That's What Kris Said

40.

2010-09-06T00:23:00.002-07:00

I realize that the number of the blog is incredibly appropriate. If you don't know the U2 song I'm referring to, it's a good one. Singing a new song is hard. Waiting patiently is hard. Having faith that God is going to set your feet on solid ground is hard.

August was a really tough month for me both personally and professionally. It's hard, I think, when everything seems to be spiraling downward, to see anything from a positive angle. When you are asked, "So what are you looking forward to in the next six months?" and all you can do is shrug, that's not good. Our vision is clouded by the storm and it becomes so overpowering, it's all we can see. Knowing cognitively that things will eventually work out does not necessarily make the present moment easier to deal with. It seems that it should, but we all know that it often doesn't.

At the end of the day, we want to know why things are the way that they are, but a majority of the time, we don't get those answers. We get answers to the things we don't care about - the "hows", "whats", etc. We already know "what" is happening. We just don't know is "why" it is happening.

In writing the message I will give next Sunday, I have done a lot more soul searching than I have for past messages. I have had more conversations with God and wrestled more with what I need to say. Though this process of exploring my craving for meaning, my deep desire for things to make sense, I have learned that sometimes things don't need to start making sense for me to be okay. Sometimes all I need to know is that life isn't arbitrary - there is a bigger story. Sometimes it's enough to know that better things are coming and take the interim time to find some solid ground in the community that surrounds you.

So really, all that's left is to say thank you to those that I have been so blessed with to be my solid ground.

My love, thank you for supporting me and comforting me every single day. You mean the world to me and I've seen God's love and mercy in you so much through the storm that embodied the past few weeks. (Words never seem like enough, do they? Here's hoping you understand just how important you are to me.)

Anyone who has asked if I was okay, given me a hug, or simply allowed me space as I've needed it, thank you.

And to whomever God used to touch my heart with the gift on my doorstep, I've been trying to figure out the right words to say thank you, but I don't think I have them. The reminder that people are watching out for me even when I don't realize it is incredibly powerful, and I cannot express how full my heart feels. I feel like the best thank you I can give is a commitment that someday I will be that person for someone else who needs a little bit of their faith restored. And I promise I will.

I honestly believe that one of life's greatest attractions is that through times of challenge and pain, new beauty is able to reveal itself more fully.

39: Coffee Shops

2010-05-22T16:21:00.004-07:00

People don't go to coffee shops for the coffee. Making coffee at home is faster, more convenient, and far more economical. It's silly, really, to go somewhere else and spend significantly more money on something you can easily create in your own kitchen.

I think people go to coffee shops for the atmosphere, or at least I do. There are few things I find as calming and enjoyable as spending the afternoon at a local coffee shop. It's a change of environment, there are people around, the aroma is intoxicating, and I can't imagine a more appropriate playlist than what I am hearing right now.

And as I sit here, enjoying my vanilla latte with the foam art on top, typing the next update letter for my supporters, the song "Let it Be" begins to play. I just wouldn't rather be anywhere else at this moment. Despite the caffeine boost, I feel peaceful. I am away from the hustle and bustle that exists outside, but not isolated. Just here. And calm. And smiling.

Thirty-Eight: Dress Up.

2010-05-03T11:53:00.004-07:00

I don't know what it is, but dressing up is perhaps more fun to me now than it was when I was a little girl. Dress up appeals to kids at a young age and helps their imagination grow--it's actually really good for their development. As adults, "playing dress-up" seems weird, but I think given the right context it can still be awesome. Growing up, going to college, and working can be soul-crushing at times, and it's nice to be able to escape into a made up world where you look your best and break out of the normal day-to-day agenda. To escape routine and responsibility can be great fun. I think we should do that more often.

The spring formal was a blast this past weekend. Even having coordinated it, I was able to thoroughly enjoy myself.

We need to redefine what it means to grow up. It can't possibly be as mundane as some people make it out to be.

Let's dance!

37: Best Day Ever... a new holiday, perhaps.

2010-04-26T11:34:00.004-07:00

April 26th is awesome.

Eli James Gregory Suddarth was born at 2:22 AM and is absolutely perfect. He's 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 19.5" long. I am so thankful to have been there to meet him, even though I was crying my eyes out. He's so amazing.

Also, I got a job. My ideal job, in fact. It's with a social service agency and it means I get to stay after I graduate. The way it came about was a little strange and made me wonder if God had a hand in it. I submit that He did.

I'm overwhelmed with thankfulness at the blessings today has brought... and all of them before 10AM.

Thirty-Six: Waking Up

2010-04-20T09:11:00.004-07:00

It's no secret that I'm not a morning person. I do not enjoy waking up. I never have, but recently, as I've acknowledged the value of sleep, it is even more bothersome having to get up. Sometimes it's because I haven't slept enough. Other times it's because I'm instantly overwhelmed at all the day will bring. Some days I just feel sick and can't imagine doing thinks like eating breakfast. In any case, waking up is pretty much the worst part of my day. Every day.

But I think that gives me an interesting advantage in life.

When I wake up, that is the worst I will feel all day. Things are not going to get worse than that disoriented, head-achey, sleepy, nauseous feeling that I get when I roll out of bed. I've got nowhere to go but up [I'd really like to do that someday]. So really, the rest of my day is welcomed with open arms. It's just those first ten minutes or so that are kind of a pain in the neck.

The thirty-fifth. On sociology and chicken pot pies.

2010-03-10T12:17:00.014-07:00

Two weeks ago I attempted to make a chicken pot pie. I say "attempt" because ultimately, my only accomplishment that evening was discovering that my oven was broken.

