Bachelorette Party!!!

So I'm having a party tonight through Friday night. Whoever wants to come just drop on by anytime. There'll be food, drinks, music, etc. all week (or unless Elena comes home early).

That's right she has left me until Saturday afternoon. She went on a cruise with her family for 6 days. And yes I probably could've gone with if it was returning on Friday instead of Saturday. So far last night was miserable, I couldn't sleep a wink. I was convinced someone was at any second going to bust through my bedroom door and slit my throat. The best part is if Elena is here I'm the "tough one" who goes out at midnoght to put out the trash or feed the cats, etc. If she only knew what a chicken I am. :-)

In other news...I am finally getting a shot at pursuing a lifelong dream of mine. The Wheelmobile is coming to Orlando this weekend and I'll finally get to "try-out" for Wheel of Fortune. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm very excited and really hope that I can make the right impression on the producers to get on the show. If I'm chosen the filming takes place later in the year. So wish me luck. My sister is so jealous, at Christmas she and I have nightly competitions at 7:30

Hope everyone is doing well, back to work. :-)

Part deux

so, after working all day, I just feel like being more philosophical than literal. I miss my dad and I wish that he were here and I could smell him and hug him and hear his voice. Sometimes when I am driving in my car (and not listening to children's music), I can hear him singing in his goofy way. He was an amazing singer (guess where Sarah gets it) but he would sometimes just belt out songs so loud and goofy that as a teenager we would roll our eyes, but as a child we thought he was hilarious. He knew every word to almost every song. He would always ask us "who sings this" and I would always jokingly say "Jefferson airplane." Believe it or not, if you say it enough, sometimes you get it right more than you would think. But seriously, we got really good at that game and sometimes I play it with Brian. He would give us rub-a-dubs, which were basically him scratching our face with his 5 o'clock shadow. We would laugh our heads off and ask him to do it again and again. He would make a funny noise and then kiss us goodnight. For some children that have divorced parents they feel like their parent is missing from their life. I can say that I never remember feeling like that. Sure, I wished a million times that my parents would get remarried or never have been divorced, but I never felt like he wasn't a part of our lives. We talked to him every week or whenever we wanted to, we saw him whenever we were out of school and spent almost the whole summer with him. He always took us on road trips and as a teenager I hated them, but now I look back and they were wonderful. Just wonderful to spend all that time with him. Wonderful to learn how to fish and steer a canoe, how to skip rocks and how to set up a tent. I also always knew that he loved us. His parents weren't big on affection, but he was much better. He would always hug us FOREVER when we got off the plane or right before we were getting on to go home. The night before we flew home, he would always come in our room and tell us that he loved us and give us an extra kiss and hug. I can only speak for myself, but I cried almost every time I had to leave him. He was a great dad! Sure, he didn't teach me how to drive or tell me to stay away from boys, or how to tie a tie, but he was a good dad and I miss him so much. Not just today and tomorrow, on the anniversary of his death, but everyday. Today is just so much harder because it brings back all those bad memories and just makes it so much more real.

If I could turn back time..... (this is really long)

