When you’re sad and you know it...

Hello, my darling readers! I hope you are all doing well.  In case you forgot, it’s February. I don’t know about you, but February makes me downright miserable. With the bitter cold, routine, and utter mediocrity, February might as well be the black cat of the calendar year. No disrespect to the second month, but I feel as if my misfortunes pile up between the first and the twenty-whateverith. Perhaps the inconsistency of days is problem #1.  (On the plus side, March through January is pretty breezy.)

At any rate, I feel as if some cheering up is in order. I’m adding a bit of yellow to this dreary, doltish canvas.  Many of these ideas have come from friends, family, and retreats, and for that I am very grateful.

Here is my grand compilation of pick-me-ups that are sure to swap those grimaces for grins! 22 thoughts for my 22 years of life. I present to you…. Katie’s Never-Fail Happy To-Do List…

1.  Spin around six times, and then do three jumping jacks, and one “I’m-a-star!”

2. Now watch this video.

Who said you had to do drugs to have fun?

3.  If you need to blow off some steam, cry in the shower. (HA! PUNS). My roommate swears by it. 

4. Get a blank sheet of paper, and write, draw or design whatever comes to mind.  Don’t worry about being perfect or “artistic.” This is just for you!  In order to express myself completely freely, I sometimes make a rule to show my work to no one.  Art can be shown to the world, or it can be private.  You hold the pencil J

5. Go to a restaurant, and when you get the menu, shut your eyes and point to something.  You must order whatever you point to.

DISCLAIMER: I’ve never actually tried this; it just sounds fun.

DISCLAIMER PART 2:  Please don’t play this game liberally if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.

6. Watch all of the Oscar-nominated movies and make your own judgment calls before the awards ceremonies.  You could even bracket it March-Madness style. Give yourself chocolate for correct guesses.  Give yourself wine for incorrect guesses. 

Talk about a win-win situation.

7. Acquire all the instruments for Karaoke Revolution to play in your humble abode. This game is delightful as both a group, and solo activity.  Last year, I played Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol by myself for hours.  For my final performance at the Finals Stage from the 2008 finale, I wowed the judges with my rendition of “Stickwitu” by the PussyCat Dolls. To prepare for this song, I went into my real-life closet, and put on a sparkly dress and high hells. Needless to say, on a random Tuesday night, I became your American Idol. 

Moral of the story: you can have fun by yourself.

8. Pinterest.

Specifically my Pinterest.

Follow this board

9. Put on your best outfit, and strut like you mean it.  I always feel much better when I know I look fabulous.

First you’ll feel like this…

But then your confidence will grow until…

 who knows? Maybe you’ll get into Harvard Law...

10.  Watch Disney Channel Original movies from the 90’s. There are multiple Halloweentowns, a Smart House, Leprechauns, and a digitized pop star to choose from.

11.  Change Siri to an Australian or British man, and then ask him (it?) to call you “Goddess Divine”

12.  http://www.sporcle.com/

This website.  My favorites are “Chicago L stations” and “State Capitals.” If I’m feeling intellectual, I might even try “U.S. Presidents.”

13.  On the topic of fun websites, visit this! 

Feel smart, and give rice to help end hunger.

(I have no idea how/why this works.)

14. Put all of your SIMS in the pool and take away the ladder. Bargain with the Grim Reaper for their lives.

Enjoy zombie sims.

Or, create distorted sims and then let them reproduce…

15.  Grow your own VenusFly Trap. I can’t guarantee it will work, but it will surely by amusing.

16.  Remember this: “The struggle that you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.”

17. Read these words of wisdom.

18. Micropigs covered in paint.

  

19.  The 2015 Gerber Baby.

20. Write someone you care about a love note.  This does not have to be a romantic partner, but just anyone in your life you want to recognize.  As human beings, we are all broken. You never know how impactful a short note can be in someone’s life. 

21.  Find a Youtube video weirder than this.

(And send it to me. I challenge you to a “Weirdest Video” competition, which I am already regretting)

22.  My last tidbit of happiness for the day is this: NEVER forget how loved you are! I promise that family, friends, God, and even strangers can and do love you unconditionally.