Thinking I'd just modify my plans, I tried this:

Image 1: Not-so-bright idea

Just as an FYI, there is a reason chicken pot pies are made for oven and microwave use. They are not meant to be casseroles or stove top mixes. It did not taste good.

A week later, an appliance repairman finally made it to my complex, took a look at my oven, and determined the piece that had stopped working. Several days passed and he called to inform me that the part replacement didn't exist anymore, so he was just going to bring a new oven. (I'm not gonna lie, I danced a little bit.)

Well, when they measured for my newer, bigger, more functional oven, they did not take into account the fact that I have baseboards in my kitchen. The oven was 1/2" too wide for the space allocated between my wall and counter.

Image 2: Baseboards FTW?

The appliance guy just left it like this in my apartment. He said he'll be back sometime this week with either a plan to rip out my baseboard (with my landlord's permission) or another small oven. And I know it's not a big deal, but I'm legitimately upset about this. I'm frustrated that I have an oven I can't use in the middle of my kitchen and that instead of leaving me with that one, they might bring back another small oven that looks kind of like a toy. What is my problem??

For the past two years, I haven't even had an oven to call my own. It was definitely not considered a "necessity". But after having one for the past semester, suddenly it's a huge inconvenience to be limited to a microwave.

Karl Marx outlined four premises of history in The German Ideology, and this situation speaks wonderfully to the first two. The first premise was that we produce what is necessary to satisfy our basic needs (there would be no history if we could not produce food for our survival). The second is that once the first needs are satisfied, they create a whole new set of needs (for example, a fork is suddenly a "need" as well as the food that warrants its use).

A year ago, an oven was an amenity, not a basic need.
I have become incredibly spoiled.

And maybe I'm not the only one.

So there's some food for thought. (Pun intended.)

Entry thirty-four: signs.

2010-02-19T22:48:00.008-07:00

Today I realized that yield signs are not clear. When two lanes are merging into one and you see a yield sign, you know instinctively to slow down if someone is in the lane next to you (or speed up, whichever you prefer). My beef isn't with the concept of a yield sign. I actually think the signs themselves are a good idea. My problem is in the orientation of the sign. Clearly, the upside down triangle is deceitful.

Exhibit A:
Normal Yield Sign

On street signs, we have been socialized to understand that an upward arrow means "forward" and a down arrow means "where you are right now". The upside down triangle characteristic of the yield sign is misleading; it is telling us that we will have more space ahead, which is the OPPOSITE of the truth.

Then you get crazy people who think signs like this are a good idea:

Exhibit B:
Yield Ahead (Just an FYI) Sign

I just don't understand. Flip the triangle. It isn't that difficult. There is no need for a yellow sign which contains multiple images. If you flip the triangle, it becomes the arrow.

People need to chill out with their sign-age.

(Inspired by Google search, illustrated by Kris.)

33: In which I break the blog title rule and a barista breaks a social rule.

2010-01-22T15:40:00.004-07:00

I am mildly insulted that today my Starbucks barista assumed I wanted my latte nonfat. I'm not trying to be super sensitive, but this is the third time someone has made that assumption. Different people every time. Different stores every time. I clearly say what kind of latte I want, and then they call it out and add that I want it nonfat. I don't even like milk that much, let alone if it's watery skim milk. I just feel this is an assumption that should never be made, because I don't feel comfortable correcting their mistake. What would I say? "No, please, I want the extra calories; I'm clearly not dieting if I'm at your coffee shop." I mean, I could say that, but I wouldn't because then I'd really feel terrible about myself.

If I am going to spend more than $1 on a cup of coffee, I want to make it count. Did you think I was going for a healthy meal when I ordered a slice of coffeecake to compliment my chai? But alas, I am now committed to a watered-down coffee experience, because YOU have made me feel uncomfortable about wanting the real deal.

The psychological aspect of this situation fascinates me.

Treinta y dos

2010-01-18T12:21:00.003-07:00

I wrote in July that I'm not a "crier". And I wasn't lying; up to that point in my life, that was a true statement. It makes me laugh now, because sometime within the last six months that changed. And that's okay. It's just an odd thing to have to get used to. Somehow though, I feel more human, more real, as a result of this change.

Something that constantly amazes me is how much music can affect you. Some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard both heals my heart and solicits tears. In the past, I spent a lot of time avoiding beautiful music because of the emotional component. I'm starting to appreciate it more. Although it requires more of my emotional energy, there is so much more substance and depth, it's worth it.

In the past few days I've played my piano more than in the past few years. Or maybe ever. I hope this isn't a short-term kick. I really want this to continue. If I can't have silence in a physical manner, at the very least it quiets my mind.

"Without music life would be a mistake." - Nietzche

Treinta y uno

2009-12-14T12:28:00.008-07:00

I love the Christmas season. I love lights, trees, and finding the perfect gift for people. I've decided to dedicate this blog to the reasons why I love Christmas. I am not going to slap a bunch of disclaimers on my preferences--I simply love to love Christmas.

Christmas lights.
Maybe it's my fixation with shiny things... maybe it's the beautiful way they glow in the evening light... but you'd be hard-pressed to find something I'd rather do than go see Christmas lights in December. I fully intend to be one of those households that out-shines everyone else in the neighborhood, not because I'm trying to be a jerk, but because I love Christmas lights that much. It's hard not to smile when you drive by a house that really put some effort into decorating.

