tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56475142011-08-04T21:32:14.546-05:00kräht der Hahn means "the rooster crows" in GermanKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.comBlogger1011100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-83998084812495436892011-03-22T20:26:00.039-05:002011-08-04T21:32:14.562-05:00

David proposed to me ten years ago. We were married nearly nine years ago. Our first kiss was almost twenty years ago. All of it happened yesterday.Yesterday I walked into our house for the first time, four years ago. I laid my hand on my big belly and listened to my footsteps echo in the empty rooms wondering what sounds our baby Bird would make within these walls.It seems that just last week I

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-91730026806705476582009-12-31T20:30:00.002-06:002009-12-31T21:07:13.936-06:00

We are hours away from the end of 2009. While there many things that I am thankful for in this past year, I have to say that I am looking forward to being rid of this year (or it being rid of me?).I have ranted before that I don't make resolutions for new years -- I don't like them, they don't work, I am only setting myself up for disappointment and failure. And yet.....goodness, how do I always

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-71628231410231372792009-05-10T22:35:00.001-05:002009-05-11T22:48:29.759-05:00

Women can be awful. I hate to generalize or stereotype, but honestly, women can be downright awful -- and especially to other women.Have I ranted here about feminism? Why are people (especially women) afraid of that word? Why don't people (women included) understand what that word means? I spoke very briefly at a colleague's retirement party and told a story about how he actually helped to make

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-91742255285640447472009-01-05T20:57:00.019-06:002009-02-12T12:12:06.932-06:00

Christmas is the season of lights. One of my favorite parts of the season is decorating the house -- inside and outside -- with lights. Candle lights in the windows, star light in the dining room, lights in the kitchen and over the doorways to our bedrooms.Since this was only our second Christmas in our house, we are still figuring out how we want to decorate, and we are in the early stages of

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-4810779697908956652008-12-31T14:59:00.010-06:002009-01-23T17:34:53.126-06:00

Everyone has a junk drawer, right? I remember that we even called it that when I was growing up. In need of something? Look in the junk drawer. It sometimes had magical qualities like Mary Poppins' bag -- it seemed a limitless drawer of odds, ends, tools, pens, and orphan parts of all kinds.When I got older and lived in places of my own I gradually developed my own junk drawer. In my pursuit of

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-71897725823021658892008-11-14T21:14:00.009-06:002008-12-31T14:59:24.741-06:00

When did my little Bird start getting so big?I remember thinking last year at this time that he was so big. Granted, learning to sit up on one's own gives one a bit more height. And the hair! He practically had enough for a comb over.I am sure that I will continue to be shocked at how big he is getting, but it is so noticeable lately. There are mornings when I am surprised to find such a big boy

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-60464394788989991702008-08-01T10:48:00.013-05:002008-11-01T22:24:21.058-05:00

I have begun to dislike being a grown up. Well, parts of it anyway. In the past, I have said on more than one occasion that I would not be a teenage girl again for all the money in the world. Now I'm starting to think that being a teenage girl again (but with all the money in the world) might be better than being a woman in her late 30s with a job, a mortgage, and sundry other responsibilities.My

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-36424563055998910822008-07-11T13:14:00.000-05:002008-07-11T13:14:39.633-05:00

So many things in my head. So many ideas, so many to do lists, so many plans, so many complaints, so many blessings, so many wishes. I feel sometimes like I'm going to bubble over with words words words. I'm feeling a little bit like I did when my little Bird was a tiny baby and I never really got long stretches of sleep -- the sleep that your brain needs to defrag, recharge, and reboot. Every

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-63732273617122801112008-05-18T12:05:00.000-05:002008-05-18T12:48:32.295-05:00

Some observations I have made of late --It will never be warm here. And by warm I mean dry with a high temperature of greater than 70 degrees for two consecutive days.(Given: Bird loves loves loves balloons.) Grocery stores inflate helium balloons of tremendous colors and sizes and tie them to every fixed surface in the store -- and I had never noticed them until Bird pointed (and pointed and

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-54768101334385342672008-04-25T14:51:00.001-05:002008-04-27T10:23:45.277-05:00

I have several confessions to make -- perhaps appropriate as Lent comes to a close.Okay, let me interrupt here for another confession: I've been writing this post off and on since February 13, 2008. How lame is that? So, yeah, Lent is long gone.(1) I love Cheerios. Before Bird mastered the pincer grip I had not eaten a Cheerio in over 25 years. My memories of Cheerios were finding them stuck to

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1725136566872791302008-01-22T14:50:00.000-06:002008-01-22T14:59:57.599-06:00

I don't want to turn into one of those moms -- the ones who obsess over each milestone, accomplishment, pound, sneeze, belch, and poop that the little genius makes. Or rather, doesn't make. You know the ones. I am always flattered when people comment on Bird's abilities, appearance, and/or personality. I don't find that I toot that horn often -- except for when David, Bird, and I are alone

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-74480734033493050162007-12-31T09:01:00.000-06:002008-01-04T13:43:28.200-06:00

Wow -- my posts have become almost regular! Once a month! Baby steps and I will get back on this horse. I have been distracted by work, teaching (which is different from work), and illness -- Bird's, Dave's, and mine. To wit --I was sick for three weeks after Thanksgiving. Sure we've had colds, the chicken pox scare, ear infections, and the nasty stomach bug that Bird was nice enough to share

