POST 17.1: A New Diet

I lost 1 pound. I am just sure it is the icy pop things I have been eating, this one is banana. It's good because it doesn't actually taste like a banana.

Pretty sure a good plan is for me to keep living off of these. Too bad I am running low on red & blue!

POST 16.2: THE GRADES ARE IN...

...this has been the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONGEST week of my life!


I know some of you probably think "whatever Katherine, you are so dramatic!"


So I am...who cares? I like the stage!


Call me Shakespeare. Or not...never mind, don't call me Shakespeare!


If you have been reading my blog then you know that 1 week ago tonight (Monday) I took my first Statistics exam. It was hard, really hard. I studied (a lot) and made the kick butt fact sheet of the century! I felt relatively prepared before the exam, since the prof posts all his previous years exams. Until I got the exam in front of me and then I freaked out. It took me 2 HOURS to take the exam and I finished relatively quickly compared to others.

Well, tonight was the night...tonight we got our exams back.

Our prof kept going on and on about how horrible everyone did and how stupid we are and then he listed percentages and then a graph representing the grades and then another representation of the grades using some other statistical data...in sane.
The only thing I remember was that he said
5% of the grades were 100%...
that's 8 individuals (out of 2 classes) got 100%!

He called everyone's name and we had to go get our papers...mine was SERIOUSLY almost at the end of the stack!

So what did I get, you ask?

....................................................................................

Wait for it...

...................................................................

Wait for it...

.....................................................

...........................................

..................................

Wait for it...

..........................

Wait for it...

...................

..............

.........

.....

...

.

SHUT UP!

Yes, i seriously got 100% on my first stats exam...can you believe it?
I have NEVER received a 100% on ANY type of math test. Hell, I don't think I have ever received even an A of ANY % value on ANY type of math test.

This is UNBELIEVABLE...but believe it! That is my actual exam paper above. I took a picture right there in my class...right after I left (during the middle of class) to call mom.

Wow. Shock & awwww!

POST 16.1: Monday/Walking/Painting

POST 16.1:

MONDAY/WALKING

Last night Susan called to tell me she has to be to the school (work) by 8 a.m. so we would have to leave immediately after her boys leave for Seminary so she could be back in time to get ready and to work on time.

So this morning I was up at about 5:45 a.m. and basically listened to The Bert Show blaring loudly on my radio/alarm while I waited for Susan to call. 6:05 a.m came and still no call from Susan. Even though it was Monday and I did not want to leave my uber comfy bed, I decided I would go ahead and get dressed and head out...all the while assuming she was actually up. 6:20 a.m. I pulled into her drive, knocked on her door, she answered (yawning) and then I said "you didn't call, so I wasn't sure if I should come" ~ her response "I was hoping you wouldn't, I am so tired." I told her next time text me "stay in bed" and I would happily oblige!

The bad thing is...I sort of like walking in the morning. I tend to have a better day, and am more ready for bed at 10:30 that night having sufficiently worn myself out. So...as much as I wanted to stay in bed, I'm glad I got up. HOWEVER...today I did come home after and take a little nap. What?! I really was tired.

PAINTING:

Most of you know that I work for a company that is based in Oregon, but I work in Atlanta. I am (currently) the only person working for this company on the east coast. I have an office in an office suite where lots of other people have offices too. My next door neighbor, Marci (she imports granite) and I have become good friends and this past week she was overseas and brought me a present:

A REAL painting! And of an Italy countryside! Isn't it pretty? I scanned it in but it didn't all fit on the screen, so I had to piece it together. I can't wait to get it framed ~ then I will take a real picture and post for all to see.

OK, this is all you get for now...but wait for it, wait for it...tonight we are scheduled to receive our grades from our Stats exam...I PROMISE...no matter what the grade, I will post my results.

POST 15: Picture (image search) ...thievery

(I saw this on Sarah's blog and thought it was really fun so I thieved it and made a few changes!)

For this one you type your answer into Google's image search and post a pic of your answer.

Favorite Vacation:

This is Destin, FL, but I'll take any...

Favorite Color:
RED...

My age:

I don't get it...

My favorite treat:


My favorite food:
...as a matter of fact there is no such thing as a nice pic of tuna casserole...

The place I want to travel most:

aaahhh, Venice...