Christmas at Starbucks.
December is the only time of year that I am consistently willing to spend money on fufu coffee. The Peppermint Mocha Latte is Christmas in a cup, and I cannot be sad when I am drinking this coffee. The day before one of my exams this month I decided to get a coffee before diving into an intense afternoon of studying. What actually happened was I took a sip of the coffee and proceeded to put on Christmas music and spend the entire afternoon decorating my apartment. Time well spent? I think so. (I also passed the exam with flying colors, so there's that.)

Christmas music.
From the classic Christmas carols to the new renditions of old favorites, I can't help but love Christmas music. It just makes my heart happy. My favorite is "Carol of the Bells". This is partially because it was a tradition to sing it at our Christmas concert every December in choir and partially because it has so much going on and there are so many versions of it. It's impossible to become bored with that song. (Note: I cannot stand the song "Feliz Navidad". I have no idea why, but it annoys the living daylights out of me... which seems silly because I love Spanish so much.)

Christmas trees.
I'm not sure if its the tree itself or the decorating that I love more, but the finished product is so beautiful I can't help but feel at home when a Christmas tree is in the room. Pulling out the boxes of ornaments and deciding which to put on a tree appeals to the organizational side of me, and the aesthetic appeal of the finished product never fails to light up a room. It's like a 3-D collage of memories. I recently changed my formerly-negative opinion about artificial trees and although I love the smell of evergreen, I like the idea of being able to design everything about a tree right down to where you want the branches. Also, artificial trees come with lights. Win.

Christmas desserts.
I don't think this needs much explaining. Baking becomes infinitely more fun around Christmas time, and baking for the sake of giving the baked goods to other people is my favorite. I can make delicious treats simply because I love to and then give them to other people who will love eating them. Everyone wins with Christmas cookies and fudge.

Christmas presents.
My philosophy on gift-giving has changed a lot over the years. I no longer create a list of people for whom I am obligated to find gifts. Instead, I remain open to the possibility of giving presents to everyone, provided that I have an idea that is clever, ironic, or specific to that individual. Essentially, my gift-giving must be intentional. One of the many positives to this philosophy is that girls will never receive a generic bath set from me (unless you tell me a fragrance you like or I think it's really what you want). One of the negatives to this philosophy is that my gift-giving is inconsistent; just because you receive a wildly appropriate present this year does not mean you get one next year. It isn't because I don't love you; it's because I love you enough not to get you something for your junk drawer. I also would like to make it abundantly clear that I don't want things for my junk drawer either, so my anti-obligatory stance on presents goes both ways. Just send me a greeting card. I love greeting cards.

Ultimately, I have decided that I am okay with the commercialization of Christmas. December 25th wasn't Jesus' birthday, so I don't always think of it that way. Thinking about Christ should happen throughout the year, so I am personally not offended that Christmas has been transformed with some odd traditions. I just see it as a season with more spirit than the rest of the year, and each year I hold onto that spirit as long as I can. I haven't bought into the materialistic idea that presents=how much you love people, but I do like to make people happy. Looking for ways to brighten people's days and serve them is a good thing. It's a Christ-like thing. And I find that there are lots of out-of-the-ordinary ways to do that around this time of year... so maybe that's where Jesus fits into the picture. Maybe it is possible for Him and the over-commercialized Christmas traditions to coexist. Maybe it's just about joy.

I know it doesn't make sense to put lights on the outside of my house, Jim Gaffigan, but sometimes it's okay to just want things to be pretty.

Treinta

2009-12-07T12:10:00.003-07:00

Tip of the Day:

Do not begin putting change into a parking meter unless you are 100% sure you have enough money to buy the amount of time needed to last the duration of your classes.

So Merry Christmas to whoever reaped the 1 hour 20 minute benefit of my failed parking attempt.

I'd like to know who decided that ten minutes should cost me a quarter. What a jerk.

Veintinueve

2009-11-21T23:27:00.001-07:00

A good friend of mine once compared women to spaghetti and men to waffles. Women, she said, are always thinking something. There is never a time when their minds are empty. Men, she continued, are capable of not thinking about anything, as exemplified by the squares in the waffle that don’t end up with syrup.

Several days ago, I was doing my dishes around 1 AM (you know, about the time your fine motor skills quit working) and I broke my coffee maker. There are only a few pieces that go into the filter-containing-apparatus, but I could not for the life of me figure out how to get it back together. I went to sleep somewhat frustrated and thought, “I’ll tackle this in the morning.”

Well, Morning Kris didn’t know how to fix it either. Thus began a week of far-too-costly-campus-brewed coffee.

Last night, I went to sleep again thinking about my coffee maker. (Is that sad?)

And—I kid you not—I dreamed how to fix it. Subconscious Kris managed to correctly assemble the pieces. I woke up and was like, “Oh, duh!” and promptly went into my kitchen, fixed it, and brewed coffee.

I am not joking when I say my mind does not rest.

Veintiocho

2009-11-15T20:43:00.003-07:00

Had you asked me prior to today whether I thought restrictions on the sale of alcohol were a good idea, I would have probably said yes. However, having experienced the enforcement of a blue law at Safeway this morning, my answer has changed. Allow me to explain.

No one remembered the elements for communion this morning. We brought in the equipment, started getting things set up, and realized we had no bread or wine. Problematic, you might say. I don't know how to set up sound equipment very well anyways, so I volunteered to make a quick run to buy some pita bread and wine. (Keep in mind that the wine we use is alcohol free.)

