Shhhh.....

I am sitting in a perfectly quiet room, okay except for the sound of the keyboard. I often forget how refreshing quiet can be.

For my senior capstone class, we had to spend one week under the strictest communication depravation. That meant no talking on the phone, no radio, no television, no reading (except class assignments), no internet and no writing.

As the week progressed, there were numerous paths that people took. There were those who just outright cheated. They decided that they just couldn't take being so isolated from the world and just gave up. Then there were those who made a good effort to abide by the rules, but were still irritated about the assignment. Finally, there was the group who admittedly missed the communication, but was comfortable without the noise.

I definitely fell into the last group. Cheating during the week was completely unavoidable, but I found the experience to be immensely enlightening. Having a week during my senior year, in the midst of the job search and the uncertainty, where I had nothing left to do, but think was exactly what I needed. I found it amazingly reassuring to know that I could be on my own, isolated from the rest of the world and be okay.

While, I am not in a rush to spend another week in communication depravation, I find that taking a break gives me an opportunity to recharge my batteries. I return to the hustle and bustle of my daily life with a fresh perspective.

The Next Big Thing

The other day I was walking through the Borders across the street from my office on one of my many lunchtime excursions. I was wondering around like I usually do without purpose. I made my way past the magazines and began my loop around the upstairs when I encountered shelf after shelf of Christmas cards.

I was a little surprised, but relented. I understand that it is technically fall and people do send their cards right after Thanksgiving, therefore, they do need to buy them in advance. I get the marketing. I figured that the best thing to do was to ignore them and continue on my way.

I was still contemplating the cards when I wound up right in the middle of a huge display of 2007 calendars. Now this is where I draw the line.

Seriously I understand the need to plan ahead, but is this year so bad that we can't wait to skip ahead?

Why must we always be searching for the next big thing? We can’t be happy to have the Christmas cards; we have to have the calendars too? Why can't we be content with the way things are at this very moment.

Maybe, the problem is that we don't let the little things that are happening at this moment bring us joy. Sure when we catch the train we are happy or if things don't fall apart at work it's a good day. Shouldn't we be exuberant that we spent one more day with someone we loved, that there was food in the fridge or that we were simply alive?

Frankly, I refuse to trade in every good day that I have left in 2006 for some what-if dream about 2007.

OH - IO

Yesterday was the Ohio State game against Penn State, and thankfully we won. As much as I love my Buckeyes, there is always a little more at stake when they play Penn State - bragging rights. (Okay, not quite as much at stake as the Michigan game.)

My best friend, Sarah, is a Penn State girl and every year we sweat it out to see whose team ends up on top. Last year, the Buckeyes lost in a nail-biter to Penn State and I had to make the the call of shame acknowledging our defeat.

I have to say that I am so glad to have redemption and I promise to not tease Sarah too much.

Thursday Thirteen #3 - For Me

Thirteen Things That I Did This Week For ME 1. Left work at work 2. Started my retirement fund 3. Blogged 4. Ate whatever I wanted 5. Banished my negative body image 6. Crafted like crazy 7. Read the October issue of Martha Stewart Living 8. Watched cartoons 9. Caught up with friends I hadn't talked to in a while 10. Listened to music 11. Watched Grey's Anatomy 12. Spent time thinking about things 13. Relaxed

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The University

On Saturday, I accompanied my boyfriend to The University of Virginia for their homecoming game. While, unfortunately, they lost the game, the experience was amazing.

There is always something so insightful about seeing where a person grew up, meeting their family or participating in one of their traditions. Sharing that experience first-hand allows you to connect on a whole new level. Every story and memory that person has shared with you suddenly has a deeper meaning because you can picture the events more clearly.

The college I attended wasn’t particularly steeped in tradition. I attended only two football games during the four years I was there, never joined a sorority and lived off campus for two years. The extra-curricular activities that I was involved with connected me more to students at other universities than to students at my own. I spent about two years interning almost full-time. I was so focused on what I was going to do after college that I never experienced college.

My boyfriend, on the other hand, relished college. He learned everything he could about everything. He joined a fraternity, went to parties, attended football games and embraced all of the UVA traditions.

Needless to say, Van had tried to prepare my for my first UVA experience. He explained that girls wore sundresses to the game and how it was tradition for the guys to wear jackets and ties. He described the University in detail, the history and shared a few stories. I thought that I was pretty prepared.

Then I took about three steps onto the Lawn and there they were, girls in sundresses and guys with ties, all with mixed drinks in-hand. I couldn’t help, but burst into uncontrollable laughter. I have never seen such a thing in my entire life. I felt like I had mistakenly ended up at the Kentucky derby instead of a football game.

