Package from Koto

As per Megan's request I'm including pics from Koto's package. She sent stuff from Germany and Japan. Megan, do you see the Milka? Mmmmm, German chocolate! And I love all the Japanese writing. The Japanese Kitkat is cool as well.

So the pool is still green, less scary green, but green nonetheless. And after today's treatment Monica and I swear that there is almost the emergence of a milky whiteness to the pool. That's hopeful for you.

This weekend I realized I was missing the dogs at work. Sad, no? I only have a few weeks left there.

I'm finally starting to think of/almost work on my thesis/start doing some reading for it. Oh dear.

And the Algae Wins

I declare myself the loser in the battle of Kate vs. The Algae. I gave in today and took a sample fo pool water to Leslie's. The nice man there drew up a plan of action on how to get my pool back to the lovely and sparkling blue it should be. I just need to attend to it like crazy for the next few days, adding chemicals here, this there, etc. It is supposed to turn a milky white at some point in the process, and that will be a "good sign".

I keep reminding myself I really, really, REALLY need to start working on stuff for my thesis. In open acknowledgment of that fact, I ceremoniously got out some books I need to read for it and placed them on the table. Ahhhhhh. Maybe I'll actually open them later!

I met a guy from Kiel (not too far from Hamburg) last night. He's a friend of Nathan, and will be back in Germany this fall as well, and said we should hang out sometime in Hamburg. I'm already making friends and I've not left the country yet! This is great! Now if only I can find a place to live.....

Koto sent me an awesome package with lots of goodies from Germany and Japan. I love marzipan. I don't know if people here really eat it, but I love the stuff!

That's the update from here. : )

Kate vs. The Algae

I think I've lost. These pics are the AFTER pics, after I vacummed, skimmed, chemicaled and backwashed. It's like glow-in-the-light green. Impressive. If it's not better by Monday I will officially declare the first losing of the pool this summer. I should have taken pics before. Dear goodness.

Last Few Days

This weekend. Monica's dad got married, and that is pretty much the only break I took from working on the room. It is almost finished now, but we just need to do a few things, and the new roomie moves in tomorrow.

The pool really, really needed to be cleaned tonight, b/c it had turned green, so I asked Monica to do it while I cleaned the bathrooms and started on the kitchen. I heard a scream from outside but didn't really think much of it b/c the kids are always out there in the playground behind our yard. When I looked outside I saw Monica in the pool with the vacuum, scantily clad. LOL. Aparently she fell in and then threw her work clothes on to the cement so she could keep cleaning unimpeded. Way to go, Mon! ; )

For Dad, some progress on the room

Pre-priming, post-edging, and after the first coat. One more coat, then I want to texture. I have yet to decide what kind of texturing I'm going to do, but the walls are way too rough and uneven to leave untextured.

Susie Homemaker

That's me! I've spent the last few days up in the spare room (the one that faces east) and I've been moving, cleaning, sanding, taping, priming and painting. I had some help for a few hours yesterday by one of my dear friend Chris's friends, a guy I'd actually not met yet, but was enthusiastic to come help anyhow. Silly me, I thought it was due to the kindness of his heart, which he is quite kind. However, I soon came to realize he had absolutely NO IDEA what he was doing, and had come as a learning experience! OMG. Really? Are you serious? LOL. He started pouring the primer and I looked at him and said, "um, are you going to stir that?" Blank look. Then, as he started priming I looked at him and said, "um, are you going to put down a drop cloth?" lol. Fun stuff.


Actually, he ended up helping me a lot. Still, I worked on the room til 10, when Monica and I decided to hit Jerry's Bait Shop here in Lenexa since Dan had a gig. Uncle Dave and Aunt Janet showed up, which was great.

Then Dad woke me at 9:39 this morning, as he has a habit of doing on the weekends now. I find it odd that it's such a specific time each time.

Today is Monica's dad's wedding, so I will have to take a break from the room. Thank goodness. lol. The only thing is I think I'm making the already bad carpet worse, despite my careful drop-cloth-ing.

Oh, and this morning I got a bit too careless with the nose blowing and just about ripped my nose ring out. I looked at it and it was mostly out of my nose and I thought, oh dear, what to do now? Take it out completely or shove it back in? I hesitated, realized how badly I had wanted the darn thing, took a deep breath and shoved it back in. Wow. So much fun. : )

Do-It-Yourselfers

Monica and I are getting a new roomie. She is going to be working/interning at Robin's and is a DC. She will be here next week through the beginning of October. Thankfully she is a professed neat freak. I think we'll get along fine.

