... Upon a Star...

Mama Kat blog prompt time! I choose #5 If you had 5000 dollars to give away or donate to a charity...explain what you would do with it and why.


If I had $5000 to give to a charity of my choice it would be the Make-a-Wish Foundation. There are few things more beautiful than giving to children. If a child is sick with a terminal illness is chosen to be a "Wish Kid" they can pick almost anything as a wish and Make-a-Wish will make it happen. There are some kids that just want a fun fishing trip, a lot want to go to Disney, some want to meet a famous person they admire. Whatever it is, they get it. I don't think it needs fancy words or a big explanation, it's the one charity I admire over all the others.

Please help by volunteering your time or business services. OR you can always just donate to your local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Help a child with a terminal illness have one wish come true!

Your turn!

Amy McMean tagged everyone for this survey, and since I don't have anything exciting to post tonight, I'll do this!

8 things I'm hyped up about
1. Going to the mountains!
2. A whole day without rain (or hail... or tornadoes)
3. My first night hosting trivia by myself (Thursday!)
4. Being a student again
5. Seeing my grandparents in 2 weeks
6. The pool in my complex opening up
7. The new Harry Potter movie next month!!
8. Getting back to the gym

8 things I did yesterday
1. Went out to dinner at Imperial Chinese (best Chinese in Denver)
2. Met my new roommates
3. Drank some Red Stripe beer
4. Made a cake (Chocolate Rootbeer cake with Vanilla Icing)
5. Fed the squirrel that hangs out on my balcony
6. Edited some pictures
7. Watched Mean Girls
8. Petted cats!

8 things I wish I could do
1. Find a part time job that is in my (new) field and pays well
2. Lose 50 pounds
3. Travel to any place I want in the time it takes me to think about it
4. Afford to buy groceries
5. Fit into the really cute summer dress I have from 3 summers ago... that I've never worn.
6. Go to Chicago to see my sister and my nieces and nephews
7. Be on a COOL reality tv show
8. Have a Cat!

8 shows I watch
1. Good Eats
2. LOST
3. Project runway
4. Top Chef
5. Unwrapped
6. Food Network Challenge
7. Grey's Anatomy
8. House

8 favorite fruits
1. Strawberries
2. Pears
3. Watermelon
4. Cherries
5. Kiwi
6. Bananas
7. Peaches
8. Grapes

8 places I would like to travel
1. Australia
2. Vegas
3. Spain
4. Panama
5. Hawaii
6. Austria
7. Alaska
8. Japan

8 places I've lived
1. York, PA
2. Waco, TX
3. Millersville, PA
4. Hershey, PA
5. Beverly, MA
6. Hawaii
7. Boulder, CO
8. Westminster, Co

8 people I'm tagging
1. Everyone who reads this!

A new start!

First week of school down! I was totally overwhelmed this week as I started cramming medical terminology in my brain as fast as I could! We had an instructor change mid week because our first instructor hadn't ever taught the class before and apparently she wasn't up to standards because by Wednesday we had a new instructor. We didn't have class today because every spring they throw a big cookout called Spring Fling Day so there are no classes but there IS free food!! I stopped by for a little while, but seeing as how I've only been in school for 4 days, I don't really know anyone yet!

This week also brought another exciting adventure! The guy who emcees the trivia that I go to on Thursday nights had to give up the gig to attend to some other commitments and guess who got the spot... ME! I've already trained with the company and I was just waiting for a spot to open up. Since I already know how everything runs there I was the perfect choice, if I do say so myself! SO if you are in the Northern Denver metro area on Thursday nights stop by the Old Chicago on Grant St. in Thornton at 8pm!

Oh! Jeopardy is on... I have to go!

Dear Me...

It's time for the weekly Mama Kat writing prompt blog! Yay!! I have chosen #4... Write a letter.
See, that SEEMS easy enough but it's also broad enough of a prompt to give me quite a challenge of narrowing it down. I've decided to write a letter to myself 10 years ago. If I only knew then what I know now...

Dear 17 year-old Kitty,
You don't know me, but you will, don't worry. I'm writing to give you a few tips and tricks. This may seem like cheating at life, but take it from me, you'll appreciate this.

