Day 67; It Never Ends

I had just gotten finished telling you about how my stepdad comes out in different, strange outfits when my brother walked into the living room like this...

How on earth did he get a hold of rugby shorts?! He doesn't even play rugby!!

I felt extremely uncomfortable while Bobby was having the time of his life flaunting around the house showing off his new favorite shorts.

"These are my new around-the-house shorts," he declared.

OVER MY DEAD BODY THEY ARE.

There are plans to burn this awful article of clothing that will be underway immediately.

Day 66; Crentist the Dentist

You can give me shots and take my blood. Heck, you can even do open heart surgery on me if you want. But don't take me to the dentist.

Don't be fooled by the cute, little office. This is a bad place, people.

I can't stand the dentist.

Okay, that's not fair. I actually have an awesome dentist. It's his nurses that I can't take. "Why, Kelly," you ask? Well, honey, I'll tell you. These women come clean my teeth before the dentist comes and does the final look over, right? WRONG.

What they do is not "clean my teeth." No. They tear up my gums. They rearrange my teeth right there. They blow my mouth up to smithereens. That's what they do.

After every trip to the dentist, my mouth is so sore and cut up that I can barely chew for the rest of the day. I have to knock back pills to ease the pain.

Well I had my annual teeth cleaning on Tuesday and my experience was a little different. The younger doctor there was actually the one who cleaned my teeth this time. It was the best dentist trip ever. He was gentle, thorough, and quick. He made no small talk like the nurses do because of the tools and fingers that were poking all around my gums and teeth. I'll never understand why the nurses do that. CLEARLY, I cannot answer you.

Anyway, you get the gist. I will ask for him every time I go to the dentist from now on.

My life has been forever altered. I'll be able to sleep again.

Day 65; Practice Makes Perfect

I've been practicing patience in a big way. I would like to say that it's something I saw in myself and decided to fix, but that would be a big, fat lie. God is forcing me to practice patience in various ways lately. He's been giving me lots of opportunities to improve my willingness to endure.

So here I am...trying to be patient. I'll get there...

A good example of some improvement was Monday night when I took my brother to his girlfriend's house in Algiers....during rush hour traffic. Going to the Westbank was a piece of cake. Got right over the bridge with a breeze, and we were at her house in no time. After I had dropped Bobby off, however...Well, that's a different story.

The bridge and interstate looked like someone vomited every car in the country onto this one route.

This picture in no way compares to what it really looked like, but I couldn't get a good picture of the chaos so this'll do. This was taken before I even got on the bridge and about 15 minutes before I had to be in Slidell for Kori's birthday dinner.

Did I turn into the Hulk? Did I yell at cars on the road that I mentally dubbed morons? No.

Sure, internally, emotionally, spiritually, and metaphysically I was cursing every driver on the road while imagining myself running right through all of them. Sure. But the point was I didn't ever actually say anything out loud, right? And I didn't even run them off the bridge like I was picturing in my head!! I'm good, right?

Sure, in my mind I turned into a Hulk that could have destroyed the city of New Orleans. Sure. But I didn't show signs of that externally. So basically, I was the picture of grace in every way.

Because as long as it all stays in your head and you never actually say it out loud, it's like it never existed, right?

Wait...is this not how it works?? Gosh, I thought it was...

Day 64; And on the 8th day...

In the creation of the world, everyone forgets the 8th day...

On that day, God created the Double Doozie. And He said, "For Kelly." And He saw that it was good.

You don't even know the half of it.

Some say they are sin but God Himself said that they were good!! Sin? I don't think so.

If you try one, your world will get rocked. You'll see colors you didn't know existed. You'll smell scents you didn't know you could smell. Life will make sense and you'll experience an internal harmony that will make you 3 years younger.

What? You don't believe me?!

Day 63; Weird Nick

My stepdad is weird.

He has different get-ups that he comes out into the living room in. Whether it be a police muscle shirt, some weird hat, or basketball shorts, a dress shirt, and a trucker hat...

...he keeps us guessing...and entertained.

No matter how "off" he is sometimes, I'll always appreciate these weird outfits and Mr. Nickie-isms deep down.

Plus, he's always my scapegoat. And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Psh...you think I'm weird. Have you met my stepdad?!

and

Look, I can't help being this strange. Have you met my stepdad??!

Day 62; Graduations

Two of my friends, Barrett and Christina, graduated on Friday.