However, that means that Monica and I need to fix the spare room that has been in remodeling limbo for the past two years asap. We made a crazy run to Home Depot tonight to get some supplies just before it closed. We hadn't decided on a color beforehand, but chose cornflower blue in about five minutes. It was that or provence. But that seemed a bit intense. I still want to do a texture but that might have to wait. And my idea of using Venetian plastering was a bit more than I realized, so we're putting that on hold. Sadly we still need to Killz. Let the pre-painting begin!

And just for you Megan, I was eating some of Monica's left over salad and then noticed some leaves were a bit fuzzy. Can you say mold? Um, yeah. So I threw that away. I feel like somehow mold and I are karmacially linked (and you too).

We caught a mouse this morning. One furry new friend down. Hopefully none to go. Monica was kind enough to dispose of it. I didn't tell the new roomie we have rodents. Does that make me a bad future roommate? I'm sure there is some kind of pre-roomie etiquette that I have breached. Bad me.

My youngest German girl's reaction to my new piercing...."ewwwwwwwwwwww!"
Lovely.

Pics from this weekend

Another Hole in the Head and Furry New Friends

Megan visited this weekend and with the exception of feeling the need to build an ark, it was fabulous. We were lazy bums, except for exercising, and Megan really did an 11-mile run yesterday, she is my exercise hero. We had a Sex and the City Marathon, ate junk food (ack! my inner health food nut about fell over from shock), and just had an overall great time. I love hanging with Megan.

Saturday we felt the need to venture out into the populated world and decided piercings would make for a nice adventure. We went down to Irezumi Body Art in Westport, which I would highly recommend, and she pierced her cartilege and I pierced my nose. The needles were a bit scary, but the guy was amazing and did the piercings very quickly and cleanly. Mine really only hurt when the needle first went through. Before I knew it he was done and I had a shiny pink booger on the outside of my nose. Very nice. I'm amazed it doesn't hurt. I usually don't have such pleasant reactions to piercings. I also think that I would never want to be pierced with a gun again because the needle is so the way to go. Fun stuff.

Sadly Megan had to leave today. We should have planned it better so that she could have stayed through the Fourth! But it was a wonderful visit and weekend, and I can't wait to see her again.

This morning Megan and I found mouse droppings. So we went to the hardware store and got scary traps to catch and kill them, and sound wave thingies that will supposedly keep them away so that I won't have to use the scary traps. We will see. Either way I'm not so excited. I feel dirty somehow. Like I got mice because I don't clean my kitchen enough. Which, if you know me, is absolutely not the case!! I'm hoping our furry friends will take up residence elsewhere as soon as possible. Ahh, the fun of homeownership (or temporary homeownership) never stops!

Green is Good

Um, yeah. So it's green. It still hasn't stopped raining, but I decided to just go ahead and add chemicals (Dad's advice) since the rain always knocks out the pH and the chlorine. Then I got home from work and vacuumed the pool...in the rain. That's love and committment, right? Do I get a pool boy now? I feel that I deserve one. Ok, so that is the spoiled princess in me talking. But seriously, what does one have to do to get a pool boy?

Playing Ruff

I was in the big dog room yesterday and wow. Apparently I am still a bit nervous. I am getting more used to them, but they were especially volatile yesterday and a lot of fights broke out. Very disconcerting when you are right next to two or more big dogs and suddenly the teeth come out and they snarls get serious. I tend to be more inclined to step back than to jump in and break it up, which we have to do sometimes. I'm not sure my insurance is good enough to cover a dog fight incident! lol.


Megan will be here tomorrow night, and I'm so excited!! We have a very lazy weekend planned.


The pool is looking green, but it's dirt, not algae. With all the rain, things fall into the pool and the chemicals get messed up. So in the pouring rain this morning I added chems and checked things. Great fun. As long as the weekend is hot and sunny I'm happy!


Just working lots and loving hanging out with Monica.

Off to work!

For Dad

See Dad? The pool is doing great! You wanted proof.

My job has been going well. I am not so afraid of the big dogs now. I took a nap on a large wolf looking dog today. He looks mean, but he's a big sweetie.

Meegan will be here F R I D A Y ! ! ! Can't wait.

