A letter plus flotsam...

Dear Harry Potter Lego key chain,

You have been strong during this last year of one-leggedness. You have bravely soldiered on as my mailbox key chain (even through this period of disuse). But your time has come to an end. You no longer have a mouth. Your tie is rubbing off. And your leg...well, you've been one legged for a while.

I'll miss you HP lego man...but your replacement is raring to go (Welcome wooden, Italian fish).

Love,

Katie

Flotsam:

I got LOADS of mail today. And the brilliant part is: I watched the mailman struggle up the stairs on my side of the building (it's not brilliant that she had to struggle, that sucks. Although I can't help but observe that if she didn't have 60 pounds of undelivered mail it wouldn't have been so bad). The point was: they FINALLY got so many complaints that the mailman was forced to walk around the block. It's sort of blissful to have mail....

Last night I had two sort of devastating dreams (so I'm a tidge tired). In the first, my Mom fell down the stairs while I watched. In the second, Planet Sears (yes, I know...imaginary planet) collided with the Moon and the Moon fell to Earth. My imagination was fairly vivid because watching the Moon fall to Earth was amazingly graphic and horrifying. And then it was a random assortment of scenes of myself and others dealing with the catastrophe (and at one point trying to figure out what the actual consequences had been). Not restful.

My midterm came on Sunday at noon and isn't due until next Sunday at midnight. It sort of works out better for me this way anyway since I have nothing to do this weekend.

'S all for now....

Earth Day letter...

Dear Earth,

Shit. I'm sorry. We humans suck.

Today I've been working on computer crap (and while it was a lovely day, I only got outside for maybe an hour) and watching Planet Earth on the Discovery Channel. There has been a lot of hype for this series on talk-shows and what not...so I started watching mainly because there was nothing else on. And I was quite skeptical. But it is amazing. The first one I watched, Deep Ocean, didn't have much that truly interests me, but it was still breathtaking and amazing (although there was a creepy squid...I believe they referred to it as the squid from hell).

In An Inconvenient Truth there was an awful cartoon that tugged the heartstrings...the little cartoon of the polar bear...having problems with the ice...dying (or maybe it was just implied that the bear was going to die/drown). Watching Planet Earth: Ice Worlds, um.....yeah, you see a real Polar Bear go through that. It doesn't drown...but it has to retreat to land which isn't natural, isn't their "hunting ground" and it basically ends up digging a hole, crawling in and dying. And if you think Al Gore is mostly full of shit - maybe the real thing can convince you. Truly awful to watch.

So today I've decided to step up my efforts to "go green". I'm no longer going to use paper plates or napkins (paper towels are better because they aren't "2-ply"). Chicago really doesn't recycle, so I think I'll start saving recyclables and bringing them to my Mom's house. I may just follow in my sister's intended footsteps and buy only green cleaning products, kleenex, paper towels. Possibly toilet paper. Do what I can, while I can...

Love,
Katie

PS - to readers, you should really do something...anything helps. And I would totally recommend Planet Earth, but keep a kleenex handy during the Ice Worlds episode (I've seen Ice Worlds, Deep Sea and Desert so far, and the other two didn't make me cry at all).

Nose plug...

Dear Drixoral,

Your nose-clearing, sneeze reducing prowess is much better than that silly Aleve Cold & Sinus. But we're only on hour 7 of 12 hours and I have lost the use of my left nostril. This is not good. Sleep tonight is not looking good.

I didn't go to work today and I skipped the first night of class (with the Professor's blessing because I'm too good of a student to just skip the first night of class) because of how shit I feel.

And now Drixoral, I would like you to give me a better night's sleep than Aleve did. Please?

Love,
Katie

PS: Note...when overly tired and hopped up on cold medication, it's probably NOT a good idea to watch the last episode of Six Feet Under unless you really want to sit on the couch sobbing your eyes out...

New for now...

Dear Red Hot Box,

You are dead.

I forgot about you over finals. Now I don't care to start you up again. So. You're dead.

