So I wasn't going to "blog", but since ATT hasn't come up with a plan yet that will allow me to regale you individually and without penalty here we are. Besides most of you asked for it so blame yourselves...

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Real World

Maybe given the recent AXO drama I have "sorority" on my brain but I can't help but feel like the "training" I am going through is a lot like rush (I hope I don't get P-5'd!) and pledging.... Not that Marsha K. Grady would appreciate my writing of this blog, but it is just one more instance where I am able to draw upon my "AXO Experience" and apply it to life. Unlike say, Mr. Ziegler's 10th grade Geometry class (talk about REMEDIAL!) or Mr. Cresswell's 10th grade Chemistry Lab (Man, 10th grade SUCKED). But then again I do have a BFA in Surface Pattern Design and I like to bake. So maybe it's all relative. (Let's go COMETS!)

Or maybe it all goes back to Mrs. Coviello and 14 years at the Devine School of Dance,

"Just keep DANCING. No matter what happens. Just keep dancing. If your shoe falls off: JUST KEEP DANCING. If the girl next to you falls off the stage: JUST KEEP DANCING!"

I'm smiling. I'm dancing. Heck, I'm tasting wine.... you'd think I was having a lot more FUN.

I'll keep you posted.
k8

Monday, March 29, 2010

Remedial Wine

I'M NEVER GOING TO GET THIS RIGHT! AAARRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

I won't go so far as to say, "they all taste the same" (they don't) or "I can't taste the difference" (they do taste different) but I CANNOT decipher the difference or intelligently put it into "Wine Words".

BUTTERY??? Really???

And why don't they just taste like the GRAPES that made them? WHY do they need to taste/smell like apples, citrus, melons, wood!, oak, smoke!, and cinnamon spice. REALLY? CAN YOU PEOPLE REALLY TASTE CINNAMON SPICE IN YOUR Gewurztraminer????????????

And "dry"?? It's LIQUID, people. I'm not feeling the "dry".

I. just. want. to. wait. tables.
But NOOOOOOOO, I need a degree in Oenology or at the very least Viticulture. FRUIT!

help me.

I did like this Sangiovese. But what do I know.......
Napa Valley vintner Pedemonte Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rutherford Appellation, famous for producing world class Cabernet Sauvignon.

I'll keep you posted.
k8


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Correspondence: Take Note

You really can find ANYTHING via Google...
See full size image

I Googled "proper letter format" today and this website, Letter Writing Guide, was top of the list so I clicked on it. I got what I needed in terms of format for a Business Letter and then I decided to "click around" and came upon this:

Writing Love Letters/ Love Letter Sample

Love Letter Sample

December 12, 2004


To My Beloved Caitlyn,

You are always on my mind, I can't stop thinking about you. The first thoughts when I wake, and the last thoughts before I go to sleep are of you. I am such a lucky guy to have found such a wonderful woman. I miss you so much, it has been too long since the last time I saw you.

Your smile is so beautiful and magical. Every time that I think of your smile it lights me up inside. Even when I am having a really bad day, seeing you smile makes me want to smile too and it makes me forget about the previous events of the day.

Caitlyn, you must be the most caring person on earth. You seem to have an unlimited amount of patience and kindness. Every time I make a mistake you are right there to support me. The time that you drove 300 miles just to take care of my sick mother when I was away is just one example of your big heart.

I have had such a great time with you no matter what we are doing. As long as you are around, even doing the most mundane activity is fun. I hope that we'll see each other everyday when I come back, I want to spend as much time with you as possible. I miss you so much.


Love always,
Signature




AMAZING. And the Love Letter Writing Tips are possibly even better...

Writing Love Letters

A love letter is one of the few letters that should be written out on paper rather than typed. It shows that you care enough to take the time to write it out by hand and adds a personal touch to it. A love letter is an expression of one's feeling to another in written form.

Love Letter Writing Tips

  • Put a picture of your significant other in front of you to help inspire you while writing.