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-13609337990165652902007-11-14T15:48:00.000-06:002007-11-14T15:49:16.132-06:00

Why do diapers have so much stuff printed on them? Is it just the expensive ones? Are they expensive because they print so much junk on them?Why would there be a product recall on a product that is not actually being recalled, but rather consumers are being offered stickers that read something along the lines of "do not leave baby unattended"?Why does Pedialyte have a color? Does the toddler

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-5414185465028559842007-10-26T11:17:00.000-05:002007-11-14T15:53:42.669-06:00

So it wasn't chicken pox. Well, we don't think it was chicken pox. Apparently, chicken pox is a lot harder to diagnose in this era of the chicken pox vaccine. (Bird has not been vaccinated because he will not be old enough to get the vaccine until he is 12 months old.)It could have been roseola or maybe the dreaded hand, foot, and mouth disease. Then there's measles. Have you ever looked up "rash

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-38021866236787283932007-09-05T10:56:00.000-05:002007-09-05T11:01:18.466-05:00

Perhaps it is because I am a new homeowner who is still basking in the glow of new-to-us washer and dryer, but I love doing laundry. Wait. I just re-read that sentence. It's definitely because I am a new homeowner. I hate doing laundry, but bear with me here.I hated doing laundry when we had to haul it down many rickety porch steps into the basement and use goofy tiny tokens that we had to

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-17851766005340228242007-08-03T10:55:00.000-05:002007-08-14T11:05:15.660-05:00

Over seven months have passed since I last posted. It feels like it was just yesterday -- and yet also a lifetime ago. Everything has changed in the blur of the last seven months.I now have a son. I am now a mother. How weird is that? He is wonderful and he has taken over our lives.I am now a homeowner. How grown up is that? We moved into a bungalow that we love at the end of February. Four

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1166758501115104852006-12-21T21:34:00.000-06:002006-12-21T21:35:01.126-06:00

I understand that I will not be a young mother. And I'm okay with that. I also understand that having children in your late 30s is wholly different from having babies in your early 20s. It is for this reason that I understand the label on various portions of my medical record that say "AMA" for advanced maternal age. This has necessitated some extra or more thorough tests, but has not been a big

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1162574413440759342006-11-03T11:12:00.000-06:002006-11-03T11:20:13.456-06:00

My new status has involved a few side effects. By "new status" I mean pregnant. I'm saying it out loud here. Watch out world, David and I are reproducing.I have been lucky, however, and have not really suffered. In fact, I feel pretty good. Even though I have not been puking, I have recently discovered a powerful side effect that can do almost as much damage -- I am losing my mind. I occasionally

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1160678820312224262006-10-12T13:25:00.000-05:002006-10-13T10:05:05.433-05:00

Yes, I realize it's been a long time -- almost two months exactly, to be precise. I've had a few ideas in my head to blog about, I've had David remind me that I could just put up a short post in less time than I spend reading others' blogs, and I do miss it. All I can say is that I've had BIG, MAJOR, AMAZING! things going on in my life lately. Oh, and then there's work (my "regular" job at the

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1154749312169200202006-08-04T22:27:00.000-05:002006-08-14T22:06:06.723-05:00

Three years. I've had this blog for three years. You couldn't tell that from the total number of posts, but it's been three years as of today. I wish that I would post more often -- I used to have a better average than once a month.The pics above were taken on our back porch last week. I think it was last week. This is a great time of the year for good summer storms. Summer storms are one of my

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1152486166942258052006-07-12T20:29:00.000-05:002006-07-12T21:38:43.613-05:00

I love coffee. Have I mentioned before that I love coffee? I love coffee. I love coffee from a bowl -- a coffee-appropriate bowl. If you try to drink coffee from a regular cereal bowl you will likely lose your fingerprints. I drink my espresso drinks from the latte-appropriate bowls that my sister Lucy gave me for Christmas a few years ago -- see the pic. I have a set of six perfect thick bowls

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1150251444635936042006-06-13T20:58:00.000-05:002006-06-13T21:26:16.433-05:00

David moved into our apartment four years ago last month. He scouted it, he previewed it, he told me not to make a decision from the outside alone (the icky screens on the porch have since been removed). I remained downstate for a few more months having finally defended and deposited what my mother called "that paper you have to write" (read, dissertation) and then wrapped up a visiting lecturer

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1149296203825687042006-06-02T19:42:00.000-05:002006-06-02T19:56:43.850-05:00

It started out a crappy week: back to work after a little break, more work at work than I had figured, an impromptu departmental meeting related to things I'd rather not think about, a big screw up with an important package I was waiting for, and a hair appointment that was not recorded correctly by the salon.I was supposed to get my hair cut (and colored, but don't tell anyone) yesterday

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1147485457377920792006-05-12T20:53:00.000-05:002006-06-13T21:32:02.543-05:00

I recently came across, bought, and read a book before it actually appeared in the New York Times Book Review. I don't actually read the Sunday Book Review, but David does and he mentioned the book to me on the Sunday that I was finishing it. So that's how I know I found the book before the New York Times did.I found the book in a small ad in another magazine – could it have been the Smithsonian

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1145237797162029092006-04-16T20:14:00.000-05:002006-04-16T20:36:37.270-05:00

Holy Week is always a busy time for me. I usually manage to overload my school/work schedule the week that I have to sing for each night of the Triduum and on Easter Sunday.This Holy Week was a particularly good one for the choir. We are smaller this year (20 singers), but wow what a sound! Add some brass, timpani, the organ at full power, and a five-pound binder full of music, and you've got a