But, I've thought of a way to fill your spot. And it's centered around something that haunts me by the second right now. And that is...my hair. Because having long hair. It's becoming torturous. And seeing cute short haircuts? I can't help but want one myself.

So...the new weekly feature will be a post where I steal pictures from the internet and post them here...all of haircuts I could get in a few months when I cut off all my hair and give it to a bald child (alright. More than a few months. But saying it's just a few months makes me happy. And fine. Not to a bald child - to a charity that will use it to hair a bald child). I may also end up devolving into an immature blog owner and post pictures that I think are hideous.

Starting soon...picture of hair a week...

Love,
Katie

Public service letter...

Dear Electricity consumer,

I am proof for you that the Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFL) does more than just "save the environment." I know some of you out there may be skeptical that there is even a need to save the environment (Dad). Last month I changed 12 of my 16 total light bulbs in the apartment to CFLs...yes, the bulbs are expensive. But I do believe I need to do my part to save the environment (because I watched An Inconvenient Truth and wanted to do what I could), so I bought them. Some facts for you (to hopefully convince you for the right reasons):

• Changing one bulb can prevent over 450 pounds of bad, bad emission from a powerplant.
• If everyone in the US changed just one bulb (no need to go for the full change, just one) we would:
  
• save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year
  
• prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

If that doesn't convince you to change just 1 bulb (look at your lamp next to you...just that one bulb), then maybe my energy bill will. Even with the huge rate increase, I am paying less this March than I have in the past two March's. Yes, it's true. I'm only technically saving $4 compared to last year - but that's entirely because of the rate increase. In February I paid almost two times what I had last year (due to the electricity rate increase). So if I do some fancy math, I actually saved an estimated $20....(double last March's bill subtract this year's March bill)...

So change your bulbs! A four-pack of CFL's will only set you back $15. $15 to save on every electricity bill and to save the environment? Totally worth it.

Heart,
Katie

Lettering again...

Dear Boku,

Even in my cranky-pants mood (which is lifting...) I appreciate your growing trust of me. Jumping on the couch next to me to get a scratch or two...it's a big step. Helped lighten my mood today Dokers...thanks.

Katie

And to you all out there still reading: I thought you might like to know that I contacted all of my classmates (from the lousy professor's class) and asked if anyone would be willing to sign a letter/petition to the Dean requesting a refund for this course. I'm going to actually write the letter only if I hear from half of the class. So far, there are 4 out of 32 people in on the letter (even though I only wrote to the class 10 minutes ago - good response in the first 10 minutes). I'll let you know how this goes....I'm not all that optimistic that we have any chance of getting out money back, but it's not going to hurt me any to try...

Sunday letter...

Dear asshole-in-my-parking-space,

You have now been there for over 12 hours and somehow the tow company has not been able to get a tow truck out here (despite repeated calls). If you get away with parking in my space for that long....with no tow...I'm going to be even more pissed than I already am.

Thanks for making my Sunday cranky you douche-bag (I pay more money a month to park there than you will pay to get your car out of impound so go suck it).

Katie

PS - Deep down, I have a nugget of pure evil. Because watching that car get towed? I felt victorious...and giddy. Like I was winning against all the cheaters in the world....against the people who think they can get away with parking in a spot that is reserved, people that try to sit in concert seats that aren't theirs, people who drive on the shoulder during stop and go traffic....you all suck. And today...today I won one tiny battle in the cheater war...

Letter of the week...

Dear Barack,

I heart you. I heart your email. I know, I know, it wasn't only to me. But it said Dear Katie at the top (personal touches. Genius).

Yes, I was sucker enough to sign up for your myspace style website. And in the end I am glad I did, because it was fun to get an informative Iraq email from you.

Love,
Katie

PS - I just want to show off to you, you know, make you proud of me...so you'll be happy to know that I am now 75% compact fluorescent (I couldn't change the other 25% because of complicated glass lighting fixtures). I'm saving the environment. Are you proud of me Barack?