  • Put on some light romantic music, or read some romantic literature to get you in the mood and give you some ideas on what to write about.

  • Write a rough draft first and then put it onto a final copy. A grammatically incorrect or misspelled letter can interfere with the message the letter is trying to convey. Also the presentation of the letter is just as important as the content.

  • Write your final draft on nice stationary.

  • Write from your heart, be sincere about what you say.

  • You should open up a letter with "Dear" if you are early on in the relationship, but if you are at a deeper stage, "My Beloved", or "To My One and Only" may be more appropriate.

  • Don't close your letter with "Sincerely", use, "With warmest regards" (if you are at an early stage of your relationship), "Love", "Yours always", "Your beloved" (if you are at a later stage of your relationship) or something else along those lines.

  • Wait at least a day before sending out the letter, just in case you wrote something that you may regret later.

  • Put a small dab of cologne or perfume on your letter before you seal it up and sending it out.

  • Usually people only put a date on for the heading of the love letter.

    Writing the Love Letter
    The following is a simple guideline that will help you write your love letter.

    To start out with, write the first paragraph about how your lover makes you feel. In the next few paragraph right about qualities and characteristics which you find appealing about him/her and back them up with specific examples. To close out the letter talk about memories of past experiences that you shared with your partner and talk about your hopes for the future.

  • I feel like it's a TYPE A+ person who looks up love letter writing. I mean if you are IN LOVE shouldn't it just sort of ooze out? I guess if you have to ask....

    Saturday, March 20, 2010

    Join the Club!

    I can only sit inside on my laptop all day every day for so many days......

    I've been seeing these posters for The First Annual St. Patrick's Day Hackers Fest Golf Tournament (Surfers golfing?! Rad.) around town pretty much since I took up residence. I really like the design (its amazing how influential art can be) and in the past I've kicked around joining the Surfrider Foundation so... I emailed Tony and Cindy, the event contacts, and asked if they needed any volunteers.

    Does anyone ever say "no" to that???

    I looked forward to the event all week. The weather was PHENOMENAL- sunny and like, 80. I had to be at the course between 10 and 11. So I was up early, did an interview at 9, hit the Starbucks (Thank you, Donna B.), and headed to the course.

    My first task was to fill the SWAG bags. Cindy's adult son, Matt, was my co-assembler. Everyone was impressed by my abilities. Matt told me I was overqualified. (Granted Matt informed me on more than one occasion that he doesn't like to work but he can't find the anyone to pay him for doing nothing. I really wished Nicholas was there to witness this.) I attribute much of my bag-assembling success to "practice, practice, practice" and all of the weddings I've been involved with, a big shout out to Mrs. Sica, Mrs. McDermott, Mrs. Desmond, Mrs. DeSiderato, Mrs. Neville, Mrs. Jacobsen.

    Next I was assigned (by Cindy) to help Cindy with the Check-in table. After approximately 10 minutes, Cindy said, "It looks like you've got a handle on this. I'm just going to go check on a few things." And she never came back. So I ran the Check-in table. I like the Check-in table, you get to meet everyone and its busy. I nearly recruited some golfers as well.

    It was a 9 Hole Shotgun Start Tournament. Once it was underway I helped break down the check in area, transfer everything upstairs to the banquet room, and set up again. With every new task Cindy and Tony seemed mildly surprised that I could handle it and kept saying things like, "You're good." (Um, not rocket science. And to this point not even math!)

    As teams were finishing, Tony told me we'd need to collect the scorecards and do the math. (Uh-oh) At the mere mention of "doing the math" I could feel the anxiety creeping in. I jokingly told him he did not want me doing the math but that I would happily collect the cards. Guess who did the math? Me! And no one even seemed to care! It must have been all the Primo beer on the course. No one even double checked my math!

    The banquet that followed was fun. Not surprisingly, corned beef, cabbage, and red potatoes were the fare. (Some day I'm going to have Mexican on St Patty's Party and then on Cinco de Mayo serve corned beef and cabbage.) There was a raffle with some big prizes: custom wetsuit (you should see the guy who won!), a HUGE paddle board, life coaching, etc.