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1139195050056631352006-02-05T21:02:00.000-06:002006-02-09T15:19:42.713-06:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to return to my most favorite library. David, being an active and loyal alum, was down on campus for a day of panels and mock interviews with current law students. This left me with a day to do as I pleased in the twin cities that I lived in for nine years. This means, of course, that I went to the library.It is the greatest library ever. Unfortunately, since I

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1136954437550074842006-01-10T22:39:00.000-06:002006-01-16T21:51:04.696-06:00

…or, so it would seem. When did I become this oh-so-important woman with a life that does not allow for mundane tasks such as grocery shopping? My "other" car (yes, my dear Wagenschen) is almost 10 years old, I wore a skirt to work today that I have owned since 1997, and yet I have my groceries delivered to my door, nay, to my very refrigerator door.I don't know how I became this woman. It was a

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1136436027338343602006-01-04T22:39:00.000-06:002006-01-04T22:40:27.350-06:00

And so we start again. I'm a fan of new beginnings. I think I've stated here before that that is part of the reason why I so love the academic calendar. I've also stated here before that I hate resolutions (click here for my rant which looks like it is about giving things up for Lent, but ends up really being about New Year's resolutions).So I will not be making any resolutions again this year.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1133750268958273472005-12-04T20:36:00.000-06:002005-12-04T21:15:46.326-06:00

So I went to work last Monday as usual. It was just a regular Monday. I actually got a lot done and left on time. Since it was such a productive day, I brought home only a few things and locked up the remainder of my work – which is odd for me. I also left my favorite coffee cup and my iPod cord on my desk. (Aside: my iPod will be four years old this Christmas. I still love it, but wow does it

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1132020790767436102005-11-14T20:01:00.000-06:002005-11-14T20:19:41.270-06:00

Nature is balance. Everything has a season. Everything in it's time.I am all about balance now.I don't mean a balancing act – Lord knows I'm not very good at juggling it all, and the scars on my skull betray my lack of equilibrium.What I mean is the balance of life – the beginnings and endings, the up and down, the hot and cold, darkness and light, joy and pain. You get the picture. I am all

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1130982548658053442005-11-02T19:37:00.000-06:002005-11-02T20:03:57.693-06:00

So, I'm trying to get back on the wagon. I'm trying to post to this blog more often, I'm trying to get my manuscript going again. My dear husband is a better blogger than I -- it's not just what he writes, or how often he posts. Rather, it is his blogging ethic, his regularity that I envy. And what he writes about and how often he posts.The point is this -- my Dearest One suggested that I just

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1128896374720000332005-10-09T17:15:00.000-05:002005-10-09T17:19:34.720-05:00

I have become overwhelmed by life -- I am way to involved at church, I am teaching again (finally!), work is busy busy. My plans for the summer went the way of this blog -- I had great intentions and was sure I had tons of time, but, alas, I was wrong.I have missed the third annivesary of this blog --- sometime back in August, not something I deserved to celebrate since I have been doing so much

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1122256830060531242005-07-24T20:53:00.000-05:002005-07-24T21:00:30.066-05:00

I love Sunday night baseball. I love watching a good game -- for the love of baseball and to distract myself from the impending doom of returning to work. Sunday night baseball is particularly good when my team is playing. It is even better when my team is playing the Cubs. At home.I'm enjoying it right now -- in chilly chilly air conditioning with a view of the sizzling city (it's 9:00 pm and

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1120150542955362432005-06-30T11:53:00.000-05:002005-06-30T11:58:52.503-05:00

Do you want to be a statistic too? Click to take the MIT Weblog survey.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1119032149866212582005-06-24T11:29:00.000-05:002005-06-24T11:30:08.146-05:00

I made reference in my post about the duck to needing evidence to back me up when I say I saw a duck. And this reminded me of an incident that occurred when I was a hard-working teenager with a summer job at Six Flags over Mid-America. Unfortunately for me, I have no evidence that what I saw was actually real.I was sixteen. I had gotten a job at Six Flags outside of St. Louis. To this day, I do

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1119028875019672032005-06-17T12:16:00.000-05:002005-06-19T17:13:51.500-05:00

Since I started working again, I've had to go to the bank a lot.Not that I'm complaining.I have been planning to set up my paychecks to be direct-deposited. I am waiting for David and me to pick a new bank before I do this. I know that as soon as I go through the paperwork to set up direct deposit at school, David and I will figure out how we want to set up our accounts to handle our new

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1118020443128161362005-06-05T20:14:00.000-05:002005-07-14T12:53:03.910-05:00

So a storm blew in yesterday afternoon. It was one of those quick storms that surprises you with its arrival, and then blows away shortly after you have closed all the windows.It was a beautiful storm. I got everything about closed up, and the rain came down in sheets. The rain was preceded by tremendous wind. Really, really big wind. It blew around the rugs on the porch (which takes a lot),

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1116381078833735162005-05-19T15:39:00.000-05:002005-05-19T15:39:53.503-05:00

So I've admitted here before that I am not a shoe person, that I am not a big shopper, that I'm not like a lot of women I encounter who enjoy shopping, who live for shoes, who can spend hours browsing racks of clothing. In fact, one of my first posts on this blog was a complaint about shopping (read it here).The reality is, however, that one must shop to acquire items such as shoes. It's not like