I drove like a maniac to the store, ran in, spent a few minutes frantically looking for the wine, grabbed some pita bread, and made a quick break for the self-check-out. I scanned the bottle of wine (which, again, is ALCOHOL FREE), and the screen said "Item is not for sale". I didn't understand. The item had to be for sale--it was in the aisle and it had a bar code! Safeway associates had helped me locate said bottle! It was clearly for sale!

The cashier who was supervising the self check-out came over and informed me that they can't sell alcohol until 10 am. It was 9:15. "But it's alcohol free!" I protested. "And church starts at 10:30!" She grabbed the bottle of wine, turned on her heel, and walked away. I was stunned.

How is there not an exception to the blue laws for items that clearly say ALCOHOL REMOVED on the label? How did that get through the system??

I do find it ironic that the laws that were originally implemented for religious reasons were somewhat of a hindrance to church today.

Veintesiete

2009-11-06T21:42:00.005-07:00

Some things never change.

It has just occurred to me that perhaps practices between generations are more consistent than we think.

Styles don't really change, they just sort of rotate. Who ever thought platforms would be in style more than once? Thank you, Spice Girls.

Music is always changing, but it seems like just as a new genre is created, another classic rock band gets their second wind.

You get the point.

Now, Homecoming weekend brings a lot of alumni to the U of A campus. Our school is quite old, thus so are some of our alumni. Two elderly ladies stopped by the dorm tonight to take a look at their former residence hall. Amidst the reminiscing, they told me about how they once went to Mexico and bought a bag that was just the right size and shape to hide a six pack of beer, and that's how they smuggled alcohol into the building.

Ahh, college life. It's funny to think that the things teens and twenty-somethings attempt to do today have already been successfully accomplished by their grandparents.

Veintiséis

2009-10-17T14:36:00.004-07:00

Reasons why registering for classes is far too difficult:

1. Not enough sections.
One class everyone in the major has to take... one section. Ridiculous.

2. Not enough seats.
Only 35 seats in that one section? Come on.

3. Faculty members are being fired.
No wonder we can't find classes--there's no one to teach them.

4. The registration system crashes constantly.
They never seem to anticipate the volume of students who need to register at one time.
There are over 30,000 of us. Please be better prepared.

5. There is no alternate registration option.
And the online system always seems to fail in one way or another.

6. People register for classes they don't need.
You know, "just in case" they change their mind later.

7. Days/times for classes aren't finalized until the day before registration.
And they try to teach us to plan ahead.

8. THEY CHANGE PRIORITY REGISTRATION DATES AT THE LAST SECOND.

Reasons why registering for classes should not be this difficult:

*ahem*

1. Tuition costs an obscene amount of money each semester.
Where has it all gone?
Stop re-potting the flowers and re-hire some professors, please.

The end.

Veinticinco

2009-09-16T23:09:00.004-07:00

I wrote this in my online journal when I was 15 (a sophomore in high school). I was somewhat contemplative and maybe even a little bit insightful.

"Life isn't measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away. The problem is, we expect huge, miraculous, sparkly, perfect things to take our breath away, and often times that just doesn't happen. The alternative is opening our eyes to the small, simple, wonderful things that happen every day. Allowing the little things to make us happy ultimately benefits us in the long run, because we learn to stop expecting so much and taking things in stride. Then, when the huge, miraculous, sparkly, perfect things do happen, they're that much more amazing. Seeing things in a positive light, and smiling at the small stuff, it's all a choice. Happiness is a choice. Even when things are tough, we can smile because inevitably something good will follow. We just gotta watch for it. There is beauty in everything around us, but sometimes we're so wrapped up in the yuckish, we don't notice it."

Aside from strange adjectives and the obvious cliche, I don't think I've dropped this attitude.

Regardless of whatever life throws at us, there is always something good.
I have to believe that.

Veinticuatro

2009-09-05T09:17:00.004-07:00

The first two years I lived in Tucson, I alternated between being a pedestrian and a driver. Never was I a bicyclist. (Well, there was that one time I borrowed Roommate's bike to go look for a synagogue, but that's a whole different story.) As a pedestrian/driver, I found bicyclists to be rather annoying. Who did they think they were, not following the traffic laws every other vehicle has to follow? Talk about arrogant!

I definitely still think there are a lot of bicyclists who don't actually realize that what they are riding is considered a "vehicle" in our glorious state, so yes they should stop at stop signs and no they don't automatically have the right of way, but my current frustration is with pedestrians:

GET OUT OF THE BICYCLE LANE. Seriously: on campus especially, you have ten feet on either side of our six-foot, two-way path (which means, you math geniuses, that the pedestrians have 20 feet total to work with and I have three feet to myself), and you choose to walk right down the middle? Right on the double yellow lines? I know you think you aren't endangering anyone, but when you start to swerve because you're talking on your cell phone, I can't anticipate that. And if I follow suit and swerve as well, I am putting people's lives at risk who aren't even in the bike lane. And I am bigger and faster than you. And physics tells me this could lead to some problems.

In lieu of this problem, I have written a haiku:

Oh pedestrians
Please get out of the bike lane
Before I hit you

Veintitrés

2009-08-26T15:03:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago I got "flashed" by a speed camera for the first time. Prior to this event, I had successfully avoided all citations/tickets that usually plague young drivers, so I was in pretty good shape. I was a little nervous, so I spoke with a few friends who have gotten caught by speed cameras. As far as they knew, the ticket would be sent to the person whose name was on the vehicle's registration. At the time, I was driving a car that is registered to my dad. The picture would clearly not look like him, so we could just send in a copy of his driver's license and check the box that says, "This isn't me." (Not the most honest move, I admit.)

So that was the plan. No problem.

