Major Differences Between Sue and I

Recent conversation via 'text' that my mother and I had:

Kate: "Mom, which Beatle was your favorite?"
Mom: "Paul"
Kate: "Why didn't you like George?"
Mom: "He wasn't as cute and didn't say much."
Kate: "You are so superficial!"

Also, I mentioned that I was ashamed of her after mentioning that George is just like KEITHY! (With the exception of the 'not cute' part). If you have no idea who we are talking about (which, shame on you) here are some photos:

Precious Georgie, whom I was told that James Burton said that he was 'kind'. What a nice description! I believe it. Also, I can NEVER hear enough of his version of "Here Comes the Sun" (which he wrote) so I am certain that this describes him perfectly... bless.


And here's ole Paulie who ended up marrying Peg Leg Mills. Nice judge of character you've got there. Well I guess he's done some cool stuff too, but just doesn't compare to sweet Georgie.


Who's your fave?

Self-Explanatory Blog Title:

Well, I've officially reached the zenith of my life. Britney was this weekend and man was it the best thing EVER. No really, ever.

Check out the red spandex pants. Love it!!! I peed my pants a little at this point...seriously.

The magic umbrella!

Crotch shot!

I could kick like that in high school. About 50 pounds ago.... I miss her already.

Flashback Tuesday

Most of my childhood was spent being a part of the Summer Grove Baptist Church youth group. Therefore, most of my Flashback Tuesday photos include myself on some sort of church event whether it be a Choir Tour, Youth Camp, Disciple Now, Church Prom or whatever. So, today's FB Tuesday features a Choir Tour:

I'm a little disappointed that Jen Herron's head was cut out here. I'd also like to point out that my brother is in this photo if you didn't recognize him. Also LJ. :) This was one of those Choir Tours where we went around to prisons and sang about the Apostle's Creed and stuff. We weren't allowed to wear our shirts tucked in because of the fear of prisoners ogling us (like they weren't going to do that anyway. I mean, look how hot we were!)

Now, this next photo, I have no idea where it is. Perhaps at a Phase 10 tournament?

Nice Texas Tuxedo down front. Anyway, there is really no telling what is going on here, I am only thankful that my outfit is completely blocked out because I feel that it would be very unfortunate. Oh, and please take note of Mark there in the back looking like he is having a blast! Don't you just love FB Tuesday?

Journey... and More

Last night, against my proper judgement (regarding my summer cold), I went with Mark and Meredith to Tacomania followed by the Journey/Night Ranger concert. I'm pretty sure that I saw the entire city of Shreveport either at Tacomania or at the concert and of course, I was sick and talking with a snot filled nose and trying not to breathe too heavily on anyone.

We got to the concert a little late and jumped in the middle of Night Ranger, who, seriously, were awful, with the one exception of, of course, 'Sister Christian':

Going to the CenturyTel Center for a concert is pretty much asking the City of Bossier to put on their trashiest outfit and come out to play. I have seen a lot over the years of concerts at the CTC, but this one is a definite flashback to a slutty girl that I went to high school, with who spent a lot of her time at Interport (if you grew up in the 71118, you know about Interport) AND youth group:

So, after the intermission and Journey came out, I was pretty sure that I would know all the songs.

Wrong. I seemed to know only about 5-6 of them... which was okay, but when you are praying for the set to be over so you can go home and Neti -Pot, it just seemed to go on and on and on...until they got to 'Open Arms' and everyone got out their lighters/cell phones. Meredith cleverly, managed to combine the two:

By the way. Meredith is my new friend. She is fabulous and I absolutely love her because I feel as though we are on the same page in our opinions as far as trashiness, tackiness, and Bossier. Mark, don't be jealous. So, here is our group pic from the concert:

The guy on the end is Jim. He is one of Meredith's friends who curiously purchased concert merchandise for a female who is NOT his girlfriend. I intend for you to get to the bottom of this, Meredith.

So, on the way back to Mark's to watch Big Brother, we passed by this little sight on Kings Highway:

(If you can't tell, it is a large truck transporting a couch with two humans enjoying the ride.) At least the couch was strapped in, I guess. Stay classy Shreveport... we don't want you to stoop to the lows of Bossier, or God forbid, Keithville.

Seven Albums That Changed My Life (This Might Get Long)

Since yesterday at approximately 11AM, Pandora has decided that I have reached my 40 hour a month free listening capacity, which is SO LAME!!! I could listen to that in one week at work. How do they expect me to get by without them for three working weeks a month? I had to come up with some sort of strategy. I am not an Ituneser because I don't really know how to work my IPOD that well and also, I think that I would spend a ton of money on really bad music that I would regret later. So if I want to listen to something really specific, I either go to http://www.songza.com/ or I save up my dollars and go purchase the album. And that leads me to the more important part of this post.