    All in all, I met a lot of cool people including the two teams from VANS (I felt like Colin was there. VANS definitely got the Best Dressed Award or Most Festive anyway.) And another guy, Steve, who gave me the surf lessons he won in the raffle because he doesn't need them and I was new and don't surf yet. So that was very cool.

    By the end of the day all I could do was just smile and shake my head. I had walked in that morning not knowing a soul and not having contributed an iota to the preparation and yet managed to be a big part of the production "day-of". (I was even in the chapter picture!) Seriously? Could this be my job? Is this a job? What job is it and how do I get it?

    See you never know who you're gonna meet. It's definitely a group I'll look forward to being part of and they are already recruiting me for their upcoming events.

    I'll keep you posted.
    k8

    Tuesday, March 16, 2010

    Apparently we had an earthquake....

    I did get shaken awake. However, I SWEAR it happened SUNDAY night and not last night. Of course, many of you know how well I function when I'm half asleep so....

    Anyway, big day today: earthquake, bug issue, vacuum fire, crabs....

    Earthquake- Los Angeles 4.4 at 4:04 AM.....
    Does anyone else find that bizarre: 4.4 @ 4:04???????

    Bug issue- Hopefully minor. Mom suggested vacuuming, hence....

    Vacuum fire- small, contained, but nonetheless...
    I literally JUST took the brand new Dirt Devil out of the box (some assembly required) this morning specifically to aid in the bug issue!!! I started with the bedroom and nearly got through it when the Devil sucked up an edge of the bed sheet, which I immediately freed, (Have no fear Maria!) and simultaneously started puffing (POOF!) dust. I figured this was just a result of freeing the sheet but then it smelled like something was burning and the sheet wasn't on fire so that left the vacuum. Great. Just great. I am not sure HOW I did not cry... Probably because Mom didn't answer any of her phones so I just had to suck it up. (Pun intended.)

    The vacuum was returned to Target this afternoon and a new Eureka! purchased in its stead.

    Crabs- Separate from the bug issue, thankyouverymuch.

    As in, Joe's Crab Shack...
    Where I spent the afternoon at Orientation. I can't tell you much about it because it is possibly more confidential than Area 51. Since I do not currently have any other options I may actually have to do this. I'm not sure that I can, regardless of the ample blogability it would lend to my life.

    It was painful. For all the obvious reasons and then some. Like, I confirmed today that I am 13 years older than Brittney the up-and-coming hostess and youngest member of my orientation group. I was the only person in the whole group whose parents aren't claiming them on their taxes. I'll admit though, the W4 always trips me up- do I claim 0? 1? 2? I never remember....

    Jerry, our amiable General Manager, essentially read the Employee Handbook to us. (If you've ever seen the movie Ski Patrol Jerry is like "Murray") And while I'm sure he wasn't trying to be offensive, he actually explained the Work Opportunity Tax Credit form (8850) as being "for poor people" and instructing us "so fill it out if you're poor, but I don't think any of you are poor..." Um, JUST. SO. WRONG. I'm sure there's more but I'm falling asleep and its escaping me.

    Tomorrow: Golf.

    I'll keep you posted.
    k8


    Monday, March 8, 2010

    New Jersey, Orange, Syracuse


    Three words that make me memorable. Or not.

    Hahaha. OK so this is the story of last Thursday. And my on-going job search. I'll start at the beginning...

    Nearly everyday I get up, rustle up some coffee (I have yet to buy a coffee pot. It's top of the list though.), and fire up
    Craigslist. There are some truly amazing postings on Craigslist: Beer Wench, Experienced Knife-Man, and Vegas Dancer are my most recent favorites. Nearly all of them require a headshot be sent along with one's resume. So I spend a few hours sifting through them, emailing them to myself and then when my computer battery dies I do something else and follow up on the short list in the afternoon.

