.

When I live in the gray, I can fly by the seat of my pants. I make light commitments so that if I can't handle something or I need desperately to do something else, I can. It helps me to feel free and not confined to expectations or limits.

Now that I've been living in the black and white, I'm finding it isn't as horrible as I thought and I can schedule some free time *which, to me, feels like the epitome of an oxymoron*. Some of the b&w has been thrust upon me and is not in my control. One of the biggest things for me is family and friends going through big life changes *marriage, babies, houses, moving...etc*. I've been feeling un-needed lately. I do need to mention though that I don't feel un-wanted. I can see and feel my family and friends making efforts to keep me involved in their lives and I love and appreciate that more than I can express.

I've got some big things coming up. Life changing decisions and I pray for the strength to meet them head on and power through. I get stopped up when I need to make big decisions because I wait and wait for someone to help me decide. At some point i'll learn and be comfortable in the fact that I only need God and my own instincts, and that both are trustworthy.

Here's to living in the black and white and gray.

Maaaaaagrarita!

McDonalds, large black 6-10

Here are some edited pics from margarita night last weekend! It was impromptu fun! Though if I do say so myself, i make killer margaritas so if you're reading this, let me know if you want to come over for one and we'll make plans!





If pictures could talk, these would all say: "yeah Margarita night was pretty much the best night ever... AWESOME. YEAH!" (quote must be read out loud in a Ron Burgundy voice)

Ring, Ding, Dong....

Starbucks, tall, black 8 of 10

Ring-a-ring, ding, ding, dong

So much of my life lately revolves around ringing.

Ears ringing

I've been sick for a few days now and its about the point where I start getting stir crazy. I cant sit on the couch anymore. I can not watch another episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. There is a huge part of me that wants to get up and run around and work out and go to work (eep! yes, I actually want to go to work!!!). I know I need to be patient and if I rush the recovery, it will be a longer one than if I am patient and take good care of myself. I know there are others that are hurting more, much more than I am right now, and I am praying for them and thinking of them when I get frustrated with my own current limitations.

Phone ringing

I've been staying at my parents house these last few days. I have to say, this place is like a hotline! Between the cell phones and the house phone, it seems like they're on the phone more than off. They're both so cordial and patient and many times they really do want to be talking to the person who calls. Its just odd to be here and see how many calls a night they take because foolishly, I forget how busy both of them are. I love my parents so much and I look up to them on a daily basis.

Another phone ringing that I am not missing right now is my phone at work. In the last 2 weeks we had training at my office and only half our team was on the phones. In one day I had 141 calls through my phone. Tell me that's not exhausting both mentally and physically. Its nice to have some time away, but knowing that the craziness is over now, I am itching to be answering the phone or emails or something.... "Member Services, this is Kate, how may I help you?"....

Doorbell ringing

Talk about embarrassing... I had to answer the door yesterday. I really thank the UPS man who was subject to my germs. He was so kind and cordial. When the doorbell rang yesterday afternoon, I really contemplated not answering it. I was looking and feeling nasty. Details aside, I wouldn't have wanted to see anyone, much less a stranger who has no idea that this is not always how I look, ha ha. I made my way to the door and squeaked out a "hi". He asked me to sign for a package and I asked him if he could hold the device for me that you need to sign. I explained I didn't want to get germs all over it and he said "aww, no worries, if you saw the back of the truck, you'd know why I don't care about germs one bit!" As I attempted to laugh without coughing, and managed a "thank you" in a voice I didn't recognize, I began to wonder. I know, I know it is highly unlikely but is it too much to hope that the delivery guy meant that the back of the truck is repeatedly sprayed with Lysol every 30 seconds? Therefore, he would have no reason to be worried about germs?

Its good that I was sick, and home at my parents place because it turned out to be an important package. That needed to be signed for.

I'm out for now. Much love to all my friends and family!

Mmmh music

McDonalds medium black coffee 6 of 10
I love guitar music. Live, acoustic guitar music. I had a horrible day at work yesterday. Without divulging too much, ill just say that I got so fed up I actually cried (which I don't do at work. Don't).
Anyways, I got home to find my cousin "Sir-sings-alot", his friend "Sir-sleeps-on-the-couch-alot", my brother "Mit" and his girlfriend "Akiko" all sitting in the living room. Sir-sings-alot was bustin out a song on his guitar about my boyfriend "Crotchety Old Man", whom he thought was coming in the door with me, but he wasn't. So, I cracked up laughing, and when Sir-sings-alot realized I was alone, he started singing about me instead. Though everyone was laughing and being raoucus and funny, I took his lyrics to heart because they were sweet and honest. I love my family and last night was one of the best nights I've had with my roommates in a long time. It was just what I needed after a long horrible day at work.


Crotchety Old Man showed up later in the evening with pizza (eep! dont tell my personal trainer!) because I decided that I could cheat on my diet for one evening of blissfull, cheesey pizza.

It was a good night. : )