It was both exciting and a little depressing at the same time. Depressing because they won't be around anymore. Exciting because both of them are going to go off and start the new chapter of their lives!!

Graduations get me excited about the future.

If I was Greek, I'd scream "Opa!" right now.

Day 61; The Gingerbread...Lump

We decided to get in the Christmas spirit and make a gingerbread house late last week.

It wasn't a fail...necessarily. We made the dough which came out just fine but when we read the directions in the recipe, it said to put the dough in the refrigerator for two hours...

We got started late so this left us at 11 PM with a lump of gingerbread dough that needed to cool in the fridge until 1 AM.

No, thank you.

So here is the extent of our gingerbread house.

Booyah!

It sure smells wonderful!

Don't be jealous ;D

Day 60; My Amazing Roommate

My roommate, Stephanie, is really wonderful.

She puts up with me and that's enough to earn her a place in Heaven, that's for sure. I can be a bit of a hand full.

Anyway, she gave me the sweetest surprise the other day!

She made me a delicious funfetti birthday cake!

Haha, "birthday" couldn't fit!

She also brought me to see Tangled which was an awesome movie! AND she gave me a movie!

I totally wasn't expecting it and it was the greatest little surprise!

Love you, Steph! Thank you so much!

Day 59; B O B

I figured out a way to copy screens on my phone. Beware. No one is safe.

Here's a conversation from my brother last Tuesday.

Yes...he's in my phone under Booby.

Bobby doesn't drink or anything but he was being really weird via texting that night so I thought I'd ask.

By the way, everyone been to whenparentstext.com? It's the best site ever.

Day 58; Schools Out for Winter

Now that school is out, I can finally see and hang out with friends who I barely even caught glimpses of during the semester.

Like Hilary!

Attractive, no?

I got to see a lot of my long lost buds this past week and it was wonderful! So excited to catch up with everyone again!

Day 57; Ren Fest

A few of my friends and I went to the Renaissance Festival in Hammond last weekend.

It was fun!

A few of us dressed up in period clothes despite the cold weather. We drank ale, ate some kettle corn, shot arrows, and watched the different shows around the grounds.

Everyone had a blast!

Day 56; Bye, bye pills

I got some amazing news on Saturday.

Well, first, let me give you the back story. So when I was 9 years old, I passed out one day for no good reason. Just clonked out. For about seven years after that, I found myself getting dizzy and lightheaded frequently. Also, I would have random episodes of cold sweats and loss of vision and hearing. Finally, when it got really bad, my mom took me to a cardiologist who put me through a number of tests. In the end, he diagnosed me with Vasovagal Syncope which is the most common form of fainting. Also, I was told that I had  about 8,000 extra heart beats and about 1,500 couplets which are when you have two premature ventricular contractions in a row. Which happens but maybe not 1,500 extra times...

A vasovagal syncope episode is a brief loss of consciousness due to a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. Typically, no treatment is necessary unless the episodes happen so often that it affects your quality of life. Which is what was happening to me. So I was prescribed some blood pressure medicine and sent on my way.

It's been five years. 

I lost a little weight since then, started eating a little healthier, and sleeping a little better. About a year ago, if I forgot to take my blood pressure medicine for just a day, my body became a mess. I would get weak and become unable to stand or walk for long periods of time. There even came a point where I questioned whether or not I would be able to ever be a mother because it was so bad. I prayed really, really hard for years. I was scared.

Well, about 5 months ago I went a day without taking my medicine. I had forgotten, and when I realized it at the end of the day, I also realized I had been just fine all day. So I went a few more days without taking it. Fine. And then a couple of weeks. Fine. Those weeks turned into a couple of months which turned into 4 months. And I was fine! Felt just as strong and healthy as ever.

I took the news to my cardiologist who decided it was time to do the tests over again while I was off my medicine. He called me back Saturday with the results. I had completely overcome and outgrown vasovagal syncope. Not only that, but what was once 8,000 extra heart beats was now 300 and decreasing. And what was once 1,500 couplets was now about 65 or lower. All of my levels like blood pressure and cholesterol were healthy and it was if I had never had a heart condition.

The doctor said he wasn't sure what happened or how it happened, and he assured me that it doesn't happen very often. But I was taken off the medicine and was told to keep up the good work.

So I said goodbye to my pills...

And I nearly cried from the feeling of this weight being lifted off my shoulders.

And I gave thanks to God for this miracle that I had been praying for for so long.

