Tremendous Blondette

1. I think in pictures.
2. I sing Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Kelly Clarkson at the top of my lungs with or without my moon roof open. and when I say sing, I mean yell. It feels wonderful.
3. Is this what I felt like before? I can’t remember.
4. I like this computer because I like the way the keys respond to my swift, and sometimes hasty or misplaced fingers.
5. I like cherry vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper from Sonic–or from a 2-liter bottle.
6. I like listening to songs sung in French.
7. I like horoscopes (Pisces) I should have read my horoscope Thursday morning.
8. I like to think that reading my horoscope totally maybe might have saved me a few embarrassing moments
9. (oh, and yo quiero Taco Bell even when I’m not drunk.)
10. I like cleansing tea. even though it makes you feel ill. the end result feels better.
11. I learned that you should eat and not drink alcohol when drinking cleansing tea.
12. I like attention and flattery.
13. I like flirting
14. I like provoking reactions
15. No quiero feeling foolish
16. I like connecting with books and the aching need to devour them.
17. I like to dream–and daydream
18. I like to believe that my dreams and daydreams are tangible and can become reality.
19. though sheer will if necessary
20. I like that I still find joy and hope in each day.
21. I like that I find things special and beautiful in each person I know.

Undoubtedly (writer’s assumption) at some point in everyone’s schooling, they had to write a “Reflection” essay, maybe more than once. This can be very uncomfortable for some people, but for me, it’s something I’m naturally compelled to do. on a regular basis. here. on this blog. The only thing you should know going into this is that the only unifying theme is reflection.

If someone were to pay an unexpected visit to my apartment, they would be greeted first by two piles of shoes on either side of the door. Pumps, tennis shoes, flip flops, you name it they’re by the door. I’m taking the Asian approach to footwear, remove it as soon as you step foot in the home. My shoes just never quite make it back to the shoe holder in my closet. They do on occassion-when I’m planning for guests or decide it’s time to be somewhat orderly. A pink gym bag, an over the shoulder tote from a conference, my daily laptop bag, purses–yep, you’re greeted by those too. I also have a giant 5 lb can of Lindsay black olives on my counter.

This natural state of untidiness bothers and embarrasses me. I don’t want people to see that this is my natural state of habitation. I wish someone would come pay an expected visit. I worry about it and I hope for it. It doesn’t happen though. So, I’m a little disorderly, it’s part of who I am–not everyone is neat as a pin–I feel pressured to perfection though. Right now, I only have the focus to be disciplined in one area of life–and that’s now in the health sector. It’s all being channelled there. I suppose that’s a weakness, that one trackedness.

I fill my rooms with color, from the artwork I display, the rugs, quilts, and accessories I place.

I wish I had someone else around. I’ve been thinking about getting a kitten–another little personality to love and enrich my life–and maybe help keep my Gracie cat entertained.

Every morning and evening, I’m greeted by my cat, Gracie(named such before I adopted her.) I adopted her just after college graduation. She was a bit ferret-like when I found her at the Pet Connection, but she was adorable. About 5 minutes after I brought her home, she was let out of the cat carrier and bolted for a hiding place. I learned quickly one of her greatest skills–finding hiding places. We didn’t see her for days. I was certain she’d escaped out an open door and I’d lost her forever. Then, we started to hear noises coming from the upstairs at night (you see I was still sleeping on the living room couch at this point.) Maybe she was still in the house! My mom heard a trick about tracking so, that evening we tried it and I sprinkled flour all over the upstairs floor. Sure enough, we figured out Gracie’d been hiding in a the wall–entering through a smallish hole in the upstairs kitchen. It took time, but eventually she began to trust me. God knows what I would do now if I didn’t have that furry little companion. She loves me unconditionally. Thank goodness. 5am meow wakeup calls and sandpaper kisses on my nose, but nothing beats that little cat’s loyalty and the way she looks up at me and snuggles closer. She allows me to be open and share all the affection I feel but cannot express elsewhere.

This is my home; base of my disorderly life. Vibrant, lonely, lovely, books, shoes, bags, and one tricky, wonderful fluffy kitty cat (or two.)

to the tune of “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot

I like lolcats and I cannot lie
you other bloggers can’t deny
“Kitty got Lolz”

[Intro]
Oh, my, god. Becky, look at her cat.
It is so stupid. *scoff* She looks like,
one of those internet cats.
But, you know, who understands those internet geeks? *scoff*
They only talk to her, because,
she looks like a total haxor, ‘kay?
I mean, her cat, is just so stupid.
I can’t believe it’s just so crazy, it’s like,
captioned, I mean – gross. Look!
She’s just so … geeky!

An all caps declaration of non-pain made in email this morning-I’M NOT SORE TODAY! Great, right? It is! Last week on April 14th (day of my brother’s birth!) a switch flipped inside of me. It was the “DDDDAMMMMN GIRL! you fat!” switch. [Okay okay okay, I've written several times over the course of the years I've had this blog about losing weight and feeling like a fatass (and alternately, the high I get from working out.) So why is this time different? It just is. It has to be. I've been here before and felt this feeling. I can make this stick.]

At the beginning of January, I joined the Y. I had previously been an avid (and then lax) member of the North Kansas City Community Center. I went to the Y once or twice, but it was crowded and the floors always wet. (did I mention crowded?) I also never wanted to participate in any classes for fear of looking unfit, fat, and loser-ish. Well, guess what? I’m not that fit, I am fat, and well, okay, I’m not loser-ish.