Twosies...

Two posts in one day, two letters:

Dear readers,

I like comments. But, when you leave them anonymously...it'd be great if you left some hint as to who you are (since I assume the last 2 anonymous comments were from people I know who just don't have blogger accounts). First letter of first name...helpful...

Katie


Dear Grey's Anatomy (spoilers below),

I have been gung ho Grey's since the beginning. I thought that you know, you had the drama and the medicine....and that was enough. But it's getting a little hokey now here: Vegas weddings, drowning lead characters, burning/blown-up ferries. Erm...couldn't you just stick to the relationship drama and throw in weird medical shit? It's getting a little sensational for me...

Katie

Letterinos...mini-letters....

Dear snow,

You are beautiful, fluffy, sparkling, soft...I want to lay down in you and snuggle in for a nap. I don't know the last time I saw such light, sparkly snow. If I didn't have my boots (see next letter) I would be annoyed by you....or even dislike you. But as it is...I loooove you.

Love,
Katie

Dear boots,

Yay! You finally saw some snow!

Love,
Katie

Dear self,

Pick a damn yarn already.

Love,
Katie


Dear do-gooders,

Go. Do good.

I'll add my....tiny, minuscule donation just as soon as I get off my fat ass and get my credit card.

Love,
Katie

Dear maintenance man,

Thank you for de-freezing my pipes. Now, next time you enter my apartment, try to leave it as it was when you first came. Leaving the bathroom door closed upstairs? Not fun for a girl like me (paranoid) to open (there could have been a lurker back there).

Love,
Katie

Dear Incubus,

...sad face....I wish I was going to your concert tonight (especially to see you, Brandon). But weather has thwarted me (or truthfully, thwarted my concert companion - the brother). I could go alone...but I don't relish the idea (general admission). I was lucky enough to fall into free tickets. Now I was unlucky enough to not use those free tickets.

Love,
Katie

Dear work,

Thank you for being nice about my leaving. My last job? My last day was just like any other day. This job? I got a cake. And sometime soon, I'll get a going away lunch (it was postponed due to my boss' frozen pipes - frozen pipes all around)...

Love,
Katie

The week of cheat...

Dear readers,

That's cheating isn't it? To write my weekly letter to you? Oh well, so I'll cheat a little.

Today it is 12 degrees outside. And feels like 0. Not making that up. I'm trying to figure out what to wear when I leave the house so that all my dry skin doesn't chafe and then fall off. But at least I'm not in the 'burbs where it's 11 and feels like -2. Suckers!

Since Sunday I've decided that I should do more of what I want to do and not what I think I should do. I'm not sure I have ever been the kind of person who does what others think I should do (I'm just no follower...or conformist, whatever you wish to call it). But, I do put restrictions on myself. Constantly. Keeping up my Christmas tree has been a giant leap for me. Some restrictions have to hold (for example: I want a kitten. But I have two delightful cats. No kittens allowed. I want to buy some beautiful sock yarn...but $25 for a pair of socks? Um, yeah...maybe when I have a full time, salaried job...).

So we'll see how it goes...

And this will probably be the most boring weekly letter ever...

Katie

Rebelling...

Dear world,

I will not conform to your stupid rules. I, and the other occupants of this home, love my Christmas decorations. The tree? Just a big piece of interior decorating.

I'm leaving it up...probably well into February.

I'm serious. I won't take it down yet. You can't make me.

I bite my thumb at you, stupid decoration rules,

Katie

SWAK....

Dear Chicago Post Office,

My mailman no longer comes everyday. I have had suspicions before. Today, the day after a holiday, I should have been overloaded with junk mail. I had a cavernous, empty mail box. There is no way that I didn't get any mail today. No way. I get at least a catalog everyday....

Chicago mail tardier? No shit.

And I can't exactly complain about my postal worker - if they knew it was me (and in a city like Chicago, where corruption is the norm, the chances of them finding out who complained seem awfully high) wouldn't my mail just get tardier? You know, the mailman withholding just like a disgruntled waitress spits in your food.