And I was free.

Day 55; Crunk during Finals

Look, I turned 21 during Finals Week. Yes, it was a big deal, but there was no way on Earth I was gonna go drinking in the middle of taking these tests...

But when people saw this bottle sitting next to my laptop as I was studying throughout the week, they talked...

First of all, if you read under the words "Coffee Creamer," you'll see some clarification.

NON-ALCOHOLIC

It's small though. Way smaller than BAILEYS', that's for sure. So I had people walking up to me and saying, "Dang, Kelly. I know you just turned 21 but, I mean, it is Finals Week.."

Duh...

Would someone give me the benefit of the doubt please?! Clearly, I am not going to go get schwasted smack dab in the middle of such an important week.

This would be really classy. Me standing up in the middle of one of my tests screaming, "Interpretation of aesthetic texts??! MORE LIKE I'M PLASTERED AND I WANT TO PARRRRRTAYYYYYYY!!!! WOOOO!"

And then I would barf on my final...Classy.

Day 54; Creepy Santa

A couple of friends and I went to the midnight premiere of The Chronicles of Narnia; Voyage of the Dawntreader.

Because it was nearly midnight, Santa wasn't sitting at his usual spot in front of the theater.

So this is their solution...

This painfully creepy Santa dummy.

If I was a child and I saw this, I would be petrified of the idea that this lurk was planning on coming to my home in the middle of the night. Petrified.

I would set up booby traps everywhere so that I could take him out. Because look at him...he's got creeper written all over.

Why not just say, "Sorry, kids! Santa had to go back to the North Pole to help the elves get ready for Christmas Eve! He'll be back tomorrow at 11:30 A.M. Thanks!"

No. Santa goes to lunch, out comes Creeper Claus. And all the children pee on themselves...

Day 53; Finals Week Crazies

About half way through finals week, people started getting a little crazy around CTK.

Tents were put up near the classrooms above the office, a hammock was strung up over the gathering area, and there was just a lot of delirium and dancing all the time...

Finals Week at CTK is a time of great internal confusion. You're super stressed about the final examinations that, in some cases, can make or break your final grades, but you're having a lot of fun at the 24/7 party going on at the Church. There's tons of food, coloring, and weird games going on everywhere.

After it's over I'm usually left really disoriented. There are always high levels of exhaustion, stress, happiness, and goofiness that I can just never make sense of. It's overwhelming..

I can't...handle it....*faints*

Day 52; One day I almost died in an elevator..

I missed the first half of my French final because of a doctor's appointment during Dead-Week-That's-Not-So-Dead Week so I had to make it up during Finals Week.

My teacher's office is in Hodges Hall on the fourth floor. Because I'm lazy, I took the elevator.

WORST. MISTAKE. OF. MY. LIFE.

That elevator tried to eliminate me. Here's the thing, though. Kelly means Female Warrior and Brave. This means that I'm a fighter. Which means I can't be eliminated. Because then I'll just eliminate the eliminator.

What then?

So I stepped into this beast...

The doors closed and before take off, the elevator started shaking so hard that it literally knocked me over into the wall. First it started going the wrong direction and tried taking me to the basement. But halfway through it's descent, it started shaking again and changed course. Once it finally got to the fourth floor, it began to growl and shake even harder.

I would like to tell you that I said something like, "Not on my watch!" And then kicked or pried the doors open, but that's not how it happened exactly...

I did what I do in any situation that shows signs that I might be in real danger--I froze.

I would like to tell you how the elevator started to free fall. And how during that free fall, I forced myself through the top escape door and jumped to a ledge of one of the fast passing doors while the elevator crashed into a fiery death. 

But...that's not really what I did. I stayed very stationary in fact. Locked and glued to one spot in the corner. I probably whimpered. Maybe not.

When the doors opened at the fourth floor, I stepped out and counted my blessings. There was also a sense of victory...Not that I had done anything...Just victorious because I lived. Perhaps I even maybe, kind of, sort of, convinced myself that I had defeated the elevator on my own. Taught it it's lesson.

Ha!! Take that, you no good, sorry excuse for a vessel!

After my test, I took the stairs down...

Day 51; My Birthday

I turned 21 on the Monday of finals week.

It was a really wonderful birthday!

That night I worked in the office, and Michael, Therese, and I wrote a really inspiring short story.

We each wrote a line of the tale. I think we titled it "Bernard the Caterpillar." This is how it went.