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1112803203969243652005-04-07T12:10:00.000-05:002005-04-07T12:13:06.186-05:00

I'm doing it again. I'm giving personalities and other human qualities to non-living stuff. It's all because I'm cheating on my faithful clogs. I recently bought a new pair of clogs to replace my old ones. I had a hard time developing the nerve to actually make the purchase.I was heading down to Urbana with David a while back for a law school alumni thingy. While David did law school stuff, I got

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1106612484779650822005-01-24T18:20:00.000-06:002005-01-24T18:47:09.253-06:00

I love being back on a college campus. Granted, this campus is very different from other campuses that I have experienced -- but I still love being on this campus. I have settled into a regular routine, as I am wont to do, and days pass more quickly than I expect them to. My day starts after the office opens, and ends before it closes. I feel like I got the magic shift when I worked in food

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1105642028741601222005-01-13T13:44:00.000-06:002005-04-06T11:03:11.100-05:00

Okay, not really an ode. There is no way I could pull off the rhyme or meter of an ode -- especially since I don't know the requirements. Think of this as a stream-of-consciousness essay with the emotions of an ode.This slacker has a job. Perhaps slacker is a strong term. Lord knows I've managed to find things to keep me busy up to this point, but now I have a place to go to in order to be busy

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1103040132382337062004-12-14T09:36:00.000-06:002004-12-14T10:06:45.206-06:00

As you may have already gleaned from some of my entries, I love fall and winter. Really. I've always thought that I have a disorder exactly opposite of those people who get depressed during winter and have to sit in front of sun lamps. Summer usually bums me out -- hot and humid weather, a wardrobe that reminds me on a daily basis that I am not thrilled with my body, hours and hours of sunlight

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1102002576395040272004-12-02T09:28:00.000-06:002004-12-02T09:55:43.550-06:00

Right before our Thanksgiving getaway, I had to run to Walgreens. You know how it is -- tiny shampoos, tiny toothpaste, travel candy, etc. Then I headed to Wendy's to grab us an early dinner as we had successfully emptied the apartment of perishable food before our Thanksgiving jaunt. The helpful drive-thru window attendant apologized that the fries would not be ready for another two minutes. No

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1101746835680140382004-11-29T10:47:00.000-06:002005-06-30T12:05:53.616-05:00

Dave took the picture above on the digital camera that he gave me for my birthday. We're both interested in photography. My approach has been to read and practice (and as such, the digital camera is a great tool for me with instant gratification and lower costs on all of my "experiments").Both the picture above and two of the best pictures ever take of me (one immediately following the other)

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1099277329293833352004-10-31T20:48:00.000-06:002005-06-30T12:07:17.880-05:00

It's funny how I each time I think about blogging, I think "wow, where has the time gone?" Clearly, I am inept at keeping track of time, knowing what day it is, how old I am, or now what time it is -- fall back and spring forward always screw me up a little.When I was in grade school we had to do service hours at a local nursing home. In the lounge area of each floor, one would find various and

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1095350576802633062004-09-16T11:02:00.000-05:002005-06-30T12:10:38.400-05:00

The Fourth Annual Oktoberfest is upon us. It seems to be my full-time job lately. [Click here if you want the details.]We have just over a week and one day to make it all happen. To top things off, I'm sick. I can't explain that. I thought I was supposed to get sick after Ofest -- just like getting sick after finals. As the Germans say, na ja, what are ya gonna do?I wish I had a witty story or an

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1094167655771778872004-09-02T18:27:00.000-05:002005-06-30T12:11:43.006-05:00

I used to think that Chicago was a big city like you imagine when you picture Gotham City. I was afraid it was going to be all concrete and asphalt and steel and glass.Long before I came here, David would reassure me that there were neighborhoods, and trees, and parks. But I knew what that looked like -- that was where I grew up. I couldn't imagine that a city as huge as Chicago would have green

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1093824984167505652004-08-29T19:15:00.000-05:002004-08-29T19:21:36.070-05:00

Oh, Lord do I have a lot to do! Why do I have so much to do? How did being unemployed take away all of my freetime? NPR recently did a series of stories on leisure. One of the installments I caught was on housework and about time-saving devices (like washing machines) and how they have changed -- in particular -- the role of women in the household, and how they haven't. One particular line from

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1093720027179100752004-08-28T14:07:00.000-05:002005-06-30T12:12:43.910-05:00

This is a test to see if I can post photos to my blog. I'd like to post the occasional photo that I've taken -- you know that whole "a picture is worth a thousand words" thing.This is a picture I took a few years ago at Barb and Ed's farm.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1092271804948512852004-08-11T19:44:00.000-05:002004-08-16T23:00:41.926-05:00

...October?! The sky is gray, the wind is blustery, there are intermittent light rains, and the temperature at O'Hare at 2:00 this afternoon was 63 degrees. Throw in some turning leaves and autumn is upon us. In August. I actually love this weather. I love the fall. I love cool temperatures and the smell of fireplaces in use. I love wearing layers to guard against a chill or the chance of

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1091674853648069062004-08-04T21:53:00.000-05:002004-08-04T22:00:53.646-05:00

Well, it's been one year. Can you believe it? I can't. One year ago today I started this blog. I feel bad sometimes that I don't blog more often, but now that I realize that I've kept it somewhat together for a year, I'm kinda proud. I enjoy writing a lot, I just can't seem to find the time to do as often as I would like. I've actually resorted to keeping a list (I love lists) of blog topics on

