Hurricane Katrina

I have been thinking for the past few days about what I can say about the Hurricane. I'm angry, I'm sad, I'm detached and I'm inspired all at the same time. I realized we can't wait for the government to fix this. We need to take care of our own on an individual level. I gave what I could today and will probably give again next paycheck. Can you give something? Follow the link. This website, Charity Navigator, will help you research and connect you with the charity that best fits your concerns and ethics. It is very helpful.

Sometimes, when huge world changing events happen like these its no use complaining and dwelling about the smaller things. Lets not forget these things can happen and remain a country united. Is that possible? Were the federal and local government protecting and preparing for this? Its not much use getting angry now but we can remember for next time. Lets not let ourselves or others lose sight of the greater good.

Bio-Poem

We worked on Biographic poems yesterday with one of our student's 5th grade class. Here is mine:

Katy

Helping hand, sensitive, determined, artist

sibling of Mike and Chris

Lover of art, wine, and travel

Who feels alive, ready and patient

Who needs excitement, adventure, and family

Who gives encouragement, love, and my time

Who fears confrontation, sickness, and death

Who would like to see the cathedral in Cologne, Germany

world peace and better pay for educators

Resident of Iowa City, Kountry Ln. SE

Obert

Rocker Interrupted

I don't know how many of you know this but there is a part of my heart reserved for the '80s hair band Rock music. Come to my wedding expecting a few G-N-R songs, a few cheesy rock ballads, and some just get wild-fun-fist raised rock songs!

I revisited that part of myself on Sunday night when Kent took me to the "Rock Never Stops tour" with Ratt, Quiet Riot, Firehouse and Cinderella headlining. I raised my devil horns to the rock gods. I was interested to see that the lead singer and drummer of Quiet Riot definitely had droopy old man butts. Also, I don't think he was stuffing cause the package in that department was also pretty unimpressive. I almost wish he had packed a sock. They did declare, "B**w J*bs for Grandpas!" So at least they could admit they were old.

As for me I was lookin' pretty bad ass. I could tell because the rocker chick working the front door with the tight jeans and hairsprayed up bangs told me how hot my outfit was. I went for a jean skirt, ripped tight rock band t-shirt, a silvery-blue rocker scarf, rocker earrings, and my hair slightly teased for height.I got a few google eyes from the bald beer bellied guys.

I didn't get as many looks as the dyed blond chick who did a very interesting interpretive dance to GNR's "Welcome to the Jungle, Baby" where she incorporated a drumstick into her routine. She also made ample use of her thong and her t-shirt (or lack thereof) to draw in the crowd. You get the picture.

However, some messed up girl in the bathroom asked me, "You wouldn't happen to know how to get in to sleep with the band?" I was honored that I looked so right that this young lady would seek my advice on such a subject. I told her I didn't and good luck on her quest. Another girl thought my ta-tas looked good enough to sign and told me how to do it. I had to work the next day and didn't think it was appropriate to go into the elementary school with rocker's signatures all over myself. It was tempting, though.

I never asked but I guess I assumed I was too young for concerts like this (back in the day when I was listening to GNR and Aerosmith while living in Wisconsin). Today, I fulfill that fantasy. I even scored myself a Cinderella guitar pick that was thrown at the crowd!

The guy from Cinderella was actually pretty impressive. He could play the saxophone and the piano! At one point during a very emotional song he collapsed and cried out to us, "Your ripping my heart out!," over and over again. He really looked like he was going to cry. I imagined that if my brother has become a rocker instead of a lawyer he would have been like the lead singer of Cinderella. They even kind of looked the same. If you know these bands you can guess the songs they played: Round-n-round, Cum on feel the noize, Gypsy Rose, Mental Health, Girl don't treat me bad, Shake me, ect. It was all very exciting.

Kent tried to play the rebel when we rushed the stage by trying to get people moshing or something. I think those guys were too old for that, though, and ended up just annoyed with us. One guy actually told me to, "Calm down your man." Another woman told us to excuse ourselves when we rushed the stage! Who are these people?!?!! Old people, I guess. He he.

