tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16940474193929466872024-03-13T03:43:17.386-07:00Yesterday's SweetheartsRamblings of a sweet. successful, sober girl.Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-73299807960242418452012-05-30T06:04:00.001-07:002012-06-06T06:25:08.226-07:00Employee Profile<br />
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In an attempt to make the company more dynamic, we are putting employee profiles on our website, as well as an email blast. It's strange writing about yourself, but here is mine!<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Employee name:</b>Catie </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nickname</b>: Boss
lady</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Theme song</b>:
“Green Onions” – Booker T and the MGs</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite pattern</b>:
Maharam Small Dot</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite bad movie</b>:
Army of Darkness</div>
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Catie grew up in the retail world, and caught the sales-bug
early. In grade school, she worked in her Mother’s shop, Magpie, in Arlington
and Alexandria VA. Realizing sales was in her blood, she absorbed all that she
could from time on the sales floor, filing purchase orders, or pretending to be
18 so she could be snuck into trade shows. </div>
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After high school, Catie moved to Richmond in 2005 to get
her BS in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University. After a semester in
Richmond, she accepted a position at EQ3, a contemporary furniture store in
Carytown. There she met Will (U-Fab RVA) and Travis (U-Fab owner). After the
heartbreaking close of EQ3, she started a three year run working for the ALDO
Groupe, a shoes and accessories chain. There she was promoted from key-holder
to store manager in a matter of months, and was ranked one of the top 5 Store Managers
in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Then the opportunity came to work with the old team
again, and put all she had learned to good use on a new challenge. So now she
is off the sales floor and at U-Fab R&D helping overseeing the sales team,
applying her corporate knowledge, and helping Travis remember where he put
stuff. Catie aspires to one day own her own business and be a nationally recognized <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">bowling champion (although she needs to start
bowling first).</span> </div>
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Catie is living the single life in a pink house in the
Manchester district with her cat, The General.
</div>Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-36181803858034736562012-01-07T21:49:00.000-08:002012-01-23T08:11:48.548-08:00Truths XXXI<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I know it is a holiday created by marketers, but I love Valentines day.</span></div>
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<br />Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-86535479531691847242012-01-03T09:08:00.000-08:002012-01-03T09:08:09.442-08:002011 Resolution Round- Up Recap.. RRR...It's crazy to think how quickly this year flew by. There were definitely its amazing ups, and very low downs but all in all it was a fantastic year!<br />
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I set my expectations for this year a lot higher than I had in past years, and for good reason! It was time to get out of my funk and start enjoying life again. Last year my resolutions to help aid in my 180, were:<br />
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1) Get healthy.<br />
2) Continue the search for my career<br />
3) Enjoy the little things<br />
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Lets start from the bottom, enjoying the little things. This year I taught myself to stop and enjoy whats around me. I was able to be surprisingly content over a cup of tea and a book for hours. Being able to just stop was a huge win for me in itself.<br />
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My career search wasn't so fruitful. I did go to a couple interviews with a large Richmond based Marketing firm, which was eye opening. Looking back, I've realized I am a little too by the book and in order to break into marketing I need relay everyday Catie more into interviews.<br />
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And now number one: Getting healthy seemed like the most daunting resolution every, as well as one of the most popular, but this one I give myself an A- on! It took a pretty hard kick to the soul, and my Father nursing me back to tell me it was time to put some gym shoes on. This year I joined the gym and (outside of retail hell holiday) I have been going on average every other day to get a work out in. It has lifted my spirits and dropped my weight! So far I have lost 6 lbs, and 17" off my body. It feels amazing, and people are definitely starting to notice. The changes to my body are really just a bonus, because my main intention was to get my mental health in check. And now I can safely say I feel better than I have in years. I am happy, and for that I think 2011 has been the best year yet.<br />
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Stay tuned for my new 2012 resolutions.<br />
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xoxo<br />
CatieCatie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-29077890504038022522011-12-26T08:46:00.000-08:002011-12-26T08:46:37.858-08:00Christ-missThe biggest gift I received this year was being able to put my life in perspective. Those tumultuous four years are starting to fade, and I've begun to look forward to the next phases of my life. <div>
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This year durring the holidays I was finally able to look back and remember my Mom fondly instead of feel greif. Her absence is still hard to comprehend, but I no longer think of the loss as much as what she left me with. </div>
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...her ability to laugh. </div>
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<br /></div>Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-24792538808096558082011-12-04T16:36:00.001-08:002011-12-04T17:27:05.061-08:00Best Day Ever 2011How could I have almost forgot about Best Day Ever this year! I tell ya, when my grandparents told me, beware time goes faster than you think, I wrote it off as a crazy elderly person thing to say. This was back in the days when a 3 month summer break felt like a year. Now I don't even have a summer break, or know what summer is for that matter!<div>