If I could, I would go back to well before 9/20/04. That is the day that I got the call that would change my life FOREVER. (disclaimer: If you haven't heard this story before, grab a box of tissues). Brian and I were sitting on the couch, watching TV. The phone rang and I could see it was Hagerstown, so I knew it was my step-mom. I knew my dad was on his Boundry Waters trip. So, I wondered why Carol was calling so late (it was 9:20pm). I answered and Carol said "Hi Katie, is Brian there?" I said "You sound like you have a cold" and she said "yeah, I am fighting something." I gave the phone to Brian, all the while wondering why she needed to talk to him. Moments later, I knew something was wrong by the look on his face and he mouthed "it's your dad." He handed me the phone and from then on I think I cried for the next few months. Carol said she had wanted to make sure that Brian would be there for me when she told me what she needed to tell me. She said that my Aunt Pam and Grammy had come over and that they had been called by my dad's best friend, Scott, and that Scott told them that my dad had an accident. So I said "What kinda accident" and Carol explained that from what she understands, my dad had a stroke or something and passed out and fell out of the canoe and they can't find him. I don't remember much more except for screaming and falling on the floor and screaming and crying and screaming and crying. I knew Beth hadn't been told, so I knew we needed to get to my Mom's house. All I could say was "oh my God, oh my God, oh my God" and "I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do" over and over. Somehow, Brian got me in the car and we went to my Mom's house. Because it was so late, their house was all locked up and I had to bang on the back door. When Hal came to the door, I remember just screaming, "They think my Dad is dead" and my mom came running from the other room. I guess I must have told them the story or Brian did, I don't know. But my Mom called my Dad's house and I think talked to my Aunt Pam and she explained the rest and that they hadn't told Beth. So, then my Mom took it upon herself to try to tell Beth. They knew she was home, but she was all alone and they didn't want to tell her by herself. Mike was at a hotel for work about ?2? hours away and they couldn't get him. Finally, my mom got the desk clerk who knew Mike to go to the bar that he was at and tell him to call my mom (at least this is how I think it went down). Then Mike called his best friend, who is a cop and a good friend of Beth's as well and he went over to Beth's house and when he got there, he told Beth to call my mom and she told her. Mike left and drove home to be with Beth. I just remember calling everyone and asking them to pray for my Dad and to pray that he was still alive. My mom was worried that I was freaking out so she called a friend of hers to bring over some Zanax or something like that but I refused to take anything. I remember just pacing around her house and crying and then I had this enormous need to have a picture of him. So I went through my baby books and found a picture of him playing the guitar and me watching. I just held that picture for days, I couldn't let go of it. I don't remember going back home or going to sleep or getting a plane ticket or a lot else. I remember the next day I went to the shop and Stephanie came over so I could show her how to run the shop. I remember calling a minister friend of mine to come over and pray with us. I remember making a diaper cake for a shower that was for a friend of mine over the weekend at the shop. I remember going through that day in a haze and just believing that they would find him alive. Then, we are at home, standing in the driveway and I call Carol to find out if they knew anything and I think it was Beth who told me they found his body and he wasn't alive. I think for some reason she assumed I already knew that. But I lost it! I truly had thought that he was alive just laying on some island somewhere. The next morning I flew to Maryland. I remember being in the house, so upset. So devastated. But there were all these people there, just helping and getting in the way and it was stressing me out. Apparently, at one point, I just yelled "Everyone needs to leave so we can be with our family." I don't care if it was rude, it needed to be done. My step-mom's friend, Gail, was helping us return phone calls and writing down who brought what and so on. She had received a call from the local news station and they said they wanted to do a memorial story on our dad. Gail had asked us and at first we said no. Then they said that we could just write a statement and then we said yes. So, this total douche bag, Victor Blackwell, comes over to our house with a video camera and we give him the statement and he says "Would it be ok if we just got some video of someone?" and we say "no" then he asks if they can just film some empty rooms at the house, for affect and we say no and get pissed and basically kick him out of our house. (After that, people told us that they called his boss and told him what a douche he had been. Now the douche works here in Jacksonville, how funny is that. I sent him an email telling him what an ass I thought he was and now that he is in my town, he better not do anything like that again.) I'm exhausted and I think I will finish this later.

What a MESS!

This is Brian and Reagan at Eagle Harbor last Friday night. She was eating, or should I say wearing, frozen blackberries. What a mess, but she had fun. Luckily, they were swimming in the pool so it just washed all off.

Flowers In His Hair

Come on everybody, sing along! "If you're going to San Francisco...be sure to wear some flowers in your hair!"

Well, between Loki & Whitebread, they'd be lucky to keep a flower behind their ear if they tried real hard - so I guess that I'll have to suck it up and wear the flowers for the whole family! The things I do for these boys...:)

I thought that I'd take a quick minute and talk about Loki's first West Coast Trip. (reference image to the left - taken in the grand tradition of Reagan's Airplane pictures!)

I would love to tell you how much Loki loved EVERY minute of his San Fran trip - but that might be a bit of an exaggeration. He didn't seem to mind it at all - but the reality of the situation is - he SLEPT through all the FUN stuff.

I don't think he ever even realized he was on an airplane because he slept through all four flights (much to the appreciation of the other passengers)!

I spent ALOT of time on this trip working - which was a HUGE wake up call for all of us. I'm not used to being away from the baby for so long and Whitebread isn't used to playing primary caregiver. We all survived - but not without a little threatening - Whitebread took Loki to Alcatraz to show him where bad babies go when they cause their father's too much trouble!

Turns out Loki helped WB score a few phone numbers. They were quite the chick magnets! Lucky for me - I kept all the airline tickets and credit cards - so they wouldn't be able to get home without me!

We had a GREAT time on the trip, but we didn't get to do hardly ANY of the fun things we had planned. I really wanted a picture of the baby in front of the bridge which just didn't happen and we didn't get to hit any of the restaurants we wanted. But we did get to take a Bay Quacker tour (you know the tours on those WWII amphibious mobiles - they go on land and water) - which Loki slept through! We were practically the only people on the tour.

We also got to try out the new Segway I2's!!! That was SUPER cool. They are WAY more intuitive than the old Segway's I used to tour on all day long.