M: One day there was this caterpillar...

K: Who was sitting on a leaf...

T: But you couldn't see him because he was covered by a bigger leaf...

M: The caterpillar's name was Bernard...

K: He was green with yellow polka-dots...

T: He couldn't see very well...

M: He started eating the leaf when...

K: A big, giant wasp flew by him...

T: But he thought it was a rain cloud because he couldn't see very well...

M: And then…

K: Bernard said, "Looks like it's going to rain…"

T: And then a big gust of wind knocked him off the leaf into a strange, new world...

M: By this point, he was pissed SO HE WHIPPED OUT HIS ROCKET LAUNCHERRRRR!!!!

K: And tried to rocket himself back to the leaf but he shot straight into the wasp, instead…

M: >:(

T: The wasp couldn't see Bernard because he was a small caterpillar but he still tried to hurt Bernard anyway...

M: Realizing one was not enough, HE WHIPPED OUT A SECOND ROCKET LAUNCHER!!! :D

K: AND  NUKED JAPAN!!!

M: ...racist…

T: I'm leaving….

K: :(

I'm working on finding a publisher.

Day 50; Finals Week Begins

This is the screen I stared at most of Sunday.

Those are different articles with stances on whether or not laptops should be allowed in classrooms. I had to write an argumentative essay on the topic for my English final. The paper was extremely easy to write and I got it in exactly one minute before it was due because I'm good. Too good.

Kelly Elizabeth, Queen of Procrastination. Toeing the line of danger, one deadline at a time.

Day 49; Christmas Season

I'm crazy about Christmas. That's because I love the season. Little baby Jesus, eggnog, Santa, the music, the lights, mistletoe, the decorations, the weather, all of it.

I love it so much that I get really intense when it comes to preserving the spirit.

As in Christmas season does not start a minute before November 26th of each year for me.

Here's why...

I used to get pumped when Christmas music was coming on in October. And I used to get super excited when Christmas decorations and commercials were up well before Thanksgiving. So when my stepdad, who is a Christmas fanatic just like me, put up a million decorations the day after Halloween one year, I was ecstatic. But by the time the long awaited holiday finally came, I was all Christmas-ed out. Christmas wasn't ruined, per say. It just wasn't the same. That year I realized how important it was to keep the special season sacred. And so ever since then, I've done just that.

Not one Christmas jingle, not one ornament, not one drop of eggnog before November 26th (the day after Thanksgiving.)

It bothers my friends who are a little less tight about those things. I can be a bit...pushy...sometimes.

But I don't want anyone's Christmas spirit to be spread too thin!!! 

WE MUST PRESERVE THE SEASON!!

*deep breathe*

Merry Christmas, folks..

Day 48; Doggy dogs

This is probably the most inconvenient time in my life to get a dog. I live in an apartment complex that doesn't allow animals within a 100 foot radius, I have no money, and I'm barely ever home long enough to even just take care of myself. However, I have never wanted a puppy more than I do right now. A few of my friends have gotten dogs recently, and it's really driving home the desire.

This is Asher, Kori's new pup...

He's a pure bred Siberian Husky, the cutest thing you've ever seen, and a real rascal. He came for a visit last Friday, and I died a little. He's sweet and soft and adorable and playful and everything a puppy should be.

Daniel got a dog, too, that he named Atlas. That dog is the calmest, gentlest, strongest dog this side of Balto. I'm a fan. A big, big fan.

It's taking every ligament, muscle, and bone in my body to keep me from running off to get a German Shepard puppy right this second.

The time will come. Oh, boy, it'll come.

Day 47; Performance Studies

This semester I took a performance studies course where each individual chose different literary works to perform in front of our class. We performed three different pieces; a poem, a short story, and a compiled piece of different texts of our choice.

At the end of the semester, the performance studies area put on a fall showcase to show what the undergraduates taking these different classes had been working on. 

I was actually asked by my professor to perform my poetry piece but, unfortunately, my schedule did not allow it. It was such a flattering offer though!!

The poem I chose for that assignment has really stuck with me and so I will share it with you!

It's called Do Not! by Stevie Smith.

Do not despair of man, and do not scold him,   

Who are you that you should so lightly hold him?   

Are you not also a man, and in your heart

Are there not warlike thoughts and fear and smart?   

Are you not also afraid and in fear cruel,

Do you not think of yourself as usual,

Faint for ambition, desire to be loved,

Prick at a virtuous thought by beauty moved?   