My first name:

Just pretend Heigel isn't famous...
Katherine Gorge in Australia

My middle name:

Take your pic ~
Earnhart...

with Chip...
or the lovely Ms. Evans...
Where I was born:

Most think of the Caverns...

But those that know...know Canal Street...
Favorite animal:


I'm supposed to tag someone, but why bother...you'll never do it anyway!

POST 15: Petrol

Today I sat at K-Roger, in line to get petrol, for over an hour and then spent the rest of the evening stressed that Sarah had none. When I talk to friends from out of the state, no one seems to know about Atlanta's gas crisis. I know it's minor compared to the financial crisis the United States is having, but it's a crisis to us.

Sonny (right on Governor!) got clearance to use a "dirtier burning fuel" but we have still seen no relief since that allowance from the EPA. THIS is not the best story ever, and HERE are some photos...just to give you an idea.

I agree that there may be some that are rushing to fill up the moment they see/hear that there is petrol somewhere...and then there are the rest of us that fill up when we need to. Either way, it's not a good thing.

So...
For anyone else who is suffering from a petrol shortage, my heart goes out to you. (Shell had some earlier tonight)
For anyone who is complaining about petrol prices, at least you have it.
For anyone who thinks that gas can function should be regulated by the EPA so they all work the same and you don't spill $20 worth of gas all over the ground...stand up and SHOUT IT OUT. I hear ya!

Here's for stricter punishment for parole violators Bob...and world peace!

POST 14: Outage & Donuts

Happy POST 14!

I logged on this morning to get an early post in before a crazy day and saw THIS:

In celebration of it being Friday, I have saved a special story to make you laugh. Now, I will give warning, this may very well not be as funny as when it occurred, but come on...34 days of posts - you have to deal with a few duds! Anyway, since there are donuts in the break room...

(Evil Satan food I tell you...that is what he wants you to put in your 72 hour kits. Lucifer probably has his own cannery where the only thing that goes into a No.10 can on Friday's is a bakers dozen! Glazed OK with you? Don't worry, Monday - Thursday he rotates between Milky Way, Twix, Hostess Cupcakes & Twinkies! Go ahead, you know you will be begging me for wheat flour (thank you for my wheat grinder AJ) when you open your No.10 and your precious Satan food is...eeeew, gross!)

Where was I? Ah, yes...this story takes place this past Wednesday night while in attendance at my Statistics class. Since we had our test the previous Monday (no, we do not have our grades back) we start a new chapter of torture: CLINICAL TRIALS!

No, I am not Pre-Med. Yes, my strange Stats professor spent 45 minutes explaining how a clinical trial works. No, I did not pay attention...I focused on filling my Crackberry calendar with all the stuff I have could have been doing.

So, he finally got to our first study case...it was about cervical cancer (this is where it gets good.) He said "ladies, you will have to excuse me for a moment while I explain to the men in the room what the cervix is." I teased and said "well, can we leave then...since we're are pretty familiar?" He laughed...so that was good...but continued to go into very clinical detail about a woman's cervix...referring to our female parts as a "donut".

No, I am not kidding, I am DEAD serious. I was too busy laughing to hear if the iced side of the donut were on the inside or outside of me, but yes...he went there!

Next he wants us to write up the clinical trail and I am crying from laughing so hard I cannot see my paper. This is a "G" rated blog so you will just have to imagine the kind of comments that were being said all around me. I don't think I need to remind anyone how the mind of a 21 year old college student works. All I know is that this was (give or take) the 11th class with this professor and this was the FIRST time he made us laugh. He even came over to my desk and giggled making some comment like "you're having a hard time with this, aren't you?" I quickly passed blame on to my group members who continued to make comments even as he was standing there.

I think this story only gets better if you can actually picture my professor. I have explained him in a previous post (HERE.)

And yes, he still needs a hair cut!

POST 13.2: Orange. Crocks. Grown-ups.

Let's talk Crocks

They're cute, right? Sure...on children! I won't even put an age limit on it, I will just leave it at "children" and call it good.

Well, yesterday I zoned in on the powers of Stacy & Clinton...and spotted another WHAT NOT TO WEAR moment at KSU:

Dude. Orange Crocks...

'nuff said

POST 13.1: A good post

This morning I was blog stalking and found THIS post. It was written by a guy that lives in Houston and he basically just shares his Ike experience. I thought it was a good read and very informative. Enjoy. Be prepared. Be smart. Be nice. Loves.