We will get through this February.

Whimsically,

Kate.

Oh the Things I Will Do

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/88P9DBR.

This is the link to my future.

It's a bit of an exaggeration, perhaps, but it's an important link nonetheless.

If you've noticed my absence from this blogging platform for the past couple of months, it's because I have been horribly preoccupied with my capstone assignment for my communications major.  If you've been blindly unaware of the fact that I took a vacation, note that you are the reason for the teardrops on my pillowcase. My capstone project is about the psychology of color in advertising design. To examine further the human response to color, I've composed a collection of website and logo redesigns for the somewhat bland Craigslist web presence. I desperately need responses to attain enough data to answer my lurking questions about the power of color.  I want to prove that color does make a difference in the eyes of the consumer.  To show you just how much I care about color, (and my grade) I've created a list of things I would do for responses from you wonderful people.  Please, just validate me with your loving answers.

What I would Do for a Survey Response from You:

1. I will donate not one, but three and a half klondike bars.
2. I will sing you a lullaby as you fall asleep.  I have experience in the field of lullabying, and trust me: I've got the la la la's to get the zzzz's.
3. I will bring you a daily compliment on a post-it note.  Warm fuzzies feed the soul.
4. Have you ever wondered what you would look like as an animated character? I can draw that for you.  I can even render you in animal form, in case you have a deep and wonderful desire to be an Arthur character.
5. Dippin' Dots.  You'll have yourself a whole bowl.
6. I don't mean to brag, but my grilled cheese sandwiches are out of this world. One survey response, and say hello to buttery goodness.
7. I'll pray a decade of a rosary for you, if you're into that.
8. I will write a blog post in your honor, complete with an acrostic poem of your name.
9. You can come over and play Karaoke Revolution with me. Who doesn't love screaming Evanescence's "My Immortal" into a plastic microphone? I might even let you win once.
10. I'll give you a free makeover, complete with facials and hairstyling.

If any of these prizes sound worthwhile to you, please fill out my questionnaire.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/88P9DBR.
Here is the link again. ^^^

Answer it with friends, make it a drinking game; I don't care as long as I have results by December 1st!

Thank you for reading! :)

What Your Shoes Say About You: A Completely Opinionated Analysis

I know what you're thinking. A blog post about shoe types and personality? Yeah, yeah, I am a sellout. This does sound like something Buzzfeed did, or probably will post in the near future. But, deep down, you are a bit curious. Somewhere, furrowed beneath layers of originality, is an inquisitive heart looking for identity clues. And the brand of shoe you choose to wear on your foot everyday is directly correlated to the type of person you are. Science says so. I happen to love what people express through their clothing choices, even if the message sent forth is somewhat strange or unorthodox. Shoes, the huggers of feet, are especially telling to a persons's essence. I will now present to you my own personal shoe-ology, in hopes that it will one day be an established field of study.

1. Flippy-Floppys

Flip Flops mean that it is summer, and any additional material covering your body will be the death of you. If these are the only shoes you wear, year round, you might be an avid shopper at CVS or Walgreens. I have no judgement about this; plenty of people buy clothing from drugstores. They have great underwear that sometimes fits as well. (I apologize for that bit of over-sharing). If you wear flip flops a lot, you probably enjoy the ease of slipping your foot into a shoe so quickly. Shoelaces can be quite the obstacle.  

2. Flip Flops with Socks 

Please go see a doctor. This is wrong on every level. Flip flops with socks means you have exactly 0% of your life figured out.  

3. Adidas sandals 

I hope you're taking a shower. But if this is your footwear of choice, you are probably a high school boy. You either play soccer or smoke a lot of cigarettes. I am willing to bet that you probably wear these with socks and long shorts, and eat an obscene amount of Chipotle. If you are a girl, you might be going for #normcore, and if this is the case, good luck to you.  