Wrong. Of course there was another complication, because if there wasn't, I wouldn't be blogging about it.

The car I was driving also has my mom's name on the registration. And we look so much alike, they aren't going to buy the "this isn't me" excuse if she sends them a copy of her driver's license. So there goes $200. Oops.

The moral of the story is to pay attention to speed limit changes when you get off the highway. Also, watch for signs that say, "Photo Enforcement Zone," because those are *apparently* all over the place. Pshh.

Veintidós

2009-08-05T20:33:00.004-07:00

Tattoos have always interested me. I understand that it isn't everyone's "thing" and that a lot of people dislike them, which is fine, but I think they're fascinating. Hearing people's stories about their tattoos and seeing original artwork never ceases to capture my attention.

Today I got my second tattoo. My first was done two years ago and was relatively painless, except for the bottom edge which goes over my ankle bone. I didn't think too much about that pain when I decided to get the next one on the top of my foot. As the artist began outlining with the needle, I realized something. I believe my exact words were, "So apparently there are a lot of bones in the foot..."

Google has informed me that in fact, there are 26 bones in the human foot, which, let's face it, is pretty cool. (http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1998-08/897679960.An.r.html)

In any case, the tattoo turned out better than I expected. Also, because it hurt so much, I'm not too eager to get another one anytime soon. Everyone wins.

Veintiuno

2009-07-26T21:19:00.002-07:00

When I was younger, my friends and I joked about tasers and stun guns and things like that. We didn't really know what they were, aside from the fact that they can do some damage. And although we joked, I never thought I would own anything like that, even if I did live by myself. But as it turns out, there are people who are concerned for my safety and want me to be able to defend myself.

And so today I was given a most interesting gift.

Veinte

2009-07-23T15:34:00.003-07:00

Somewhere along the line I think we have to realize that we are emotional beings. This doesn't mean everyone is a drama queen, or that everyone has a temper, or that everyone is hyper-sensitive, it just means that we are capable of having emotions. Perhaps one of the greatest disservices we can do for ourselves is tell ourselves that we aren't emotional--because that makes any emotion seem trivial and out-of-place. I think sometimes we need to experience certain emotions so that we can respond to different situations in our lives.

For example, I know I'm someone who gets frustrated, but I also know I don't hold grudges and I can't stay angry for much more than a day. Sometimes I just need to be frustrated.

I know other people who are criers. They just need to cry occasionally, and after they cry they feel better and are more equipped to deal with the situation at hand.

I'm not sure that the logical approach to emotion is one that everyone should adopt, but it makes sense to me. And I know that I don't feel as bad being "emotional" if I can keep in mind that it will pass and I'll be okay "tomorrow".

Today was actually a really good, positive day. No frustration whatsoever. I was just thinking about this earlier. :)

Diecinueve

2009-06-24T23:04:00.002-07:00

When asked which superpower I'd like to have, my default answer is flying. I am not abandoning my dreams of flight, but I think I've figured out the ultimate superpower.

Sleeping.

Not just normal sleeping, sleeping in an ideal situation.
Sleeping whenever you decide, that very instant.
Sleeping wherever you decide, that very spot.
Sleeping comfortably, with no aches and pains when you wake up.
Sleeping for however long you decide, and not a minute longer. There would be no need for alarm clocks--your body would just stop sleeping when you wanted to wake up!

Personally, I think I've struck gold. Now I just have to figure out how to make this a reality.

In the meantime, I'm gonna catch some z's... after I set my alarms.

Dieciocho

2009-06-04T16:01:00.003-07:00

Although there is almost always a song stuck in my head, I am exceptionally bad at remembering lyrics. I have to go through and read them/sing along at least four or five times before I remember them, and I usually don't have that kind of time on my hands.

Fortunately, it's summer.

Since The Hush Sound is the band I've been listening to most recently, I decided to at least investigate the lyrics to one of their catchy songs (so I can sing along in the car).

As it turns out, it's kind of a sad song. These are the lyrics to the chorus:

As you cry, I wanna lie
Say I love you so, darlin' even though I don't
There's no easy way, to ease the pain
Roses and the tulips have
Withered away, they had their day
So it's time to say goodnight and goodbye

I found the upbeat and cutesy sound to be ironic matched with these lyrics. (Originally I thought it said, "I don't wanna lie, I love you so" which would make sense with the melody. Nope.)

In any case, it's a great song. You should listen to it.
Here's a link to a low quality YouTube video of them at one of their shows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdc4G072vNM

Diecesiete

2009-05-07T18:28:00.003-07:00

For two years, my Toshiba laptop (affectionately referred to as "Mindy") has served me faithfully. She has her off days, but overall she's pretty reliable. She is named because it feels a little less crazy to yell at "Mindy" than ambiguous "computer".

Recently, I began noticing the crazy amounts of dust that were underneath the keys on the keyboard. Figuring there had to be some sort of device with which I could clean the keyboard, I called my dad to find out where I could find one of the keyboard cleaning contraptions. (I'll try to steer clear of the alliteration this time...) So Dad tells me I can simply pop off the keys and clean underneath of them. I'm hesitant, but he says they'll pop back on, no problem. He warns me that I should only remove and clean underneath one key at a time.

Yeah, right.

Thinking I'll just be really careful to keep the keys in order, I began taking off five to six of them at a time. I figured Dad was just concerned I'd forget where they keys were supposed to be. It never occurred to me that he might have had other reasons for telling me to only take off one key at a time. Reasons such as, they don't all attach the same way, and some of them won't go back on easily... or at all.

The arrow keys, as it turns out, are not attached the same as the other keys.