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Anyways, one morning a month ago I woke up and realized I hadn't been tattooed in over a year. This is probably a good thing for my Dad, but I figure this is a healthier addiction than most. So off I went to schedule a tattoo appointment for November 16th. Being that getting tattooed is a purely selfish act, I figured it seemed like the right day to have BDE 2k11! </div>
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Best Day Ever started really early this year due to a district meeting at 9 o'clock in Williamsburg. After I got back into town, I was ready for some feel good activities! Feeling in a cheery mood, I went to my store and called a couple seasonal applicants that I wanted to hire and offered them jobs! Definitely one of the parts of my job that I truly enjoy, giving people opportunities is such a satisfying thing. </div>
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After a quick lap of window shopping, I took myself and Good Omens our to lunch. Every time I invision a day off, it's always me at some coffee shop with a book... all day. I didn't have all day, but I did have two hours until my tattoo, so I knocked out a good portion of my book and sipped ice tea in the sun. Meanwhile, I was catching up with friends via text, phone and email. Something that seeming seems harder to do now that the holidays were coming up. (I'm sorry everyone, I miss you!)</div>
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I arrived to my tattoo appointment early and excited to see what Katie had drew up. I got my typewriter tattoo about a year and a half ago, and I loved the outline, but I wasn't as sold on the actual tattoo as much as I wanted to be. Someone said it looked like a cash register and I hadn't been able to get that out of my head. So, I wanted to add some surrounding flowers and touch up the typewriter. What she had drawn was perfect! More dog woods, babys breath, and a lucky clover! The tattoo took two hours and I was smitten. At the end, Katie, who was an avid luck dealer and four leaf clover enthusiast, reached into her wallet to show me her dried four leaf clover collection, and promptly gave me one. She told me to keep it with me durring my looming black friday and always. I was so shocked at how nice people can be, I was beaming. </div>
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After a few re-energizing sips of Vitamin water, I realized that I needed to eat before I passed out from all the blood rushing to my arm. I had asked a new handsome man in my life to join my BDE dinner, so off we went to get my favorite sandwich in Richmond, the grilled pineapple and brie sandwich at Commercial Tap house. It was wonderful. We got the table by the window and watched the rain, and talked about Star Wars. Being that no Best Day Ever is complete without a milkshake, we headed to Cook Out after a rain filled sprint to the car. The night ended with laughter and bad sci-fi movies. </div>
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This was definitely the most relaxed BDE that I have had, and it was very much welcomed! Almost a month later (I know, I have been bad about writing this up!), tattoo all healed, and milkshakes gone I am still feeling the effects of such a wonderful day. </div>
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xoxo</div>
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Catie </div>
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This year is a little different. This year I am finally seeing what it is all about. In the past I have driven home early Thanksgiving morning just in time to toss together my famous clover rolls and a pumpkin pie, sit for a few hours and then make the long drive home. While I enjoy seeing my family, it is so hard when I'm having to work 13 hours the next day. So this year I opted to stay in Richmond.<br />
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I thought it would be lonely, but so far, it has been wonderful! Slept in, made a sweet potato casserole, did some online christmas shopping, and set up my tree! The whole day I have been calling and getting texts from friends and family making me feel just as loved as if I was in their own living rooms. This is what I'm thankful for. I am thankful for these people in my life, all of them. The ones who are thinking about me while they are off doing their own celebrating, those who I will be celebrating with later, and those who can no longer be here. I am thankful because this year I realized that family is what you make it. Friends, animals, robots... This is a day to appreciate all that people bring to your life, and let people know how much of an impact they have on yours.<br />
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Hope everyone has an awesome Appreciationgiving Day!<br />
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xoxo
CatieCatie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-77829757320663899502011-08-15T07:49:00.000-07:002011-08-15T08:02:20.156-07:00New AdditionsIn a few days my Dad's fiancee's children will be coming to stay with me! Since I moved into my new home, I have only had Carl as a house guest, but I have felt no need to go out of my way to impress him- he loves me and my dirty dishes. New family is a whole different story. While I have only met them once, I still feel like I am in "first impression" mode. This is the first time they will be seeing me in my city, my home, and my comfort zone.
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<br />I'm very weird about my home, it is extremely personal. I often wish that there would be people over all of the time, but I shy away because my home is an exact reflection of me. If it is orderly and clean then I am doing well. If it is chaotic and a hurricane zone, something is wrong. All of my belongings are displayed around me like an out pouring of reminders of who I am. Family photos, coveted knickknacks, books, things that just put me in a better place. Opening my home to someone new is a big deal, because in that moment they will know exactly who I am.
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<br />Granted, my home has been slightly chaotic, but they don't have to know that. I have gone so far as buying new towels with matching wash cloths ( I have no wash cloths, they are so strange to me!) so they can see that I have my life together. I know what you are thinking, "These kids are teenagers, I think you are fretting too much about this, dear." True, I know I am. I even have our agenda planned down to the minute- but after September, when our families combine, I will be the older step-sister, and I take that very seriously.
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<br />Until then, I will pamper them with ice cream and take them to Busch Gardens for the day. After all, I want to be the fun older step-sister.