And we did get to catch up with some of our friends, so that was nice. It just seemed like a whirlwind of a trip. More work than play. We're planning on going back in April - maybe we can make it a longer trip then.

April is really just around the corner - and it suddenly occurred to me that we'll have a ONE year old!!! WHOA! I'm not sure I'm ready for a toddler! Stace actually stressed me out the other day when she reminded me that Michael is coming up on his ONE year!!! I'm excited to hear about the party plans...

In other ODD news (not that anyone will be surprised - least of all - Scof), while we were in SF, my boss asked me if I wanted to run his company...A flattering offer, for sure! He's not really ready to make any sort of shift to that effect for atleast a year - but if I do accept, it will mean a move back to the Bay Area. I won't lie - there are certainly aspects of moving back to SF that are appealling - and just as many concerns and unappealling aspects. Luckily, no decisions have to be made in the too near future.

One decision that I did try to make yesterday, was to fire one of my assistants. She's just not working out. Some people are born telemarketers and she is more of a born barnacle. She's not getting us ANYWHERE. So, I tried to fire her yesterday and she started crying on me. I crumbled...so I told her that I'd try to find her something else to do....ACKKK - I don't know if I'm cut out for capitalism. SHEESH!

Kisses to everyone - we miss you all!!!

Work, Party-Planning, Fundraising, Crafts, Travel and other craziness....

Just wanted to say hi buds and let you guys know I am still here. I have been swamped at work lately so I am sorry for being out of touch. I have been coordinating our big sales meeting at our offices that takes place next Tues/Wed including a fancy dinner for 30 at our sales manager's home in Winter Park on Tuesday evening. I feel like we are planning a wedding for that...it is beyond casual which is what it was supposed to be very cas but, it is definitely not. It is certainly out of the norm for my work duties but, such is life. Anyway, things will be back to normal on Wednesday after 3pm...yippee. Work is good though...I had a great meeting with my manager the other day and we are looking to adding some different responsibilities and title change in near future. I am not big on titles but, new things to do would be great. I would still do some of my usual job but, also learn some of the products to become more involved with creating sales presentations etc. :o)

We have also been busy fundraising for Mom's walk. The last ADA committee meeting went well but, we still need more corporate sponsorships for this walk. Kirk, Dad, and I are giving Grandmom a birthday dinner for her on Sunday, Oct 5th for her church friends. There will be about 11 total. So we have been preparing for that...got the carpet cleaned and we even got some new couches in her fam room from American Signature which was greatly needed for a long time. She is pleased which is great. Mom had planned to do this dinner for her last year but, as you know timing didn't work out so we are doing it this year...if anyone deserves this especially this year... it is Grandmom!

Sunday 9/28 we are going to see JP/Lucy/Uncle T for a day trip to Sarasota...it will be nice to visit them. We are also getting excited for our Hawaii trip. Kirk found a scuba forum on-line and we took a trip to blue springs so he could scuba with them and I think he found some potential guys to scuba with here and there....which is great. While we were in blue springs I suggested for Kirk and I to go to Tom's Pizza for lunch but, can you believe they are closed on weekends? How weird is that in a college town? So we went to the good old standby....Gator's! We had some yummy wings.

For Hawaii...we leave Oct 11-Oct 23. On the way there, we are staying with Blain/Loretta in LA for a weekend layover. Should be a trip of a lifetime...a dream. The weekend after Mom's walk (walk is on Nov 1st), Dad and I are doing the "Great Day in the Country" craft show in Oviedo on Saturday, Nov 8th. Dad said he is doing this for Mom as she always wanted to do that show...we will be putting out pieces that they already had done from last show and we are working on some new things too. I am really glad we are doing it. I don't think that she would believe it...the fact that we got in the show let alone that we are doing it. I sure wish she were here but, I know she is and is proud.

Needless to say things are a little busy lately which I know you all are too. I am trying to fight off a cold as I need to be well for this sales meeting next week...so lots of rest and fluids this weekend.

Hugs to all...miss you bunches!
love, krames

Oscillating Bidet's & So Much MORE!

Just how much do you love your bum? Really. Think about it. How much TLC does your nether region get on a regular basis?

OK - so maybe it's a little personal - but I can honestly say, that I probably have one of the fittest, cleanest and well cared for "down unders" of anyone that I know.

Let's just set aside the fact that I've been in physical therapy for my "loose" little lady parts (which is going EXCEEDINGLY well) for a moment, and take a look at those CRAZY cats in Google land to see how they address the issues of personal hygine...

But first, a little background...I had the distinct privilege of being invited out to the Googleplex last week to attend the Google AdWords Travel Summit. AdWords is how the internet savvy market their websites. As a GAP (Google AdWords Professional) certified SEM (Search Engine Marketer), I manage a RIDICULOUS campaign for TourCorp.