Let Me Eat My Foot....Thanks

Today was nowhere near yesterday's "work". I went in to see how the doggy day care runs and what the girls will need to do. I was there for three hours, then they said I could go or stay and I bolted.

So I like dogs. In fact, they are my favorite animal. So naturally I thought it would be a walk in the part, getting paid to play with dogs. Um, no. First of all, the stench when you walk in. OMG. For the first hour I didn't even want to inhale b/c it was quite strong. The small dogs are cute. The medium dogs are cute. The big dogs are BIG. And there are a LOT of them.

I followed the lady into the big dog area and suddenly the thirty or so dogs there got excited by a new face and started jumping on me and I about freaked. One or two I could handle, but almost being knocked over and the worst part was that they have some sharp toenails. So my arms, back and stomach got cut up. My poor arms look like I took a knife to them. I was about ready to turn and run at that point. But then I realized I was over-reacting and they would calm down. And some did.

There are also pools for the dogs, so they in, jump out, then jump on you. So I will be wearing some very old clothes to work b/c of the jumping, water, and other things left on the ground.

And then the girls come tomorrow, and after hearing some of the "challenges" they have been posing, well........but who wants a boring job? ; ) Of course, the constant barking does get annoying after a few hours. lol.

But some are so sweet and want to be petted constantly and that is nice.

I think this position will just take some time to get used to.

My New "Job"

After three days of working my new job, I've realized I've never worked so little for so much money before. Wow. Today I actually brought in my yarn and crocheted the first 1.5 hours, then I read the rest of the day. I felt guilty about doing nothing, but there was nothing I could do. One of my boys called in sick, the one who requires constant watching, and the other really doesn't need a glorified babysitter. So I sat there. Weird. I felt like I should be doing ten billion things but I couldn't. Very unusual for me.

Tomorrow I change job sites b/c there was a problem at one in OP and they need a replacement immediately. So as of tomorrow I get to go work at a doggy day care and play with animals and wear comfy clothes. There's gotta be a catch, right? I mean, work can't be this cool!

I am still trying to work on my tan and getting nowhere. By the time I had finished cleaning the pool today it was getting late and the good sun was gone. Alas, I'll have to try harder!

In the book I was reading today, there was some good ideas about success. The author mentioned three things: passion, discipline and persistence. If you think about it, it really makes sense. Just food for thought.

: )

Weekend with Orkun : D

This weekend was waaaaaay too much fun! First Isaac and I checked out The Emerald House on Friday night and danced until my knee couldn't support me anymore.

Saturday Orkun came to town and after a nice dinner we went dancing. No one was at Casa Grande, so just before midnight we went to the Beach Club. (and can I just say that GPS is the most amazing thing and I soooooo need it! I was like a little kid in a trance trying to figure out how it was so smart. Very helpful.)

The Beach Club was packed, as usual, but Orkun and I salsaed the night away. He is really an amazing dancer, and he flung me around like mad. People were staring and kept telling me how good we were, but the truth is it is all HIM, because I was just trying not to fall! I got close several times but he always caught me and put me back on my heels. Then, he decided we should try our feet at country dancing inside the Beaumont Club. Most people there couldn't dance anyway, so we gave it a try and danced around them. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and just tried to keep up. It was a blast.

After more salsaing it was about 2:30 and I could barely stand up. He insisted we go home before I fall asleep on the dance floor. I'm never the one to have to call it a night when it comes to salsa, but this weekend I was exhausted! lol.

Another thing I found amusing was that everyone thought he was Hispanic b/c he danced so well. These guys came up to us and were so adamant and said, "donde estan? donde estan?" and O said, "Turkey." And the guy goes, "No, donde estan? Man, where are you from?" And he goes, "Turkey." The guy just has this completely puzzled look on his face like what they heck and O goes, "Turkey. It's a country near Europe." LOL. Just b/c you're not Latin doesn't mean you can't salsa with the best of them!

Sunday Monica came back to town and the three of us stayed up too late again. Around midnight I went to turn off the water b/c I was filling the pool, and behind me I hear, "Don't fall in!" lol. Yeah right. The next thing I know I'm flying through the air, fully clothed, into the pool. Monica was next, and then we managed to get Orkun in. I didn't really think he'd throw me in! So some of the pics are pre-water, water, and post-water. I can't think of the last time I went swimming so late, especially with jeans on. lol.

It was great seeing Orkun again, it seems I see him every two years or so. Monica and I will have to change that.