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1090624299140886712004-07-23T18:06:00.000-05:002004-07-23T18:15:01.680-05:00

I miss writing and receiving letters. I'm a huge fan of technology and email -- don't get me wrong -- but there is something about snail mail and the excitement of opening an envelope, and the recognizable uniqueness of a loved one's handwriting. I love nice papers and the tell-tale envelope shape of personal correspondence. (Dave has also made me something of a pen snob.) I think that's what it

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-10874849022960592004-06-17T10:02:00.000-05:002004-06-17T10:14:58.453-05:00

I seem to be all over the place lately -- many different projects happening at once. Thus, today's blog is a combo platter. Well, maybe not a combo platter, maybe more like a value meal... …SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME I'll admit it. When I'm at home alone, I do not close the bathroom door while I'm using the facilities. I think that this is due in part to my experience growing up in a house with

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1086973068650756532004-06-11T11:54:00.000-05:002004-06-11T12:14:14.273-05:00

Lately I have found myself bumping into Webster Groves, Missouri here in Chicago, Illinois. Webster happens to be my hometown. It's not a very big place. Webster is an old, traditional "bedroom community" just minutes from the St. Louis city limits. My parents (Mom from north city, Dad from south city) moved the family to Webster just months before I was born – and they still live in the same

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1085368119952770862004-05-23T22:02:00.000-05:002004-05-23T22:08:39.953-05:00

I have noticed that lots of people who go to Julius Meinl Café bring their dogs with them. The café keeps a couple of dog dishes outside the door -- one full of dog treats, one full of water. I often leave the café to find a pooch or two tied to the short fence that contains humans inside the outdoor seating area of the café. When I left the café last week, only one dog was patiently waiting

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1084981948110020822004-05-19T10:51:00.000-05:002004-05-19T11:02:37.370-05:00

I hate flying. I'm not afraid of take offs or landings. I’m not afraid of turbulence or terrorists. I just don't like the chaotic crush of humanity that is always the case when flying. At the end March I had to fly from O'Hare to LAX. I was heading out to Long Beach for a conference (TESOL) that I attend every year. I realized as I was packing that the last time I flew was for this conference

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1079377256841505032004-03-15T12:46:00.000-06:002004-03-15T13:04:42.873-06:00

I usually take Dave to work in the morning. Well, that's overstating things. I usually ride in the passenger seat of Dave's car on the way to the Loop while Dave listens to NPR and I wake up with coffee that Dave programmed to brew at o'dark thirty and lovingly poured into a to-go cup for me. He often makes the cup for me, puts it in my hand, and gently guides my arm to get the cup up close to my

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1078422770878038302004-03-04T11:42:00.000-06:002004-03-04T11:56:36.170-06:00

What happened to February? How did I miss it with an extra day this year? To my regular readers, mea culpa. I cannot believe that I have not posted since January 27. I have been aware of my lack of posting, but had no idea that it had gotten this bad. I have started a few blogs on paper over the last couple of weeks, only to abandon them later. With each day it got easier to just not write. I

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1075241605282830402004-01-27T15:43:00.000-06:002004-01-27T16:21:02.560-06:00

I have just finished cleaning the vacuum. It took me almost an hour. Cleaning the vacuum, yes, not with the vacuum. Let me tell you why. I have been in an organizing, take-control-of-my-crap-since-I-have-control-of-nothing-else mood since the new year. It's been going quite well. My dear husband even suggested, supported, financed, and contributed muscle and brain power to the office

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1074613019656754972004-01-20T09:36:00.000-06:002004-01-20T09:38:25.356-06:00

Chicago is experiencing something of a cold snap. It's not horrible. It's not as bad as the East Coast had it recently. But it's cold outside. The temperature right now is 10, wind chill is 2 below. It's always the wind chill that gets you. It's been like this for a few days now. I hadn't really noticed the cold until it got hot in the apartment. Ironically, we have to crack a couple of windows

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1073500874597905882004-01-07T12:40:00.000-06:002004-01-07T19:22:10.796-06:00

I hate New Years Resolutions. They remind me of the practice of making some sort of sacrifice for Lent. Every Lent since I can remember, I have struggled with what I am going to "give up for Christ." I can't tell you the soul-wrenching involved in deciding if abstaining from Coke products for 40 days and nights is taxing enough to remind me that Christ suffered on the cross for me. When I was in

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1073277422219258202004-01-04T22:34:00.000-06:002004-01-04T22:38:12.763-06:00

I saw myself in 30 years at Julius Meinl café the other day. I walked in and sat down right in front of me. The whole experience was surreal. I know that it was me. I continue to cut my hair shorter and shorter – resulting in a smart, choppy style that is more gray than brown, but is ideal for my lack of hairstyling ability. I had on a great sweater – I'm betting it was handmade, evidence

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1071764105512610592003-12-18T10:06:00.000-06:002003-12-18T10:15:58.983-06:00

Mea culpa, mea culpa. I apologize to all who regularly visit my blog for being negligent in posting. (Wow, what do you people do all week?) I am shocked myself at the passage of time since my last posting and can blame only myself. And the all-consuming holiday season. David and I took the entire week of Thanksgiving off (well, David did). This year was a St. Louis year. So, we decided to repeat