Since Pandora is now an ass, I now choose a CD from my car, burn it to my work computer and listen to it on repeat all day. I have no other choice, I suppose. I'm cheap like that. Therefore, I've decided to discuss the albums that have meant the most to me throughout my life. These albums have helped me through either a breakup, college, a trip to France, or a road trip to Little Rock by myself. These albums are not necessarily from my favorite artists or bands, but they have a special place in my heart (and CD case) for one reason or another. So here we go in no particular order... actually, I think I'll do chronological order, just for my own organizational sake...

#1: Alanis Morrisette and "Jagged Little Pill"

I'm not sure of any person within 3 +/- years of my age that hasn't listened to this album. So, really it speaks for itself. Also, there is a 'hidden track' at the very end that I got super excited about the first time I heard it. I would borrow this album from Jennifer Herron VERY frequently in the 8th grade. I would keep it longer than she liked by saying 'Oh, I forgot it at home, I'll bring it to you tomorrow.' I'm sorry Jennifer, but I was lying. I eventually gave it back, though. This album made me realize that there is more to music than country. For that, I will be forever indebted to you, Alanis.

#2: Dido and "No Angel"

I guess we will skip directly past high school because I don't remember a single album that I owned and listened religiously to, so teleport yourselves mentally to my college days. In my very first drawing class that I took, we would listen to music while we drew (not nudes, this time). This album was one of my teacher's favorites. I never listened to music like Dido's (with the exception of Enya on the radio, which was horrible) and found that I really liked it. I liked this album so much that I raved about it to a boy who I really, really liked at the time. He went off and surprised me by giving it to me for my birthday (what a sweetheart) and I got to listen to it while driving home in the rain for the weekend. So there is the secret reason why there is a special place for Dido in my heart....

#3: Nelly Furtado and "Folklore"

These next two albums are a tie. When I lived in Paris for that glorious month in 2004, I had two roommates that were super interesting. They had brilliant senses of humor and I NEVER would have placed myself rooming with them, but obviously the room assignment person did. I remember being a little upset about it at first, but after I got adjusted to the situation (and was introduced to wine and started loosening up) it turned out that I got to know them and really liked them a lot. Rebecca, the really artsy one, would wake Catherine and I up every morning with one of three albums. "Folklore", "I Am Sam", or "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones. Now, I am not one to want to wake up, but when Nelly's "One Trick Pony" would start up, I would jump out of bed and look forward to the day like I hadn't even been asleep.

I didn't really care for Nelly before (the 'I'm Like a Bird' song), however, this album was less pop and more of a rock sound with an acoustic approach. This album wasn't considered commercially successful, but I like it better than her other two. It seems to me as though she put a lot more of herself into it, instead of being a music industry puppet.

#4: "I Am Sam" Soundtrack

This is the other of Rebecca's morning wake up albums that I love. I'll be perfectly honest with you here. I did not grow up listening to the Beatles. My parents didn't listen to them (at least while I was around) and I only knew that they were a huge successful 60's band. So, when I listened to 'I Am Sam' and I heard all of the artists (The Wallflowers, Sarah Machlachlan, Ben Harper, Ben Folds, The Black Crowes, Eddie Vedder, Rufus Wainwright, etc.) singing these songs, I had no idea that they were ALL Beatles songs. I just thought that these artists were doing a great covers album. Well, after examining the CD case, I realized what was really going on here. Anyway, I love the album. It is comforting. Like going home. Or eating a doughnut. (This album has gone missing from my collection, so if you have it, could you please give it back. Thanks.)

#5: Better Than Ezra and "Closer"

I don't know when this album was originally released, but in 2006, I attended my very first Better Than Ezra concert. Sure, I knew a couple of their songs ("Desperately Wanting", "Good", etc.) but wasn't sure what to expect from a full-blown show. My friend Jamie (who is an intense BTE fan) said, "Don't worry about it, it will be fun and you will know some of the songs." So, I went. I LOVED THEM. Absolutely LOVED them. I might have known like 5 songs total, but after the concert I went out and purchased this album via Ebay because I couldn't find it in stores anywhere. After it arrived in my mailbox, I drove around and listened to the album. My absolute favorite song is "Get You In." I like the first line in the song the best: "I sit and watch your flowers wilting in the kitchen. I felt like I was one of them gasping for air." How many times have we felt like that because of other people? Love this album!!!

#5: Ryan Adams and "Demolition"

During that same year when I found BTE, I also found Ryan Adams. (Side rant: If you don't know who Ryan Adams is (NOT BRYAN ADAMS), I urge you to purchase one of his albums. It doesn't matter which one, they are all amazing. This is your chance to learn what good music is and should be.) When my dear friend Eric Covington introduced me to Ryan, my music taste (and life) changed drastically. Thank you Eric, I will always be indebted to you as far as my hearing goes.