POST 12.2: Chivalry vs. Shivering

Chivalry vs. Shivering

Yeah, so...today I had to run and pick up some clothes that I had altered. BTW: they turned out great, the jacket (I shortened the sleeves) looks amazing and the pants (I had hemmed) are the perfect length. I also had a zipper replaced in a pair of black pants that I have never even worn...the first time I put them on the zipper broke...stupid pants.

Anyway, I needed a quick and yummy lunch and figured Applebee's was the perfect spot since they have "To Go" parking and a Weight Watchers menu. I can't be letting all this 6 a.m. walking go to waste, now can I?!?

Now, here is the reason for my post. As I approached the front door at Applebee's a group of men started coming out. They were about my age and we basically got to the door at the same time. I stepped back as not to get run over, but was honestly surprised when the first guy did not step back and hold the door open for me. I mean, I am a girl...and I am even wearing PINK today. So I wait...irritated, sure, but just stood there.

It was the FIFTH! guy that stopped and held the door for me and waited until I had passed through to do the same. I was shocked!

I know we've had that whole "Women's Liberation" crap, but I wasn't there. I didn't burn my bras (I need them!) and I would much rather stay at home and bake bread than go out and earn a living. I mean, I know I'm brilliant...but I don't need to work 9-5 to figure that out. I can volunteer and feed the poor and homeless, I could travel to foreign countries and quilt blankets for the cold...bandage the beaten...entertain the bored...research and educate and the list goes on!

But NO, I have to work and earn a living. And all I ask for in return is a little R.E.S.P.E.C.T ~ Sing it Aretha!

But instead of an encierro in Pamplona...

I get to run with the bulls in good 'ol Atlanta Georgia.

All I have to say is:

POST 12.1: Walking day 2

Well, for those of you that bet the farm/house/whatever...I've got you on at least 2 days. Happy to say however, that my friends have a lot of faith in me. Far more, I would wager, than I have in myself. (Thank you Nicole, Kristen & Heather for your words of encouragement.)

Today was the 2nd day I got up early to walk with Susan. It was strange too...I didn't hear her call and when I heard my alarm go off on it's snooze it startled me and I jumped up and sent a quick text to let her know I was coming, changed into my clothes and then called...just to make sure she was waiting for me. Susan's serious and has not time to wait around.

This morning did seem to be a lot easier (even with way uncomfortable cramps and a brisk breeze) and we made two laps around the track at the school, rather than our one from yesterday. (We end our walk at the high school...we actually do more walking before this.)

I feel better...and that's saying something, even just based on a few days of walking.

Let's hear it for day 2...and day 3 only a few hours away!

POST 11.2: Happy Birthday Braden (lucky you I have laundry in)

Tonight I am plum tuckered out. This morning's jont with Susan (see POST 11.1) left me feeling great, but it's 10:33 p.m. and I am spent. Unfortunately I had to put some laundry in the wash, so while I wait for it to finish I decided I would blog.

Blog Topic: Braden's birthday
My friend Jen and I met many moons ago when we both lived in Orem, Utah. We were neighbors in a duplex, which also meant we were in the same ward and we became fast friends. Jen is originally from Florida, but her family had eventually moved to Georgia. Well, a few years later MY family moved to Georgia and through some very strange shift in space we realized my brother and her sister knew each other out south. (I rec'd an email forward (love those) from my brother John and in the message saw that it came from a Heather Jaquiss (Jen's maiden name.) That being such an uncommon name I said "hey, are you related?" and the rest is history.)

Since then her family and my family have moved closer to each other and now my parents literally live about 2 miles from her, right here in Georgia. It is so great having such amazing friends from all over and so amazing that I can manage to stay so close to one I met so far away.

...on with the story Katherine!

Anyway, Jen is now married (lucky) to Ken (yeah, I know...Jen & Ken) and they have 6 beautiful children, 3 of which live with them here in Georgia. Her youngest, Braden, turned 1 this past Sunday and Jen had a small dinner to celebrate. I (of course) brought my camera to mark the occasion and show off some digital on the blog.

This is Braden:
This is Jen, Ken & Braden:
This is Braden's big sister Rylie:And this is Braden & Rylie's big sister Kenidee:
Funny Story Time:
Since Jen has known me so long she calls me Kathy. It's not unheard of, a lot of people call me Kathy, including my family and work people. I just prefer Katherine from everyone else.