Oops.

Sorry, Mindy.

Dieciséis

2009-04-05T20:48:00.002-07:00

Two blogs in one week? What?! Madness!!!

For those of you who never read my Facebook note about toothpaste (yes, I write about fantastic and interesting things), I use Listerine brand. They make a gel toothpaste that is incredibly strong and leaves my breath feeling minty fresh for hours. I don't really like other brands because my breath doesn't feel clean when I'm done brushing. Granted, it has always been a bit more expensive to stick with the Listerine brand, but I can scrimp and save in other areas of my budget--I refuse to compromise my oral hygiene. I can shop for clothes in thrift shops, buy generic brand food, and only buy used dvds... but I am not willing to negotiate on my toothpaste preference. I spent too many years in braces, expanders, rubber bands, headgear (yes, headgear; no, there are no photos), and a retainer to allow my teeth look anything short of spectacular.

But there is a problem. I think they may have discontinued Listerine brand toothpaste. It is no longer available in grocery stores or Walgreens. (And let's face it, if Walgreens doesn't have it, what hope is there?!)

It doesn't exist for cheaper than $4 online. I am extremely disheartened by this discovery.

Quince

2009-04-01T10:39:00.002-07:00

In 7th grade, I took a "computer" class. I felt pretty slick, because we spent most of the class learning how to type correctly. I quickly figured out that I could whiz through each of the terrific timed typing tests (I like alliteration; I'm going to try to add some more) if I only learned to reach the big, blunt, beautiful backspace button. (Ok, that was a stretch--the backspace button isn't that attractive.) I was kicking butt in my typing class... or so I thought. Soon, the sad, startling secret behind my success showed itself; I was losing points each time I hit the backspace button.

What is that supposed to teach children? Are we supposed to sit back and say that solving our somewhat serious life situations is stupid and superfluous? "I realized you've discontinued the dilemma, but it's indubitably inconsequential, because your monumental mistake must make a mark on your life. For-ev-er." (Sandlot style.)

It's no wonder so many kids have self-esteem issues.

On a somewhat related sidenote, if I'm going to sacrifice capitalization or punctuation in a text or message, it'll always be capitalization. It is much easier for me to understand that "kris" was supposed to be "Kris" than it is for me to guess that "your" means "you're". (I also rarely capitalize my name. I think it looks better in all lower-case letters.)

Catorce

2009-02-19T17:22:00.002-07:00

The joy known as asthma is currently dominating my life. As always, frustration leads to some analysis.

Alex made an excellent point in an email he wrote to me this week. He wrote this:

I hope you're feeling better, or if you're not, that you start to immediately! I don't know why people say "soon".
"I hope you start feeling better soon"... It's like they want you to suffer just a little more first.
Masochists.

Also, I don't understand why people are asking if I'm sick when I clearly sound like a man. I almost want to respond with, "No, I just thought I'd try something new." Here's your sign.

Trece

2009-01-30T14:26:00.003-07:00

Sometimes if a minor incident occurs at the beginning of my day, I'm a little wary at what the rest of the day might bring. These incidents can be anything from spilling coffee all over myself, falling down the stairs, or smacking my head on the top bunk. (All of which I have done... more than once.)

This particular morning, I was the first person on the schedule for the desk, meaning I would perform the "opening" tasks. These include security rounds, calling Coro to let them know we're open, and physically cranking open the window. Opening is easy. Usually.

Today, however, just as I began to crank the window open, the lever snapped off. All of the sudden I was holding the lever and it was not attached to the window-opening mechanism. This left me with an open slit of about two inches where I could peek (very creepily, I might add) into the lobby.... and there was no way to actually open up the desk area. The emergency maintenance response was quick, and they ended up having to dismantle the entire cranking apparatus to find the problem. The guy said it was going to break sooner or later. (It figures it was during my shift.)

Although I was in shock that I "broke the desk", the situation didn't really surprise me.

*****

Update: Later, during the same glorious shift, I also managed to lock myself out of the desk area. This left me with one option: vault myself back over the counter. Excellent. I'm very acrobatic and coordinated and such, you see.

Doce

2009-01-26T12:40:00.002-07:00

Consistency and reliability are pretty difficult characteristics to personify. Life gets in the way, sleep deprivation leads to forgetfulness, and priorities are imposed upon us. Nonetheless, I have been (for the most part) a consistent and reliable person... until recently. I can't figure out quite where the disconnect has been occurring, but somewhere between making plans, writing them down, and executing said plans I haven't been able to manage to keep up with things. I've always been the kind of person who makes lists and reminders on Post-Its, in planners, or on my hand. However, all of the aforementioned methods of reminding myself about what I am supposed to be doing seem to be failing me at the moment. I can't remember anything without it being written down. And sometimes I forget before I even have the chance to write it down; there's just no hope at that point. This is all very, very strange to me.

Once

2008-12-22T00:26:00.002-07:00

At first glance, my title says "once", meaning "less than twice". It is actually Spanish for "eleven" and is pronounced "on-say".

I was in Hallmark today because I'm a nerd who likes sending cards to people. They have a wide variety of very specific card genres... "From Both Of Us" (who is "us"?), "For Father and Significant Other" (the girlfriend? the mistress? the fiance?), and "From the Dog". Now, the "From the Dog" genre never really bothered me. In my mind, it was an excuse to break the present limit. "No Honey, this one isn't from me--it's from Fido! See, the card even says so!" (Strange, but justifiable.) Today I found a card genre that said, "For the Dog."

Really, card companies?