So after a wonderful weekend I started my new job. Weird not to be at YWC, but definitely more relaxing, and totally different.

Dad is safely in Afghanistan trying to adjust and actually went to Kabul today, why I'm not sure.

I need sleep. : )

Success

Success may come in many shades, today it is a lovely and sparkling blue. That's right, I have beat the algae! (and Megan, yes, in my head mold and algae are the same as well). This morning I got up and the pool was looking MUCH better! (I also added a little extra chlorine last night.) Then I cleaned the pool, and this time it looked amazing. Just the right color. Ahhh. And it was a beautiful day for laying poolside. Brooks came over and actually put his kayak in the pool, and it was pretty amusing. And I think I'm working on the start of a great summer tan.

I can't wait to share the pool with lots of friends this summer, and hopefully next time they will bring food to grill!

Orkun is in town this weekend, sadly Monica is not, but we will most likely go dancing tonight, and dancing with Orkun is always a treat!

Did I mention I quit my job? I start a new one on Monday, working with kids for the summer. I'm quite looking forward to it. It really is a fabulous weekend.

Hope everyone is well, haven't heard from Dad since he left Istanbul, but I'm thinking in a few days I ought to hear something.

: )

Algae 2: Kate 0

Hmmm. Ok. So blasting the pool with chlorine and algae killer didn't exactly work. I figured that when I got home today I would find a sparkly and algae-free pool. Wrong.

Phase Two included more algae killer and chlorine. If this does not work, then I will have to take it to the experts. I can't believe Dad hadn't even left the country before I lost the pool. Sigh. Can I have a pool boy now? ; )

Going Green

Alas, we've gone green. And I don't mean in some eco, German-crazy environmentally friendly sort of way. I mean in the, despite my excellent and timely pool care, making sure it was vacuumed, backwashed, filters clean, chemicals perfect, etc., my pool has turned a frightening shade of green. Now, if you are a fan of swimming in lakes, this might not bother you, and while I have nothing against swimming in lakes, this is disturbing because, well, let's face it, I have a pool in my yard and not a lake. So you can see my concern is justified.

After raising the hardness and attempting to raise the already level pH, I got a call from Dad this morning out in the middle of nowhere South Carolina on the way to the airport. After making sure he was doing better from being injected with all the scary diseases known to man (ok, just several of them), I blurted out that I'd lost the pool to greenness. And that the chemicals were all where they ought to be. Suddenly he goes, did you check the filter we closed off? If something didn't die in the pool, maybe something else is growing in that filter.

So outside I trek to The Dead Filter, and once I open it oh my goodness gracious! Megan, remember when you found the mountain of mold on your wall? Well, this wasn't quite as dramatic, but wow. Talk about a ton of algae! All growing right there in the lovely Dead Filter. So I got down the algae killer chem and some serious chlorine and poured it all into The Dead Filter. Take that algae! Ha! We'll see how it looks when I get home from work. I'm hoping for a pleasantly blue pool.

Ahh, the joys of homeownership and maintenance (ok, so I can't really claim that, but man I've been waiting for so long to say it!)

As of now the score is Algae 1, Kate 0. But I think the tide is about to change.

On the road

Some of the candid shots I got of Dad preparing to go. The last one is us at the airport right before security. I think he was supposed to be smiling, but he has that, oh dear goodness I'm going to Afghanistan look. Very deer in headlights. I also think he was ready for me to turn the stinking camera off by that point. hee hee.

Burn the Floor!

Monica and I went to see Burn the Floor at Starlight tonight. Oh my goodness gracious it was amazing!! The music was great, the dancers were fabulous....ahhhhh! It was Ballroom and Latin and all mixed in. We saw Rumbas and Waltzes, Paso Doble, Tango, Cha Cha, Jive, Fox Trot, Quick Step, etc. For dance addicts like Monica and I, it was intoxicating and near impossible to sit still.

Afterwards some of the dancers were out signing autographs and taking pics. Monica asked me if I wanted a picture with the dancers as well, and at first I kind of said no. But I really wanted one. However, it was just me and all the little 13 year old girls in line. Luckily, Monica is cool enough that she encouraged my inner teenager to get over there and pose. The girl on my right was one of my favorites! So yes, Kate had a 13 year old girl moment tonight, and loved every minute of it! I think I now know how little girls feel when they go to a Britney Spears concert. Hmmm....

