Kapachino

Not Just For Mothers

I was at work stuffing envelopes today with a bunch of my coworkers, just listening to the conversation. At the end of each month we have to send out heaps of checks to creditors and it takes a couple of hours to get them all folded and put into envelopes, even with a bunch of us working on it. No one really likes doing it, but we try to enjoy it as best we can. Usually I just observe and come away with a funny story or conversation that I have overheard, like the time I listened to one lady relating the story of her first experience buying condoms over the weekend.

Today, however, was different. Today I was educated. Today I learned all about the science of coupon cutting.

One of my coworkers is ALL into it. She buys at least three Sunday papers, goes through the coupons, organizes them into a binder, and then watches the sales. She taught us how to get free products, how to work each individual store, what each different kind of coupon means, and lots of other tidbits. Our favorite story was how she was able to get 40 tubs of butter for free. What she did with 40 tubs of butter is beside the point. Everyone at the table was riveted! We even asked her to do a lunch-hour workshop on the subject.

I know that coupon cutting is like the ultimate in domestic, old, and uncool. But I can’t help it–I’m picking up a Sunday paper.

I’m Back And On The Attack

Well, I think that I may have been the last of my group of friends to finish reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but finish it I did. SO good. Perfect, actually. As soon as I closed the back cover I had the immediate urge to re-read the entire series, but alas, that must wait because I have many books lined up.

Speaking of, I am house-sitting for my roommate Courtney’s parents this weekend while they are on a family trip. This is their dog, Harry:

Harry is a lot different than Teak and Riley! A lot easier to take care of in many ways. He accompanied me to my soccer game this morning. I think he liked it. I am seriously considering setting up a house-sitting/pet-sitting business! So spread the word, if you’re a Houstonian.

I missed my blog this week. I’m glad to be back.

I’m Still Reading…

Please be patient with me! I’ll be back soon I promise!

Things I Am Enjoying Lately

Click on the pictures for more information…

Just finished this book:

My boyfriend has read almost all of Stephen King’s books (only skipping the fantasy ones), so it was only a matter of time before I started in on them, and this was my first. I definitely have a taste for more!

This workbook:

I decided I wanted to get back to my daily Bible reading, but I knew I needed some help. This is supposed to go along with a group Bible study where you watch videos once a week and discuss, but it is great on its own, too. I actually look forward to it every morning when I wake up.

These albums:

I’ve never listened to much of Mandy Moore, but this CD is really good! Not too “poppy” like her other stuff. Apparently she wrote or co-wrote most of it and put a lot of her own money into it so it would sound like she wants it to.

If you’ve never listened to The Weepies, you need to!

These jeans:

I have been on a quest for quite awhile for the perfect jeans, but until now I haven’t been able to bring myself to spend too much money on them. That philosophy changes now, because it is SO WORTH IT.

These boys:

And this is what they look like most of the time, just following me around from room to room and flopping themselves down! Riley was so scared of the thunder that he didn’t want to be away from me for a second. Not only did he sleep with his head on my pillow, but he actually climbed INTO the shower with me. It was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time.

Of course this guy:

And tomorrow I will be enjoying this:

So I will most likely not be back online until I have finished it. Unfortunately I have a great deal of plans this weekend so the book might not get finished till next week. Can’t wait to talk to you about it!

A Quote

I had never read this quote before, and I wanted to share it because it articulates a feeling that I constantly have, and I suspect many others have as well:

Those of us who have been true readers all our life seldom fully realise the enormous extension of our being which we owe to authors. We realise it best when we talk with an unliterary friend. He may be full of goodness and good sense but he inhabits a tiny world. In it, we should be suffocated. The man who is contented to be only himself, and therefore less a self, is in prison. My own eyes are not enough for me, I will see through those of others. Reality, even seen through the eyes of many, is not enough. I will see what others have invented….

[I]n reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do.
- C.S. Lewis

WW: My Boys

Teak wants his treats…

Riley is happy that I have come home!

They Think This Is Funny?