So, anyway, the summer of 2006 was really great, and yet at the same time really hard for me for many undisclosed reasons. I decided to take some vacation days and drove to Arkansas solo to visit some friends. While there, my favorite college friend Libby and I visited the local Best Buy. When I got there, I decided to go and see which Ryan Adams albums they had. They had 'Demolition' and 'Gold.' If I had the money, I would have bought both but decided on a coin flip to purchase 'Demolition.' On the drive back, I decided to listen. Wow. Amazing. I'm not sure what all Ryan has gone through in his life to make his music so powerful, but I applaud him and at the same time sympathize with him (even though he decided to marry that tramp, Mandy Moore) because he must have gone through some bad, bad times. My favorite track on this album is "Dear Chicago." If you are an Ituneser, spend 99 cents wisely and purchase it. I guarantee that you will relate.

#7 and Finally: Ray Lamontagne "Till The Sun Turns Black"

I would again, like to thank Eric Covington (who has amazing music taste) for gifting me with Ray Lamontagne's first full-length release "Trouble." I loved that album so much that I was given his sophomore release, "Till The Sun Turns Black" as a birthday gift the following year. This is actually the album of the day that I happened to grab from my car. So, it's currently playing on repeat. Ray's music is probably the most soothing music that I have ever listened to (with the exception of Damien Rice). He has a soft-spoken voice that can lull me into any sort of calm state. I love to play this album when getting ready in the mornings. Ray's music makes me want to behave. And to also be a better person. I can't say that about many things these days.

There you have it readers, I apologize for the length, but hope that the 5 minutes that you took to read my faves, has inspired you to share yours as well!

Happy Birthday To John!!!!

Today is John's 27th Birthday and since he is such a precious angel, I decided to dedicate a blog entry to him. Below are pictured some of my favorite times that I've had with him:

John (Caesar) and Rex Rupert (John the Baptist) sing "You Might Think" by The Cars at my '07 Toga Birthday Party

England is his favorite country.

John loves a good miniature golf game.

Classic Photo from San Diego trip last summer at the SD Art Museum

He meets the Gateway Arch in St. Louis for the first time.

He dresses as a childhood icon (Ric Flair) for my 26th Halloween Birthday. RIP Michael Jackson and his "Thriller" dance.

He enjoys Mardi Gras parties (and king cake) at the Martin's home.

Speaking of Martin's, John and Eric sing a duet at Eric's wedding shower.

John meets Rachel The Pig in Seattle.

John gets attacked by an octupus at the aquarium.

He meets another childhood icon: The Million Dollar Man at the DFW airport.

As you can see, John is a very complex character who is very special and dear to my heart. I love him very much! Happy Birthday honey!

Things That Happen When Kate-Naps Are Interrupted

Lately I have had NO energy. Seriously, none. This may stem back to Friday (unexpected day off when Nancy and I went to meet a friend for a margarita at 430PM at the Oyster Bar and didn't return home until 3AM.

All in one night I managed to run into a girl I taught at Disciple Now 3 years ago, a guy that I had a cyber screaming match with 4 years ago, and a girl that I roomed with in France 5 years ago. Not to mention, I had greasy hair, was wearing a tshirt and had no makeup on. AND it was 102 degrees outside so I was all sweaty and shiny. Ugh. Somehow we managed to go from Oyster Bar to Fat Boys to Fat Cats to El Dorado (where I ran into Losing Anna and the entire city of Shreveport) to Fatty Arbuckles to Stray Cat to home. By the way, there are way too many Cats and Fats in this town. Yeah, so it was an intense pub crawl.)

Anyway, I've been sleeping a lot lately. Like I was saying, it may stem back to bad decisions, or possibly a thyroid issue. I'm still paying off a dermatology visit so I have to pay that off before I have other things checked out (paying for my own insurance is costly). So, Sunday night I went to bed at 7 and last night I decided upon a Kate-Nap around 6. People kept texting me, so I ended up having a break from sleeping at 930ish where I got up and went downstairs to watch The Bachelorette (Jillian is a moron) and Chelsea.

I was all nestled on the couch when around midnight my doorbell rang. I froze and my heart started pounding very intensely. Seriously, there was no way in hell that I was going to answer that doorbell. I thought, if this was someone that I know, they would have sent me a text or called to tell me they are coming over. So it was most likely a child pranking me, or a rapist/murderer. (John warns me to never answer the door, even during the daytime. Goes along with the whole don't talk to strangers deal.)

