Wednesday, December 30, 2009

5 reasons I haven't updated in several days

So, I was home for a week for Christmas, and I didn't update because I simply had other things to do, including:

1. drink martinis
2. play Wii fit
3. harass my relatives
4. get harassed by my relatives
5. eat pie

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

5 lines I have delivered onstage

It's been quite a few years since I was in a show, but in middle and high school, I was quite the drama queen. I was always the first to have my lines memorized, and I still remember some of them....

1. (sung) "How they swing their partners 'round, 'til their feet are off the ground, and they clap their hands like this, and they stomp their feet like that. How they swing their partners 'round, 'til their feet are off the ground, in my home in Switzerland, Switzerland." (from William Tell and the Swiss Archers, the 6th grade play, in which I played a villager)

2. "Oh, John, God send his mercy on you!" (The Crucible, the high school play my sophomore year, in which I played Rebecca Nurse) (Everyone liked "I have not had my breakfast" better, but my favorite line to deliver was the one above.

3. "Heat snapped metal like the brittle winter ice!" (from a dramatic version of Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains", one of two brief shows we did at a summer camp I attended. I was the electric cleaning mouse. I remember this line in particular because I got me a really great compliment from the director, who said that everyone should project their voices like I did when I delivered that line.)

4. (sung) "Good King Applesauce looked out...." (from Oh Christmas Three, the children's play we put on when I was a senior in high school. I played a singing turkey named Tanya. No, really.)

5. "Someday you'll see that a great injustice was done me. You'll see I was always quite sane. But here I am, and here they'll try to keep me, with my few foolish years taken from me! (pause) You know, if you walk around the edges of the carpet sometimes, it saves wearing out the middle!" (from The Curious Savage, the high school play my senior year, in which I played Mrs. Savage. Absolutely my favorite show.)

Friday, December 18, 2009

5 gifts included in yesterday's Yankee Swap

At yesterday's office holiday potluck, we had a Yankee Swap, otherwise known as a White Elephant. The gift I brought was two plastic margarita glasses. As it got closer, I became a little afraid that my gift was too jokey, and everyone else's would be nice. Boy, was I wrong. Here are five of the gifts that were swapped.

1. A pair of Christmas socks and a small can of Lysol disinfectant spray.
2. Two candles, one a rather psychedelic turtle, the other a disturbingly realistic duck.
3. Two books written in Urdu, one about how to make sherbet and one about sexual disorders.
4. A salad spinner that had clearly been sitting in someone's cupboard, unused, for at least a couple of years.
5. A set of cheese-cutting utensils.

Know what I got? The Urdu books. Happy holidays to me!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

5 of my earliest memories

I don't have particularly strong memories of my childhood. Most of what I do recall is in isolated bits. Here are a few select fragments from when I was very young.

1. One week at church, my mother suddenly grabbed my hand. This was something she usually did when she thought I was squirming around too much or otherwise misbehaving. As I did not feel that I was doing anything of the sort, I told her to let go because I promised to be good. She didn't let go. I told her more loudly and started thrashing around trying to get her to let go. She still didn't. This all seemed very unjust to me at the time. But now as I think back on it, I think she was just holding my hand during the recitation of the Lord's Prayer. Sorry, Mom.

2. When I was in preschool, during some sort of free play time, there were too girls playing with a plastic board that had a picture of a dollhouse on it. There were decals similar to window clings that you could move around to show the people in the house. Wanting to play along, I reached out and tried to move one of the people. One of the girls glared at me and yelled, "Leave it alone!" I found this to be so mean that I still remember it.

3. When I was in Kindergarten, I remember taking the CAT (California Achievement Test). The Kindergarten version of the test consisted of the teacher reading questions out loud, while we circled the answers. The choices for each question were pictures. I remember one question in particular where the teacher asked, "Which one is a piece of clothing?" I was befuddled at first, because none of the choices were anything obvious like a shirt or sock. But suddenly it dawned on me that a hat was a piece of clothing. I was so excited by this deduction that I forgot that we weren't supposed to be sharing answers out loud. I waved my hand in the air, trying to get my teacher to call on me. Luckily, I did not actually say the answer out loud.

4. One Christmas morning, my sister woke me up and excitedly told me to get up and go downstairs. I asked why, and she said because it was Christmas! I remember still being sort of confused as to why I should have to get out of bed. I walked down the stairs and was completely surprised to see a pile of shiny presents under the tree. We had opened a few presents on Christmas Eve, and I had gone to bed that night thinking that was it. It was like I forgot there were more presents on Christmas morning. This was not the first Christmas I remembered; I really have no good explanation for forgetting what happens on Christmas except that I don't think I ever really believed in Santa. (Sad, I guess, but I just never really bought it. I never found it upsetting or anything.)