Anyway, all you rockers raise your fist to the rock gods. Rock lives!

My Pop-o just left and I'm a little hung over from drinking Argentinean wine at dinner. I had Pop-o take me to a non-work affiliated restaurant (a luxury I can no longer afford without my 50% discount) called Venuto's World Bistro. It was Italian night (perfect) and I had the seafood lasagne (dee-lishh). It was a very nice visit. This is one of the best most beautiful things about growing old... Befriending your parents. Pop-o is so unique and I feel somehow blessed that he's my Pop-o. He's hilarious for one thing but he's genuinely emotionally invested in his family. It was nice to hear him talk about his grandson, Patrick, like a proud grandpa should. He's a good Pop-o for coming to visit with me today. Momma was just on line probably hoping that I'd get on and tell her how it went. Well, Mom if your reading we had a great time. I showed him the Giant Sloth in the Natural History Museum and we walked around town and drank good wine with abandon. The Giant Sloth sends his regards.

Last but not least is my Momma. She's a sweetheart who loves just about anybody. She can be feisty too. She's a scorpio. What can I say? "Love her to pieces". 

This is Kara. She spends a lot of her time riding around Iowa City on her bicycle or her Honda 350f motorcycle. She bounces back and forth between here and Austraila. She's a feisty one with what might me the furriest biggest heart of anyone I know. We always have a good time. We also traveled to Italy together in the Spring of '02. 

These people are pretty much the core of my support network here in Iowa City. You need help moving there they are. You need help taking care of your kids there they are. You need to go out and get wasted and blow off steam on the dance floor. These guys are in (most of the time- we are starting to get pretty old acting). I've known the two flanking me for over ten years. The outside two (heh heh) are their partners. All very lovely people.  

Here is Chris. He came to visit me at the end of my trip in Italy. A very noble thing to do. He's a good brother and has always looked out for me.  

Here is a very sporty picture of me with my brothers. You can tell to look at us that we are each very unique. Hard to believe we came from the same parents (Mom?). 

I am seriously starting to wonder what is wrong with me tonight. I can not follow through on a single blog!
I have been trying to write a decent blog with pictures of my high school friends, brothers, and my parents. Everytime I have lost my blog.
Starting to get fustrated....
Losing Patience....
Argh.....
Anyway, I'm going to leave soon to play games at my friends' house Melissa and Sara. I will introduce a good bottle of wine to the evening. Feeling sick that I have to get up tomorrow and Sunday morning for work. I need to figure out a better schedule. Perhaps, I need a job where they aren't open on the weekends? Any suggestions for a non-weekend night job that pays at least $10/hr? I'm so not digging Iowa City at the moment. Blech (just puked in my hand). Will try to get more postitive next blog.
I have said a lot tonight but currently have no evidence of it. Stupid Image Uploading. Argh... more fustration seething from me.
I will get better at this. If you want to see how a smart person blogs check out this website. I've been reading it a lot. I have a funny story how I found it. The girl who writes it is a friend of a friend from way back. I happened to work as head server at her wedding. When I started blogging I looked up wedding websites and found hers. There are lots of great recipes and photographs on there as well as links to really great sites. I have been reading it with efforts to glean information about planning and living life happily in general.

Who wouldn't want to be the friends in this picture (lucky for me, MY friends). I introduce JR and Sara B. 

I actually have a lot of fun pictures that I'm sure some of my family and friends have never seen. I think I'd like to post them if its not too annoying for everyone.
I just feel like spreading the love. This way when I mention someone maybe you can cross reference and put a face to the name.

Here we are the summer we returned to the United State in Afton Alps, Minnesota ('00). 

Here we are after in Anacapri, Italy. I fed Gia pizza with pumpkin flowers and she got food poisoning soon after this was taken. 

Here Gia and I are relaxing in an overpriced Hotel on Easter weekend, '00 in the Amalfi Coast, Italy. 