~Your parents aren't nearly as terrible as they seem. Keep this in mind over the next 5 years. They are going to go through a lot problems but it's not your fault and they both still love you. It will all turn out ok!
~Don't sweat chemistry class. You'll never use it... I swear!
~Although the sorority life will seem really appealing, save the money and just go to the parties. Those bitches is CRAZY.
~When Amy pukes in your dad's Benz at the beach don't take her upstairs and clean her up... let her sleep in the car covered in vomit ... that'll teach her!
~Take the time in college to join all the clubs you want. You will meet some really cool people.
~In your Medieval Language and Literature class your professor will tell you it's ok to miss the actual day of the final if you do an alternate paper. Get it in writing because she will FAIL YOU!
~Even though you really LOVE the Beatle... it will leave you stranded and cost way too much in repairs so get something a little more sensible.
~There will come a point when when one night at The Hop when 2 guys will buy you and Amy a drink. Amy will suggest that you both go talk to them because they were nice enough to buy you a drink. Smack her in the face and drag her out by her hair... nothing good will come from that scenario.
~Heartbreak will come to you. Take it in stride and believe that on the other side you will be stronger and better for it. It's ok to cry... but get it out and move on.
~You are beautiful and smart and important and loved and funny and a million other wonderful things!! Don't doubt that you are anything less than amazing!
~Don't be scared of taking challenges stepping outside your comfort zone. Some of your best choices will be made spur of the moment and without completely thinking through it.
~Finally, trust your instincts about people. 9 times out of 10 your gut will be right and you will ignore the feeling so long that you'll almost forget how to trust it again... but you will.

I hope this helps, though it may seem weird now, it will make sense over the next 10 years. Keep your nose clean and have fun! When life seems overwhelming know that your future is still evolving, but so far, so good.

With LOVE,
Kitty (age 27)

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

You can call me flower if you want to....

Yesterday I spent a lovely few hours at the Denver Botanic Gardens. I had been planning my trip there based on weather and it was simply beautiful yesterday! I took over 250 pictures but here are some highlights.





















I hope you enjoy!

It's the thought that counts

The writing prompt from Mama Kat that I choose this week is...

#3 Describe a memorable gift. Why was it so important to you?

I love music and when the iPod came out (2001) I wanted one SO bad! Thing is... as a techy nerd, I wanted the biggest and bestest one... but they were pretty expensive when they first came out (I think $400+). I asked for an iPod for every birthday and Christmas that came... then my sister, who rightfully felt sorry for me and my lack of iPod bought me the iPod Shuffle for a gift when I graduated college. (2005) I loved it, and certainly appreciated it, but it just didn't take the want of a real big iPod away.

So I continued to ask for one for every birthday and Christmas (and everything in between). My mom said I would never use it. It's all I asked for every time a holiday rolls around! This was not a passing fancy!! She also used the excuse that it was too expensive, but at $250 for the model that I wanted it wasn't too expensive anymore to be my one and only Christmas present!

Tradition states that my parents and I travel to Chicago to my sister's house for Thanksgiving and that I go home to PA for Christmas. While in Chicago for Thanksgiving 2007 my mom, sister and I went shopping on the infamous black Friday. My mom bought a VERY expensive purse that she wanted because her birthday is right around the same time of Thanksgiving and my dad said she could pick her own purse. (Apparently he didn't want to buy the wrong one!) I was pretty appalled by how much the purse was but whatever she wanted.

This mall had an Apple Store and, of course, I had to go in, crowds and all. While I was in the store I got a sale flier which I promptly put into my mother's hand when I came out. I showed her the one I wanted and told her it was even on sale and it's all I wanted for Christmas... yet again. She looked at the price and said it was still too much to which I reminded her of her purse that she just bought. She didn't really appreciate that comment....

When we got back to my sister's house my mom showed my dad the purse she bought and he looked at the price tag... whoa... My dad hit the ceiling... As my mom sulked and my dad fumed I thought this to be the perfect time to chime in with "Yeah, she buys a purse that's (insert very expensive price here) and she won't even buy me an iPod for Christmas that's only $250!"

I don't know which one of my smart ass comments drove the point home, but needless to say I got my iPod for Christmas that year. I love it and use it ALL the time. I don't know if my mom was going to buy it for me that year or not... but that was one gift that will always be memorable. :)

I love you mom!!!

Check out other writing prompt posts at Mama Kat's!

OH EM GEE!!

This is MY video on "My Roommate is a Dick"!!! Now the world knows the truth about part of the hell I live in.... ahhhh.....

Click here for my post.

Check out the rest of the site too. If you've ever had a shitty roommate you will sympathize.