Anyway, when Kenidee started talking she couldn't pronounce my name, but managed to say "Aunt Kappy" instead. She does much better these days at saying Kathy but it's still fun either way.

This is Jen, myself & Kenidee:
This is Kenidee & I:I told her I was going to use the picture on my blog, even if she made a sad face.
Then she managed this:
Here are a few of my favorite random shots of the evening.

This is Braden's "I just got a bunch of cool presents" face:
"BRING ME MY CAKE!"Not pictured, cousin Ben helping blow out the candle:
Dig in little man:I don't think that will taste quite the same:What a cutie:I took no less than 16 shots of this exact scene...if only mom & dad had kept looking my direction:
Larry & Michelle Jaquiss (Jen's parents):Heather (Jaquiss), Chris & Ben Carter:

OK, that does it...this is the end of our slideshow. I must admit, the washer stopped a good 30 minutes ago, so I must get that taken care of and get my tush in bed for some much needed beauty sleep. ttfn

POST 11.1: Hope you didn't bet the house

This morning, at promptly 6:01 a.m. I received a call from Susan telling me to get my tush out of bed. With groggy eyes and an exhausted body I jumped up and turned on the light so it would bug me and I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. I grabbed my workout clothes, washed my face, brushed my smile and jetted out the door.

Poor Scott was a little startled as I said "Good morning" walking up to the door in perfect time for he and Alec to leave out for Seminary.

We read our scriptures for a bit and then we were out the door.

My legs were pretty sore this morning, my guess is that comes from being so tense while taking my Stats test last night, but I persevered. We walked around here and around there, through the parking lot and eventually once around the track and then headed back to Susan's house. My guess is we walked for approximately 40 minutes...but I didn't time it.

I feel great (minus the cramps) and am so proud of myself that I actually got up.

So...hope you didn't bet the house against me!

POST 10.2: Stats Test

Today was my first stats test of the semester. I have been studying for it for days and days and was honestly really stressed until just today. I finally started to feel a little better about things when I reviewed everything just before the test.
(Thanks for the quickie tutor session Susan)

Anyway...our professor posts all the previous tests on line so we know what to expect. It consisted of (4) cases and each case had a lot of work with it. I knew it was going to be very time consuming and I was really worried about my hand lasting through all that work. (I broke it when I was in the 4th grade and then again a few years ago...it has a lot of pain when I write for extended periods of time...my excuse for never taking notes ;)

So...my class is at 8:00 p.m. and there is another stats class (same prof) in the same room at 6:30 p.m. just before mine. When we got to the classroom almost the entire class was full from the previous class...they were still working on the test!!

As seats emptied he let the rest of us come in and start our test. I had to sit way in the back at the top and was so uncomfortable: I was squeezed in between two guys and had such little room. And imagine, one of them forgot to shower this morning! I just don't get it, why do college students have such a problem with personal hygiene? It is so gross.

So I basically started my test at 8:00 p.m. and I walked out of the room at 10:00 p.m. This is just a regular test, not even a final and it took TWO HOURS! And I seriously think I left before some students from the previous class.

Funny/sad thing...about 5 minutes into my starting the exam a girl came in. Within 30 minutes she was up and turning in her paper. We had to put our name on a plain sheet of paper as a cover page when we turned it in and the prof (so annoying) was telling her she needed to do the cover page when he looked at her work and said "Oh, never mind" and she left. I can only imagine...I actually knew what I was doing and I didn't hesitate except to sharpen my pencil and it took me 2 hours...I am guessing she didn't have much on her paper.

By the time I was done my right hand was so cramped up I could hardly use it to write my name on the cover page...so sad.
You know this guy isn't a half bad teacher except that he is so annoying, but he has to grade all these tests, why would he want to make them so difficult/long.

ugh.
Now the waiting starts...wonder how long it will take him to post the grades. Watch for updates!

POST 9.1 + 10.1: Ooops

POST 9.1: Sorry people...I missed yesterday. Sunday's are no longer a day of rest for me...with 2 Sacrament Meetings and ran over to the 'Rent's ward to catch the end of church (15 minutes of Singing Time in Primary to be exact.) It was still a great day and I managed to make it to be around 1:00 a.m. this morning after studying for my Stats test scheduled later this evening.

POST 10.1:

I'm tired.

My office is cold.

I don't feel good.