Goodbye Party

Dad had a going away party at Side Pockets Friday night. I would have taken more pics, but it was dark and I didn't want to be that annoying person who kept blinding everyone else in the room. But I really like this picture. Love you Vati!

Weekend

Monica and I had a good weekend. We went out salsa dancing on Friday, which was great until the end when there was a fight and the place shut down. Then Saturday we got up early, went down to the City Market, got some great vegetables, coffee, and jewelry, then checked out the Dragon Festival by the Plaza. We also got stuck in the Rock Fest traffic, which was crazy! But I hear it was a good time.

Then last night Monica got a flat tire near my house, but luckily Super Dad was there to help and he changed the tire faster than we could have. I was highly amused by the grill (along with various things) that Monica keeps in her truck. I knew she was always prepared, but dang!

And she starts moving in this week. Good stuff. : )

Auntie's Birthday

Auntie's 50th birthday was a lot of fun! We snuck in, decorated, and completely surprised her when she got back home! It was a crazy weekend. : )

Weekend at Auntie's

It was a great holiday weekend. Dad and I visited Auntie as well as his family. We opened the bottle of wine I brought back from Trentino back in 2000. Mmmmm! We cooked, sat on the porch, stained a fence and just enjoyed a nice weekend in Des Moines. And her cat, Malcolm, kept jumping on me and eating my hair. Go figure.

The Dangers of Drugs

Ok, while this blog generally is more on the fun side, I do want to take a moment for seriousness. Have you all heard of the HPV vaccine (for cervical cancer) that the civilized world has suddenly decided it needs to give its little girls? While I am by no means against MDs, sometimes I have to wonder. It has been killing little girls, as well as paralyzing them. This "miracle drug" is not at all what it is made out to be, and the drug companies are the ones pushing for it to be widely used. If you would like to check facts, you can go to:

http://www.nvic.org/Diseases/HPV/HPVHOME.htm

http://nvic.org/ (the homepage)

http://www.judicialwatch.org/

I'm almost afraid I sound like one of those crazy people, but I really think this is an important issue that people need to be made aware of.

As Dan always says, check your sources.


On a lighter note, Dad and I will be visiting Auntie this weekend and I'm soooooo excited.
Got some salsa in last night. I'm so addicted.

And MEEGAN IS COMING TO VISIT!!! End of June. Happy days.

I also found out that classes in Hamburg start at the end of October (the 22nd to be exact). I feel like the summer is going to fly by.

Mach's gut ihr alle und bis bald!

: )

MISO Party

Talk about a great ceremony and party. Love those MISOers!

Kate's Wedding

Kate's wedding was beautiful. And I got to see her little boy, who was the cutest guy in a tux!

Mondays

I love Mondays. I know most people don't, but I think there's just something about them.

Today I tried my hand at pastels for the first time and think I'm in love. They smear with the hand and come in lovely colors and are just messy enough. : ) I drew a tango dancer in a red dress. Cliche'?

Dad and I also spent some time hanging in and by the pool this afternoon. I feel like I can't soak up enough Midwestern sun before I leave in the fall. Maybe I should just go somewhere warmer. Of course, then I would probably never finish my thesis and wouldn't get that oh-so-important piece of paper.

I got a new laptop and it's awesome. I'm still trying to figure stuff out on it, but at least it has a 6-key. (remember when I took apart my notebook last time? oops.)

This past weekend I got in lots of salsa dancing, but the coolest was when we went to the party in the renovated loft in downtown KC. All the partitions and walls were painted like big canvases, and there was a very faded Twister board painted on the floor. Isaac (talk about an amazing dance partner!) and I salsaed like crazy on it and it was a blast. I'm not sure I could ever salsa enough.

Wednesday is the last day of classes and then I'm done for semester. I plan to take a week or so break, then dive back into thesis work. Ahhhhhh. And spend lots of time by the pool. Do I really have to go to work?

Ich glaub', das war's. Adios.

Final Madness

It's that time again and I'm swamped. I love finals. Really. Drueck mir die Daumen, bitte. : D

Brookside Art Fair

Jennie and I hit the Brookside Art Fair (VERY cool, by the way!!) and then got some yummy food. After that we bummed around Westport and picked up some fun bubble tea. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning! (did you notice there was no mention of studying in that? Impressive, no?)

The art fair made me want to try my hand at pastels. Hmmmm.

Oh! And look closely at the sign. It says "Kabul". I thought of Dad.