5. When I started second grade, I was at a new school. I was timid and afraid, and when recess came along I was wandering around the playground by myself. A girl, Nicole Elliott, came up to me and asked if I wanted to play on the big slide. I nodded and started to follow. She turned and saw me walking, and said, "Come on, run!" Thinking back, what made this truly remarkable was that she also had the other new girl with her. At age 7, she had made a special effort to make the new kids feel included. She was a gem, that Nicole. And likely still is to this day.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

5 things I carry in my commuter bag

I carry a rather large bag with my every day on the bus to work. People seem to wonder why I need such a big bag. Well, here are five of the reasons.

1. A travel coffee mug. This is a total must now that I have free coffee in my lobby. I refuse to use a styrofoam every day.

2. A book, or sometimes two. The commute goes MUCH faster with this. Particularly since I no longer get on the train where they hand out RedEyes.

3. My lunch. I am too cheap and too lazy to go out and buy one most of the time, so I always carry a lunch.

4. My Not For Tourists book of maps of Chicago. I know I have lived here 4 and a half years, but it doesn't matter. I still have plenty of occasions where I need to refer to maps, and I still carry the book with me wherever I go.

5. An umbrella. Though the wind often makes it useless, I am always glad I have this.

And that doesn't count the standard wallet, keys, and phone. Plus shoes, in the winter when I wear show boots. So lay off my big bag. I keep if off the seat next to me, and that is all the magic announcer voice of the CTA asks me to do.

Monday, December 14, 2009

5 great compliments I have received

I've been lucky enough to be surrounded by very supportive people my whole life, so it's not that I have not been lacking in compliments over the past 26 years. But there are a few that were truly memorable and humbling.

1. About 6 months ago (or was it more like a year?), my coworker Carla, frustrated with the state of some page proofs she was reviewing, said she wished that I had been the one to edit them at the previous stage. I told her that it may not have helped. After all, I am not perfect. And she said, "No Katie, I know you are not perfect, but I do think you are the best that there is." I still tear up a little when I think about that. It meant a lot coming from someone as good as she is.

2. When I was a senior in high school, I decided to join the competing winter drumline. It was a tough challenge, because I was starting from scratch on percussion, and joining a group that usually place in the top three in the national competition. We ended up having a great season. After we played our final show, even though it would be a few hours before we found out the official results, we knew we had done well. We were all congratulating each other as we put away the equipment. I turned to the section leader, known to the group as Trick, gave him a hug, and said congratulations. He pulled away, grasped my upper arms, and said, "You too. You are a percussionist." It was so unlike him to say anything so personal that it really took me aback. I was so flattered that he noticed how hard I worked to get up to the level of the rest of the group that I have never forgotten it.

3. When I was in college, I had a close friend who was a piano performance major. I used to love to watch him play because he just became totally different person while he played. He became passionate. We talked often about how jealous I was of that. It was not that I wished I could play the piano. It was more that I felt like I had no passion in anything. Early in our senior year, he asked me to give a testimony at a retreat that he codirected. I was supposed to be talking about my time in Sweden, a difficult subject for me. The day I was scheduled to talk, I told him I was going without notes because it was the only way I was going to be honest with myself. He said, "I think you do have passion. Your passion is being honest, with yourself and everybody else. That's what you put your heart into." He doesn't know this, but that really changed the way I see myself, in a good way. I think about that comment to this day.

4. As I mentioned above, my time in Sweden was a difficult period for me. During my first month, I received many many thoughtful and encouraging emails from family and friends. One such email came from my Uncle Jack. In it, he told me a story about when he went into the army, and how difficult it was for him to be away from home. He talked about how the experience drove him to walk away from a lot of the things he once believed in, but he came out on the other side believing in a few of those things even more. After the story, he told me he had every faith I would come through this, too. He said, "I may not be your favorite uncle, but I am a big fan." It meant a lot to me.

5. In the winter of my senior year of high school, I spent a Saturday at Western Michigan University at a scholarship competition. The competition consisted of two on-demand essays and a group problem solving exercise. By this time in my school career, I had become used to being at the top of the pack. However, I walked out of that competition feeling like the dumbest person that ever lived. The essay topics were difficult and complex, and I felt like I had not contributed anything to the group problem solving. On the way home, I told my mother that I had very little hope of winning the scholarship. She said, "I don't know, Katie. I think you're darn good." Even with my doubts, she was sure, and she turned out to be right. I got the scholarship. Even without knowing the competition, my mother believed that I would win. That's a compliment if I ever received one.

To Carla, Trick, Aaron, Jack, and Mom -- thanks. Your words meant so much to me, and they've helped me continue to strive to be a person that deserves them.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

5 nicknames I have had in my lifetime

1. Master B, sometimes written Masta B. One of my high school drumline instructors called me that because I had a bass solo (played on synthesizer), and it really stuck.

2. G. I couldn't really tell you how this started, because neither of us remember, but my friend Shannon calls me this. It's what I call her, too. Somehow this never causes confusion, except when we both address and sign emails as G, in which case we usually sign "the other G". The more I write about this, the less it makes sense.