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<br />xoxo
<br />Catie Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-78540882913670854662011-04-26T19:39:00.000-07:002011-04-26T20:04:00.713-07:00Ch-Ch-Changes!It was getting down to the wire, but this Monday I signed the lease on my new apartment! In a couple days I will living here:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRXoHJ8pJ6g/TbeEnScO55I/AAAAAAAAAPs/XkEpmoiHWJo/s1600/New%2BHouse.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRXoHJ8pJ6g/TbeEnScO55I/AAAAAAAAAPs/XkEpmoiHWJo/s320/New%2BHouse.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600090472158521234" /></a><br /><br />FIrst and foremost, it's pink (eeeee!!)! The space is a lot bigger than my current apartment, has tons of light, is in an adorable neighborhood, AND has a walk-in closet. Yeah.. I know. <br /><br />In preparation I have been going through ALL of my belongings and purging everything that I don't need/want any longer and have accumulated an overflowing pile for my yard sale this weekend! Ms. Carley and I will be hosting one of the best yard sales of the season; a can't miss event! <br /><br />My excitement to change my scenery is overwhelming! There will be so much room for General to run around, and so much room to spread out. <br /><br />Exciting things ahead!Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-11221552739590871742011-01-15T05:47:00.000-08:002011-10-19T10:40:20.620-07:00Double Star Birthday!I am now a 24 year old. Weird. <br />On the days approaching my day, people kept asking, "what are you going to do for it?" "What do you want to do?"<br />Answer: Dunno, sleep? <br /><br />I am EXHAUSTED! <br />Luckily, the people who helped me ring in my own personal new year recognized it. On Tuesday, my Dad came down and took me to Kuba Kuba and then out to see True Grit. Such a good time. Dad and I caught up, and spent some quality time relaxing. The next morning I woke to the sounds of Facebook notifications on my phone from friends wishing me a happy birthday. I'm so blessed that that many people thought about me! <br /><br />On my big day, Carl, Dad, and I went and got birthday breakfast burritos. Best decision. After that we went and bough a strap for the camera my Dad gave me (will elaborate on this later). Then it was coffee with the lovely Bernedette, and saying goodbye to my dad. The rest of the day Carl and I watched Mad Men, and snuggled up while I tried to get my energy up. That night he took me out to a very very nice dinner at Mamazu's. I had never been there before, but now i see the hype. It was so cozy, and the food was indescribable. Such a sweet man. <br /><br />The end of my day some friends came over with birthday brownies! I couldn't have asked for a better day. I got to see all of my favorite people, relax a bit, and eat some amazing food and goodies. <br /><br />Now, what to do with that camera...<br />I've decided to start my own 365 project. I will soon be uploading my pictures on Flickr soon. i've decided that the theme of my project will be "It's the Little Things." I am running with the idea that life should be lived one day at a time, and it is the little things that make it special. It will be a challenge, but I am looking forward to it. <br />Once i've gotten things sorted out with my project I will post the link here!Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-53768223432955546682011-01-02T19:09:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:05:47.999-08:00Why Hello There, 2011!A new year, a new start!<br />I rang in this new year with a quaint gathering of good friends while kissing my love and hearing the numbing drone of bagpipes and fireworks. Yes, that's right folks, I celebrated New Years at Penny Lane Pub downtown, and boy was it a sight. With minutes to go in 2010, over a hundred bar patrons were lovingly shoved into the streets, spirits in hand, whilst accompanied by two bagpipers belting "Ol' Lang Syne" while Penny Lane workers darted about setting off Carolina's finest illegal fireworks from any piece of ground they could get their hands on. Dumbfounded, and somewhat paranoid, customers huddled together awaiting a countdown that was consequently lost in the nights events and was hinted at when about 30 ballons drifted down from a nearby balcony. <br /><br />The night was hilariously fun, and I was so thankful to spend it in the company that I did. The tone has been set, 2011 will be a great year! <br /><br />Now, for that self-renewing tradition that we love so dear, the New Years Resolution-otion-otion-otion...(that was an echo, just FYI, for impact)<br /><br />I have a few, i'm feeling a little ambitious in my old age. So, here we go:<br /><br />1) Get Healthy, all over- Continue with cooking at home and adding more veggies to my repertoire, drink more water, get ahold of my stress, and get mentally healthy. In 2010, I made a lot of discoveries about myself, and have got the ball rolling to a better life, now I just need to keep up the momentum!<br /><br />2) Continue to search for my career- Realizing that most of my stress comes from my type A personality's ability to drown out my personal life with the perils of work, I've decided if I'm going to be passionate about my job this much, I want to be doing something that I truly love. I have been working the floor of retail establishments ever since I was 14 at my Mom's store, and my feet are TIRED! Off we go into the land of informational interviewing!<br /><br />3) Enjoy the little things- As previously mentioned, being a type A I tend to be very forward thinking and always a step ahead of most people. It's about time I slow down, and realize what I have around me. It's time to live in the moment! <br /><br />I'm feeling optimistic about you, Mr.2011, verrrry optimistic.Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-19205530465236709012010-12-29T16:44:00.001-08:002010-12-30T17:30:45.088-08:00New Meaning for Happy HolidaysThe hustle and bustle of the holidays is almost over, and I can thankfully say that I have survived my first holiday as a store manager. And, I'd like to think that I did better than survive considering my store made it's month with 3 days to spare! I'm one proud boss lady. <br /><br />In between my nine and a half hour shifts, things have been pretty hectic. Baking, sewing, and shopping trying to make Christmas perfect for my friends and family. And it was. Absolutely perfect. I enjoy giving gifts more than receiving them, so I searched hard to everyone's perfect gifts. As for my loot, my Dad really outdid himself this year. It has been a couple years since I have actually spent more than 2 days with my Dad, and I've been missing him more than usual with everything that has been going on in my life. So, his gift to me was perfect- in February we are going on a cruise! When I opened the card I broke down with tears of joy. I have SO needed a vacation and to spend time with my Dad. It was the perfect gift, and I can't wait! I may have already started packing :)<br /><br />While among family, I can really judge how I'm feeling. The past few times I've gone home I felt down, under the clouds, and wanting to be nurtured back to health. But it was different this time. I came in and felt like myself, or my perception of myself at least. It was then I realized that I've felt above the darkness for a couple weeks now. I'm not sure what exactly is leading to my success, but I have a feeling it is one or a combination of the following:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Busy bee</span>: I haven't had time to think because of how busy i've been the past few weeks. My world has been absorbed by work, Christmas, and planning. As in my last post, I stated that I need hobbies to fill my free time with, and these couple weeks have been one of the variables that have shifted to prove this hypothesis. <br /><br />Work Satisfaction: I hate being last, or even worse- not reaching my goals. I aim to be number one, and I'm good at being number one. And the past few weeks my store has been on top. We have been churning out great numbers and my store is feeling more like my own. It is a great feeling, and I'm proud of what I have accomplished.<br /><br />Carl: All I can say is that I'm very, very lucky. It's not easy to sorting through my messy life, but the nice thing is that he is the one inspiring it in me. He is wonderful and such a great person, I can only wish to be on the same level as him. I could be having the worst day, and all he has to do is look me in the eyes and everything goes away. He puts things in perspective without having to explain, he has been so patient- a truly perfect partner. I have laid out this self-betterment plan for myself, but a large part of it is so that we can make the most of the time we have together. <br /><br />These holidays have been the best I've had in a long time. I truly feel blessed. <br /><br />Here's to already starting the year off to a good start!Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-66351150632879211002010-12-18T09:11:00.000-08:002010-12-18T09:32:06.077-08:00'Tis The Season<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TQzvh1muLNI/AAAAAAAAAO4/zIyLQgRiSsA/s1600/PART_1292682402628.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TQzvh1muLNI/AAAAAAAAAO4/zIyLQgRiSsA/s320/PART_1292682402628.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552075805245189330" /></a><br />Last night I hosted my first party. Being that my house became a winter wonderland overnight, I decided to share it with a bunch of my friends!<br /><br />After rushing home from work I started my "running around like a mad man" routine. First step,: put baked brie in the oven, step two: clean the house from last nights movie marathon, step three: panic because there are 23 other steps! Luckily I work best under pressure, so by the time Carl showed up most everything was done. I was then placed on the couch with a Shirley Temple while Carl and Oliver took out the trash and put the finishing touches on the cheesecake bites. <br /><br />Around 7:15 my guests started to arrive, and I was so proud of how my house looked! My dinning room table was filled with yummy things, paper chains flowed across the ceiling, my tree shown in the corner, while my fake flame crackled away on the TV. It was a really cozy atmosphere. <br /><br />Soon my house was filled with about 13 of my favorite people, and after a vote we all settled in with our plates of cookies and watched Elf. <br /><br />Later in the night the crowd dwindled down to a good core and we watched Home Alone, one of my favorites, but I was so embarrassed when I didn't make it all the way through and sleep got the best of me. All in all, it was a wonderful night that went off without a hitch. I am so thankful for all of the great people in my life, and I'm so glad I was able to share this with them. <br /><br />After my first party being a success, I will definitely be having more. SO fun!Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-42326972301150676392010-12-14T15:55:00.000-08:002010-12-14T16:03:46.766-08:00Lazy Day 2010For months now, Carl and I have been wishing for a day that we could just lay around all day instead of doing all of the things that keeps apart throughout the day. This past Sunday, that day happened. <br /><br />In the morning we went and had breakfast with the Sidekicks, who had stayed at his house the night before. After an 821 breakfast burrito and a quick stop at Blockbuster we nestled in for the day. We rearranged some furniture and turned my living room into a blowup-mattress filled, cozy fortress. After getting settled and popping a Cheerwine, we began our Star Wars marathon. Boy was it glorious. The past few weeks we haven't really been able to see each other, so a day dedicated to all the things we love was one of the best days ever. I am still relaxed from our lazy day. <br /><br />I hope there will be a few more lazy days in our future, possibly involving Indiana Jones or Harry Pottter!Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-16313990058749147952010-11-26T19:01:00.001-08:002010-11-26T20:18:17.880-08:00Best Day Ever 2010Last weekend, being the last weekend before I'm chained to my store until January 2nd, Carl and I took a little trip to Natural Bridge! Natural Bridge, VA is about 3.5 hours away from RIchmond, down hilly highways lined with quaint towns and cud chewing creatures. At about 9am we hit the road, armed with hoodies and bagels, and a vague idea where we were headed. The weather was absolutely perfect, 65 degrees and a tiny bit overcast- perfect driving weather.<br /><br />We rode into town around 12:30, and first stop was Foamhenge. For those of you who remember my DinosaurLand post, this was built by the same man. Seriously, he is brilliant. Here we discovered that the creator had two different theories about how Stonehenge was built: 1) many tired, muscular men dragged the stones up the hill and arranged them as such, or 2) Merlin waved his magical fingers and the stones flew in from all over the planet. We chose to believe theory 2, considering there was a full scale Merlin sculpture at one end of Foamhenge to help with the imagery. So fun, and so delightfully tacky. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TPB4Fw-0p4I/AAAAAAAAAOo/8I1HYzmOaeY/s1600/IMG_3131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TPB4Fw-0p4I/AAAAAAAAAOo/8I1HYzmOaeY/s320/IMG_3131.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544063181736159106" /></a><br /><br />A few miles down we found Natural Bridge. Meandering down close to 200 steps and down a short walkway the bridge almost smacked us in the face, and it was gorgeous. For a few moments we really couldn't find the words to explain what impact it had, just "Dude...whoa." Walking under it you can't even imagine how tall it is. The idea that water and the elements crafted this amazing piece of art blew our minds. Still can't find any words, just go visit one day. <br /><br />Onward past the actual bridge, the park had a habitat set up depicting how a certain indian tribe lived way back in the day. Here, Carl learned of my fear of historic actors/townies/people with too much of a grip on the past. Spooky. No likey. Yes, I admire enthusiasts, but how do I know that they aren't just crazy people who don't know what year it is! Buh. Anyways, moving on. The rest of our time in the park we walked around enjoying nature, taking in some fresh air, and enjoying a little peaceful time together.<br /><br />After a grilled cheese and Mr. Pibb lunch at an Elvis themed diner called the 'Pink Cadillac,' we drove to Lexington, VA. Lexington is a small town home to VMI and Washington and Lee University, and boy was the town adorable. Almost everything was closed except for an ice cream shop (which had amazing pumpkin ice cream!) and a used book store that looked like it broke close to every fire hazard. Chock full of historical books, poetry, and first editions, Carl (the english major) and I geeked out and spent about an hour unearthing some treasures from the boxes and stacks of books strewn around the store. Apparently there was some method to the madness, but we never quite caught on to the organizing the 21 year old store had in place. I managed to find a recipe book put together by the womens choir in the 1960s, filled with some amazingly homey recipes by the way, and a post card from Natural Bridge from 1940! And Carl of course left with a stack of about 6 books, but he could of definitely left with about 12 more if we had the time to stick around. <br /><br />That night on the drive home, as the highway became dark and the little farms studding the country side faded away, I really started to feel the stress leave my body. All I needed was a little time away from everyday. After we got home, we met up with some friends to catch Scott Pilgrim at the Byrd. Which has quickly become one of my new favorite movies. <br /><br />Seems that lots of fresh air and a nice drive filled with pretty scenery and sing-a-longs does a body good! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TPCAuqmnjcI/AAAAAAAAAOw/iz35R_cYOoU/s1600/IMG_3146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TPCAuqmnjcI/AAAAAAAAAOw/iz35R_cYOoU/s320/IMG_3146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544072680491683266" /></a>Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-40738070251973799552010-10-20T10:09:00.000-07:002010-11-04T15:03:25.231-07:00Yan' Can Cook!What an eventful couple of weeks!<br />My health kick is still in full force, thankfully. In order to maintain my goal, I needed to know how to cook. Wraps and pasta just aren't the best way to get healthy, and they do get old after a while. Noticing my struggle and knowing my horrible eating habits, my good friend Deepa offered me a fun night of cooking lessons!<br /><br />A couple weeks ago we met up at her house and sat me in the kitchen for an initial pep talk on what we were going to accomplish that night. We were going to chop, cut, broil, steam, and saute veggies. But first, we needed to get our tools. Luckily, the day we chose was also the day of the farmers market! There we found zucchini and squash (which have quickly become my go too veggies, love them!) The problem when Deepa and I get together is that a) we are highly easily to distract, and b) love to shop, therefore we took a minor detour and went to a couple stores including target to get me a steamer basket! <br /><br />After we got that bit of shopping out of our system, we got down to business. Back at her house she developed the plan of action for our dinner: <br /><br />-Cook up brown rice<br />-Steam carrots<br />-Saute onions, zucchini and squash<br />-Add tofu<br />-Roast beets (I had never had beets before!)<br />-Make mocktails (uh, yumm!)<br /><br />Throughout the whole cooking adventure, she was explaining what to look for in veggies, different ways to cook them, adding spices, and switching veggies in and out using the template she had set for me. I don't think I had ever learned that much in one night. I am SO thankful for what she taught me. After she declared dinner ready she grabbed a plate and portioned out scoops of our yummy dinner. I felt full, healthy, and felt like I could easily do this at my home!<br /><br />I got a chance a few nights later where I recreated almost the same dinner to help me retain all of the great info. Yummy!<br /><br />The skills definitely sunk in, because this past Sunday I decided on making us a big Fall breakfast. I made pumpkin spice french toast, veggie bacon, and sweet potato hash (!!!! so yummy). I think I surprised Carl. <br /><br />Who know you could teach an old dog new tricks! Hopefully more of my cooking adventures will be posted on here soon. <br /><br />More news to come!Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-9751208322217077092010-10-15T07:43:00.000-07:002010-10-15T08:11:43.634-07:00h2..oh?We are 60% water. I was 60% black tea. <br /><br />I've never been the caffeine chugging, coffee craving, morning person that most people I know are. Every morning, I would bring/buy a glass of tea and sip on that at work. Come home and have more. My rationale was, "well, it's make with water! Whats the difference?" Turns out, a lot. <br /><br />Another one of my "Get Healthy 2k10" ideas was to hydrate those cells! This did not mean, drink more tea! <br />Before Carl went one tour, I was concerned for his hydration health, so out we went to by Nalgene bottles. I used mine for a few days, forgot it at work for a while, and went back to tea. Carl lost his on tour. We fail. Well, now with this health scare/health turn around thing, I've cleaned it out and armed myself with a few helpful things:<br /><br />1) Neon green Nalgene bottle- yes, the color has nothing to do with health, but it helps me remember to take it with me! It's adorable, and now it is decorated with a Sundials sticker (D'awwww). <br />2) Britta FIlter- Granted, for the Alkaline diet, it works better with alkalized water (??) but I dont have he money for a $200 filter. Now we just need to get in the habit of filling the Britta up so I don't have painfully watch each water droplet purify while i'm running late for work. <br />3) Refrigerator accessories!