Creole Wisdom

mom's day

Saturday was my sorority's mom's day.  It was so fun. Trivia, lunch, and A Rasin In the Sun at the Gutherie.

This is my cute mom and I. She gave me that cardigan!

Besides being a fabulous, world-renown theater- the Gutherie has fantastic views.  I had to take advantage of them:

stop that!

I have had such a crazy week: four papers and two tests.  I feel like my brain is going to explode, graduation come soon!  So, I have a German History night class, and we had a test- typical deal, blue books and lots of noise from turning pages, pencil erases, coughs, you got it.

I am QUIETLY eating some chocolate covered expresso beans.  They are so delicious.  Just enjoying them as I write away in the blue book about the Weimar Republic, and all of a sudden... a boy sitting a full row ahead of me and down four desks says, out loud, in a disruptive tone- "stop that!  stop eating while I'm taking this!"  I don't know what was going through his mind, but how rude- way to make MORE noise than necessary.  So what did I do?  I look him straight in the eye, and plopped two more expresso beans in my mouth and smiled.  Bet he won't do that again! Bwaha.

Later, near the end of class I checked my phone.  Text message from J: let me know when you're done with class, I want to see you.  As I stepped out, about to call him, he walks right up to me.  He just met me at the door- how sweet! I have an amazing boyfriend.  Really, I'm a very lucky girl.

homemade lunch

Because we're in a recession, and I am an old-fashioned kind of romantic person by nature I was happy when J suggested we make homemade lunches.  I guess he meant that I was going to be making them.  It's been a crazy stressful week- and in times past I've done things like chicken soup and lemon bars, or just a simple pb&j.  On the phone Tuesday night:

CW: So, what should we do about lunch tomorrow?
J: Well... I have some peanut butter.  I could make us some sandwiches
CW: Ok, I will bring us apple, too-

Fast forward to Wednesday.  I meet J with a cute kiss in the Electrical Engineering building. 

J: So, there's wasn't enough peanut butter, so I will buy us lunch right here (there's a little stand where they sell goodies)
CW (trying not to laugh): Ok-

We sat down, now with sushi and string cheese and chex mix (so good) and I thought about how if J was my future main man I would make him a lunch in an old fashioned lunch box, and I imagined him working in overalls walking down a dusty road (do engineers wear overalls?) And of course, this image came to mind:

no regrets

I spent at least an hour on the phone with my darling friend Lindsay, now a gracious Mrs.  I love her, and cannot believe it's been since early last summer that I saw her:

Lindsay and myself on her wedding day in May 2009

I may have four papers and two tests before Friday, but I would never turn down a fabulous conversation with a dear friend far away. Something's gotta give, and if I have to stay up late it will be that way, but no regrets.  Grades aren't everything, and I wish I had "known" that earlier.  I'm not saying a C is acceptable, but no one ever turned me down for a job because I didn't have a 4.0 cumulative.  I'd rather "waste" myself on friends.

mo chroi in the north

Dearest Karen,

Happy St. Patrick's Day.  I know you will be celebrating high style there in lovely Northern Ireland.  Stay safe.  I think of you always, and pray for you often (sorry if that sounds weird, ya know how I am).  I cannot help but think of you on this holiday.  I miss you, and I love you, and I will be there when you come home on the eve of my graduation.  Get lots of rest on the plane because there will be a fabulous party to attend once you arrive!  You are fabulous and fun, and I am so lucky to know you and call you a "sister."

 

xoxo
Katie

safe.

I went to the mall of America with J yesterday.  It was a typical Saturday trip, gorgeous sunshine and no gigantic crowds of people.  Near the end of our time we stopped in at H&M, a giant store with racks and racks of mod, modern clothing at Forever 21 prices.  J and I split up, him in the mens' and I in the ladies' department.

Not five minutes into a rack of spring skirts I noticed, along with the rest of the store, a woman walking quickly around- calling out the name of a little girl.  She had lost her daughter.  Two, nervous, but calm store employees were looking around, and other people's suggestions of where she might be "hiding" were thrown out.  As the minutes passed the woman became more and more frantic.  It was a terrible, horrifying thing to watch.  She kept calling her name, a smaller child glued to her hip, and pacing behind the store employee who had a phone and was calling security. 

Every single woman in that store stood still.  They put aside whatever they were looking for/at and stood silently, all with the same look on their faces.  I kept having images in my head of kidnappings and SVU episodes, and I tried to push them out with a trip to the fitting room.