(Brian Regan understands me. For proof visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj9KUwSGKOs&feature=related - enjoy!)

Diez

2008-12-06T00:29:00.002-07:00

In retrospect, I should've made my blog names Spanish letters, not Spanish numbers. I never learned the Spanish alphabet, or at least it never made its way into my long-term memory. My freshman year in high school I learned a Spanish alphabet song, but it was an echo song where the class echoed the teacher. Once I left his class, I no longer knew what I was doing. Though I struggle to remember the verses I've forgotten, I know they've left me forever. I only hope I never have to spell something important in a Spanish-speaking country.

That was a fun class. I went to Europe that year with a group of students and my Spanish teacher. I got lost in Rome and it was one of the scariest adventures of my life. But I did eat the most delicious pizza ever. And far too much gelato.

Also in that Spanish class, I learned that it is perfectly acceptable to copy someone else's homework and in-class assignments as a way to learn a foreign language, as long as you make sure they are not an idiot.

Nueve

2008-11-19T21:24:00.001-07:00

Ethnomethodology is a study of the social norms and accepted behavior in society by means of breaking down those norms and observing people's reactions. A good example would be walking into an elevator and facing the other passengers as opposed to facing the doors like everyone else. I am a fan of this concept because it creates awkward situations.

I live in a dorm with community bathrooms. When it comes time to brush your teeth each night, you have five sinks from which to choose. I've noticed that there is some unspoken rule as to the process of teeth-brushing. If Person A begins brushing her teeth before Person B, Person B cannot complete her teeth-brushing until an acceptable period of time has passed after Person A has finished. In essence, you must start and stop in the same order. If you begin brushing your teeth after someone and then finish before them, your personal hygiene is called into question.

I enjoy pushing the social norms and seeing how people react. If I am the first person to start brushing my teeth, and someone else begins after me, I will brush my teeth for five minutes just to see if they'll stop first. They never do. And that's ridiculous, because at some point you're just scrubbing the enamel off of your teeth and there is no toothpaste left--it's just foam and saliva.

I have concluded that people are way too concerned with what others think. This very scientific qualitative field research study will serve as my evidence.

Ocho

2008-11-03T22:17:00.004-07:00

Sometimes I work really hard to finish my readings and study for exams. Usually, if I do finish my readings, the teacher says to forget about it. Or if I only get half of the reading done, I have focused on the wrong half. Or, if I give up because I'm tired of wasting my time on assignments that will inevitably be canceled, they aren't canceled!

I had two quizzes and an exam today. I did not study for the quizzes until this morning. I've been studying for the exam for the past week.

So, naturally, I rocked the quizzes and bombed the exam.

"Kris, why do you think you bombed the exam?"
"Because I didn't know the answers."

Siete

2008-10-29T00:53:00.003-07:00

In the 3 1/2 years I have owned my 1996 pick-up truck, I haven't had any major problems with it... You guessed it--until today!

So my truck won't start. It sounds like it wants to, but then shuts off. "Yeah, Kris, I'll start up like normal... wait... almost... JUST KIDDING!" In explaining what was wrong to my dad, who is technically the owner of the vehicle, I actually said, "Dad, it's teasing me--it has no real intention of starting!"

That's when I realized that I need to take an automotive class of some sort, because today I was totally useless. (I did pop my hood successfully... only to realize I had no idea what I was looking at.) I also realized today that I haven't spent much time befriending mechanics the past few years. Bad choice on my part.

I think the best part of this whole situation is that when I parked my truck, I parked in a space on the ramp of the parking garage and the guy next to me was crooked, so I had to park crooked as well... so now, since the other guy is gone, I'm the awkward crooked truck in the garage... and I can't fix it... and there is a good chance we're going to have to push it out to get it towed. ("We" being the four or five people I will recruit to help me.)

I laugh as I picture the fiasco this could turn out to be. Oh my.

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose." - Woody Allen

Seis

2008-10-23T23:50:00.001-07:00

Tonight I am going to type a vague rant about politics. At the end of it, you will probably not be any more informed of my opinions. This is deliberate, because my main "opinion" is that you should form some of your own. As a voter and U.S. citizen, having opinions is healthy, I promise.

I am uninterested in what the media says about John McCain and Barack Obama.
I-DO-NOT-CARE what the CNN political analysts think about the rhetorical strategies employed by either candidate.
I care what our next president is going to do with the four years he is given to get our country out of this mess.

And really, that might be setting the bar darn near impossible, because our mess is BIG... so we have to decide which issues are MOST important to us and which candidate MOST reflects our own beliefs and values.

I am sick and tired of being patronized as a voter. I am sick and tired of people simply repeating things that the popular news stations feed us on a daily basis. (If I wanted to hear the news anchors' opinions, I'd turn on the TV more often.) The fact of the matter is, no matter how many Facebook stati you devote to either candidate, it will not influence my opinion of them. No matter how much you say people aren't "qualified" to lead our country (as a president or vice president), it will not entice me to ask, "Why aren't they qualified? Please educate me so that I may share in your views." Because really, we don't know if they will make a good president until they get to the White House. Unfortunately, it isn't a position that offers an internship.

Researching the issues at hand in this election is not a difficult task. It ticks me off to no end when people who are qualified to vote either A. Don't vote (because for some unknown reason, our country's future isn't a priority) or B. Vote on things they don't take the time to understand (because for some unknown reason, our country's future isn't a priority).

I am not gifted with understanding politics by any means. I have never had the opportunity for my opinion to count. But now I do. And because I think that our Commander-In-Chief is an important person, I am going to vote. And I am going to make an effort in the next few weeks to understand what is going on, because it will directly affect me for the next four years.