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1069174856219457012003-11-18T11:00:00.000-06:002003-11-18T11:03:25.700-06:00

I think I remember hearing that the US Supreme Court will be hearing a case this term about the legality of police randomly checking for drunk drivers, seatbelt violations, etc. I could be wrong. I was thinking about it last night, though, as I was driving east on Lawrence Ave to get to Lake Shore Drive to pick Dave up from work. The trip on Lawrence can be tricky – sometimes easy, sometimes

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1068567227310969502003-11-11T10:13:00.000-06:002003-11-11T10:13:44.920-06:00

I had to do the laundry again yesterday. It wasn't a big deal this time. We've recovered from the long road trip and the tons of laundry produced by it. I like to do laundry on Monday mornings. I am usually the only one in the laundromat. Occasionally, a man living at the nearby YMCA might come in with a small load, or a woman might drop by to pick up her AVON order from the lady who works

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1067880361678340262003-11-03T11:13:00.000-06:002003-11-03T11:26:35.490-06:00

Dave and I were at Sam's again on Saturday. This trip was more of a strategic strike than a shopping trip. We had our list and fought our way through the crush of humanity to grab our items. The mass of people always shocks me. Most people's inability to drive their cart and be aware of the people around them scares me. If we were a herd of humans out on the savannah, most of these people would

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1067469845615380272003-10-29T17:23:00.000-06:002003-10-29T17:33:27.753-06:00

Catalogs now arrive by the dozens every day. I love catalogs and all that they represent. I love catalogs like I love magazines. Those who know me are aware of my love for words, know how I crave the circles and lines that organize themselves into words on the page that allow me to consume the thoughts of another – but I love pictures too. I think it goes back to my childhood – all children love

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1067272162272451022003-10-27T10:29:00.000-06:002003-10-27T10:29:21.573-06:00

David and I returned last night from a lengthy road trip across two countries and four states. We both enjoy road trips, but we also enjoy coming home. It's so nice to sleep in your own bed, sort through days of junk mail, lament at the empty fridge, feel guilt over dying house plants, hide from the mountains of dirty laundry, and relax under the drip of your own no-water-pressure shower. To

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1066839854634196102003-10-22T11:24:00.000-05:002003-10-22T11:24:14.430-05:00

David and I have been in Toronto (or really, outside of Toronto) for a few days. He is attending some conference – I’m hanging out and enjoying the cool weather. Years ago, Dave and I were attending a wedding in the Detroit area and decided it would be fun to cross into Canada just to say we'd done it. We got into Canada, drove around a couple of blocks, and then got back in line to cross the

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1066413753956163972003-10-17T13:01:00.000-05:002003-10-17T13:04:17.673-05:00

I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. Our first wedding anniversary is on Sunday – it is also the 12th anniversary of our first kiss. I was straightening up the apartment this morning in preparation for the cable guy – long, ugly story, and because the apartment needs it, and because we will be on the road soon and it is so nice to come back to a clean apartment. I had to pitch

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1066150385437608452003-10-14T11:45:00.000-05:002003-10-14T11:55:34.960-05:00

Fall has decided to return to Chicago. We have had mid and high 70s for a while now, but the rains came last night – and are still coming. The high will be 53 today with rain most of the day and winds gusting to 25 mph for the remainder. I love this stuff. It is dark and cool. Tree trunks are black with rain and are being stripped of many of their brightly colored leaves. The fall weather makes

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1065819650698961952003-10-10T16:00:00.000-05:002003-10-10T16:00:50.850-05:00

On Wednesday I tuned a year older. Again. I remember agonizing for weeks when I was young waiting for my birthday to finally arrive. Now I seem to have a birthday twice a year – they can't possibly be occurring as frequently as they seem to now. And still – I love birthdays. I have had a cold this week and was feeling miserable on my birthday morning. My outstanding husband left me to slumber.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1065459250188720812003-10-06T11:46:00.000-05:002003-10-06T11:54:09.610-05:00

We had a wild, busy weekend. I admit that I am still recovering from Oktoberfest – I have a debriefing meeting on Wednesday night that should provide closure. I also have a choir rehearsal scheduled for the same time just down the hall. Dave and I started the weekend with dinner at one of our favorite German places with a friend of Dave's from high school and his wife – who were married in

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1065025015594356882003-10-01T11:08:00.000-05:002003-10-01T11:19:01.383-05:00

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind for me. I have this overwhelming sensation of disorientation -- like you get when you walk into a movie theater on a sunny afternoon and are transported through a screenwriter's sense of time via the story to emerge into a world that you have half-forgotten and appears unrecognizable now that the sun has set. You know what I mean? That happens to me

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1064427142375034902003-09-24T13:10:00.000-05:002003-09-24T13:12:22.370-05:00

I've been out of the blog loop lately. My days seem to no longer be my own, and they are rapidly passing me by. I am up to my pits in Oktoberfest work and seem to see the priests and other rectory staff more than I see Dave. The Fest is this Friday and Saturday – ready or not. Dave has been fighting a cold for some time and was in a losing battle this past weekend. He started running a fever

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1063902520656042702003-09-18T11:24:00.000-05:002003-09-18T11:28:40.406-05:00

I have a front row seat for the symphony that is our neighborhood this summer. I have found that most of the movements of the piece allow one to synchronize one's life to the music. Every Monday and Wednesday morning at approximately 7:00am, the garbage truck arrives in the alley below our bedroom window. The truck backs into the alley (beep, beep, beep in 2/2 time, mezzo forte). Once the truck