3. K83, pronounced "Katie three". My circle of former coworkers (and the people that I met through them) call me this. I can't remember the exact evolution, but it began by me saying I hate it when people write words with letters, like "gr8". Then one of my oh-so-caring friends started spelling my name K8e, which then became K83.

4. KATIE RICH! I suppose this is not technically a nickname, but I have two particular friends from college that always start conversations and voicemails by saying me first and last name loudly, in a high-pitched squealy voice. It sounds annoying, but I actually have grown to find it kind of endearing.

5. Katie Rich-nuts. A name given to me by one of my fellow TAs in college. One day, he started addressing everyone by adding "nuts" to the end of their names, and for some reason, he never stopped saying it where I was concerned. Must have a nice ring to it.

Monday, December 07, 2009

5 things I love about Christmas in Chicago

1. Christkindlmarket, the outdoor German craft market in Daley Plaza. I usually pronounce it "Kris Kringle Market" even thought I know that's wrong. I has lots of pretty gifts, and awesome cider and mulled wine!

2. The holiday train. The CTA completely decks out one of the el trains every year. They switch out the upholstery, wrap the poles to look like candy canes, replace the ads with Christmas jokes, and have workers dressed like elves handing out candy canes. The outside is covered in lights, and you can hear the piped Christmas music from several hundred feet away. It makes me giddy every time I see it.

3. Completely transformed stores. I know all stores everywhere decorate for Christmas, but Macy's on State Street will out do any store anywhere in terms of decorations. The place has a tree or wreath every three feet, and there is shiny stuff everywhere. It could not feel any more Christmasy in that place. I realize this is designed to make you shop more, but I don't care. I love going in there at Christmas!

4. The wreathed Art Institute lions. Something about seeing the regal lion statues bedecked with wreaths around their necks just makes me laugh. I heard recently that there is a "lion-wreathing ceremony" every year in December. You can bet that I'll be catching that next year!

5. The lights on the Magnificent Mile. While I'm not a huge fan of the whole Mickey Mouse parade that serves as the lighting ceremony, I do love the final result.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

5 books I absolutely loved

I like a lot of books, but there are a few that stand out above the rest. These are the ones I will pick up any time, and just read any random passage. The ones I have read enough to tatter the pages. The ones that really spoke to me, really entertained me, or totally removed me from the real world.

1. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
2. Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
3. World Without End by Ken Follett
4. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
5. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Friday, December 04, 2009

5 things I put on microwave popcorn

1. Garlic salt. Nothing too shocking there.

2. Parmesan cheese. It has the essence of standard cheese popcorn, without the orange fingers.

3. Cinnamon. It tastes surprisingly like cinnamon toast.

4. Lemon pepper. This one is courtesy of my friend Jen. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. It rocks.

5. Dry ranch dressing mix. Ever had those ranch flavored oyster crackers? Same idea.

Happy munching! And yes, I encourage you to eat all 2.5 servings in a bag yourself.

5 annoying things my cat does

So, obviously it's been a long time since I wrote anything. So, I'm trying a new format to try to get myself posting regularly again. Every day (ok maybe not EVERY day, but I'll try), I'm going to post a list of 5 things. Not a top 5, just a list of 5. Topics will be all over the place in hopes of keeping it interesting.

In my head, this will be very amusing. We'll see if it actually turns out that way.

To start, let me tell you that I recently took my cat to the vet and was told she was overweight. So, I have been cutting down the amount of food I give her. She is not pleased with this. And she's no dummy -- she knows how to irritate me. It's been a battle of wills to get her to stop doing annoying things without giving in and giving her more food.

So, that's what is on my mind just now. Without further ado, here are...

5 annoying things my cat does

1. Chews on my shower curtain. There's something about the texture of the plastic that appeals to her, and I am continually finding more tiny teeth holes in my pretty bamboo shower curtain. I hate it.

2. Bats at the springs at the base of the walls that are designed to keep the doors from hitting the walls. Ever kicked one of those? It's one of the world's most irritating sounds. Particularly when a hungry cat hits the spring approximately every 15 seconds.

3. Climbs into my lap, then stands there. She is, generally speaking, an affectionate cat. She'd rather lay in my lap than anywhere else in the apartment. This part, I don't mind so much. But for some reason, when she jumps into my lap, she will stand there, staring at me then turning in circles, for a good 90 seconds before laying down. WHY?

4. Chews through cords. Luckily, she only does it with a certain type of cord that I recognize now, but I went through 3 phone chargers before I knew what was going on. And once, she chewed through my phone headset cord while I was driving, which did not please me. It only takes her about two bites, too. Destruction in a flash.

5. Hides under the bed when she knows something bad is coming. For instance, if she sees me take out her carrier, or put the mini litter box in the bathroom (like I do when I have to shut her in there for a while), she's gone instantly. And I always find her under the bed, dead center, where I can't reach her. I hate her for being smart, sometimes.

Day one complete. But tomorrow's another day.