You love your wife, you hold your children dear,   

Then say not that Man is vile, but say they are.   

But they are not. So is your judgement shown   

Presumptuous, false, quite vain, merely your own   

Sadness for failed ambition set outside,

Made a philosophy of, prinked, beautified   

In noble dress and into the world sent out

To run with the ill it most pretends to rout.

Oh know your own heart, that heart's not wholly evil,   

And from the particular judge the general,   

If judge you must, but with compassion see life,   

Or else, of yourself despairing, flee strife.

Day 46; Crème de Marscapone aux Fraises

Official recipe for the Crème de Marscapone aux Fraises

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

Ingredients: (4 people)

2 cups Marscapone Cheese
1 cup Strawberries
 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
3 tbsp. Milk
2 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar
2 tbsp. Honey
1 Lemon

How to Make It:

1. In a bowl, stir the marscapone, sugar, and milk together.
2. Shred a little bit of the lemon rind, and stir it into the marscapone mixture.
3. Cut strawberries into quarters. Mix together the honey and vinegar.
4. In individual serving dishes or glasses, layer alternately the marscapone followed by a layer of strawberries. Repeat until finished. Then pour a little honey and vinegar sauce over the top.
Voilà!

Variations:

You can use any other berries along with the strawberries, or any other fruit.
You can also replace the honey/vinegar sauce (it may sound a little strange, but really it's delicious!) with any other fruit sauce you choose.

Thanks to famousfrenchdesserts.com

Day 45; French Bakin'

I love to bake. I love it, love it, love it!

For my French class, some of us are doing culture presentations. Because I have the world's biggest sweet tooth, I'm doing my presentation on French desserts.

Which means baking!!

You don't even know how excited I was, haha!

I made Crème de Marscapone aux Fraises which came out beautifully.

I also attempted to make real chocolate eclairs... Let's just say it didn't work out. I learned some lessons about French pastries, though, and will definitely be taking these babies on again soon.

Until then, Bon Appétit!

Day 44; No Reveille...

This is what deception looks like...

"Oh, great! It's Monday! A new Daily Reveille is out!"

No. Wrong. Even though it's Monday, there are no new Reveilles.  What you see here is a stand full of last week's papers. What you see here is betrayal.

The university paper is pretty awful in itself, but that's not why I get it. It's the crossword puzzle that I'm after every day. And when it's not there, I feel cheated. And then heads roll...

And people die...

Day 43; Beards and Bobby

I don't know who said it was okay for my brother to turn into a man but I don't remember allowing it.

I came home and he looked like this;

After looking like this a year ago;

What the heck, Bobby...

I was not prepared for this. I called him the other day and thought it was a man who had stolen his phone.

Since when does he date, and grow beards, and get big, and have a deep voice?!

Why is this so hard for me to accept? He was suppose to stay little and annoying.

Puberty can GO. HOME.

Day 42; Frenzies

I got together with some of my friends yesterday in Slidell and watched Secondhand Lions with them. Before we watched the movie, we ran to the mall to get some food. Naturally, we wound up playing around a bit, too.

I love Secondhand Lions. It's definitely in my list of Top 5 Favorite Movies.

I always love movies with great father figures. You don't even understand. I cried for Despicable Me and Morning Glory. Give me a story line where there are some serious fathering points, and I just liquefy into a puddle on the floor.

Good fathers are my favorite.

Here's one of my favorite lines in the movie. It's a speech Robert Duvall's character, Hub McCann, gives to Walter, Haley Joel Osment's character:

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in."

Day 41; Black Friday

I'm not a very good person.

I went to Black Friday yesterday and it was pretty nuts.

The mall was packed and lines were ridiculous.

That is not what makes me awful. What makes me awful is that I brought my brother, Bobby.

I woke up, realized that it was Black Friday, and went to find Bob.

*knock, knock*

"Hey, Kel. What's up?"

Nothin'. Wanna go to the mall?

"Really? Yeah, I've never been to Black Friday."

Uhh...cool. Let's go...

We got in the car and he asked, "So is it pretty crazy today over there?"

Umm....I mean...a little...no big deal...

"Wait, are there long lines and all that?"

Pshh...no...they're pretty efficient, Bob. No super long lines.

Oh, okay. Cool.

Bobby can't handle the mall for long periods of time and so I knew that if he was aware of what he was about to experience, he would make me take him home. So I lied. I lied my little heart out. I am ashamed.