    Last week I found a post for a Receptionist at the Mercedes-Benz dealer in Newport Beach which happens to be the Number 1 Mercedes-Benz dealership in the world. On Thursday all interested candidates should come to the dealership at 10AM to fill out an application, etc. So on Thursday I get up, I get dressed like I'm going to a legit interview: winter white cords, navy blue button down, fab shoes, fab bag, lots of jewelry, and I drive to Newport. I arrive at the most COMPLEX complex ever. This place was crazy!

    The Valets (Valet!) were expecting us, so after I parked per their instructions, I headed off to find Reception. No easy task I'll tell you! I started in Guest Services where there was a full service nail salon, coffee bar with baristas, and who knows what else. (Now MAYBE all MB dealerships are like this, but I drive a 1998 third-hand Jeep Wrangler so how would I know!) Anyway, I get there, I finally find Reception, and there are probably 20 other women already there. A diverse group, though I was the only one NOT wearing black and not visibly carrying my resume in one of those plastic book report covers. (What is with that? I haven't seen one of those since 1998.) One gal felt that a skin tight black mini skirt was the way to go. And hey, she may get the job.

    While we all awkwardly stood around waiting to be escorted wherever we were going next one guy did show up and he brought a friend along. (I never understand this.) FINALLY, "Heather" leads us all out a side door, through a side parking lot, up some side stairs, and into a classroom-like room where she gives us the basics about the job and hands out applications. She asks if anyone needs a pen (not that she's brought any) and about half the candidates raise their hands. Now, call me crazy but if you are going to job interview shouldn't you have a pen??? Personally, if I were conducting this "interview" I would have told the pen-less they were free to go.

    I had a pen; so I filled out the 565 page application. (Though I may have signed a waiver forfeiting my first born. My apologies if anyone reading this was thinking we might one day have children together. Fletcher Jones has dibs.)

    Heather had instructed us that we were free to leave once we completed the application and that we should see ourselves out the way we came. So off I went. When I hit the main lot two of the Salesmen stationed there were like "Hi! How did it go?" I was caught off guard by this, but responded that at this point it went about the same for all of us. They laughed and said, "You're not from here, are you?" Me: "Uh, no. What gave me a away?" Them: "Where are you from?" Me: "NY/NJ".

    I spoke to them a little longer, but never really managed to pinpoint WHAT gave me away. One said something about liking my style before he launched into a story about a girl he'd dated from Chicago (WHAT?????). I just kept walking backwards, smiling, and talking until it was safe to say, "Nice to meet you. Have a great day." and bolt. Arriving at Valet, Brian, the-valet-trained-to-be-a-fireman, (Stacey I thought of you!) also asked me how it went. After I got a little more of his life story and his well wishes I was off. Friendly group over there at Fletcher Jones Mercedes. But hey, considering I hadn't had any coffee
    yet my day was off to a pretty good start.

    I headed towards Starbucks before stopping by Barb's office to pick up some things. While I was there she and Cathy (Barb's friend/neighbor/intern) gave me some good advice about other types of jobs I might consider and where to look. I also asked them to give me a list of better restaurants around the area for me to check out (to put in an application, not to eat at). They gave me a good list and with that, a tv, and an invite to dinner at Barb's I was on my way.
    I figured since I was pulled together for interviewing I might as well stop by some of the places on the list. I did and most just handed me a generic application and told me to drop it back off. I was ready to call it a day, head home to set up the tv, dismantle the car carrier, pack for San Fran, and get ready for dinner at Barb's. Then I saw that I was practically in the parking lot of one of the places on the list, Joe's Crab Shack. So I took a deep breath and figured I'd just run in and grab one more application. Well!