I need to find something fun to blog about so I'll come back later.

POST: 8.1: Saturday is a special day...

...it's the day you get ready for Sunday.

For my get ready activity today, I have done almost nothing I intended to do today, including study. I am watching J&J's girls tonight and am just settling in at the computer to print on some practice tests. Fun times.

I did have to share one thing. I was at Wal*Mart today getting my oil changed and picking up some groceries when I came across this new line of women's clothes by Norma Kamali. I feel in love with this particular t-shirt...it's black with huge white lips on the front. $6...I was so excited. I tried to find a picture, but to no avail. I am sure eventually it will show up on my bod in your presence or in a photo that you can see.

That's all I got...off to Statics!

POST 7.2: Blogger on the Blitz

...this post is really just a test to see if Blogger is still on the BLITZ! I posted early this morning and for some reason it put that post behind the one from last night. Strange.

But just to be clear...I did blog today...this 7th day of blogging!

POST 6.2: WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

This semester I am taking Statistics. It's a strange class with an even stranger professor which I won't go into at the moment.

The point is...it's math...and I suck at math of any kind. Because of this (and the fact that I have a test on Monday) I asked Susan to help me (she's really smart) with a little tutor session tonight. I really wanted to find the time to work out, but with the drama mama that lives downstairs I knew the treadmill would be out of the question.

So on the way home I drove via Susan's house and measured the distance. 2 miles. I figured if I gave myself 45 minutes or even an hour, then I could plan on getting to her house when she did.

When I finally got home the missionaries were just walking in and I had cookies for them upstairs, so it took me an extra minute to run upstairs & return with the goodies. By the time I made a quick PB&J and changed my clothes I didn't get out of the house until about 7:20 p.m. (Susan would be home at about 8:15 p.m.)

I headed out and at first walked slow so I could eat my PB&J and frozen ice pop thingy...but then I got into it and walked at a more acceptable pace!

Some things I observed on my walk:
* GIVE A HOOT...DON'T POLLUTE! Dude, there were so many recyclables on the ground. I wish I had brought a trash bag along so I could pick it all up. Funny thing...in my Sci class I learned how horrible fast food restaurants are about their waste (or rather, our waste from those establishments) and I would say that the majority of what I passed on my walk was from McKing Bell types.

* HEY, GUESS WHAT? YOUR WINDOWS ARE NOT TINTED! Seriously...you can stare, it doesn't bother me. I am walking, it happens sometimes. Today I am doing it on purpose...saving some $4.15/gallon petrol, getting some exercise! Oh, but you there in that minivan, you are not invisible...I can actually see you through the glass.
* THE KEY IS "OUST!" I am not sure that they make it in a large enough dispenser, but they should. Susan guessed that the smell came from the waste water treatment facility and I would have to agree. Either that or all that recyclable garbage on the streets.
* WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS...man, I'm walking here! No, there is not a sidewalk or I would be on it. But please, don't let me get in your way...big huge UPS truck or grande 12 passenger van or little tee-tiny car that drives too fast. For the love, give a pedestrian a little room!

* WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS? When someone says "It's getting dark out." That really means in two seconds you will be walking down a dimly lit street with crappy sidewalks (finally), strange noises & shadows...walk a little faster.

All in all I had a great walk. I was a little slower than I expected, but I had to carry my backpack of school books and hey, it's heavy. Susan ended up picking me up at her corner, which still means I walked 2 miles tonight, since that's where I began my measurement.
Susan walks every morning and has invited me to join her...so brace yourselves...I am going to get a wake up call from Susan at 6:00 a.m. and join her for a little scripture study/quiet time and then a quick 45 minute walk around her neighborhood.

I am sure I will not make it every day ~ so don't get funny (Kelly & Justin) and start taking bets. Let's just see how it goes.

POST 7.1: WEIGHT just a minute!

It's Friday, hip hip horray! Speaking of hips, there are donuts in the breakroom. There are donuts in the breakroom EVERY FRIDAY! Usually I don't make it to the office early enough to even see the box outside of the trash can, and I like it that way. However, I have too much to do lately so I must be here earlier, therefore seeing not only 1 box of donuts, but 2 boxes of donuts when I arrived today.

ugh.


I weighed this morning and I was down 2 pounds from the last time I dared to get on that monster in my bathroom. So...I will not eat a donut, afterall I did walk 2 miles last night.