This is what I put him through.

For once, I'll be honest. This picture is a very mild depiction of what it actually was like...

About a half hour into it, Bobby started to lose it.

*inhales deeply* "Kelly, after this, are we going to any other stores?"

Poor thing. He was trying his absolute hardest to stay calm and patient.

I wanted to stop at Ann Taylor real quick...

*He exhales dramatically.*

But here's the thing about my brother. He can be bought. Not with money. No. Bobby can be bought anytime, anywhere, any place, for anything with FOOD. Buy him a meal, he's at your disposal. I know this and I have known this for a long time. In my defense, I don't ever take advantage of this trait of his, but I do keep it in my arsenal to be utilized whenever I need it most. Like in this case...Black Friday.

I'll get you Cane's after...

*Perks up* "Okay! To Ann Taylor!!"

*Hangs head in shame*

Day 40; Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was wonderfully delicious this year!

There is so much to give thanks for so here is a list of only a few things;

I am thankful for...

my Father

my mother

my brother

my stepfather

my roommate

Ashley

the chain gang

all of my friends

the Church

freedom

music

Adoration

the sky

my education

my jobs

flowers

literature

good men and women who give me hope and

unconditional, out-of-this-world, selfless love.

My mom wanted to celebrate my birthday early because that day falls on finals week this year so we had my favorite Chantilly lace cake and I got some amazing gifts!

Day 39; What I Came Home To

I came home to a ball of fur tonight.

It was more than I could handle.

It's becoming clearer that I will need a strong husband because I'm getting the feeling that there will be days when I will look at my children after they've done something bad, and I'll just become putty in their hands.

Oh, bother...

Day 38; Oysters!!

I have been craving Chinese and an oyster po-boy for soooo long and I got both of them today.

Because I have no self control.

Do you know how cheap Chinese is during lunch time?!? Let's just say I couldn't contain myself and the place went out of business. 

Because I have no self control.

Later that night, I met a bunch of friends at The Chimes and I got a root beer float, the long awaited oyster po-boy, and a side of french fries.

The po-boy was everything I could have hoped for and more. It was amazing and I have dreamed about it every night since.

I have this thing where some days I just spend money like I got it.

Because I have no self control.

Day 37; :)

Day 36; Papers are pretty lame..

Sunday was pretty awesome because Stone got confirmed and I got to be there! I teared up because I'm emotional and dramatic so it's what I do.

Hung out with Jason and Michael some more and then went to work on my paper.

Doing school work on Sundays is the worst, but hanging out all day with the guys was great so I can't complain even for a second! :)

Day 35; Thank you, Come Again

'Twas the last home game with Ole Miss on Saturday.

We won! :)

After the game, Jason, Michael, and I went to Mandeville and hung out with some friends over there. We got a little too comfortable at Benjamin's apartment, though, and kind of, sort of made ourselves right at home.

Benjamin is a friend of ours from out of town who we met through our friend, Daniel. He was kind enough to have us over at his house Saturday night so that we could all visit with each other. Daniel had been travelling all day and was exhausted so he wound up having to call it an early night.

Did we leave when Daniel left? No. We stayed. We stayed for a long time. So long, in fact, that poor Benjamin wound up falling asleep.

We are the guests who never left. We drank his coffee, put on a movie on his TV, and made ourselves very, very comfortable.

We are the guests who never left...

Sorry, Benjamin!

Day 34; The Knights

If you know me well enough, you probably know that I love the Knights. And by Knights I'm referring to the Knights of Columbus.

KC is an organization for men that give back to the community. They raise money for families and organizations in need and they are pretty much there to do anything for you that you are unable to do yourself. There is a lot more to the Knights as a whole but you can just go to the link I put up here to find out more.

A friend of mine started a Knights of Columbus at Christ the King and I kind of love it. Just this group of men who are eager to give of themselves and help anyone who needs them.

Friday night they held a benefit dance/dinner type of deal to raise money for a local family from Burma.

NBD. They're just the Knights.

Day 33; Harrrrrryyyy

Went to Hammond to see the Harry Potter 7 Part 1 midnight premiere.

Hermoine is BA.

Harry is just there.

I love Rupert Grint.

The movie was crazy good. Done.

Day 32; Zzzzz...

I don't sleep much during the week. I average about 4-5 hours of sleep a night. However, I sometimes take naps during the day to give me some more energy.

