Glass is potentially half empty with a possibility of half full

These past couple of weeks have not been some of my finest. Yes, some of that is my own fault. I'm holding down a couple of jobs, doing my work for the Porchlight board and committees, joining two more DAR committees, helping to plan my 10 year high school reunion, and producing a play. Fine, I overcommitted - again. However, nothing new so that's not really the root of the crappiness.

It's because my arms hurts. There, I said it. I have a high pain tolerance and usually handle it just fine. When I got my wisdom teeth out, I took some Nuprin and went to marching band practice the next day. When I broke my finger, I wrapped it up in a drugstore brace and went about my business. But this endless pain/ache in my right arm and no feeling in my right middle finger for almost two weeks is driving me nuts. I have things to do! None of this semi-handicapedness - "I ain't got time to bleed." (Thanks, Jesse Ventura!) Tests come back negative, doctor give somewhat useless advice - and I'm still hurting.

So...right arm is not cooperating. To top that off, Friday my wallet is stolen. Most irritating part? Not calling all of the banks and filing a police report. Not not being able to take out any money in case of emergency. Most irritating was the loss of the wallet itself! I loved that wallet!! It was cute and tiny and had a leather owl on it...grrrr....

Glass half empty.

However, that said...good things can still happen. I had a great time doing dinner and the theatre with a friend. This morning I'm cutting down the alley to catch the bus and my regular homeless guy wishes me a happy day and to stay warm. After my morning meeting (on a Saturday), two of my fellow committee members offer me a ride downtown. Then I'm looking at movie times and the guy exiting a movie tells me I'm pretty.

Maybe...glass half full.

Now, tonight, I'm chillaxing in my adorable apartment with a happy cat, a good movie, and delicious leftovers. Yeah, my arm hurts and I can't buy online this beautiful coat that is 80% off. Yet in the larger scheme of things, la vie est belle.

Ahem...excuse me?

2010? Oh, it's on.

Happy New...yeah, whatever.

Well it's that time of year again...you know, when the year ends and whatnot. Meh. I mean, sure it's a time for self-reflection, setting new goals, etc., etc., but I'm not sure if I want to do that. Or really, if it's even an effective method of re-evaluating. I mean, New Year's resolutions are a lot of pressure.

One thing I have done, though, is to reassess my 100/10 list. Just small tweaks that make the list better and more mine. Although, I did have a second party listen to my proposed changes and approve or not. I know, you might be thinking "Cheater!" But really, the list is mine to complete and enjoy (along with you all my dear blog readers). And no changes make the list necessarily harder or easier...just better. I'm super excited! 15 goals complete in 1.5 years - right on schedule, eh? Smooches to anyone that finds the differences.

That's it really, that's all I got. No deep thoughts - rien de moi. So, I leave you with someone who does have serious thoughts and reflections...

Choo-choo

Last week during my sojourn in Indiana for the holiday known as Thanksgiving, Mom and I decided to gallivant about the countryside to satisfy my need for stark pictures that would look good in black & white (I lean towards those as I commence my burgeoning photography career). Lo and behold Mom used her detailed knowledge of what seems like most of southwest Indiana and we ended up at some cool railroad tracks. I immediately exited and took pictures of the empty train station, the tracks, signs, etc.

In pursuit of a great picture, I did exactly what one is not supposed to do - I walked the tracks (this is art, after all). Figuring it would be fine (i.e. trains wouldn't come that often), I walked towards the bridge. All of the sudden, I hear my mom shouting, "Katy...there's a train!" I turned around and saw this engine barreling around the bend in the tracks. I jumped off the tracks, waded through some waist high weeds and got about 20 feet away. And then proceeded to take tons of pictures - definitely some hot photo action time.

But the real moral of this story (which is in fact, not a moral at all), is that one of the greatest rushes in life is standing by railroad tracks as a train goes flying by. The train that day was probably going around 55, and it was so great.

I'm not the train buff that my dear Dad is...probably never will be. However, I do love riding trains, reading about the evolution of the rail system in Great Britain (Anglophilia, what?!), and learning more about really old trains (think Stourbridge Lion). So my Thanksgiving encounter was more thrill than scare...

But what I really want to do is ride in an engine of fa reight train poring on the speed in open country. I think I will make that an unofficial goal of mine. But, if anyone figures out how I could do such a thing before I do, just a reminder that I turn 28 on April 12th, and that would be the best birthday present...ha.

2009 Europe Trip - The condensed version

Due to the following factors: 1) lack of time 2) my immense enjoyment in posting pictures on Facebook and 3) the fact that I have several other things I want to blog about, I have decided to forgo the traditional approach to assigning a blog to each of the cities I visited. Instead in this blog for each of the remaining cities I will post one picture and give you my 5 favorite things from that experience.

If you want to know more about my trip, let's go old school and actually talk to each other live and in person...

Auschwitz
1) Finally getting to see a place that I have read so much about.
2) Witnessing history that should never be forgotten
3) The 1.5 hour drive from Krakow to Auschwitz
4) My amazing tour guide who balanced extremely well the facts and the emotion of the experience
5) Never forgetting


Malbork
1) Standing in a place where the Teutonic Knights once were
2) Dominika's father's "informal" tour
3) Seeing firsthand a medieval castle
4) Walking around in the rain
5) Goofing around with friends


Gdansk
1) Seeing the gorgeous waterfront
2) Communist apartment blocks
3) Walking through the open market
4) Taking pictures in St. Mary's Church
5) Kebobs - the Polish Taco Bell



Kartuzy
1) Spending time with the Fard and Szreder families
2) Witnessing the wedding of two wonderful people
3) Cute, friendly Polish kitties
4) Hunter's stew
4) Vodka, good food, and throwing glass against a rock


London
1) Troilus and Cressida at The Globe
2) Ordering the same sandwich at the same place (from when I was a student in 2003) and having it tasted the very same
3) The Florence Nightingale Museum
4) Cute 21 year olds who ask me to go salsa dancing
5) The 39 Steps


Also fulfilled another goal: 45) See Auschwitz

Summers are relaxing right?

• Find new apartment with larger kitchen, more windows, and non-crappy neighbors - done
• Thanks to above said new apartment, call electric, gas, insurance, and get mail forwarded - ummm...sort of done?
• Actually move to above said new apartment - started, but not close to done
• Deal with a potential life-changing decision - done
• Plan a trip to Europe involving four different cities, three flights, and two hotels - done
• Buy super fun new suitcase for above said Europe trip - done
• Do the loads and loads of laundry that I have - haven't even started thinking about it
• Get an extension on my call to jury duty - done
• Have dinner with my cousin and his wife and their three ridiculously cute kids - done
• Answer all of my outstanding e-mails - thinking about it
• Book trip to Dallas for the weekend before I leave for Europe - done
• Do all of the work that needs to be done for that trip - ugh, I know, I know!
• Stage a Red Bull intervention on myself - hahahahaha, that's funny
• Remember that I have a blog and I need to post - close enough