By the time I got out, they had found her. 

J and I stepped out of that store, our new purchases in hand, and he said to me softly, "my mother never lost me" (and he's one of four) and I replied, "mine either." 

I'm not going to say that only negligent mother's loose their children in H&M, but I'm just glad my mother never lost me.  Or dad for that matter. 

I do not believe we live in a world of the 1950s where children can just walk anywhere they want.  I know I live in a safe city, in a safe state, in the middle of perfect Midwest, but I know things happen here and everywhere. I wish our world was safe enough for midnight walks home, and carrying an open purse, and no babysitters- but it's not.  That's not to say our world is overly dangerous either.  We just live in a place on the line between "it can't happen to us" to "it just did."  I am thankful for seat belts, and insurance, and locks, and zippers on purses. 

spring break (f•s•s edition)

F:
Break officially started Friday at 4:30 when I got off from work at the daycare.  I walked home in the sun, and could not help but smile at the gorgeous weather (40s).  I got home and quickly packed my stuff, and waited for Kate to get off from work.  Yes, I live-work-and am in the same sorority as one of my best friend.  No, we don't fight.  We are just a match made in AOII heaven, as I like to say : ) From there we headed home and called one of Kate's Edina buddies, Tess. 

Tess is just one of those very fun, wonderful people who has great taste in food and restaurants.  We had decided on going out to eat at The Cheescake Factory, but the wait was 1.5 hours (at 7:15pm).  Wait, I thought we were in a recession???  So was the wait at P.F. Changs and Maggianos... so, over to the city we went and eat some fabulous authentic Mexican at Kate's choice, Pepito's.  Delish.  We talked and laughed and chowed down.  Then we ended the night at Tess' mother's gorgoues home in Edina where we chatted the rest of the night up with her and her fam.  I didn't get home until very late, and then went to bed right away.

S:
Another gorgeous day- I started by printing off business cards for dad (I design them, and others).  It didn't take me too long to get several done.  Then, an amazing sushi dinner- so damn good.  I love sushi! And saki! LOL!

S:
Brunch double date with J's married friends, Jordan and Kelle.  Very fun.  They had live jazz, and mimosas, and gorge yourself eggs benedict.  Oooo hollondaise sauce!  And GUESS WHAT?!?!?  I WORE A SKIRT WITHOUT TIGHTS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WAS NOT EVEN COLD!

(Don't you just love when other people take photos and it's not even in focus?)

Afterwards we headed to J's parent's home, and enjoyed the sunny drive.  I find myself getting to know him more and more, and I know that I will need to time to decide how exactly I feel/what I want to do.  There are no perfect people, and while I do not know exactly what I want in a lifelong partner/husband I am learning by each relationship.  I do not believe in perfection, but I understand that things take time.  I am learning and taking things into context everyday.

so ready.

(lovely Lake Superior & Split Rock Lighthouse from flickr)

It's about that time in the semester.  I am ready, ready for:
•Spending time with dad Friday after work
•Date night on Saturday with J
•Celebrating (lil' sis) Becky's birthday with Kate next Friday, mimosas and pedicures
•Reading blogs and taking photos
•No work for a whole week
•Two nights at Larsmont Cottages in Duluth with J.  Doesn't that look fabulous? You know they had good rates!

life, liberty, and the pursuit of classiness

classiness.  so, my very dear friend Lindsay, who I have know for (five years this spring) wrote a lovely post about class, and the desire for it.  Lindsay, my dear readers, is class embodied.  I don't know many people as beautiful, intelligent, funny, and naturally witty as her.  She is classy, and I know she will laugh when she reads this.  But this entry of hers got me thinking-

what is classy?

I could write a novel on this, but just pondering tonight I think classiness is many things, and to me it is: one of my mother's amazing parties, a strand of simple pearls, rituals at AOII, a bright and organized home, arriving a few moments early for class, dressing up an outfit with some black heels, antiques and all lovely things vintage, saying "please" and "thank you," keeping on the bright side, and a warmly toned black and white photograph.

and I'm so happy it's free : )

i have heart

dad came bearing a beautiful gift, wrapped in a small gold and red bag- isn't it just divine? It hails from wine country, which as a young girl (because of Parent Trap) I wanted to live- and open my own vinyard.  Hey, it could happen, but until then I will wear this lovely piece of heART.