I can't take naps in my bed though... It's too wonderful. There is no such thing as sleeping for short periods of time in my bed because laying in it for just a minute sedates me into a mini-coma.

I'm actually sitting on it now and I feel the mental pull to just forget what I'm doing and what I have to do and just snuggle right on in and drift into a nice, peaceful slum--WAIT. NO. I will not fall for this again. Must get off bed. Must stay awake and study French.

Zzzzzzz.....

Day 31; Legal Cocaine

Have you ever seen a cat when catnip is around??

If you haven't, here's a little idea for you.

People. Catnip is a drug for cats. My cats at home go ballistic when we sprinkle the stuff on their scratch pads. It's crazy.

Well, I found something similar for humans.

Iced animal crackers...

I am to these delightful pieces of goodness what cats are to catnip.

If you took everything on the planet that is good and balled it up into little bite size cookies, you will have yourself an iced animal cracker. They make me want to be a better person. When I eat a few, I feel the urge to move mountains. I consume one and decide to go to the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans and bring peace to the people there.

These cookies make me want to tame a polar bear so that I can snuggle with it...

I can't even explain to you the glory. I am addicted. My life has forever been changed.

Day 30; Case of the Bad Cheese

I love me some macaroni and cheese.

It's classic and it's delicious.

Except when it's not...

Yesterday in the office, there was some macaroni and cheese that almost ended my young life. When I took it out of the microwave, I swear the stuff growled at me.  I took one bite of it, realized I had just consumed a rotting corpse, and promptly chugged back some bleach to make sure I wasn't poisoned.

Need a visual?

I burned the remains so that it wouldn't spawn and slept with one eye open just in case.

Day 29; Ender's Game

I took this weekend to rejuvenate. Catch up on sleep, do some reading, and really whatever I decided I felt like doing.

I was talking about Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card with a friend of mine recently and about how I really need to read it because I have a lot of friends who love it. So Friday night I went out, bought it, and wound up reading the whole thing this weekend.

It was so not what I was expecting but I really loved it!!

I recommend to all who are interested!

"Come on, let's fly away and live forever."

Day 28; The Sky this Weekend

Anyone else in Baton Rouge notice the sunsets this weekend?

This picture is from my cell phone. Doesn't even come close to portraying what I was seeing first hand.

All weekend the colors in the sky were so alive and vibrant that they literally took my breathe away. I can imagine God thinking something like, "Oh yeah? You think that was pretty? I can do even better..."

And then BAM! Hit us with a kitty wig. 

Day 27; A Gift to 210

Stephanie and I received a beautiful little giftlet Friday night!

These lovely flowers and a cute little note.

It was a wonderful little surprise from an anonymous friend, and it truly made my whole week!

Thank you again for the gift! You are amazing!

Day 26; Traffic.

Traffic is God testing me. It really is.

I can usually hold myself together. I can be patient, deal with people's unpleasant habits, and I can even be graceful sometimes. But stick me in the driver's seat of a car in the middle of bumper-to-bumper traffic and I lose all sense of propriety.

If you ever want to see someone's true self, have them drive you through gridlock traffic. You'll find out all you need to know about them. If you find someone who can handle such a situation, hold on to them. Never let them go. I'm telling you, a patient person in traffic is like a unicorn.

I am not like a unicorn. I cannot handle traffic.

I am an aggressive driver who likes to move quickly and efficiently to get to my next destination and so I find traffic very difficult to deal with.

I become the Hulk and it isn't very pretty.

Granted, I've cooled down a lot in the past year or so. I am, fortunately, a little less hulk-like, and I've found a good, solid amount of patience in me that I've learned to channel. But catch me on a bad day and it's over...

Hell hath no fury like a redheaded woman sitting in traffic!

Day 25; When the Office Crumbles

Angelique is the student minister at church. This is her first year as an employee there but I'm starting to wonder how people ever functioned without her...

You see, the employees who work in the office with the exception of the priests and those who work after hours all get off at 4:30 each evening. The evening receptionists close the office up at 8:30. Angelique is one of the few employees who stay late. And by late, I mean till PAST 8:30. That's because she works hard and is amazing at what she does. I think everyone has gotten use to the fact that she's always there and have even come to rely on it.

Is Angelique here?!

Nope, she went to go get some dinner.

*Dramatic huff* ...okay...

Sorry..