4. Toms shoes 

If you wear Toms, you are probably a college student who wanted to feel like they were helping others, while also getting a trendy pair of shoes. Toms are somewhat elusive in the fair that they have an air of hipstered individuality to them, especially in their endless variety of designs, colors, and patterns. That being said, they are still wildly popular in 16-25 age bracket. So, Toms wearer, you're probably not a hipster, but kind of want to feel like one sometimes. We've all been there. If your Toms have something really specific on them, like a periodic table or Elsa from Frozen, your shoe choice probably has less to do with the Toms aspect, and more to do with Potassium or Letting it Go.  Just a thought. 

5. Vans shoes

You're most likely from California and wear a lot of basic colors. You might skateboard and/or enjoy outdoor concerts. The possibility of your hair being died an unnatural color is pretty high, but it is not guaranteed. A significant portion of Vans wearers are instead Taylor Swift fans looking for shoes similar to Keds. And those are the people I want to befriend.  

6. Running Shoes

I get it, you are super athletic. Stop making me feel bad about using my dumbbells to crush Oreos for pie instead of actually working out. If you wear running shoes with bootcut jeans, you might be from Colorado. ( I will love you from a distance) You also have had some experience with farming or ranching. If you are wearing running shoes with fancy clothing, you might be a grandmother or a fashion editor. I don't know why this look is in fashion right now, but it is. Reference below.  

Fashion gets weird, a lot. 

7. Ballet flats

You are probably the president of something. Headbands are your "thing" and you've seen a least a couple seasons of Gossip Girl. You most likely don't do ballet, but appreciate the art form. I would guess that you walk a lot, and you are probably about 5'2", but do not care enough to wear heels. If you are wearing flats to a dance, your date is short. (The prom pictures will look awkward regardless). 

8. Stretchy platform sandals

YOU ARE FROM THE 90'S. You watch Mary Kate and Ashely videos on repeat and own several pairs of tinted sunglasses. Your stick-on earrings match your choker, AND your fuzzy wrist-slap bracelet. You documented this fact with multi-colored gel pens your Lisa Frank journal while listening to "Oops! I did it again" or the Rugrats in Paris soundtrack on your boombox. You have all the Pokemon cards in existence, but these are mostly just bargaining chips get all the spiky-haired, bleach-blonde Jasons in your life to chase you. Get the picture? Duh. 

9. Platform 4 in.+ high heels

If you are wearing shoes THIS high, one of three things is happening: 1. You are a celebrity, and you have someone to carry you most places. 2. You have a questionable night profession 3. You are sixteen, love bondage dresses, and have terrible self-esteem issues. If the latter, rest assured that you don't need these clownish club shoes to be beautiful. If you wear these, you might live under the delusion that you can walk confidently in them. You can't. I bet you thought they would be comfortable when you tried them on in a carpeted department store. And I guarantee those buggers will be off your feet by the end of the night. Or like, twenty minutes into dinner. Or the second you walk on hard concrete. The sad reality is that you, more often than not, look as uncomfortable as you feel. On the off-chance you do look calm, cool, and collected in these dementors of footwear, you might be a trained assassin.  Kudos to you, Carmen San Diego, wherever you are.

10. T-strap heels

Sidenote: I teared up a little when I saw these beautiful Modcloth shoes.  

If you wear t-strap heels, you are adorable. Congratulations.  You probably like old black-and-white movies and participated heavily in your theater program. These shoes are a staple of your wardrobe solely (ha!) because they remind you of your character shoes. (Which you also wear in in public). You can do a perfect Charleston.  You stalk the Modcloth website for vintage clothes on the regular. If you wear these shoes,  I like you. a lot.

11. Crocs

Whenever I see someone with Crocs on day or night, and let's face it (nobody) should wear Crocs day or night, my tender heart tends to start to bleed... All Galinda-ing aside, I tried to have sympathy for the Crocs-wearers. I could almost grant admonition if you are a nurse or under the age of four. But even then, there are other shoes out there. Beautiful shoes with bows and buttons and ombre laces, among other things. Crocs are just too similar to Donald Duck's feet mixed with a watering can, and they are edible, which is just weird. If you wear crocs, you just haven't seen enough of the world. You don't know what it's like to feel flirty and thriving. Crocs are like the Taco Bell of shoes: it seems convenient, but don't forget you are consuming the lowest grade meat possible. You should love yourself more than that.    