So, back to Monday the 14th. One of the girls at work has lost a good deal of weight though eating healthy and working out (at the Y.) She’s touted a particular class since about forever. (Please recall my earlier statement about never wanting to participate in a class.) I mentioned to her on this fateful Monday that I was going to the gym that night. She asked me if I wanted to go to class with her, and I said…YES. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? trust me, I couldn’t. It was a sure sign that I was ready.

I’ve now been to BOSU class 2 times (and one failed attempt based on time.) BOSU makes you feel ridiculous, strong, uncoordinated, and sometimes sore. I was sore for 4 days. And this isn’t just sorta mild la la la sore. This was OMGIT HURTS TO WALK DOWN THE STAIRS, BEND MY ARMS AND IT HURTS WHEN I SIT DOWN TO GO PEE sore. Despite my soreness, I managed to hit the treadmill pretty nicely the next two nights, but I took the weekend off. So, last night I got back on the BOSU horse. I simultaneously love and hate squats. And trust me, they are worse when performed on half a rubber ball. I must say, I do enjoy the ab work. So tonight, after deciding I wasn’t going to go to the gym, but then going anyway, I did an hour and fifteen minutes on the treadmill (an hour of it watching American Idol.)

Tomorrow night it’s back to BOSU, where I may run in circles around paper towel wads, hop and stick, and do other things that make me feel slightly retarded. At times, BOSU reminds me of step aerobics–only harder because instead of a nice stationary, solid step you’re being forced to balance on a giant ball.
From the inventer:

BOSU stands for “Both Sides Up” or “Both Sides Utilized” depending upon whether you are talking about the BOSU Balance Trainer (the product) or BOSU (the philosophical approach to exercise).

The essence of BOSU, (the philosophical approach to exercise), is seeking better balance, in all aspects of life. Training BOSU begins with your body.

The human body and brain are intimately linked such that enhancing balance in one enhances balance in the other. Better balance (physically and mentally) leads to better performance in all activities, whether those activities are primarily physical or mental in nature.

When I said “okay, sure” to going to BOSU class for the first time, it had absolutely nothing to do with being philosophical or giving a damn about anything other than taking a first step back into being healthy and accepting that I was probably going to look like an ass for a while, but at least a t the end it would be a firm ass worth looking at.

I’m the girl in the brown skirt scribbling. My top is a little too revealing (I bought a cami to amend that later) and I’m just drinking in the atmosphere. That’s what makes a good coffee shop you know, atmosphere-scones are just a perk.

This morning I joined my coffee shop buddy at A Cup Above. Smallish, it sits next to the Taco Bell on the corner of Barry Road and North Oak Trafficway. Sunlight pours in and clashes against the dark brick color of the walls and black of the furniture. On a cloudy Winter day, this could be paradise. Country music sails though the air, bringing a smile to my face. I’ve been on a country kick for the last few months after detouring from it in what I call my Dave Matthews Devotee years. Music is essential to coffee shop atmosphere. At Starbucks, you never quite know what to expect; Sinatra and Martin one day, indie rock the next. Yesterday, Latte Land seemed to be playing “The Best of Perhaps-It-Was-In-A-Movie-and-if-not-It-Should-Be.”

As I continue to inspect my surroundings, I glance up at the ceiling. It’s not quite white and it’s covered in tiles that look like crown moulding. I’m not sure what the real term is, but that’s what they look like to me. Ceilings are oft forgot when building a space. That’s how you end up with popcorn ceilings. I found myself staring at the ceiling in Latte Land-never before had i noticed the different colored beams, tinged smooth like lemon meringue. I wish people would think of it as a “seal-ing,” a unifying finishing touch.

The contrast between Latte Land and A Cup Above is drastic. Latte Land is open and light while A Cup Above is compact and dark, but both have the ability to inspire. They both welcome and relax. I have said for a few years that my ideal is to make spaces that feel like a good book. It’s almost an indesribable feeling-but I’ll try. It wraps you up and swaddles you. You breathe easy, slow and quick without thought. Emotions are uncaged and natural. Your focus is absolute, full of contentment. You merge with the pages of the book. You should merge with your coffee shop.

Visit the website for A Cup Above and you see that this is more than a coffee shop; it’s a place for community. They seem to understand that a coffee shop is about more than the liquids they pour into a cup–it’s about the experience of drinking the liquid. By-the-way, the coffee’s not bad either; they make a yummy iced vanilla latte, aka Katie-Kryptonite. (I almost bought a second one.)

It’s been too long. I sit here in my robe, with a towel upon my head and realize, some of you may have forgotten me. and particularly, whether or not you are me.

So, you might be Katie Leas if:

1. You feel more content when you wear Satsuma body butter. mmm
2. You are reading a book that talks a lot about lobsters and you aren’t yet sure if it’s going to stick.
3. You can’t stop looking at your right foot.
4. You know not everyone who reads this will understand why you would be looking at your right foot.
5. Your hair is getting long
6. it’s now past your shoulders
7. and it’s probably going to get longer because it will take at least another month before you get your butt to the salon.
8. You need to do laundry, take out the trash, and buy cat litter.
9. You’ve learned why people call it a “Crackberry.”
10. You really have to start working out again or you are going to hate yourself.
11. You know “she’s just bein Miley”
12. You’ve recently become more aware of the male obsession with the high five
13. You’re not entirely on board
14. because you’re female.
15. You still wonder
16. You’re excited about growing tiny flowers in miniature pots.
17. Same old, same old.
18. You’d like to go on a real vacation this year.