Umm..It's okay. Do you know when she'll be back??!

Not sure, I'd give her an hour or so.

*Deep breath* Okay, okay...

Hey, Kelly! Angelique in her office???????

No, she's upstairs in a meeting.

Oh man...Did she just go up there? What meeting?

She's been up there for about 30 minutes, I guess. It's a mission meeting.

Oh, I see. Do you think it's a meeting I could go in and get her from?

I don't know, I would--

*Already running out of the office and headed up the stairs in the middle of my sentence.*

I wish I were exaggerating. But I am not. I dread when Angelique leaves because people fall apart over there. They do. How did any student do anything ever before her existence in that office?!

She left for two whole days this week...

Two entire days!!!

There was an earthquake, a tsunami, 57 tornadoes, and riots...so many riots...

And that was only the first day.

Day 24; For Your Own Safety

Yesterday I attempted the New York Times crossword puzzle.

If you ever have the opportunity to do it...don't.

Don't do that to yourself. If you want to have any hope to succeed and live your life, for the love of God, don't attempt the NY Times crossword puzzle!

I was told that yesterday's was a little harder than usual but it was my first try and it took me down. It took me down hard. It threw me against the wall and then it socked me right in the eye ball. (That rhymed.)

I have bruises people...*sniffles* Please, just don't do it...

Day 23; I am.....Weak...

Look, we all know I'm made of muscle...

I mean look at me...

But I had a huge blow to my ego yesterday when it took me a little while to open this jar...

And when I say a little while...I mean 30 minutes.

A. HALF. HOUR.

*hangs head in shame*

I know...I. KNOW. What in tarnations is wrong with me?! Am I really this feeble? No one was around to help me so I just worked at that thing for what seemed like forever. I wanted the salsa bad...

By the end of it I was out of breathe and exhausted...

Never have I ever felt so powerless...

*faints*

Day 22; Goodbye, Cat

Left home for Baton Rouge on Sunday.

Those kind of days are always weird because it means leaving the comfort of my home and coming back to face all of my responsibilities up here.

I say goodbye to my family, and then my mom always walks me out to my car. She gives me a tight, little hug and then goes through the rules. "No talking on your phone and no texting. Pay attention, Kelly. Go the speed limit!" I know she misses me when I have to leave and I definitely miss her.

But the one who takes it the hardest is this guy...

[Sorry that it's so dark...]

That is my cat, Lucky. He's fat and he's cuddly. I've talked about him plenty of times on here.

Anyway, that cat is the clingiest little thing I've ever seen. I go to sleep with him sleeping at my side and wake up with him practically tangled in my hair. He follows me all around the house and then climbs into my lap once I settle down somewhere. I admit that I am one of the reasons he is this way. From the time he was a little kitten, I carried him around and snuggled with him all the time.

He just loved to love!

So when it comes times for me to leave...he gives me the cold shoulder. Doesn't even look at me. I'll say, "Bye, my Lucky. Love you." (Yes, I say things to my cats... Go ahead and judge me.) All he does is this little meow-grunt thing and continues to look away.

He doesn't handle goodbyes very well...

Day 21; Baumgartner Bash

We had a rockin' day on the Baumgartner property yesterday.

The day was filled with music, food, friends, games, hay rides, dancing, and more music!

The day was so perfect!

Day 20; Live Road Concerts, ftw

When I get in the car by myself, it's almost as if I'm walking onto a stage. Spot light's on me, the music begins, the fans go wild, and I start to sing.

I don't just sing. I belt it. I sing louder then anyone should ever be allowed to sing. I don't hold back and I just go. I rap, I sing the blues, I do musicals, and I do rock shows. You name it, I perform it. All in the comfort of my driver's seat. Hour long drives feel like two seconds.

The fans adore me and I adore them.

THANK YOU, I-10 EAST!! I LOVE YOU! HAVE A GOOD NIGHT!

Day 19; Albino Love

On campus we have the infamous Albino Squirrel. It's just this crazy squirrel with fur that looks more blonde than white.

Some people have gone their entire college careers without seeing him. Others like me, on the other hand, see the darn thing ALL the time.

I swear that thing follows me. I'll be sitting on a bench in the quad and then I'll hear some rustling behind me. I turn around and there it is....staring at me. I'm walking by the memorial tower and I see something move in the branches above me. I look up and there it is....staring at me.

I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up tomorrow morning to find it sitting at the foot of my bed....staring at me.