12. Whatever... these are...

Fun fact, these are sold out right now. If you wear these barbie head wedges, you might be in need of a new creative outlet. You wear probably the girl that set your own dolls on fire as a child. A female Sid from Toy Story, if I may. You most likely wore these shoes to a niche interest convention, or found them appropriate for the office. At any rate, maybe its time to look into less violent options? 

I know my thoughts and ideas on your footwear might be far off the beaten path of reality, but I can assure you they are a melting pot of my observations and my overactive imagination. If you have any other types of shoes you would like me to critique, hit me up with a comment or a message! I am always open to suggestions. Happy July, friends! 

P.S. If anyone has any topic suggestions they would like me to write on, I am open to that as well. Thanks, y'all! 

Whimsically,

Katie 

Why Can't I Microwave My Pants, and Other Inquiries: An Epic Quiz

Hello fellow friends, family, businesspeople, and kind strangers! You all are the cream of the crop.  For all of those who have been loyally reading my blog, or even it it is your first time perusing my weird musings, I want to say thank you! I hope you enjoy my every rant and/or bizarre photo.

Something which I am very fond of is making quizzes.  High school friends can attest; instead of learning, I used to write quizzes on the back of my homework assignments for teachers to answer.  This is the exact reason that math is beyond me. What even is math? So for your reading pleasure, I have concocted a special questionnaire  on which to waste time. Think of it as a fun summer challenge!  Grab your pencils, because the quiz is about to begin! And also, note that the questions get more difficult as time progresses. :) The first part is essay, followed by a multiple choice portion.

Question 1:
But actually, why can't I microwave/ cook my jeans in the oven?

Backstory: The washers and dryers in my apartment are the WORST.  I've have actually had a friend tell me she thinks our laundry room is run by Satan.  (Which is 100% accurate, and maybe I should spray some holy water down there).  So of course I get just a teensy bit indignant when I take the time to actually do laundry- instead of trashily buying underwear from CVS to prolong the misery- and find that all of my clothes are still wet. That is an entire $1.50 down the drain, and a night's worth of drying my pants with a blow-dryer.  Ain't nobody got time for that! So I casually suggested to my beautiful roommate Kelly that I could put my pants in the microwave to save time and energy, and she kind of gave me one of those slow blinks.  The kind that makes you seriously question your intelligence.  I guess I understand the danger with zippers and all but assuming there were no zippers, what would be the downfall? She argues my pants would simply be steamed, but I do not see the problem here. And, what about the oven? What if I just put pants in there for five minutes, just five.  Would that really cause much damage?  I am desperate to find out, for the sake of ameliorating the qualm of clammy pants from here on out.

Question 2:
Speaking of microwaves, why is it that if you press the one minute button twice, it's two minutes, but you press the 60-second button twice, and it is 120 seconds aka ... oh.  I answered my own question.  Excellent. Moving right along...

Question 3:
Why do I always think I look tan, until I compare myself to any other individual?

I honestly do not believe there is someone fairer in complexion than is me.  Do I have some other vision problem that makes me think I look darker than I obviously am? There are days when I am so excited about my assumedly bronzed appearance, and then one person puts their arm up against me, and the sad pale reality ensues.

Question 4:
HOW on earth did this happen?

yeah. explain that, science.

Question 5:
I have asked this once, and I will ask it again.

"Should've known, you was trouble/ from the first kiss; had your eyes wide open/ why were they open?"

Bruno Mars.
How did you know her eyes were open unless your eyes were open? It does not compute.

And on that note,

"You don't know you're beautiful/ that's what makes you beautiful"

One Direction, if you tell her she's beautiful, she would then know. ... Does that make her no longer beautiful? It seems to me that this is counter-productive.

Question 6:
Who's Dewey?

If you didn't watch Arthur as a child, I feel bad for you a little bit.