I am not going to vote for who you tell me is "awesome" or for who comes out on top in those bicker-sessions they call "debates". I am going to vote for the person I believe most reflects my ideals and will be a strong leader for our country.

Then, when something goes wrong (as it inevitably will), I will have earned my right to complain. I feel like the people who are too apathetic to vote should be committed to that apathy through that president's term. No complaining. You didn't care at election time, don't start caring when they screw up.

Our candidates are working towards the same goal: to better our country. They have different ways to go about it, but it's not like one of them is trying to run the United States into the ground. (Duh.)

In the 2004 election, 221,256,231 people were of the age to vote.
In the 2004 election, 174,800,000 people were registered to vote.
In the 2004 election, 122,294,978 people showed up to vote.
Are you kidding me?
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781453.html

Cinco

2008-10-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

I am a good waitress.
I am not a good chef.
Or fry cook.
Or even microwave-oven-user on some days.

One of my goals this year was to cook one new dish every week in an effort to save money and develop some experience with cooking.

I have friends who were high school sweethearts. They dated for three years and got married after their first year of college. In discussing why I needed to learn how to cook, we concluded that since I didn't find my husband prior to my adult years, I am now required to have skills of some sort. A lack of kitchen knowledge could cost me. (And really, it isn't so much a lack of knowledge that I currently suffer from, it's a fear of failure and poisoning people.)

The dorm got a new stove today. I feel like I can take part of the credit for the new stove, because I put a suggestion in the suggestion box every time I worked for a few weeks. Also, suggestions that weren't mine were probably incited by me.

Thus, my quest to become a more well-rounded individual and gain basic adult skills continues.

Cuatro

2008-10-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

I don't like fortune cookies. I only get them for the joy of finding the tiny slip of paper hidden inside.

Today, there was no fortune in my fortune cookie.

I have lost all faith in Panda Express and Asian cuisine.

(Later) Edit: Roommate spent 10 minutes digging through her purse just now. (I had no idea what she was doing.) Eventually she pulled out a fortune. :)

"Be assertive when decisive action is needed." Well, sure.

Tres

2008-10-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

I apparently live in sketchville.

Roommate and I decided to go to Pita Pit for dinner tonight, because she hadn't been there before and that is unacceptable for any Tucson resident.

While sitting outside enjoying our [delectable] pitas, a homeless man walked by and asked if we had any spare change. This is not an uncommon situation--I'm pretty accustomed to it by now--but I rarely carry cash. I apologized and said no, and he went on his way.
Walking back to campus, we passed a man talking on his phone. He quickly hung up and stopped us, saying, "Hi ladies--can I ask you something?--What is a good present I can get for my five year old neice? It's her birthday tomorrow." Roommate and I looked at each other, both a little confused. We gave him a few suggestions and awkwardly tried to walk away. As we were leaving, he told Roommate that she looks a lot like his sister. Admittedly, strange.
Roommate and I continued walking down University. We were back on campus and about halfway to the union when a large man in a G-Unit shirt stopped us. He said, "Enjoy your Friday night of giving" or "Enjoy your Friday night, forgive me." We couldn't decide which would be creepier, or what on earth he was talking about. This guy was huge--at least 250 lbs and 6'1"--so we didn't really want to perpetuate the conversation... We said nothing, continued walking, and picked up the pace.
Sidenote: Roommate is from Happy Jack, AZ. In HJ, you are more likely to encounter a bear than a G-Unit. She is still unsure how to react to tonight's events.
So we are inside the union, thinking all of this stranger danger nonsense is over, when ANOTHER man, who had been peering inside the glass doors, poked his head inside the union, and yelled, "Hey! You girls got boyfriends?!" "We sure do!" I yelled back, in the manner my reflexes tell me I should respond to creepers. Roommate said nothing and we walked briskly away.

I busted out the pepper spray on the way back to the dorm. And then I realized that it was windy, so if I had to spray someone, it was going to end up in my eyes.

This happened over the course of 30 minutes.

Dos

2008-10-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

After being in Peru this summer, I felt pretty comfortable with Spanish. I might even have gone so far as to say I was relatively "fluent"...

Portuguese has destroyed that.

But I received an email forward that put some perspective on my situation; at least I'm not learning English as my second or third language.

--

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;
Neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England .
Quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square,
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.
We have noses that run and feet that smell.
We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language
In which your house can burn up as it burns down,
In which you fill in a form by filling it out,
And in which an alarm goes off by going on.
And, in closing, if Father is Pop,
how come Mother's not Mop?

--

So, in conclusion, I am glad English was my first language, I will promptly begin calling my mother "methren", and Brian Regan* is hilarious.

*Look up his comedy sketch about school.

Uno

2008-10-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

Today I avoided all homework-related options.

I accomplished this by installing Skype, creating a blog, and convincing Roommate (whose real name is Sarah, but who I will probably refer mostly to as "Roommate") and her friend to make smoothies while I was at the desk.

I also bought some clothing so I can make it until next week without doing laundry... which doesn't make financial sense at the moment, but time-wise it was a great decision. When I arrived at college last year, I didn't have enough clothing to get me through much more than a week, but through strategic shopping I have solved that problem. I hope to have an even more sustainable wardrobe as time wears on.*

I haven't got a lot to say today. I'm avoiding multiple reading assignments. For all I know, this might be my first and last blog. We shall see!

*Disclaimer: I do not typically enjoy shopping, but today, I had to take one for the team. (There is no team. I am the team.)