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1063644472246730882003-09-15T11:38:00.000-05:002003-09-16T11:06:11.780-05:00

There was an article in the Chicago Tribune on Sunday about a driving instructor and a private driving school who's been teaching teenagers for over 20 years – and loves it. There's a waiting list for this guy. John Raffa is famous for his patience and his "Raffaisms" such as the following: "Stay off the lines or you'll pay fines" "Expose your rear end slowly, like a stripper" (when backing up)

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1063293955024502452003-09-11T10:10:00.000-05:002003-09-18T11:37:13.133-05:00

A spider is living on my little car. I first noticed her a couple of weeks ago. I had not driven my Wagenschen in a long while, and she had been waiting patiently for me under a tree. As I described, she was covered in tree sap, leaves, and cobwebs. I rolled down the windows (no A/C) before I started out on my errands. I noticed the cobwebs on the passenger-side mirror and figured I would let

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1063227502119462642003-09-10T15:26:00.000-05:002003-09-16T11:07:11.076-05:00

Before I get into my lengthy post -- I want to point out that meetings are not fun. I'm sure you all know this. My incredible husband likes to say "Meetings are where good ideas go to die." I agree. I should note that I cannot confidently credit Dave with that quote. He has always had very witty and smart things to say that I always enjoy and often repeat. However, I have learned to attribute

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1063125191462482212003-09-09T11:33:00.000-05:002003-09-09T11:36:59.493-05:00

Today is the first day of a series of meetings for Dave and me -- Ofest for me tonight, choir for me tomorrow night, alumni stuff for Dave on Thursday night -- so Dave drove himself to work this morning. Which is nice except that I have to do laundry today and my little car doesn't hold the laundry containers as well as Dave's does, and we are out of milk. That's important. Dave and I usually

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1063039148356646852003-09-08T11:39:00.000-05:002003-09-11T18:03:58.126-05:00

I have decided to try to get back into a regular workout schedule. I was seeing a personal trainer -- Stephanie -- when I was still down in Champaign. Dave and I were making wedding plans, so I had the wedding dress incentive, and a doctor had informed me that I needed to change my diet and start working out or go on medication for hypertension, so I had the high blood pressure can screw with

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1062989904488360332003-09-07T21:58:00.000-05:002003-09-07T22:05:03.676-05:00

The German-American Fest is in the neighborhood this weekend. It's 9:00pm on Sunday night and I can still hear strains of Ein Prosit and covers from songs popular in the 50s and 60s as I sit in our living room. Our neighborhood – Lincoln Square – has been German for a very long time. The Chamber of Commerce here holds a May Fest every May, and a German American Fest every September. Dave and I

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1062780251889045932003-09-05T11:44:00.000-05:002003-09-05T11:58:06.230-05:00

I have been avoiding comments on the recent Cards-Cubs series here in Chicago. They played 5 games in 4 days in fall-like weather. Monday was supposed to be a double-header, but the first game was rain delayed for several hours. So, the double-header was on Tuesday. The first game went 15 innings. I love these series. However, this time my team took only one game. One. Chicago, St. Louis, and

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1062717159920562072003-09-04T18:12:00.000-05:002003-09-04T18:19:02.480-05:00

Today's date is special for two reasons: (1) It is my marvelous Mom's birthday, (2) I met my wonderful husband David 12 years ago today. How cool is that? The weather is cool and beautiful, my mosquito net curtain project for the porch door is finally finished (I'll explain later), and I will soon go pick Dave up from work so that we can go to our favorite bar for dinner. That's pretty cool.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1062555379678093122003-09-02T21:16:00.000-05:002003-09-02T21:17:57.603-05:00

The following post was written by our good friend Eric. Eric was present when Dave and I met each other 12 short years ago in Germany. For those of you at the wedding, he was the tall guy who did a reading. Eric sent out the following story via email on July 28, 2003. I received his permission to post it -- and was not surprised to learn that I am the second friend/blogger to ask permission to

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1062349411778219732003-08-31T12:03:00.000-05:002003-09-07T18:02:12.236-05:00

The weather this morning is so autumn! I love fall -- it is my favorite time of the year. I woke up under the comforter this morning. Dave gave me a kiss as he got up and asked me if I wanted some coffee. Do I want some coffee. Please. I snoozed for a little while and was awakened by my marvelous husband who had returned with coffee cup in hand (and saying "Ow, ow, ow. Take it. Take it, it's hot!

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1062265582251108332003-08-30T12:46:00.000-05:002003-08-30T12:53:43.840-05:00

So Dave drove himself to work on Friday. He claimed that I was "more passed out than usual," so he let me sleep. As is typical on days when he does that, I woke up about 15 minutes after he had left. Friday was beautiful. I had some Oktoberfest work to do – as usual, but then wanted to run some errands. Which means I had to take my Geo Metro. The Metro (aka little car, Wagenschen) has been

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1062090612555418332003-08-28T12:10:00.000-05:002003-09-07T18:06:01.786-05:00

Not a good start to today. It's supposed to be warm again, I've got killer cramps, and there was a message on the machine waiting for me when I got back at 8:30am after dropping Dave off at work. Oktoberfest work is piling up. I know it must be bad because I avoided some of it yesterday by cleaning the entire living room (front room in Chicago-speak) instead of doing Ofest work. And I mean