Question 7:
If one train is going north at 7 mph and the other train is going south at 10 mph, when will they almost run into each other, but choose not to because conductors have eyes and can just stop the trains and get out and just share a pot of coffee together?
A. Rainbows
B. your mom
C. 15
D. nothing rhymes with orange.

Question 8:
Neighbor is to cat as triangle is to...
A. yellow polka dot bikini
b. your mom
c. cat
d. 3.14meow

Question 9:
Do you ever feel...
A. like a plastic bag
B. your mom
c. like dancing
d. like the weight of the world is on your shoulders

Question 10:
What is the meaning of life?
A. money
b. your mom
c. I've been turned into a cow; can I go home?
d. Jesus H. Christ.


The best part is, if you answer all of these questions, I will compile your answers, and tell you what color your aura is! (This quiz is better than buzzfeed)
So please! comment away with your answers!

Disney Wedding Inspiration! (Villain Edition)

If you know me, you know I am very fond of weddings. Having spent a wonderful semester interning for a wedding DIY video service (called Weddingmix, look it up if you or a loved one are getting married!), I have taken in quite an influx of pictures and inspiration related to that one special day. The wedding industry in one which thrives off of the sharing of ideas spanning from blog to blog to online forum to app and back to blog again. A detail I found very common among the different blogs I researched was the creation of boards surrounding a central theme. Some arrangements were as simple as the color mint, while others portrayed complexities like "rustic-vintage-DIY-elegant-barn wedding."Another crowd favorite was to take the magic of Disney and juice it into a wedding extravaganza. Seriously, who doesn't love a Disney Princess Wedding? I however, feel that a very important population of Disney characters have been overlooked in the wedding industry: the villains.  These powerful figures are just as magical, and more often than not, have a bigger flair for the dramatic. I think every bride wants her wedding to have that special evil touch. To prove my point, I've compiled a list of fabulous wedding dresses, inspired by those founders of atrocity beloved since childhood. These dresses can transform a blushing bride into the wicked devil-woman she truly is.  Now who wants to raise their glass to that?

1.  Cruella DeVille

The greatest thing about this wedding dress is the black splotches. They are reminiscent of that time when Cruella wanted to skin not one, not one hundred, but one hundred and one dalmatians for that beautiful fur coat of hers. She might not have gotten away with it, but this bride certainly did! If 101 dead puppies doesn't scream eternal love, I don't know what does. Any bride can capture the sexy-scary look with this asymmetrical ball gown, because if she doesn't scare you... no evil thing will.  

2. Lady Tremaine 

I had to search long and hard to find a wedding dress worth enough to convey the modest beauty of this wretched she-thing.  Lady Tremaine is known for her cold, upright, exterior, but this puffy-sleeved high collared gown might just melt her heart. Deliciously expensive, the gown is reserved solely for the upper class. A classic 80's number like the one above is the perfect way to say "clean the mansion" with authority. There's no way in hell Cinderella is getting into this wedding. She's far too basic to appreciate the elegance, fairy god-mother or not. 

3. Queen of Hearts

If the Queen of Hearts is one thing, it's scrappy.  While initially appearing sweet and innocent, there is a fiery devil lurking just beneath the surface.  She will yell and fight until she gets what she wants. And by the looks of this scandalous pink wedding gown, someone else screamed and hollered until she got her way as well. The heart-shaped bodice sweetly point to true love alive on a wedding day, and sexy cut-outs are a great reminder of who is in charge. This bride knows she's queen; the piles of ruffles and hearts are just the icing atop a very glamorous cake. While it is risky to wear a colored wedding dress, she has a whole bridal party to defend her choices.  Any contenders will be beheaded.  

4. The Shadow-Man

The Princess and the Frog villain can mesmerize anybody with his voodoo magic, but none is as spellbinding as this hatted wedding look.  The fabric choices at play are confusing enough to charm the pants off all of the wedding guests.  A top hat is adds a touch of whimsy, but is also powerfully bewitching on its own.  Every man should be afraid of a bride's enchanting beauty, and this structured dress and hat do just that.  The only frogs this lady will be kissing are the sexy kind. (Disclaimer: I'm not really sure what kind of frog that is.)