So what do I do? I mute the TV, slide off the couch and army crawl to the bathroom where I hoped to go unnoticed. I stayed there until I decided that it was safe to come out, turn off the TV and lamp (very slowly and quietly) and tip-toe upstairs back to bed under the covers. I texted John and he was all like "Don't answer the door. If it happens again, I'll send a car out (which really made me giggle on the inside. FYI his father is retired Shreveport Police.)" So, I laid there until I fell asleep again.

Well, this morning, I woke up and tip-toed downstairs (I guess in case the doorbell-ringer was still there waiting on me) and made my coffee and got ready to go to work. I opened the front door slowly and peek outside. Nothing on stoop. No extinguished flaming bag of crap, no DVD (someone left one once), and no dead people or blood. So I glance over at my car and there is this on my windshield:

I was thinking "What the crap?!? I never get this stuff. Someone scared the hell out of me last night to leave a rose on my windshield? Was it John? A secret admirer (I have many)?" So I texted John and asked him if he happened to leave anything on my car and he said 'Maybe'.

OK. Mystery solved. Whew! Moral of the story is that I decided that I should toughen up slightly and that John is a sneaky (and sweet) guy.

She's Baaaaack!

Well, it seems like I have been gone for a month, but alas, readers, I have returned from the best vacation ever. John and I had a wonderful time in Seattle. Everything went as well as it could have gone and we both proclaimed to each other that we were experiencing 'Not Wanting To Go Home Syndrome.' Usually we would both be itching to get back but this time we weren't. We've decided to 'summer' in Seattle. So that is that.

All in all, I probably took around 700 photos whilst there, but they are all on my computer at home so I can't share any of them at this time. However, today is your lucky day. While we were there, the one evening that I forgot my camera, John and I ended up having the most entertaining two hours of our lives. We went to a place called The Can Can. You can assume that it is exactly what you think it may be. A burlesque underground club/restaurant. John was thrilled, not only to be at a burlesque show, but to also be responsible for taking all of the photos via Roxanne and then emailing them to me. These are the few images that he captured:

This is me having a Manny's Pale Ale. I'm pretty sure it was a local brew. It was delicious. Also, it was extremely dark in The Can Can and that is why I am so illuminated by the flash (not because I'm pale or anything). We were lucky enough to not be right upon the stage, because we got this nifty overhead lighting:

Since we were underground, this was above us. We could see the shadows of feet walking above us, which was really cool. So after we ate, the show began. It was basically a 4-Man show of the 'Can Can Castaways' and they did a bunch of different dance routines. Sometimes they were all together, sometimes it was a solo or sometimes it was two of them. Once I saw some boobs with star sequined pasties. This is a photo that John took of the four of them. One is dressed as a squirrel, one as a raccoon, one as an owl, and one as a unicorn:

The Unicorn was my very favorite. His name was Faggedy Randy. The other guy calls himself Jonny Boy. Then there were two girls. One's name is Rainbow and the other is Fiona Minx. I called them Trena and Hillary because they resembled two girls I know. Trena claimed to be the choreographer but was always behind a little bit. I decided that I want Hillary's body. Here is a mural that adorns the walls walking into the Can Can:

From right to left: Jonny Boy, Trena, Faggedy Randy and Hillary. If you're bored you should visit their website: http://www.thecancan.com/ . All in all, the show was awesome and the food was good too. A fun evening was had by both.

New Poll of the Week!

Prepare yourselves, Britney fans. For you, this will be the best post EVER! For Non-Britney fans, just go ahead and go away. This is a HATER-FREE zone!

So, last week's poll closed with 8 of you preparing to be there! I'm so pumped because yesterday I scored three tickets to the show! Carie, Julie and myself will be there, in all of our white trash glory, to support our Louisianan childhood role model, Ringleader Britney!!!!:

I can just hear the 'wha-pish' of a whip now! So, for those of you who are going to the concert, which Britney do you plan on dressing up as?

SCHOOLGIRL BRITNEY

RED SPANDEX JUMPSUIT BRITNEY (OOPS I DID IT AGAIN)

BRITNEY AND JUSTIN: THE DENIM DYNAMIC DUO

I'M A SLAVE 4 U BRITNEY (AND SNAKE)

TOXIC BRITNEY (CRYSTAL-STUDDED SHEER ONESIE)

LIKE A VIRGIN BRITNEY

WHITE TRASH BRITNEY

K-FED-PHASE BRITNEY

BALD BRITNEY

GIMME MORE (BAD HAIR EXTENSIONS) BRITNEY

COMEBACK BRITNEY

Whew! That was semi-exhausting. So, there's a new poll this week about Seattle!! I will be there by the time that next week's poll closes, so go ahead and let me know what you think Seattle is best known for! Have a trashtastic weekend!

PS: For you Die-Hard Brit-Brit fans, please have a looksie at, what I personally think, to be her best performance ever! I remember watching it live and my parents telling me to "Turn that trash off!" If they only knew what was to come...