- It's sadly true, but plain water isn't very thrilling. Add a little bit of lemon? FANTASTIC! My fridge is now stocked with lemons and a lemon keeper! It's cute, and allows me to cut up a bunch of lemon, and then grab-n-go in the mornings! Plus, lemon DOES help wake you up. Go citrus! <br /><br />The first morning after I drank just half of the suggested amount of water, I woke up refreshed and not as lethargic as I have been. I haven't had tea in about 2 weeks, and I have been keeping up on my water intake, already my skin is looking better as well. Double win!<br /><br />This upcoming week I will be getting together with my good friend Deepa to discuss cooking techniques and recipes! You have no idea how excited I am (she is a great cook too!). <br /><br />Those servings of fruits and veggies are within my grasp! I feel it!Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-5405769963375153442010-10-10T11:32:00.000-07:002010-10-10T12:02:32.860-07:00The Initial Stock UpRarely have my hands grasped at those colorful pump items commonly known as vegetables. As mentioned in my last post, the fresh produce isle and I are acquaintances at best. It's not that I don't like veggies, it just that 1) i'm picky and 2) I have no idea how to cook. For most people, having either/or of those problems is not detrimental, now having both? Kiiinda' screwed.<br /><br />My capabilities in the kitchen must involve flour and sugar in order for me to create something close to edible (though, It should be noted I made a small jag into chili last year, so not all hope is lost). My goal upon entering the mounds of produce was to leave with an assortment that would not end up congealing in the bottom of the fridge like most of their previous friends had gone to die. After a tour of the goods, celery, spinach, lemons, avocados, and grapes made it into my basket. Pretty good for a first round. If we are supposed to eat a rainbow, I tackled the bottom half, better then what I have been doing, that must count for something, right?<br /><br />The first few listed items were quickly snatched, but once it got to the avocados I froze up. Some looked super dark, some pretty green, some super mushy, others rock hard. Ehh....eenie meenie miney moe.. Well, not exactly but it wasn't far off. I looked to other for guidance, recalling some people manhandling them. I ended up choosing the happy medium, i chose right. SCORE!<br /><br />Do any of you remember the Simpsons episode when Marge and Lisa are at the grocery store and Marge tries a grape to see if the bunch is sweet? I do. I remember Lisa insisting that it is stealing and that her mother needed to pay for the prematurely eaten grape. Every time I pick up a bunch of grapes I recall this episode, and laugh. Then, walk briskly away as I notice people noticing me pausing in front to the red-seedless display with a glazed look. <br /><br />So far, 3 days into my "Get Healthy 2K10" adventure, I'm feeling fairly optimistic. Only a few cheats (cappuccino this morning, and cheese fries last night, FAIL!) For breakfasts I've been having egg, spinach and cheese wraps. Almonds or 'ants on a log' (!!!!!) for a snack, and a turkey, avocado, hummus wrap for lunch (i'm trying to stay away from bread, being part italian, you can not even imagine my pain). The only problem is that I usually only eat two meals a day. This needs to change. Anyone know of any super easy, idiot proof dinner ideas? <br /><br />One thing that is already showing signs of progress is drinking loads more water. I am limiting my tea intake to once a week, and i've never been much for sodas, until Carl introduced me to Cheerwine, (can we talking about awesome?!) but those will be limited as well. Just from drinking more water I already feel less 'womp-womp' and more 'wohoo!'.. my vocabulary often fails me, be warned. <br /><br />Tasks on the to-do list:<br />-More food ideas<br />-Wean self off of sugar<br />-Talk to an herbalist (?)<br />- Ignore the Cheetos that my Grandmother gave me on my last visitCatie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-333323462639883942010-10-07T16:42:00.000-07:002010-10-07T18:54:03.314-07:00I WILL Get HealthyIt is safe to say that the past couple years have challenged me mentally and physically. Death, other family tragedies and sudden change have all tested my ability to continue afloat, and unfortunately these years of stress, poor nutrition and poor choices, have all been put in the spotlight after being diagnosed with a health problem within the past month. <br /><br />My initial reaction lasted up until a few hours ago honestly- sheer terror. After loosing my Mom 3 years ago to cancer, anything medical related makes me freeze. Granted, it's not a walk in the park for anyone, but the pain my Mom and family went through is still entirely too fresh in my mind. <br /><br />I was alone when a physicians assistant told me what was going on in my body, and I wanted to run/ deny it. One bad fact and my brain runs rampant with worry. Luckily, I have an amazing support group of people who know my gun-shyness and took it upon themselves to do research and help calm my fears. One act of support lead my boyfriend, Carl, to talking to one of his best friends. At first, I was a little nervous having my private business spread further than just my immediate family and chosen few friends, but I was very lucky that he did. Turns out his friend's lady has had a relatable experience and she wanted to help. <br /><br />Being super shy, and a somewhat private person, I didn't immediately jump on the opportunity to talk to her. I was still processing my emotions, I didn't even know what questions I would ask her! Today she reached out. We chatted on Facebook for about an hour about her experiences, some resources that she respects, and