5. Ursula

It is pretty unclear as to why this wedding dress exists, but I am very glad it does. How else would Ursula's captivating tentacles be properly represented? This wedding dress is perfect for anyone who's ever wished they had more than two arms.  Those elegant apparatuses are the best way to wrap the groom up in love! For a final detail, the crown on top of her hair beautiful symbolizes Ursula's underwater mane.  The dress above is ideal for a beach wedding; it's flowy and simple. Walking around in the sand will be a breeze! Ursula famously said to never underestimate the power of body language.  With a dress like this, a bride can write an entirely new dialect.  

6. Yzma

The Emperor's New Groove diva is so fabulous that she has two bridal followers! Yzma, fondly remembered as being scary beyond all reason, is unashamedly herself. She has a penchant for wild collars and capes that emphasize her authority as Kuzco's replacement. A balloon dress is just the type of drama Yzma would crave, with an elaborate caped portion to highlight a beautifully aged face.  Or, if a circular mono-wing is not preferred, a spiked headdress will certainly showcase one's regal nature. After all, the bride is the only one that matters on the wedding day. There might as well be spikes and decorations emanating from her. The sole cause for concern is a sassy rodent popping the brides bubble, but this can be easily resolved with simple-minded bodyguard who speaks squirrel. 

7.  Hades

Hades might be Lord of the Underworld, but any bride would look positively heavenly in this fiery number. This wedding dress is one part HotWheels and the other part timeless. The fallen god Hades was remembered for his intensity and determination to rule all, which exactly what the dress above accomplishes with ease. Fire represents anger, but it also symbolizes passion, and a burning love can only be matched by a dress in flames.This bride is too hot to be chained down! She's ready to be whisked away on a winged chariot. Anyone would be lucky to wear this merchandise on their wedding day; Hercules' sneakers and sippy cups pale in comparison.  

8. Mike Wazowski (or Boo)

I know Mike Wazowski is not a disney villain, but he is often overlooked, and this wedding dress contraption was too beautiful to pass up. While I am not entirely sure what the circular apparatus on that woman is supposed to represent, it inarguably looks myopic. Add in the two horns on the side and you've got a dead ringer for this friendly monster. A dress like this is perfect for turning laughs into renewable energy. Fear not, nobody is laughing at the bride, but with her. Honestly, the more one looks at the dress, the more beautiful and evolved it becomes. Beauty and functionality are blended effortlessly to create this one-of-a kind look. Sully is usually the best at everything, but today he takes second in the wedding style category.  

I am sure there are innumerable wedding dresses in existence that explore the elements of design and imagination, but these were my favorites of today! I sincerely hope any of those budding brides out there could gain some new ideas for a beautifully wayward Disney look. Keep your eyes peeled for even more fashionable wedding dresses! I'll be hunting a for Maleficent style in honor of the new movie. Stay sassy, friends!

A Traumatic Tuesday

Hello friends! I hope your year is going as swimmingly as mine.  Actually, I hope your year is going far more swimmingly, as I have been riding a roller coaster of epic proportions.  Don't get me wrong: I love my life, and everything that comes with being a busy college student with a social agenda as long as my to-do list.  However, my life is anything but stable.  Random meetings, surprise assignments, and invitations to fancy events seem to befall me at any moment.  If there's one thing I've learned so far, it's that life is beautifully unpredictable.  If there's another thing I've learned, it's that when everything goes wrong, sometimes all you can do is laugh.  This principle was proved to me on the morning of April 1st, which in retrospect, is funny in a "slip and fall on a banana peel" kind of way.  To set the scene, I had an enormous research paper due this day in my Art and the Catholic Tradition class.  Side note: Who assigns a paper due on April 1st? That is asking for trouble, and at least a small degree of heartbreak, in my opinion.  But that was the day we had to turn in our 12-14 page paper with bibliography and a list of illustrations.  I had a lot going on in the time period proceeding this sad misadventure, and had been working tirelessly in my random pockets of time to complete my research paper.  Which means I spent a lot of time on Facebook and watching Youtube videos. Monday night, I was on page 11, and I felt like this was good enough to warrant a peaceful slumber.  In the morning, I set to work to finish my paper.  This included the classic college slacking techniques of font manipulation and adding block quotations.  I had to turn in my paper at 1:00 PM, at the beginning of class.  I finished working at 12:33, threw on a hoodie, and ran off to print my paper.  Unfortunately, and I suppose this makes problem #1, the printer in my apartment has rejected the color black, forcing me to seek printing services from the big bad library.  The rest of my day went as follows:

12:45: Get to the IC (library), out of breath from running, slighting panicked about being late for class, yet still optimistic that it might work out.
12:46 Log onto desktop computer.  It is frozen.  Log onto new computer after several failed attempts to type in my password.
12:47 Pull up email.  Panic at absence of research paper in my inbox.
12:47 Pull out laptop and try to send email again.  Laptop is crashing at the weight of 100 million tabs, applications, and documents open.  (I have no self-control when it comes to my laptop)
12: 49 Still loading. Apprehension ensues.
12: 50 Finally my email inbox pops up, and I quicky resend the email with my paper attached.
12:51 I receive three emails containing my paper on the desktop computer.  Great.
12: 51 After opening the email, I realize that I do not have a title page.
12:52 I pull up Microsoft Word and come up with a really basic title like Mary and Art. Creativity takes time; I can't always have fun titles like "The Secret Life of a Gossip Girl in the City"
12:54 I accept defeat and send the paper to the printer.  I realize I have no printing funds.
12:55 I go online and deposit money to my ID for printing.  Intense panicking leads to many struggles in this department.  I enter my credit card number numerous times, and cannot understand why my card keeps getting rejected.  After some reflection and prayer, it dawns on me that I never specified my card was Visa.  Oops. Finally I have enough printing funds to pay for a paper that I know will cost about $570,000 dollars because of its massive size.
12:57: I run over to the printer to print my cover page and research paper.  I am about to scan my ID when I remember that I need to send my paper to the color printer because the list of illustrations need to be in color.  After receiving the cover page, I return to my computer to send the paper to the color printer on the second floor.
1:02 I run up the stairs to print my paper.  More panicking.  Why won't my password work?  The horrible realization that I had put in the wrong password sunk it.  Back to the computer.
1:04 I return to my computer (thank God nobody had taken it) and sent it to print for the third time.
1:05 I run upstairs again, and have success with the colored printer.  I incorrectly believe that I can relax, and that a sigh of relief.  I go to the help desk to use the stapler.  It is defunct.  Several failed stapling attempts later, I am a bit of an emotional wreck.  My beautiful paper is severed by multiple awkward metal accoutrements, none of which are actually holding anything together. I remember my professor specifically pointing out how essential staples are.  The poor desk receptionist recommends I use the first floor stapler.
1:06 Downstairs I go, and the first floor stapler is less than ideal.  A couple of staples in (My paper is beginning to look like a middle schooler with some serious orthodontia) and finally it is somewhat secure.
1:07 I run to class, hugging my paper like a sick child in need of hospital care.  The wind is enough to blow me over and take "Mary and Art" with it.  But I prevail.
1:11 I am late to class, but at least I showed up.  I am disheveled, to put it nicely.  To put it accurately, most dogs and babies would be fearful of my sleep-deprived style.
1:12 Professor asks me to comment on the architecture of the Sistine Chapel. Unable to form coherant words, I tell her it "looks dark in there" Awesome, Katie.
1:12- end of day.  I honestly cannot remember what happened after this.


Even though this past Tuesday was one of the most unpredictably traumatic days of my life, I am still so glad that it happened.  The only reaction I could muster up after such a literal series of unfortunate events was to laugh.  And I truly believe that, amidst all of my struggles, God was laughing too.  It is days like Tuesday that teach me to always be thankful for my wonderful life, regardless of the road bumps or dysfunctional staplers along the way.

MY PORTFOLIO WEBSITE

http://katiejcondon.wix.com/katiecondondesign

If you ever want to look at strange art pieces from a variety of different mediums and inspirations, my portfolio website is for you.