    I walk in and there are about 15 other people filling out applications. It must be group application day, I thought. Next thing I know, Jerry is leading us all into a back room/porch. We all sit down and Jerry says, "OK. I want each person to give me 3 words that will make me remember them." I would say that most of the group opted to use the same words varying only the order: friendly, happy, and fun saw the most use. One guy went out on a limb with "driven". One girl used her name. I was towards the back of the group and went with New Jersey, orange, Syracuse. Jerry gave me a "you're not like the other kids" look. And I realized during this exercise that no, I wasn't. I was about 12-15 years older than everyone else there. So, I just laughed to myself and thought: "well, I'll just get through this and chalk it up to something to blog about". But wait. It gets better. It does.

    Next, Jerry asks who likes to dance? (OH. MY. GOD. This is one of those restaurants like Johnny Rockets where they DANCE every 45 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Barb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Barb swears she does not remember there EVER being dancing when she was there. I think Barb is secretly getting a good giggle out of this.

    We all get up and follow Jerry into the main dining area (oh, yes there are Customers) where he introduces us to "Jessica, one of Joe's TOP servers AND dancers!". Cue the music. (By God, there WILL be dancing!) Something called the Cha-cha Slide? I don't know, but I'm sure glad I knew the Electric Slide and that I went to EIGHT weddings this year. I think that helped. I slid to left. Slid to the right. Stomped my high-heeled-Cole-Haan-clad feet and tried not to croak. Cha-cha-cha.

    I figured the the worst was over. And then Jerry took us out to the parking lot. Good. Shoot me. End this. If it got mafioso it would have been better. I'd have preferred sleeping with the fishes. Instead, Jerry divided us into 3 unequal groups and gave us 5 minutes to compose a cheer (F#&K!!!!!!!!) about Joe's. I considered making a break for it. After all, we were in the parking lot, and unlike some of the other candidates I had driven myself there, but my belongings were in that back room. Drat.

    How was there not ONE high school cheerleader in my group? No pep squad. No color guard. No band geek. Just me and my 14 years at the Devine School of Dance. (You better believe that I wrote that on my application under "Special Skills". First time ever.) Thank gods for Yell Like Hell during Greek Week. I composed a little something:
    "Pick 'em, peel 'em, eat 'em, shuck 'em. Eat. At. Joe's."
    and though our choreography was lacking- no one was willing to do a basket toss- we got through.

    Finally, we were allowed back inside and Jerry was going to meet with each of us individually. When it was my turn I approached Jerry, introduced myself, shook his hand, and handed him my application. And RESUME. He said, "So, Kate I take it you've graduated from college?". Yes, Jerry, yes, I have.

    We spoke briefly. He told me he'd like to have me meet with his manager. I said great and shook his hand and left. If I hadn't been totally pressed for time at that point I would have posted this right away and it would have possibly been funnier because it was fresh. However, I wouldn't have been able to tell you that I got a call back today from Joe's Crab Shack and it looks like I'll be meeting with Joe on Thursday. I'd ask you to cross your fingers, but I'm not sure what I'm hoping for!

    Monday, March 1, 2010

    Drama(mine) Queen

    Waiting here at the Catalina Express Ferry Terminal. The 6:15 AM (Thank you, Bridget, for the wake up call!) boat was turned back to the dock because of "turbulent water" (TSUNAMI!). The 8AM boat was cancelled. The next possible boat is 10AM. However, who knows what will happen with this Tsunami Warning...

    ...I'll tell you what happened, the 8AM boat was reinstated as an 8:30AM boat. And I got on it. I have thrown up more in the month of February than in my
    entire life possibly. Ugh.

    I am seriously considering NOT being "a person of my word". "My word" keeps screwing me over.

    So you're wondering WHY I was on a ferry in the Pacific with a Tsunami Warning in effect for the entire Pacific Basin.

    Just the facts:
    A) When I got up at 4:30AM, I was not aware that there WAS a Tsunami Warning in effect.
    2) I gave "my word" I would help Alyse with the Buffalo Run.
    D) I was up, I was dressed, I ventured out in the rain at 5AM, the ticket was bought.