Here is Gia and I at Iowa City's Deadwood, August of '01 

The People in my world...

Let's face it, some people can keep their blogs short because they have laid down a foundation. The people who read their blogs continue reading to keep up on what they know. Well... What if you don't know my world, the people I love, know and exchange with on a regular basis? How about me? Do you know who I am- this 28 year old woman who currently resides in Iowa City? What is Iowa City like? Is it a small Bum-f*** town where everyone is married to their cousin? Or does it have culture, education, and a certain urban feel? I'll get into that in another blog but it' helpful information.

If you come to my wedding... And if its here... You may find these things out. Or maybe I'll be too scatterbrained to submerge you into my life and I'll regret not personally showing you why I've been here for a just short of a decade. Are you interested?

I'm going to try and introduce you to these crucial "getting to know you" points in my life. Do I feel a little self important and the moment?

Perhaps. But I love most of you out there and want to know everything about you. I can only assume that you want the same information about me. First, let me point out that a few of you have not signed my webpages with wishes of love and good fortune. There are a few possibilities for this negligence.

a.) You are also incredibly self-important and can't find the time to put finger to keyboard.

b.) You are computer illiterate and possibly have no knowledge of this or The Knot webpage rendering this whole blog moot.

c.) You do not have feelings of good fortune for me. Very sad (I'm sure this is not the case).

You should all know how much it makes me happy to hear from you. Please write me from time to time and tell me you're OK. Or, alternatively, that you are not OK and, "Hey, let's talk about it."

Anyway, more about me... ha ha ha.

Actually, I want to feature a friendship today. Someone who holds the key to some very particular information and memories that only we and some lost others share; her name is Gia.

Gia and I have parallel lives. The reason I say this is that we have made the major decisions of our life at roughly the same times without any knowledge of each other. We went to Italy and met there at the same time. We came home and lost contact. During that time we did, roughly, the same things. Suffered the similar depression for similar reasons, got jobs at elementary schools working with mentally challenged children. We both became interested in Art Education. The latest is as follows... I was calling Gia to check up and tell her that I was applying to Art Therapy school in Seattle, WA. I told her I would be moving next fall. She returns that her and her partner, Jon, are also moving there at that time... See what I mean about parallel lives? Anyway, I have soo much I could write about us but it comes down to like minds. Only we really understand but that is the beauty of it, I suppose. Anyway, enjoy the pictures of my lovely Gia.

Damn, why can't I keep my blogs short? Sorry. I have too much to say, I guess.

The Big Questions:

Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?