So that was what Van was used to. It was at that second that our differences became almost sobering. I couldn’t help wondering how I fit into his world. What caused him to give up the cute blonde in a sundress with a Southern accent for a sweatshirt wearing Yankee?

I have come to realize that in the same way I have traded in my vision of Prince Charming for a republican (gasp), good-ole-boy from Virginia. While the whole experience at UVA brought to life so many of our differences, it made me appreciate the fact that we love each other for who we are not because we meet some predetermined idea of the perfect partner should be.

Thursday Thirteen #2 - Rainy Days

It is a very rainy Thursday here in DC and rain in the city can be miserable. In an effort to be optimistic, here are my Thirteen reasons to like Rainy Days. 1. Rainy days are the best days to sleep in. 2. I love the way it smells when it rains because it reminds me of being at camp as a teenager. 3. Rainy days remind me to slow down. 4. Hot chocolate, soup and coffee all taste better on rainy days. 5. Rainy days make me truly appreciative of having a warm, dry apartment to come home to. 6. There is always something childlike about walking around in the rain. 7. Rainy days remind me of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s and how romantic it is to kiss in the rain. 8. I love the feel of slow, misty rain. 9. Rain forces me to be creative. I have to figure out what to do instead of going on a picnic, attending a football game, or if the power goes out. 10. If it is raining then it isn’t snowing. 11. Nothing feels better than my over-sized college sweatshirt on a rainy day. 12. April showers do bring May flowers. 13. On rainy days you don’t have to worry about doing your hair because it doesn’t matter.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Five Years

Five years ago, I was finishing class on my second day of my freshman year of college. I remember class being cancelled as everyone became aware of what was happening.

Five years ago, I had never been to New York City and I had no personal connections to anyone there.

Five years ago, I lived in a bubble. I was completely content to not venture out of my safe suburban life in Ohio.

Five years ago, I didn’t understand that the stakes were so high.

Five years ago, I was reminded that life is a precious gift and to be grateful for each day with friends and family.

Thou Shall Not Damage Thy Boyfriend’s Golf Clubs

Last night I committed one of the mortal sins for any girlfriend. I am fully guilty of sin number three – Thou shall not damage thy boyfriend’s golf clubs, especially when they are new. (In case you are wondering, number one is cheating and two is wrecking the car.)

I am one of those people with a gift for the unlikely. I should have known that using Van’s new clubs at the driving range as I was learning wasn’t a smart idea.

Sunday and Monday passed at the range without incident. I was actually doing pretty well until last night. Van was stressed and thought that going to the driving range would be a good way to unwind. As usual, I was along for the ride.

We got a basket of balls and Van went first. I took my turn and was doing pretty miserably. Somehow, instead of getting better I was getting worse. It was time for my second turn, I put the ball on the tee, pulled my arms back and WHACK - I hit the ball holder. Upon closer inspection, Van discovered that I had actually dented his driver.

This was the first time since we have been dating that he has been really, truly angry with me and I was furious at myself because I knew how much these clubs meant to him. Let’s just say that the ride home was less than pleasant.

The whole time he never raised his voice. Honestly, I probably would have felt better if he would have yelled at me. He was amazingly calm, but I could tell how mad he was.

Eventually, we did make up and we survived the first big test of our relationship. This experience reminded me how grateful I am for character of the man I am with.

Putt-Putt

This weekend my boyfriend and I finally faced off. We have been talking about going to play putt-putt (or miniature golf as Van likes to call it – it’s another of our pop vs. soda battles) since we first started dating.

I am not a competitive person by nature - my boyfriend, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to crush his opponents so badly that their children tremble in fear when he walks by. (Seriously – I am not exaggerating.) Until this point, we have for one reason or another, not gotten into direct competition, but the time had finally come.

I’m fairly decent at putt- putt so I felt pretty confident that I could make it a close game. Van and I picked up our equipment and decided on the course. “So what’s the wager?” he asked as we approached the first hole. All hopes of this being a quiet, friendly game disappeared. We quickly settled on the loser buying a golf glove for the winner – the stakes weren’t too high so I was feeling better.

Van took the first shot and the game was on. To my surprise, I won the first hole and then the next two. My confidence was building and by the end of the 9th hole I had a four stroke lead. I admit that I was feeling the rush of competition.

Right about the 11th hole Van lost his ball in water and had to get a replacement. Let’s just say - new ball: good for Van and bad for me. On the 14th hole all evidence of my lead had vanished and the last four holes are too painful to talk about.

Final score: Van 80, Katie 87.

As competitive as Van is, I have to say that he was gracious winner and he didn’t tease me about it too much, but I am officially calling for a rematch.