Since Internet Marketing is relatively new, Google decided to bring some of it's larger clientelle out to their campus to help us utilize their services better - and try to sell us on some of their newest advertising venues.

Anyway, the EXCITING part of all of this, is that I got to step into Google Mania for a minute and see how the techie half live!!! It was SOOO cool. I forgot to take my camera, but for those of you who have never heard of the wonders that is the Googleplex, click here!

OK - so I was SO excited to be there, I nearly wet myself (well - not really - the PT is coming along quite nicely)...I made it to the restroom - which from the outside looks like any other public restroom - sinks - mirrors - stalls...until you actually sit down in said stall. On the left hand side was a touch pad with all sorts of buttons and pictures. Every bathroom stall had it's own bidet!!! Whatsmore, you could choose to have the spray aim for the Front, for the Rear OR (my personal favorite - OSCILLATE!!! There was even a Dryer button!!! Oh to be a Googler!

Not only did Google pay for us to stay at the Fairmont, San Jose - (where Loki got his own chrome crib complete with baby bath products and stuffed animals) but we even recieved parting gifts. Google sent us home with portable lithium ion cell phone chargers!

There is a DISINCT possiblity that I'm a little too ENCHANTED!

If I had to guess...

I'd say Howie is getting a taste of what it's like to have your spouse(or spouse to be in some cases) home working with you all the time. Don't worry kid you'll get used to it. There are easy days and hard days and don't forget to take a day for yourself every once and a while. You should try lunch with Kramer, that always helps.

I am back and on a mission

Reagan asleep on the plane, yes, I am as tired as I look.
" Can I Dad? I won't break it, I promise."
While we were there, Reagan learned how to say Arizona and cactus. She says them all the time.
Reagan and Brian, he was such a good sport this trip, basically taking care of Reagan full time because I was in classes all day. His mom was also a HUGE help.
We made her this tent on the flight back home, she was happy as a clam. Tents are really big with her right now.

I am back from convention, rejuvenated and ready to go. My mission right now is to make more money, because, let's be honest......I LOVE MONEY. Convention was awesome, Arizona was awesome and I come home motivated to make major changes to the studio. Check out my newest venture http://www.doingdishespotterystudio.blogspot.com/

Red handed

Whew--Hurricane Ike is going to miss us! I was pretty worried this week about it. Sean and I had a whole evacuation plan--what stuff we were packing, taking the couches and TV upstairs in case of flooding--the whole nine yards. I am pretty relieved.

My landlord, Jason recently got a boat. He has been bugging us for weeks to go out so we finally did yesterday. I put 50 spf on twice and still got so sunburnt I seriously thought about calling in sick today. My wonderful husband and I forgot the back of my arms I think on the second time applying the lotion. I totaly forgot the tops of my hands--feet--got those--they are good. The tops of my hands are so red and painful, I had to leave work to go to Walgreens to get some aloe. Needless to say, I look like a freak. I don't really feel all that well today either. I am drinking so much water, Kramer would be jealous!
We did some fishing on the boat. I enjoyed fishing for the bait. We didn't catch a thing otherwise.

Other than that--same ol same ol.

I have turned into....

my brother-in-law. I remember when Brian and I were just dating, we went to his youngest brother's wedding (Brandon and Vivian) and Brian's older brother, Brad, came with his wife and kids. They had their huge SUV so packed and crammed with stuff and then a car topper, it was CRAZY. I swore then and there, that I would not be like that when I had a child. Vivian and I made fun of Brad and Wendy, to their face and very often. I have now become Brad and Wendy. I have just finished packing for our trip out to Arizona. We are going out tomorrow at 6:40am and we get back in the afternoon on Tuesday. We are going my a pottery convention and we are staying with Brian's parents at their apartment. Jim works there now and comes home every 3 weekends. Jeanette is out there this weekend to be with him for their anniversary and hang out with Brian and Reagan while I am at convention.

I have a huge suitcase, packed full to the limit and then Brian has a suitcase. Then we have my carry-on/backpack which may weight about 100 lbs and we may not get off the ground because of it. Brian has a carry-on/laptop and then Reagan is bringing her quack-pack, which I am sure one of us will end up with. We are bringing a stroller and a car seat. I have packed her sound machine, food, diapers, silverware, cups, swim diapers, clothes, wipes, medicine (God knows she'll need it!!), coloring books, a dvd player with movies, crayons, toys, socks, shoes, and I am sure 100 other things that I forgot to mention. Goodness, what a mess we have become. Wish us luck and pray that the airlines don't lose our stuff, I may die without all my crap!!