For my last night of freedom before school I went to see Must Love Dogs. It was really very cute. Had very good 80s flashbacks from pre-collagen replacement therapy John Cusack. I thought he might grow old gracefully. Why doesn't anyone tell these actors and actresses that the plastic surgery doesn't fool anyone! They just look like an old actor with issues growing old... Frankly, that make them seem even older to me. Anyway, he wasn't too weird in this movie. More the Say Anything... Cusack not the Gross Pointe Blank kind of Cusack.
Besides collagen-face, i.e. Cusack... I really enjoyed Diane Lane. She kept making faces like a friend of mine, Kara. She's really funny and it only made me love the character more. I also was a big fan of the dog, Mother Theresa, as well.
It was a refreshing look at love. Nice to see a movie about people who don't want the fantasy (grown men after women half their age) and the fantasy is actually everyone's reality... or is it their ideal reality? I don't know but she just wanted someone to love her and have breakfast with her on Sunday morning.
I think that really is the big perk of having someone to love. Just knowing that we won't have to work the next morning and that we will wake up and eat cinnamon rolls and drink coffee and watch cartoons makes us sleep better with that little smile on our face. Its almost as if we can't wait to wake up. I just love men who love cartoons. I think it has something to do with Saturday mornings sitting with my Grandpa... sooo relaxing. The breakfast routine is probably my German heritage. Too bad that the American crazy - open 24 hours a day 7 days a week- work ethic ruins so many of these moments. They exist though and damn they're good.
The woman in the movie (Sarah played by Diane Lane) had a big Irish family. Made me miss having family around. Then on the way out I saw a woman about my mother's age walking out of the theatre with her husband. Looked just like her from behind. She had her hands shoved into the pockets just like Mom and she had Mom's walk. I can miss them so much sometimes. Not having a big family and being lil' ole' me here in Iowa really makes me question a lot. Why are we all here? What is the purpose of life?
The big Paul Gauguin painting. Ironically enough that painting is really fitting for this movie in an off-beat sort of way. Here is Gauguin who leaves his family and is all alone on a Tahitian Island with his Javanese hottie, wallowing in the depth of it all until ultimately he killed himself. His ideal seemed to be the thing that sent him to his grave. Well, OK maybe it was the turpentine or the alcohol he drank but it was the choices he made or the pain of it all that made him turn to the booze.
This cute little movie had so many real to live senerios... The older man who has survived past his wife (the love of his life). The wife whose husband left her for a younger woman. The husband whose wife divorced him and took him for everything he had. The happy gay couple always there when the going get rough... The big family there to shove reality into one's fave. Then trying to re-group and continue to live and believe in love.
As I'm growing older and now that I'm marrying I think about the "what if"s... I think about the time that's continually passing and how I know I don't have this life thing figured out. Artists never pretended to have it all figured out. They always see the broad scope of things. That's why they are always depressed and in pain. Its salt in the wound that they see what people themselves can't see. Oh yeah, and some are just plain egocentric- actually I think artists are egocentric by definition.
Anyway, this is what happens when I go to the movies alone. I get to thinking way too much and end up thinking about some painting somewhere. Eventually, I start to think about death and life and living until I'm so into my thoughts I can't even fall asleep. Perhaps, I should stop while I'm ahead. I need a good night's rest for tomorrow. I have a feeling its going to be a difficult transition.

Back to School/Getting myself organized

I realized today that I am entirely too long winded in my blogs. I will continue to try and keep my blogs short(er) and more poignant. Also, I'm starting to doubt my title, "BridalBlogging". Yes, I want to use this page for keeping family and friends up to date on the event. However, I also want to blog about home-based ideas, cuisine, restaurants, and art. I feel like I need sub-categories under one general "Katy O" website. Perhaps with time I will become well enough versed in HTML that I will be able to do this. After having started my original blog under wedding topics it might be difficult to organize my information out into different categories. If anyone has any suggestions. Please write! I am very good at following instruction.
As for my day today... Today is the last day of summer. Tomorrow, I go back to my school job. I have some goals for my education profession this year. They are as follows:
1.) Get the appropriate people to fill out praise filled referrals for my graduate school.
2.) Become part of the para-educators union and pursue better wages for myself and other para-educators.
3.) Focus more on individual time with the kids pursuing goals one at a time (if possible).
4.) Voice concerns more often before its too late (yes, I know that was vague).
I made a New Years list of resolutions and I have kept to it pretty well. I think I respond well to clear goals. I sit around and do nothing if I'm not clear and precise (to myself) about these things.
I bought frozen dinners for my lunches at work and I'm excited about them. I bought 4 "Smart Ones" and 4 "Lean Cuisine". I will keep you updated as to which ones to skip and which ones work out. I'm want to eat healthy lunches that don't cost too much. I think it will help out with portion size too.
Last night I helped work the door at a benefit for Camp Courageous. I had a blast. I drank two glasses of Pinot Noir and they were very good. Pinot Noir may be my new favorite wine. I saw that movie Sideways and got curious. Sure enough, I love it. I think we were able to raise a lot of money. 100% of the proceeds went to the camp. In case you didn't know, Camp Courageous is a camp especially for children with special needs. They get to ride horses there, do all kinds of activities and the kids love it. If you are interested click on the above link and give. Its a very worthy cause!

Well, I have some relaxing to do before I have to start the school thing tomorrow so I'd better get to it!