made it comfortable for me to ask any questions/ air out concerns. <br /><br />She told me more or less of the following: Get healthy and don't worry. My eyes darted over to the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie batter that was staring at me with an angelic glow from my kitchen- damn. <br /><br />A few months ago my Dad came down to visit and he then critiqued the condition of my house. The problem in that is that my home is who I am, if you walk into my house you are more or less getting an insight into who I am. It's a very personal space! After he left, I realized that my home, and body, have become an extremely messy situation. I decided it is time to take care of myself. Step one was to clean my house, step two go to the doctor, which is what has lead me here. Already on the "Let's get better!" kick, i took well to some of the ideas that she gave me. <br /><br />One of these ideas was alkalization. I Googled it and found an article asking "Are you an acidic person?" I immediately thought of those online surveys helping you to determine if you were a romantic or a cat lady. Luckily, the article was far more informative and broke down the aspects of alkalization, and let me tell you, it makes sense! It is all about the Ph of ones body, and food contributes to this. Certain foods have higher Ph levels and if the body becomes over saturated, causing an acidic body, which can cause health problems. Ah ha! Therefore, lower Ph foods/alkalizing foods will lead to a healthier functioning body as well as reducing the acid in the body. Hello, I'm Catie and I have an acidic body. <br /><br />Not 15 minutes after I said goodbye to my very inspiring friend, I grabbed my purse and ran to the grocery store. <br /><br />Walking through the doors of Kroger I felt confident, I now hold the key to being able to control the happenings in my body a little more. I felt like I had a secret that no one else knew, food can make you healthy! (Shhh!) Well, the only problem with that is that I have picky-eater tendencies. Very picky. As a child I think I was nothing short of a nightmare with a taste for bread. Dating a vegetarian, i've been slowly trying to let go of these immature taste buds and upgrading for, I dont know... green things? <br /><br />This past behavior has left some marks. My confidence subsided when I walked to the middle of the veggie department and though, "huh, what do I do now?" Luckily I had armed myself with a list of acceptable fruits and veggies and went from there. I felt highly out of place. I passed by shoppers wondering, are they looking at me? Do they know that i'm a rookie? At the check out one of the ladies asked me what I was making, taking note of all the veggies she was shoving into bags. "Nothing! I'm getting healthy. Today is the initial stock up." "You go girl!"<br /><br />Feeling less run-over, and more empowered i'm currently drinking a gallon of water with lemon and have an avocado turkey wrap in the makes. <br /><br />I WILL get healthy, I have to. <br />I will keep you all updated on my progress and adventures in healthy food.Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-88824137911028852662010-09-01T17:43:00.000-07:002010-09-01T18:02:23.074-07:00In Record TimeI'm a very lucky girl. <br /><br />Last week Carl gave me a record player! I have always been so fascinated in record collecting, and i've grown fond of laying around while the pops and cracks of vinyl spin away in the background. Last night, we brought over the remaining component, and he surprised me with his copy of Lemuria's- The First Collection, as well as two 6" s: Sundials- First 3 Songs, and a Friendly Fire/ Tenement split! <br /><br />I can't wait to get it all set up and start my vinyl collection. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TH7zhvjQ7FI/AAAAAAAAAOg/7LGP2ZmuRm4/s1600/IMG_20100901_203925.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TH7zhvjQ7FI/AAAAAAAAAOg/7LGP2ZmuRm4/s320/IMG_20100901_203925.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512110754973674578" /></a>Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-32947449464801648192010-08-15T15:59:00.000-07:002010-08-15T16:32:43.419-07:00Dino-score!What a fun week!<br />Last Monday, I rushed home after work to find my well traveled beau home from tour. It had been 3.5 weeks since I'd last seen him, and it is safe to say that I missed him! So this week we have been catching up on some summer fun times. Adventures to the river, Maymount and lots of tour stories. <br /><br />Friday was my day off and we went on a little road trip! While he was on tour we started a list of things to do when he got home. One of our ideas was to go to Dinosaur Land! For those who don't know, Dinosaur Land is kind of the best/tackiest/funnest place ever. It is a small park close to Winchester featuring upwards of 20 hand made dinosaur structures. Needless to say by my mention of the word 'tacky,' but the dinosaurs are far from accurate interpretations. While we were there we found out that Dinosaur Land was built in 1964 (!!!). Such a fun time. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TGh4547HlFI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/QM2FxyRrhA8/s1600/IMG_2945.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b_9ei6d9t8E/TGh4547HlFI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/QM2FxyRrhA8/s320/IMG_2945.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505783480388654162" /></a><br /><br />After Dinosaur Land we drove to Lovettsville VA to have dinner with his family (boy was I nervous!). What a gorgeous place and a great family! I had tons of fun, and felt very welcome. After dinner we took a look at his Mom's boyfriend's collection of vintage cars (*jaw dropping*) and watched Shutter Island. It was nice to get away for a bit, and I can't remember the last time I've had that much fun. I am one lucky girl.Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-51258619182019621052010-07-28T14:36:00.001-07:002010-07-28T15:36:36.525-07:00Where Did the Posi Go?After the happenings at this weekend's favored West Cost fest, it's forcing me to question why we are supporting/ allowing things like this to happen? When was it that our punk family tree was infected with testosterone fueled violence? <br /><br />For those who don't know, this past weekend in Santa Barbera, CA, the Sound and Fury hardcore festival played out. The line up included bands such as Sick of it All, Cold World, The Rival Mob, Bane, as well as many other Richmond natives (congrats BTW, boys). On Sunday night, in the middle of a set, someone rolled in through the crowd on a motorcycle putting many in harms way and wrecking tables of the touring bands' merch (aka band's meal tickets). This situation escalated quickly as multiple brawls broke out simultaneously in response. As VCStar.com reported, many of the patrons found the disturbance thrilling and thought it a triumphant end to the fun packed weekend. <br /><br />Are you kidding me? When did riots become cool? What has created such a violent scene? Is it the context of the songs? Is it a tough-guy complex? Is there something to prove? And if so, who are you trying to prove it to? <br /><br />I doubt it. <br /><br />With popular hardcore bands out there like Pulling Teeth who sing about social change, such as combating homophobia, or other bands like Earth Crisis, promoting veganism and making others aware of animal cruelty, why is the scene still so ignorant in common sense? It makes me mad to no end that I know that when I return home from a hardcore show I will be a few bruises richer. That being said, I'm not a stage diver, not a dancer, in fact, no where near the pit; i'm just a 5'2" blond girl who happens to get a thrill from heavy bass riffs, fast, throaty vocals, and have been known to silently head bang to a breakdown or two. For others, broken noses fingers, and black eyes? - Just another day at the office. <br /><br />Having friends in touring bands, they are always shocked to report that other scenes ( whether it be in a different state or attendance at a more mixed genera show) are so much more respectful, supportive and not nearly as coldly aggressive. <br /><br />During the height of their hardcore/punk scene in the 1980s, DC was churning out bands such as Bad Brains, Fugazi, Dag Nasty, and Minor Threat. The enthusiasm that this scene exuded to the rest of the country was astounding. One of the first, and most influential punk movements of the century, and these bands are still holding strong and staying current. The scene then was far more peaceful then the imagines we picture when someone says 'hardcore show' now. So much respect. <br /><br />It's frustrating because the impression modern punk and hardcore gives people turns even some of the most faithful DIYers and punk enthusiasts off. Many old school patrons have stopped going to shows because they don't want to deal with the abuse and find militant crews unnecessarily proud, and rather annoying.<br /><br />Call me a hippie, I don't care, but having come from the DC area to a more macho scene the difference is disappointing. It's safe to say that I would be much more apart of the music scene if things were different. The mentality of the scene isn't enough to turn me off though, and I will not stop showing my support for many of the talented bands out nowadays, I just want to understand so I can do what I can. There is no reason that we can't spur a social change within our scene. PMA and posi are all apart of my life, and it's a shame that our scene is losing integrity because of a few bad seeds. <br /><br />Sound and Fury Articles can be found here:<br />http://www.punknews.org/article/39199<br /><br />And here:<br />http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jul/26/no-headline---nxxsoundfury26/?partner=RSSCatie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-43613582966839355992010-07-28T07:04:00.000-07:002010-07-28T07:12:39.526-07:00SummerThere is no doubt that it is officially Summer time. Richmond's infamous heat and humidity have struck us with record-breaking highs, making the mean temperature in my house 88+ degrees. <br /><br />I don't do heat. <br /> <br />Hearing my somewhat defeated tone, my Dad texted me one morning, "I'll be in Richmond at 2pm with 2 new a/c units, where will you be?" Amazing. If there was a father of the year award, he would win it, hands down. By the time I got home, the house was cool and he had cleaned my apartment. With all that is going on, it was so nice to be taken care of for a change. <br /><br />So now, my outlook on the rest of Summer is much more positive. <br /><br />I have the best family ever. <br /><br />P.S. I am going to have to change my motto, no longer a Successful, *Single*, Sober girl. Just Successful and Sober ;)Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-13377012327697074872010-06-28T07:37:00.000-07:002010-06-28T07:50:11.760-07:00How can you tell if your car is dying?Does it develop a nasty cough? Does it become lethargic and tend to sleep a lot? Or does it come in the form of omens when 3 people in 4 days speak randomly about how your car is on borrowed time?<br /><br />With all my misguided quirks, i'm assuming the latter- thus, being thrown into Super-Thrifty Catie mode. The majority of my expendable income will soon be making it's way into my savings account/ emergency I-need-a-new-car fund. Which, will be hard considering I have just accepted the fact I MAY have shop-a-holic tendencies. Luckily, the car that I'm intending on purchasing after my beloved Volvo's demise is typically under $9000 used for a decent year's model. <br /><br />Kind of funny how in the last 6 months i've moved to a salaried position, starting paying for my own health insurance, and started talking about buying my own car (again). When did this surge into adulthood take place? I sure don't feel like an adult.Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-54565022712980691262010-05-27T19:28:00.000-07:002010-06-24T20:05:03.961-07:00Truths XXIXMissing someone is a really good feeling.Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694047419392946687.post-67471451987301352792010-05-25T19:16:00.000-07:002010-06-08T16:10:02.041-07:00Moving AlongNeedless to say, i've been running at full speed for the past couple weeks, and it has started to catch up with me. I believe the proper term would be 'burnt out.' Feeling a little down and homesick, my Dad came to visit me yesterday before he embarks on a week long trip to visit his brother. Even though at some points throughout the day I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open, he told me that he hasn't seen me this happy in a long time, and I would have to agree with him. Making progress at work, sunshine and some special people in my life are making all the stress accompanied by rebuilding a store just something in the background. <br /><br />I am so looking forward to this summer.Catie Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877658872315760242noreply@blogger.com0