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061911422404349252003-08-26T10:23:00.000-05:002003-09-07T18:10:44.110-05:00

There are a few things I would like to blog -- but today is a crazy day. I have an Oktoberfest meeting tonight and much to do. I regret my earlier posting on "The Heat Day." Yesterday it was 95. Today we will do the same. The computer and I can't take it. Luckily, the humidity is lower than it was last week. But still. I know it is hot when I tell myself at 9:30 am that I should wait until I

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061835384709308782003-08-25T13:16:00.000-05:002003-08-25T13:20:22.016-05:00

Dave and I splurged at Sam's and about an assortment pack of individual serving-size cereals. The assortment could be named "All the Cereals Your Mom Never Let You Buy." Somehow some Frosted Mini-Wheats slipped in between the Fruit Loops and Frosted Flakes, though. Anyway, I had a bowl of Frosted Flakes this morning. Are the boxes smaller now? Wow. Clearly, the usual serving size of cereal that I

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061757989831405912003-08-24T15:46:00.000-05:002003-08-24T15:51:56.960-05:00

Dave and I just got back from Sam's Club. Let me just say, God bless Capitalist America. We haven't been in almost a year. We braced ourselves for the suburban throngs equipped with our club cards, full bellies, and a list. We're a pretty good relay team once we're in the warehouse. Dave always drives the cart, I work as a scout an aisle ahead or in tight squeezes. We had to laugh at ourselves

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061564072312821632003-08-22T09:54:00.000-05:002003-08-22T09:56:29.300-05:00

We were supposed to have a heat wave this week. The summer has been unusually mild this year, so a few days of heat really wouldn't be that horrible. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were slated for high 90s with high dew points to make it feel like it was 100 plus. I don't think we broke 86 here on Tuesday or Wednesday. The humidity made it a little moist, but nothing too horrible. Yesterday

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061477300214108922003-08-21T09:48:00.000-05:002003-09-07T18:15:13.200-05:00

I had to go to the grocery store yesterday. I hate going to the grocery store. I originally planned on using the hot weather as incentive -- we have no AC so a trip to the store would be refreshing, right? It didn't get as hot as they said it would and I remained comfortable until I saw the time and realized I would not be able to get to the store, back home, and then downtown to pick up Dave.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061413508554925562003-08-20T16:05:00.000-05:002003-08-20T16:15:49.706-05:00

There is nothing better than a good hot dog. I was reminded of this last night when I picked Dave up from work. Since there is no food in the house, I suggested we go get sandwiches or sandwich makings. I left the particular choice and location up to him. A few minutes after leaving downtown, we pulled into the parking lot of Demon Dogs. I grew up in a dogless culture. Frozen custard? Sure.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061327966585847182003-08-19T16:19:00.000-05:002003-08-19T16:20:36.083-05:00

I recently started sending my resume rife with grad school out to temporary staffing agencies. While I haven't yet attempted to become a "Kelly Girl," I have been doing some investigating of other, smaller companies. One of them responded the other day. "Are you still going to school?" I know the resume has one theme, but I thought the Degree: PhD, Received: May 2002 was a clue. I'm afraid my

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061309536650544052003-08-19T11:12:00.000-05:002003-09-07T18:13:04.350-05:00

My main source for job ads is the Chronicle of Higher Education which comes out weekly. The job section usually gets fat every September/October with postings for jobs that will start the following academic year. Since all hope has been lost on getting employment in academia for this academic year, I have been looking forward to a fat Chronicle in a month or so. I was on a job website for jobs

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1061164021256170982003-08-17T18:47:00.000-05:002003-08-17T18:53:51.036-05:00

So Dave and I went to Rochester, NY the weekend of August 9th for a wedding. We drove from Chicago, IL to Toledo, OH the first night, then through Cleveland, OH and Buffalo, NY before arriving in Rochester, NY. Lots of fun. After the super wedding (They had a box of treats waiting for us at the hotel?! Very Martha Stewart. How did they know we love licorice and M&Ms and goldfish and Altoids and

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1060227799371383352003-08-06T22:43:00.000-05:002003-08-07T00:58:27.150-05:00

For some reason, my umlauts won't stay put. The umlaut is the two dots over the 'a' -- well, that should be there. By convention, when the umlaut is not possible, an 'e' is added after the vowel. So, 'kräht' becomes 'kraeht.' Lots of people with Germanic last names have their umlauts preserved with an 'e' in the "American" spelling. I think that's cool. During World War II in Austria, the

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1060122351119555052003-08-05T17:25:00.000-05:002003-08-19T16:35:02.513-05:00

If the economy is so tough right now, how come I can't get a parking spot at the mall? I went to a mall in Skokie (just north of Chicago, still in Cook County) today to get several items needed for a wedding we are going to this weekend. Malls are good for that sort of thing -- various stores in one flower and fountain-filled obstacle course with pretty music playing where one can find the

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647514.post-1060091925856676552003-08-05T08:58:00.000-05:002003-08-19T16:36:04.116-05:00

I've been playing around with the template and my settings and trying to get a list of links posted. I'm frustrated that I can't get the umlaut (the two little dots that should be over the 'a' in 'kraeht' thus forcing me to use 'ae') to show up on the titles. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it isn't. Na ja. I could easily spend the morning trying to make everything happen -- but I'm not going to.

Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993475599357569160noreply@blogger.com0