    The long story....
    A couple of weeks ago Alyse asked me if I'd be interested in being a Course Marshall at the Buffalo Run (a 5K / half marathon) out on Catalina Island. At the time it sounded like a good idea, a nice way to spend a sunny Saturday on this Catalina Island I hear so much about. Plus, it would be a good way to network, meet other runners, maybe parlay it into a job... so I said I'd LOVE to do it. Absolutely. Count on me.

    Of all the days last week it was going to rain on Saturday. And rain it did. Real rain this time- probably because I mocked it in my last post. What I also failed to realize until I was on the first (6:15) boat was that the Buffalo Run is a TRAIL RUN. 13.1 miles of MUD. Yay! My new sneakers were too white anyway.

    So with an average amount of confusion and mix up in getting to the Ferry Terminal, I met Alex (for the FIRST TIME- keep this in mind) and we made the (6:15) boat. We departed on time but were turned back due to "turbulent water" (TSUNAMI!). An announcement was made that the 8AM boat might make it out so we waited. While we waited tsunami rumors started. An announcement was made that the 8AM boat was cancelled but the 10AM boat might get out. So we waited. The 8AM boat was reinstated as an 8:30AM boat so we got on. And that's when the fun started really.

    Another "can't see the forest for the trees, Kate" experience. I had at least 3 completely valid opportunities to be "excused" for not showing up and did I take them, NO. This is the girl who got queasy on Epcot's World of Motion ride. And swore off cruises after a trip on Disney's Big Red Boat. WHY? was I on the ferry?

    Alex (who I have known for approximately 2.5 hours) wanted to sit on the upper level. OK, fine. Not so fine. (Note to self: In "turbulent water" its better to sit lower.) It was like being on Space Mountain or one of those log flume rides. It was ridiculous. I put my head down and closed my eyes. I was HOPING they would turn us back again- right about this time the "Captain" announced that it looked like we'd keep going and that it could take as much as 2 hours. 2 HOURS! OH. MY. GOD. (Sorry, Chrissy.) Begin yoga breathing.

    Next thing you know a ceiling panel next to us falls down. Then a few minutes later a girl comes over to us and says, "Um, you guys might want to move. The ceiling tile with the big speaker in it looks like its going to come down next." Seriously? If I pick my head up I am going to die. If I keep my head down apparently I might also die. Crud. So we get up to move and Alex suggests we head downstairs since we have to get up anyway. OK, yes let's try that.

    I was actually astounded that I didn't get tossed overboard. Literally, the boat was bobbing up and down like a speedboat does on a lake with an a$$hole driver. I was holding onto whatever I could and making my way downstairs. The difference was noticeable but it was too late for me. I looked at Alex, said "I need to sit down right now." We sat at the closest table with two other people and I looked at Alex and said, "I'm going to throw up." And he handed me a bag. It was miserable. At some point I was like, "Can you get this piece of hair out of my face?" I DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I found a greeting card once that said: "I make a really great second impression...most people don't know that." I should see if I can find it and send it to Alex.

    The seasickness subsided and I just kept my head down for the rest of the ride. But all I could think was, "I have to go back."

    Eventually, we made it to Catalina. The race was a whole other cringe-worthy story for those of us who like organization and "a plan". (To all my NY running friends, send NYRR a Thank You note- you have NO IDEA...) But I did manage to have some fun. I didn't have to stand in the mud, but we all got rained on. I Marshalled with Jess at 5-points which is the last intersection of the race. They don't stop traffic on the course- however, it's mostly golf carts. We were asked some fairly ridiculous questions. My favorite was asked by an elderly woman in a plastic covered golf cart: "Is there a reason you're standing out here?". Thinking up possible responses entertained us the rest of the afternoon.

    Before I knew it it was time to get back on the boat. The guy sitting next to me and Alex had some Dramamine. I took one, put on my iPod and woke up in Long Beach. Picked up some Kraft Macaroni & Cheese on the way home, took a hot shower, and was in bed by 8PM.