I like mail. Give me my mail.

Screw you,

Katie

Dear Obama,

You're my "American Idol style" Democratic presidential candidate. Kick Hilary's ass!

Love always,

Katie

Pickle breath...

Dear School of Suck,

You really are a sneaky one aren't you? Trying to make what are possibly my last few weeks working for you some of the most guilt-producing, stressful weeks ever? Are ya? Well, you're winning.

Moving all of my bosses to a different building while leaving me behind? Suddenly? So suddenly that I found out yesterday and the move happens on Thursday? Yeah, that was tricksy. Then making me attend a long meeting about how the future will work (how do I figure out my jobs if my bosses are across the street?) and what is in my future...when all I could think was: "I may not be here for long, I have an interview on Friday"? Horrible.

The worst part, School, is that I now have to grapple with how exactly to turn in two weeks notice to a boss I have no access to (literally. Card access in the other building only). If I turn in two weeks notice (I imagine I will be soon, even if this interview on Friday isn't the job) looks like I'm going to be the girl who has to email her two weeks notice. Ick.

So thank you school, for throwing this stress-inducing curve ball my way. I guess I'm learning to be flexible?

Love,
Katie

And on a happier note...

Dear pickles,

I love you.

Love,
Katie

P.S. - why don't you taste as good as the pickles that come with sandwiches in delis/diners? Where do I buy those?

Letter 3...

Dear 2007,

Please don't be a terrible year.

You started with hunger. In various ways I am hungry. But right now mostly in the sense of the actual meaning of the word - as in my stomach feels like an empty pit. And so begins the diet...

And now you've provided me with cat puke...which I see only about every other month (or even longer).

Hoping day 1 isn't indicative of the rest of the year....I'm keeping a close watch on you 2007. I am not impressed and do not trust you thus far...

Not so sincerely yours,
Katie

Happy Christmas!

Dear Santa,

Yes. I know. No Santa. Fine, fine. But let's pretend shall we?

This year for Christmas I would like (besides all of the material things):

• Family harmony.
  
• To successfully leave my winter funk behind.
• To better get along with my sister (and at times, with my brother). This is technically an extension of the first bullet - but different.
• More time with my friends.
  
• For Boku to continue to grow to love and trust humans. Maybe for her to request love/attention from a stranger?
• A new president?

Good luck on your travels Santer, and if you need some good cookies, stop by my Mom's house.

Love,
Katie

Merry Christmas everyone!

Letter numero uno...

Dear Mona,

I have underestimated you, my stupid little cat. I assumed you had no cleverness in you...that you were more like a silly dog (falling in the toilet? attacking the humidifier? licking the wall?) than a cat. But oh how you surprised me today.

I knew you liked your newest toy, the pipe cleaner. I didn't realize that pipe cleaners must be some sort of cat drug. That you couldn't get enough. That you would go to any length (or depth) to get another. And another. And another.

Imagine my surprise when I went over to where all of my craft items are stored and found 10-15 pipe cleaners scattered on the ground (used up? All their druggy goodness gone?). I thought that keeping the pipe cleaners in a bag, in a bin, under my bookcase was quite a hiding place.

What I didn't realize was that the slightest catty glimpse of that bag could be had through the handle of said bin. And that you would stick your paw in the handle and move the bag around. And stick your head between shelf and bin (choking..literally) to pull out a new, and more euphoria inducing than the last, pipe cleaner.

Ah cat, you amuse me. Continue stealing pipe cleaners all you like. But no overdosing (or choking to death) please.

Love,
Katie

Announcing...

Christmas buttons! (there will be one up tonight, if I have to beat Picasa2 into submission. Slight delay for now, but I imagine most of you are checking in the morning...if so, the button is there!)

(my Mom just said, FINALLY!)

Also announcing, my first idea for non-complainer posts:
Weekly letters.

No specific day. No specific topic. No specific length.

See above.