Just a few minutes ago I was driving home, trying to keep myself awake (as usual), when out of nowhere I heard a loud THWAP! on the outside of my car door. It scared me so bad that my heart is still beating rapidly. At first I thought a rock had hit the car, but then I looked at my window and I saw all this opaque liquid running down. My next thought was, “Did I just witness the biggest bird crap in history?” But upon inspection of the car once I got home, I saw a little piece of eggshell clinging to the door. I was EGGED, people, EGGED! Boyfriend David had to explain to me that this is a thing that kids like to do: hide in the bushes or behind walls or fences and throw eggs or water balloons at the cars going by. When I was trying to figure out what hit my car my feelings were mostly those of shock and curiosity. But once David enlightened me on what really happened, they quickly turned to anger. Now I must vent. I mean those stupid kids could cause a wreck! It’s just plain mean! It has never once entered my mind that that would be a fun thing to do. I don’t understand it. And since I’m too lazy to do anything about it tonight, I’m gonna have dried egg goop on my window tomorrow to clean up. Simply lovely!

The Hidden Part Of Me

This summer I have been doing my psychiatric nursing rotation. Most patients stay for 6-8 weeks at the facility where I’m doing my clinical, and many types of disorders are treated. The first half of the summer I was on a unit for young adults; most of them were there for rehab. But the last two weeks and the rest of the summer I am on the OCD unit.

I am really enjoying this unit because the patients are a lot easier to talk to and the staff is much more engaging. My first week there, one of the nurses got me involved with the patients and challenged me to think about my understanding of the disorder. He did this through hands-on activities–literally. Example: because many of the patients have issues with contamination, he shook my hand long and tight, then asked me to lick my fingers. I did this. Later, he asked me if I could lick my shoe. I said that yes, I probably could. I got out of doing this (thankfully), but he did it himself.

He also asked me if I have noticed any OCD tendencies in myself. Now, I have loooooong known about my OCD traits. I am going to go ahead and tell you about some of them.

• My main issue is symmetry. Symmetry everywhere, but especially on my own body. I must have the same amount and consistency of food on either side of my mouth when I eat. My steps must be symmetrical, as in if I step on a crack with my right foot I must also step on a crack with my left. If I scuff my right foot on the ground I must scuff my left with the same amount of force. If I step on the carpet with my right foot I must step on the carpet with my left foot. If I touch something cold with my right hand I must touch something cold with my left hand. And so on!

• When I am driving, I notice the sections of grass that are outlined by roads, sidewalks, driveways, etc. For each one of these I see, I must blink.

• Speaking of blinking, I sometimes get stuck in a blinking ritual that I can’t stop until it “feels right.”

• There are other oddities that I think are related, such as my love for straight lines and my obsession with my planner, but I think these might be just more related to my personality.

When I told the nurse on the OCD unit about this, I became quite anxious. When I left that day I determined that I was going to try harder to resist my compulsions. They are not to the point where they disrupt my life, and I want to keep it that way.

Here are some examples of things I have run across so far in clinical:

• A young man is so afraid of germs, especially those from homosexuals and old people, that after shaking an elderly man’s hand he tried to sterilize his own hand by burning it. He also was in the habit of cleaning his nose and eyes with Ajax.

• I saw a guy today randomly picking up books from the table and putting them back down. When asked what he was doing, he said, “The table can’t breathe underneath there, I have to pick them up!”

• I worked with a girl who couldn’t step on cracks, corners, or thresholds or else she had thoughts that something terrible would happen to her family members. If she didn’t cross a threshold correctly she had to go back and do it again. It got to the point where she couldn’t make it out of her house for school. She also counted all her steps in groups of fives, and repeated many phrases and actions in groups of fives.

It’s a very interesting unit. I think I also like it much better because this is definitely the psychiatric disorder that I relate most closely to. Have any of you noticed any OCD tendencies in yourself?

WW: My First Catch!

I’m dating a fisherman, so I have to learn! He let me catch this one, and even though it’s a baby I was still proud.

Sunday Goodness

Dear friends,

I apologize for my absence. I still do not have access to the internet at my new apartment. This will happen Tuesday, I am informed. So far it has only been mildly annoying, but today I found myself in dire need of the world wide web in order to complete some assignments for school. So first I went to the local coffee shop which advertises free wi-fi. Unfortunately, it was not working. Next I went to my roommates’ old apartment (which they still have until the end of the month) only to find that a password was needed that neither of them know. Finally, I ended up at Panera, which has been wonderful. I love you Panera!

There has been so much that I have wanted to tell you. Look forward to the tale of fishing on the fourth of July and pictures of my new place, for starters. But for now I really do need to get to those assignments, so I will leave you with some pictures from church this morning.

I’ve heard it said that girls go for guys who remind them of their father. Maybe there’s something to that?

Me and my boys:

Mom makes an appearance:

I sure do like this guy.

Happy Sunday everyone, and I hope to be back in touch with you soon.

Love,
Kathleen